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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 |
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Mar 15, 2012 01:26
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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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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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Dolan Dolan listened quietly as the others spoke, noting the tone from the faun and the lass. Neither of them sounded particularly bred for combat, nor experienced. The Northman, the elf, and the noble, on the other hand, could probably handle themselves. He hadn't heard the noble give any advice, nor much anything other than his views on charity, but the way he carried himself and his blade gave him away. He knew how to use that weapon. Likely the other two would need protection. Hopefully he could provide it. Once outside and in the carriage, Dolan sets down and pulls his logbook from off of his belt and leafs through some pages, muttering to himself. "I'll try to slow them down a bit. Throw some chaos into their charge." Gus Hobbleton fucked around with this message at 05:19 on Mar 16, 2012 |
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Mar 16, 2012 05:08
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Dolan "Runepriest, not a wizard," Dolan says, and nearly spits before he remembers the close confines. "Same bloody thing as far as you'd be concerned, though." He turns the page again, and smiles. Yes, that will likely do. "Only some of my magic is fit for combat. The staff makes a bloody fine conventional weapon though."
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Mar 16, 2012 05:22
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Dolan "Something to look at them or something to unhorse them?" Dolan asks without looking up. "The latter I can do, depending on how well their mounts are trained, and as long as they aren't already in amongst the refugees. The former..." He snaps his book shut, and lets it hang at his belt again. "I was studying some runes that could be used for that, but I can't use them reliably yet."
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Mar 16, 2012 16:15
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Dolan "poo poo," Dolan mutters, as if commenting on the rain. "Blood and poo poo. I can't bloody well unhorse that. Yet," he adds. "Have to improvise. At least we know they aren't here to kill the refugees, thanks to one with a quick tongue." Standing, Dolan plants his staff as he faces towards the centaurs. He quickly takes on Elf Crosses Your Path, one of the first combat stances he learned, one that keeps you facing towards your foe and seemingly unexpecting of combat, but ready to react from all sides, or hit the ground if need be. "Raiders!" he calls. "These refugees are under the protection of Lord Roland of Noah, and these be his lands. Drop your plunder and walk away, and we can forget this ever happened." pre:Diplomacy 11 ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:10/10 FP:12/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9 (dodge and drop, all out)
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Mar 17, 2012 17:44
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Dolan What may have been respectful politeness drops off the dwarf's face when the Northman speaks. It is replaced with bald-faced contempt. Dropping down, and with uncanny speed, he begins to Draw with the tip of his staff. A single rune carved into the wood of the wagon. As soon as it is done, it is gone, Channeled into Dolan's hand. Standing again, he looks towards the centaurs with a rather large chunk of rock in his hand. pre:Casting Stone Missile for 2 FP, then beginning to aim at A2. Since I can't technically begin to aim this round, that target might change. Stone Missile 13 Mental Strength 14 not to lose my aim if I get shot at ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:10/10 FP:10/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Stone Missile: Skill 13, 2d+2 crushing, Acc 2, 1/2D 40 Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9
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Mar 17, 2012 20:44
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Dolan The cart lurches as one of the horses rears, turning the final and crucial mark on Ylem into, well, that rune doesn't actually exist. With more muttered curses, he hastens out the rear of the cart. He'd never been trained to fight centaurs. This could be interesting. pre:Will take a full move action to get out of the cart ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:10/10 FP:10/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Stone Missile: Skill 13, 2d+2 crushing, Acc 2, 1/2D 40 Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 18, 2012 06:54
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Dolan Remarkably, the horses manage to move in a manner that isn't pure chaos, and the one that just took three arrows manages to stay upright. Whatever the lass said to them must have been very encouraging. Or sounded encouraging, since these are horses after all. With the cart out of the way, things were a little more orthodox. They were still fighting men on horseback who couldn't be separated from the horses, but you can't win every time. The nobleman had managed to enrage one of the closer ones with what should have rolled off his back easily enough. Dolan was interested to see where this would go. pre:Moving forward with Martin ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:10/10 FP:10/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Stone Missile: Skill 13, 2d+2 crushing, Acc 2, 1/2D 40 Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 18, 2012 23:30
