“” The billowing voice comes from a man leaning against a side of the tavern. The sound hangs in the tavern, deep in its tone and haunting in its timbres. The voice matches the man, who even leaning against a wall is towering. His ornate black full-plate is lined with yellow trim. Horns adorn the helmet that covered his face, with only a slit for the man to see through. As ornate as the armor was, it was also equally used. A matching shield, with a dragon in yellow relief, hung from the back of a chair next to the man. The lady next to Payk giggles again at a not-so-hushed comment*.
Alden diligently scribbles down Dante - Private on the sheet. Glifdore is more curious, “And what do you do Dante?” In response the man clicks open the latch on a longsword sheath resting on his hip. Glifdore swallows. “Right. Er, good, now then, who else. Quickly now.”
It looks like the dragon on his shield at him up and spit him out.
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Finding himself nearly penniless after weeks of aimless wandering and heavy drinking, a job working for a guild in the middle of nowhere seems like a good idea. Far from Oppara. Far from the Longaxes. Far from my shame. Even though he’s not quite sure what to expect, the huge ulfen packs what few possessions he has and hits the road.
***
The big northman nurses his mead while he waits for the meeting to begin and then stands when the call goes out but otherwise remaining silent while the elf, the dwarf, and a few others exchange words.
Ursus is a great bear of a man, standing over two meters tall and half as broad. He is gifted with the hulking musculature that makes his people sought out as bodyguards - his massive limbs and chest thick with corded muscle. A wild burnished golden mane drapes down to his thickly muscled shoulders and frames his rugged features. He wears little more than a few furs draped down his shoulders and across his hips and tucked into a sheath at his hip is a simple dagger but he carries no other weapons. A fine chain ending in a blackened iron emblem of Urazra dangles midway down his bulging pectorals.
When Glifedore repeats his roll-call, he finally speaks up.
"Ursus Haradra", the hulking figure offers in a growling profundo. "I'm a warrior. And a wrestler."
hmmm... That elf must be something or thinks he's something. Wonder how he handles a joke. Also wonder how strong he is...
Varian stands at attention.
Varian, Varian Seldlon sir! Fighter and arcanist extraordinaire! If a blade won't cut it, I've probably got a spell for it!
with a snap of his fingers a rough, misty outlined figure of hazy light pops up close to Payk, very much resembling the elf and does what seems to be a rather comedic (and somewhat lewd) jig.
man, I hope I can back that statement up...
Askrel straightens first straigthens his hair, then his poise for his grand introduction. "Askrel Bel'Thar at your service, sir." One hand rests upon his chest while the other makes an exaggerated sweeping motion all the way down to the floor as he bows. Bringing himself to an erect posture he adds, "Master treasure hunter. A deadeye with the long bow and a skilled fencer. I can find my way out of the thickest wood or deepest cave, and I have a nose for hidden gold." He cooly wipes his nose with his thumb, not that it ran or itched, he just thought it would look cool.
Jack will take his time and observe everyone Jack, Here he says standing up I am an Animist Healer of sorts. An the strongest of that bunch it looks like he says before sitting down
I stick a pinky in my ear and twist, trying to get Hurin's voice out. It doesn't quite work. My ears finally quit ringing though, just as some half-elf is talking with Glifdore.
“You still have “e” at the end of your name? I got rid of mine years ago.”
I do my best not to fall out of my seat laughing. I can't help but feel that I will be greatly amused by this guys... antics.
Dante introduces himself in succinct fashion, and I make a mental note to not be on his bad side. Then Ursus, a guy just as large but much less armored. Varian, the elf that I'm totally not jealous of. Askrel, who's introduction would be ostentatious if it weren't so distressingly sincere. Then Jack, who is almost as brief as Dante, though not quite so descriptive.
I raise my hand, waving at Glifdore, my other clenched around the hilt of my blade.
Glifdore nods at Ursus, obviously impressed at the man’s apperent strength. “He can be a private” Alden scribbles away.
-
Glifdore smiles at the phantom Payk, though predictably Payk doesn’t appear happy. It’s enough to distract him from the fact that you’re an elf. “Er, Private as well”
-
Glifdore perks up at the comment about gold, and it distracts him enough to not complain about you being an elf. “Anuter Private.”
-
“A wut now? Animist? Er, put ‘em down fer healer, it’s gud to have many ranks in a guild.”
-
“Gud, gud, choppin’ is gud. Private fer him.”
-
Glifdore looks around. “errr, don’ see Tie, I thought he were coming. ”
Payk jumps up from his seat. “What, you mean someone who said they were coming to this graveyard of a town decided to not come? That’s not acceptable, not in my guild. I’m goping to find this Tie.” He strides quickly to the door.
Payk opens the door violently, only to close it just as quickly, and scramble down to a sitting position with his back against the door *. You may not have been able to catch the , but you certainly heard the scream, and Payk did too. His demeanor changed, but it didn’t seem like any new emotion entered his face. Instead, it seemed like what was previously there had been washed away.
There appears to be quite a few people in the street milling and shuffling about.
Askrel chuckles to himself as the enlistment process begins. "There's a first time for everything," he quitely comments about the dwarfs evaluation process.
