Tomorrow I move apartments, hopefully it won't take forever and I'll blog at a decent hour, but don't expect too much.
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I emerge from the sewer having already decided to take the Bandit King to the temple. The way I figure I'm going to have a better chance of speaking to him there than if I let him be taken to jail. Milk stops me and hands me a blank piece of paper and an empty inkwell. He tells me the items belong to the Bandit King, who dropped them, and I don't doubt it. I add the items to my bag of holding which contains all the Bandit King's other items. Then Milk tries to tell me the blank piece of paper is important, that I seriously doubt. I keep it anyway though. I take the Bandit King to a windowless room in the temple, tell the priests and clerics he's claimed sanctuary, and leave him to regain consciousness.
As I walk into the church proper I see Zog lying on a bed. It turns out that the guard's bells were signaling that he'd been shot. Zog lives, but only just, and only because he's a powerful wizard. I briefly reconsider my idea to let the Bandit King live and wonder if I should just go back and slit his throat, but I stop myself, I don't slaughter people like that, and I want to give the half-elf a chance to speak for himself. I wander outside the temple to find out what happened to Archer and the others.
I ask a guard and he directs me to the jail. When I arrive I find one wall of the jail busted down and Dread Pirate Roberts, Kough, and Rouge facing off against Archer, who is locked in a cell. I ask what happened and Dread Pirate Roberts informs me they chased Archer out of the sewer and across town. Dread Pirate Roberts was able to dominate him and remove his weapons, armor, and items, then he took Archer to jail. Apparently that's when Rouge showed up and, not knowing Zog lived, went all crazy on the guards trying to get at and kill Archer. She was relentless and it took Kough bursting through a wall to make her calm down and see reason. She had just thrown one last brick when I arrive.
Shortly after I arrive Kough returns to the temple and Rouge goes off in search of Foxface. Dread Pirate Roberts remains in the jail, and for a second I think I glimpse Stealthlina in a servant outfit in the corner, but she's gone before I can confirm it. As it seems things are settled I head back to the temple to see if Bandit King is awake. I wish there is something I could do about Archer though, because I don't like the idea of him in jail.
The clerics at the temple inform me the Bandit King has awoken and is throwing a bit of a fit over being locked away and close to naked. They tell me that, per my instructions, no one has gone in to speak with him. I enter the room weaponless and lock the door behind me. We face off for a long moment before Bandit King says "we're from the same kingdom half-elf". I struggle to keep my bitter laughter from escaping at the idea that we are similar. I may have been born in that kingdom, but I wasn't raised in it and I certainly wasn't part of it. I save the melodramatic truths for later though and instead ask the Bandit King to explain himself.
The Bandit King says his name is Zin. He explains that a few years ago his entire family and villiage was descimated by a group of drow. He says after that there was nothing left for him, no noble pursuits and so he turned to stealing to make his livelihood. I ask him to rethink his ways, for I know elven warriors to be noble. Zin agrees to adventure with me on the condition that I return all of his stuff to him and free Archer (his brother Zan) with all his gear as well. In addition Zin wasn't to make enough money flows in to pay all his expenses, but then he'll stay the straight and narrow.
I feel like we've reached a decent bargain, and I agree to the terms. Before I leave to see about freeing Zan I ask Zin to look at the blank parchment. He says there are words written on it and it's signed by the mayor but none of it makes sense. It seems to indicate the mayor was in league with someone in our group who was a tracker, and he was plotting to steal the bowl. Zan claims to know nothing about the letter and I believe him. I begin to wonder about Milk's true loyalties. Then I head out to find Zan.
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Showing posts with label Dungeons and Dragons Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dungeons and Dragons Journal. Show all posts
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
BEDAugust 10
Hope you're enjoying the Dungeons and Dragon's Journal, cause it's gonna keep coming.
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The walk back to the city and the temple is a two day journey. As we set out Oog grabs a rabbit, when he releases the creature it moves very slowly but he speeds away. I rethink my initial evaluation of the half-orc, it seems that he doesn't require better weapons. I make a note to not underestimate him again. The first day and a half of our journey go smoothly but just as I begin to think we might make it unscathed the Bandit King appears to ruin everything.
Thirteen hill giants lumber out of the trees, already angry and on the attack. I know in an instant who is behind the attack, and rush into the trees looking for the Bandit King. I find more than I bargain for as an arrow shoots past me and buries itself deep into Milk's chest. Only Shallahai's quick action saves him from death. It seems that Archer (the captain of the first bandit group we encountered) wasn't as dead as we had hoped. I guess it makes a lot more sense that Bandit King returned for his body then. The two of them continue to flit from tree to tree, appearing and disappearing in a very frustrating way. I go back to fighting the hill giants, there will be time for killing bandits later.
Zog and Ariella launch spell after spell and Oog throws these strange exploding balls that make short work of most of the hill giants. I find myself even more impressed by the half-orc, and I plan to study and speak with him more when time allows. The remaining three giants fall easily to the rest of us, after all we've had experience. Bandit King and Archer however, flee as soon as the last giant falls. I try to catch them, but they move quicker than I do, and have an ability to disappear that I do not possess. From what I can see they headed towards the city so we continue on our way.
When we arrive the first thing we do is take the tub to the temple. The priests inform us it will take them a week to gather the ingredients and prayers necessary to heal Kough. They dismiss all charges against Stealthlina and pay a rather handsome sum to Dread Pirate Roberts, Milk, and Foxface for their help. When we exit the temple a town guard stops and informs us that the Mayor has been arrested for conspiracy against the church. It seems there is suspicion that he is working with the thieves guild and trying to steal the tub. I note that Milk vanishes while the guard is still speaking.
After the guard dismisses us we split and go our separate ways. I spend my time asking the locals if anyone has seen Archer or Bandit King. I notice that Milk is hanging at the tavern, Foxface and Shallahai seem to have set up a camp in an alley, Garr returns to the temple to guard the bowl, Pixie, Rouge, and Zog go off in search of some other wizard, Dread Pirate Roberts downright disappears, and Lily and Stealthlina head off towards the jail. Not long after they leave I hear the howling of a wolf and hope they're not getting themselves into more trouble considering we just got them out of it. My search seems fruitless, and I begin to think that perhaps Bandit King and Archer didn't come here after all when the guards sound the alarm bells.
The bells draw me to the square outside the marketplace. There I find Dread Pirate Roberts, Rouge, and Pixie already gathered. In the center of the square Oog lies dead with a very familiar arrow sprouting from his next. I immediately search the surroundings for Archer, and when I catch a glimpse of his black bandanna on a nearby roof I take off running without a second thought. I manage to track him for a few blocks, but lose the trail in a back alley that doesn't seem to have any exits. When I return to the square Dread Pirate Roberts is ranting about how the bandits are after us and are trying to pick us off one by one. He believes Ariella is the next target and tries to convince everyone to go to the temple and protect her. I point out that if everyone is gathered around her she won't be as much of a target. Dread Pirate Roberts agrees, and the decision is made we all need to gather together.
Since it seems Milk has no interest in leaving the tavern we gather there. Garr and Zog both refuse to come, they have other obligations. I'm not the biggest fan of this idea, because any attack will likely result in a huge fight, and I'm not keen on the idea of being banned from drinking in the best tavern. Luckily Rouge has the idea of heading to the roof and as soon as we step on it arrows fly our way. I have Archer in my sights now and there's no way I'm letting him go this time. Without explaining to anyone what I've seen I take off running. I track Archer through the jail, ignoring the protests of the guards, through a series of back alleys, finding a discarded thunderstone, and finally catch a glimpse of him disappearing into the sewers. The guards alarm bells are ringing again, but I don't care to find out why. I barrel down the alley and drop into the sewer.
I hit the sewer floor running and after a few seconds hear Dread Pirate Roberts, Ariella, and Rouge drop in behind me. The Bandit King springs from one of the dark corners, but I'm ready for him. He barely has time to get in a single blow before I reduce him to unconsciousness. When he drops I hear a soft cry and see Archer watching from down the tunnel. He shoots an arrow but misses me wildly, then he turns and runs. I debate chasing after him, but Ariella, Rouge, and Dread Pirate Roberts take off immediately, and I figure they can handle it. I turn my attention back to the unconscious Bandit King. I strip him of his weapons and as I remove his armor and clothing (to make sure he has no magical items), I notice a tattoo on his left forearm.
It's a tattoo I recognize from my childhood, the mark of an elven warrior. A quick check of his other arm and head reveals he's a half-elf, for true elven warriors bear a tattoo on both arms. A memory comes back to me of elven maidens that were stolen away and returned with half-elf children. I remember that the King accepted this children and let them become lesser warriors, Bandit King must be one of these children. I wrack my brain but I can't remember who took the elven maidens. As I stare at the tattoo my mind spins. I had planned to kill Bandit King, but the elven warriors are a noble group. Even the half-elves would have stood for justice, and I can't believe one of them is now a murdering Bandit King. I find that I can't simply kill him, not a half-elf of my mother's kingdom, not someone who used to be a noble warrior. I have to get answers.
I strip him of the rest of his armor and leave only enough clothes to make him decent. Then I throw the unconscious body over my shoulder and head out of the sewer.
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The walk back to the city and the temple is a two day journey. As we set out Oog grabs a rabbit, when he releases the creature it moves very slowly but he speeds away. I rethink my initial evaluation of the half-orc, it seems that he doesn't require better weapons. I make a note to not underestimate him again. The first day and a half of our journey go smoothly but just as I begin to think we might make it unscathed the Bandit King appears to ruin everything.
Thirteen hill giants lumber out of the trees, already angry and on the attack. I know in an instant who is behind the attack, and rush into the trees looking for the Bandit King. I find more than I bargain for as an arrow shoots past me and buries itself deep into Milk's chest. Only Shallahai's quick action saves him from death. It seems that Archer (the captain of the first bandit group we encountered) wasn't as dead as we had hoped. I guess it makes a lot more sense that Bandit King returned for his body then. The two of them continue to flit from tree to tree, appearing and disappearing in a very frustrating way. I go back to fighting the hill giants, there will be time for killing bandits later.
Zog and Ariella launch spell after spell and Oog throws these strange exploding balls that make short work of most of the hill giants. I find myself even more impressed by the half-orc, and I plan to study and speak with him more when time allows. The remaining three giants fall easily to the rest of us, after all we've had experience. Bandit King and Archer however, flee as soon as the last giant falls. I try to catch them, but they move quicker than I do, and have an ability to disappear that I do not possess. From what I can see they headed towards the city so we continue on our way.
When we arrive the first thing we do is take the tub to the temple. The priests inform us it will take them a week to gather the ingredients and prayers necessary to heal Kough. They dismiss all charges against Stealthlina and pay a rather handsome sum to Dread Pirate Roberts, Milk, and Foxface for their help. When we exit the temple a town guard stops and informs us that the Mayor has been arrested for conspiracy against the church. It seems there is suspicion that he is working with the thieves guild and trying to steal the tub. I note that Milk vanishes while the guard is still speaking.
After the guard dismisses us we split and go our separate ways. I spend my time asking the locals if anyone has seen Archer or Bandit King. I notice that Milk is hanging at the tavern, Foxface and Shallahai seem to have set up a camp in an alley, Garr returns to the temple to guard the bowl, Pixie, Rouge, and Zog go off in search of some other wizard, Dread Pirate Roberts downright disappears, and Lily and Stealthlina head off towards the jail. Not long after they leave I hear the howling of a wolf and hope they're not getting themselves into more trouble considering we just got them out of it. My search seems fruitless, and I begin to think that perhaps Bandit King and Archer didn't come here after all when the guards sound the alarm bells.