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Dolan Dolan marvels at the surprising grace of the nobleman, with his small blade and his weapon-grabbing cloak. He refuses to believe that the man did that on purpose, but the opening was there, and he would take it. Rushing forward, he moves in without the fanfair of his northern companion, looking to finish the job that the nobleman began. Blood had been drawn; it was time for payment. pre:Move and attack, will end up 1 hex NW of Alec's proposed move. Targetting the hand holding the weapon. ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:10/10 FP:10/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 20, 2012 00:18
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Dolan "Take them alive," the one had said, and sure enough, they go for non-lethal attacks. Non-lethal, but still quite painful and more than annoying. Dolan doesn't give them the satisfaction of crying out. Pain was temporary, and as long as he didn't over-exert himself here then he could heal himself, the nobleman, and the injured guard quickly enough. But first he had to exert himself. Blinking through the pain, he begins to Draw. This time the only horses to disturb him were the ones trying to kill him. Motivation was always a significant factor in Dolan's life. pre:Spending 2 FP on Stone Missile, but not finishing the cast yet due to shock penalties. ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:6/10 FP:7/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Mental Strength 14 to keep concentration while dodging/taking damage Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 20, 2012 02:55
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Dolan Some dark God had a sense of humor it seemed. Either that, or Dolan was so out of practice that he couldn't make a simple ball of rock. He'd have to spend some time with his books, but he couldn't focus on that right now. Things needed to be done. They needed to be done right. pre:Trying again, Earthen Missile 13, spending 2 FP if it succeeds ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:5/10 FP:7/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Mental Strength 14 to keep concentration while dodging/taking damage Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 20, 2012 05:43
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Dolan Distantly, Dolan heard a pair of pained screams from further up the road, followed by a crunching, choking gasp from behind him. The runes were in him now, the power flowed through him, dulling the sensation and his own pain. The world seemed nothing more than a series of detached events that could be analyzed and calculated. He had to be careful not to lose himself in it, to deny the world and his place in it. He could still affect it, however lightly. This, however, would require still a bit more effort. pre:stepping 1 hex NE Charging my missile with another 2 fp ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:5/10 FP:5/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Mental Strength 14 to keep concentration while dodging/taking damage Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: feverish Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee
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Mar 20, 2012 22:46
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Dolan Dark Gods indeed. Something was wrong, very wrong. Dolan hadn't been in combat this feverish since before the Change. He could have been out of practice, or maybe the Change was more profound than he thought. He filed away the decision to do more research later. In the present, he staggers up towards his foes, Drawing quickly as he goes. Fortune willing, he would survive the next few seconds to see something work for a change. pre:Moving 1 N, 1 NE Casting rain of stones (13) centered 5 NE of my new position Spending all 6 FP for 3 radius and 2d-2 damage Excluding allies from the damage obviously ST:10 DX:12 IQ:12 HT:11 SM:-1 HP:-2/10 FP:6(0)/12 Will:12 Per:12 Speed:5.75 Move:4 Combat reflexes, Night Vision 5, Weapon Master Rune Staff: Skill 14, d+4 crushing Armor: DR 2 across the board, hands and feet flexible Defense: feverish Dodge 9, parry 13 in melee Gus Hobbleton fucked around with this message at 04:15 on Mar 21, 2012 |
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Mar 21, 2012 04:02
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Dolan Stars filled the void, glittering and shining and reflecting until there was no void, no time, only their light. In the midst of it all, brighter even than the stars, was a single bar of light, focusing and refracting everything, gathering all the light of the universe. He was awake, he realized. No. not awake, but conscious. He had no body, or maybe he did, but he startled anyway when he felt the presence. He tried to speak, but nothing worked. He could not act here. He woke suddenly to an elf admonishing him on proper care of his skull, but he did not truly listen. As soon as he was alone, he transcribed what he remembered of the voice in his book. He would find out what he could later. --- "Aye, I'd be willing to help in any way I can," Dolan answers. He was glad to finally meet Lord Roland, the man who had managed to build Noah up into a prosperous city even in these chaotic times. "I did some thinking while I was unconscious," Dolan says. "If you had not already assigned someone to it, I'd like to examine the refugees' wagons. I might be able to get some clues as to what happened before we arrived." There's a moment's hesitation before he continues. "Also, if they were after us as well as the refugees, we need to know why. If this 'queen' is after one or some of us, or one of your guards, we need to know why."
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Mar 25, 2012 06:00
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Dolan This man was quick. He answered Dolan's next question, that about employment and funding, before he could even ask it. Being on a city payroll was always easier than being contracted to a lord, even a good one. It always felt more permanent, more real. "The storm sounds like it could be bad news. Sending the scouts now was a good idea. If I can't find anything, they may be all we have to go on. Speaking of--" He stands, bowing his head slightly. "Time shrouds all things. With your leave, my Lord, I'd like to begin my investigations sooner rather than later. Should I report my findings to captain Dirksen, or directly to you?"
