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 Recent Posts
Spoiler:
So I think G-man WOULD have gotten that Crit... Probably against that thing inside (if he had a ghost strike weapon or whatever), he WOULDN'T have, since it seems like a homogenous shadow, instead of a corporeal entity. It's not mentioned specifically (the 'some undead' is pretty vague, too), but I think Swarms are also not be vulnerable to Crits...?
"What... Is this?!?"
"oh... Shaft more far than Yalka think... Will stay here then."
"This morning we see Deputy Win very sick from spiders in Carrion Hill.
Glancing at the young boy first, I turn back to Hilden, and add in a humble voice:
Yalka enquires about what held up the main group... and shows off one of the wierd bugs they ran into.
Blue Barn: Spoiler:
"D..Deserach...", I call tiredly as I sight the familiar figure standing near the Blue Barn with his pony .
I toss a disgusting cat sized mix of loose skin, pincers & insectoid wings towards the ground near Deserach
Catching my breath, I relax a bit more, now that we've arrived.
"...Deserach still wait for others? Yalka wait also."
Grumble & Chris: Spoiler:
Replacing my Spear with my bow, I turn and fire on the stirge that seems most likely to escape the thistles:
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
My blood pumping, I dig into Lightening with my knees,
maneuvering her so I can best reach the remaining stirges . Ignoring the pain and blood, Lightening follows, also lashing out with a hoof when the nearest stirge veers too close: Hoof Attack 15, for 7 damage My Attacks: 9, 4, & 17, doing 9 points of damage on the last one... And these are just the mosquitos around here!?
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
The vile creature squirming and buzzing under my hands, I roughly shove it away. ...Whipping my Spear up & around, I let out a inhuman cry: "!!!NARAUL KAA!!!"
Chris & G-Man: Spoiler:
There's three more completely free by the bushes, and stuck can always become un-stuck. One more is on the hill, and probably would like to join the party. And then your dance partner, if you didn't finish it off. Lightening can probably outrun them, so we can take pot-shots at range if you don't leave your X-bow behind... I'd just rather not get stung in the first place, if they're poisonous or something... Y'know...
Rumble on the Mountain: Spoiler:
After the briefest feeling of relief as the swarm passed her by, Yalka is once again surrounded by several of the buzzing abominations, Lightening kicking up (making contact too) and whinnying in a distinctly feral way.
Realizing the mass of the swarm has headed over the hill towards the Dwarven Mountain-Man, Yalka spurs Lightening back around, heading for the Dwarf, and as far down the road as they can make it. Once Lightening's headed in the right direction, Yalka tries to do something about the cat sized mosquito-monster attached to Lightening's neck: "Grumble, we need get far now! Grab on!", I call out as Lightening barrels back down the small hill.
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
"Stirges!" Yalka yells out once in sight of the blood-thirsty giant insects, to warn Grumble.
Once I see them approaching, my instinct is to spur Lightening on ,
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
At the explosion of frantic sounds and bird flapping behind the hill, Yalka decides to take the initiative, spurring Lightening up the top of the hill. From there, I'll see whatever there is to see, and draw my bow or spear depending what I see, as well as possibly dismounting if it seems advisable.
Along the way, I jab the drowsy Dwarf with an elbow, hissing "Wake up Dwarf! Do you have your crossbow!?"
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
Not realizing the target of his frustrated mutterings and cursings at first, Yalka eventually gets the idea, and leans over to help the stout Dwarf haul himself up behind her on Lightening. Knowing the Dwarf doesn't like this sort of thing, I don't comment except to say in her own quaint way:
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
I nod, listening to the kid's story. At the mention of story-tellers, I add:
"Story-Chanters are popular with Yalka's people also. They seem to tell whatever is most popular, if truth or not. Many people like. Yalka likes to know truth. But Yalka is not biggest Story-Chanter of tribe." When he asks when I first dreamt of adventuring, I add:
As we walk back up the hill towards the Inn, I ask him if Settled-Town people wrestle like Yalka's people, and the biggest opponent he has beaten, as well as what his family is like. I he's inclined, I'll see if he can try his best move on me, and when it fails, I'll grab him and spin him around, 'helicopter' style, for a bit. After that, I'll get him to tell some "rhyme" songs: Hallit sentences don't rhyme well, but Yalka enjoys it alot. Coming to the Cold Comfort Inn, I hold the door open for the kid and Grumble to enter, first saying:
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
I turn and give Grumble a long look.