The bells draw me to the square outside the marketplace. There I find Dread Pirate Roberts, Rouge, and Pixie already gathered. In the center of the square Oog lies dead with a very familiar arrow sprouting from his next. I immediately search the surroundings for Archer, and when I catch a glimpse of his black bandanna on a nearby roof I take off running without a second thought. I manage to track him for a few blocks, but lose the trail in a back alley that doesn't seem to have any exits. When I return to the square Dread Pirate Roberts is ranting about how the bandits are after us and are trying to pick us off one by one. He believes Ariella is the next target and tries to convince everyone to go to the temple and protect her. I point out that if everyone is gathered around her she won't be as much of a target. Dread Pirate Roberts agrees, and the decision is made we all need to gather together.
Since it seems Milk has no interest in leaving the tavern we gather there. Garr and Zog both refuse to come, they have other obligations. I'm not the biggest fan of this idea, because any attack will likely result in a huge fight, and I'm not keen on the idea of being banned from drinking in the best tavern. Luckily Rouge has the idea of heading to the roof and as soon as we step on it arrows fly our way. I have Archer in my sights now and there's no way I'm letting him go this time. Without explaining to anyone what I've seen I take off running. I track Archer through the jail, ignoring the protests of the guards, through a series of back alleys, finding a discarded thunderstone, and finally catch a glimpse of him disappearing into the sewers. The guards alarm bells are ringing again, but I don't care to find out why. I barrel down the alley and drop into the sewer.
I hit the sewer floor running and after a few seconds hear Dread Pirate Roberts, Ariella, and Rouge drop in behind me. The Bandit King springs from one of the dark corners, but I'm ready for him. He barely has time to get in a single blow before I reduce him to unconsciousness. When he drops I hear a soft cry and see Archer watching from down the tunnel. He shoots an arrow but misses me wildly, then he turns and runs. I debate chasing after him, but Ariella, Rouge, and Dread Pirate Roberts take off immediately, and I figure they can handle it. I turn my attention back to the unconscious Bandit King. I strip him of his weapons and as I remove his armor and clothing (to make sure he has no magical items), I notice a tattoo on his left forearm.
It's a tattoo I recognize from my childhood, the mark of an elven warrior. A quick check of his other arm and head reveals he's a half-elf, for true elven warriors bear a tattoo on both arms. A memory comes back to me of elven maidens that were stolen away and returned with half-elf children. I remember that the King accepted this children and let them become lesser warriors, Bandit King must be one of these children. I wrack my brain but I can't remember who took the elven maidens. As I stare at the tattoo my mind spins. I had planned to kill Bandit King, but the elven warriors are a noble group. Even the half-elves would have stood for justice, and I can't believe one of them is now a murdering Bandit King. I find that I can't simply kill him, not a half-elf of my mother's kingdom, not someone who used to be a noble warrior. I have to get answers.
I strip him of the rest of his armor and leave only enough clothes to make him decent. Then I throw the unconscious body over my shoulder and head out of the sewer.
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
BEDAugust 9
More Dungeons and Dragons story!
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The eggs make me hesitate for a moment, but as the dragon continues to feast on it's fallen enemy I figure why not just try to walk across the room. As I creep around the room towards the large doors the dragons stops it's feasting. It doesn't make a move though, so I continue moving across the room. I make sure to keep far from the eggs as I can and manage to make it to the door. Milk and the Dread Pirate Roberts also begin to cross the room, but they get closer to the eggs than I want them too. Shallahai looks at the eggs and says they seem to be petrified and dead.
The dragon continues to watch me, and it gives me the creeps. It seems to exude death. It smells of death and looks like death and as it stares at me I can feel death creeping up behind me. It reminds me of the way Dread Pirate Roberts sometimes smells when he lets his guard down. Just when I'm deciding to turn around Pixie and the Dread Pirate Roberts start speaking to the dragon. The say the dragon claims the treasure is locked and it's hers. Dread Pirate Roberts converses with the dragon at length, and they even speak in something that isn't Draconic, something older. As they talk I figure I might as well make my way all the way to the door. I get to the door and easily unlock it.
That gets the dragon's attention. Before I can even blink it has swung around and bent down so it's head hovers inches from my face. I imagine that someone who was afraid of death would have been shaken by that, but I was raised a warrior and I just found out my father is a Demon Prince, it takes more than a dragon to scare me. I face the dragon and push the treasure room door open with my foot. I don't speak draconic but I raise a large bag of gold and figure my message is clear enough.
The dragon speaks, and I find myself able to understand, although I don't speak Draconic. The dragon says her name is Tzevokalas. She says that if I add the jeweled gold scimitars I acquired then I'm free to take what I like. I have no attachment to the scimitars, so I agree. I drop my gold and the scimitars and Pixie and I waltz into the vault. The room is filled to the brim with treasure, but I know better than to touch anything other than the healing tub. The crystal tub is easily recognizable, and Pixie shrinks it so we can easily carry it away.
As we leave Tzevokalas thanks us for the trade and promises she won't attack us...until we leave the dwarven city. It's nice of her to give us such a head start. We leave the city slower than we entered, hoping the delay would perhaps make the dragon forget about us and return to devouring the red dragon's corpse. As we exit the city a large shadow passes over the moon, it seems the dragon hasn't forgotten us after all. Shortly after that we realize the horses are gone, which makes outrunning the dragon seem almost impossible. Luckily she doesn't seem interesting in attacking us.
After a LONG, hot, and boring walk back to Zog's tower Garr decides perhaps we need an escort to get the tub back to the temple and Kough. Garr hires an orc shaman named Oog, who is strangely weaponless, carrying just two kukri shaped sticks and a dagger. Pixie, Rouge, and the Dread Pirate Roberts all go speak to Zog. The Dread Pirate Roberts speaks to him alone, which is strange as they don't know each other. I have no interest in an escort, but I was curious to know if they were still have trouble with the bandit king. I go to find the captain of the guard, only to learn that he was killed a few days ago outside of the Wailing Griffin.
I let the others do as they please and go to the tavern to see if anyone knows anything. The barmaid says she remembers someone matching the Bandit King's description. She tells me he didn't order a single drink but simply sat in the tavern and spoke with a gorgeous blonde wizard (her words not mine). She says the Bandit King stayed the night the evening the captain was killed but left early the next morning, before she'd even set out breakfast. She even helpfully points out the wizard the Bandit King spoke to. I recognize him as Russel. Garr spoke to him earlier about being a member of our guard but was suspicious about him being evil and turned him down in the end.
I sit down across from Russel, prepared to question him. Imagine my surprise when he calls me Riley. Very few things startle me, but a complete stranger knowing a name I share with no one will do it. I momentarily forget that I'm there to ask him about the Bandit King as he tells me he knows who I am. Russel explains he knows my father Pireal. He says Pireal is a high level Demon Prince and rules a lust level of the abyss. He also casually mentions that Pireal has another child, a boy named Raven. I have a brother. Eventually I remember my mission and Russel informs me that the Bandit King was simply looking for his weapons.
I leave the tavern with many thoughts racing through my head. I have my father's name now, and more than that I have a sibling. A whole new world has opened up to me, one where I might have family again. I'm still in a daze as we head out with Zog and Oog. I'm happy for the two day walk, as it will give me time to think about what I've discovered.
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Until tomorrow.
***************
The eggs make me hesitate for a moment, but as the dragon continues to feast on it's fallen enemy I figure why not just try to walk across the room. As I creep around the room towards the large doors the dragons stops it's feasting. It doesn't make a move though, so I continue moving across the room. I make sure to keep far from the eggs as I can and manage to make it to the door. Milk and the Dread Pirate Roberts also begin to cross the room, but they get closer to the eggs than I want them too. Shallahai looks at the eggs and says they seem to be petrified and dead.
The dragon continues to watch me, and it gives me the creeps. It seems to exude death. It smells of death and looks like death and as it stares at me I can feel death creeping up behind me. It reminds me of the way Dread Pirate Roberts sometimes smells when he lets his guard down. Just when I'm deciding to turn around Pixie and the Dread Pirate Roberts start speaking to the dragon. The say the dragon claims the treasure is locked and it's hers. Dread Pirate Roberts converses with the dragon at length, and they even speak in something that isn't Draconic, something older. As they talk I figure I might as well make my way all the way to the door. I get to the door and easily unlock it.
That gets the dragon's attention. Before I can even blink it has swung around and bent down so it's head hovers inches from my face. I imagine that someone who was afraid of death would have been shaken by that, but I was raised a warrior and I just found out my father is a Demon Prince, it takes more than a dragon to scare me. I face the dragon and push the treasure room door open with my foot. I don't speak draconic but I raise a large bag of gold and figure my message is clear enough.
The dragon speaks, and I find myself able to understand, although I don't speak Draconic. The dragon says her name is Tzevokalas. She says that if I add the jeweled gold scimitars I acquired then I'm free to take what I like. I have no attachment to the scimitars, so I agree. I drop my gold and the scimitars and Pixie and I waltz into the vault. The room is filled to the brim with treasure, but I know better than to touch anything other than the healing tub. The crystal tub is easily recognizable, and Pixie shrinks it so we can easily carry it away.
As we leave Tzevokalas thanks us for the trade and promises she won't attack us...until we leave the dwarven city. It's nice of her to give us such a head start. We leave the city slower than we entered, hoping the delay would perhaps make the dragon forget about us and return to devouring the red dragon's corpse. As we exit the city a large shadow passes over the moon, it seems the dragon hasn't forgotten us after all. Shortly after that we realize the horses are gone, which makes outrunning the dragon seem almost impossible. Luckily she doesn't seem interesting in attacking us.
After a LONG, hot, and boring walk back to Zog's tower Garr decides perhaps we need an escort to get the tub back to the temple and Kough. Garr hires an orc shaman named Oog, who is strangely weaponless, carrying just two kukri shaped sticks and a dagger. Pixie, Rouge, and the Dread Pirate Roberts all go speak to Zog. The Dread Pirate Roberts speaks to him alone, which is strange as they don't know each other. I have no interest in an escort, but I was curious to know if they were still have trouble with the bandit king. I go to find the captain of the guard, only to learn that he was killed a few days ago outside of the Wailing Griffin.
I let the others do as they please and go to the tavern to see if anyone knows anything. The barmaid says she remembers someone matching the Bandit King's description. She tells me he didn't order a single drink but simply sat in the tavern and spoke with a gorgeous blonde wizard (her words not mine). She says the Bandit King stayed the night the evening the captain was killed but left early the next morning, before she'd even set out breakfast. She even helpfully points out the wizard the Bandit King spoke to. I recognize him as Russel. Garr spoke to him earlier about being a member of our guard but was suspicious about him being evil and turned him down in the end.
I sit down across from Russel, prepared to question him. Imagine my surprise when he calls me Riley. Very few things startle me, but a complete stranger knowing a name I share with no one will do it. I momentarily forget that I'm there to ask him about the Bandit King as he tells me he knows who I am. Russel explains he knows my father Pireal. He says Pireal is a high level Demon Prince and rules a lust level of the abyss. He also casually mentions that Pireal has another child, a boy named Raven. I have a brother. Eventually I remember my mission and Russel informs me that the Bandit King was simply looking for his weapons.
I leave the tavern with many thoughts racing through my head. I have my father's name now, and more than that I have a sibling. A whole new world has opened up to me, one where I might have family again. I'm still in a daze as we head out with Zog and Oog. I'm happy for the two day walk, as it will give me time to think about what I've discovered.
*************
Until tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
BEDAugust 8
In case you forgot between yesterday and today I'm simply catching up on my Dungeons and Dragons campaign journal. Enjoy.
