DM Mittean |
Welcome to my story. I hope you enjoy.
Please keep all dialogue and description separate from ooc. I would prefer all ooc comments or dice rolls to be hidden by a spoiler, so that the story reads uninterrupted, if possible.
Also, if any viewers feel the need to comment, please, I welcome that...but keep it in the discussion thread, so as not to interrupt the story. Thank you!
DM Mittean |
You sit under an overhang of tightly wrapped brier, your hands resting on your knees, your eyes closed, your breathing slow. The wind caresses you with memories.
You see the land before you, your homeland of the Talenta Plains. The landscape is made of lines, like clay drawings on the caves of your mothers, near Wayambeh. They move, as if your perspective is changing, or as if each line, all different colors, lengths and following different paths of the contours of the land, are writhing snakes.
The land breaths. The story speaks. You walk in your dream.
You sit at the fire, smoke curling up to the Wandjina, the gods of the dream in the sky, when your Lath speaks up. You do not know his name, but he sits next to you, and as is his calling as Lath, he tells you where you must go.
"Ku poca oochel. Kex maan ts'u'uy u lúubul le k'iino', ma' wilik tak ka kaxáant u baatsil dinosaurios. Ku kaxtiko'ob le curiosos Deinonychus. Ku bisik jump'éel capa elegante, ba'ale' bona'an u pinturas k'ab ma' u jela'anil in k kaajo'ob. K'a'ana'an wáantik ti' kaxtik u chíikbesik recuerdos tu jaanta' u che'o', wa tu K'astal tuláakal le memorias. Le esqueleto herido ti' le Gorgosaurus, sa'atal u furia yóok'ol kaab, ba'ale' ma' jach u lu'umil. Huye le verdadero t'aano'-rex ka teme. K'a'ana'an u ts'o'oks u caza. Le nak óol u yilik Triceritops, u óoxp'éel bak ku brilla intensamente brillante ti' le sáasilo' u tuukule', superior ti' tuláakal le banda Guatemala mina'an u yotocho'ob u k k'ajláay hablada. Wa'alakbal tu yiknal láak'o'ob bey leti'e', ku mixba'al bey leti'. Teche' k'a'ana'an náay yéetel leti'. Viajan yéetel le Brontomerus, jump'éel ch'uy' kaal u esclavo káachal láayli' mentik kex u kaal. Ma' je'el xook, ba'ale' ku jantik chéen ánaalte'ob. Kex chichan, P'at pistas uts nukuch bey je'el saurópodo. Xook ti' leti'. Por encima de leti'obe', a u leti' jach independiente, u xik'nal le Quetzalcoatlus, yéetel u aguda tuukule', jump'éel leti'obe' silencioso yéetel mortal, ba'ale' temible ken u enfureció. Teche' k'a'ana'an kaxtik Ba'ax k'abéet. A woochel jach u ts'o'ok u biin, chéen ba'ale' wa a unes a woochel yéetel leti'ob, a wayak jump'éel súutul:, bey u familias. Ka ba'ax bixake', ma', repito, ma' -"
With a jolt, there is a pounding knock on the door. You open your eyes to the gloom of the tiny cabin you are in, the same size as the briar. Your hands rest on your knees. The smell of seawater, and wood, of candle tallow and sweat brings you back into your body. You are on board the Demon's dream, a sailing vessel out of Trolanport, now docked in Western Breland, in a town called Sandpoint. You have arrived where your dreams have led you, in search of your family.
"Sir...um...halfling sir? We're here." a young voice quavers uncertainly.
"You seek Little shadow. Though the sun falls hard, you will not see her until you find your dinosaur family. Seek the curious Deinonychus. He wears a sleek coat, yet is covered in hand paintings not unlike our peoples. You must help him find his own memories at the roots of his tree, or loose all memories. The wounded skeleton of the Gorgosaurus, looses his anger upon the land, but it is not his land. He flees the true Tyrannosaur, and fears it. You must end their hunt. The fastidious Triceritops, his three horns glowing bright from the light from his mind, greater than all of the Lath's of our spoken history. He stands next to others just like him, that look nothing like him. You must dream with him. They travel with the Brontomerus, a broken slave collar still around his neck. He cannot read, yet eats only books. Though he is small, he leaves tracks as large as any sauropod. Read to him. Above them, believing he is separate, flies the Quetzalcoatlus, with its sharp mind, a silent, and deadly hunter, yet frightful when angered. You must find out what he needs. Your Little shadow is gone, but if you join your Shadow with theirs, your dreams will become as one, as your families. And whatever you do, do not, I repeat, do not -"
DM Mittean |
Up in the wagon rides Ven Vindor and Allishanda. He looks as conservative as you could, with his chin beard, plain shirt and brimmed hat. She looks positively liberal in her silks and scarves and jewelry.
