- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, December 2, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Yuna, Sebastian, brumswinkle
Amazing art here by the sister of Josh, the player commanding our parties bard!
And my canvas map for brimswinkle, along with one for the area above it
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
And my canvas map for brimswinkle, along with one for the area above it
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Sebastians journal entries
Journal entry 1:
I woke up covered in blood with what looks like three guards dead at my side, I took the papers they had which I can only assume belong to me, I have no clear recollection of who I am other than glimpses of times with people and places that look nothing like my current surroundings, the papers I have taken from these men say my name is Sebastian Strykynthorpe, orders are to execute once beyond the threshold and I was to be given one item to enter the void, the item being the journal I’m writing this in now, How these men died is beyond my comprehension, all I know is that I am alive and they are not. I should put distance between myself and these dead men as whoever wanted me killed will notice their absence in due time.
Journal entry 2:
I have travelled three days north from where I first awoke judging by the rise and setting of the sun, I have taken in my surroundings and other than the wildlife which I care not to get close to I have had no human contact, what I am comfortable with is that all the items I acquired from my not so lively company three days ago have shed some light on what I once did in whatever was my prior life. I seem to have knowledge on alchemical mixtures and mutagens, a small understanding for now. It may hold clues to why I have little to no memory of what happened to me or led to the situation of my failed execution.
Journal entry 3:
It feels like an age since I’ve had any contact with anything other than myself and the voices in my head, unless you count the rabbits and small creatures that have had the pleasure of being my sustenance for these days gone by, I must find civilisation and some contact with another human being before I go mad. I have no bearing on time as I wonder through this strange land. If I had a god in my previous life I must’ve displeased them greatly as I’m sure they are having a great time seeing me wander the wilderness like a madman. I should rest and start anew in the morn.
Journal entry 4:
I had a strange dream, in this dream I was in an apothecary with high ceilings nicely furnished, I can smell….. Black powder…… whatever black powder is……. and a well-dressed somewhat noble gentleman has approached with a large object surrounded by black swirling energy which changes to bright blinding energy in the manner of seconds whilst he is holding it, he yells to me “Sebastian we’ve done it ! You clever lad we’ve done it!” and suddenly I’m kissed by a female stranger with a whisper “You keep this up and you may even have the high council interested in you” I reach for her but the blindness hasn’t passed, the man gives me a nudge into the table I’m beside and the female playfully replies “Roland you leave him be, you’ve had the audacity to blind the poor lad, let him be” the voice responds “ I can’t fault his talents Felria….. Even if it makes him blind” he laughs aloud, a laugh that you share only with people you are close to.
Suddenly I’m awake and the warm kisses gone and laughter even further, was that a dream or a memory……
Journal entry 5:
“By the god’s boy, don’t you know where you are!?” these are the first words from I’ve heard from anyone in months, this man smells of sweat and metal. He offers me his hand and Name “Tibald Corinth” “or bolt to my friends” and offers me water and a small loaf of bread to eat; I almost choke on the bread as I consume it faster than my body is willing to. He looks simple but his eyes say different, cold and calculating with the illusion of being dull underneath his hooded eyelids, he seems friendly enough and has offered me a ride in his cart to a place called Northport, in exchange we take shifts at guiding franklin, his lifelong friend, companion and grey mane horse who looks a little out of place as a carriage beast.
Who knows who this man really is
What I know is that he has transport and he is willing to take me to a place called Northport, even speak to a few people he knows if I’m in dire need of work, this he says this as he motions at the state of my boots….. Well the worn ones I acquired from the dead soldier however long ago it was, but those details he need not know.
To Northport.
Journal entry 6:
We have travelled for what seems a week now, Tibald hasn’t asked me little more than if I was hungry, he has more questions for Franklin, which is a relief as I have no answers for him, I did correct myself today as I realized I had not given him my name in return when he offered me his, “Sebastian” I said as we rode along, “Sebastian is my name” he laughs, “I thought you had forgotten boy, no need; you’re a good sort, I know these things” “Sebastian……. A good name” he sounded as if he was almost tasting it recalling it from a memory long past.
We make camp just of the main road we’re travelling.
Time to sleep.
Journal entry 7:
Another dream
In this one I’m at the centre of a circular stage surrounded by alchemical equipment with various glowing runes and bubbling mixtures and the sounds of various gears clicking, whizzing, grinding, “We’re at 50%” a voice yells, I reply “push through we aren’t there yet” “we can get more” I find myself turning; twisting; a strange voice that was my own emanates with a strange weight and conviction and my eyes grow heavy “Sebastian!” a female yells “More… we can do more…” “NO YOU FOOL!” this voice I recognize as Roland…… “One more……” a whisper I can barely hear “by the gods new and old I think he has done it…” darkness…….
Journal entry 8:
Bolt confronted me about my dreams last night
He wants to know what I was dreaming of. I tell him I barely remember what it was but that I remember speaking a weird language and a sudden rush of being surrounded by magic, I also remember there being people in the room cautioning me to stop.
I feel him measuring me again as if he has found something else of interest in me, “I suggest you come with me when we get to Northport, I have men and people that may make use of what skills you have” I have no idea what skills he speaks of “Sebastian, your ability to navigate the contents of what I have in my cart aren’t normal for just any man, I have dangerous extracts herbs and chemicals in no particular order which you have avoided without difficulty, your ability to read and write along with your aid in mixing the various compounds assures me of your competency in alchemy whether you believe so or not”
I told him “Maybe in another lifetime friend, for now I just want to see this Northport of yours” there is more to this man than he pretends to be.
Journal entry 9:
I was asleep maybe an hour before we were attacked by bandits, I saw something that impressed me and frightened I at the same time, there was 8 dark cloaked figures maybe 30 feet from the cart surrounding bolt, he remained still as they circled him all brandishing daggers from what I could see in the moonlight, I had time to see him move slightly and a flash of light so quick I almost thought it didn’t happen, the cloaked figures all fell in a single moment. Bolt looked at me with his eyes glowing an eerie blue and then faded to normal.
His words were “It would do you well to forget what you saw tonight Sebastian, not many men have seen what you have and are alive to tell of it”
With that he returned to the cart and hopped in the back to rest like nothing had happened, “We are less than a day’s ride from Northport, do not stop for anyone until we reach Northport itself, do not let anyone in the cart, do not let them feed Franklin, And most of all do not mention my name. I would like to enter Northport with less fanfare than our recent visitors were willing to give us”
I nodded.
Who is this man?
I’m glad this man decided I was worth saving….. Or not killing we will see which it is once we are in
Northport.
Journal entry 10:
Arrived in Northport, didn’t listen to Bolt and was pickpocketed as soon as I let some stranger rub Franklin down and feed him with apples. Bolt just looked at me like he knew it was going to happen, why did that kid choose me? Would he have had the same luck with Bolt? I think I’m being set up
What have I got myself into?
Journal entry 11:
Bolt has given me 10 gold pieces for my help in getting to Northport, clearly he didn’t need my help at all but I’m grateful for the gold as I know it will go a long way toward gaining my feet in this foreign place. Finding out more about who I was seems less important for the time being as I need a place to sleep and food to eat. Bolt has said that my skills would be valued in many places around Northport.
He has said that if I ever need to find him again that It would be best to leave a message with Berum the tavern owner of the busiest tavern in Northport aptly called “The Port” it is also a great place to find out the inner workings of Northport, who’s important, who’s not, and who I should avoid.
More important matters like food and rest for now.
entry 12.
Haven't had much time to return to this journal over the past week. I haven't wanted to travel too far deep into the depths of North Port, this place seems riddled with rogues and pirates, so I have kept to the area I now know to be home, and from what I understand, the most secure -- the Grey district. Berum has only answered a few of my thousand questions, and from what I can gather, this place is run by a powerful group. I have requested that he send for Bolt as I do not feel at ease in this place, and my gold is running low. The room and cheap food i've managed to source won't last forever, and I must find a way to sustain myself without stepping on the wrong shoes.
entry 13.
Another dream. This time far more blurry, yet far more disturbing, and I can remember the few details I was privvy to with astounding detail.. "GODS HE HAS DONE IT!!!! HA HA!!," I hear, as my vision wanes, and I see what look to be glorious arcs of lightning shooting around whatever room this stage is inhabiting.. ...I then hear a very strange creaking from behind me and I lose control of my body, and collapse. From my obscured vantage point, and my fading vision, I see something. Something is moving past me, towards my peers. Something horrifying and otherworldly! I want to scream, but this encumbering feeling won't let me! As my anxiety heightens, the horror turns to me, and oh but if only Abadar could smite me so I would not have to bear the sight - all I dare to remember are its legions of fleshy tentacles and those unassuming, cold black orbs i can only presume were eyes.. .. "well that's enough fun for tonight, well done everyone!!!!!!" resounded a familiar voice, and after a blinding crescendo of ear-splitting noise and a cacaphonous scream that no mortal could ever forget, the nightmare was gone. The only other feeling I can recall from the dream was a stark loathing of my friend that day. What had i done.. what had i unleashed onto this plane? ... who was i?
entry 14.
Spending lots of time at The Port. I've started to become one of the 'regulars'. And as such, I've started noting a couple regulars, myself. None of them ended up meaning anything to me however, as the intriguing Bolt eventually responded to my request for a meeting through the tavern-keeper. Agreeing that it was time he introduce me to those whom he believed I would be best served working for, I was lead along by the hooded man with the lightning blue eyes through the grungy and musky dirt-laden streets to a barrel, only the gods knew where, in some dingy alley I could never remember how to get to. Motioning to me that I should open the lid, it was revealed to be an entrance to a ladder. Descending down, we both arrived in to what appeared to look like a shop of sorts, with tables laden with jewels, both rare and common, coins of strange note, and exotic weapons. Men dressed in a rather similar fashion to my.. associate, were watching from every corner as we made entrance, clearly guards of a sort, and men of what looked to be a rich and strange background were perusing the goods, said wares being hawked by a large, rat-like character who spoke remarkably perfect common. We made our way through a corridor, which one of the dark figures opened up a door for while exchanging what seemed like a very familiar nod with Bolt.. and after descending a few flights of stairs, exchanging more nods and one or two exchanges of strange coin, we came to a room that seemed very removed from the warm grey half-tones and meagre, decrepit outfits of Northport. Here was a place laden with furniture made from rare woods, silver and magical weapons stocked on the walls, and gold skulls lining a blackened chest of drawers. I could only imagine what was kept inside of such a thing. A tall and stern faced figure was leering over the centre desk of the room, staring over what looked to be a map, or plans of some sort. Barely reacting to our entrance, he simply inquired 'Is this the man, then, Tibald?'. "Sebastian's his name, sir. And yes. Certainly one of the only survivors from the event. Oh, and here," the smirking Bolt replied, as he pulled out and handed to what I can only assume is his commander or leader, the papers i'd found on my person when I woke up that day! When had he taken them from me? I dared not react, lest one of these clearly powerful individuals murdered me where I stood. This was not a place I'd ever imagined i'd find myself.
Briefly studying the papers with a serious, yet bored expression, the menacing man then rolled them up and offered them back to me, which I managed to barely recall how to move at that point, and retrieved, thanking him. "So you're an alchemist. And I'm told you remember nothing. Hrmph. How utterly brilliant and fortuitous," he stated, as he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a beautiful, black stone that almost seemed to give off a smoky, black aura "do you know what this is?" .. "..uh... no?". The man smiled. "This is something i'd appreciate if you studied. My guild is curious about the effects of weaponising such a rock, but we are ever weary and cautious and as of late have had no skilled professionals with whom to consult on the matter. It seems nigh unmanageable and does not react well in our forges. Curious, no?" I'll admit it excited me. "Your pay would be handsome. 100 gold pieces a week, accommodations within the guild house, and insurance against common pickpockets and brigands. Tibald here has given quite the high appraisal of you, and I trust his judgement." How could I refuse? I had no idea what the reaction from a man who collects gold skulls would be if i DID refuse! "th-that sounds fine. Will I have a lab to work from?" I managed to stammer out.
My hands tire so i'll quickly note before bedding down tonight in this much grander room than I've ever been used to, that he indeed did have a lab for me. And what a lab! I'm actually ecstatic about this job, it'll keep me busy and focused and I won't need to pay heed to those damning dreams every second. The pay's amazing as well - I can only see things getting better from here!
entry 15
I'm still unsure about Bolt, now. How did he come to find me? There is more to this than I could ever piece together on my own. Damn it all!!!! The dreams have stemmed and now paranoia takes over.
On another note, the strange black rock is reacting interestingly when I mix it with traces of silver and iron. I think their problem was treating it as a perfect and pure substance to begin with - it needs mixing with other properties to really start letting out the sparks and show its true colors! I'll need to keep picking away at this, it's the one thing that keeps my insides smiling these days. That and all this gold.
entry 16
I bought a whole cow today and cooked it. A whole cow!!! And that was 1 gold!! Holy crap!!
The properties of this rock continue to confuse and confound me. Tried fusing it with a small dagger today. Something didn't feel right.
The walls in this place are really thin, too.
entry 17
I swear they're all around me. Whispering. I keep hearing these voices when i'm hard at work. But they make no sense. It's not like we're prisoners here. Yet they keep saying what sounds like 'let me out' and 'i wont go back into the darkness'. At least that's what I think I can hear when I focus on the faint noises.
Perfected my obsidian dagger. Oh. And i've decided to name this rock obsidian. Was sure I heard someone whispering something that sounded like it earlier and the name just kind of stuck. Sounds so masculine. There is a slight problem though. the dagger felt.. sticky. Took a lot of tampering to finally place the foul thing on the bench. I hope that won't always happen.
I need to ask for thicker walls, this is becoming too distracting.
entry 18
GODS. I complained to Irenicus today about the whispers and the walls and what do I get? A pay increase? And as I keep forgetting to mention important things in this journal, the tall man who seems to lead this place is named Irenicus. He seems nice enough, although his business is clearly shady and shrouded behind courtesy and strange familiar nods and exchanges of coin. I think that for now i'll refrain from asking. The coin is good and the work is simple enough, if not exhausting to my psyche.
Quite happy that I have all of the isolation that I am given, however. It's definitely necessary in this line of work. No doubt my social demeaner has fallen considerably since I began this strange work.
I've managed to complete a line of weapons now, but I don't really want anyone to pick them up yet. They all seem to fly into the palm too easily and I can't seem to control the consistency of the stone yet - they all stick to my hands. I can only see that being a nuisance to anyone and I don't want to be kicked out or killed for performing miserably at my job.
I'm now very certain that the whispers are all coming from one, or two people in here at most. They're louder now though. They must be in one of the adjacent rooms. I'm going to pay them a visit tomorrow, this needs to stop.
entry 19
Pricked myself on some of the stone today while forging with it - hurts like a fucker. Can't seem to dredge it out of my palm either.. I can barely write with it due to the pain. Have taken some calmroot to help. The issue with the blades has gotten worse. One is missing. I can only imagine one of those idiots walking around here with it and complaining to Irenicus. Curses. And that DAMNED WHISPERING. I ran to check the rooms adjacent to mine today and noone was there!! WHERE IS IT COMING FROM!?
entry 20
- this entry is smeared with blood and blackened soot, it is not legible -
entry 21
Condition is worsening.
Don't care that the thieves are happy with my work. They just want more of the blades now. fine. i've perfected the concept. they can all rot with their swords if they're happy with them. this pain is my life now and my arm is feeling ever heavier.
i'm also 80% certain now that the whispering has only ever been coming from me. more importantly, this arm. it keeps praising the new body it is receiving, and continues to yell about cages and lightning.
i need to start dreaming again.
entry 22
Bolt came to see me today. His face suggested he was sad when he saw me. I assume this elevated condition of mine is to blame. My fist is now of the same stone i've been working with. I think he feels guilty about something. I inquired of what but is face would only lengthen and he abandoned me to my work after he grew tired of hearing my voice i suppose.
My pay has increased.
The weapons won't release from the rogues hands. They seem to admire my work far too much. I am being overworked. I tried showing a student of alchemy within the port how to work alongside me but he wouldn't dare touch the stone, seeing my hands condition.
Has money lost its value to me? I eat well. My future will either be a rich one underneath levels of concrete and dirt at a desk or that of a statue in a gallery if this skin condition persists.
entry 23
voices are my world now. The work has become automatic and simple, nothing I need to to attempt to focus on to continue at a perfect level. My mind is far too distracted. Now there are new voices, and these aren't coming from my fingers. I've seen their stares as I pass to the food hall. I've heard their words as I break my meat with my rock hand. they think i'm hiding something from them. how could i hide this? why would i want this? why would THEY want this? WHO ARE THEY!? WHO AM I WORKING FOR!? They come and go in their subterranean world of cloak and dagger bullshit and i am payed a kings wage for this!?
something does not add up. i'm going to ask for my work to end tomorrow. it's not like i complained when this problem occurred. who are they to keep me here?
entry 24
Last night I dreamed of that terrific horror once more. Everything was far more blurry and elusive than my original dream, but last night i got to see something more through the window of conscious. We weren't just summoning an abyssal creature from one plane to another! I forgot all about that damned thing, SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT. THE BOOK.
oh god.
That moronic friend of mine and his cultist-like fervor for that sickening tome of dark witchery and eldritch sacrificial rites. I never wished to touch the fiendish thing let alone read it, but ever the curious scholar, he did more than read.
