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One year ago, history ended. Over twenty thousand soldiers died in a single hour- several times as many wounded. The armies of the Empire fell on each other in a hysterical, vicious fight to prove that one twin brother was born a few seconds before the other and as such had the right to rule. Instead, both brothers died on the field of battle, rallying their troops to one last effort. The battle continued in a desultory fashion for a few minutes after that, but the impetus was gone- the broken, demoralized remnants of each side withdrew from the blood soaked fields as the magnitude of what had happened sunk in. There was no Emperor- there were no suitable members of the Imperial bloodline left alive to take the throne and lead their people anymore. They were alone- and they weren't the only ones who knew it. In a world adjacent, the land of dreams and spirits, the gods' plans and machinations had finally born fruit. Their people- their worshipers- had in their convulsions of madness destroyed the Empire. They left themselves leaderless- the gods would retake their position as leaders. The ancient treaty exiling them to their dreamland realm was gone, made with the first of a bloodline that had at last run dry. That alone would not have held them at bay- but millions of their worshipers knew the treaty was done, and they no longer believed the gods could be restrained against their will. And so the god of war slammed his sword into the veil between worlds and slashed. Most mortals felt nothing. The particularly magically inclined perhaps had a second's stabbing headache, right when reality sundered and the border between worlds was opened. Just a second, and seven hundred years of peace and order vanished like a mirage. The gods thundered back to their homes, appearing to awestruck and often terrified priests. The magic that soaked the world of dreams washed out in a tide, infusing every corner of the world with fresh arcane power. The talented wizards became titans. Hedge wizards became formidable powers. And some of those without any apparent magical talent became wizards in their own right as well. And had that been all, it might have worked. But the gods did not inhabit the world of dreams alone, nor was their return to physicality a path only they could walk. Less damaging was a torrent of smaller spirits, without the power to manifest a physical body even now. They could talk, and wheedle, and scheme for power, but all for little. Worse by far were the monsters. When the Compact was formed, the particularly magical creatures were sealed away along with the gods. Lacking in amusement, the gods turned to the monsters while barred from the world of mortals. Often they hunted them for sport, other times simply for practice. Those that had left lived short, vicious lives of terror and rage, all the while telling each other of the world of mortals they would return to. It became, to those monsters whose sole hope was to elude the huntress for one more day, the great dream of salvation. They returned with the gods. Those who exiled them were already there, and reacted to them with the fear and violence the monsters had long since accepted as their lot in life. The gods still paid attention to them- still coursed them mercilessly. And so the endless ranks of monsters and demons reacted as they'd longed to be able to react in their dreams. With overwhelming violence. Travelers set on alone were torn apart, cities assaulted with fanatical rage. Some stood aloof from the carnage, preferring to try to talk, to make sure that this time they would stay because they could have value to the mortals and gods alike. Some lost themselves in the violence, going fully bestial and losing whatever low cunning they'd had. Still others tried to overawe, to conquer the mortals. But all were implacably set that this time, they were not leaving- they had been exiled, tormented, butchered before. Never Again. Whether by intimidation or diplomacy- more often the former, accompanied by orgies of devastation- they would never be weak enough to destroy again. What that meant for mortal cities caught in their path, or in areas they chose to make their own... their stories rarely ended happily. The first few months were the worst. The full flood tide of monsters seemed as though it would wash the entire world in blood, outnumbering mortal soldiers and fighting to the death with seemingly no thought for their own lives. The gods pitched in, throwing their champions and children into the fray against armies of nightmares, and what remained of the Empire's armies banded together and held a thin steel line against the chaos. And hold they did- the fighting was less brutal in any one place than the Brief War, but far more died as the fighting was... almost everywhere. After the first apocalyptic wave, things settled down. Even the numerous hordes of monsters couldn't sustain their casualties, and there were enough areas they'd won that the less hardline could at least claim to feel safe- though all monsters know in their hearts, and in their memories, that it's not enough. Then there are the gods. Rulers of all they surveyed, and then exiled to the thin stuff of dreams, and now able to make their triumphant return- but to a world that's gotten along mostly without them for centuries. Worshippers they have, but rarely in the full-throated, desperate way they're used to. Few will openly scorn them, fewer still take up arms against them, but... few truly love them, anymore. Homecoming was not the glorious restoration they'd hoped for, and the gods are still split on what they should do about it. Some hold that they must adapt to their new roles, that the gods must take up roles of advisors and protectors instead of lords. Rather than change the world, they would change themselves. Others, more hard-line, will accept nothing short of a return to the 'good old days' where gods strode the earth as unchallenged masters and all bent the knee to even the least among them. Violence, terror, any atrocity would be acceptable to restore the natural order. Of course, there are mortals who hold similar, if inverted, beliefs. That the way forward is to return to the past- but the past of the Empire, where there were no gods or monsters to terrorize good men and women. Some want merely to restore the Compact and exile the supernatural once more to its lair of dreams. But some... dream of deicide, of exterminating monsters, throwing down the gods, of a full war against divinity. They are few. But they are desperate and well armed. Of course, other mortals in their turn wish to adapt to the new order rather than change it. Some want to restore the Empire, but an Empire shorn of its controls on the supernatural- others wish a loose network of feudal states, and so to flexibly move forward without looking backwards. Dozens of factions exist. Some are known. Some remain in the shadows until they see their time to strike. But all seethe, and scheme, and chart their own courses to what they see as a new dawn for all. Now, a year after the Empire's end, the world has settled into a worried equilibrium. The gods are worshipped, and have their feuds- but those fights haven't broken into full divine war yet. The monsters are a constant threat to travelers and caravans- but the terrible time of living carpets of feathered, scaled, and chitinous violence have abated. Magic is ascendant- but is not yet dominant. The world stands on the brink of a half-dozen destinies and a half-dozen apocalypses, spinning and wobbling, trying to find the direction in which all will tilt. This is the story of the world on the brink, and how it falls- or rises.