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I figure there's no point in turning back now, so I begin to march over the next bridge towards the stalactite. Death is coming for everyone, and I might as well meet it in the jaws of a dragon. It would make a better story. I don't bother to hide my approach, the dragon likely already knows I'm there anyway. Everyone trails behind me, I'm not sure if they want to come, but I've discovered that when I make the decision to go the rest of the party often follows. I imagine it's because I carry the biggest weapon. As we're walking Rouge trips over something and hits the ground hard, sending and echo through the cavern.
A low buzzing starts up somewhere in the cavern, and I ready my great axe, figuring whatever it is will be coming for us. The buzzing gets louder and louder and a large black cloud begins moving towards us. As the cloud gets closer we can discern that the cloud is made up of black reptilian insects which Shallahai identifies immediately as stirges. The stirges surround us and we begin to hack and slash our way through them. There numbers seem almost endless, and I'm not entirely sure we're going to get any farther, certainly not this way. That's when Ariella decided to take matters into her own hands. She launches a series of fireballs that take out the majority of the stirges. Of course she also hits Garr and the Dread Pirate Roberts, but seeing as the other option was getting devoured by reptilian insects neither of them seem to mind. We make short work of the remaining creatures and continue across the bridge.
Even before we reach the stalactite I can smell the metallic scent of blood. The air is thick with it, and it's not blood newly spilt, it's the scent of old blood, the blood of the long dead. The scent only gets stronger as we enter the stalactite and make our way up the stairs towards the flickering fire. At the top of the stairs is a large open room, like a cathedral, and sprawled across the flood is the body of a giant red dragon. The dragon has been dead for awhile, and blood pools around it. There are more stirges covering the body and the blood pools. They are feasting on the creature and drinking the blood.
As we enter the room I feel a strange sadness to see such a magnificent creature of fire lying dead and decaying. That's when I notice that the carcass is moving, as if there is something feasting on it from the inside. I move boldly closer, ready to face more stirges, but what raises from the red dragon's body is not a stirge. A large snakelike dragon with scales of black pearl raises it's head and stares me down. The Dread Pirate Roberts speaks to it in a language I vaguely recognize as draconic. I wonder at him knowing such a language, and make a note to look into him a bit more later. The dragon, however, isn't as interested and merely returns to devouring the carcass.
With the dragon intent on it's meal I take a better look around the room. Across the way I can see a large door, which I recognize as leading to the treasure room. I know I must get to it if our mission is to be completed and Kough healed. I search the room for anything that could prove useful and that's when I noticed them. Tucked behind the carcass of the red dragon, a nest of black pearl dragon eggs. Well shit.
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Until tomorrow.
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I figure there's no point in turning back now, so I begin to march over the next bridge towards the stalactite. Death is coming for everyone, and I might as well meet it in the jaws of a dragon. It would make a better story. I don't bother to hide my approach, the dragon likely already knows I'm there anyway. Everyone trails behind me, I'm not sure if they want to come, but I've discovered that when I make the decision to go the rest of the party often follows. I imagine it's because I carry the biggest weapon. As we're walking Rouge trips over something and hits the ground hard, sending and echo through the cavern.
A low buzzing starts up somewhere in the cavern, and I ready my great axe, figuring whatever it is will be coming for us. The buzzing gets louder and louder and a large black cloud begins moving towards us. As the cloud gets closer we can discern that the cloud is made up of black reptilian insects which Shallahai identifies immediately as stirges. The stirges surround us and we begin to hack and slash our way through them. There numbers seem almost endless, and I'm not entirely sure we're going to get any farther, certainly not this way. That's when Ariella decided to take matters into her own hands. She launches a series of fireballs that take out the majority of the stirges. Of course she also hits Garr and the Dread Pirate Roberts, but seeing as the other option was getting devoured by reptilian insects neither of them seem to mind. We make short work of the remaining creatures and continue across the bridge.
Even before we reach the stalactite I can smell the metallic scent of blood. The air is thick with it, and it's not blood newly spilt, it's the scent of old blood, the blood of the long dead. The scent only gets stronger as we enter the stalactite and make our way up the stairs towards the flickering fire. At the top of the stairs is a large open room, like a cathedral, and sprawled across the flood is the body of a giant red dragon. The dragon has been dead for awhile, and blood pools around it. There are more stirges covering the body and the blood pools. They are feasting on the creature and drinking the blood.
As we enter the room I feel a strange sadness to see such a magnificent creature of fire lying dead and decaying. That's when I notice that the carcass is moving, as if there is something feasting on it from the inside. I move boldly closer, ready to face more stirges, but what raises from the red dragon's body is not a stirge. A large snakelike dragon with scales of black pearl raises it's head and stares me down. The Dread Pirate Roberts speaks to it in a language I vaguely recognize as draconic. I wonder at him knowing such a language, and make a note to look into him a bit more later. The dragon, however, isn't as interested and merely returns to devouring the carcass.
With the dragon intent on it's meal I take a better look around the room. Across the way I can see a large door, which I recognize as leading to the treasure room. I know I must get to it if our mission is to be completed and Kough healed. I search the room for anything that could prove useful and that's when I noticed them. Tucked behind the carcass of the red dragon, a nest of black pearl dragon eggs. Well shit.
****************************
Until tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
BEDAugust 7
So...I've been failing at this, but I HAVE been writing my Dungeons and Dragons journal. I've been debating about going back and writing my old Tuesday's to make sure I'm caught up with the journal or to just write the next journal entry here and maybe write two or three a week to catch up. The first choice means making a back log that you won't read, but I'll have on the correct date. The second option makes sure I have things to write, but results in me being weeks behind...actually, a third option has just occurred to me. I could always just write the next one today and dedicated this entire next week to Dungeons and Dragons journals, which should get me caught up by next week. In fact, that's what I'm going to do, decision made. Prepare for a week of Riley's adventures!
***********************
When the morning finally dawns I'm ready and waiting for the rest of the party. I left the inn early, couldn't sleep anyway, and gathered the promised horses. Zog even laid a spell allowing the horses to move much faster and easier over the terrain we must travel. Eventually everyone else stumbles from their beds and we are able to set a course for the mountains.
Eight eerily uneventful hours later we arrive at the foothills of the mountains. Set in the mountainside is a huge set of oaken doors, sturdy and spelled shut. The first thing that crosses my mind is no dwarf would ever need a door that big, they're just show offs. Of course standing in front of the door is a twelve foot tall stone statue of a dwarf who would absolutely need a door that size. Flanking him are regular sized dwarf statues. Each of the statues sports a line of dwarven runes, and knowing dwarves it's some sort of riddle or spell we have to solve. Garr, Foxface, and the Dread Pirate Roberts start investigating the large statue and determine that the runes say "Speak My Name and Enter." Then they begin looking at the runes on the smaller statues for clues. I get bored and start sharpening my axe, I don't speak dwarven, they can sort it out.
As I work I think about arena fighting and the possible monsters we might encounter inside the dwarven city. I'm excited to wield my axe against some solid enemies, to do some good, to get my mind off the fact that my father is a chaos born Demon Prince. I'm so lost in my own thoughts I don't even notice the group has decided to speak a name, until the giant statue stirs.
"A dwarf must speak for you." The stone figure rumbles moving to fully block the door and looking down on the party. I wait for someone to say "oh well, we tried" but everyone seems intent on finishing the quest. Ariella is the one who comes up with a plan. She casts the illusion of a dwarf around Milk's body, allowing him to speak for us. The statue apparently doesn't have enough intelligence to discern and illusion because it simply pushes aside the door and bids us to enter. I notice Rouge and Foxface hang back, but as they catch up shortly after we walk through the door I don't think twice about it. I glance back as the doors shut and see the statue return to it's normal posistion.
The hall we walk in is vast, obviously an entryway of some sort. The stone is worked smooth and the vaulted ceiling is held up by row after row of columns. The place is beautiful, but it gives me the creeps. This is supposed to be a dwarven city, yet there are no signs of life or death. The place is silent, deserted, and just a bit dusty. I go with my gut and begin watching for signs of death or a struggle. That's how I notice the claw marks. Caked with dust they line the floor and some of the columns, like the creature was dragging itself along. I study them and come to the decision that this creature has two three toed feet, making it most likely a dragon. I'd been carrying my axe casually, like I always do, but after I identify the marks I switch to attack mode. I voice my concerns to the rest of the party and Shallahai determines the claw marks are from a male red dragon and are likely about a month old. My senses are on high alert, but I don't bother trying to be sneaky, if there is a dragon it will already know we are here.
Eventually the hallway ends and I see that it was simply and entryway. It opens up to a huge cavern, which appears to be an entire hollowed out mountain. Around the sides of the cavern are other entryways and carved doorways and terraces. A series of stone bridges connects the sides of the cavern to a gigantic stalactite that is hanging from the cavern's roof. The stalactite is vast and covered in doors and windows. It seems likely it was the town center, the temple or city hall. The view of it takes my breath away, but what really makes my heart beat isn't the cavern, it's the flames I can seee flickering from the stalactites doors and windows.
******************
Until tomorrow.
***********************
When the morning finally dawns I'm ready and waiting for the rest of the party. I left the inn early, couldn't sleep anyway, and gathered the promised horses. Zog even laid a spell allowing the horses to move much faster and easier over the terrain we must travel. Eventually everyone else stumbles from their beds and we are able to set a course for the mountains.
Eight eerily uneventful hours later we arrive at the foothills of the mountains. Set in the mountainside is a huge set of oaken doors, sturdy and spelled shut. The first thing that crosses my mind is no dwarf would ever need a door that big, they're just show offs. Of course standing in front of the door is a twelve foot tall stone statue of a dwarf who would absolutely need a door that size. Flanking him are regular sized dwarf statues. Each of the statues sports a line of dwarven runes, and knowing dwarves it's some sort of riddle or spell we have to solve. Garr, Foxface, and the Dread Pirate Roberts start investigating the large statue and determine that the runes say "Speak My Name and Enter." Then they begin looking at the runes on the smaller statues for clues. I get bored and start sharpening my axe, I don't speak dwarven, they can sort it out.
As I work I think about arena fighting and the possible monsters we might encounter inside the dwarven city. I'm excited to wield my axe against some solid enemies, to do some good, to get my mind off the fact that my father is a chaos born Demon Prince. I'm so lost in my own thoughts I don't even notice the group has decided to speak a name, until the giant statue stirs.
"A dwarf must speak for you." The stone figure rumbles moving to fully block the door and looking down on the party. I wait for someone to say "oh well, we tried" but everyone seems intent on finishing the quest. Ariella is the one who comes up with a plan. She casts the illusion of a dwarf around Milk's body, allowing him to speak for us. The statue apparently doesn't have enough intelligence to discern and illusion because it simply pushes aside the door and bids us to enter. I notice Rouge and Foxface hang back, but as they catch up shortly after we walk through the door I don't think twice about it. I glance back as the doors shut and see the statue return to it's normal posistion.
The hall we walk in is vast, obviously an entryway of some sort. The stone is worked smooth and the vaulted ceiling is held up by row after row of columns. The place is beautiful, but it gives me the creeps. This is supposed to be a dwarven city, yet there are no signs of life or death. The place is silent, deserted, and just a bit dusty. I go with my gut and begin watching for signs of death or a struggle. That's how I notice the claw marks. Caked with dust they line the floor and some of the columns, like the creature was dragging itself along. I study them and come to the decision that this creature has two three toed feet, making it most likely a dragon. I'd been carrying my axe casually, like I always do, but after I identify the marks I switch to attack mode. I voice my concerns to the rest of the party and Shallahai determines the claw marks are from a male red dragon and are likely about a month old. My senses are on high alert, but I don't bother trying to be sneaky, if there is a dragon it will already know we are here.