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Mar 25, 2012 23:00
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Dolan - The Royal Garage "Thank you. I shall waste no time, my Lord. By your leave," Dolan says before bowing briefly again. The warning not to overtax himself is taken seriously, though he doubts that he would be able to hurt himself easily in this situation. Once outside he gets directions to where the wagons were taken. It isn't far, he learns, from the main gate that they keep all of the wagons, and that the two refugee wagons have already been consolidated into the city's "army" of wagons. When he arrives, he learns that he is already expected, word having been sent just before him, and he is guided to where they are being kept. Inanimate objects were easy -- usually -- to Trace. Of course, the bigger they were, the more effort it took. The Turns did not see the wagon as a single object, but many objects; far more, even, than the builder who made it would assume. Each plank of wood seemed to be a multitude of pieces. Each splinter had as many pieces as there were splinters in the entire wagon. Perhaps even more. All of them together ran in a single direction in the Turns, and direction could be Traced back until it met something else. Or someone else. And that someone was who he was hoping to find. Of course, his Elven doctor would not be please if he hurt himself, so he takes it slow. Casting History on the driver's area of the lead wagon, the one that had the dead dude on it. History 13. Going back only one day, aiming mostly for the involvement with the centaurs.
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Mar 26, 2012 02:04
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Dolan "Hmm," Dolan grunts as the vision fades. "Bloody mundane. Poor poo poo." Hopping down from the driver's seat, Dolan opens his logbook to a blank page. quote:33 kernång, 2412 He spits as he writes that last comment, then lets the book hang at his belt again. One casualty, so far. The vision indicated that there were people in the back of the wagon, as suspected, but that they could have all vanished without even a struggle... Climbing into the back of the wagon, he looks around the interior for anything overlooked by the others before Drawing another rune. Gonna do some good old fashioned detective work on this one too. Search 11, per 12, History 13
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Mar 27, 2012 04:32
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Dolan The vision fades, and Dolan mutters to himself. More centaurs even than they faced, it seemed. Probably a fair number if they were able to herd the refugees away. Even cowed, a panicked or desperate man might flee a single guard or a duo. Two more minimum. Still nothing he could use to track any of them though. quote:Refugees from first wagon taken alive. Direction unknown. Taken by centaurs. He spits again. So that was it. The refugees were kidnapped for some unknown reason, taken to some unknown holdfast. So why did it feel like he was missing something? It was unlikely that there would be more evidence here but to stop looking would be... What? Was it the Turns pushing him to this or simply his own stubbornness? Growling and cursing under his breath, Dolan begins searching the second wagon. He needed time to recover and calm down anyway. Casually searching the second wagon for 30 minutes to recover the FP spent (doctor's orders) then casting History AGAIN in the passenger area of the second wagon
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Mar 27, 2012 16:50
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Dolan - Royal Garage (pronounced gair' awhj) The dwarf looks back as he hears his name, and gestures towards the wagon. "Nothing, nothing, and more bloody nothing." He stalks over to the second wagon, giving the wheel of the first a small kick for farewell. "The driver's heart quit from fear. The passengers were herded away by the centaurs." He spits. "There must have been more than the ones we fought." With more muttering, he climbs up into the rear of the second wagon, searching what little there was to search; there weren't many places something could be hidden in a wagon like this. "So, what brings you here?" he asks without looking back.
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Mar 28, 2012 03:14
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Dolan - Ye Olde Car Holde "Aye," Dolan says, looking under one of the benches. Nothing there but dust. "Magic, and more conventional means. I needed to recover anyway." Standing, he turns to look at Lette and cocks his head at her. "So what's your speciality anyway? No, let me guess. Empathy. Plant empathy. You strike me as an arbomancer."
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Mar 28, 2012 03:46
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Dolan - Hovercraft Launch Pad "Ah, a Wilder then," Dolan says, sitting down in the rear of the wagon. Quite common, especially among humans. And elves. You do have the potential to be a mage. I can feel it in you. The instrument might be magical as well. May I see it?"