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# ? Mar 14, 2012 19:39 |
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# ? May 13, 2024 07:13 |
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A journey of a thousand miles... Sunrise. The chill of night still hung in the air, and the faint smell of fields and agriculture drifted out of the east along with the light, both combining to help wake those less familiar with the atmosphere of what was at heart still a farming town. Most of the locals had already been about their business before dawn, but the bustle of body-choked streets stayed at a dull roar as people went about their errands. Many farmers were heading to or from the market, to buy and sell their wares; the merchants that hadn't been driven out of business awaited to ferry food to towns less blessed with grain and more blessed with gold. The criminals also rose early and lurked the markets, to siphon off a coin here and a coin there from the unwary. Refugees- more and more a part of Noah's population- often wandered aimlessly, having little to do with themselves but wait and hope for work. At least construction was one business still in full bore, and employing a number of those who would otherwise go from ruined and burnt farmhouses to cloth stretched above an alleyway. Lord Roland had begun expanding the city walls- for the third time this year- to push out the boundary of protection more and try to catch up with the glut of bodies clamoring for shelter. As sun rose, those masses of humanity rose to a dull roar as even the most polite decided anyone still asleep was either a drunkard or a wastrel, and set about bawling their information to any and sundry. The city was too small for the crowds, and bodies surged along the main ways like a scant-washed tide that heaved back and forth without any obvious aim as individuals went hither and yon. Soon, the smells of food crept under the odor of refugees and cattle, tempting the last few awake who'd held out previously. Noah did not wait- and the world wouldn't either. Days ago, the Mayor had sent out invitations to several individuals, expressing his fervent wish to hire those with particular talents to his own payroll for the express purposes of helping preserve the city and its fragile civilization against all the forces that would split it apart like an unripe egg. The time and date were given for the rather loose 'midmorning'- the mayor was a busy soul, and didn't believe in precision in meetings too far in advance for fear of restricting his freedom of schedule. The clatter of hammers and tools around the outskirts of the city finally pulled the noise to its full working level, as another tower began its erection outside the refugee quarters. One good monster attack before the new walls were done, and at the very least hundreds would die without the protection of thick walls and wall-stationed archers and mages to harry foes away. That meant hurry, and hurry meant more money, and the city drowned in a thousand things it had to do... No matter. Such things weren't concerns for the vast majority of pedestrians outside. There was a restless energy in the crowd this morning, though- a kind of electricity passing from person to person as the herd grew unaccountably nervous. Not a single cloud in the sky- there hadn't been for almost a week, but that was common as summer began to slip towards fall and the harvest. Still worrying, but relief would come from the west soon enough. The pencil-thin line of black, black clouds on the horizon promised a dose of violence with the rain, but then on the plains in this season that was also only to be expected. Storms coming- and if nature was the only thing the farmers had to worry about, everyone would be a great deal happier. As those summoned made their way towards what the locals always called the 'Palace' with a grin on their faces, the crowds didn't hardly move away from them- jostling and bumping occurred, but no more than would be normal on a street this crowded, even against the flank of the faun. People were, by and large, too busy to fear the exotic even if they noticed it, at least in so casual a setting as a cramped street. Outside the walls there were endless fields of crops and vast forests to stretch and run in, but also danger- protection, nowadays, also meant crowds. The guards at the front of the 'Palace' recognized the summoned without being reminded- the Mayor was big on keeping all his employees supplied with the knowledge they needed to do their jobs efficiently, even in the small things. The Palace itself was a modest, two-story, stone-fronted building that looked more like a prosperous moneylender's office than the seat of government for a growing city- 'Further pretension', Lord Roland had sniffed once, 'would waste our money.' Everything inside was clean, to be sure, and tidy and orderly as clerks moved from room to room bearing parchment with the calm certainty of knowing exactly what they had to do written on their faces. Everyone inside had purpose and direction- wasted effort was a fault and nearly a sin, an outlook on Lord Roland's part which did much to explain why the city managed to work despite its handicaps. The smell and din were muted inside; the crowds, for all their bemusement, wouldn't dream of intruding into their ruler's sanctum without invitation as a matter of basic respect for their protector. There was still noise- but faint, rustling noises of parchment on parchment with an undercurrent of quiet conversation as scholars and clerks discussed their daily affairs. A faint smell of mint pervaded the air, and plenty of barely-cloudy glass windows made the interior arguably more well-lit than the crowded streets below. A brown-clad functionary ushered the summoned heroes-to-be up a flight of plain granite stairs to the offices on the upper floor, and directed them to a row of thinly cushioned benches in the hallway; "Lord Roland will see you shortly, he's receiving his daily briefing on local security from the Town Watch captain." And then the small, apologetic-seeming man hurried off, leaving his charges to the bench to wait their turn at audience. Plenty of time to get more thoroughly acquainted. Welcome to the game! Feel free to post and get in character for a while; the Mayor will see you shortly enough and we'll be off on our first real adventure. For those of you new or newish to GURPS, the first combat will be a gentler one where I help walk through some of the bumpier parts of the system. Posting format is as follows: Character Name (and, if people are split up, location as well- but only if split up) In character actions and dialogue. Out of character actions, chatter, and stats- post relevant statistics in general if you want me to make a skill roll. Come combat, I'll also be asking for a combat statistics block for you to just make, keep with your sheet, and post with every action- I'll go over what I want in those come that time. With your first post, include the 'final' copy of your character sheet. Keep the copy you post updated as you gain and spend CP by editing that first post, because that is what I am going to look to when I have to reference sheets. Post as much as you can whenever you have something to say, and don't ever feel like you are crowding others out; the only rule I will enforce for posting is the 24 hour rule in combat, which is that I want combat actions posted within 24 hours of an update to keep things moving at a reasonable clip. If I don't have one, I'll assume a 'good' one and move forward, because games bogging down during fights is death on pacing! If you are going to be away for a few days, tell me in advance so I can plan around it; everyone has times they will be away, so don't be shy. Finally, remember: the two cardinal rules are "Be interesting", and "Don't be a dick". Keep those in your heart and you won't go very far wrong in this game. Recruitment Thread: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3470266