I didn't just experience a loss of vision or 'a fall' that night during the event.
The two other things I recall from my dream last night were a stabbing, intrusive feeling inside my back, and a familiar whisper within me.
I only write this entry because I know i'm safe enough now to do so. When I woke this morning, it was to Bolt's audience, and he seemed as grim as the last time we spoke. "Pack what few things you need in to a backpack or satchel, NOW." He stated, his hands hiding the same energy I witnessed all those nights ago.
Placing what few items i cared to keep within a pack, he threw a cloak over me and motioned for me to stay as quiet as I could as he guided me through the common hallways of the lowest quadrant of the guild-maze. After what felt like hours, we passed a guard before a staircase, with whom we each placed the traditional 'nod'. I was halted for a second, but managed to keep my cool and wait for him to look me over. We were allowed passage and continued on, making our way past three more familiar checkpoints before passing through a common area.
"OY BOLT SHARE AN ALE," yelled a stranger from one of the tables. It was at this point that he glared at me and whispered "stay down." The rooms prior buzz of merry cheer and shared stories and alcohol turned to a far more serious mood when two of the guards heard the shout. "Bolt? Ye'rr not meant to be back here, and that's the damned alchemist, GET EM'". A flash of blinding light and I could feel a strong pull at my robe, my saviour stringing me along through a fleeting series of passages after having temporarily held back the teaming rage of those below.
"BOLT, What's going on, ANSWER ME!!"
"Irenicus found another alchemist he's been using for the last few days. He can't replicate your condition but he can replicate your weapons," He replied in a huff as he fought off a guard blocking our exit. "He wants your arm, though. Believes it a far more powerful technology, something he thinks you're holding from the guild. Wants it cut from you!"
I almost choked back vomit, things somehow DID get worse. A lingering question persisted.
"What guild???? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE. WHO ARE YOU!?"
I was forced up the ladder as I yelled out these demands, and without hesitation, climbed until I had escaped.
Bolt never followed. And I had no choice but to run. I wasn't going back down there to ask, and I wasn't sticking around. I had no other option but to leave, yet again, filled with only more questions, and more burdens. Whatever I was, whatever I became.. It seems there's always a pit you can fall further to.
At least I have this tree and this rabbit I killed. I've left and headed south. Hopefully I don't starve before I reach that speck in the distance. Seems calmer. Maybe i'll find some friends.
I woke up covered in blood with what looks like three guards dead at my side, I took the papers they had which I can only assume belong to me, I have no clear recollection of who I am other than glimpses of times with people and places that look nothing like my current surroundings, the papers I have taken from these men say my name is Sebastian Strykynthorpe, orders are to execute once beyond the threshold and I was to be given one item to enter the void, the item being the journal I’m writing this in now, How these men died is beyond my comprehension, all I know is that I am alive and they are not. I should put distance between myself and these dead men as whoever wanted me killed will notice their absence in due time.
Journal entry 2:
I have travelled three days north from where I first awoke judging by the rise and setting of the sun, I have taken in my surroundings and other than the wildlife which I care not to get close to I have had no human contact, what I am comfortable with is that all the items I acquired from my not so lively company three days ago have shed some light on what I once did in whatever was my prior life. I seem to have knowledge on alchemical mixtures and mutagens, a small understanding for now. It may hold clues to why I have little to no memory of what happened to me or led to the situation of my failed execution.
Journal entry 3:
It feels like an age since I’ve had any contact with anything other than myself and the voices in my head, unless you count the rabbits and small creatures that have had the pleasure of being my sustenance for these days gone by, I must find civilisation and some contact with another human being before I go mad. I have no bearing on time as I wonder through this strange land. If I had a god in my previous life I must’ve displeased them greatly as I’m sure they are having a great time seeing me wander the wilderness like a madman. I should rest and start anew in the morn.
Journal entry 4:
I had a strange dream, in this dream I was in an apothecary with high ceilings nicely furnished, I can smell….. Black powder…… whatever black powder is……. and a well-dressed somewhat noble gentleman has approached with a large object surrounded by black swirling energy which changes to bright blinding energy in the manner of seconds whilst he is holding it, he yells to me “Sebastian we’ve done it ! You clever lad we’ve done it!” and suddenly I’m kissed by a female stranger with a whisper “You keep this up and you may even have the high council interested in you” I reach for her but the blindness hasn’t passed, the man gives me a nudge into the table I’m beside and the female playfully replies “Roland you leave him be, you’ve had the audacity to blind the poor lad, let him be” the voice responds “ I can’t fault his talents Felria….. Even if it makes him blind” he laughs aloud, a laugh that you share only with people you are close to.
Suddenly I’m awake and the warm kisses gone and laughter even further, was that a dream or a memory……
Journal entry 5:
“By the god’s boy, don’t you know where you are!?” these are the first words from I’ve heard from anyone in months, this man smells of sweat and metal. He offers me his hand and Name “Tibald Corinth” “or bolt to my friends” and offers me water and a small loaf of bread to eat; I almost choke on the bread as I consume it faster than my body is willing to. He looks simple but his eyes say different, cold and calculating with the illusion of being dull underneath his hooded eyelids, he seems friendly enough and has offered me a ride in his cart to a place called Northport, in exchange we take shifts at guiding franklin, his lifelong friend, companion and grey mane horse who looks a little out of place as a carriage beast.
Who knows who this man really is
What I know is that he has transport and he is willing to take me to a place called Northport, even speak to a few people he knows if I’m in dire need of work, this he says this as he motions at the state of my boots….. Well the worn ones I acquired from the dead soldier however long ago it was, but those details he need not know.
To Northport.
Journal entry 6:
We have travelled for what seems a week now, Tibald hasn’t asked me little more than if I was hungry, he has more questions for Franklin, which is a relief as I have no answers for him, I did correct myself today as I realized I had not given him my name in return when he offered me his, “Sebastian” I said as we rode along, “Sebastian is my name” he laughs, “I thought you had forgotten boy, no need; you’re a good sort, I know these things” “Sebastian……. A good name” he sounded as if he was almost tasting it recalling it from a memory long past.
We make camp just of the main road we’re travelling.
Time to sleep.
Journal entry 7:
Another dream
In this one I’m at the centre of a circular stage surrounded by alchemical equipment with various glowing runes and bubbling mixtures and the sounds of various gears clicking, whizzing, grinding, “We’re at 50%” a voice yells, I reply “push through we aren’t there yet” “we can get more” I find myself turning; twisting; a strange voice that was my own emanates with a strange weight and conviction and my eyes grow heavy “Sebastian!” a female yells “More… we can do more…” “NO YOU FOOL!” this voice I recognize as Roland…… “One more……” a whisper I can barely hear “by the gods new and old I think he has done it…” darkness…….
Journal entry 8:
Bolt confronted me about my dreams last night
He wants to know what I was dreaming of. I tell him I barely remember what it was but that I remember speaking a weird language and a sudden rush of being surrounded by magic, I also remember there being people in the room cautioning me to stop.
I feel him measuring me again as if he has found something else of interest in me, “I suggest you come with me when we get to Northport, I have men and people that may make use of what skills you have” I have no idea what skills he speaks of “Sebastian, your ability to navigate the contents of what I have in my cart aren’t normal for just any man, I have dangerous extracts herbs and chemicals in no particular order which you have avoided without difficulty, your ability to read and write along with your aid in mixing the various compounds assures me of your competency in alchemy whether you believe so or not”
I told him “Maybe in another lifetime friend, for now I just want to see this Northport of yours” there is more to this man than he pretends to be.
Journal entry 9:
I was asleep maybe an hour before we were attacked by bandits, I saw something that impressed me and frightened I at the same time, there was 8 dark cloaked figures maybe 30 feet from the cart surrounding bolt, he remained still as they circled him all brandishing daggers from what I could see in the moonlight, I had time to see him move slightly and a flash of light so quick I almost thought it didn’t happen, the cloaked figures all fell in a single moment. Bolt looked at me with his eyes glowing an eerie blue and then faded to normal.
His words were “It would do you well to forget what you saw tonight Sebastian, not many men have seen what you have and are alive to tell of it”
With that he returned to the cart and hopped in the back to rest like nothing had happened, “We are less than a day’s ride from Northport, do not stop for anyone until we reach Northport itself, do not let anyone in the cart, do not let them feed Franklin, And most of all do not mention my name. I would like to enter Northport with less fanfare than our recent visitors were willing to give us”
I nodded.
Who is this man?
I’m glad this man decided I was worth saving….. Or not killing we will see which it is once we are in
Northport.
Journal entry 10:
Arrived in Northport, didn’t listen to Bolt and was pickpocketed as soon as I let some stranger rub Franklin down and feed him with apples. Bolt just looked at me like he knew it was going to happen, why did that kid choose me? Would he have had the same luck with Bolt? I think I’m being set up
What have I got myself into?
Journal entry 11:
Bolt has given me 10 gold pieces for my help in getting to Northport, clearly he didn’t need my help at all but I’m grateful for the gold as I know it will go a long way toward gaining my feet in this foreign place. Finding out more about who I was seems less important for the time being as I need a place to sleep and food to eat. Bolt has said that my skills would be valued in many places around Northport.
He has said that if I ever need to find him again that It would be best to leave a message with Berum the tavern owner of the busiest tavern in Northport aptly called “The Port” it is also a great place to find out the inner workings of Northport, who’s important, who’s not, and who I should avoid.
More important matters like food and rest for now.
entry 12.
Haven't had much time to return to this journal over the past week. I haven't wanted to travel too far deep into the depths of North Port, this place seems riddled with rogues and pirates, so I have kept to the area I now know to be home, and from what I understand, the most secure -- the Grey district. Berum has only answered a few of my thousand questions, and from what I can gather, this place is run by a powerful group. I have requested that he send for Bolt as I do not feel at ease in this place, and my gold is running low. The room and cheap food i've managed to source won't last forever, and I must find a way to sustain myself without stepping on the wrong shoes.
entry 13.
Another dream. This time far more blurry, yet far more disturbing, and I can remember the few details I was privvy to with astounding detail.. "GODS HE HAS DONE IT!!!! HA HA!!," I hear, as my vision wanes, and I see what look to be glorious arcs of lightning shooting around whatever room this stage is inhabiting.. ...I then hear a very strange creaking from behind me and I lose control of my body, and collapse. From my obscured vantage point, and my fading vision, I see something. Something is moving past me, towards my peers. Something horrifying and otherworldly! I want to scream, but this encumbering feeling won't let me! As my anxiety heightens, the horror turns to me, and oh but if only Abadar could smite me so I would not have to bear the sight - all I dare to remember are its legions of fleshy tentacles and those unassuming, cold black orbs i can only presume were eyes.. .. "well that's enough fun for tonight, well done everyone!!!!!!" resounded a familiar voice, and after a blinding crescendo of ear-splitting noise and a cacaphonous scream that no mortal could ever forget, the nightmare was gone. The only other feeling I can recall from the dream was a stark loathing of my friend that day. What had i done.. what had i unleashed onto this plane? ... who was i?
entry 14.
Spending lots of time at The Port. I've started to become one of the 'regulars'. And as such, I've started noting a couple regulars, myself. None of them ended up meaning anything to me however, as the intriguing Bolt eventually responded to my request for a meeting through the tavern-keeper. Agreeing that it was time he introduce me to those whom he believed I would be best served working for, I was lead along by the hooded man with the lightning blue eyes through the grungy and musky dirt-laden streets to a barrel, only the gods knew where, in some dingy alley I could never remember how to get to. Motioning to me that I should open the lid, it was revealed to be an entrance to a ladder. Descending down, we both arrived in to what appeared to look like a shop of sorts, with tables laden with jewels, both rare and common, coins of strange note, and exotic weapons. Men dressed in a rather similar fashion to my.. associate, were watching from every corner as we made entrance, clearly guards of a sort, and men of what looked to be a rich and strange background were perusing the goods, said wares being hawked by a large, rat-like character who spoke remarkably perfect common. We made our way through a corridor, which one of the dark figures opened up a door for while exchanging what seemed like a very familiar nod with Bolt.. and after descending a few flights of stairs, exchanging more nods and one or two exchanges of strange coin, we came to a room that seemed very removed from the warm grey half-tones and meagre, decrepit outfits of Northport. Here was a place laden with furniture made from rare woods, silver and magical weapons stocked on the walls, and gold skulls lining a blackened chest of drawers. I could only imagine what was kept inside of such a thing. A tall and stern faced figure was leering over the centre desk of the room, staring over what looked to be a map, or plans of some sort. Barely reacting to our entrance, he simply inquired 'Is this the man, then, Tibald?'. "Sebastian's his name, sir. And yes. Certainly one of the only survivors from the event. Oh, and here," the smirking Bolt replied, as he pulled out and handed to what I can only assume is his commander or leader, the papers i'd found on my person when I woke up that day! When had he taken them from me? I dared not react, lest one of these clearly powerful individuals murdered me where I stood. This was not a place I'd ever imagined i'd find myself.
Briefly studying the papers with a serious, yet bored expression, the menacing man then rolled them up and offered them back to me, which I managed to barely recall how to move at that point, and retrieved, thanking him. "So you're an alchemist. And I'm told you remember nothing. Hrmph. How utterly brilliant and fortuitous," he stated, as he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a beautiful, black stone that almost seemed to give off a smoky, black aura "do you know what this is?" .. "..uh... no?". The man smiled. "This is something i'd appreciate if you studied. My guild is curious about the effects of weaponising such a rock, but we are ever weary and cautious and as of late have had no skilled professionals with whom to consult on the matter. It seems nigh unmanageable and does not react well in our forges. Curious, no?" I'll admit it excited me. "Your pay would be handsome. 100 gold pieces a week, accommodations within the guild house, and insurance against common pickpockets and brigands. Tibald here has given quite the high appraisal of you, and I trust his judgement." How could I refuse? I had no idea what the reaction from a man who collects gold skulls would be if i DID refuse! "th-that sounds fine. Will I have a lab to work from?" I managed to stammer out.
My hands tire so i'll quickly note before bedding down tonight in this much grander room than I've ever been used to, that he indeed did have a lab for me. And what a lab! I'm actually ecstatic about this job, it'll keep me busy and focused and I won't need to pay heed to those damning dreams every second. The pay's amazing as well - I can only see things getting better from here!
entry 15
I'm still unsure about Bolt, now. How did he come to find me? There is more to this than I could ever piece together on my own. Damn it all!!!! The dreams have stemmed and now paranoia takes over.
On another note, the strange black rock is reacting interestingly when I mix it with traces of silver and iron. I think their problem was treating it as a perfect and pure substance to begin with - it needs mixing with other properties to really start letting out the sparks and show its true colors! I'll need to keep picking away at this, it's the one thing that keeps my insides smiling these days. That and all this gold.
entry 16
I bought a whole cow today and cooked it. A whole cow!!! And that was 1 gold!! Holy crap!!
The properties of this rock continue to confuse and confound me. Tried fusing it with a small dagger today. Something didn't feel right.
The walls in this place are really thin, too.
entry 17
I swear they're all around me. Whispering. I keep hearing these voices when i'm hard at work. But they make no sense. It's not like we're prisoners here. Yet they keep saying what sounds like 'let me out' and 'i wont go back into the darkness'. At least that's what I think I can hear when I focus on the faint noises.
Perfected my obsidian dagger. Oh. And i've decided to name this rock obsidian. Was sure I heard someone whispering something that sounded like it earlier and the name just kind of stuck. Sounds so masculine. There is a slight problem though. the dagger felt.. sticky. Took a lot of tampering to finally place the foul thing on the bench. I hope that won't always happen.
I need to ask for thicker walls, this is becoming too distracting.
entry 18
GODS. I complained to Irenicus today about the whispers and the walls and what do I get? A pay increase? And as I keep forgetting to mention important things in this journal, the tall man who seems to lead this place is named Irenicus. He seems nice enough, although his business is clearly shady and shrouded behind courtesy and strange familiar nods and exchanges of coin. I think that for now i'll refrain from asking. The coin is good and the work is simple enough, if not exhausting to my psyche.
Quite happy that I have all of the isolation that I am given, however. It's definitely necessary in this line of work. No doubt my social demeaner has fallen considerably since I began this strange work.
I've managed to complete a line of weapons now, but I don't really want anyone to pick them up yet. They all seem to fly into the palm too easily and I can't seem to control the consistency of the stone yet - they all stick to my hands. I can only see that being a nuisance to anyone and I don't want to be kicked out or killed for performing miserably at my job.
I'm now very certain that the whispers are all coming from one, or two people in here at most. They're louder now though. They must be in one of the adjacent rooms. I'm going to pay them a visit tomorrow, this needs to stop.
entry 19
Pricked myself on some of the stone today while forging with it - hurts like a fucker. Can't seem to dredge it out of my palm either.. I can barely write with it due to the pain. Have taken some calmroot to help. The issue with the blades has gotten worse. One is missing. I can only imagine one of those idiots walking around here with it and complaining to Irenicus. Curses. And that DAMNED WHISPERING. I ran to check the rooms adjacent to mine today and noone was there!! WHERE IS IT COMING FROM!?
entry 20
- this entry is smeared with blood and blackened soot, it is not legible -
entry 21
Condition is worsening.