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Mar 28, 2012 04:44
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Dolan - egaraG Dolan chuckles. It's a small laugh, but it's there. "No. Not a Wilder. None of the Runepriests are, and-- And some of the people I learned with, some of them didn't take kindly to Wilders. Thought of them as low-born peasants being given something they didn't deserve instead of talented individuals with a gift." He takes the lyre, turning it over slowly and carefully in his hands. He reaches for one of the strings, but then pulls his hand back. "Not a lick of magic in it, lass. But that doesn't mean much." He hands the lyre back, then lifts his staff. "This has no magic in it either. The only magic used in this was to forge it. It is merely an aid to concentration, and a bloody fine weapon. Most Wilders need some kind of focus, some way to channel their abilities until they learn to do without."
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Mar 28, 2012 05:22
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Dolan - A wretched hive of scum and villainy "Run out? No, no no no. Making magic run out would be like... Like emptying the ocean with a bucket. There's so much power that Turns the whole world you could never use it all, and even if you did, when you let it go it would just flow back into where it was before. And yes, it can take time for the talent to manifest. I've heard of elderly people suddenly finding themselves able to use magic. I'm afraid I don't know a whole lot about Wilders though." He remembered asking these questions himself when he was first learning. The sheer scope of it all when he was a child had fascinated him. It was almost nostalgic to talk about it again. "Oh, now that's a complicated question, lass. Bloody complicated indeed." He pauses, thinking for a moment. "It would take years to explain properly, but-- Imagine a game, a game with sets of rules that are written down, but in a language you don't know. The only way to learn the rules is to watch the game being played, and to deduce them. Now imagine you want to change the rules, but the only way to do that, is to change what is written. But remember, you don't know the language. By making educated guesses, you can cross out symbols, or move symbols around, or change the symbols that are there, or make up new symbols. "That is what the runes are. Thousands of years of trial and error, guesswork, and observation. Some people say they aren't magical, because they're just changing the rules of the world that already exist. But I say if that is not magic, then what is?"
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Mar 28, 2012 06:05
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Dolan - A magical place He nods as the girl takes in all the information he just gave her and runs with it, actually understanding it, and coming out the other side with even more information than he gave her. Correct information. She was a bright lass, but he doesn't voice that conclusion; no reason to let her head get too big too quickly. "That's almost exactly right," he says. "The symbols themselves are, in a way, not magical themselves. It's the-- interpretation-- that is magical. No more magical than your lyre, but the music you play with it, its interpretation makes magic." Dolan looks outside the door of the wagon house to see the change of the daylight's shadows. "It's starting to get late. We should catch up with the others." He hops down from the wagon, then turns to look at it again. He didn't know whether it was the talk he just had calming him down, or if something truly did change, but he felt... better. He still felt like he was missing something, but he didn't know what. Or where. With startling speed, he Draws a rune into the dirt at his feet with his staff, then Channels it. There must be something. Casting History on the rear portion of the second wagon, History 14
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Mar 29, 2012 17:10
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Dolan Dolan's eyes widen as the vision fails to come. He had been blocked from seeing, but by something that he knew, and knew well. The shock of that, and of the sound from behind him, makes him once again forget all about the strange sensation behind his eyes. "You do learn fast, lass," he says. "Like I said, talented. A book-learner like me would have to spend hours learning basics before even attempting a spell like that." He turns back to the wagon. "But, you likely didn't see much, if anything at all. We were blocked. Somebody doesn't want us seeing what we tried to see." He begins to Draw again, then stops, and turns back towards Lette. "Think you can pick something up that quickly again? Come. I'll show you something very useful." Gonna cast COUNTERSPELL! Skill 14. Gonna do it slowly enough so Lette can watch and maybe pick it up if speed matters.
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Mar 30, 2012 02:18
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Dolan - Two Wagon Garage The runes form perfectly, but they resist when he Channels them. He tries to force them to obey, but eventually they fade, leaving unmarked ground beneath them, and his opponent's spell remains. One look to his side tells him that Lette has faced the same fate. "Come on, lass. We could spend all night slamming our foreheads into this bloody mess. It will likely have faded in the morning, but the past will still be fresh." Dolan turns for the door, pulling out his logbook as he goes. quote:Second wagon protected by Scryguard. Estimate it will have faded in the morning. Caster of Scryguard may be considerably powerful. With a brief stop at the palace, he sees that his report will be delivered to Captain Dirksen before heading back to the tavern to join the others. If he woke early enough, he would be able to finish his investigation before leaving. The Tavern Dolan strides into the tavern, quickly locates the others, and joins them at their table, nodding silently in greetings to each of them. "They had a mage with them. The centaurs, that is." He turns and spits, narrowly missing a serving girl as she delivers a round of ales to a distant table and earns a fiery look for his lack of manners.