Eventually the hallway ends and I see that it was simply and entryway. It opens up to a huge cavern, which appears to be an entire hollowed out mountain. Around the sides of the cavern are other entryways and carved doorways and terraces. A series of stone bridges connects the sides of the cavern to a gigantic stalactite that is hanging from the cavern's roof. The stalactite is vast and covered in doors and windows. It seems likely it was the town center, the temple or city hall. The view of it takes my breath away, but what really makes my heart beat isn't the cavern, it's the flames I can seee flickering from the stalactites doors and windows.
******************
Until tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
July 3rd
Today there was no D&D game, which means that you get an interlude with Riley instead of a full out campaign journal.
*****************
"Get up! How do you expect to survive in the arena if you can't make it through one training session?" The half-orc loomed over me. I resisted the urge to smile up at him from where I was lying in the dirt. He thought he'd bested me, and I was perfectly happy to let him think that...for a few more seconds. He raised his mace high in the air and brought it crashing down, right where my head had been. I rolled to the side and sprang up quickly. I kicked out with my left foot and knocked the mace to the ground while bringing my clasped fists down hard on the half-orc's back, making sure he followed the mace to the dirt. In one practiced fluid motion I kicked the mace out of reach, flipped the hal-orc over, knelt on his chest, and brought the dagger I'd grabbed from my boot firmly to rest on his throat.
"I expect idiots like you to continue to underestimate me." I said, pressing the dagger into his neck. A slow clap echoed through the pit where we were fighting.
"Well played half-elf, I think you've proven yourself." The Duke walked into the pit, his red satin doublet and shiny boots out of place in the rust colored dirt that covered the arena and it's gladiators. I quickly removed the dagger from the half-orcs throat, slipping it into my boot as I stood. I took a step back and picked up my great axe from where it had fallen. Still keeping half of my attention on my enemy I faced the Duke. The Duke kicked at the half-orc, but I noted that he didn't allow his boots to come into contact with the creature. That simple gesture spoke volumes to me. I watched as the half-orc rolled to his feet and picked up his own mace. He stood at attention, ever the good little soldier.
"Few have ever bested Fargore, and certainly not a nobody who's never been in the arena. Where did you learn to fight like that?" I studied the Duke's face and considered my answer. Bet it would really bend his mind if I told him I learned from the Elven King's best knights, but I knew better than that.
"I've been to a lot of tournaments." I didn't elaborate, tell him that I competed in and won every tournament I'd even been to, that wasn't important. The Duke studied me in a way I'd become familiar with over the past few weeks. I'd fought in twelve pits since I arrived in Derishka, each one sponsored by a different noble, and each of them looked at me the same. I stood comfortably still, my great axe held casually but ready in my arms as he circled me. He lifted my hair, bits of my armor, the cloth of my shirt. He ran his hands over my calves, my shoulders, my arms. He squeezed my muscles and noted the daggers hidden in my boots, along my forearm, and strapped to my thigh. Like every noble before him he stopped when he reached the birthmark on my arm. He yanked down my bracer to see the brand clearly, tracing the shape with a finger. They all paused when they saw it, and up until now ever single one had then sent me away without a word. The Duke simply walked back a few paces and looked at me again. He held out a hand.
"Your axe." I almost laughed, almost. I don't know who he thought he was, but he had to realize there was no way I was handing over my weapon. I shook my head. His eyes hardened. "If you want me to sponsor you in the arena then I need to know the quality of your weapon. I will not have my gladiator fighting with an axe made for show and not battle." He indicated the gold inlay and scroll work on my blade. He didn't trust that I could fight with this weapon, but he would learn soon enough. I returned his cold stare.
In a smooth motion I shifted down into a crouch and pivoted to face the half-orc. I swung the great axe in a arc once, twice, thrice, and then returned to my original position. As I stopped moving the leather armor Fargore had been wearing fell in ribbons to his feet, leaving him standing naked in the pit. The Duke recovered quickly, but I saw his eyes widen for a moment.
"I'll keep my axe, thank you." There was a hard edge to my voice and I saw the Duke's pride bristle when he heard it. To his credit he managed to swallow that down, taking a hit to his pride for a gain to his coin purse.
"You're in the arena tomorrow. I'll get you my colors to wear. A servant will show you to your quarters." The Duke turned to leave and then looked back over his shoulder. "What shall we call you?"
"Battle Axe."
*****************
"Get up! How do you expect to survive in the arena if you can't make it through one training session?" The half-orc loomed over me. I resisted the urge to smile up at him from where I was lying in the dirt. He thought he'd bested me, and I was perfectly happy to let him think that...for a few more seconds. He raised his mace high in the air and brought it crashing down, right where my head had been. I rolled to the side and sprang up quickly. I kicked out with my left foot and knocked the mace to the ground while bringing my clasped fists down hard on the half-orc's back, making sure he followed the mace to the dirt. In one practiced fluid motion I kicked the mace out of reach, flipped the hal-orc over, knelt on his chest, and brought the dagger I'd grabbed from my boot firmly to rest on his throat.
"I expect idiots like you to continue to underestimate me." I said, pressing the dagger into his neck. A slow clap echoed through the pit where we were fighting.
"Well played half-elf, I think you've proven yourself." The Duke walked into the pit, his red satin doublet and shiny boots out of place in the rust colored dirt that covered the arena and it's gladiators. I quickly removed the dagger from the half-orcs throat, slipping it into my boot as I stood. I took a step back and picked up my great axe from where it had fallen. Still keeping half of my attention on my enemy I faced the Duke. The Duke kicked at the half-orc, but I noted that he didn't allow his boots to come into contact with the creature. That simple gesture spoke volumes to me. I watched as the half-orc rolled to his feet and picked up his own mace. He stood at attention, ever the good little soldier.
"Few have ever bested Fargore, and certainly not a nobody who's never been in the arena. Where did you learn to fight like that?" I studied the Duke's face and considered my answer. Bet it would really bend his mind if I told him I learned from the Elven King's best knights, but I knew better than that.
"I've been to a lot of tournaments." I didn't elaborate, tell him that I competed in and won every tournament I'd even been to, that wasn't important. The Duke studied me in a way I'd become familiar with over the past few weeks. I'd fought in twelve pits since I arrived in Derishka, each one sponsored by a different noble, and each of them looked at me the same. I stood comfortably still, my great axe held casually but ready in my arms as he circled me. He lifted my hair, bits of my armor, the cloth of my shirt. He ran his hands over my calves, my shoulders, my arms. He squeezed my muscles and noted the daggers hidden in my boots, along my forearm, and strapped to my thigh. Like every noble before him he stopped when he reached the birthmark on my arm. He yanked down my bracer to see the brand clearly, tracing the shape with a finger. They all paused when they saw it, and up until now ever single one had then sent me away without a word. The Duke simply walked back a few paces and looked at me again. He held out a hand.
"Your axe." I almost laughed, almost. I don't know who he thought he was, but he had to realize there was no way I was handing over my weapon. I shook my head. His eyes hardened. "If you want me to sponsor you in the arena then I need to know the quality of your weapon. I will not have my gladiator fighting with an axe made for show and not battle." He indicated the gold inlay and scroll work on my blade. He didn't trust that I could fight with this weapon, but he would learn soon enough. I returned his cold stare.
In a smooth motion I shifted down into a crouch and pivoted to face the half-orc. I swung the great axe in a arc once, twice, thrice, and then returned to my original position. As I stopped moving the leather armor Fargore had been wearing fell in ribbons to his feet, leaving him standing naked in the pit. The Duke recovered quickly, but I saw his eyes widen for a moment.
"I'll keep my axe, thank you." There was a hard edge to my voice and I saw the Duke's pride bristle when he heard it. To his credit he managed to swallow that down, taking a hit to his pride for a gain to his coin purse.
"You're in the arena tomorrow. I'll get you my colors to wear. A servant will show you to your quarters." The Duke turned to leave and then looked back over his shoulder. "What shall we call you?"
"Battle Axe."
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
June 5th
The door to the fourth floor creaks open and I step into the large
round room. The others pile in, but they are suddenly stopped short by a
wall of lightening that springs up in our path. Zog, or at least the
Orc wizard that Ariella identifies as Zog, is seated on his throne and
wrapped around him is an incredibly sexy elf. I hate her immediately and
the sickly sweet spell that I associate with my fiery bursts of anger
fills my nostrils. I instantly recognize her as a demon succubus, but
I'm not sure where that knowledge comes from. She leans over to whisper
in Zog's ear and like a puppet he casts a spell upon us. Suddenly I feel
sluggish and slow and I notice Pixie, Dread Pirate Roberts, and Foxface
also seem to be feeling slow. Rouge outright drops to the floor in a
dead sleep. The succubus simply smiles and continues to coyly whisper in
Zog's ear.
I shoot a bust of flame at the succubus, but she seems mostly unaffected by the blast. The Dread Pirate Roberts walks through the lightening wall, taking a serious hit but managing to dispel the lightening for everyone else. Ariella screws up her face, but near as I can tell whatever spell she tried to cast was ineffective. The Dread Pirate Roberts waves his hands as well, I wasn't even aware that he had magic, but again nothing happens. Suddenly Zog tells us that he will help us as long as we move on. It seems that Ariella got through to him after all. He whispers to the succubus and she pouts and puffs out of existence. The sickly sweet smell fades, but I can't stop thinking about the familiarity of the succubus' smell. Ariella informs us that if we can keep her from Zog for a day her hold over him will break. They seem intent on hatching a plan to keep Zog away from the succubus. I know that he's important to the mission, but my eyes keep getting drawn to the brand on my arm, and I can't concentrate. I sneak away to find the succubus.
As I creep down the stairs I notice that Foxface is following me. Try as I might I can't get him to turn back. I'm hesitant to find the succubus with him, because I'm sure that he expects me to kill her, and that's not my plan. Still, I don't have much of an option, so I let him believe what he wants. We find the succubus taking out her frustration on the body of the apprentice. Foxface transforms into a fox and stays outside the room. I lounge comfortably at the door, unruffled by her anger or the carnage. I talk my way around the information I truly want, what does the mark on my arm mean, and also try and strike a deal with her. I remind her that she's wasting potential by killing apprentices and servants, not to mention that she's drawing unnecessary attention to herself. She insists that Zog is special and powerful, but I remind her that if she continues on as she has been we won't be the only ones who come looking.
I finally get her to agree to let us gain all the information, knowledge, and assistance we need from Zog WITHOUT her interference, at which point we will leave her to her lover. She agrees to the terms and proceeds to agree to clean up the home and try not to kill and maim all the apprentices. I also manage to get from her that my father must have been a demon prince, for they are the only ones who can sew their seed among mortals. His name is branded upon my body but she'd have to flay me in order to reveal it. As it is my identity should be hidden from all but other demons. Satisfied I leave, and manage to avoid Foxface's questions when The Dread Pirate Roberts appears. I fill him in on the agreement and we return to Zog.
Ariella is still telling the story of our journey of Kough when we return. After a short while the succubus pops back in and demands a kiss as Zog hadn't actually began to help us yet. Ariella tries to prevent the kiss and that gives enough time for Zog to sip the wine he is holding, and he immediately banishes the succubus. Apparently Milk had laced the wine with friendship potion while we were off talking to the succubus. Foxface is looking at me with curiosity, but I'm able to avoid his eyes and his questions while we deal with Zog.