Don't care that the thieves are happy with my work. They just want more of the blades now. fine. i've perfected the concept. they can all rot with their swords if they're happy with them. this pain is my life now and my arm is feeling ever heavier.
i'm also 80% certain now that the whispering has only ever been coming from me. more importantly, this arm. it keeps praising the new body it is receiving, and continues to yell about cages and lightning.
i need to start dreaming again.
entry 22
Bolt came to see me today. His face suggested he was sad when he saw me. I assume this elevated condition of mine is to blame. My fist is now of the same stone i've been working with. I think he feels guilty about something. I inquired of what but is face would only lengthen and he abandoned me to my work after he grew tired of hearing my voice i suppose.
My pay has increased.
The weapons won't release from the rogues hands. They seem to admire my work far too much. I am being overworked. I tried showing a student of alchemy within the port how to work alongside me but he wouldn't dare touch the stone, seeing my hands condition.
Has money lost its value to me? I eat well. My future will either be a rich one underneath levels of concrete and dirt at a desk or that of a statue in a gallery if this skin condition persists.
entry 23
voices are my world now. The work has become automatic and simple, nothing I need to to attempt to focus on to continue at a perfect level. My mind is far too distracted. Now there are new voices, and these aren't coming from my fingers. I've seen their stares as I pass to the food hall. I've heard their words as I break my meat with my rock hand. they think i'm hiding something from them. how could i hide this? why would i want this? why would THEY want this? WHO ARE THEY!? WHO AM I WORKING FOR!? They come and go in their subterranean world of cloak and dagger bullshit and i am payed a kings wage for this!?
something does not add up. i'm going to ask for my work to end tomorrow. it's not like i complained when this problem occurred. who are they to keep me here?
entry 24
Last night I dreamed of that terrific horror once more. Everything was far more blurry and elusive than my original dream, but last night i got to see something more through the window of conscious. We weren't just summoning an abyssal creature from one plane to another! I forgot all about that damned thing, SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT. THE BOOK.
oh god.
That moronic friend of mine and his cultist-like fervor for that sickening tome of dark witchery and eldritch sacrificial rites. I never wished to touch the fiendish thing let alone read it, but ever the curious scholar, he did more than read.
I didn't just experience a loss of vision or 'a fall' that night during the event.
The two other things I recall from my dream last night were a stabbing, intrusive feeling inside my back, and a familiar whisper within me.
I only write this entry because I know i'm safe enough now to do so. When I woke this morning, it was to Bolt's audience, and he seemed as grim as the last time we spoke. "Pack what few things you need in to a backpack or satchel, NOW." He stated, his hands hiding the same energy I witnessed all those nights ago.
Placing what few items i cared to keep within a pack, he threw a cloak over me and motioned for me to stay as quiet as I could as he guided me through the common hallways of the lowest quadrant of the guild-maze. After what felt like hours, we passed a guard before a staircase, with whom we each placed the traditional 'nod'. I was halted for a second, but managed to keep my cool and wait for him to look me over. We were allowed passage and continued on, making our way past three more familiar checkpoints before passing through a common area.
"OY BOLT SHARE AN ALE," yelled a stranger from one of the tables. It was at this point that he glared at me and whispered "stay down." The rooms prior buzz of merry cheer and shared stories and alcohol turned to a far more serious mood when two of the guards heard the shout. "Bolt? Ye'rr not meant to be back here, and that's the damned alchemist, GET EM'". A flash of blinding light and I could feel a strong pull at my robe, my saviour stringing me along through a fleeting series of passages after having temporarily held back the teaming rage of those below.
"BOLT, What's going on, ANSWER ME!!"
"Irenicus found another alchemist he's been using for the last few days. He can't replicate your condition but he can replicate your weapons," He replied in a huff as he fought off a guard blocking our exit. "He wants your arm, though. Believes it a far more powerful technology, something he thinks you're holding from the guild. Wants it cut from you!"
I almost choked back vomit, things somehow DID get worse. A lingering question persisted.
"What guild???? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE. WHO ARE YOU!?"
I was forced up the ladder as I yelled out these demands, and without hesitation, climbed until I had escaped.
Bolt never followed. And I had no choice but to run. I wasn't going back down there to ask, and I wasn't sticking around. I had no other option but to leave, yet again, filled with only more questions, and more burdens. Whatever I was, whatever I became.. It seems there's always a pit you can fall further to.
At least I have this tree and this rabbit I killed. I've left and headed south. Hopefully I don't starve before I reach that speck in the distance. Seems calmer. Maybe i'll find some friends.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Gilga and the boys
Below, a rendering of the undead Gilga standing over the beheaded corpse of Lord Aaron as the great Bayoomba lunges at him from above and Kerkas rushes up the gravel to purge him with divine magic!
And here we have the team that set in motion a ten-year scheme to release a demon of immeasurable power onto the world!! FOOLS
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
And here we have the team that set in motion a ten-year scheme to release a demon of immeasurable power onto the world!! FOOLS
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Backstory: Karuk, the orc priest from Shirish
Shirish - the orc village on the western edge of the dire peaks, overlooking the dark seas.
Shirish is a small village, comprising of a mix of coexisting orcs, humans, and a small number of elves.
This has naturally created some breeding between races - thus leading to half-orcs, and in some rare, often disturbing cases, half orc/half elves.
The village's main religion is that of Abadar, the god of wealth, merchants, enterprise and holy-magics. This was brought about when the orcs witnessed the destruction of Terraxus from afar, and a small band of rangers from the east had descended upon them, wishing to seek trade and commune, bringing gods and rare items with them.
Another religion practiced in strictest secret, deep within the caverns just south-east of the village is that of Zogadug. The main priest for the church of life and death is Edrazor, an old and withered, grey orc. He is not very trusted by the majority of those whom live in the village, however to those who practice his faith, he is treated as a father.
The small town is run by a powerful and respected Orc, Godrung, a warchief and fighter of strong renown in the dire peaks! His small band of raiders often patrol the northern peaks, seeking out new tests for their strengths in the ways of hill giants, young dragons and otyughs.
The few elves and half-elves that live alongside these beastly counterparts run the merchant side of things and inspire training in the ways of the arcane arts. Although small and often disregarded as mere playfulness, the magic-wielding elves of the peaks are nothing to be smirked at.
On one fateful eve, remembered by a few, a cloaked stranger entered the village. He appeared to be looking for something.. something he knew the orcs had attained at some point, and was willing to trade a great amount of gold for it. This was dismissed as nonsense and he was asked to leave on many occasions.
Not believing that the orc warchief or his head priest or wizards were telling the truth, the man, under the cover of night, broke into the forbidden cave of Zogadug - reaping and removing any who stood in his path. Whatever it was the man found, he screamed in excitement at its recovery and had hidden it before anyone could have noticed. Elisa, Karuks lover, a beautiful half-elf archer in the village, also studying under the clergy, had attempted to stop the stranger, and was struck down by a strange dark bolt.
A disease awakened in her the next day as Karuk was tending to her wounds, one which did not appear to have any known source of treatment. The priests in town were all very afraid that day and not one bore a smile for as long as karuk could remember until the day he left in search of answers... ..whatever had been taken, was clearly of grave, serious importance to his clans healers. He vowed then and there to dedicate his mind to the teachings of zogadug, and to bring his lover back from the dark place she was sent to.. and to put an end to the dark, cloaked figure that took her from him.
Karuk also, before leaving the village, undertook a massive initiation into the church of life and death, being taught the basic ways of healing, the understanding and respect for the dead, and how to bend the undead to his will. He vowed he would use whatever powers came to him to bring his lover back, as he truly feels within himself, that she should not have been taken from this world, and that this sin must be undone, thus, restoring, motherfucking balance.
**Regarding Zogadug.
Zogadug was a swirling chaos that appeared out of the cosmic energy left behind in the aether after lolth had finished constructing her world, Udossta Valshath. He came to be and occurred as the carrier and bringer of the dead to the other side. Being of such simple and dark design, Zogadug has no true emotion when it comes to the dead or the transition from life to death, however, he has slowly been able to form an empathy for those whom he traffics daily. He, therefore, holds very dear to himself, the energies that surround both the divine death magics, and the ones that bring life. Maintaining this balance is of utmost importance to Zogadug.
He has been said to have been seen at very rare points in time, wandering the dire peaks and badlands of the continent by world-weary travellers - these sightings often being brushed off by listeners as simple fantasy. All articles of his sightings have, however, maintained similar descriptions of a tall, dark character, wearing the skull of a ram, and carrying a scythe resembling a spinal cord, with a cloak of feathers and leaves.
Not truly ever relating to or forming friendships or relations with other gods, Zogadug is a very lonely and isolated diety.. weather this speaks to his disturbing appearance and demeaner or his intimidating nature is relative to the god who considers him.
Those whom worship Zogadug often come to him during times when matters of life and/or death are of utmost importance to them, so much so that it begins to consume their entire nature or being, or sense of self. His followers are zealous, as he is, and always seek a balance in life and death, often seeking others to look after and see through to death, so that they too may be carried safely to the other side.
Zogadugs symbol is that of a skull surrounded by thorny vines, sometimes vines with rose petals growing off them. Romantic as it appears, it is usually colored in tones of grey.
Zogadugs favored weapon is the morning star, signifying the first star, the lone light in the sky.
Shirish is a small village, comprising of a mix of coexisting orcs, humans, and a small number of elves.
This has naturally created some breeding between races - thus leading to half-orcs, and in some rare, often disturbing cases, half orc/half elves.
The village's main religion is that of Abadar, the god of wealth, merchants, enterprise and holy-magics. This was brought about when the orcs witnessed the destruction of Terraxus from afar, and a small band of rangers from the east had descended upon them, wishing to seek trade and commune, bringing gods and rare items with them.
Another religion practiced in strictest secret, deep within the caverns just south-east of the village is that of Zogadug. The main priest for the church of life and death is Edrazor, an old and withered, grey orc. He is not very trusted by the majority of those whom live in the village, however to those who practice his faith, he is treated as a father.
The small town is run by a powerful and respected Orc, Godrung, a warchief and fighter of strong renown in the dire peaks! His small band of raiders often patrol the northern peaks, seeking out new tests for their strengths in the ways of hill giants, young dragons and otyughs.
The few elves and half-elves that live alongside these beastly counterparts run the merchant side of things and inspire training in the ways of the arcane arts. Although small and often disregarded as mere playfulness, the magic-wielding elves of the peaks are nothing to be smirked at.
On one fateful eve, remembered by a few, a cloaked stranger entered the village. He appeared to be looking for something.. something he knew the orcs had attained at some point, and was willing to trade a great amount of gold for it. This was dismissed as nonsense and he was asked to leave on many occasions.
Not believing that the orc warchief or his head priest or wizards were telling the truth, the man, under the cover of night, broke into the forbidden cave of Zogadug - reaping and removing any who stood in his path. Whatever it was the man found, he screamed in excitement at its recovery and had hidden it before anyone could have noticed. Elisa, Karuks lover, a beautiful half-elf archer in the village, also studying under the clergy, had attempted to stop the stranger, and was struck down by a strange dark bolt.
A disease awakened in her the next day as Karuk was tending to her wounds, one which did not appear to have any known source of treatment. The priests in town were all very afraid that day and not one bore a smile for as long as karuk could remember until the day he left in search of answers... ..whatever had been taken, was clearly of grave, serious importance to his clans healers. He vowed then and there to dedicate his mind to the teachings of zogadug, and to bring his lover back from the dark place she was sent to.. and to put an end to the dark, cloaked figure that took her from him.
Karuk also, before leaving the village, undertook a massive initiation into the church of life and death, being taught the basic ways of healing, the understanding and respect for the dead, and how to bend the undead to his will. He vowed he would use whatever powers came to him to bring his lover back, as he truly feels within himself, that she should not have been taken from this world, and that this sin must be undone, thus, restoring, motherfucking balance.
**Regarding Zogadug.
Zogadug was a swirling chaos that appeared out of the cosmic energy left behind in the aether after lolth had finished constructing her world, Udossta Valshath. He came to be and occurred as the carrier and bringer of the dead to the other side. Being of such simple and dark design, Zogadug has no true emotion when it comes to the dead or the transition from life to death, however, he has slowly been able to form an empathy for those whom he traffics daily. He, therefore, holds very dear to himself, the energies that surround both the divine death magics, and the ones that bring life. Maintaining this balance is of utmost importance to Zogadug.
He has been said to have been seen at very rare points in time, wandering the dire peaks and badlands of the continent by world-weary travellers - these sightings often being brushed off by listeners as simple fantasy. All articles of his sightings have, however, maintained similar descriptions of a tall, dark character, wearing the skull of a ram, and carrying a scythe resembling a spinal cord, with a cloak of feathers and leaves.
Not truly ever relating to or forming friendships or relations with other gods, Zogadug is a very lonely and isolated diety.. weather this speaks to his disturbing appearance and demeaner or his intimidating nature is relative to the god who considers him.
Those whom worship Zogadug often come to him during times when matters of life and/or death are of utmost importance to them, so much so that it begins to consume their entire nature or being, or sense of self. His followers are zealous, as he is, and always seek a balance in life and death, often seeking others to look after and see through to death, so that they too may be carried safely to the other side.
Zogadugs symbol is that of a skull surrounded by thorny vines, sometimes vines with rose petals growing off them. Romantic as it appears, it is usually colored in tones of grey.
Zogadugs favored weapon is the morning star, signifying the first star, the lone light in the sky.
The Undead Incursion, and the levelling of Brumswinkle..
The morning of the following day crept upon those sleeping closest to the front gates faster than it did anyone else in Brumswinkle - as the sounds of dogs being shot ensued, flanked with screams and yells from the few troops whose shifts were still in progress, bolstering ranks and requesting backup as the undead neared.
Brog awoke and immediately started running through town to fetch those who were not already awake and alert - summoning Lord Aaron, hundreds of his soldiers he had personally trained, and those in the mage academy. The Priests from the temple followed brog hurriedly as they knew time was of the essence, bringing with them the thousands of vials of holy water they had managed to accrue, taking them straight to the academy to be divied up between the ranks of adepts and the counsel. It was at this point that Sebastian and Kirix awoke to join the fray within the academies walls, only to see brog guiding people out, and the clergy, Karuk included, handing out vials of holy water to all who were exiting the building. They too were handed a series of vials.
The two rogues that were in town on a... 'mission' of sorts... the.... 'merchants', were heartily enjoying waking up to the calming voice of their innkeep and new close friend, Horros, within the comforting, enclosed confines of his inn and tavern, Kreth! A hot breakfast was passed around for all those enjoying the lock-in for the day, and the rounds of ale and drunken cheer commenced!
As the area around the front gate started to fill and crowd with those ready for battle, Sebastian requested a blessing from his friend, the cleric, before hoisting himself up ontop of the barracks. Hakache, having now awoken from his new abode with the Lord Aaron household, strung together his fighting garb and gear, and departed, seeing his mother doing much the same, his brothers hiding under the dining table. The ranger made his way towards the center of town, to find things already beginning, as roars descended over the foothills, and swathes of the undead menace started to descend on the moat.
Dead crows, the size of men, descended on the archers manning the top of the gates, all of them taking ages to destroy, only to explode into murders of small crows that continued their wretched assault! The zombies had just about reached the moat, and all those at the front braced themselves for an impact when a small undead dragon screamed out of the ranks and slammed down into the front entrance, only to be halted by Kerkas, who was exerting all of his energy into a ward against the undead! The menace attempted to break the shield and roared in rage, completely distracted by this irritating temporary barrier. Brog at this point charged past Kerkas and threw a rope over the beasts head, leaping forward and swinging ontop of the thing to assault it from atop its shoulders!!
A number of disturbing images swept past the eyes of any close enough to behold the sights at the front gates - An undead giant began to wade towards the front wall, only to be stopped by Typhus, who shapechanged into a giant, himself, locking hands with the thing over the gate! The swarm at this point had finally started to trample over itself in the moat and had overcome the holy barrier, beginning their climb over kerkas' shield, and the very walls themselves, the archers and mages with their vials of holy water stemming the tide only ever so slightly. More Crows started to tear down onto those behind the gates as this went on, Lord Aaron slicing one in half, leaving his men to deal with the murders that exited the corpse. Sebastian, Hakache and Brog all noticed at the same time as Gilga, the horrifying leader of this menace, stepped out from the mist of his ranks and slowly waded through the bubble Kerkas had put up, paying no heed to it or him. ...
20 soldiers ran towards him, ten to the dragon and ten to gilga, as he made his way into town. He lashed out and fell six of them in seconds, not slowing. Lord Aaron let out a trembling roar and charged the brazen warlord, locking weapons and putting the two into a deadly mortal combat that none could intrude on. Sebastian, realising he was not going to add any aid to this disturbing duel, pulled out the strange flask Michael had done the courtesy of bestowing on him at one point, and leapt over the wall to the masses of zombies, and drank every last drop of it!!
What followed was a sight none will ever see again in their lifetimes.. A titan erupted from the ground outside the gates, growing and growing to epic proportions until it dwarfed even the giants that stumbled past and around him as they were incinerated by fireballs that were flying out from the zenith of the mages academy, leagues away. The obsidian beast of burden almost touched the clouds, wreaking havoc and destruction amongst the swarm of the diseased with its 6 arms and crushing, mountainous legs!! Sebastian lost control as his transformation neared its end, a red haze covering his vision, as he wrestled for dominance! The terrifying creature swung down onto the masses with four of its hands, smashing down into the crowds around him, sending out shockwaves of might and destruction, sending friend and foe alike reeling to the ground, and tearing down the once proud family business that was the inn, Yondallas Rest!!
