Looking great as always. :)
Dotting this so I'll remember to read it through in one go during my summer holidays :)
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Thanks all. :)
Major apologies for the delay. Something big came up that's been eating the time I usually spend compiling the group's notes and translating to journal format. Hopefully I'll be able to explain what that Something is before too long. :)
Reliable updates should be kicking in early June at least. But I think I can finish one by tonight or tomorrow, work allowing.
For the time being though, we're slowly getting art done: Liath by Anoki(SFW direct link to a NSFW tumblr)
Naella won't be far behind, with Enyana, Trav, and Chellaigh coming after. We're all going to be pitching in for a group piece, but our GM has recommended waiting a bit before going ahead with that.
It's no problem. I am however looking forward very much to your next entry. :)
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Chellaigh shook the haze out of her head as she rose from her bedroll. The Wallers got their morning light well after everyone else in Kenabres, situated as they were in the shadow of Clydwell Plaza and it great temples to the foreign goddess, and the soft, growing glow behind the curtain that was her door told her she was getting a late start. As she pushed herself to her feet, the sound of the enormous cranes to the south told her the business of the day was already well under way.
She quietly cursed herself; it was too late to set out on hunting rounds to be certain she could make it back before the evening's duties. And without that to keep her busy, she was left with the summons Jezerda sent her. And Chellaigh did not feel particularly inclined to stir up any false hopes at the moment.
She briefly considered heading to the docks or warehouse district to sign on for a day's labor before remembering how many of those bridges had been burned already. Then she heard an old man's voice outside, carried on the wind and going on at length about something. Old Angan from the sound of him. Chellaigh rubbed the rest of the sleep from her eyes and pulled her leathers back on, brushing her shock of hair back over to its proper side before stepping out.
It was indeed Angan, the "village elder" of the Wall District, seated near the longtable and regaling the neighborhood youths with tales of their people and old homeland that fewer and fewer Kellid children seemed to care to learn. Chellaigh remembered the elders of her home village. Vibrant, vital, and defiant old Sarkori souls who made you believe that the old ways were still alive. Looking at Angan, shrunken and stooped, his withered face framed by thin scraps of hair, only reminded her of just how beaten down they were.
She slowly walked past the gathered crowd, taking in what she could overhear partly out of mild curiosity, partly seeking a distraction from the matter of how the day needed to be spent.
"...and so the promise was made. Siobahn of the White Waters swore to the Court of Trees that a child of Sarkoris would return to take up the Crown of Equinox and restore their wounded home. She swore that her children and all of her kin's children would see the earth renewed and the old oaths to the true spirits of the land honored. And that time may soon be upon us, young ones. The dawn is about to brea-"
Chellaigh scoffed and turned away in disgust, continuing on her way and ignoring the few youths that sullenly looked her way. The old man should know better than to feed them those damned tall tales, she thought. She glanced at the oldest scars tracing down her arms and shoulders, harsh lessons learned a lifetime ago. All they do is get the young hopeful and killed while hunting lies. Better to focus on reality, on survival, than putting stock in fairy tales. What naive fool truly believes in the damned Equinox Crown these days?
Chellaigh shook her head in silent frustration and headed for the docks after all.
++++++++++++++++
Siern Nolls was trying not to fume. He had quite a bit of practice at it. "Master Travern, I must insist that you not offer the West Opparan Fields stock tomorrow night. It's far older than you and more valuable to boot."
Travern couldn't help but smile that infuriating smile at the long-suffering butler. He had long given up on trying to get the old Chelaxian to drop the unnecessary titles and honorifics but the man's biting candor was more appreciated than the aasimar let on. "Come now, good Siern," he started, waving at the rather vast collection of his father's wine cellar. "We have important guests coming and we don't want them to think we're cheap. We can afford to be generous every once and a while."
Siern raised a finger, indicating that the lecture was about to begin. "Not appearing 'cheap' is precisely why you should not raid your father's finest stock." He turned away, finger still raised, lecture still in progress. "You will be hosting commanders of Kenabres military. High clergy. Generals. And representatives from Nerosyan itself. You want to earn their respect, not put yourself forth like the powder-faced Taldan lords your father left behind, attempting to bribe your way into their favor. Restraint is a virtue you would do well to keep in mind tomorrow. That and dignity."
"Then I suppose I shouldn't have opened the one then."
"What?!" Siern spun, his jowls quivering with anger as he saw Travern pouring some of that most precious wine into the goblet in his other hand. "M-Master Travern!"
Travern shrugged helplessly as he slowly continued to pour the drink. "I was simply going to test it before you talked me out of serving it."
"That bottle alone was worth nearly a hundred-"
"I can easily reimburse him," Travern helpfully suggested.
"That is beside the point!"
Travern raised a finger as if to give lecture himself. "Well what's done is done, and there's no sense wasting good wine once the cork's out." He quickly lowered the finger upon taking in Siern's scowl. "Because, you now...wastefulness...sin and all that." he quickly added before taking a sip and offering the butler the bottle.
Siern snatched the bottle away and pressed the cork back into place. "I'll be taking this to your father then, considering it is his investment."
"Best he face disappointment sooner than later then." Travern smacked a bit sourly. "It really wasn't worth a hundred gold a bottle. Do we have any of that Andoren liquor left? Anything to cleanse the palate."