"Do they teach you about the lands when you are created, Mr. Engineer?" she asks Three curiously.
Engineer #3 |
"I was not created with the intention for travel in mind. My original instructions focused on materials Science Center and engineering. Since my emancipation, I have learned some basic geography. I still lack much in the way of first order experience beyond Metrol, Sharn, Cauldron, or the passage between."
Engineer's voice is low, with a pleasant timbre, but somewhat flat and monotone.
Engineer #3 |
"I cannot verify the sanity of the city, but that description matches the place. A large metropolis built into the caldera of a volcano. It held many opportunities for learning and adventure."
Daxur |
"My lady, should you require any travelogue information on the lands we pass, do me the pleasure of requesting it from your's truly. " Daxur offers grandly.
He then fixes Three with a sharp glance, "Many opportunities, my friend? Quite a under-exaggeration, don't you think. " he asks, then turns to Khravos, "That place is a marvel! Certainly no match for glorious Sharn, but very interesting in its own right. In fact, I discovered that the current city is built on the foundations of no less than 14 different civilizations...."
Unless inturrupted, Daxur will continue in this vien for atleast the next hour....;)
DM Mittean |
"Sharn was built from nothing by a Brelish King over a thousand years ago, into the greatest city in Galifar." Ven interjects. "Every good Brelander knows that."
Daxur |
For a moment, Daxur can only gape at the temerity of the man....to interrupt so!
Then, he shrugs, and says "Propaganda! Is that what they teach schoolchildren in Breland these days? Now then , pay attention, this is an opportunty to expand your brain beyond mere nationalistic drivel. The city of Sharn, like Caudron, was build upon the foundation of others, specifically those foundations built by Breggar, King of the nation of Wroat, ...hmmm.....let me see, 2400 years ago. So , that would make it, " Daxur continues, pantomiming counting figures on his fingertips, "Oh, yes, 1400 years before the founding of Galifar!"
He looks sternly at Ven, daring the man to dispute Daxur's facts.
Khravos Vortensis |
Khravos, walking beside the wagon, asks the actress, "Is this not an adventure? We travel forward, unsure what the next bend may conceal. This road or another, all the expanse ahead conceals adventure. Your cousin only traveled a different road."
DM Mittean |
Engineer #3 |
"I do not believe omens and portents work in such a fashion as you describe. We're I'll fortune predicted to befall our travels, it would have been seen or not before this juncture in time. The observation of an event does not modify said event at this level of existence."
Engineer continues walking alongside the cart as he speaks.
Daxur |
Daxur sits back, more than a little put out that Ven didn't jump for the chance to debate him on the origins of Brelish's cherished institutions.
As the conversation turns to the metaphysical nature of the choices sentient beings make in the world, he joins in, holding up a finger as he makes his point , "Ah, my fine metal friend, that may be, but Torias said in Inquiries of the Mind postulates that it is the obvservation itself that determines the outcome of a certain nexus of decisions. However, Illimister states in Thoughts on Existence that we are mere witnesses, our choices already determined from the beginning of time. What is the answer? Who knows!" he finished, happy to have the opportunity to contribute to the educatation of his obviously less learned associates.
DM Mittean |
You make your way through the tight hall at the aft of the ship where your bunk was, into the cargo area, stepping nimbly over buckets, more ropes than you knew existed, barrels smelling of pitch and powder, spices and hides. Another young half-elf with dark hair, a little older than the first, passes you in a hurry without meeting your gaze, perhaps on to some unknown duty.
As you climb the ladder to the orlop deck, you see a slightly heavier young lady standing to the side, under a billowing cloak pulled tight around her. She looks at you with a look you've come to recognize, and turns away as you climb the next ladder to the weather deck, and then into the sunshine.