Turning back to the kid, I say: "Why don't we stop by the Cold Comfort Inn. You're probably bored of hearing Cale's same old stories, but Jolem and Deputy Win should still be there, and Jolem could probably put you to work a bit. The Deputy might have some stories too, though they may scare you off messing with cold-blooded killers."
"Indeed. I prefer when the hunting promises a tasty feast, but the other kind of hunt is unavoidable, sometimes."
As we wind back thru Carrion Hill, I share bits of my experiences camping in caves in the area, mysterious voices and unholy water seeping from the rocks themselves... I'll also see what the Dwarf wants to share, perhaps asking of the most impressive quarry he's taken in this area.
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
"You children shouldn't get too excited about this. Deputy Win just asked for me and Grumblenaught's help, because the Rolsons have been threatened by bandits that like to kill people who don't give them enough gold. We just thought if there IS a 'haunted' mine North of town, the bandits may be camped there, taking advantage of people's fear by spreading stories of long-lost Darkspears."
"What are you kids doing here anyways? I heard Town-Dwellers lock their children in prisons all day long. You should just enjoy your childhood in this safe village, and eat and train so when you are adults, you will be big and strong warriors. Like me." ;-)
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
"We heard mention of them recently, wise one, and thought in your great knowledge, you may know a location associated with them, nearby here, or North towards the Rolson Farm?"
Glancing at the children, I add:
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
I'd take my horse around, but with the speed difference (esp. if I push Lightening to hustle), I'd guess we reach Cale around the same time, though it doesn't seem to matter much, here.
I'm letting Grumble take the lead with Old Cale, as he's the one who knows him, though if he introduces me, I'll gently bow (or however people greet), state my mother and father and tribe, and act respectful while Grumble gets his grumble on .
Chris & Grumble: Spoiler:
While wanting to learn more of the Dwarven mountain-man, once I catch up with him, the clack of hooves on cobblestones is loud enough to discourage light conversation while we're moving. Coming in view of the sodden looking codger, surrounded by a well-entertained gaggle of young ones, I glance over to Grumblenaught, who wordlessly heads straight for the old man. "...is this your Old Cale, then?"
Hearing the eccentric Half-Orc's words, I nod, adding:
"Yalka thinks we should bring much firewood, for start several perimeter fires when making camp. Monster Spiders probably scared of fire, and we would not be disadvantaged in dark."
"If anyone else has a horse or donkey, speak up, we can fit at least two per horse.
Can we find a wagon here? Lightening can pull one if necessary,
Pausing for a moment, hoping I didn't insult the Dwarf, I add:
"Grumblenaught, you know this farmhouse, right?
"I cannot help in this, but knowing some of the dangers we face, if any can afford it, purchasing some Anti-Venom from an Herbalist here in town may save one of our lives if we encounter the Spiders."
I step outside the tavern to where the others gather, after making sure whoever's caring for the Deputy at least knows basic "First Aid". I nod as the others make their introductions, and discuss the bandits,
"Deputy Wingate...