Zog shares with us the knowledge he has of the artifact, which is apparently a large marble tub, not a cup as we believed. It was last held by dwarves in the Fen mountains about a hundred miles from town. We are able to acquire horses and Zog enchants them to move much faster. He also offers us a companion, and orc named Oog, who appears to be some sort of strange wizard. Oog is covered in arcane tattoos, and I find myself intrigued by his abilities. We gather supplies and prepare for our journey to the mountains. Zog wishes he could journey with us, but he can't leave his tower with all that happened.
When we head out to the inns for the night I find Foxface blocking my path, I knew that this moment would come. He demands to know what leverage, what camaraderie, I had with the succubus. I tell him that I had never seen her until that day, but her smell was familiar to me, and she knew me by smell as well. I tell him something that I have NEVER told another soul, that I never knew my father, but that apparently he is from the other side. I don't bother to explain that this means my father is a demon prince, and a powerful one at that, but I get the feeling that Foxface understood the subtext. I make sure that Foxface understands that if others gain this knowledge, he will lose his life. He leaves me to my room, but I find my mind filled with spinning thoughts and worries. I know the journey in the morning will be long, but other things plague my mind at the moment, and I can't seem to find the sleep I know I need.
I shoot a bust of flame at the succubus, but she seems mostly unaffected by the blast. The Dread Pirate Roberts walks through the lightening wall, taking a serious hit but managing to dispel the lightening for everyone else. Ariella screws up her face, but near as I can tell whatever spell she tried to cast was ineffective. The Dread Pirate Roberts waves his hands as well, I wasn't even aware that he had magic, but again nothing happens. Suddenly Zog tells us that he will help us as long as we move on. It seems that Ariella got through to him after all. He whispers to the succubus and she pouts and puffs out of existence. The sickly sweet smell fades, but I can't stop thinking about the familiarity of the succubus' smell. Ariella informs us that if we can keep her from Zog for a day her hold over him will break. They seem intent on hatching a plan to keep Zog away from the succubus. I know that he's important to the mission, but my eyes keep getting drawn to the brand on my arm, and I can't concentrate. I sneak away to find the succubus.
As I creep down the stairs I notice that Foxface is following me. Try as I might I can't get him to turn back. I'm hesitant to find the succubus with him, because I'm sure that he expects me to kill her, and that's not my plan. Still, I don't have much of an option, so I let him believe what he wants. We find the succubus taking out her frustration on the body of the apprentice. Foxface transforms into a fox and stays outside the room. I lounge comfortably at the door, unruffled by her anger or the carnage. I talk my way around the information I truly want, what does the mark on my arm mean, and also try and strike a deal with her. I remind her that she's wasting potential by killing apprentices and servants, not to mention that she's drawing unnecessary attention to herself. She insists that Zog is special and powerful, but I remind her that if she continues on as she has been we won't be the only ones who come looking.
I finally get her to agree to let us gain all the information, knowledge, and assistance we need from Zog WITHOUT her interference, at which point we will leave her to her lover. She agrees to the terms and proceeds to agree to clean up the home and try not to kill and maim all the apprentices. I also manage to get from her that my father must have been a demon prince, for they are the only ones who can sew their seed among mortals. His name is branded upon my body but she'd have to flay me in order to reveal it. As it is my identity should be hidden from all but other demons. Satisfied I leave, and manage to avoid Foxface's questions when The Dread Pirate Roberts appears. I fill him in on the agreement and we return to Zog.
Ariella is still telling the story of our journey of Kough when we return. After a short while the succubus pops back in and demands a kiss as Zog hadn't actually began to help us yet. Ariella tries to prevent the kiss and that gives enough time for Zog to sip the wine he is holding, and he immediately banishes the succubus. Apparently Milk had laced the wine with friendship potion while we were off talking to the succubus. Foxface is looking at me with curiosity, but I'm able to avoid his eyes and his questions while we deal with Zog.
Zog shares with us the knowledge he has of the artifact, which is apparently a large marble tub, not a cup as we believed. It was last held by dwarves in the Fen mountains about a hundred miles from town. We are able to acquire horses and Zog enchants them to move much faster. He also offers us a companion, and orc named Oog, who appears to be some sort of strange wizard. Oog is covered in arcane tattoos, and I find myself intrigued by his abilities. We gather supplies and prepare for our journey to the mountains. Zog wishes he could journey with us, but he can't leave his tower with all that happened.
When we head out to the inns for the night I find Foxface blocking my path, I knew that this moment would come. He demands to know what leverage, what camaraderie, I had with the succubus. I tell him that I had never seen her until that day, but her smell was familiar to me, and she knew me by smell as well. I tell him something that I have NEVER told another soul, that I never knew my father, but that apparently he is from the other side. I don't bother to explain that this means my father is a demon prince, and a powerful one at that, but I get the feeling that Foxface understood the subtext. I make sure that Foxface understands that if others gain this knowledge, he will lose his life. He leaves me to my room, but I find my mind filled with spinning thoughts and worries. I know the journey in the morning will be long, but other things plague my mind at the moment, and I can't seem to find the sleep I know I need.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
May 29th
Naturally the group decided to ignore my brilliant plan to defeat the bandits. In fact, I was lucky that I was even able to convince them to stay and fight at all. In the end I won out, but rather than a sneaky infiltration the group decided to go charge in, weapons drawn, and screw the consequences. Granted, it's not a strategy I have much objection to, as it had been my strategy for myself from the beginning, but I wasn't sure it was the best idea.
We charged in like mad men, and that seemed to startle the bandits enough that we were actually able to slice through a good number of them immediately. As soon as they recovered from their shock the bandit King immediately ran away. Figuring the others could handle the lieutenants, I chased after him, as did Dread Pirate Roberts. We managed to follow the Bandit King back into a corner of the cavern and had him up against the wall, but just as I was about to step in for a killing blow he reached into his pocket and suddenly disappeared, leaving his clothing, armor, and belongings behind in a pile. The idea that he teleported somewhere naked intrigues me, although I'm also suspicious that perhaps he simply changed into a rat or other small creature that I didn't notice.
When we returned to the rest of the group we found that they had managed to kill the other bandits and we'd gathered a nice pile of loot. Foxface, with his two bags of holding, offered to hold onto the items and money. I have little desire for riches, but I wonder if it was an act of stupidity on the side of those who care about money to agree with his offer. There were some nice magical items and I claimed some hide armor for myself. Two magical golden scimitars inlaid with gems were particularly intriguing and I can't wait to find out what they can do. I let Foxface keep them for now though.
We set up camp outside of the cave, and passed an uneventful night. In the morning we piled and burned the bandit bodies before heading out to continue our quest. Ariella informed us that Zog, an orc wizard who is an old friend of hers, lived in the next town. He would know the most about the artifact that we were seeking. The axe that I got from Kough speaks to me again, promising that I can rely on him to help me if I need it. I try not to let everyone else know that I have a talking weapon.
When we reach the town the gated are closed and white flags are flying. We bang on the gate and try to gain admittance. The guards say that they are closed up because there have been goblin attacks and they aren't allowing anyone in. We show the Mayor's Seal, and convince them to change their mind. After we get in Milk almost blows it all by saying some truly rude things, but they agree to let him stay when Ariella offers to keep watch on him. The guards apologize for keeping us outside, but say that the goblins have stopped so many of their supply runs that they barely have enough food for their own people. Remembering the stilts and crude weapons at the bandit camp I ask the guards if anyone has actually seen a goblin. They say no, the goblins usually attack at night.
I offer to deal with their "goblin" problem and Dread Pirate Roberts offers to help (for a price). The leader of the town agrees and offers us a cart and a farmer to drive it. We head back to the bandit camp to get the supplies while everyone else heads off to meet with Zog. We find the camp ransacked and the body of one of the lieutenants missing. It appears that whoever ransacked the camp (the Bandit King perhaps?), was looking for something. I follow his trail, but it goes in the opposite direction, back the way we originally came. Dread Pirate Roberts eventually convinces me to leave that and just take the supplies back to town. We return, get out reward, and then meet with the others who are waiting for us outside of Zog's tower.
It turns out that they had a rougher time that we did. When they went to Zog's tower they found blood leaking from under the door and the ground floor was filled with dead and dismembered goblin servants. Zog's voice boomed out "You've invaded my home", and he seemed quite upset. On the second floor they found his two apprentices brutally killed and displayed. Ariella realizes that something is really wrong and when they find a summoning circle on the third floor she puts two and two together and realizes that there's a succubus loose in the tower. That was the point that they all decided to leave the tower and wait for us to return.
We travel through the tower again. It's even more gruesome than they described it. It appears that the succubus not only ripped the goblins to shreds, but she might be feasting on them as well. One apprentice has his skull cut open and his brain scooped out and the other is disemboweled, hung from the ceiling, and arranged into strange shapes. When we finally reach the third floor Ariella, Rouge, and Dread Pirate Roberts band together to deactivate the summoning circle, meaning that if we can banish the succubus she can't come back. Then we head up to the fourth floor.
We charged in like mad men, and that seemed to startle the bandits enough that we were actually able to slice through a good number of them immediately. As soon as they recovered from their shock the bandit King immediately ran away. Figuring the others could handle the lieutenants, I chased after him, as did Dread Pirate Roberts. We managed to follow the Bandit King back into a corner of the cavern and had him up against the wall, but just as I was about to step in for a killing blow he reached into his pocket and suddenly disappeared, leaving his clothing, armor, and belongings behind in a pile. The idea that he teleported somewhere naked intrigues me, although I'm also suspicious that perhaps he simply changed into a rat or other small creature that I didn't notice.
When we returned to the rest of the group we found that they had managed to kill the other bandits and we'd gathered a nice pile of loot. Foxface, with his two bags of holding, offered to hold onto the items and money. I have little desire for riches, but I wonder if it was an act of stupidity on the side of those who care about money to agree with his offer. There were some nice magical items and I claimed some hide armor for myself. Two magical golden scimitars inlaid with gems were particularly intriguing and I can't wait to find out what they can do. I let Foxface keep them for now though.
We set up camp outside of the cave, and passed an uneventful night. In the morning we piled and burned the bandit bodies before heading out to continue our quest. Ariella informed us that Zog, an orc wizard who is an old friend of hers, lived in the next town. He would know the most about the artifact that we were seeking. The axe that I got from Kough speaks to me again, promising that I can rely on him to help me if I need it. I try not to let everyone else know that I have a talking weapon.
When we reach the town the gated are closed and white flags are flying. We bang on the gate and try to gain admittance. The guards say that they are closed up because there have been goblin attacks and they aren't allowing anyone in. We show the Mayor's Seal, and convince them to change their mind. After we get in Milk almost blows it all by saying some truly rude things, but they agree to let him stay when Ariella offers to keep watch on him. The guards apologize for keeping us outside, but say that the goblins have stopped so many of their supply runs that they barely have enough food for their own people. Remembering the stilts and crude weapons at the bandit camp I ask the guards if anyone has actually seen a goblin. They say no, the goblins usually attack at night.
I offer to deal with their "goblin" problem and Dread Pirate Roberts offers to help (for a price). The leader of the town agrees and offers us a cart and a farmer to drive it. We head back to the bandit camp to get the supplies while everyone else heads off to meet with Zog. We find the camp ransacked and the body of one of the lieutenants missing. It appears that whoever ransacked the camp (the Bandit King perhaps?), was looking for something. I follow his trail, but it goes in the opposite direction, back the way we originally came. Dread Pirate Roberts eventually convinces me to leave that and just take the supplies back to town. We return, get out reward, and then meet with the others who are waiting for us outside of Zog's tower.