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# ? Mar 14, 2012 19:41 |
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Lo'el Vo'Rintel The hustle and bustle of being amongst the crowds filling the streets was a thrilling experience but not something that he took to with ease. Nor was it something he believed he would get used to anytime soon. The initial feeling of being overwhelmed that he had felt upon his first arrival to the city was mostly gone. But coming from a tranquil forest to the crowded city streets is not an easily made transition and the constant stares that he receives from the passing people do not help with the experience. The young faun can't help but feel a bit more relieved as he enters Lord Roland's shelter. Lo'el follows closely behind the brown-clothed man as he leads him through the building, his hooves making a rather distinct sound that no doubt causes a few heads to turn as he walks through the impressive looking structure. When they come to a stop one floor above, he places his belongings next to a nearby bench and gives a smile and a nod to the man as he takes his hurried leave from the hallway. He smiles broadly as he turns to the others that now wait with him, tail swaying gleefully behind him. He skips back and forth on his hooves, ready and eager to see the young lord and whatever task he has set for him. It all has such a surreal feeling to it. 'The starting of a truly amazing story perhaps.' he thinks optimistically to himself "Hello" he says simply, grin still etched into his face. "I don't believe I have been blessed to meet all of you yet. I am Lo'el Vo'Rintel. It is a great blessing to be in your company this day." pre:Lo’el Vo’Rintel Race: Faun Age: 21 Attributes [195] ST 12 [20] DX 13 [60] IQ 13 [60] HT 13 [30] HP 12 [2] Will 14 [5] Per 14 [5] FP 14 [3] Basic Lift 24 Basic Speed 7 [10] Basic Move 7 Advantages [70] Acute Hearing 2 [4] Claws (Hooves) [3] Striker - Horns (Crushing) (No Parry) 1d [3] Outdoorsman 2 [20] Voice [10] Fit [5] Perfect Balance [15] Eidetic Memory [5] ~Mystery~ [5] Perks [2] Fur (Lower body) [1] Weapon Bond (Spear) [1] Disadvantages [-35] Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10] Easy to Read [-10] Social Stigma (Exotic Race) [-5] Increased Consumption 1 [-10] A Velociraptor! fucked around with this message at 16:59 on Jan 17, 2013 |
# ? Mar 14, 2012 21:04 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec nodded to the man before he left and lowered his traveling pack to the floor. The spear and buckler attached clattered against the ground as he carefully laid the pack down. Alec knelt down to the pack and slowly undid the tie and received his simple pocket knife and a simple light wooden piece of wood. Alec had spent his time to carefully whittle it down to a thin plank, every light and easy to impress upon. The wood had runes, or rizten, in the language of his people covering it, writings of his people, in very harsh and crudely carved runes. Alec began marking into it with his knife, he had to record his journey lest he forget when the time of feasting came. He knew that would be expected to recount his journey to all, and later to the lore masters. He had been surprised that he was called along with this group, the two music-makers were here along with the more hardened warriors. It will be an experience to see how well the fool worked with the others, as their temperament was completely different. He carved crude ritzen into the wood as he thought, his own not dissimilar from the rizten covered staff. Though Alec could not not read the staff, he assumed it was in the language of Stone that Gepid had been given not secrets given to Cherus. Not worth the cost to the clan's honor as a whole, Alec carefully thought. He carved only one rune before the man-goat interrupted his thoughts with his greetings. The Cherusci had always been taught to be careful with their words and speech. A word from Cherus could cause rivers to appear and men to scream in agony. Whole songs could destroy armies and make his city's walls invincible. Alec had no such ability, even less so in this common tongue of this place, but he kept his teachings to heart, and spoke when it was important, or necessary. Since the goat-man wished to talk, he would use it for his own question as well. “Greetings, Lor El of Vor Rindal, I am Alec of Cheruscisten. I might ask you a question, yes? What was the name of the Waldgeist who made you so? You are the Lore-Master no?” Alec looked into the man-goat's eyes in curiosity and hoped such questions were secrets and mysteries to the lore-master. Axe-man fucked around with this message at 21:54 on Mar 14, 2012 |
# ? Mar 14, 2012 21:27 |
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Lo'el He represses the urge to chuckle at the man's mispronunciation of his name, covering it with his smile. The man would no doubt take offence and that would hardly be the best first impressions to make. Manners were to be remembered when meeting new faces after all. "Your name sings to me Alec." he says, clasping his hands together as he says his greeting. "Forgive me, but I am unfamiliar with these terms you use. May I ask what a Waldgeist or Lore-master means to your people? You see, I have not been here long and, as such, I am still trying to understand certain cultures away from my herd."
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# ? Mar 14, 2012 21:51 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec gave a small smile, and remembered that he was amongst their tongue. He would have to be careful lest he take away honor from others by accident. He carved a few runes onto his wood to remind himself later. He thought of these words and what they would mean in this base and crude tongue. "Waldgeist means to you, Wood spirit, or I have heard wood god, and Lore-master, is a singer of tales, to tell all of great deeds by one, and stories of all. He does not only sing but also carves the... song onto wood, and bone, for all to see. He would know the beginning of your clan, and how they became how they are." Alec was convinced that the man-goat was not hiding this from him, but if he was, thought it was a tactful way to do so.
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# ? Mar 14, 2012 22:01 |
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Lo'el The faun nods along to Alec as he speaks. This man was unlike the other humans he had encountered so far and there would no doubt be much to learn from him. The man's talk of carving into bone makes his eyebrows raise slightly. Hopefully Alec had not received the wrong impression of him. "Well, carving into wood and...bone as you say is not something that is done among the herd. Mostly we simply remember and pass on our stories and songs to one another. But with so many to hear among these walls, I feel as if I may soon need to start writing them down to keep track of them all." He allows himself to chuckle then as his tail begins to twitch slightly behind him. "My people's origins trace back to the Age of Beasts and sadly I cannot tell you what wood spirit brought us amongst the other races of this world as no tale has survived within the herd since such a time. And I would agree that your title of Lore-master would best fit my intentions here. My desire to see and hear all I could is what brought me to this place after all. With that in mind, I would greatly like to hear of Cheruscisten and your people during our time here. Perhaps when I have obtained a journal to better document your songs and stories."