As more fireballs stemmed from the articulate hands of Markis towards the ravenous dirge of giants, and the monstrous Sebastian tore into their flanks from the front, Brog started stabbing his way up the spine of the dragon heralding the force infront of Kerkas, right up to its neck and decapitated the beast, before performing a magnificent leap from its reanimated corpse to one of the legs of the giant wrestling Typhus over the battlements!!
The zombies finally started to pour over the walls at this point, wresting control of the front gate, and falling over them, into the main streets of Brumswinkle. The horde had arrived.
The bard in town had begun her song to inspire courage and hope amongst all within the surrounding central area of town, aiding the soldiers around her in their desperate fight against the coming swarm, as Lord Aaron continued his razor-sharp duel with the menacing and dark, crowned, reanimated barbarian warrior before him. The clergy and wizard adepts in town had continued their barrage against the teaming might of the zombies with their almost unending supply of holy water vials - incinerating masses of them before they were able to hit the towns main forces. Kerkas and the now invisible Kirix continued to aid those around them with supporting spells and sent some extra power in the way of divine inspiration to Hakache as he brandished his longsword, charging Gilga to aid his father in his fight!
The ranger rushed towards the dark figure, but before he could land any sort of attack, the barbarian nimbly dodge an assault of Lord Aarons and sliced outwards with his frozen glave, almost rending the lords son straight to an icey grave!! "NO SON!!!! THIS IS MY FIGHT, HEAL YOURSELF AND HELP THE TOWN!! DO IT," yelled Lord Aaron, bolstering his sons will to fight on and sending him back. The boy drank down his one healing potion and started sprinting back towards his home for further aid, noticing the bard in town also skitting back, as she was being chased by a small band of undead, now that the breach was widening and more were pouring through.
Sebastian had regained conscious control of his disturbing large body for a moment amongst the mayhem, and quickly went to assist the others, smashing two giants into the ground, as yet another was incinerated before him by Markis from afar. He started to see a haze soon after, and could feel his control slipping yet again as rage boiled up within him from the delight of all of the destruction.. ..his obsidian fingers starting to twitch and tingle, his mind slipping into the background..... .. The guards at this point were being pushed back and losing more and more to the ravenous foes besetting them. As more fell, more arose, their friends returning to bite and gnaw and lash at those they once sought to protect. The horde had pushed the fight back into the center of town, around the statue of plib, the cleric Karuk and his mounted friend, Kirix, with their backs to the golden field, were fending off a dozen of the risen, as more ran past, chasing the ranger and bard, hundreds to the north almost swarming ontop of the flanks of trained townsfolk attempting to protect their loved ones!
Two horrific occurances took place over the course of the next 30 seconds... as the enraged and furious obsidian hulk to the north suddenly leapt hundreds of feet into the air, dropping down to crush all beneath him. More than 700 of the coming waves of undead were crushed or pulped or obliterated or sent flying to untimely second deaths by the crushing, earthquake-manifesting crescendo of the jump, shockwaves and rocky destruction pulsing out for miles.... Brumswinkle buckled, and the ground started to give way, as those in town were again, thrown back on their feet, or worse. The statue in the center of town, and the area surrounding it, gave way to a sink hole, falling through alongside many of the army, including Lord Aaron and his pursuer. The bridge that allowed crossing between the crescent and upper circle had fallen, taking with it the zombies chasing the bard and ranger.. more of the small town cracked and wavered, severing the connection between the western slums and the crescent, crushing the cave beneath town, and further destroying Yondallas Rest. The town was in ruin. The giant facing off with Typhus and Brog fell, the half-ogre and head of the sorcerers guild moving on to face other important threats.
As Gilga and Lord Aaron continued to connect weapons and strike at eachother, each taking and giving disturbingly large and viscious assaults, a new horrific sight wandered into the town through the gate... Aryall. Bearing the hat of hatreds, all whom looked upon her saw one thing: that which they hated most in this world. The first to react to this was Kirix, who was already commanding an orb of boiling water which he had been using to help fell the giants assaulting the town - he sent it crashing down on what he perceived to be the worlds tallest man, an offence in every way to his struggle to maintain dominance over all! By this point, Hakache had managed to heal himself back at the house of Aaron, and ensured that his brothers were kept safe. He then mounted Bayoomba, The Long Sex, and the two leapt heroicly over the massive divide between the crescent and upper circle, back to the action!! The bard decided to make her way west towards the slums, as she had noticed a giant laying siege to the inn, Kreth!
By now, the giant to the west had punched massive holes into the weak foundations of the building, crushing most within, including, sadly, the charismatic and friendly orc owner, Kreth. The Tengu rogue within was still unharmed, having managed to nimbly dodge the brazen, bulky fists! He wasn't, however, able to dodge the next thing that came for him, in the way of a large undead crow. Charlie, who happened to have run like a madman to Kreth once he realised how scary the attack was going to be in the morning, leapt in a frenzy from out of nowhere, wielding what looked to be a hand bound in bits of bone, at the attacking dead avian, aiding the tengu!
With some fantastic effort, Karuk had started channeling positive energy in the area surrounding him, wiping out many of the undead coming for him and his friend in the upper circle. The battle below them waged on between the two titans, and giants were still coming. Sebastian by this point had gained some control again, and leaned over to grab the giant laying waste to Kreth - he proceeded to throw him at the lumbering oaf wading over the river veldt to the east, missing and crushing what once was the market place, and the docks. The obliterated corpse of the giant he threw clogged up the river it rolled in to, severing its connection to the channel dividing both halves of town, and flooding the eastern slums - the eastern giant pressed on to attack Hakache, who was responding in kind with holy rocks, blessed by Karuk, which he pelted at it from the slings attached to his mounts antlers.
Aryall had started to boil and cook, her hat all but ruined and the magic burned away. Her true form was revealed, and as brog waded his way into the central area, he pulled out what explosive potions he had left, seeing the hundreds of zombies surrounding her as she wandered towards those still living, and flung away. The resulting explosion was more than enough to cook away and obliterate over 50 zombies, including the returned form of one of his closest friends. This would cost the head priest of town, however, as he had already lost one son that day... and now both were gone... One caught in the fires, a sad victim to friendly fire. The rage that started to filter through the small, loving man, sent him kareening into the remainder of the horde filtering into town, and he sent out a pulse of such powerful divine energy that it wiped out 90% of the remaining attackers in town!!
The hulking form of Sebastian, still under his control, managed to wade over to the final giant to the east, picked it up, and started squeezing out whatever undead life was coursing through it. All eyes turned to the furious mish-mash of blades and fury in the hole in the middle of town, over the destroyed statue of plib. The two seemed evenly matched for as long as the battle had been waging, until a moment of simple hesitation. As the two each dodged oncoming attacks from hakache, and the few undead that had fallen down with them, Gilga took a massive gash to his side from the searing and powerful holy blade wielded by Hakaches father, before swiping a clean and unholy, frozen assault straight through Lord Aarons neck. The long-praised saviour of Terraxus, one of the 7... had fallen. As his body slumped down to the rubble, knees buckling over fallen foundations and marble, Brog, Hakache and Karuk all screamed toward Gilga with everything they had - - - and before any blade could reach the mad usurper, the divine energy reaching out from karuks staff tore into the barbarians flesh and burst out from it, a final resounding 'thank you' coughed out from between his lips. Gilga, the proud, the brazen, the mighty last barbarian on Udossta Valshath, of the Bloodmyst bloodline, slayer of Lord Aaron, turned to ash.. his frozen glave, the strange page he held, and his dark, golden, gemmed crown, falling to the ground.
~ to be continued.
Brog awoke and immediately started running through town to fetch those who were not already awake and alert - summoning Lord Aaron, hundreds of his soldiers he had personally trained, and those in the mage academy. The Priests from the temple followed brog hurriedly as they knew time was of the essence, bringing with them the thousands of vials of holy water they had managed to accrue, taking them straight to the academy to be divied up between the ranks of adepts and the counsel. It was at this point that Sebastian and Kirix awoke to join the fray within the academies walls, only to see brog guiding people out, and the clergy, Karuk included, handing out vials of holy water to all who were exiting the building. They too were handed a series of vials.
The two rogues that were in town on a... 'mission' of sorts... the.... 'merchants', were heartily enjoying waking up to the calming voice of their innkeep and new close friend, Horros, within the comforting, enclosed confines of his inn and tavern, Kreth! A hot breakfast was passed around for all those enjoying the lock-in for the day, and the rounds of ale and drunken cheer commenced!
As the area around the front gate started to fill and crowd with those ready for battle, Sebastian requested a blessing from his friend, the cleric, before hoisting himself up ontop of the barracks. Hakache, having now awoken from his new abode with the Lord Aaron household, strung together his fighting garb and gear, and departed, seeing his mother doing much the same, his brothers hiding under the dining table. The ranger made his way towards the center of town, to find things already beginning, as roars descended over the foothills, and swathes of the undead menace started to descend on the moat.
Dead crows, the size of men, descended on the archers manning the top of the gates, all of them taking ages to destroy, only to explode into murders of small crows that continued their wretched assault! The zombies had just about reached the moat, and all those at the front braced themselves for an impact when a small undead dragon screamed out of the ranks and slammed down into the front entrance, only to be halted by Kerkas, who was exerting all of his energy into a ward against the undead! The menace attempted to break the shield and roared in rage, completely distracted by this irritating temporary barrier. Brog at this point charged past Kerkas and threw a rope over the beasts head, leaping forward and swinging ontop of the thing to assault it from atop its shoulders!!
A number of disturbing images swept past the eyes of any close enough to behold the sights at the front gates - An undead giant began to wade towards the front wall, only to be stopped by Typhus, who shapechanged into a giant, himself, locking hands with the thing over the gate! The swarm at this point had finally started to trample over itself in the moat and had overcome the holy barrier, beginning their climb over kerkas' shield, and the very walls themselves, the archers and mages with their vials of holy water stemming the tide only ever so slightly. More Crows started to tear down onto those behind the gates as this went on, Lord Aaron slicing one in half, leaving his men to deal with the murders that exited the corpse. Sebastian, Hakache and Brog all noticed at the same time as Gilga, the horrifying leader of this menace, stepped out from the mist of his ranks and slowly waded through the bubble Kerkas had put up, paying no heed to it or him. ...
20 soldiers ran towards him, ten to the dragon and ten to gilga, as he made his way into town. He lashed out and fell six of them in seconds, not slowing. Lord Aaron let out a trembling roar and charged the brazen warlord, locking weapons and putting the two into a deadly mortal combat that none could intrude on. Sebastian, realising he was not going to add any aid to this disturbing duel, pulled out the strange flask Michael had done the courtesy of bestowing on him at one point, and leapt over the wall to the masses of zombies, and drank every last drop of it!!
What followed was a sight none will ever see again in their lifetimes.. A titan erupted from the ground outside the gates, growing and growing to epic proportions until it dwarfed even the giants that stumbled past and around him as they were incinerated by fireballs that were flying out from the zenith of the mages academy, leagues away. The obsidian beast of burden almost touched the clouds, wreaking havoc and destruction amongst the swarm of the diseased with its 6 arms and crushing, mountainous legs!! Sebastian lost control as his transformation neared its end, a red haze covering his vision, as he wrestled for dominance! The terrifying creature swung down onto the masses with four of its hands, smashing down into the crowds around him, sending out shockwaves of might and destruction, sending friend and foe alike reeling to the ground, and tearing down the once proud family business that was the inn, Yondallas Rest!!
As more fireballs stemmed from the articulate hands of Markis towards the ravenous dirge of giants, and the monstrous Sebastian tore into their flanks from the front, Brog started stabbing his way up the spine of the dragon heralding the force infront of Kerkas, right up to its neck and decapitated the beast, before performing a magnificent leap from its reanimated corpse to one of the legs of the giant wrestling Typhus over the battlements!!
The zombies finally started to pour over the walls at this point, wresting control of the front gate, and falling over them, into the main streets of Brumswinkle. The horde had arrived.
The bard in town had begun her song to inspire courage and hope amongst all within the surrounding central area of town, aiding the soldiers around her in their desperate fight against the coming swarm, as Lord Aaron continued his razor-sharp duel with the menacing and dark, crowned, reanimated barbarian warrior before him. The clergy and wizard adepts in town had continued their barrage against the teaming might of the zombies with their almost unending supply of holy water vials - incinerating masses of them before they were able to hit the towns main forces. Kerkas and the now invisible Kirix continued to aid those around them with supporting spells and sent some extra power in the way of divine inspiration to Hakache as he brandished his longsword, charging Gilga to aid his father in his fight!
The ranger rushed towards the dark figure, but before he could land any sort of attack, the barbarian nimbly dodge an assault of Lord Aarons and sliced outwards with his frozen glave, almost rending the lords son straight to an icey grave!! "NO SON!!!! THIS IS MY FIGHT, HEAL YOURSELF AND HELP THE TOWN!! DO IT," yelled Lord Aaron, bolstering his sons will to fight on and sending him back. The boy drank down his one healing potion and started sprinting back towards his home for further aid, noticing the bard in town also skitting back, as she was being chased by a small band of undead, now that the breach was widening and more were pouring through.
Sebastian had regained conscious control of his disturbing large body for a moment amongst the mayhem, and quickly went to assist the others, smashing two giants into the ground, as yet another was incinerated before him by Markis from afar. He started to see a haze soon after, and could feel his control slipping yet again as rage boiled up within him from the delight of all of the destruction.. ..his obsidian fingers starting to twitch and tingle, his mind slipping into the background..... .. The guards at this point were being pushed back and losing more and more to the ravenous foes besetting them. As more fell, more arose, their friends returning to bite and gnaw and lash at those they once sought to protect. The horde had pushed the fight back into the center of town, around the statue of plib, the cleric Karuk and his mounted friend, Kirix, with their backs to the golden field, were fending off a dozen of the risen, as more ran past, chasing the ranger and bard, hundreds to the north almost swarming ontop of the flanks of trained townsfolk attempting to protect their loved ones!
Two horrific occurances took place over the course of the next 30 seconds... as the enraged and furious obsidian hulk to the north suddenly leapt hundreds of feet into the air, dropping down to crush all beneath him. More than 700 of the coming waves of undead were crushed or pulped or obliterated or sent flying to untimely second deaths by the crushing, earthquake-manifesting crescendo of the jump, shockwaves and rocky destruction pulsing out for miles.... Brumswinkle buckled, and the ground started to give way, as those in town were again, thrown back on their feet, or worse. The statue in the center of town, and the area surrounding it, gave way to a sink hole, falling through alongside many of the army, including Lord Aaron and his pursuer. The bridge that allowed crossing between the crescent and upper circle had fallen, taking with it the zombies chasing the bard and ranger.. more of the small town cracked and wavered, severing the connection between the western slums and the crescent, crushing the cave beneath town, and further destroying Yondallas Rest. The town was in ruin. The giant facing off with Typhus and Brog fell, the half-ogre and head of the sorcerers guild moving on to face other important threats.
As Gilga and Lord Aaron continued to connect weapons and strike at eachother, each taking and giving disturbingly large and viscious assaults, a new horrific sight wandered into the town through the gate... Aryall. Bearing the hat of hatreds, all whom looked upon her saw one thing: that which they hated most in this world. The first to react to this was Kirix, who was already commanding an orb of boiling water which he had been using to help fell the giants assaulting the town - he sent it crashing down on what he perceived to be the worlds tallest man, an offence in every way to his struggle to maintain dominance over all! By this point, Hakache had managed to heal himself back at the house of Aaron, and ensured that his brothers were kept safe. He then mounted Bayoomba, The Long Sex, and the two leapt heroicly over the massive divide between the crescent and upper circle, back to the action!! The bard decided to make her way west towards the slums, as she had noticed a giant laying siege to the inn, Kreth!
By now, the giant to the west had punched massive holes into the weak foundations of the building, crushing most within, including, sadly, the charismatic and friendly orc owner, Kreth. The Tengu rogue within was still unharmed, having managed to nimbly dodge the brazen, bulky fists! He wasn't, however, able to dodge the next thing that came for him, in the way of a large undead crow. Charlie, who happened to have run like a madman to Kreth once he realised how scary the attack was going to be in the morning, leapt in a frenzy from out of nowhere, wielding what looked to be a hand bound in bits of bone, at the attacking dead avian, aiding the tengu!
With some fantastic effort, Karuk had started channeling positive energy in the area surrounding him, wiping out many of the undead coming for him and his friend in the upper circle. The battle below them waged on between the two titans, and giants were still coming. Sebastian by this point had gained some control again, and leaned over to grab the giant laying waste to Kreth - he proceeded to throw him at the lumbering oaf wading over the river veldt to the east, missing and crushing what once was the market place, and the docks. The obliterated corpse of the giant he threw clogged up the river it rolled in to, severing its connection to the channel dividing both halves of town, and flooding the eastern slums - the eastern giant pressed on to attack Hakache, who was responding in kind with holy rocks, blessed by Karuk, which he pelted at it from the slings attached to his mounts antlers.
