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Two kingdoms at war. One the righteous Drostardy, the other the tyrannical Karakia. It almost sounds like the start of a minstrel's tale. Nothing can get a young soldier's blood pumping like the thought of battle, nothing can change their way of thinking quicker that feeling a sword cut into their flesh...
But this war is not fought by man alone. No, Karakia found allies in the most unusual of places: the forest. An unfair advantage to be sure, had not the good forest-folk gotten word of this alliance. How they got the news is unclear, but now they are mobilizing to make the war fair again, and protect the good people of Drostardy from their evil kin.
For if their existence is made common knowledge, they shall not know peace. Legends tell many tales of their kind helping heros survive or making them heroes in the first place, but each time they are written off as shapechanged fey or even gods.
Now they must ask themselves a question. Do they follow the Law of Challenge or Serve to the word and protect Drostardy, possibly revealing themselves, or do they let the kingdom fall and live under Karakia's rule? Each must make their own decision.
I'm going to let Eric take over from here, as this little intro was suprisingly hard for me to right... :(
Few who know Keiyanna would think her a bad woman, and none of the orphans she cared for and raised would speak a word against her. Which is why the city's sheriff didn't arrest her immediately when common sense said she had all the reasons to kill the people she had. Closing down the orphanage was something the five had wanted, but now only three remained. They had been the ones to spread the accusations in the first place, but as it spread, so did the number of people who believed them. Thankfully still a minority, they have yet to try and take the law in their own hands, but the time is fast approaching when they will....
Quickly, Keiyanna sent letters to the all the orphans that had left the orphanage, hoping some of them will be able to come help clear her name. She can do so little while she has children to look after, and they had started getting into fight with the city's other youth. Each one said he or she did it to defend her. She puts the children to bed and hopes help arrives soon.
Perhaps it's just your feelings about the whole things, but as you journey to your childhood home, you can't help but shake the strange sense of wrongness in the air. The strange events you each experiance on your way are not helping matters, and suggest some outside force is at work.
Eadric
During a particularly windy part of your trip, you hear a voice. "Beware treachery.. young knight of the taverns..." The strange voice fades away even as the wind does, and not a single person is in sight...
Azharten
Ah, the wonderful sounds of birds chirping in the morning as the winds rustles the leaves on the tree. What a reassuring sound.. but as you wake, you hear nothing but the sound of your own breathing and your heart beat, which grows louder as the silence deepens. Then, without warning.. the day seems to come alive with the sounds of morning.
Lydinia
How long has it been since the last nightmares? Months, maybe years? If that where true, why did you wake up clutching your holy symbol, hard enough the silver sunbeams of your goddess have bit deep into your hand?
Basha
Your lord haven giving you permission, you begin to pack. As you go to pack the last of your possesions, you see someone else in a mirror. You stop and look again, but only see yourself staring intently back. You turn back to your pack and freeze as you see a small wooden dagger resting on top. It looks just like the one you stole back at the orphanage, every detail the same. Right down to the thin crack running down the hilt...
At this point, I turn the game to you. Now is the time to either react and continue on your way to the orphanage, or ignore the happennings(a possibility. Perhaps it was only a coincedence?) and continue on your way.
A few weeks ago, three nobles of the city of Akkhan plunged the city into chaos, looking for something valuable. Rewards for the three missing magical items were posted, servants were accuses of theft and hanged, and even the Thieves Guild was raided in a desperate attempt to find the missing weapons.
Whether you are new to the city and drawn by the promise of rewards, or living in Akkhan and wanting the chaos to stop, you have answered the call. The three nobles are holding a meeting for all who wish to retrieve the weapons and return them. Other groups were sent out, but no one has heard from them since they left, even though they were given the means to do so.
Picked out by representatives of the nobles, you have entered a room so heavily guarded you doubt a dragon could break in without trouble. Now assembled with your soon-to-be traveling companions, you are finally adressed by the three outraged nobles.
The dwarven noble speaks first.
"I'll get right to the point. Whelm, a family heirloom, was stolen from one of my most protected vaults. Some fool, parading as a long dead wizard known as Keraptis, has taken it, and I want it back!"
"Barrack, do you think you are the only not wanting their weapon back?" It's the elf that speaks up this time, leaving only the gnome in the center of the trio silent. "You didn't even think to tell them Whelm is a hammer!" She turns to you, her eyes cold. "I need your to retrieve my trident, Wave, from this upstart. Do you believe you can do that?"
"Aananda, you are too quick to berate Barrack! Neither of you thought to tell them how we know the name of the culprit or the supposed location of our weapons!" Who would have thought the little gnome had such a deep voice? "Just a few days past, each of us received a note, which you will be given copies of before you leave. Basically, it was a challenge by 'Keraptis' to retrieve are items. After a brief though detailed discussion, we believe the items are being kept in White Plume Mountain. Along with Barrack's hammer and Aananda's trident, I wish you to return my sword to me. You will be given basic provisions and transportation to the village nearest the mountain. Any questions?"
This is the pbp for the game 'The Prison Island.'
It has been 3 days since the prison barge left the main land, heading to island where the most vile of criminals are sent. The smell of sea does not mix well with the smell of unwashed prisoners, and more than one person has been unable to keep down their food as the ship is rocked by waves. Your hands are encased in metal gloves, and your feet are chained together tightly. You are otherwise free to move about as you wish. More than once in the past few days a prisoner has attempted to kill another, usually over something meaningless, only to fall to the ground and writhe in pain. More than few have heard the stories of the island that will be your new home, and those who do not wish to live and die there have chosen instead to end their lives, and some are quite inventive in their death of choice. Suddenly, with a scraping noise, the ship stops and people fall over each other. The chains and gloves disappear as a doorway of sorts opens up in the front of the ship, revealing a beautiful beach and the darkness of night. Several people run for the forest immediately while others move cautiously onto the beach.
A voice booms from the the ship's deck, far above you, dripping with sarcasm. You look up into the face of the ship's captain, a man who takes joy from transporting villains to and fro and his ship, The Prison Cruise.
“Well my cheery cruise guests, welcome to your promised island getaway. Now play nice, you'll be living here for the rest of your lives. I'd stay longer,” he stops talking as faraway screams pierce the night air, “but my crew are not as delighted to be on Isla Sorna as you are. Goodbye and good luck... you'll need it.”
The ship pulls away from the shore, seemingly of it's own free will, and disappears into the night. One man, an elf, tries desperately to swim after the ship. With the aid of sparxe moonlight, you can see he makes it out of the cove and is only a few dozen feet away from the ship when something pulls him under. He does not surface...
Several people are still on the beach, jumping at every little sound coming from the forest over staring nervously at the water. What are you doing?
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