"Please!", I yell out to the room,
The way Yalka met Deputy Winston is as follows: Spoiler:
Yalka and Sheetha travelled a fortnight or so, enjoying the freedom from the politics of the tribe. They hunted & gathered food and herbs. They both felt they were near to a Settled Town, and decided to visit it, to see if it might be a good market for medicinal herbs, animal pelts, or even arrows they could craft and sell. But before they came to the town itself, they came across another band of Kellid travellers, 5 or so. Yalka felt they should keep to themselves and avoid the strangers, but Sheetha called out the universal traveller's greeting of the Northern tribes, and so they ended up making camp together. (Yalka suspects it was because Sheetha thought these men might work out better than the Chief.) In any case, as Yalka was away relieving herself, she heard shouts and yells break out, and she heard a blood-thirsty yell of righteous vengeance from Sheetha right before other yells drowned her out and violence ensued. Intuition told her that perhaps it was the right time to leave Sheetha to face her own battles, and she quietly snuck back to where she had tied her horse, and rode off. Later, having set up another camp, she saw a band of armed men approaching, looking like those of a Settled Town, and called out a greeting to them. They were surprised, not having noticed Yalka, but were soon friendly as they gathered in her camp. The leader of them introduced himself as Deputy Winston, Guardian of Carrion Hill, and asked who she was and what she was doing, and if she had seen any sign of a band of 5 Kellid men, that were implicated in some recent banditry. She said she was headed for town to sell pelts and medicinal herbs, and indicated exactly where the bandit's camp was, and the best way to approach it. She also asked for word of her Half-Orc companion, who she had last seen with the men in somewhat precarious circumstances. Hours later, the men returned, some injured, and Deputy Win sadly informed her that they HAD found a Half-Orc female at the camp, but she seemed to have been killed by the bandits some time earlier. He informed her that his men had buried her with proper ceremony. Yalka offered to help care for those wounded, and when the men left, Deputy Winston thanked her for her help, and told her the name of an apothecary/healer in Carrion Hill who might be interested in buying wild herbs. And he gave her the address of the Constabulary in case she ran into any trouble in Carrion Hill, although Yalka wasn't quite sure what that word meant. Yalka has arrived in town, enjoying the different smells and tastes of the food and people. Some of the Settled Towns' ways are silly or revolting, but others are quite pleasant - She bought a bar of very nice smelling soap from a street merchant. The apothecarist Deputy Winston mentioned was busy when she found him, but asked if Yalka would meet him later at the Cold Comfort Inn. After selling some pelts and arrows from next to the stand where the nice lady sold soaps, Yalka went over to the Inn, where she's expecting the apothecarist to show up.
All about Yalka
She remembered when it had not been this way, when her father was the tribe's greatest warrior, leading it's warband in campaigns from the Land of the Mammoth Lords to the Demon Wastes, battles which the Story-Chanters are still embellishing. Her mother, Lapatia, seemed to have felt the same as Yalka. Before disappearing mysteriously a month ago, she told Yalka, "Remember, you have the power of Dragons in you." She also left Yalka her precious Amber necklace, with a pendant carved in the shape of a dragon, that her father had said her mother brought with her when she first came from the Island of Hermea, before Yalka was born. Her father and mother had been a fiery duo: the Story-Chanters recount her mother's heroics and mysterious powers almost as much as her father's... Although Yalka could never quite distinguish fact from "emphasis" in the Chants, and her mother never shared much about her powers or where she came from, always saying "it's beyond the Great Sea, beyond the Northlands, the land of your tribe." Besides the language she shared with her mother, another difference about her mother was that she seemed to not suffer the passage of time, certainly not as much as her father. Indeed, other warriors sought her mother's companionship after the passage of her father, but she was never interested. Finally, deciding that she needed to roam free once again, Yalka subtlely tied off loose ends, and prepared to ride where the wind took her. She had certainly seen much of the Northlands when her father still lived and the tribe roamed the land. It would be nice to see the Great Lake, Encarthan, or the Giant Beasts of the Mammoth Lords, once again. All she knows is that the Story-Chanters chant tales of action and heroes, mysteries and epic battles, not crying babies and bickering wives. By the chances of Fate, Sheetha the Half-Orc came across her as she was readying to leave, making the sign for Farewell in a pattern of rocks where her bed had been. Not being able to deny her departure, she shared her (minimal) plans, and was surprised when Sheetha appeared inspired, and asked if she could join and come along. Mostly not knowing what else to say, she agreed, and Sheetha quickly gathered her belongings onto another horse, and the two rode off.
Cool beans,
Fax, sounds cool that you're going for the Harrower class...
BTW: I noticed this bug on the forums, if you want the "Languages" field to show up in the Profile page, you need to fill something in for the "Homepage URL"....
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