Aryall had started to boil and cook, her hat all but ruined and the magic burned away. Her true form was revealed, and as brog waded his way into the central area, he pulled out what explosive potions he had left, seeing the hundreds of zombies surrounding her as she wandered towards those still living, and flung away. The resulting explosion was more than enough to cook away and obliterate over 50 zombies, including the returned form of one of his closest friends. This would cost the head priest of town, however, as he had already lost one son that day... and now both were gone... One caught in the fires, a sad victim to friendly fire. The rage that started to filter through the small, loving man, sent him kareening into the remainder of the horde filtering into town, and he sent out a pulse of such powerful divine energy that it wiped out 90% of the remaining attackers in town!!
The hulking form of Sebastian, still under his control, managed to wade over to the final giant to the east, picked it up, and started squeezing out whatever undead life was coursing through it. All eyes turned to the furious mish-mash of blades and fury in the hole in the middle of town, over the destroyed statue of plib. The two seemed evenly matched for as long as the battle had been waging, until a moment of simple hesitation. As the two each dodged oncoming attacks from hakache, and the few undead that had fallen down with them, Gilga took a massive gash to his side from the searing and powerful holy blade wielded by Hakaches father, before swiping a clean and unholy, frozen assault straight through Lord Aarons neck. The long-praised saviour of Terraxus, one of the 7... had fallen. As his body slumped down to the rubble, knees buckling over fallen foundations and marble, Brog, Hakache and Karuk all screamed toward Gilga with everything they had - - - and before any blade could reach the mad usurper, the divine energy reaching out from karuks staff tore into the barbarians flesh and burst out from it, a final resounding 'thank you' coughed out from between his lips. Gilga, the proud, the brazen, the mighty last barbarian on Udossta Valshath, of the Bloodmyst bloodline, slayer of Lord Aaron, turned to ash.. his frozen glave, the strange page he held, and his dark, golden, gemmed crown, falling to the ground.
~ to be continued.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
The Story -- continued
* And so it was that the party managed to make their way back to Brumswinkle, stealing with them the safe Aaron household.
Upon returning to Brumswinkle, however, it appeared they'd lost something in exchange. Gilga had been through and passed on to somewhere else during their absence, and now the mad squid was torn down, Kane and Barry nowhere to be found.
The town also appeared very intent on securing itself further as Gilga had allegedly been spreading word that a dragon was indeed descending upon it to annihilate them, and that Aryall and co. had betrayed them to him. Proving these allegations incorrect, they steadfastly worked towards helping to calm the town down, as they went about trading and sorting out the riches and spoils they had amassed from their exposure to the dragons den.
It was during this time that Brog returned to attempting to reconstruct his 'Brogs Boys' company, a small idea he had considered awhile ago before the teams trek south had ever begun. His previous venture had cost the lives of a few disturbed friends of the local 'bone' trader, Charlie... one Ree, Rennis and Frank. All burned alive during an 'incident' that took place in the original BB barracks.
While this was being reconstructed in a new area closer to the front gate of town, with the help of Smith, the reformed local drunk and ex-paladin in tow, and Stickyfingers, the aptly named fighter with the cursed swordhand whom once posed as a pursuer of Gilga, some new figures emerged in town. A ranger, from the north west foothills, named Hakache, an alchemist from North Port, named Sebastian, and an orc cleric bearing the corpse of his over, from the northern Dire Peaks.
These characters all appeared in Brumswinkle for unique reasons and slowly started to form a friendship together in the local tavern, The Golden Field. A sorcerer-apprentice from the wizards academy, Kirix, had also been familiarising himself with the grounds outside of the academy during this time, and started to befriend the newcomers, as did Aryall the pure.
The new friends quickly came upon and met the charismatic Brog and were inducted in to his 'organisation' as the new initiates for brogs boys. He advised them they'd be undertaking an initiation within the next few days which he had planned out to test their mettle. This would not eventuate, however, as news soon swept through town that the livestock from the northern farms in town were starting to see disease and plague, which was affecting food and the livelyhood of those nearby.
Aryall banded together the new adventurers, and after some investigating they discovered the source of the plague - a local farmhouse just outside of the towns walls. After purging this, along to the sweet melodies strummed by a bard fan-girl of Aryalls who happened to be in the area, they noticed a zombie crow quickly exiting the scene, north. This was shot down by Hakache, and the group agreed to scout further north.
A half days walk went on over the northern plains along Plibbs path, and the group stopped, towards the evening, noticing that indeed, the entire horizon line was moving. Steadying their eyes and watching closely, the group realised this was an army of the undead... it's destination uncertain to them. To determine the armies exact size and nature, the bard who had followed them summoned some light-globes and sent them outwards towards the disturbing sight, lighting it up! This of course caught the immediate attention of the force and its leader, turning the thousand eyes on the group and their town behind them... .. A quick note to the sudden change in their direction, their speed, and how far away they were, suggested to the ranger of the group that they had approximately 4 days until the arrival of this daunting army.
Racing back, the group commited the next 4 days to alerting town and making preparations. By the night before the assault, they had prepared a mote, thousands of vials of holy water, trained over 500 townsfolk in the basic arts of combat, and readied the wizards and clergy.
- an interesting thing also happened on the night before the assault..
Aryall, amassing a large amount of oil from town and some potions, summoned a steed and headed north, to meet the man whom she assumed was leading the force. And indeed, it was Gilga, bearing his golden crown. Something was different about him, however... he was dead. Dead and walking... And now holding his glave with one hand, the other holding what appeared to be some kind of page or scripture.. his dead eyes, now black holes with tiny red embers within them.
Arriving not 100 meters from the horde, Aryall left her steed and readied herself for the ordeal facing her. Pouring oil over the grass infront of her and lighting it, before stepping back and loosing a potion of frost to construct a small wall infront of her before imbibing a potion of giant growth to become huge, she prepared for undead barbarians arrival, as he had temporarily halted his armies march and started to charge at the woman.
A ray of harsh light was shot out of the paladins sword at Gilgas face, temporarily slowing his ascent, before bowing down to pray, and finally lobbing an explosion potion at the fiend as he continued his deadly sprint. The barbarian was far too agile for the explosive attack and leapt past it, gracefully falling over the paladin with his glave and slicing it straight into her shoulder and down through her armor and over her chest as he landed at her feet, missing with his second attack and connecting with his third, gashing another massive, icey wound out of her.
Realising she had but seconds left, Aryall the pure dropped her sword and shield, raised her hands and started to unbuckle her armor and garb. The act appeared to cause a reaction in the fierce warrior, piercing into some hidden strand of consciousness left behind from his previous self, buried deep in his mind. She continued on, bleeding out copiously and slowly advancing on the warrior, his terrifying screams of rage echoing over the foothills, reaching into every crevice and nook beyond Brumswinkle and the forrest of Aggad'savol. Almost upon the barbarian, Aryall stated calmly to him, 'I like your crown, Gilga.. but what good is a king.. without a queen', and reaching into her bag of holding, she pulled out her hat of hatreds, placing it on her head. <--- (little sidenote here that she had actually forgotten, the hat of hatreds is a cursed hat. it appears to one as a hat which shall change the wearers look to that of something of their choosing. It, however, will only ever make the wearer look like whatever it is the viewer despises and detests most in the universe.)
Upon seeing this vision appear before him, the barbarian flew into a rage she had never seen and sliced the paladin in half. This scene, as it played out, was being watched by the alchemist, Sebastian, and the head of arcane wizardry in the academy, Markis, as sebastian had come to warn him of aryalls sudden, and worrying departure. What they saw horrified them, but what scared them more was what occurred after her slaughter... For Gilga then, in a sort of undead manner, staggered over to the corpse of the girl, lifted up the page in his left hand, and began to read it. A dark, swirling energy swathed out from the dead skin of the grizzly man and entered her fallen flesh, reinvigorating it and stitching it together. After a few minutes, Aryall arose, bent over to pick up her sword, and slowly started marching forward alongside him, as the army caught up with the two and slowly enveloped them.
~~~
Tune in soon for the incursion.
Upon returning to Brumswinkle, however, it appeared they'd lost something in exchange. Gilga had been through and passed on to somewhere else during their absence, and now the mad squid was torn down, Kane and Barry nowhere to be found.
The town also appeared very intent on securing itself further as Gilga had allegedly been spreading word that a dragon was indeed descending upon it to annihilate them, and that Aryall and co. had betrayed them to him. Proving these allegations incorrect, they steadfastly worked towards helping to calm the town down, as they went about trading and sorting out the riches and spoils they had amassed from their exposure to the dragons den.
It was during this time that Brog returned to attempting to reconstruct his 'Brogs Boys' company, a small idea he had considered awhile ago before the teams trek south had ever begun. His previous venture had cost the lives of a few disturbed friends of the local 'bone' trader, Charlie... one Ree, Rennis and Frank. All burned alive during an 'incident' that took place in the original BB barracks.
While this was being reconstructed in a new area closer to the front gate of town, with the help of Smith, the reformed local drunk and ex-paladin in tow, and Stickyfingers, the aptly named fighter with the cursed swordhand whom once posed as a pursuer of Gilga, some new figures emerged in town. A ranger, from the north west foothills, named Hakache, an alchemist from North Port, named Sebastian, and an orc cleric bearing the corpse of his over, from the northern Dire Peaks.
These characters all appeared in Brumswinkle for unique reasons and slowly started to form a friendship together in the local tavern, The Golden Field. A sorcerer-apprentice from the wizards academy, Kirix, had also been familiarising himself with the grounds outside of the academy during this time, and started to befriend the newcomers, as did Aryall the pure.
The new friends quickly came upon and met the charismatic Brog and were inducted in to his 'organisation' as the new initiates for brogs boys. He advised them they'd be undertaking an initiation within the next few days which he had planned out to test their mettle. This would not eventuate, however, as news soon swept through town that the livestock from the northern farms in town were starting to see disease and plague, which was affecting food and the livelyhood of those nearby.
Aryall banded together the new adventurers, and after some investigating they discovered the source of the plague - a local farmhouse just outside of the towns walls. After purging this, along to the sweet melodies strummed by a bard fan-girl of Aryalls who happened to be in the area, they noticed a zombie crow quickly exiting the scene, north. This was shot down by Hakache, and the group agreed to scout further north.
A half days walk went on over the northern plains along Plibbs path, and the group stopped, towards the evening, noticing that indeed, the entire horizon line was moving. Steadying their eyes and watching closely, the group realised this was an army of the undead... it's destination uncertain to them. To determine the armies exact size and nature, the bard who had followed them summoned some light-globes and sent them outwards towards the disturbing sight, lighting it up! This of course caught the immediate attention of the force and its leader, turning the thousand eyes on the group and their town behind them... .. A quick note to the sudden change in their direction, their speed, and how far away they were, suggested to the ranger of the group that they had approximately 4 days until the arrival of this daunting army.
Racing back, the group commited the next 4 days to alerting town and making preparations. By the night before the assault, they had prepared a mote, thousands of vials of holy water, trained over 500 townsfolk in the basic arts of combat, and readied the wizards and clergy.
- an interesting thing also happened on the night before the assault..
Aryall, amassing a large amount of oil from town and some potions, summoned a steed and headed north, to meet the man whom she assumed was leading the force. And indeed, it was Gilga, bearing his golden crown. Something was different about him, however... he was dead. Dead and walking... And now holding his glave with one hand, the other holding what appeared to be some kind of page or scripture.. his dead eyes, now black holes with tiny red embers within them.
Arriving not 100 meters from the horde, Aryall left her steed and readied herself for the ordeal facing her. Pouring oil over the grass infront of her and lighting it, before stepping back and loosing a potion of frost to construct a small wall infront of her before imbibing a potion of giant growth to become huge, she prepared for undead barbarians arrival, as he had temporarily halted his armies march and started to charge at the woman.
A ray of harsh light was shot out of the paladins sword at Gilgas face, temporarily slowing his ascent, before bowing down to pray, and finally lobbing an explosion potion at the fiend as he continued his deadly sprint. The barbarian was far too agile for the explosive attack and leapt past it, gracefully falling over the paladin with his glave and slicing it straight into her shoulder and down through her armor and over her chest as he landed at her feet, missing with his second attack and connecting with his third, gashing another massive, icey wound out of her.
Realising she had but seconds left, Aryall the pure dropped her sword and shield, raised her hands and started to unbuckle her armor and garb. The act appeared to cause a reaction in the fierce warrior, piercing into some hidden strand of consciousness left behind from his previous self, buried deep in his mind. She continued on, bleeding out copiously and slowly advancing on the warrior, his terrifying screams of rage echoing over the foothills, reaching into every crevice and nook beyond Brumswinkle and the forrest of Aggad'savol. Almost upon the barbarian, Aryall stated calmly to him, 'I like your crown, Gilga.. but what good is a king.. without a queen', and reaching into her bag of holding, she pulled out her hat of hatreds, placing it on her head. <--- (little sidenote here that she had actually forgotten, the hat of hatreds is a cursed hat. it appears to one as a hat which shall change the wearers look to that of something of their choosing. It, however, will only ever make the wearer look like whatever it is the viewer despises and detests most in the universe.)
Upon seeing this vision appear before him, the barbarian flew into a rage she had never seen and sliced the paladin in half. This scene, as it played out, was being watched by the alchemist, Sebastian, and the head of arcane wizardry in the academy, Markis, as sebastian had come to warn him of aryalls sudden, and worrying departure. What they saw horrified them, but what scared them more was what occurred after her slaughter... For Gilga then, in a sort of undead manner, staggered over to the corpse of the girl, lifted up the page in his left hand, and began to read it. A dark, swirling energy swathed out from the dead skin of the grizzly man and entered her fallen flesh, reinvigorating it and stitching it together. After a few minutes, Aryall arose, bent over to pick up her sword, and slowly started marching forward alongside him, as the army caught up with the two and slowly enveloped them.
~~~
Tune in soon for the incursion.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Summarising the story up and until where we last left off!`
RIGHT.
A lot of writing ahead of me tonight but that's okay.
*ahem*
So to briefly skip through, without losing too much detail from, where I last left off, up until where we currently now are in the timeline of Udossta Valshath.
The group, having finished helping the tavern, Kreth with its issues, were given some advice by local street boys that there were some odd comings and goings from a cave underneath town. Upon investigation they discovered a large den of thieves that appeared to be mining within it! A fight broke out and Ethiel was asked to cast the same spell he'd once used to defeat the thieves here before, and he brought about a tremendous sink hole in the area that ruined their mining operation. Brog defeated their leader, a fellow named Anton, and noticed a strange blade on his person. He took it, and it fused itself to his hand, unable to be let go of or dropped! This would, after some time, be eventually removed from the half-ogres hand via a remove curse spell.
Aryall, Gilga, Brog and Ethiel then moved on to a neighbouring halfling settlement to the east of Brumswinkle to settle the issue of a disturbing plague that had suddenly visited upon them. It was spreading fast and needed dealing with immediately. Upon entering the reclaimed, overgrown and decayed Drow fort-turned halfling villa, they were introduced to a cleric by the name of Korag, who also served Iomedaie and hailed from Terraxus. He was also there to help with the plague, and with his assistance the team ventured down through the sinkhole in town to some drow dungeons and a subterranean passage. The party was separated near the end of this venture, and Korags betrayal was revealed! Presumably sent to in fact murder Aryall as ordered by the head of the church, herself, Korag attempted to put her to rest - utilising a strange amulet around his neck which gave him tremendous power.
The team was able to subdue the madman without killing him. Aryall cut off his swordhand as punishment and allowed him to leave, taking his dessicated hand with him. Gilga retrieved the strange amulet and put it on. The solution to the plague was eventually discovered in a curious and strange talisman, found within the subterranean river below town that connected to their well - it appeared to be polluting it. The group quickly returned to brumswinkle, enquiring about the talismans make and purpose. No answers were to be had, but a remove curse spell was cast on it and then it was smashed - curing the surrounding areas of the seemingly magical plague. Gilga also started hearing voices.
The party briefly returned to Kurath to take some of the spider silk they found from the large, undisturbed ballista around the fort, as well as to search further the caverns below. They found what they presumed to be an escape the archaic had used to delve down to the underdark hundreds of years ago; wanting to explore this, Brog shoved Ethiel down into the abyss, knowing a strange artefact he had found might save him from his fall - which it did, although he remained forever lost. We have yet to ever see or hear from him again.
~~
Upon returning to Brumswinkle from having successfully wiped out the plague, the team were hailed as true saviours of the Four Corners, and their valor was brought to the attention of the two Brumswinkle brothers, Kerkas and Xannan. Xannan sought immediate council with the group, requesting that they aid him in furthering Brumswinkles progress with the introduction of industry and taxes. Kerkas on the other hand proposed that they help stop his brother from attempting to run the town into ruin. While Gilga and Brog enjoyed the idea of taking coin for enforcing a rule of sorts over town, Aryall brought about reason and managed to bring the town together in unison by introducing a monthly festival to Brumswinkle, The Tithe! Once a month all are brought together to celebrate the town and bring a small pittance each to the temple as tax, which is then distributed amongst those who would build and further the town.
As the first celebration of the monthly tithe came to a close, a strange ship sailed into town bearing strange cargo - 4 dark figures were spied disembarking by Gilga and made their way towards the golden field. The team made their way down to investigate and assaulted by a ragtag team of disturbing characters sent from North Port to assassinate the barbarian. The fight seemed evenly matched until one of the attackers was slain. Two fled back to the boat, leaving a fighter behind, and fled before they could be caught. The one left behind had a cursed sword attached to his hand, the same that Brog once bore.