Some of the crew bustles about, while the second mate barks orders. The Bos'n is piping side, with others of the deck crew assembled, as the Captain departs the ship. You see cranes moving the heavier cargo off the ship, and onto the docks, which bustle with dozens and dozens of people. Sandpoint rises up the hill away from the docks, and is crested by what appears to be a large church. The smell of salt, the breeze on your cheek are unfamiliar, but still appreciated after the weeks at sea.
DM Mittean |
Allishanda looks him over disapprovingly as he spits off the other side of the wagon from her, pulling out a silk handkerchief to cover her nose delicately. "I think the idea that we are destined to greatness, and we only need accept it is lovely, master goblin. You must do your country of Darguun proud."
DM Mittean |
A whistle breaks the tumult on the docks, as figures depart the barque, it's sails on the three masts tied up. A 1st mate from another ship signs some documents for the city on a barrel, and hands them to Satinder. "There y'are. I'll let my Captain know." With a nod towards the two of you, he disappears into the crowd.
Watches-Shadow-Behind-You |
Watches-Shadow-Behind-You heads down the gangplank. Air comes to him alive with smells of fish and people of all kinds. Confident he will know if Shadow finds anything, he walks along the docks, looking for other halflings.
There could be workers or watchmen of this tribe that may have seen his son and granddaughter. He can ask them.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
He spies Shadow darting in and out among rooftops, doing his own investigation.
Perception for Shadow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Khravos Vortensis |
Responding thoughtfully, Khravos explains, "Oh, I was just carrying that thought forward to its implications. If one must accept being..." Looking up, Khravos sees the icy glare in the actress's eyes. "Er... was that poorly said?" Meekly, Khravos returns his gaze to the horizon.
DM Mittean |
A shout suddenly goes up. "Hey! Stop! Thief!" A young blond boy, perhaps ten, sprints away from a yelling sailor on the far side of the docks from you. With a snap and a creak, the palate carrying hundreds of pounds of barrels and crates on the jib fall, directly over the man in front of you!
DM Mittean |
In the distance ahead of you, coming over a small hillock through the trees, are dozens of goblins, waving torches and oddly shaped blades. They approach the wagon quickly, but cautiously. An enormous goblin with three arms rides a pony in the midst of them, a regular sized long-sword across his pommel.
"Dammit!" Ven reins in his horse, stopping the wagon. "Vortensis! Defend the shipment!"
"Run!" Allishanda hops off her wagon bench, and lifting her shawls about her, runs the opposite direction of the goblins. "Warforged, protect me!"
I will give you one warning: It is totally okay to flee some encounters. It is also okay to go after them. But I will try to drop hints if you are not "intended" to necessarily fight in a battle, or at least not fight everything. :) Good luck!
All three of you may act at any time, as it is currently the party's initiative. (I do group initiative's for pbp.)
Goblin minions initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12, and Koruvus initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10.
Engineer #3 |
Engineer walks in front of the wagon and interposes himself between the oncoming goblins and their charge.
Goblin: "Stop where you are and cease hostilities. No lives need be lost here."
A brief ringing sound emanates from the cloaked warforged as he assumes a fighting stance.
DM Mittean |
A yell goes up behind Satinder and Garrick. Turning away from the boy and the sailor, they see a tribal halfling push a man in black out of the way on the dock just in time, as the jib the sailor was operating fails. The palate full of crates, barrels, and hundreds of pounds of other goods slams into the dock.
People scream as wood and metal goes flying. The dock underneath it cracks, and part of it actually snaps off. The smaller cog that happened to be docked next to where the cargo landed takes a good hit as well, and lists down severely for a few moments. Then, as the cog re-balances, it throws the goods that landed on it off, and rocks back hard, its' masts and ropes tangling with others around the dock. Tons of debris splashes into the water, and dust fills the air.
A hue and cry go up, and the buzz of the dock becomes a roar as people rush in.
The man in black springs up, his back to Satinder and Garrick, and drags the halfling to his feet. He backhands the older tribal man, sending him sprawling to the dock.
Before you can get up, the man in black is on his feet, and drags you to yours. He backhands you across the face, sending you to your knees.
DM Mittean |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The man is tall, strongly built, with a back as straight as an arrow. His eyes are fierce, and his head shaved. He is dressed in all black leathers, with an enormous great-sword strapped across his back.
"Так что это, где вы бежали в, старший лейтенант Крааль. Попа конец континента. The man stares intently at Garrick, speaking in the Karrnathi tongue.