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Mar 31, 2012 02:46
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Dolan Dolan barely turns when the man is pointed out. No reason to draw too much attention to themselves from the rest of the inn. He does manage to get a decent look at the man's face, enough that he might be able to track him later, hopefully. It's the note that truly gets his attention though. Too many eyes, too many ears. He had to be careful, no matter who the note was talking about. He drinks his ale and eats his meal quietly, considering.
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Apr 1, 2012 01:26
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Dolan Dolan doesn't look over at the elf when she tells her story, instead he just grunts a small laugh as she describes the scenario. She wasn't as uptight as he had expected her to be. Maybe she wasn't the same kind of elf as the others he had met. Or maybe her lot in life had just given her a different outlook. At least she had a lot in life, unlike to faun. From what he overheard of the conversation between him and the northman, he wondered just how old this faun was, and just what he was doing here. Some sort of rite of passage, perhaps. Inexperienced in battle, inexperienced in life... Well, hopefully that would all come with time. The alternative was less pleasant.
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Apr 1, 2012 22:20
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Dolan His meal finished, Dolan leans back in his seat to enjoy the music. It wasn't something he truly appreciated very often, but the sheer passion the faun seems to put into the music changes it somehow. Maybe it was just the novelty of it; dwarven music seemed to fall into either the category of drunken shouting or solemn chanting with nary a tune in between. Upon seeing Alec get up, he leans over to speak to him. "Northman, sleep well." And with your knife close, his expression says. The noble would likely not need to be told, and certainly not the elf. The faun and the girl would need to be warned. The note likely perturbed them, but they might not think that they could be in danger. It would not do to have his companions' throats opened in the night.
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Apr 2, 2012 04:15
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Dolan As the others retreated to their rooms, Dolan finished his ale and followed suit. Once in his room, he sat on the edge of the bed, his staff propped against the wall at the head. He opened his logbook, turning to the most recent page, and wrote. quote:33 kernång, 2412 He hesitates a moment, then continues. quote:Something happened. May have been linked somehow. Possible result of the Change. Heard a voice, spoke the words on the page before. This is not to be written of further. After another moment, he turns back towards the beginning of his logbook. The pages there are filled with runes. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of them. Some of them are so complex they would take hours to scribe, others so simple as to look like random scratches. He turns to one, and lays his hand on the page. It Channels easily this time, filling him with power. More power than he was used to. He could handle this, more than he ever thought he could, and yet he still felt as if, someday, he might have more. Something had happened, but he did not know what. He released the energy into himself, then looked at the now-blank page, and began to write again. quote:12 Zanorshil, 2363 He stares at the page, tapping the pencil against the edge of the book, then looks at his staff, imagines it Turning. He remembers. quote:Illip just died. He closes the logbook, trapping the graphite pencil back in between the pages, and puts it beside his staff. He needed to wake early tomorrow. Perhaps something else might change. Casting (and learning) Detect Observation on myself, not bothering to maintain it. Gus Hobbleton fucked around with this message at 02:09 on Apr 3, 2012 |
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Apr 2, 2012 19:23
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Dolan Stars filled the void, glittering and shining and reflecting until there was no void, no time, only their light. In the midst of it all, brighter even than the stars, was a single bar of light, focusing and refracting everything, gathering all the light of the universe. He reached out and-- He stood in front of the Hero's Gate, or what remained of it. The enormous steel statues of Unid Terrorbane and Ellana Mother-to-All stood rusted and slanted on their aged pedestals. Scorch marks where the flames from below had touched the stone stood out in between moss and vines that crept up from the ground. Unid's sword arm had been sheared off, leaving a jagged stump of torn metal. The gold that had traced their steel clothing had been pried off, and the jewels adorning Ellana's hair had been looted. The gates themselves hung askew on their massive hinges, one of them cracked in half and laying on the stairway leading up into the mountain's face. Inside, the torches that held the undying flames lay dark. There was no life here. Dolan fell to his knees. He had never brought himself to see this. He rose to his feet in an instant at the sound of the voice, and is stunned into silence until it finished speaking. "You!" He finally managed, as if the entity did not already know who it was. "Why would you bring me here? What do you want?!" There is no answer, except for the sudden rush of consciousness. The light of dawn streams in through the window. Growling, Dolan rises and opens his logbook, flipping to one of the earlier pages. He knows it won't work, but he attempts to Channel one of the more complex runes. The effort is fruitless, and even if it had worked, he didn't even know if it would have been effective or not. He had no idea what this thing was. He had no idea where to begin. He was faced with a foe he did not even begin to know how to fight, and the Ironwood Corps. was thousands of miles away. He was alone.