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# ? Mar 14, 2012 22:36 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec nods slowly at the man-goat and says simply "When it is time for such songs, they will be sung for you, though it would take many nights, and I know not all of them. Now, is the time to create stories, not listen to them." Alec understood what the man-goat meant by a journal, he had seen the symbols and even learned them since his time staying here, but he preferred the wood and bone, knife to quill. It was more laborious and less forgiving, more thought and effort put into each word and rune. "You should bring record of your deeds to your people and teach them a new saga. It is a sad thing to lose a story like that." He bit his tongue, it was not his place to scold a new Lore-master, for the dishonor of the old. Rather than speak it he simply stayed silent on the subject. Alec looks down at this wood and carves for a bit until satisfied, stows it and the knife. Alec then looks to the others, wanting to keep industrious, but having no work to do. He considers oiling and sharpening his sword, but it is not something to do as you wait to be brought before the King and the Hearth. Normally, he would expect servants to feed them and entertain while they wait, of course it would be the first time that he had not know all around him during these times. Axe-man fucked around with this message at 23:38 on Mar 14, 2012 |
# ? Mar 14, 2012 22:57 |
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Martin de Mignolet Martin was a little late as always, or at least 'as always' for this hour. He felt underdressed for the occasion; traveler's clothes just weren't professional, and here he was about to go meet with nobility. He looked less like the heir of the Baron Mignolet and more like some half-crazed ranger. His usually clean-shaven features were replaced with stubble and bits of a fledgling beard. No matter, though; that could be fixed later. As he tromped annoyedly into the waiting room (such as it was), he seethed - or at least pretended to, complaining more for the joke than anything else, trying to live up to what he assumed a couple of the others already thought - that he was just a bit soft. "Mid-morning, the Lord says. Bloody crack of dawn, say I. No time for anyone safe in the confines of the city to be awake, but work is work," he said as he neatly dropped his things in the corner of the room, trying to stifle a smile. "But good morning to the rest of you all the same, no?" Instead of taking a seat on one of the benches, he took up a spot along the wall and stood, looking like a half-awake sentry who's missed morning tea. Sitting down in his bleary-eyed state might only lead to him dozing off. Standing would keep him awake. "You all look like you're enjoying the morning more than I," snarked Martin in good humor. Fraction Jackson fucked around with this message at 22:33 on Oct 3, 2012 |
# ? Mar 14, 2012 23:20 |
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Lo'el He lowers his head in thought at Alec's words, running a hand through his hair and over the curved back horns that creep out from beneath it. "Yes, you are right. Sometimes the quill must be put down to take up the spear, as a song once said to me." The smile soon returns as the late arrival joins them. "The herd always wakes with the dawn, sometimes I wonder if i could sleep past it even if I wanted to." Soon remembering those much needed manners the elders had tried so hard to teach him, he joins his hands together as he introduces himself again. "You are Sir Mignolet? Forgive me, but talk amongst the people has brought your name to my ears. I am blessed to meet you this day." A Velociraptor! fucked around with this message at 00:02 on Mar 15, 2012 |
# ? Mar 14, 2012 23:59 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec scoffed at the man, having been up and productive since before dawn himself. "I can't imagine where we are going that, this will be considered early. Better to train yourself now, then let yourself fall to Sloth. I find this hour to late to be useful as it is, if we have to travel far, night will have come upon us. I am Alec of Cheruscisten, Serr Megnoket?" Alec kept his comments as unoffensive that he could force himself to, though the man clearly was without honor, it was not proper to bring such things up unless asked. He would retain or lose his honor by his own hand and no other. Alec had his doubts this fool would be of much use, but he also remembered that in this strange place honor seemed unheard of. "Like Children they are content to play at childish things." Alec thought bitterly.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 00:10 |
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Martin de Mignolet "Ah, well, some of us are used to doing a little more work once the sun's gone down." Martin smiles knowingly; he knows exactly what the Northerner's problem with him is, but it isn't something worth worrying about. After all, he's played this little game before. When it comes time for the proof of things, Martin was sure that his family's sword in his capable hands would show him to be anything but a weak scion of Imperial minor nobility. Until then, the supposed fop was more than happy to let the barbarian talk down to him, if that was how it was going to go. As long as he kept it polite, anyway, as it seemed to him the Northman was trying to do. He looks at the faun a bit more warmly, and offers a bit of a bow in greeting. "Well, I didn't know I was starting to get a reputation! But yes: I am Martin, son of the Mignolet line. And well met to you as well! I'm not sure I managed to catch your name though, so if you would be so kind..." Certainly he thought this one was a bit friendlier than the Northerner; and he was just as certain interested to learn about fauns, since he'd not known them to even be real until yesterday.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 00:27 |
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Lo'el He returns Martin's bow with a far less impressive one of his own. "Forgive me again. I am Lo'el Vo'Rintel and, trust me, your reputation of generosity and kindness is a well deserved one. The speed at which word travels in this city is quite surprising to me. I would not be surprised to hear that half the city had heard of me before I even stepped into it."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 01:19 |
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Dolan Togaldatur It was not that Dolan disliked crowds, but rather that Dolan disliked human crowds, outside. Outside, crowds seemed to stifle more somehow. It was rather paradoxical, in its way, that perhaps because one was outside, the crowd could continue to grow and grow without limit whereas, inside, there was a finite limit to that growth. Or perhaps Dolan simply didn't like being outside. What was simplest was probably true. Regardless of his opinions on crowds, the city itself was obviously quite successful. One didn't need knowledge of city layouts and construction to see that this one had grown far faster in population than it had been planned for. Streets and alleys were stuffed with people and residences. The newer portions of town were constructed so as to fit as many people into as tight a spot as could be made comfortable, and even then the walls had to be expanded. That would let more people in, the crowds could grow larger... He managed not to let the discomfort touch his face as he made his way inside the "palace," but did breathe a small sigh of relief once he was inside. He was barely even stopped outside, the guards already knowing his