A brief glimpse outside paired with the sound of a piercing scream knocks the light-hearted smirk off Askrel's face as he swiftly tip-toes to the door. "I smell trouble," he states in an alerted, yet calm-and-composed tone.
He peers into the darkness outside of the tavern to witness the commotion on the street. It seems his suspicions are confirmed. It is trouble. In a swift motion, his rapier is drawn from its sheath, and Askrel steadily advances to further investigate the near-riot happening outside.
gulp. Goblins.... Even orcs are one thing.. Undead? Will my magic even effect them?! Gahh.
fear no evil, these are easier to kill than goblins.
if you say so... Whoever you are.. Haven't lied to me yet
Varain will draw his weapon as a move action and the. Shoot an acid orb out towards a zombies.
dangit, stop shaking. you're Better than that varian. That was a horrid shot.
Payk is the first through the door and the first to engage the undead horde. He carefully steps around a dog a zombie is gorging on and strikes with his short short.
The distracted zombie doesn't even look up as Payk rams a short sword through the back of his next.
Payk looks around, a worried look. Where is she, who screamed
Alden hurries past Glifdore and into the street, he spots Payk and runs next to him, drawing his ornate dagger on the way and setting up a defense against the
oh no... oh no oh no oh no.... these are dead. The realization makes him hesitates, but it's the smell that forces him with a knee to the ground, retching violently with nothing to show for his cause.
Glifdore bundles into position, pushing himself to match the elf Alden's speed but eventually failing. He draws his earthbreaker as he moves, which is no mean feat in itself. He doesn't make it in time though, and has to steady himself as the horde moves towards him.
Tie stares at the nothing of the dark sky. He's bored.
He looks down at the un-dead in front of him.
He whips his scimitar out and slices with a flourish. He misses.
hmm
Suddenly I hear a scream and everybody's running outside with a combination of grim and confused looks on their faces. I hurriedly copy their expressions and follow them outside, drawing my blades as I go.
Round 1
Hein ? what ? what is going on ? Oh My Shit this can't be really happening...
Why is this happening ? he says drawing his weapon and moving
Not being mutilated by the zombies right away might have been inspiring, but Dante's charge certainly was. Moving steadily down the grassy alley, Dante raises his sword and slashes across the gut of the zombie that attack Ursus, spill gore and maggots all of the ground. The slash distracts the zombie next to him, and he pivots, thrusting his sword forward into the second zombies stomach. In less than a second the armored man had taken down two of them.
Unable to see the source of the screaming, due to the house between him and the terrified peasant woman, Askrel darts down the alleyway between the tavern and the house, rounding the corner, and sprinting to her aide, "Don't worry, madame," he soothes her, "they wont make it this far." Turning toward the commotion, further down the street, Askrel takes a defensive position between the frightened damsel and the zombie heading straight for her.
Round 2
Having an ally just in front of him prevented Jack from charging and so he double move to the spot in between Alden and Pyck to close ranks and form a line
Varian can't get around the line just yet, so he will move up behind jack and toss out an acid orb at an unengaged zombie.
Still shaken from the stench of rotten flesh his hands do not steady.
With awkward shuffling up to him, Alden tries to prepare himself but can't turn off his gag reflex. He remains on his knee, even as the zombie tumbles onto him.
Even though Jack is coming quickly, Payk can see he won't get there in time to help. He turns his back on the zombie adjoining him and thrusts his sword into the zombie harrying Alden. The Elf has to avoid the zombie's attack first, and his sword deals only a glancing blow to the undead in front of him.
Rally men, this be our town to defend. ferwar' the arms.
Glifdore's speech must have distracted him, as his earth breaker swings clean past the zombie though it does give the ground quite a shake.
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The un-dead in front of him slashes out. Its hand nicks Tie's armor as he jerks it back. Tie grunts. He grits his teeth. Spinning out of his dodging momentum he slashes at the enemy.
I look around wildly, trying to take everything in. To my left Dante and Ursus are finishing off a trio of zombies, blade and fists covered in putrescent gore. In front of me is a solid wall of my allies, all attacking. Suddenly an opening, well, opens, and I charge through.
The zombie advances. "Stop right there or I'll run you through!" Askrel begins to shake, hesitant to back up his words, but as the foul undead draws close enough to touch, he snaps to action plunging his rapier into the soft flesh of his pursuer.
Alden finally overcomes the stench and surges up, attacks with both dagers.
His second swipe manages to cut through the zombie, but it's not a deep cut.
Payk sees Alden rising and waits to time his attack until after the elf slashes. Payk's attack strikes the unsuspecting zombie straight through the throat, felling it instantly.
Glifdore steps forward carefully, picking his feet around the undead at his feet. He steadies himself and them crushes down with his earth breaker. The hammer crushes the zombie spreading pieces of it on the packed dirt.
Varian will move to the closest live... or unlive?...moving, zombie and strike with his scimitar. First slashing its arms in spinning arcs then gracefully sliding around it to decapitate its head from its shoulders, leaving little mess.
HA, there's the Varian That slew that warboss. These are nothing but practice for me!
HAHA! I've still got it! Eat that ye walking corpse!
he spins his blade in a circle by his waist then suddenly halts it, throwing most of the gore off and onto the ground.
Round 3
Jack will attempt to trike down one of the Zombies next to him
Fighting Defensively
Current AC 19