It was not long after this that the four received word from Lord Aaron, a local hero in town who was now retired, that his family had been stolen from him... by a dragon during the night. A lowly, white dragon, a beast by the name of Devagastus. He left a message for him, advising that he only had a number of weeks to come and retrieve his loved ones, or else he would devour them and return to assault the town. The party eagerly joined forces with the powerful hero, and set off on a long journey.
To summarise the huge quest, the group travelled south, through a small halfling town named dagben where they were attacked by over 150 kobolds, which had ransacked the town. Gilga at this point also started bearing tremendous pains from the amulet he held, and almost turned on the party. Like a drug-stricken welp he was forced down by lord aaron and held while brog and aryall took the thing off him using their swords and buried it leagues away where he could not find it, wrapping it in 3 different cloths, chaining and locking it, blessing it, burning it, and burying the thing.
They went on further south past a fort named the Fortress Stairs, which appeared to have been frozen over. They were advised by a small team of resistance outside of the top gate that the dragon had flown over during the night and unleashed a furious blizzard that had scorched the fort with ice and sleet! A tremendous army of kobolds had then rushed through, slaughtering most of their men during the confusion. The group went through and removed the assailants, clearing the fort and making it safe once more for the men in the keep. They saw in the distance a large army making its way in their direction. At this point they were joined by a young rogue/wizard from the academy who had been tailing them for a few days. Sent by Markis to test his skills, he offered them happily.
The group set off in the night from the fort, south and around the foothills of Nazareem, tracking the oncoming raiding party of gnolls, giants and kobolds. Unleashing a fury of explosive potions and arrows while the stupid creatures slept, they aroused confusion and anxiety amongst them, causing the army to turn on themselves. After the defeat of the huge force, they pressed onwards, towards the camp that they had sprung from, and burning it to the ground. It was upon defeating the chieftain gnoll and his retinue of guards who had leapt from the burning wreckage, that the group picked up an interesting golden crown, a fantastic frozen glaive of stupendous power, and some frozen leather.
Gilga picked up the crown and put it on immediately as they studied the items they had accrued, and it sent a terrible shock through his mind, rearranging his ideals and mind into something sinister and evil. Lord Aaron noticed this and attempted to remove it, causing the barbarian to attack him. The scuffle was short lived as the barbarian grabbed the icey glaive and sprinted back north, towards the fortress stairs.
Realizing they were running out of time, the party was unable to deal with the loss of their comrade, and pressed on, towards an elven fort that looked remarkably like Kurath. It was here that they were given the assistance they needed to cross the mighty Tundra just south to get to the icey peaks of Agadeem where the dragon lay.
After a days rest and a days march, they made their way in, and using a strange artefact, navigated their way towards the peaks. The trek towards the dragon and the labyrinth inside the mountains proved long, arduous and extensive, but the party persevered. They finally reached his lair and within, the attack commenced, both sides sharing terrible blows and swings! The dragon was eventually felled, and Lord Aaron reunited with his children and wife! The group discovered lots of fascinating items within the dragons domain, including a strange orb within which a dark and mysterious figure lay watching them. Steen yelled 'YOURE NEXT' at the figure, before the connection was severed.
The return north was a long one, and the party, upon making their way back to The Fortress Stairs, found it in a dark... bloodied state. many severed hands lay outside the front entrance to the structure, strange symbols of skulls with rays of light emerging from them painted on the walls with blood, and what appeared to be a forest fire behind the fort on the northern side of the hill. Making their way in, they were greeted by anti-paladins and dark priests, a number of which were summoning a writhing sphere of flesh and teeth in the main dining hall, comprised mainly of the hands of those they'd slaughtered. Upon dealing with the disturbing incursion, the group made their way out the other end of the Fortress Stairs, to be greeted by Korag, who had returned... a dark obsidian blade sticking out of the cauterized stub where once was his hand.. which now dangled from his neck, by a chain. He appeared to be speaking to it..
The crazed cleric attacked the party and they were not able to kill or subdue him - steen took a crazy long shot however and destroyed the amulet around his neck which he appeared to have managed to retrieve back from Gilga, or had dug up from the ground himself!! When the amulet was destroyed, a portal appeared, showing a dazzling and tremendous city, which pulled at the cleric it materialised around, dragging him through. His hand fell off him and was left behind, picked up by the rogue as they continue on past the massacred dagben and back to town.
~~~~
I'll continue on tomorrow when i've had some sleep!!!
~~ * below, some art that corresponds to the events and characters mentioned above - -- -
.jpg)
A lot of writing ahead of me tonight but that's okay.
*ahem*
So to briefly skip through, without losing too much detail from, where I last left off, up until where we currently now are in the timeline of Udossta Valshath.
The group, having finished helping the tavern, Kreth with its issues, were given some advice by local street boys that there were some odd comings and goings from a cave underneath town. Upon investigation they discovered a large den of thieves that appeared to be mining within it! A fight broke out and Ethiel was asked to cast the same spell he'd once used to defeat the thieves here before, and he brought about a tremendous sink hole in the area that ruined their mining operation. Brog defeated their leader, a fellow named Anton, and noticed a strange blade on his person. He took it, and it fused itself to his hand, unable to be let go of or dropped! This would, after some time, be eventually removed from the half-ogres hand via a remove curse spell.
Aryall, Gilga, Brog and Ethiel then moved on to a neighbouring halfling settlement to the east of Brumswinkle to settle the issue of a disturbing plague that had suddenly visited upon them. It was spreading fast and needed dealing with immediately. Upon entering the reclaimed, overgrown and decayed Drow fort-turned halfling villa, they were introduced to a cleric by the name of Korag, who also served Iomedaie and hailed from Terraxus. He was also there to help with the plague, and with his assistance the team ventured down through the sinkhole in town to some drow dungeons and a subterranean passage. The party was separated near the end of this venture, and Korags betrayal was revealed! Presumably sent to in fact murder Aryall as ordered by the head of the church, herself, Korag attempted to put her to rest - utilising a strange amulet around his neck which gave him tremendous power.
The team was able to subdue the madman without killing him. Aryall cut off his swordhand as punishment and allowed him to leave, taking his dessicated hand with him. Gilga retrieved the strange amulet and put it on. The solution to the plague was eventually discovered in a curious and strange talisman, found within the subterranean river below town that connected to their well - it appeared to be polluting it. The group quickly returned to brumswinkle, enquiring about the talismans make and purpose. No answers were to be had, but a remove curse spell was cast on it and then it was smashed - curing the surrounding areas of the seemingly magical plague. Gilga also started hearing voices.
The party briefly returned to Kurath to take some of the spider silk they found from the large, undisturbed ballista around the fort, as well as to search further the caverns below. They found what they presumed to be an escape the archaic had used to delve down to the underdark hundreds of years ago; wanting to explore this, Brog shoved Ethiel down into the abyss, knowing a strange artefact he had found might save him from his fall - which it did, although he remained forever lost. We have yet to ever see or hear from him again.
~~
Upon returning to Brumswinkle from having successfully wiped out the plague, the team were hailed as true saviours of the Four Corners, and their valor was brought to the attention of the two Brumswinkle brothers, Kerkas and Xannan. Xannan sought immediate council with the group, requesting that they aid him in furthering Brumswinkles progress with the introduction of industry and taxes. Kerkas on the other hand proposed that they help stop his brother from attempting to run the town into ruin. While Gilga and Brog enjoyed the idea of taking coin for enforcing a rule of sorts over town, Aryall brought about reason and managed to bring the town together in unison by introducing a monthly festival to Brumswinkle, The Tithe! Once a month all are brought together to celebrate the town and bring a small pittance each to the temple as tax, which is then distributed amongst those who would build and further the town.
As the first celebration of the monthly tithe came to a close, a strange ship sailed into town bearing strange cargo - 4 dark figures were spied disembarking by Gilga and made their way towards the golden field. The team made their way down to investigate and assaulted by a ragtag team of disturbing characters sent from North Port to assassinate the barbarian. The fight seemed evenly matched until one of the attackers was slain. Two fled back to the boat, leaving a fighter behind, and fled before they could be caught. The one left behind had a cursed sword attached to his hand, the same that Brog once bore.
It was not long after this that the four received word from Lord Aaron, a local hero in town who was now retired, that his family had been stolen from him... by a dragon during the night. A lowly, white dragon, a beast by the name of Devagastus. He left a message for him, advising that he only had a number of weeks to come and retrieve his loved ones, or else he would devour them and return to assault the town. The party eagerly joined forces with the powerful hero, and set off on a long journey.
To summarise the huge quest, the group travelled south, through a small halfling town named dagben where they were attacked by over 150 kobolds, which had ransacked the town. Gilga at this point also started bearing tremendous pains from the amulet he held, and almost turned on the party. Like a drug-stricken welp he was forced down by lord aaron and held while brog and aryall took the thing off him using their swords and buried it leagues away where he could not find it, wrapping it in 3 different cloths, chaining and locking it, blessing it, burning it, and burying the thing.
They went on further south past a fort named the Fortress Stairs, which appeared to have been frozen over. They were advised by a small team of resistance outside of the top gate that the dragon had flown over during the night and unleashed a furious blizzard that had scorched the fort with ice and sleet! A tremendous army of kobolds had then rushed through, slaughtering most of their men during the confusion. The group went through and removed the assailants, clearing the fort and making it safe once more for the men in the keep. They saw in the distance a large army making its way in their direction. At this point they were joined by a young rogue/wizard from the academy who had been tailing them for a few days. Sent by Markis to test his skills, he offered them happily.
The group set off in the night from the fort, south and around the foothills of Nazareem, tracking the oncoming raiding party of gnolls, giants and kobolds. Unleashing a fury of explosive potions and arrows while the stupid creatures slept, they aroused confusion and anxiety amongst them, causing the army to turn on themselves. After the defeat of the huge force, they pressed onwards, towards the camp that they had sprung from, and burning it to the ground. It was upon defeating the chieftain gnoll and his retinue of guards who had leapt from the burning wreckage, that the group picked up an interesting golden crown, a fantastic frozen glaive of stupendous power, and some frozen leather.
Gilga picked up the crown and put it on immediately as they studied the items they had accrued, and it sent a terrible shock through his mind, rearranging his ideals and mind into something sinister and evil. Lord Aaron noticed this and attempted to remove it, causing the barbarian to attack him. The scuffle was short lived as the barbarian grabbed the icey glaive and sprinted back north, towards the fortress stairs.
Realizing they were running out of time, the party was unable to deal with the loss of their comrade, and pressed on, towards an elven fort that looked remarkably like Kurath. It was here that they were given the assistance they needed to cross the mighty Tundra just south to get to the icey peaks of Agadeem where the dragon lay.
After a days rest and a days march, they made their way in, and using a strange artefact, navigated their way towards the peaks. The trek towards the dragon and the labyrinth inside the mountains proved long, arduous and extensive, but the party persevered. They finally reached his lair and within, the attack commenced, both sides sharing terrible blows and swings! The dragon was eventually felled, and Lord Aaron reunited with his children and wife! The group discovered lots of fascinating items within the dragons domain, including a strange orb within which a dark and mysterious figure lay watching them. Steen yelled 'YOURE NEXT' at the figure, before the connection was severed.
The return north was a long one, and the party, upon making their way back to The Fortress Stairs, found it in a dark... bloodied state. many severed hands lay outside the front entrance to the structure, strange symbols of skulls with rays of light emerging from them painted on the walls with blood, and what appeared to be a forest fire behind the fort on the northern side of the hill. Making their way in, they were greeted by anti-paladins and dark priests, a number of which were summoning a writhing sphere of flesh and teeth in the main dining hall, comprised mainly of the hands of those they'd slaughtered. Upon dealing with the disturbing incursion, the group made their way out the other end of the Fortress Stairs, to be greeted by Korag, who had returned... a dark obsidian blade sticking out of the cauterized stub where once was his hand.. which now dangled from his neck, by a chain. He appeared to be speaking to it..
The crazed cleric attacked the party and they were not able to kill or subdue him - steen took a crazy long shot however and destroyed the amulet around his neck which he appeared to have managed to retrieve back from Gilga, or had dug up from the ground himself!! When the amulet was destroyed, a portal appeared, showing a dazzling and tremendous city, which pulled at the cleric it materialised around, dragging him through. His hand fell off him and was left behind, picked up by the rogue as they continue on past the massacred dagben and back to town.
~~~~
I'll continue on tomorrow when i've had some sleep!!!
~~ * below, some art that corresponds to the events and characters mentioned above - -- -
.jpg)
Friday, October 11, 2013
Karuq and Brian
Brian, the head necromancer for the wizards guild - watching over as Karuq, the half-Orc cleric digs up his friends
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Last week, aryall bid the world adieu
- cutting forward to the story as it is currently unfolding, we find aryall making her exist last week.
She attempted to confront and console her old, departed friend, Gilga, on the field of battle before his legion of undeath descended on her town.
She was sliced in half.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
She attempted to confront and console her old, departed friend, Gilga, on the field of battle before his legion of undeath descended on her town.
She was sliced in half.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:George Street,Haymarket,Australia
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The Ranger
Another new addition to the group, h... H... God. I'll remember his name some day.
Sure it's a bit of a quick/arty rendition but I dug it. Fuckers wearing a lion!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sure it's a bit of a quick/arty rendition but I dug it. Fuckers wearing a lion!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The Alchemist
Sebastian, one of the latest additions to the team.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Kreth (Quest #2)
It is effectively after the first quest was completed that the intial team broke apart.
Two members, the two that played Ethiel and Aislynn, picked up other commitments that kept them from being able to commit to the sessions.
Some time passed and I suggested that time also moved on in town ever so slightly, as I am building this as a sandbox game and enjoy having fun with it.
Ethiel, I had suggested, and Aislynn, both ended up making it into the mage academy in town. Brom dying caused a massive dissent in the team and they both ended up parting from the group after that, and forming a relationship. Gilga remained in town and started drinking a tad much.
Ethiel was also payed a visit at one point by his father, Del, who had the boy chase his raven and spellbook down using his empathic link to find them again, testing his knowledge. He advised him that the barbarian was bad news for him should he remain by his side. He then departed.
----
>> New members: Brog, Aryall. Current team: Gilga, Brog, Aryall, Ethiel (npc).
The campaign picks up again with Marlon rerolling a new fighter, whom he suggested was broms brother, Brog. I know.. I know. He's... also a fighter. Anyway. He comes to town hearing of his death and wishes to avenge him. So his first quest in town was tracking down Ethiel and slaying him.
markis intervened however and suggested that Ethiel join him on whatever quests come to him as penance. Ethiel accepted, played from now on by me as an npc. Aislynn, I advised, is too buried in books and studies in the academy to join the party, and is hardly touched on again until much later.
Gilga has since been attacked by a small horde of assassins from an unknown source, all of which he has slain in the center of town. This is the scene that the latest addition to the party, Aryall, is privvy to, upon her entering town. (Aryall being the paladin that Nathan rolled upon joining the team).
Aryall manages to find Gilga in his pitched tent near the brumswinkle dock, and eventually manages to convince him to aid her in helping the town and brog, promising much fighting to the barbarian.
The party had been talking with the pirates at The Mad Squid tavern and it turned out they needed to raise 10,000g to help purchase a new boat so that they could return to the Midseas, and destroy the terrifying, pale, giant kraken, the White Death!
One such adventure to help raise the money, they were advised, was to go aid a friend of Kanes, Horros, the half-orc owner of the grungy inn and tavern in the south-west slums district, name of Kreth. He had apparantly been coming in to some money troubles as of late, and was requesting assistance.
After much diligent research, the party ascertained that his issue was coming from a tavern that had only recently been erected just down the street from him in the far southern end of the slums, named 'The Fat Orc'. It was pulling all of his customers away from him, and was run by a disturbingly happy halfling named Drelgo.
The group spent a few days asking both tendors questions and snooping around, and discovered that Drelgo had an old hatred for Horros, as Horros had won ownership of Kreth during the 'Innsmonth' battle season in The Hole, besting Drelgo in the process; stealing from him a victory he has always felt should have been his. It also appeared he had been not only stealing from Kreths safe, but spreading rumors and lies about the inn to all of his customers, suggesting that it was a very unsightly and disease-ridden hole; pulling a lot of attention from Kreth, to The Fat Orc.
On finding Drelgos sword in Kreths cellar, Aryall decided to bring it straight to the source and demand answers. Not realising how insanely brazen her idea was, Brog at her side, she revealed the sword in the middle of Drelgos tavern, roaring out a burning question, 'is this your sword!?'. Her answer was met with a lot more steel than she'd requested, and a fight broke out that nearly left Brog and Aryall for dead. Slaughtering most of the rogueish patrons within, the two were left bloodied and half-dead as Drelgos barely living body was carried off by an underling. Gilga emerged toward the end of the fight and
helped to finish off the remaining enemies in the pub.
Once recuperated, the three looted the place for most of its alcohol, and all of the gold stashed in the back, which amounted to a whopping 5000g! Aryall burned the tavern to the ground once they had left the building, and the gold was handed over to the pirates. Horros was in utter joy about what he'd heard, however the fight wasn't done. A message was delivered to the team, advising that Drelgo wished to settle this dispute over the ashes of his tavern, with the three and Horros.