name and business. Not surprising, being one of very few dwarves in the city, and likely the only one dressed as he. Once inside and in the waiting room, he spies some of the others he noticed earlier. Again, he finds himself little surprised as he listens in on their conversation. Likely he would be working with them soon; it would do well to know them, and not well to interrupt. pre:Dolan Togaldatur Former agent of the Lamnaelem Attributes [+132] ST: 10 [+00] DX: 12 [+40] IQ: 12 [+40] HT: 11 [+10] HP: 10 [+0] Will: 14 [+10] Per: 12 [+0] FP: 20 [+27] Basic Lift: 29 Damage: d / d-2 SM: -1 Parry (Staff): 14 Dodge: 10 Basic Speed: 6.0 [+5] Basic Move: 5* [+0] Water Move: 1 Social Background [+4] TL: 3 Languages: Dwarvish [+0] [Native/Native] Common [+4] [Accented/Accented] Advantages [+122] Combat Reflexes [+15] +1 init, defense, etc. Lifting ST II [+6] +2 ST to determine carrying capacity Magery VIII [+69] Must draw runes, others cannot sense magical ability until it is used (Runic -40% (must be free to draw on any surface, need not speak), No signature +20%) Night Vision V [+5] Ignore up to -5 in darkness penalties in low light Signature Gear [+6] Rune Staff Weapon Master (Staff) [+20] improved damage, parry, etc Deep Sleeper [+1] Disadvantages [-87] Callous [-5] More overly pragmatic than simply uncaring or cruel Code of Honor (Dwarf) [-10] Essentially soldier's, but more in depth (and with beard etiquette) Greed (15) [-7] Shiny stuff! Magic Susceptibility II [-6] -2 to resist magical spells Miserly [-10] Hates spending money Phantom Voices [-5] The spirit of an old hatred Reputation -1 [-3] Minor spirits, all the time Secret [-20] Sense of Duty [-10] Unified Empire Slow Riser [-5] just 5 more minutes, god Spirit Ridden [-1] Quirks [-1] Go-With-The-Flow [-1] No Names [-1] Guarded [-1] Metaphysical Philosophizer [-1] hates hates HATES CENTAURS, WITH THE FIREY PASSION OF A THOUSAND SUNS ok maybe they aren't so bad NOT AS BAD AS FAERIES Skills [+79] Acting IQ/A 13 [+4] Area Know (Mountains) IQ/E 12 [+1] Body Sense DX/H 12 [+4] Climbing DX/A 12 [+1] Detect Lies Pr/H 12 [+4] Diplomacy IQ/H 12 [+4] Disguise IQ/A 12 [+2] Dreaming Wl/H 14 [+4] Fast Talk IQ/A 11 [+1] First Aid IQ/E 12 [+1] Forensics IQ/H 11 [+2] Hiking HT/A 11 [+1] History (Dwarven) IQ/H 10 [+1] Innate Attack (Missile) DX/E 16 [+12] Interrogation IQ/A 12 [+2] Intimidation Wl/A 13 [+1] Judo DX/H 12 [+4] Jumping DX/E 12 [+1] karate DX/H 12 [+4] Melee (Staff) DX/A 14 [+8] Sweep H 14 [+3] Philosophy (Fate) IQ/H 10 [+1] Research IQ/A 11 [+1] Ritual Magic (Runes) IQ/VH 10 [+2] Running HT/A 11 [+1] Savoir-Faire (Mil) IQ/E 12 [+1] Search Pr/A 11 [+1] Soldier IQ/A 11 [+1] Stealth DX/A 12 [+2] Survival (Mountains) Pr/A 11 [+1] Symbol Drawing (Runes) IQ/H 11 [+2] Thaumatology (Runes*) IQ/H 15 [+1] +5 Magic [+70] Spell Name Diff ES Cost Earth Seek Earth H 18 [+1] Shape Earth H 18 [+1] Earth Vision H 18 [+1] Earth to Stone H 18 [+1] Create Earth H 18 [+1] Stone Missile H 20 [+4] Rain of Stones H 19 [+2] Stone to Earth H 18 [+1] Flesh to Stone H 18 [+1] Stone to Flesh H 18 [+1] Walk Through Earth H 18 [+1] Steelwraith H 20 [+4] Empathy Sense Foes H 18 [+1] Sense Emotions H 18 [+1] Truthsayer H 18 [+1] Mind-Reading H 18 [+1] Mind-Sending H 18 [+1] Telepathy VH 17 [+1] Knowledge Detect Magic H 18 [+1] Aura H 18 [+1] See Secrets H 18 [+1] Seek Magic H 18 [+1] Identify Spell H 18 [+1] Analyze Magic H 18 [+1] Seeker H 18 [+1] Trace H 18 [+1] History H 18 [+1] Reconstruct Spell H 18 [+1] Healing Lend Energy H 18 [+1] Recover Energy H 20 [+4] Lend Vitality H 18 [+1] Minor healing H 18 [+1] Major Healing VH 17 [+1] Light and Dark Light H 18 [+1] Continual Light H 18 [+1] Flash H 20 [+4] Meta Counterspell H 18 [+1] Scryguard H 18 [+1] Mind Control Foolishness H 18 [+1] Daze H 18 [+1] Sleep H 18 [+1] Peaceful Sleep H 18 [+1] Movement Teleport VH 17 [+1] Blink H 18 [+1] Necromancy Death Vision H 18 [+1] Protection Shield H 18 [+1] Missile Shield H 18 [+1] Reverse Missiles H 20 [+4] Detect Observation H 18 [+1] Sound Sound H 18 [+1] Silence H 18 [+1] Wall of Silence H 18 [+1] Hush H 18 [+1] Far-hearing H 18 [+1] Point Tally 132 + 4 + 122 - 87 + 79 + 70 = 319/320 Ironwood Rune Staff - sw+2 cr // reach 1,2 // parry +2 // weight 4 // $3000 (signature gear) Rune staves are staves imbued with earthen energy, making them virtually indestructible (see Orichalcum weapons, Fantasy P. 23; looks like wood, feels like stone) Leather Armor - Torso, groin // DR 2 // cost $100 // wgt 10 Heavy Leather Sleeves - Arms // DR 2 // cost $50 // wgt 2 Heavy Leather Leggings - Legs // DR 2 // cost $60 // wgt 4 Leather Helm - Skull, face // DR 2 // cost $20 // wgt 0.5 Leather Gloves - Hands // DR 2* // cost $30 // wgt 0 Boots - Feet // DR 2* // cost $80 // wgt 3 total weight in combat - 23.5, no encumbrance Other Gear - total cost $224/$1000; total weight 22, light encumbrance Backpack - $100, wgt 3 Blanket - $20, wgt 4 Personal basics - $5, wgt 1 Lantern - $20, wgt 2 Oil (2 pints) - $4, wgt 2 Rope 3/4" - $25, wgt 5 Tent, 1-man - $50, wgt 5 Logbook and graphite for writing Gus Hobbleton fucked around with this message at 03:22 on Jan 18, 2013 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 01:26 |
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Isit the Quick The morning crows parted for Isit, eyes looking away, or appraising her weapons as she passed. A few had friends or family she had taken in. That didn't matter as long as no one tried to stick a dagger in her back. Wasn't lokely today. The folks who did that type of work usually had the grace to wait until she was drunk to try it. Chewing on wad of qaht leaves, Isit turned and spat before stepping into the mayor's manor. She respected the man, and wouldn't disrespect his office. After all, he was what was holding this town together. The mad spent his money on walls for the town, and not ornamentation for his home. Isit respected that. She respected his money as well. Entering the receiving room, the woman leans against the wall to wait, at least an arm's length from the others. Just in case. The northman, the dandy, a satyr and a dwarf had already arrived and started chatting. Well the dwarf hadn't. Nodding her greeting at the dwarf, the bounty hunter turns to the others, studying them intently for a moment before leaning back again, eyes half closed. quote:Isit the Quick 200/200 NoControl fucked around with this message at 04:47 on Jan 17, 2013 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:11 |
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Lette Hirthal Lette made her way to the palace, cursing herself for making two wrong turns. A sense of direction in the open is nothing at all like orienting oneself in such a maze of walls and smoke and shouting. Settling into the waiting room, Lette sits down, remembers herself, and offers a clumsy curtsy to the others in attendance, smiling warmly at those whom she had previously engaged. "Why, good morning Mr. Dolan, Mr. de Mignolet, Mr. Chir-... Mr. Alex." She beamed at the faun. "Wonderful to see you again, Mr. Lo'el." When her eyes crossed the final member of the assembled party, her good cheer faltered to what she hoped was an imperceptible degree. "Nice to meet you, Ma'am. I'm... Lette." She smiled convincingly. Yes, it must be a very convincing smile. "If anyone's after a journal, I found a merchant selling them for five bits apiece, not too far from here. "Oh," she adds, moving on to another part of the discussion, "I should say Mr. de Mignolet is most generous indeed. It seemed like the whole house was dining on his wallet!" Lette wondered what else he had done. Perhaps he was a high-profile philanthropist? She somehow doubted 'buying dinner for strangers' was