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Apr 3, 2012 03:57
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Dolan Dolan comes down the stairs from his room and nods to the others. "I'll meet you here or at the main gate," he says quickly, grabbing one of the wrapped rations he saw Isit purchasing. Before he leaves, he grabs a mug of ale from a serving woman's tray and flips a gold coin to her, downing the drink and leaving the mug on a table near the door before she can protest. His first stop is to the healer. The man might not even be awake yet, but he wanted to get that out of the way before anything. Dolan had ignored a healer's directive once before, and it had not gone well; their wrath could be surprisingly potent for people who mended flesh instead of rending it. With that done, he heads back to the wagon depot. Hopefully the Scryguard had decayed in the night. The longevity of that spell was not terribly extensive, so he did not think he had to worry. Unless there was a traitor in their midst. One who had cast the spell after the wagons had been taken in, and who was able to come out in the night to refresh it. At least that would give some hint. Finding the second wagon, casting History 14 on it, attempting to find what happened yesterday on the road.
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Apr 3, 2012 17:15
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Dolan That warmth again. He had missed it in his dreams because of what he had seen, but now he recognized it for what it was. "You never left, did you?" he mutters under his breath. "You're still with me, and have been with me since yesterday... or longer?" This complicated things. He did not know what this... this spirit, or whatever it was, wanted, only that it seemed to be in his head, and was either feeding off his magic or improving it somehow. Of course Dolan had never known a spirit to be entirely charitable, and from what he remembered of last night, the drat thing admitted the opposite. He shakes his head. There's nothing he can do about that right now. Focus on what can be done, and on the now. Unless his spell was being misled, which was unlikely after this amount of time, this entire investigation just got strange. Why had this wagon indicated a different past than the other? They must have been taken separately, then brought together to, perhaps, form a more alluring bait. Too many possibilities, too much speculation, not enough facts. It would take far more time than Dolan had to sort it all out. And on top of all this, there was the possibility of a traitor in their midst. Or traitors. He had to report his findings to Dirksen, but it was possible he could not trust any of Dirksen's men to deliver a message unread to him. Or Dirksen himself may be untrustworthy. If there even is a traitor, and that message was not merely a false flag to foment unrest among their ranks. Too few facts. He settles for a non-committal solution for the time being. quote:34 kernång, 2412 He didn't like it, but for now it would have to do. He leaves the wagon depot and makes his way to the palace to deliver his report before leaving to meet the others at the gate.
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Apr 4, 2012 05:08
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Dolan "Yes, I'll be heading out with the others," Dolan answers. The man's reaction was about what he expected; he was either legitimate or a good liar. "And yes, damned bloody odd." He turns at the sound of Lo'el's voice, nodding to the faun. "Good. The sooner we leave the sooner we can make up for lost time. Captain I do not wish to impose, but if you're able to provide mounts that would be a definite help."
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Apr 5, 2012 00:19
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Dolan "Understood," Dolan says. He didn't expect that they would have any mounts to spare. Even less likely enough for all of them. "Let's get our gear and move out then."
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Apr 5, 2012 04:01
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Dolan Dolan grins and slaps Lo'el on the back. "Hope you like your meat raw, lad."
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Apr 5, 2012 22:20
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Dolan "At least he has the right idea, even if he can't make it work," Dolan says. Following suit, he removes his robe, leaving just his leather underneath, and folds it up and puts it into his backpack. Without the robes advertising his presence, most people would assume his staff was a walking stick unless they managed to get close enough to feel its rocky texture. "We've already garnered the wrong kind of attention. The elf is right, the more we stay out of sight at this point, the better."
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Apr 6, 2012 05:28
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Dolan The dwarf turns at Lette's outburst, raising his staff. When he sees what she points at, his eyes grow wide, and he looks around him. Naturally, for miles in every direction, nothing but corn. He mutters obscenities under his breath as he crouches down, trying to hide as well as he can from something that was above him, or going to be soon. He was trained to fight men, not dragons! There had to be something he could do, but what? Stealth 11
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Apr 8, 2012 07:00
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