The following day they all slowly made their way down to the blackened area, greeted by a swathe of characters flanking the small villain, along with a massive ogre carrying a makeshift 15ft long sledgehammer. The fight was like candy to Gilga, while the rest of the party took their fair share of nicks and blows. The fight was eventually won, and Drelgo was apprehended. He now works for Horros, sweeping and cleaning Kreth daily. The party all earned a permanent tab at his bar and a free place to be down should they ever need.
Two members, the two that played Ethiel and Aislynn, picked up other commitments that kept them from being able to commit to the sessions.
Some time passed and I suggested that time also moved on in town ever so slightly, as I am building this as a sandbox game and enjoy having fun with it.
Ethiel, I had suggested, and Aislynn, both ended up making it into the mage academy in town. Brom dying caused a massive dissent in the team and they both ended up parting from the group after that, and forming a relationship. Gilga remained in town and started drinking a tad much.
Ethiel was also payed a visit at one point by his father, Del, who had the boy chase his raven and spellbook down using his empathic link to find them again, testing his knowledge. He advised him that the barbarian was bad news for him should he remain by his side. He then departed.
----
>> New members: Brog, Aryall. Current team: Gilga, Brog, Aryall, Ethiel (npc).
The campaign picks up again with Marlon rerolling a new fighter, whom he suggested was broms brother, Brog. I know.. I know. He's... also a fighter. Anyway. He comes to town hearing of his death and wishes to avenge him. So his first quest in town was tracking down Ethiel and slaying him.
markis intervened however and suggested that Ethiel join him on whatever quests come to him as penance. Ethiel accepted, played from now on by me as an npc. Aislynn, I advised, is too buried in books and studies in the academy to join the party, and is hardly touched on again until much later.
Gilga has since been attacked by a small horde of assassins from an unknown source, all of which he has slain in the center of town. This is the scene that the latest addition to the party, Aryall, is privvy to, upon her entering town. (Aryall being the paladin that Nathan rolled upon joining the team).
Aryall manages to find Gilga in his pitched tent near the brumswinkle dock, and eventually manages to convince him to aid her in helping the town and brog, promising much fighting to the barbarian.
The party had been talking with the pirates at The Mad Squid tavern and it turned out they needed to raise 10,000g to help purchase a new boat so that they could return to the Midseas, and destroy the terrifying, pale, giant kraken, the White Death!
One such adventure to help raise the money, they were advised, was to go aid a friend of Kanes, Horros, the half-orc owner of the grungy inn and tavern in the south-west slums district, name of Kreth. He had apparantly been coming in to some money troubles as of late, and was requesting assistance.
After much diligent research, the party ascertained that his issue was coming from a tavern that had only recently been erected just down the street from him in the far southern end of the slums, named 'The Fat Orc'. It was pulling all of his customers away from him, and was run by a disturbingly happy halfling named Drelgo.
The group spent a few days asking both tendors questions and snooping around, and discovered that Drelgo had an old hatred for Horros, as Horros had won ownership of Kreth during the 'Innsmonth' battle season in The Hole, besting Drelgo in the process; stealing from him a victory he has always felt should have been his. It also appeared he had been not only stealing from Kreths safe, but spreading rumors and lies about the inn to all of his customers, suggesting that it was a very unsightly and disease-ridden hole; pulling a lot of attention from Kreth, to The Fat Orc.
On finding Drelgos sword in Kreths cellar, Aryall decided to bring it straight to the source and demand answers. Not realising how insanely brazen her idea was, Brog at her side, she revealed the sword in the middle of Drelgos tavern, roaring out a burning question, 'is this your sword!?'. Her answer was met with a lot more steel than she'd requested, and a fight broke out that nearly left Brog and Aryall for dead. Slaughtering most of the rogueish patrons within, the two were left bloodied and half-dead as Drelgos barely living body was carried off by an underling. Gilga emerged toward the end of the fight and
helped to finish off the remaining enemies in the pub.
Once recuperated, the three looted the place for most of its alcohol, and all of the gold stashed in the back, which amounted to a whopping 5000g! Aryall burned the tavern to the ground once they had left the building, and the gold was handed over to the pirates. Horros was in utter joy about what he'd heard, however the fight wasn't done. A message was delivered to the team, advising that Drelgo wished to settle this dispute over the ashes of his tavern, with the three and Horros.
The following day they all slowly made their way down to the blackened area, greeted by a swathe of characters flanking the small villain, along with a massive ogre carrying a makeshift 15ft long sledgehammer. The fight was like candy to Gilga, while the rest of the party took their fair share of nicks and blows. The fight was eventually won, and Drelgo was apprehended. He now works for Horros, sweeping and cleaning Kreth daily. The party all earned a permanent tab at his bar and a free place to be down should they ever need.
aryall, steen, and brog.
^ above are the last three last members of the group prior to the rekindling of the campaign a couple weeks ago in The Nerd Cave
Aryall - the paladin
Steen - the caster/rogue
brog - the fighter.
*At present, Aryall is still a core member of the group, Steen has since disappeared, and Brog has decided to remain in Brumswinkle, starting up his local security-business, 'Brogs Boys'.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
A Trifling Dilemma
Campaign Story Arc: "A Common Enemy"
The following entry details the first quest I ran, for the first group that started in Udossta Valshath.
Our story began as many campaigns do. A town, best with intrigue is approached by a series of adventurers, unknowingly linked together by a thread of fate.
The players:
Brom, a half-ogre fighter from the northern continent, having escaped captivity as a gladiator, he now calls Brumswinkle his home. He is known to the locals, and has built quite the raport with the local tavern in the Upper Circle.
Gilga, the last surviving barbarian on the planet; his entire tribe burned away by an unseen menace... he now travels abroad, seeking to train and grow stronger, so that he may one day wreak vengeance upon his families murderer.
Ethiel, a young elven mage with an attitude, hailing from the west forests of Aggad'Savol. He has set out to seek adventure and ultimately find himself, and his father.
Aislinn, a beautiful changeling witch from the outskirts of Aggad'savol. She has been hearing.. voices, calling to her. She knows she must chase this destiny, unravel its meaning, and at this moment that means setting out to the town that beckons her near, Brumswinkle.
The first group met in the tavern in the Upper circle of Brumswinkle, The Golden Field. It was in this place, drinking Greldos famous Dragon Ale, that they discovered he had been robbed, and thus, their first quest began. With nothing but a shred of cloth with a strange symbol in it to go on, the group left with justice in mind.
After a large day of searching, questioning, discovering that more folk in town had lost very important items to them, and meeting some strange characters, they came across a Tengu who manned another tavern in town, The Mad Squid, alongside his captain, Kane. This Tengu, name of Barry, just happened to be in command of a captive upstairs, Tyrel. This young upstart, after much questioning and intimidation, revealed he was an initiate into a new thieves guild starting up in town. This guild was predominantly filled with young men barely of age to fight, let alone coppulate. The name of this company was 'The Shadow Wolves', and they had taken up residence underneath Brumswinkle, the entrance to which was through a cavern system that let out in the cliff just under the temple to Yondalla.
The following day, the four set out to investigate this information. They were beset upon almost immediatly upon entering the cave. A pack of flying severed heads were shrouded in the shade of the place, and Brom ran straight into them, setting the disturbing enemies on the group in seconds - they barely got out alive. In fact, due to the severe lacking of any true healing powers in the group, they were forced to reconvene back at the inn in town almost immediately after they ended the fight, to lick their wounds and rest.
Setting out another day ahead, they approached with extreme, almost disturbing caution, into and through every inch of the dark maze below the temple. Setting off the first trap they encountered and almost killing Brom, they yet again needed to rest, return when healed, and approach with somehow MORE caution. Scouring every crevace of every turn, incase it were to suddenly be set aflame or waylay the party with a mist of arrows, they were able to disable every trap they came across, and deal with all of the threats that approached. An interesting note about the creatures they found in these caves... none were rogues, and all were what seemed to be random sets of random monsters, none of which made any true sense, given the situation and nature of what they were searching for. A spider here, a burning skeleton there.. a sahuagin here, a ravenous kobold there.
None suggested that a regimented and intelligent group of rogues had set up camp within its bowels. Yet they pressed on. The team eventually came across a large room where it appeared a team of kobolds were attacking someone or something that was hiding behind some rocks. Once the situation was dissolved, they discovered they had rescued a group of 3 young boys dressed as rogues, none possibly older than 10 or 11. Named Hevy, Devy and Levy, the three thanked them immensely for their rescue, and advised that they were indeed initiates into this ludicrous fold of rogues. The party took rest in the cavern, content with their good deed and the information rewarded to them that day.
Once awake and ready, the group pressed on, their day starting with Brom immediately falling into a trap and again, nearly dying. The party were able to rescue him, however, and were barely able to heal the poor half-ogre. The pit trap was filled with rubble from a nearby landslide, and the group were then able to cross. Moving onward, they suddenly noted they were being followed by what appeared to be a helmet. assuming it was magic, brog picked it up, and placed it on Ethiels head. The helmet immediately blinded the elf, and started to crush his cranium! The halfogre ripped the headpiece off without damaging the disturbed fellow, and Gilga sliced it in half.
A couple more traps and the party came across a much more massive area.. through which they were beset upon by 4 rogues, an ape, a large scorpion, and a leprechaun. Barely managing to escape the fight intact, the group quickly took in their surroundings, noting the room had archaic statues of dwarves fighting elves, and a large runed door that seemed impenetrable and impervious to anything. They retreated back a small way and rested, before heading on and finding the rogues camp.
Under siege by bowmen and fighting across an abyss that lead to a place only the gods knew, the party crept along the cavernous subterranean camp, removing the rogues one by one. Reaching what appeared to be a room with a pool in the middle, and a large tent nearby with guards, they were very sure they had reached their goal. Attempting to coordinate a safe assault, the four removed most of the nearby rogue guards before pressing into the main chamber. It was during this last fight that they encountered a very powerful guard, a caster of some sort, and the leader of the group, flanked by more rogues that cornered off Gilga, Ethiel and Aislinn leaving brom to deal with the rest.
When the group dealt with the rogues at hand and returned to help Brom against the larger threats, they found noone. Racing to the tent, they opened it to reveal a sinister young man holding a bound and paralized half-ogre hostage with a blade barely cutting at his throat. The only way the party saw to resolve this was Ethiel casting a spell that would create a temporary sink hole in the ground beneath brog and the lad. It was a risk but one he was sure would work well. the spell was cast, catching the rogue leader unawares, he, brom and his guard all suddenly falling. The drop disarmed the leader and guard, and snapped Broms back, injuring him beyond repair.
The group, after going through the contents of the den of thieves, found every item reported stolen, and some boys who were returned to their respective homes, namely Lord Aarons son, Elian.
All items were returned to their rightful owners by the group. Gilga also noticed in the cave, a haunted area of sorts, riddled with screams and loud knockings and bangings that seemed to be focused on/around a skeleton crushed under the weight of what must have been a landslide. Taking a magical ring from the corpse only seemed to increase the power of the screams and disturbance, which pleased him. He wears his ring proudly.
The following entry details the first quest I ran, for the first group that started in Udossta Valshath.
Our story began as many campaigns do. A town, best with intrigue is approached by a series of adventurers, unknowingly linked together by a thread of fate.
The players:
Brom, a half-ogre fighter from the northern continent, having escaped captivity as a gladiator, he now calls Brumswinkle his home. He is known to the locals, and has built quite the raport with the local tavern in the Upper Circle.
Gilga, the last surviving barbarian on the planet; his entire tribe burned away by an unseen menace... he now travels abroad, seeking to train and grow stronger, so that he may one day wreak vengeance upon his families murderer.
Ethiel, a young elven mage with an attitude, hailing from the west forests of Aggad'Savol. He has set out to seek adventure and ultimately find himself, and his father.
Aislinn, a beautiful changeling witch from the outskirts of Aggad'savol. She has been hearing.. voices, calling to her. She knows she must chase this destiny, unravel its meaning, and at this moment that means setting out to the town that beckons her near, Brumswinkle.
The first group met in the tavern in the Upper circle of Brumswinkle, The Golden Field. It was in this place, drinking Greldos famous Dragon Ale, that they discovered he had been robbed, and thus, their first quest began. With nothing but a shred of cloth with a strange symbol in it to go on, the group left with justice in mind.
After a large day of searching, questioning, discovering that more folk in town had lost very important items to them, and meeting some strange characters, they came across a Tengu who manned another tavern in town, The Mad Squid, alongside his captain, Kane. This Tengu, name of Barry, just happened to be in command of a captive upstairs, Tyrel. This young upstart, after much questioning and intimidation, revealed he was an initiate into a new thieves guild starting up in town. This guild was predominantly filled with young men barely of age to fight, let alone coppulate. The name of this company was 'The Shadow Wolves', and they had taken up residence underneath Brumswinkle, the entrance to which was through a cavern system that let out in the cliff just under the temple to Yondalla.
The following day, the four set out to investigate this information. They were beset upon almost immediatly upon entering the cave. A pack of flying severed heads were shrouded in the shade of the place, and Brom ran straight into them, setting the disturbing enemies on the group in seconds - they barely got out alive. In fact, due to the severe lacking of any true healing powers in the group, they were forced to reconvene back at the inn in town almost immediately after they ended the fight, to lick their wounds and rest.
Setting out another day ahead, they approached with extreme, almost disturbing caution, into and through every inch of the dark maze below the temple. Setting off the first trap they encountered and almost killing Brom, they yet again needed to rest, return when healed, and approach with somehow MORE caution. Scouring every crevace of every turn, incase it were to suddenly be set aflame or waylay the party with a mist of arrows, they were able to disable every trap they came across, and deal with all of the threats that approached. An interesting note about the creatures they found in these caves... none were rogues, and all were what seemed to be random sets of random monsters, none of which made any true sense, given the situation and nature of what they were searching for. A spider here, a burning skeleton there.. a sahuagin here, a ravenous kobold there.
None suggested that a regimented and intelligent group of rogues had set up camp within its bowels. Yet they pressed on. The team eventually came across a large room where it appeared a team of kobolds were attacking someone or something that was hiding behind some rocks. Once the situation was dissolved, they discovered they had rescued a group of 3 young boys dressed as rogues, none possibly older than 10 or 11. Named Hevy, Devy and Levy, the three thanked them immensely for their rescue, and advised that they were indeed initiates into this ludicrous fold of rogues. The party took rest in the cavern, content with their good deed and the information rewarded to them that day.
Once awake and ready, the group pressed on, their day starting with Brom immediately falling into a trap and again, nearly dying. The party were able to rescue him, however, and were barely able to heal the poor half-ogre. The pit trap was filled with rubble from a nearby landslide, and the group were then able to cross. Moving onward, they suddenly noted they were being followed by what appeared to be a helmet. assuming it was magic, brog picked it up, and placed it on Ethiels head. The helmet immediately blinded the elf, and started to crush his cranium! The halfogre ripped the headpiece off without damaging the disturbed fellow, and Gilga sliced it in half.
A couple more traps and the party came across a much more massive area.. through which they were beset upon by 4 rogues, an ape, a large scorpion, and a leprechaun. Barely managing to escape the fight intact, the group quickly took in their surroundings, noting the room had archaic statues of dwarves fighting elves, and a large runed door that seemed impenetrable and impervious to anything. They retreated back a small way and rested, before heading on and finding the rogues camp.
Under siege by bowmen and fighting across an abyss that lead to a place only the gods knew, the party crept along the cavernous subterranean camp, removing the rogues one by one. Reaching what appeared to be a room with a pool in the middle, and a large tent nearby with guards, they were very sure they had reached their goal. Attempting to coordinate a safe assault, the four removed most of the nearby rogue guards before pressing into the main chamber. It was during this last fight that they encountered a very powerful guard, a caster of some sort, and the leader of the group, flanked by more rogues that cornered off Gilga, Ethiel and Aislinn leaving brom to deal with the rest.
When the group dealt with the rogues at hand and returned to help Brom against the larger threats, they found noone. Racing to the tent, they opened it to reveal a sinister young man holding a bound and paralized half-ogre hostage with a blade barely cutting at his throat. The only way the party saw to resolve this was Ethiel casting a spell that would create a temporary sink hole in the ground beneath brog and the lad. It was a risk but one he was sure would work well. the spell was cast, catching the rogue leader unawares, he, brom and his guard all suddenly falling. The drop disarmed the leader and guard, and snapped Broms back, injuring him beyond repair.
The group, after going through the contents of the den of thieves, found every item reported stolen, and some boys who were returned to their respective homes, namely Lord Aarons son, Elian.
All items were returned to their rightful owners by the group. Gilga also noticed in the cave, a haunted area of sorts, riddled with screams and loud knockings and bangings that seemed to be focused on/around a skeleton crushed under the weight of what must have been a landslide. Taking a magical ring from the corpse only seemed to increase the power of the screams and disturbance, which pleased him. He wears his ring proudly.
My introductory Message to Players
It is to be noted that this introduction evolves/alters as the world and players progress, as events may change who/what would/could greet any potential newcomers throughout the months to come. As it stands, however, this is how it would read, were you to join my little group.
~
The story will start in the bustling, busy and extraordinary town known as
Brumswinkle. Located in an area known as the Four Corners, Brumswinkle is a
fairly large, trade-filled town where coin is the law, and hired mercenaries
are the only guards you will find. What used to be a very modest, halfling
community of traders wanting to capitalize on a crossroads and not be abused by
the condescending views and rules of Terraxus, is and has now become an
infamous trading post littered with thieves, hidden eyes, and secrets.