It turns out that they had a rougher time that we did. When they went to Zog's tower they found blood leaking from under the door and the ground floor was filled with dead and dismembered goblin servants. Zog's voice boomed out "You've invaded my home", and he seemed quite upset. On the second floor they found his two apprentices brutally killed and displayed. Ariella realizes that something is really wrong and when they find a summoning circle on the third floor she puts two and two together and realizes that there's a succubus loose in the tower. That was the point that they all decided to leave the tower and wait for us to return.
We travel through the tower again. It's even more gruesome than they described it. It appears that the succubus not only ripped the goblins to shreds, but she might be feasting on them as well. One apprentice has his skull cut open and his brain scooped out and the other is disemboweled, hung from the ceiling, and arranged into strange shapes. When we finally reach the third floor Ariella, Rouge, and Dread Pirate Roberts band together to deactivate the summoning circle, meaning that if we can banish the succubus she can't come back. Then we head up to the fourth floor.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
May 22nd
I received a text letting me know that they didn't go through with my plan at all. Which is fine by me, it was mostly designed to keep me out of the game while still fitting my character. I can't wait till next week so I can find out what they actually did decide to do. Until then I promised you one of Riley's other adventures.
*************************
You want a story from my past? Are you sure? My stories don't contain love or bravery or happy endings like the ones the bards tell in the taverns. My stories are dark and full of blood, betrayal, sadness, and death. You really think you're up for it?
Before meeting up with this merry little band of adventures, I almost always worked alone. The singular exception to that rule was my first adventure. I had just been convinced to leave the arena and become a different type of hero, a hero for the people rather than a hero of battle. I had always wanted to do something good, to try and make sure at least someone's life would be happier than mine, but until Zanroar showed me the way I had no idea how to even begin doing good. I had built up enough of a reputation as a amazing fighter, that people were more than willing to send me out to hunt down monsters and bring back items. And lots of adventuring groups wanted me to join them. Back then it seemed like such an amazing idea. I would get to have friends, people who might actually watch my back, which was something I wasn't used to.
I met up with a small band of adventurers who called themselves The Blades of Luck. A halfling rouge (Melas), a gnome sorcerer (Trick), a human fighter (Ben), and an elf ranger (Julian). They accepted me easily into their group, actually knowing me as Riley rather than Battleaxe, my arena alias. We trained together and traveled together looking for work. We performed a few tasks here and there, and I really began to know and trust the members of my party. We eventually made it to the city of Chrome, where we landed our first big adventure. There was a rad dragon terrorizing the countryside and the city needed someone to deal with it. The peasants were too scared to farm and as a result they were crowding into the city's walls and everyone was running out of food. We accepted the quest and headed off to defeat the dragon.
The journey itself was short, but the fight against the dragon seemed to go on forever. Try as we might it seemed that nothing we did could hurt it. We were all battered and bloody by the time we took it down. While the others collected the treasure Julian and I went to examine the body of the beast. It was then that we discovered that the dragon was being controlled by a collar. It wasn't terrorizing the countryside by choice, someone was forcing it to do those things. If there is one thing I hate above all else it's slavery, I basically grew up a slave. The anger built inside of me and before I could remember that I needed to get it under control my birthmark began to burn and then my body burst into flame. I scorched the dragon's body, and Julian, who was too near to me and completely worn out from the battle, died in the blaze.
The instant I regained myself and realized what had happened, I ran. I was overwhelmed with guilt over what I had done, and I couldn't face the rest of the party, these people I considered friends, after killing one of their own. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me back to Chrome. I was tempted to turn myself into the guards and rot in jail for the rest of my life, where people would be safe from me, but something stopped me. That something was remembering what had happened to the dragon. I knew that someone from Chrome had to be controlling it, and I was going to find out who.
A few days of investigation led me to a the home of Kelvick the Wizard. He hadn't been very good at covering his tracks, I imagine because he didn't expect anyone to be crazy enough to go after a dragon. Besides, even if they did it was unlikely they'd stop to look for a collar let alone know what it was when they found it. He was, of course, very wrong in those assumptions. I broke down his door and could already feel my anger coming on as I cornered him. When he admitted to the dead I felt my anger overflow, but rather than fighting it I embraced the power and encouraged my birthmark to blaze with flames. I thought of the dragon, forced into slavery, and I thought of Julian, dead because of my anger. I destroyed not just the wizard, but his entire house that night. As I walked away from the falling ash I made a vow that I would never lose control of my anger again.
I wrote a letter to the remaining Blades of Luck, and left it at their residence. I explained what had happened, how incredibly sorry I was, what had happened with the wizard, and that I would never again work with an adventuring group because I didn't want to cause anyone else harm. Then I left Chrome and began roaming the countryside fighting monsters all on my own. I never saw The Blades of Luck again. From time to time I'd hear of their comings and goings, but I'd always make sure I wasn't anywhere near a town when they arrived. I don't think I can ever face them, see what I've done to them. How's that for a story?
*************************
You want a story from my past? Are you sure? My stories don't contain love or bravery or happy endings like the ones the bards tell in the taverns. My stories are dark and full of blood, betrayal, sadness, and death. You really think you're up for it?
Before meeting up with this merry little band of adventures, I almost always worked alone. The singular exception to that rule was my first adventure. I had just been convinced to leave the arena and become a different type of hero, a hero for the people rather than a hero of battle. I had always wanted to do something good, to try and make sure at least someone's life would be happier than mine, but until Zanroar showed me the way I had no idea how to even begin doing good. I had built up enough of a reputation as a amazing fighter, that people were more than willing to send me out to hunt down monsters and bring back items. And lots of adventuring groups wanted me to join them. Back then it seemed like such an amazing idea. I would get to have friends, people who might actually watch my back, which was something I wasn't used to.
I met up with a small band of adventurers who called themselves The Blades of Luck. A halfling rouge (Melas), a gnome sorcerer (Trick), a human fighter (Ben), and an elf ranger (Julian). They accepted me easily into their group, actually knowing me as Riley rather than Battleaxe, my arena alias. We trained together and traveled together looking for work. We performed a few tasks here and there, and I really began to know and trust the members of my party. We eventually made it to the city of Chrome, where we landed our first big adventure. There was a rad dragon terrorizing the countryside and the city needed someone to deal with it. The peasants were too scared to farm and as a result they were crowding into the city's walls and everyone was running out of food. We accepted the quest and headed off to defeat the dragon.
The journey itself was short, but the fight against the dragon seemed to go on forever. Try as we might it seemed that nothing we did could hurt it. We were all battered and bloody by the time we took it down. While the others collected the treasure Julian and I went to examine the body of the beast. It was then that we discovered that the dragon was being controlled by a collar. It wasn't terrorizing the countryside by choice, someone was forcing it to do those things. If there is one thing I hate above all else it's slavery, I basically grew up a slave. The anger built inside of me and before I could remember that I needed to get it under control my birthmark began to burn and then my body burst into flame. I scorched the dragon's body, and Julian, who was too near to me and completely worn out from the battle, died in the blaze.
The instant I regained myself and realized what had happened, I ran. I was overwhelmed with guilt over what I had done, and I couldn't face the rest of the party, these people I considered friends, after killing one of their own. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me back to Chrome. I was tempted to turn myself into the guards and rot in jail for the rest of my life, where people would be safe from me, but something stopped me. That something was remembering what had happened to the dragon. I knew that someone from Chrome had to be controlling it, and I was going to find out who.
A few days of investigation led me to a the home of Kelvick the Wizard. He hadn't been very good at covering his tracks, I imagine because he didn't expect anyone to be crazy enough to go after a dragon. Besides, even if they did it was unlikely they'd stop to look for a collar let alone know what it was when they found it. He was, of course, very wrong in those assumptions. I broke down his door and could already feel my anger coming on as I cornered him. When he admitted to the dead I felt my anger overflow, but rather than fighting it I embraced the power and encouraged my birthmark to blaze with flames. I thought of the dragon, forced into slavery, and I thought of Julian, dead because of my anger. I destroyed not just the wizard, but his entire house that night. As I walked away from the falling ash I made a vow that I would never lose control of my anger again.
I wrote a letter to the remaining Blades of Luck, and left it at their residence. I explained what had happened, how incredibly sorry I was, what had happened with the wizard, and that I would never again work with an adventuring group because I didn't want to cause anyone else harm. Then I left Chrome and began roaming the countryside fighting monsters all on my own. I never saw The Blades of Luck again. From time to time I'd hear of their comings and goings, but I'd always make sure I wasn't anywhere near a town when they arrived. I don't think I can ever face them, see what I've done to them. How's that for a story?
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
May 15th
The cave troll seemed to believe the illusion well enough and the fire is just as effective as I imagined it would be. Cave trolls can recover from most kinds of damage, fire is not one of those. Of course my triumph only lasted a few short seconds before the bandits tried to stick me full of arrows. Not that it had the crippling effect they expected it to, I'm made of tougher stuff than that. Ariella and Endra quickly realized that the cave troll was being controlled via a collar and made short work of pointing out the hiding place of the controller. Knowing that the cave troll's actions were completely out of it's control awoke an anger inside of me and before I really understood what was happening my birthmark began to burn and then erupted into a burst of fire.
This has happened to me before, always driven by a incredible feeling of anger. That's why I try and work to keep my anger under control, it's why I try and stay stoic, it's why I work alone. Luckily, I believe the rest of the party thought I was casting a conscious spell, which is a good thing. If they knew the truth, if they knew about my first night in the arena or the adventure with Julian or the kitten I had as a child, they probably wouldn't be so happy to work with me then.
The others began their attacks shortly after and we began to wear down the cave troll and eliminate the weaker bandits. Foxface manages to escape Rouge, who has been intent on holding onto him or his tail at all times, Ariella and Endra try and take out the bandit leader and Shallahai sends her spirit bear Fluffy after the cave troll. The troll responds by picking up the bear and hurling him at the Dread Pirate Roberts. Both sustain damage and the bear disappears in a puff of smoke. Shallahai cries out in pain but continues on, determined to avenge her friend. Our old companion Garr comes running in, having finished the task that was holding him back sooner than expected. As soon as Skylara sees him she tells us that her mission is complete and turns back towards the temple. Typical Paladin, all high and mighty until they're actually needed and then suddenly nowhere to be found. Rouge finally raised a weapon against an enemy instead of a fuzzy creature and managed to freeze the troll in his tracks.
Lily turned into a wolf and killed one of the weaker bandits. The sight of a werewolf must have shaken the bandits because the next thing I knew they'd abandoned their hiding places and run off down the road. The others moved in on the cave troll but I knew he wasn't in charge of himself and I took off after the bandit. I knew it was probably wrong to leave my party to defend for themselves, but the anger had taken over and my feet moved without the consent of my heart or mind. I could only hope that the party could handle the troll on their own, and besides when I'm like this they might be safer without me there.
I would later discover that they banded together nicely and Milk managed to take the troll down with an incredibly accurate crossbow bolt. Although trolls can regenerate, before this troll could manage that the Dread Pirate Roberts did the most disturbing thing he's managed to date. He leaned over the troll raised his hand and a blue smokey light floated from the troll and into one of the seven jewels on his helm. After this strange ritual is finished the troll's regeneration ceases completely. I've decided I don't want him anywhere near me when I die. When the battle finishes a few of them followed after me, some hunted rabbits, and some just wanted to loot the troll.
As I followed the bandit leader his crown began to fall apart, the first sign that my group had been victorious with the cave troll. I was able to track him back to his lair, the cave troll's cave, and what I found convinced even my anger filled mind that entering was the wrong idea. The cave was filled with the riches of hundreds of caravans, roughly 20 bandits, three bandit captains, and a leader that made the crowned bandit I followed in seem like a lowly minion. I notice that they all wear a black armband that they present upon reaching the entry of the cave. It bears a symbol that seems to allow them entrance without any questions. The other group members catch up to me and I explain the situation to them.