enough to warrant becoming the subject of tales told far and wide. But then again, with how hungry she'd been, she could have written such a tale without significant embellishment. NoControl: Easy to Read, for what it's worth. pre:Lette Hirthal (307 CP + 0 Unspent) ------------- Attributes: [110] ST 11 [10] DX 11 [20] IQ 13 [60] HT 12 [20] Secondary attributes: [20] Base Damage: 1d-1/1d+1 HP 11/11 [0] FP 12/12 [0] Will 15 [10] Per 14 [5] Basic Speed 6.00 [5] Dodge 9 Basic Move 6 Basic Lift 24 Advantages: [152] Appearance (Beautiful) [11] (Fae, -10%) Animal Empathy [5] Animal Friend 1 [5] Fit [5] Magery 0 [5] Magery 1 [8] (Musical or Song, -20%) Magery 6 [30] (Musical, -50%) Green Thumb 3 [15] Musical Ability 1 [5] Spirit Empathy [10] Protected Sense (Sight) [5] Nictitating Membrane 1 [1] Aeolius fucked around with this message at 00:07 on Oct 20, 2013 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:20 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec nodded to the Son of Gepidi and the wood folk. He was a bit more inspired by the groups chances now, they had the look of stable and solid fighters, and discipline to match. "Hail, Son of Gepidi," with a nod to the dwarf," I have never seen such a staff as that, I cannot read it. It is impressive, greetings to you." Alec then turned to the new arrival of the tree folk and said "You, of the Tree folk, I have no reason for you to hunt me, I saw you are a hunter of Man. I am Alec of Cheruscisten, greetings to you both, I assume you both are here for the same reason?" Alec hoped they were here same as him, the tree folk made him wary, but she looked like an excellent fighter, and the son of gepidi would be very effective he was sure, with his strange staff. The Lore-Mistress came behind the tree folk, and greeted him again, he had remembered her name. Most due to her insistence that he tell the shield-men her name and the name Dolan. "Greetings again, Lette, they have called you here as well. I wonder if our host will be keeping us much longer." Axe-man fucked around with this message at 02:36 on Mar 15, 2012 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:27 |
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Isit Isit nods at the girl, letting a brief smile play across her face. Was she truly that intimidating? Girl must have been remembering the dead mark she had towed back the other day. "Lette, I am Isit." The girl looked a little young for this task, but the mayor was no fool. Likely she was here for the meeting as well. Tilting her head, she regards the northman. "Me? I hunt men, but only those who have broken the peace." It was odd that he referred to her as a 'tree folk', when she was city born and bred. Still, no reason to spill the beans. A little mystery kept her safe.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:34 |
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Lo'el He introduces himself to the dwarf and elf as they enter, much in the same way he had with the human males. When the familiar female enters, he cannot help but match her beaming smile and make a mental note to search out the journal merchant when they were done here. "And you as well Miss.Hirthal. I must say, I had hoped that our paths would cross again soon and I am pleased to see you with us. It seems to be quite a group assembled here, it makes me curious to discover what task the Lord has set out for us. Truly, I am uncertain as to why he called someone such as myself here today."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:37 |
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Martin de Mignolet 'And so, the rest of them from the inn are here,' thought Martin to himself. He offered a quick and practiced bow to each of them. To the dwarf, "Hail and good morning," and to both the elf and the lyreist, "Good morning, m'lady." Far from court, his good manners still remained, at least. It was something to hang on to. Besides, there was little harm in treating everyone well until they un-earned that right. At Lette's characterization of the day before, Martin tries and fails to hold back a chuckle. "Hah, well, money never has stayed with me easy. Better it pays for things that other people can enjoy, I have always thought. Some people might not think so, but it was my honor to do so and I am glad that at least someone happened to appreciate it!" With a small smile creeping across his face, he looked in fact quite pleased with himself. At least the Northerner's suspicion and doubt wasn't shared by the others. That was good. He'd nothing to hide - he was what he was, and all that was left was to hope that those he seemed fated to work with for the next little while were willing to accept that.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:40 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec looked to the man-goat and answered his rather airy question, "I assume that we are all here to stop the dågons and spirits. I know my people cannot last these assaults forever. This is the only spot I have found in this place that is not in total darkness." Alec leaned back and drank from his waterskin, this was going to be difficult. A fool, two Lore-masters, a son of gepidi, a tree folk. Alec assumed that much was not what it seemed, otherwise, the King here is a fool. Alec hoped that he would explain his plan and how he managed to stop the scourge. He reminded himself to look for signs of spirits and seers around the man, it might be that this King was just a spirit trying to lead him away from his goal. Without him, after all his people were doomed. Axe-man fucked around with this message at 02:55 on Mar 15, 2012 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 02:52 |
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Lo'el "Giving your coin so that others may sing and dance their worries away is a trait I have not seen among many during my time here. In times such as these, the need for celebration is called for all the more I find." He smiles at Martin. "As I said before Sir; your reputation is well deserved." He decides to take a seat on one of the exquisite benches, swooping his tail to his side as he sits to avoid sitting on the thing before stretching his legs out. He bounces slightly on the cushion beneath him. Cushions. Another item the herd didn't have that he was slowly getting used to. Perhaps he could take one back as a souvenir. He looks back to Alec. "By 'dågons', I assume you mean the monsters? Well, I am not sure what part I can play in such a grand tale if that is the case, but I am willing to help in whatever way our host deems necessary."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 03:38 |
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Lette Lette acknowledges the elf's introduction with a nod. So the dwarf was a criminal? She wasn't about to broach the subject any more than was necessary. She'd take it at face value; after all, she was summoned by the mayor. Can't be an outright murderer. "Oh, I most certainly did," she nodded to Martin. "It's part of what made my first day in Noah so memorable!" She shifted her focus to the discussion between Lo'el and Alec, before turning to the latter and asking: "How can you be so sure? About the, um, dågons?"