Remember, you recognize Watches-Shadow-Behind-You, so seeing him here should be very strange, and seeing him hit should be upsetting. :)
Also, you need to add Karrnathi as a language. You grew up there, and speak it. And if you can write out the names on the spoilers that might be better. I don't want someone to miss a spoiler meant for them because they didn't see their name. :)
He very specifically does not add the "ir'" in front of your last name. You sense he is doing it to deny you the respect of the moniker.
Garrick ir'Kraal |
Regarding languages, yes I will add it. I didn't put it on there because i didn't have the eberron thing activated on the character (forgot to) and also because as far as i was aware, the big 5 of the five nations did not have actual separate languages, only accents.
i am familiar with the staff breakdown you are using (military myself, though we combine 3 and 7), so if you don't feel like explaining it all you can omit it in the future, provided you are using the same one. Although, a 1stLt wouldn't be the S-3 at a battalion (at least not the OPSO, and the S-3 wouldn't be in the chain of command, strictly speaking, under the S-2. They're normally separate chains that "link up" at the XO level, that is, they all report to the XO and the XO to the CO. Also, except in all but the strangest circumstances, a family member would not be placed under the command of another family member (for fear that the junior would receive special treatment). But hey, this is fantasy, haha
"Конец задницы, а? Я понимаю что Вы здесь, чтобы посетить семью, тогда, Jarek?"
"Ass end? I understand that you here to visit your family, then, eh Jarek?"
he would know the complete omission of titles would be on purpose, as much to return his barb as to remind him that I am no longer on active duty.
DM Mittean |
That's brilliant. I actually forgot you were current military. And I'm basing it more off of reading I have done from active military during wartime situations...with promotions and filling positions when others are killed. Not accurate, obviously, but...I try. :) What is the "combine 3 and 7?"
Satinder Hawkes |
"Sir! Are you hurt?" He notes the halfling's already-swelling cheek and winces.
Daxur |
Grrr, posted last night...checked tonite and it was gone! Darn boards.
Daxur leaps up onto the seat next to Ven, raising his hands into the air "Hold! Let us parley! As the metal man says, there is no need for violence. You seem a strong and wise leader, lead your men not to bloodshed, but to profit!"
Garrick ir'Kraal |
"избивая маленькие? Ваша мертвая жена, должно быть, была классной леди" Garrick replies with a grin, not addressing the baseless accusations.
"By beating up the small one? Your wife must have been a very classy lady."
DM Mittean |
One of the goblins breaks rank, and runs in from the side at Khravos, screaming, his flimsy blade held high. Khravos raises his scizore, catching the goblins blade on it. He steps behind the goblins feet, plants his hand on the goblins throat, and then trips the little creature, sending it sprawling into the dirt.
The crowd of goblins erupts in excitement, laughing and screaming. One throws itself on the ground, obviously mimicking the prone one in front of Khravos.
"Skildu. Ég ætti ekki að láta þá drepa þig, en ég geri það. Skildu." The large goblin points his blade behind him, in the directions of Sandpoint.
When the goblin attacks you, you get to REACT, by choosing a maneuver, or a few other actions (listed on the campaign info page). He rolls 1d20. You respond by rolling 1d20. If he LOSES, his attack is deflected, and you get the maneuver. (As we saw in this situation). If he BEATS you, then he hits normal, and you lose 1 Attack of Opportunity for the round.
This makes ACTIVE DEFENSE more RE-Active, and makes all those feats (Improved Bull Rush, etc.) worth taking. This does NOT provoke an AoO. You may REACT with a maneuver up to the number of AoO you have in a round, and they count against that number. (For instance, if you have a DEX of 16, and have the Combat Reflexes Feat, you have 4 AoO per round. If you are attacked five times, the first four allow you to attempt to React with maneuvers. The fifth is simply a roll against your Defense score.
I recognize this is COMPLETELY different from D20 rules, but we are actually going to publish this. :) It makes combat less of stand next to each other swinging till you damage them to death, and more of a complex, reactive, strategic brawl. :)
This all means you still have your action for this round to do. GO!
Engineer #3 |
For a brief moment, the scent of sandalwood incense combined with sweat wafts from Engineer. A thin sheen of ectoplasm forms on his limbs and torso before evaporating in wisps of "smoke".
Khravos Vortensis |