As we are planning and scheming an attack we notice that Milk has not joined us. That's when we see him dragged up to the cave by four bandits. The leader questions him but that halfling has a silver tongue and managed to talk them down from imprisonment and torture to a day long walk in the woods that would guarantee he couldn't find his way back to the cave. Shortly after the four bandits walked him away Foxface decided to follow and rescue him. It would be an easy way to acquire four arm bands from bandits that won't be missed for two days. Rouge begs to go as well but we vote that one has a better chance of making it through undetected. Naturally she goes ahead and follows against everyone's wishes. She has too great of a love for the small creatures to keep still when they're in danger.
Foxface, Rouge, and Milk made short silent work of the four bandits and soon returned with the four arm bands. Now it was time to watch, wait, and make a plan of attack. I figure that the night is the best time for an attack, which gives us just a few hours for a plan.
******************************
And that's where we ended for the night.
This has happened to me before, always driven by a incredible feeling of anger. That's why I try and work to keep my anger under control, it's why I try and stay stoic, it's why I work alone. Luckily, I believe the rest of the party thought I was casting a conscious spell, which is a good thing. If they knew the truth, if they knew about my first night in the arena or the adventure with Julian or the kitten I had as a child, they probably wouldn't be so happy to work with me then.
The others began their attacks shortly after and we began to wear down the cave troll and eliminate the weaker bandits. Foxface manages to escape Rouge, who has been intent on holding onto him or his tail at all times, Ariella and Endra try and take out the bandit leader and Shallahai sends her spirit bear Fluffy after the cave troll. The troll responds by picking up the bear and hurling him at the Dread Pirate Roberts. Both sustain damage and the bear disappears in a puff of smoke. Shallahai cries out in pain but continues on, determined to avenge her friend. Our old companion Garr comes running in, having finished the task that was holding him back sooner than expected. As soon as Skylara sees him she tells us that her mission is complete and turns back towards the temple. Typical Paladin, all high and mighty until they're actually needed and then suddenly nowhere to be found. Rouge finally raised a weapon against an enemy instead of a fuzzy creature and managed to freeze the troll in his tracks.
Lily turned into a wolf and killed one of the weaker bandits. The sight of a werewolf must have shaken the bandits because the next thing I knew they'd abandoned their hiding places and run off down the road. The others moved in on the cave troll but I knew he wasn't in charge of himself and I took off after the bandit. I knew it was probably wrong to leave my party to defend for themselves, but the anger had taken over and my feet moved without the consent of my heart or mind. I could only hope that the party could handle the troll on their own, and besides when I'm like this they might be safer without me there.
I would later discover that they banded together nicely and Milk managed to take the troll down with an incredibly accurate crossbow bolt. Although trolls can regenerate, before this troll could manage that the Dread Pirate Roberts did the most disturbing thing he's managed to date. He leaned over the troll raised his hand and a blue smokey light floated from the troll and into one of the seven jewels on his helm. After this strange ritual is finished the troll's regeneration ceases completely. I've decided I don't want him anywhere near me when I die. When the battle finishes a few of them followed after me, some hunted rabbits, and some just wanted to loot the troll.
As I followed the bandit leader his crown began to fall apart, the first sign that my group had been victorious with the cave troll. I was able to track him back to his lair, the cave troll's cave, and what I found convinced even my anger filled mind that entering was the wrong idea. The cave was filled with the riches of hundreds of caravans, roughly 20 bandits, three bandit captains, and a leader that made the crowned bandit I followed in seem like a lowly minion. I notice that they all wear a black armband that they present upon reaching the entry of the cave. It bears a symbol that seems to allow them entrance without any questions. The other group members catch up to me and I explain the situation to them.
As we are planning and scheming an attack we notice that Milk has not joined us. That's when we see him dragged up to the cave by four bandits. The leader questions him but that halfling has a silver tongue and managed to talk them down from imprisonment and torture to a day long walk in the woods that would guarantee he couldn't find his way back to the cave. Shortly after the four bandits walked him away Foxface decided to follow and rescue him. It would be an easy way to acquire four arm bands from bandits that won't be missed for two days. Rouge begs to go as well but we vote that one has a better chance of making it through undetected. Naturally she goes ahead and follows against everyone's wishes. She has too great of a love for the small creatures to keep still when they're in danger.
Foxface, Rouge, and Milk made short silent work of the four bandits and soon returned with the four arm bands. Now it was time to watch, wait, and make a plan of attack. I figure that the night is the best time for an attack, which gives us just a few hours for a plan.
******************************
And that's where we ended for the night.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
May 8th
Well, if I'm going to write a journal about this crazy adventure I suppose that I should maybe catch you up on what happened before I got this little blue book. Of course I'm not sure who I'm writing to, but writing to some unknown who may someday read this seemed more sane than writing to myself, and this party has had more than enough crazy to go around believe me.
This all started when the mayor of Sutulak pulled me in. He'd heard about my heroics in the village of Amarego, but apparently he missed the part where I work alone. Instead of the private meeting I expected there were a bunch of other adventures in attendance. Then to top it all off the mayor took his sweet time and I had to sit in a room with that rag tag bunch while we waited. I still wish I'd just left.
The group consisted of Ariella the Pixie Witch, Kough the Minotaur Cleric, Kubaba the Shardmind Paladin, Raiden the Human Monk, Garr the Goliath Avenger, Stealthlina the Dryad Assassin, Lily the Shifter Assassin, and Song the Tiefling Bard. There were a seriously chatty bunch and had a never ending stream of questions. What's your name, where are you from, what are you doing here? Not sure what they expected, but I work alone, I wasn't interested in sharing the details of my life.
When the mayor finally showed up he explained that diggers had been disappearing the catacombs under the city. Can't honestly say I was surprised, I always thought that building catacombs under your city was sorta like begging for an undead problem. Burning the dead is really the only practice that makes sense. Naturally we agreed to go into the catacombs, for a price. Honestly, I wasn't all that interested in the money, but I'd heard rumors of a lich king and I'm always itching to prove myself and I figured I could take this guy.
The journey through the catacombs was twisted and more than a little crazy. We were joined by Rouge the Dryad Paladin, another Monk, and briefly met up with Skylara the Wilden Paladin. We fought a group of possessed Dwarves. Stealthlina actually drove one of them insane with her poisoned dagger. From time to time party members went in different directions, Song actually left the party, he found a much more lucrative adventure. The party was split by a series of traps and were finally reunited only after fighting a nest of evil spiders and freeing half of the party from the tangled webs.
Of course we later discovered that the half of the party we rescued from the spiders were, in fact, not rescued. The actual party members were being held by the lich king and the group we freed were evil doppelgangers. Of course a huge battle ensued, where we had to fight people who used to be our allies. This isn't something that affected me, the arena is full of broken alliances, but I could tell that some of the others were quite shaken. During the battle Evil Stealthlina used her poison dagger to drive Kough to madness and Raiden perished at the hand of Evil Monk. Luckily, the true heroes triumphed. As we stood in the room exhausted and battle worn the Lich King revealed himself.
In the ensuing battle we freed the actual half of our party, Kough revealed his madness, and eventually defeated the Lich King. We returned to the mayor near death, but triumphant. Kubaba decided to retire to the mountains and Kough was taken to the temple because he was viewed as a danger to himself and others. Things seemed to be settled down. The Lich King was dead, we were rewarded, and it seemed like I would be free of this crazy party and could move on to a new town and new quests.
All that changed two days ago. I was minding my own business at a local tavern when a runner from the temple came with a message that demanded I show for an audience with the high priest. Naturally I refused, in a not so polite way. Luckily for the temple they rethought their approach and decided to politely invite me to have an audience. When I arrived I found some of my old party members (Ariella and Rouge) as well as a selection of new so called heroes. A Hengeyokai (Fox creature) Ranger, who they call Foxface, Shallahai the Wilden Shaman with her spirit bear Fluffy, and a human dressed in complete black that I decided to call the Dread Pirate Roberts.
The High Priest brought out Kough and informed us that the temple had discovered the existence of an artifact that would help heal him and the mad dwarf. He informed the people that were a member of the catacomb party that it was our duty to right our wrongs by finding this artifact, and asked the others to join for coin, glory, or a desire to do good. He also told us that Stealthlina is wanted and should be turned in. Everyone by me agreed to go on the quest, and the priest told us to meet back at the temple in two days ready to disembark.
I spent the next two days in the arena, fighting and defeating any gladiator that came my way. I built up quite a reputation, and earned the arena moniker of BattleAxe. I discovered the Dread Pirate Roberts watching me, and we had a short conversation about the dangers of messing with me. He knows I don't trust him and I know he doesn't like me. That works for me just fine, we know where we stand, and that I appreciate. I walked into my final fight last night to find myself facing Kough. He told me he was scared and tired and missing chunks of time and hated not knowing who he was, or what he was doing. He begged me to go on the quest to help him heal, and offered me his great axe, as a token of him. No discussion, argument, demand, or amount of money could have persuaded me to go on this quest, but I know what it is like to not know who you are, so I agreed.
This morning I waited outside the temple. It was there I learned that Stealthlina had been caught and forced on this quest. Lily, Skylara, a Halfling Rogue named Milk, and a Human Artificer called Endra, were also joining our caravan. This proved to be a group bigger than any I had ever worked with before, and that made me very nervous. We set out along the road, under Skylara's direction, but made it barely half a day before we were ambushed by a group of bandits who had control of a cave troll. I know a thing or two about cave trolls and with a little help from Ariella I conjured a dragon illusion and breathed fire all over the troll. The bandits fired on me and then battle really broke out.
***********************************
And then we ended the game for the evening. More battle next week.
This all started when the mayor of Sutulak pulled me in. He'd heard about my heroics in the village of Amarego, but apparently he missed the part where I work alone. Instead of the private meeting I expected there were a bunch of other adventures in attendance. Then to top it all off the mayor took his sweet time and I had to sit in a room with that rag tag bunch while we waited. I still wish I'd just left.
The group consisted of Ariella the Pixie Witch, Kough the Minotaur Cleric, Kubaba the Shardmind Paladin, Raiden the Human Monk, Garr the Goliath Avenger, Stealthlina the Dryad Assassin, Lily the Shifter Assassin, and Song the Tiefling Bard. There were a seriously chatty bunch and had a never ending stream of questions. What's your name, where are you from, what are you doing here? Not sure what they expected, but I work alone, I wasn't interested in sharing the details of my life.
When the mayor finally showed up he explained that diggers had been disappearing the catacombs under the city. Can't honestly say I was surprised, I always thought that building catacombs under your city was sorta like begging for an undead problem. Burning the dead is really the only practice that makes sense. Naturally we agreed to go into the catacombs, for a price. Honestly, I wasn't all that interested in the money, but I'd heard rumors of a lich king and I'm always itching to prove myself and I figured I could take this guy.
The journey through the catacombs was twisted and more than a little crazy. We were joined by Rouge the Dryad Paladin, another Monk, and briefly met up with Skylara the Wilden Paladin. We fought a group of possessed Dwarves. Stealthlina actually drove one of them insane with her poisoned dagger. From time to time party members went in different directions, Song actually left the party, he found a much more lucrative adventure. The party was split by a series of traps and were finally reunited only after fighting a nest of evil spiders and freeing half of the party from the tangled webs.