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 03:44 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec looked across to the man-goat... no Lor el, he corrected himself, and nodded "Monsters of many types, most controlled by powerful spirits. I believe they are called 'gods' here, though why they would put some spirits above others I have no I idea. You might as well watch for men to fall from the sky as stars and call them 'Gods'." Alec chewed over this fact in his head before finally after much debate coming to the conclusion to speak about it. "Last night, I saw Marten, pay as if it was a feast. I do not know the feasting day or occasion, but I would think it would be best to all pay together, that way, each person shows their own worth, and then all could give and all enjoy giving back and receiving all at once. That is most likely the only honorable way I could see to do it." Alec spoke slowly and glanced at Martin as he talked to Lor El.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 03:49 |
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Dolan "Just Dolan, no mister," the dwarf corrects. "We don't use our clan names outside the mountain--" he cuts off, waving away whatever he was going to say. He'd been saying that enough lately, and Lette, at least, had already heard it. He greets each of the others in turn, bowing to the Northman as he does so. One of the old names, though not quite as he remembered it pronounced; time warps all things, after all. As for the other things said... "Stopping the spirits is a bloody tall order. No matter who you are or where you're from. Keeping them at bay, certainly, and that's what this city really needs in a time like this. Any city, for that matter."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 03:50 |
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Isit The elf grunts in agreement. "Can't stop the spirits, anymore than you can stop rain."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 03:56 |
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Martin de Mignolet Hearing the Northerner speak his name, Martin turns his head slowly to that side. "Hm. Well, where I come from, to have the means to give such a gift, and to actually do so, is a kindness. I suppose I see why you think of it the way you do, but there was no offense meant." "Let us not worry about, ah, customs for now though, ladies and gentlemen. You speak of spirits and monsters: it seems to me that's a larger cause for worry than who pays for the food!" With his gaze now down at the floor, Martin laughs softly to himself. "Dark days, yes...but you can survive even the darkest nights as long as you give it your all. I would like to think that free peoples can make the world more...normal again, someday."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 04:05 |
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Lette "'Dolan,' then. Sorry," she said, knowing full well that she may repeat this mistake. Stopping the spirits. The proposition had a certain charm to Lette, but she had nary the first thought as to how one might go about doing it. Her few years had encompassed enough history for the obvious rejoinder, though: "Um, Ms. Isit, by that measure are we not only just emerging from a centuries-old drought?"
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 04:25 |
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Isit Isit smiles slowly at the girl. She was quick. "A drought, yes, I like that. And a hard rain after a drought causes no end of troubles. Seen some things going between cities that gave me pause, and we likely haven't seen the worst yet. Good thing the Lord Mayor likes walls."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 04:29 |
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Alec Cherusci "Aye, this flood is strong where my town is. I must either stop them or figure out how to keep them at bay. This place, it is intact, the storm I have seen, has not come. When it does, there will be much glory to be had." Alec said with much conviction. He looked off into the distance before being brought back "We are not here to defend, this King, he has bigger plans, look out there, he has people to defend, no we are going to be sent to either attack, or find something. We each must have something he needs to do it, even if you know not what. That is what I think." Alec leaned back and chewed the thought over in his head slowly and carefully. Axe-man fucked around with this message at 04:41 on Mar 15, 2012 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 04:39 |
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As the would-be heroes get acquainted to one another, the normal thin traffic of the hallway moves to avoid the foreign particles in their midst; none go out of their way to offer refreshments or engaged the newest hired help in conversation. A sudden bustle and thud of chairs being pushed back from an unprepossessing and unlabeled wooden door across the hall from the barely-padded benches opens; through the door, there's just one brief glance of the Mayor dressed in simple black clothes, his back to the door and staring out his window at the oncoming storms with his hands clasped behind his back. That view is rapidly eclipsed by a large, armored, and above all unhappy looking man storming through the door with a scowl. "You're the new adventurers?" He asks, quickly picking the six people out with a glance, eyes sweeping them all with a quick nod. "Watch Captain Dirksen. I'm in charge of security. Sorry to interrupt your meeting with the Mayor, but a situation's come up and he wants you to help handle it before your meeting." As he talks, the captain- with just a trace of orcish ancestry in his veins, not halfway but perhaps a quarter of the way distant from human, slowly loses his scowl. "It's been a long morning, and now this... walk with me." Setting off back to the stairway, he doesn't check behind him to be sure his charges are following. His armor's polished, but not to a mirror sheen; it's got more than a few mostly-beaten out dents in it, marks of long usage, and with comfortable looking padding underneath the metal. "Just before dawn, we sent up a wizard a few hundred feet to take a look around the area with a simple telescope, so we can see farther around. Land's so flat here that gets you a few extra mile's sightline." Hitting the stairs, he pauses briefly. "Report just made it up to me. There's a pair of covered wagons four miles out, looks like another load of refugees we'll have to make room for... somehow. Bad news is that he also saw plumes of dust behind them and closing, and he says it looked like a group of bandits- or someone- on horseback. He came down rather than wait to confirm. We don't have any mounted patrols in the area, so Lord Roland's commandeered one of the fast mail wagons to send a team out to intercept and escort the refugees the last few miles in. Hopefully they're not actual bandits- or if they are, they'll be smart enough not to press it. I'll send some of my men with you, but the mayor wants you to handle it mostly yourselves. I don't like gambling people's lives on a test, but-" He shrugs. "Mayor knows best. All of you have gear nearby? We can stop and get some of our arms if not, but the carriage needs to leave fast if it's going to catch up to the refugees before the bandits."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 05:07 |
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Martin de Mignolet There was not much that occurred to him as being necessary that wasn't with him. His family's blade, an old heirloom of good design, was near at hand. For Martin, there wasn't another thing in the world, ancient or new, touched with magic or not, that could make him feel more at ease in the face of danger. With only the barest hint of nervousness, his fingers drummed the hilt of that trusted, often-blooded saber. "A test, you say, Captain? I shall gladly go along with it." He looks at the others, spending an extra second of his gaze on the skeptical Northerner, Alec. "What say you all? Ready to test steel?"