The town’s mayor is also it's rather well-known and well off blacksmith,
Xannan Brumswinkle, one of two sons of its founding Halfling, the notable and
late Plib Brumswinkle.
The town itself rests over and across the rolling river Veldt, south of the
human-founded Capitol of the realm, Terraxus in Knightsvale and west of Kurath.
There are numerous farms, rolling planes and small villages outside of and
around Brumswinkle. To the west of the town, the forests of Aggad'Savol creep, within
which is a hidden Elven sanctuary, known to the outside world as 'The
Grove'. The mountains in the north west
are riddled with half-orc and orc camps, some at war, some at peace, none of
any notable significance. Although some claim there is a hidden area deep
within the mountains where they have seen even larger man-like monstrosities,
and caverns that stretch down to the abyss!
As beautiful as the surrounding territory may look, however, it is not
without its dangers. A group of notable power has been reported to have taken
up housing within Brumswinkle over the last few months. Whispers abound as you
approach the town, of a powerful paladin who leads the small team.. these… ‘saviors
of Brumswinkle’. Reported to have saved the town from a rising faction of
thieves, and to have recently stemmed a plague that was threatening the eastern
countryside, the troop is not to be laughed about! Rumors suggest they have
even bested a dragon!
You are finally at your races respective age where you are more than
physically and mentally fit to pick up a sword and start carving out a name for
yourself in the halls of legend! And what better a deplorable and grungy place
to start than Brumswinkle!
*things your character would already know about*
- The town you start off in is
called Brumswinkle and you have travelled there seeking adventure (whatever
that may mean to your character).
- Brumswinkle is effectively the
singapore of the mainland in the realm. Littered with markets both legal and
illegal, it's only law is do not cross those who can afford to cross you. Bear
in mind the blacksmith has made a small fortune off selling armor/weapons to
adventurers for years and has hired mercs all over town. So think before you
steal!
- The town accepts those of all
races and trades and does not discriminate. Who knows who and/or what you may
find!
- Of the four main taverns in
Brumswinkle, the first one you find upon visiting the town is The Golden Field.
Known to be the cleanest of the lot, a final homage to what was, there is bound
to be some sound advice in here for you and a lead or two. you might even find
a friend!
- you have also heard murmers from
the farmers on your way in to town of a group of adventurers who you may wish
to meet with upon making your way in. They sound like the kind of people you
want to know!
A moderately recent portrait of the last group as their sessions slowly came winding down to an eventual close. Their stories have not finished however, and the paladin plays on. Left to right we have the beautiful and resourceful paladin, name of Aryall 'the pure', followed by Steen, the cunning and sly rogue caster hailing from the dock-side small city of North Port, and finally Brog, half-ogre fighter, blunt and powerful, brother of a fighter who died during the first groups run in my campaign, Brom 'the breaker'.
Aryall, having lost a comrade to death, one to the town, and another to his girlfriend, can now say she has certainly seen her fair share of adventurers. She now shares her allegiance with an alchemist, a quirky wizard, a ranger, and a cleric. She has also recently accrued a fanbase, consisting of one eccentric bard lass from the north with severe ADD.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Udossta Valshath
~
It is said that during a time of great despair and malcontent amongst the greater, old, and dead gods now centuries past, a number of great and bloody battles were fought amongst the stars.
A host of the deities, and the worlds and realms they presided over were removed and obliterated in their entirety. New suns, and orbs to court and marry them were brought into existence to replace them and continue the cycles of life, worship and of course, the documentation of both time and important happenings – tasks that most gods do not deem worthy of their title and/or power.
One such survivor of the wars, now known and referred to as The Great Catastrophe, was a Goddess known as The Spider Queen, Lolth. Wanting to start anew and craft a world consisting of her most favoured race and followers, the dark elves, she summoned all but the last reserves of her power and forged a small planet. The first, and what was meant to have been the only intelligent, sentient race to populate the orb was of course, her beloved Drow. The dark elves named the world Udossta Valshath, or ‘our palace’, a name that would forever cement and celebrate their thanks to the benevolent goddess for her gift to them.
The prosperity of the dark world was not to last, however. Being that a good portion of the gods that survived The Great Catastrophe were indeed cowards, destroyers and sadists, not unlike the history that Lolth is usually regaled with, once the world became known to them.. so too did they come to know Udossta Valshath.
When Dahak, the God of Destruction, Dragons, Evil and Treachery noticed the new, ever so peaceful and vulnerable orb, he descended upon it almost immediately. Dahak was the first of many to taint and alter the course of Udossta Valsath. Bringing with him a legion of Dragons, the deity introduced anarchy, desolation, terror and chaos to the once calm ecology of elves. The Drow were not without their own powers and defences, however, and many wars waged against the daunting and terrific might of the Dragons for Centuries – carving out massive craters, plains and scars across the continents. The eldest of scholars have maintained that this occurred roughly 7000 years after the worlds inception.
As the fighting waned and the two races licked their wounds, other Gods turned their heads to the interesting swathe of chaos and confusion. Seeing that Golarion by this point was already prospering when compared to the depressing sights on Udossta Valsath, the righteous Iomedae and the God of the Dwarves and the anvil, Torag decided they would shed some light on the world and joined forces to forge a powerful sun for it to orbit. This was an unsuspecting blight for the current surface dwellers, as much as they thought it may have been a boon – blinding the majority of those whose unfortunate sense of curiosity at the sudden glow in the sky caught them unawares in a white instantaneous flash of screams and hot agony. As the eyes of the few who hadn’t stared straight at the event adjusted to the sudden change of atmosphere, they noted that not only did they now have a day/night schedule to adapt to, but were greeted by two new races of a much friendlier, humanoid background.. Dwarves and Halflings. The introduction of a sun to the planet also allowed for easy documentation of the passing of time. This occurred allegedly 1000 years or so after the descent of the dragons. Over the years that followed, a number of subraces also started to appear.
This period was an interesting one, as it brought with it a small number of lesser gods, who also wished to capitalise on the fresh beginnings of Lolths finest creation, and of course, probably the most fascinating change to note – the eventual creation, segregation and division of the Elven hierarchy. If the introduction of dragons to the orb wasn’t irritation enough for the Spider Queen, the tip on the proverbial burg was of course the creation of a sun, which effectively destroyed in one fell swoop, the entire point of Udossta Valsath. A pilgrimage the face of the planet would never see again took place over the course of the next few months, wherein entire cities and/or villages of the Drow packed up and departed, rendering beautiful and articulate castles and palaces into veritable ghost towns. The migration moved deep down, guided by Lolth herself, into the deepest expanse they could find, where no natural light would ever find them. There were families and in some rare cases, large populations left behind in surface-based cities and towns that opted to stay instead of move, believing the trip and ideal unnecessary, accepting change and wanting to learn from and with the new friends they had acquired above ground. These elves called themselves precisely that in front of their peers, ‘elves’, discarding the once proud and maintained title of Drow. As time waxed on, and the globe worked its cycles around their sun, even the skin tones and colours in their hair would change, as if their physical features were also letting the past slip away. A true division occurred between the Drow and the Elves, many trade missions between what once would have been considered family, or distant relatives, now breaking into heated disputes and fights, sometimes ending in tragedy. For some Elves, especially the new, the Drow are only spoken of as if speaking of legend, or fairy tales, although any elder, if asked, will sigh and recall the distant memories of what once was, and what some fear may eventually be again.
While some speak in dark corners that The Spider Queen, infuriated and distraught at the division the idiot gods had crafted amongst her pets had waged a war on the two and lost, many advise that she has simply concealed herself for now, only communing with the highest of Drow Elders in strictest secret.
As the Dwarves and Halflings settled into their surroundings and carved out places they could call their own, a number of dragons returned to the skies. Heralded by an aged, black dragon whose wings could shut out the sun for miles, Terraxus, the group played Scourge to the Fanged Coast where new ports were being erected.
Terraxus dominated the Midseas, Dragon Isands, and the entire Fanged coast for years – scorching and decimating acres and acres of farmlands to the north west and populating the once vibrant area with abysmal fog and baked marshland – transforming it into a suitable base of operations, bringing slaves and stolen riches.
Abadar, the God of Cities, Wealth, Law and Merchants saw the strife being wrecked on the people of Torag and Iomedae on this new realm and felt compelled to jump in. And so it was that the human race was brought in to Udossta Valshath. Quick to socialise, commune with their neighbours and erect industrious towns that could train and bolster the ranks of paladins and fighters across the coast, the humans rapidly integrated themselves into the lives of their kindred brethren. As their ranks grew, so did their power; Fighting sects arose, trained in specific arts and worshipping specific deities – of note, the Paladins of Eastwatch, the Bloodmyst Barbarians to the Northeast, and the Rangers of Knightsvale to the northwest.
A resounding call to arms was issued during the year 1704AC, by a human paladin adventurer, by name of Lord Aaron, to finally bring down the menace of Terraxus.
Small armies of elves, dwarves, halflings and banded against the fiendish dragon in the coastal marshlands he’d engineered. The casualty-laden massacre went on for 3 days, the final blow being dealt by two men, Lord Aaron himself and the leader and founder of the new Barbarian Bloodmyst tribe, Axel Bloodmyst. The humans true arrogance was revealed when they celebrated the victory by erecting their Capitol city over the marsh, infusing the decapitated head of the beast with a divine magic to keep it from decaying and placing it as an elaborate mantelpiece over the doorway to their Kings hall. Advising the realm around them that it was truly the humans who wrought the destruction of Terraxus and no others, caused a huge dissent between them and their former allies. The Kingdom itself was even named after Terraxus, allowing the large breadth of the capitol walls to sit as a constant reminder to those who pass by of what happened, and whom apparently bested the beast.
Although peace has never truly found its way back to the realm, it certainly is at a much calmer state of rest as it has ever seen. There are many rumblings and stirrings, however, and more couldn’t possibly be happening behind closed doors than ever before. The introduction of a massive law banning the study and use of arcane magic arts in the kingdom of Tarraxus has pushed out hundreds and brought even harder strains to the fragile relationship the humans currently share with those around them. Paranoia and scepticism are close friends of the trade caravans and lonely walkers of the beaten paths that bridge the towns, and reports of more and more unusual beasts from all corners of the realm continue to abound.
It is said that during a time of great despair and malcontent amongst the greater, old, and dead gods now centuries past, a number of great and bloody battles were fought amongst the stars.
A host of the deities, and the worlds and realms they presided over were removed and obliterated in their entirety. New suns, and orbs to court and marry them were brought into existence to replace them and continue the cycles of life, worship and of course, the documentation of both time and important happenings – tasks that most gods do not deem worthy of their title and/or power.
One such survivor of the wars, now known and referred to as The Great Catastrophe, was a Goddess known as The Spider Queen, Lolth. Wanting to start anew and craft a world consisting of her most favoured race and followers, the dark elves, she summoned all but the last reserves of her power and forged a small planet. The first, and what was meant to have been the only intelligent, sentient race to populate the orb was of course, her beloved Drow. The dark elves named the world Udossta Valshath, or ‘our palace’, a name that would forever cement and celebrate their thanks to the benevolent goddess for her gift to them.
The prosperity of the dark world was not to last, however. Being that a good portion of the gods that survived The Great Catastrophe were indeed cowards, destroyers and sadists, not unlike the history that Lolth is usually regaled with, once the world became known to them.. so too did they come to know Udossta Valshath.
When Dahak, the God of Destruction, Dragons, Evil and Treachery noticed the new, ever so peaceful and vulnerable orb, he descended upon it almost immediately. Dahak was the first of many to taint and alter the course of Udossta Valsath. Bringing with him a legion of Dragons, the deity introduced anarchy, desolation, terror and chaos to the once calm ecology of elves. The Drow were not without their own powers and defences, however, and many wars waged against the daunting and terrific might of the Dragons for Centuries – carving out massive craters, plains and scars across the continents. The eldest of scholars have maintained that this occurred roughly 7000 years after the worlds inception.
As the fighting waned and the two races licked their wounds, other Gods turned their heads to the interesting swathe of chaos and confusion. Seeing that Golarion by this point was already prospering when compared to the depressing sights on Udossta Valsath, the righteous Iomedae and the God of the Dwarves and the anvil, Torag decided they would shed some light on the world and joined forces to forge a powerful sun for it to orbit. This was an unsuspecting blight for the current surface dwellers, as much as they thought it may have been a boon – blinding the majority of those whose unfortunate sense of curiosity at the sudden glow in the sky caught them unawares in a white instantaneous flash of screams and hot agony. As the eyes of the few who hadn’t stared straight at the event adjusted to the sudden change of atmosphere, they noted that not only did they now have a day/night schedule to adapt to, but were greeted by two new races of a much friendlier, humanoid background.. Dwarves and Halflings. The introduction of a sun to the planet also allowed for easy documentation of the passing of time. This occurred allegedly 1000 years or so after the descent of the dragons. Over the years that followed, a number of subraces also started to appear.
This period was an interesting one, as it brought with it a small number of lesser gods, who also wished to capitalise on the fresh beginnings of Lolths finest creation, and of course, probably the most fascinating change to note – the eventual creation, segregation and division of the Elven hierarchy. If the introduction of dragons to the orb wasn’t irritation enough for the Spider Queen, the tip on the proverbial burg was of course the creation of a sun, which effectively destroyed in one fell swoop, the entire point of Udossta Valsath. A pilgrimage the face of the planet would never see again took place over the course of the next few months, wherein entire cities and/or villages of the Drow packed up and departed, rendering beautiful and articulate castles and palaces into veritable ghost towns. The migration moved deep down, guided by Lolth herself, into the deepest expanse they could find, where no natural light would ever find them. There were families and in some rare cases, large populations left behind in surface-based cities and towns that opted to stay instead of move, believing the trip and ideal unnecessary, accepting change and wanting to learn from and with the new friends they had acquired above ground. These elves called themselves precisely that in front of their peers, ‘elves’, discarding the once proud and maintained title of Drow. As time waxed on, and the globe worked its cycles around their sun, even the skin tones and colours in their hair would change, as if their physical features were also letting the past slip away. A true division occurred between the Drow and the Elves, many trade missions between what once would have been considered family, or distant relatives, now breaking into heated disputes and fights, sometimes ending in tragedy. For some Elves, especially the new, the Drow are only spoken of as if speaking of legend, or fairy tales, although any elder, if asked, will sigh and recall the distant memories of what once was, and what some fear may eventually be again.
While some speak in dark corners that The Spider Queen, infuriated and distraught at the division the idiot gods had crafted amongst her pets had waged a war on the two and lost, many advise that she has simply concealed herself for now, only communing with the highest of Drow Elders in strictest secret.
As the Dwarves and Halflings settled into their surroundings and carved out places they could call their own, a number of dragons returned to the skies. Heralded by an aged, black dragon whose wings could shut out the sun for miles, Terraxus, the group played Scourge to the Fanged Coast where new ports were being erected.
Terraxus dominated the Midseas, Dragon Isands, and the entire Fanged coast for years – scorching and decimating acres and acres of farmlands to the north west and populating the once vibrant area with abysmal fog and baked marshland – transforming it into a suitable base of operations, bringing slaves and stolen riches.
Abadar, the God of Cities, Wealth, Law and Merchants saw the strife being wrecked on the people of Torag and Iomedae on this new realm and felt compelled to jump in. And so it was that the human race was brought in to Udossta Valshath. Quick to socialise, commune with their neighbours and erect industrious towns that could train and bolster the ranks of paladins and fighters across the coast, the humans rapidly integrated themselves into the lives of their kindred brethren. As their ranks grew, so did their power; Fighting sects arose, trained in specific arts and worshipping specific deities – of note, the Paladins of Eastwatch, the Bloodmyst Barbarians to the Northeast, and the Rangers of Knightsvale to the northwest.
A resounding call to arms was issued during the year 1704AC, by a human paladin adventurer, by name of Lord Aaron, to finally bring down the menace of Terraxus.
Small armies of elves, dwarves, halflings and banded against the fiendish dragon in the coastal marshlands he’d engineered. The casualty-laden massacre went on for 3 days, the final blow being dealt by two men, Lord Aaron himself and the leader and founder of the new Barbarian Bloodmyst tribe, Axel Bloodmyst. The humans true arrogance was revealed when they celebrated the victory by erecting their Capitol city over the marsh, infusing the decapitated head of the beast with a divine magic to keep it from decaying and placing it as an elaborate mantelpiece over the doorway to their Kings hall. Advising the realm around them that it was truly the humans who wrought the destruction of Terraxus and no others, caused a huge dissent between them and their former allies. The Kingdom itself was even named after Terraxus, allowing the large breadth of the capitol walls to sit as a constant reminder to those who pass by of what happened, and whom apparently bested the beast.
Although peace has never truly found its way back to the realm, it certainly is at a much calmer state of rest as it has ever seen. There are many rumblings and stirrings, however, and more couldn’t possibly be happening behind closed doors than ever before. The introduction of a massive law banning the study and use of arcane magic arts in the kingdom of Tarraxus has pushed out hundreds and brought even harder strains to the fragile relationship the humans currently share with those around them. Paranoia and scepticism are close friends of the trade caravans and lonely walkers of the beaten paths that bridge the towns, and reports of more and more unusual beasts from all corners of the realm continue to abound.
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