Of course we later discovered that the half of the party we rescued from the spiders were, in fact, not rescued. The actual party members were being held by the lich king and the group we freed were evil doppelgangers. Of course a huge battle ensued, where we had to fight people who used to be our allies. This isn't something that affected me, the arena is full of broken alliances, but I could tell that some of the others were quite shaken. During the battle Evil Stealthlina used her poison dagger to drive Kough to madness and Raiden perished at the hand of Evil Monk. Luckily, the true heroes triumphed. As we stood in the room exhausted and battle worn the Lich King revealed himself.
In the ensuing battle we freed the actual half of our party, Kough revealed his madness, and eventually defeated the Lich King. We returned to the mayor near death, but triumphant. Kubaba decided to retire to the mountains and Kough was taken to the temple because he was viewed as a danger to himself and others. Things seemed to be settled down. The Lich King was dead, we were rewarded, and it seemed like I would be free of this crazy party and could move on to a new town and new quests.
All that changed two days ago. I was minding my own business at a local tavern when a runner from the temple came with a message that demanded I show for an audience with the high priest. Naturally I refused, in a not so polite way. Luckily for the temple they rethought their approach and decided to politely invite me to have an audience. When I arrived I found some of my old party members (Ariella and Rouge) as well as a selection of new so called heroes. A Hengeyokai (Fox creature) Ranger, who they call Foxface, Shallahai the Wilden Shaman with her spirit bear Fluffy, and a human dressed in complete black that I decided to call the Dread Pirate Roberts.
The High Priest brought out Kough and informed us that the temple had discovered the existence of an artifact that would help heal him and the mad dwarf. He informed the people that were a member of the catacomb party that it was our duty to right our wrongs by finding this artifact, and asked the others to join for coin, glory, or a desire to do good. He also told us that Stealthlina is wanted and should be turned in. Everyone by me agreed to go on the quest, and the priest told us to meet back at the temple in two days ready to disembark.
I spent the next two days in the arena, fighting and defeating any gladiator that came my way. I built up quite a reputation, and earned the arena moniker of BattleAxe. I discovered the Dread Pirate Roberts watching me, and we had a short conversation about the dangers of messing with me. He knows I don't trust him and I know he doesn't like me. That works for me just fine, we know where we stand, and that I appreciate. I walked into my final fight last night to find myself facing Kough. He told me he was scared and tired and missing chunks of time and hated not knowing who he was, or what he was doing. He begged me to go on the quest to help him heal, and offered me his great axe, as a token of him. No discussion, argument, demand, or amount of money could have persuaded me to go on this quest, but I know what it is like to not know who you are, so I agreed.
This morning I waited outside the temple. It was there I learned that Stealthlina had been caught and forced on this quest. Lily, Skylara, a Halfling Rogue named Milk, and a Human Artificer called Endra, were also joining our caravan. This proved to be a group bigger than any I had ever worked with before, and that made me very nervous. We set out along the road, under Skylara's direction, but made it barely half a day before we were ambushed by a group of bandits who had control of a cave troll. I know a thing or two about cave trolls and with a little help from Ariella I conjured a dragon illusion and breathed fire all over the troll. The bandits fired on me and then battle really broke out.
***********************************
And then we ended the game for the evening. More battle next week.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
April 3rd
First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLEN!
Here we are again, without the script increasing by even a word. I worked at Universal, I worked on other stuff at home, and I went to D&D where we had a player versus player fight that we didn't even get close to finishing. We'll be back killing each other all over next week. For my 750 today I decided I might try to write up the background for my D&D character. Her name is Riley.
You think you're life is tough? You think you've had it hard? You think your existence is cursed? Try being the daughter of the Elven Queen and King; and born a half-elf. Yep, that's right folks, my mother, the Elven Queen, slept around. Not only that, but she got caught in the worst way; my birth. Before you ask, I don't know my father. The only things he gave me besides life were psychic abilities and a strange spear shaped birthmark. I never asked about him, my mother never said anything, and he never came forward to claim me. Not that I can blame him, the King almost had me beheaded, my father would surely have been killed. The worst thing was that my mother had no idea that I wasn't going to be the King's child. They paraded around, gathered gifts, had a lovely room all made up for their princess and within two seconds I ruined everything. The King would have killed me then and there, but my mother begged him not to. Despite her very obvious infidelities, the King loved my mother. Of course that didn't mean that he could face the public humiliation of having an unfaithful wife.
I spent the early part of my life completely locked away from the outside world. As far as the Elven Kingdom was concerned I was born sickly and had to be confined to my bed. The only people I saw for the first fourteen years of my life were my mother, the serving girl (a halfling named Katy), and the elven captain (a fighter named Zanroar)that the King sent to train me. It was Zanroar that discovered I had psychic abilities and trained me to use them to augment my fighting. He trained me with every weapon, but my favorite was always the great axe. For my fifteenth birthday the King got me a great axe of my own. It was truly a thing of beauty. He figured that since I wouldn't be the courtly princess I could be useful in tournaments, and I was. Dressed up in enough armor people didn't even know I was a girl. No one ever suspected that the sickly Elven Princess Cairath and the Elven King's champion Riley were the same person, and it got me out of the castle. It was the only time the King ever took an interest or even spoke to me really.
Life certainly wasn't what I would have wanted it to be, but I had a decent existence. That all changed shortly after I turned 17. My mother died suddenly of a fever and it was a simple thing for the King to say that the sickly Cairath had also perished. I thought that perhaps that meant I would continue as only the King's Champion, that while my fighting would never win his love, it had at least earned his respect. I was wrong. My mother and the empty casket containing Cairath had been laid to rest for less then an hour when the King came to my chambers. He informed me that I had until dawn the next morning to leave the kingdom, and I was to never return. He gave me a letter that I wasn't to open until I left and bid me take the great axe, for he would never allow one of his warriors to wield something that had been soiled by a halfbreed like me. I left within the hour.
You're probably wondering what was in the letter. I don't know. I've never opened it. I carry it with me everywhere, but I've never had an interest in reading it. There is nothing the King could say to me to make up for what my life became over the next ten years. The only thing I had to my name when I left the kingdom were the cloths on my back, the great axe, and the letter. I had no money, no food, no transport, nothing. So I made a living the only way I knew how, but fighting. I kept the name Riley, for when a name was absolutely necessary, but most of the time I gave no name. I became a gladiator and fought for my supper every night. At first I hid who I was behind armor, but then I learned that I fought better without it, and that other gladiators might hesitate more fighting a woman. For ten long years I fought men and beasts for the entertainment of the masses, and I never lost a fight.
I thought I would spend my entire life in the arena, but about three years ago something changed. Zanroar, my trainer from all those years ago, found me. He pulled me from the arena and convinced me that my true calling was that of a hero. That I could fight not just for entertainment, but for what was good in the world. That I could fight to protect others. I'll admit that the idea didn't interest me much at first. If there was one thing the arena had taught me it was that trust and alliances will always be broken, and I wasn't too keen to join a band of heroes. But I'd also learned that death was just around the corner for all of us, and that made me realize I should do what I could. At first I just took on quests I could complete myself, and that worked well. I didn't have to rely on anyone else, it paid better than the arena, and I got to help people (which I discovered I quite liked). Word of my deeds started to spread and soon I had more quests than I could handle. Still I went at it alone. That was until the mayor called me in and bundled me up with this lot. I don't trust them, but they seem to be working well enough towards the goal, so I'll stick with them for now. Only fate knows what tomorrow will bring, but whatever it is I'm ready to face it.
Here we are again, without the script increasing by even a word. I worked at Universal, I worked on other stuff at home, and I went to D&D where we had a player versus player fight that we didn't even get close to finishing. We'll be back killing each other all over next week. For my 750 today I decided I might try to write up the background for my D&D character. Her name is Riley.
You think you're life is tough? You think you've had it hard? You think your existence is cursed? Try being the daughter of the Elven Queen and King; and born a half-elf. Yep, that's right folks, my mother, the Elven Queen, slept around. Not only that, but she got caught in the worst way; my birth. Before you ask, I don't know my father. The only things he gave me besides life were psychic abilities and a strange spear shaped birthmark. I never asked about him, my mother never said anything, and he never came forward to claim me. Not that I can blame him, the King almost had me beheaded, my father would surely have been killed. The worst thing was that my mother had no idea that I wasn't going to be the King's child. They paraded around, gathered gifts, had a lovely room all made up for their princess and within two seconds I ruined everything. The King would have killed me then and there, but my mother begged him not to. Despite her very obvious infidelities, the King loved my mother. Of course that didn't mean that he could face the public humiliation of having an unfaithful wife.
I spent the early part of my life completely locked away from the outside world. As far as the Elven Kingdom was concerned I was born sickly and had to be confined to my bed. The only people I saw for the first fourteen years of my life were my mother, the serving girl (a halfling named Katy), and the elven captain (a fighter named Zanroar)that the King sent to train me. It was Zanroar that discovered I had psychic abilities and trained me to use them to augment my fighting. He trained me with every weapon, but my favorite was always the great axe. For my fifteenth birthday the King got me a great axe of my own. It was truly a thing of beauty. He figured that since I wouldn't be the courtly princess I could be useful in tournaments, and I was. Dressed up in enough armor people didn't even know I was a girl. No one ever suspected that the sickly Elven Princess Cairath and the Elven King's champion Riley were the same person, and it got me out of the castle. It was the only time the King ever took an interest or even spoke to me really.
Life certainly wasn't what I would have wanted it to be, but I had a decent existence. That all changed shortly after I turned 17. My mother died suddenly of a fever and it was a simple thing for the King to say that the sickly Cairath had also perished. I thought that perhaps that meant I would continue as only the King's Champion, that while my fighting would never win his love, it had at least earned his respect. I was wrong. My mother and the empty casket containing Cairath had been laid to rest for less then an hour when the King came to my chambers. He informed me that I had until dawn the next morning to leave the kingdom, and I was to never return. He gave me a letter that I wasn't to open until I left and bid me take the great axe, for he would never allow one of his warriors to wield something that had been soiled by a halfbreed like me. I left within the hour.
You're probably wondering what was in the letter. I don't know. I've never opened it. I carry it with me everywhere, but I've never had an interest in reading it. There is nothing the King could say to me to make up for what my life became over the next ten years. The only thing I had to my name when I left the kingdom were the cloths on my back, the great axe, and the letter. I had no money, no food, no transport, nothing. So I made a living the only way I knew how, but fighting. I kept the name Riley, for when a name was absolutely necessary, but most of the time I gave no name. I became a gladiator and fought for my supper every night. At first I hid who I was behind armor, but then I learned that I fought better without it, and that other gladiators might hesitate more fighting a woman. For ten long years I fought men and beasts for the entertainment of the masses, and I never lost a fight.
I thought I would spend my entire life in the arena, but about three years ago something changed. Zanroar, my trainer from all those years ago, found me. He pulled me from the arena and convinced me that my true calling was that of a hero. That I could fight not just for entertainment, but for what was good in the world. That I could fight to protect others. I'll admit that the idea didn't interest me much at first. If there was one thing the arena had taught me it was that trust and alliances will always be broken, and I wasn't too keen to join a band of heroes. But I'd also learned that death was just around the corner for all of us, and that made me realize I should do what I could. At first I just took on quests I could complete myself, and that worked well. I didn't have to rely on anyone else, it paid better than the arena, and I got to help people (which I discovered I quite liked). Word of my deeds started to spread and soon I had more quests than I could handle. Still I went at it alone. That was until the mayor called me in and bundled me up with this lot. I don't trust them, but they seem to be working well enough towards the goal, so I'll stick with them for now. Only fate knows what tomorrow will bring, but whatever it is I'm ready to face it.
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