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 05:27 |
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Alec Cherusci Alec pulled on his pack again, and walked into the room after seeing all of them leave. Alec followed the son of Rugii quickly as he talked. Listening intently to the battle proven warrior and looked out into the distance. As he finished, Alec felt that his opinion of the Lord Roland improved. A test of your men before battle, is just what was called for. Alec looked at Marten, and nodded "I have my weapons and pack, I am ready, though, if I have a place to place my pack until I return, I would ask for that. It would be best to go as a warrior and not a traveler. We should go soon, lest we miss our chance to stop these då... monsters." Alec adjusts his gear and gets ready, this was what Alec was born to do. It was good to see the fool was eager for a fight.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 05:44 |
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Dolan "D'eg Thusul, it is nothing," Dolan reassures Lette. "I merely did not want--" he stops when he sees the commotion beginning, and the guard approaching them. He tries to school his features as Dirksen gives them the news, but has trouble keeping the frown off his face. "Akam," he curses quietly. "I have everything I need. Let's go quickly." He wasn't sure if he agreed with Roland's idea to test his new recruits while gambling the lives of the refugees, but he had the feeling that the gambit would pay off. The Turns would see them out of this, if they willed it.
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 05:58 |
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Lette Defend a caravan? A worthy cause, but... mortal combat? But he said it may not even come to that... Lette steeled herself. This brave new world had already unfolded. She had seen and largely avoided the dangers of her overland trek. In the bubble of the farm, there was some sense in which the state of the world could have been denied — until something hostile burst it. She was not a born soldier, but she could defend herself. Whether she was capable of defending others, though, was of the essence. If not, then her very purpose would be revealed a sham: just a more gussied-up sort of denial, reverting the world by ignoring what's changed. Clinging to a wish she could never realize. A vanity. She set her jaw. "Yes, we'll... yes." She followed the crowd as the scene unfolded with an almost dreamlike quality. Spending those five points on removing them thar killin' inhibitions. Aeolius fucked around with this message at 06:23 on Mar 15, 2012 |
# ? Mar 15, 2012 06:18 |
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Lo'el As the Captain walks off down the hallway, Lo'el looks to the others before sweeping up his belongings and hurrying after him. His tail begins to sway as he trots behind the group. "Regardless of this test, if there are people's lives to save then we must help, yes?" What the others had said was true. These were dark times and he didn't plan to simply ignore them and bury his head. If he did not help now, then he suspected it would not be long before these troubles came to the forests of the herd. And besides, if there was anything better then telling a tale, it was being a part of one. "I would imagine a good deal of time has passed since you spotted this trouble? In which case, there is no time to lose. I have all I could need. Let us hurry."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 10:59 |
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Isit The elf nods, and starts the process of stringing her bow. She tried to avoid caravan jobs, but money was money, and she had a reputation to uphold. Besides, this meant fewer people she'd need to hunt down later in all likelihood. Donnel will have a field day after hearing about this. Quick check of her weapons, and she nods to the guard captain. "Let's get this done." Sparing a glance at the young woman, she looks her over, hoping to see that her weapons were sharp. "You got a bow lass? Range is best if you're new at this."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 16:23 |
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Lette As much as Lette wanted to supply her hunting credentials, taking down an occasional 8- or 10-point buck hardly compared to firing from a cart at unknown targets. She nodded wanly, and gave her bow a pat. "I'll manage," she managed. "He said they could provide arms. You... seem to know about this sort of thing. Is there a different type of arrow I should use?"
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 19:06 |
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Isit The girl's bow got an appraising look. It would do for bandit killing. "Good. Hunting bandits is like hunting game. Hit the vitals, never aim for armor or do trick shots unless you are certain to pull it off. I'd use broad head arrows if they have them. They'll bleed 'em more."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 19:33 |
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# ? May 13, 2024 07:13 |
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Lo'el He gives his equipment a once over as he trots along with the group. The spear and staff he gripped in his hands were strong and sturdy. He hadn't had a chance to test them since he had trained with them back at the herd, but no doubt they would last well enough in combat. Hopefully he would be able to hold up just as well and keep a level head through the coming fight. Checking his sling though, he suddenly remembers that he no longer has anything to fire from it. "If there is time." he said, looking up to the Captain. "I could use some adequate stones for my sling. Sadly I used my last useful ones hunting food before I arrived here. And fighting from a range might very well be called for."
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# ? Mar 15, 2012 21:38 |