Siern narrowed his eyes as he tucked the bottle in his arm. "Master Travern, do you know what time of day it is?"
"Mid-morning, assuming something truly bizarre hasn't taken place."
"Have you ever heard the term 'functioning addict'?"
Travern tilted his head in thought. "With alarming frequency, actually..."
Siern threw his hands up in frustration once more before fumbling and catching the unsealed bottle. "I truly do not understand this determination of yours to tarnish your reputation! And with such an opportunity as the one presented tomorrow, how you cannot count yourself blessed is beyond me! Is there nothing you take seriou-"
"Siern." Travern tried to gently reassure the man who had almost as much of a hand in raising him as his parents. "I'm not going to waste this opportunity. I'm taking it seriously, I promise you that."
The older man gave him a quizzical look, at first uncertain whether to take his words at face value or not. Then he picked out just how forced Travern's smile seemed in the cellar's candlelight. "You're nervous."
"Perhaps a bit." Travern weakly tried to evade the matter, still looking for that liqour.
"About tomorrow night, then?"
"Part of it, perhaps," Travern admitted, slowly giving up on his search.
Siern at least offered to soften his gravely voice a touch before saying, "The yearly visit, then."
Travern lips curled a touch, not quite a smile. "Yeah, I believe so. Both, I guess."
Siern's perpetual frown shifted into another frown, one caused more by concern than irritation. "You know your mother would be proud of you. And you know your father is."
Travern could only nod silently. He knew Siern was probably right about both of them, but it was infuriating how certain he was that the latter was for the wrong reasons. "I know. I...just have a lot on my mind at the moment." He made a show of shaking it off. "Anyway, I do need to get ready. We'll be meeting at the Hall at noon."
"You're not going together?" Siern asked in a tone that might as well have stated.
"Easier this way. But that's later today." Travern clapped his hands, declaring the matter done and immediately shifting to the next topic at hand. "Right now I need to make arrangements for tomorrow's main course and I've precious little daylight to manage that matter."
"And I suppose that task falls upon me then, Master Travern." Siern offered him the exit from the conversation the young man seemed to seek.
"Now I can't go shirking responsibility so quickly like that." Travern tapped his forehead. "But I guess when you're managine affairs such as this it is expected to delegate certain tasks. Very officer thing to do, delegating."
"You've no idea what needs to be ordered then."
"Oh Goddess, no. I'm recognizing a gap in my talents and am asking you to make sure we don't give the guests food poisoning or come across as cheap. In either meaning of that word, as dicussed earlier."
Siern sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine, go then. I'll see to it and we can go over the rest when you return."
Travern rather thought his gratitude might have shown a bit too plainly. "As ever, you are a godsend, Siern." he said with a bow before heading back towards the steps leading back up into the manor.
Siern noted that he made no attempt to take any of the plainly visible bottles of Andoren liqour on his way out.
I really like how the characters are progressing, but you can imagine that I am awaiting a certain event. ;) By this time I can be quite sure that mentioning it won't spoil anything for you anymore. :p
Sooo, what's up with the journal? You still working on the Belkzen book, Mikaze or has something else come in-between?
Yeah, well... is the campaign dead? Are you sorely overtaxed by RL concerns? What happened, Mikaze?
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Yeah, well... is the campaign dead? Are you sorely overtaxed by RL concerns? What happened, Mikaze?
It was just the RL concerns. :) I'm sorry for the long delay. It's...been quite a month.
The campaign is very much alive and is far enough ahead that we have a lot more context to work with to polish the journal entries, which I promise will pick back up as soon as Gen Con is done.
It's been one hell of a ride.
Alright. :) I'm happy this is still going on and I hope to see the next entries soon. :D
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Glad you're back and well, Mikaze. Looking forward to more entries! There's not enough time for all the APs in one lifetime; some I have to experience vicariously through great people like yourself.
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You guys... ;_; :)
Thanks all. A lot. :) If it helps the wait until next week any, we did get the next portrait from Anoki: Enyana Wek, wizard-in-training/shameless fujoshi ;) Trav's next in line.
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I've been so sad every time I scroll past the Campaign Journals and haven't seen an update :(
*is excite*
<calls out loudly in sadness at no update for now more than two months>
<a forlorn echo answers him>
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<calls out loudly in sadness at no update for now more than two months>
<a forlorn echo answers him>
Sorry, these past few weeks have been exceedingly stupid between work and a burned out AC(fun), restricting most of my access to the forums via phone. (and...other projects...) I hate to promise just in case I can't fit it in, but I'm going to try like hell to get updates going in the next two days. Again, really sorry for the delays.
Travern's portrait will probably be in later today though, so there's that. :)
Thanks, I was just getting a bit worried what was happening. :) I'll look forward to the update, whenever it can appear.
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Pushing through the grind right now. If not by morning my time, Saturday evening.
But for now: Travern Kalleros by Anoki!
dude's stylin'
Chellaigh's the only one left now. :)
Oh, geez, Mikaze! You need to put your name in the title of all your campaign journals!
Dotting, and wasting more of my days on Paizo...
Looks nice. :) Looking forward to the next entry, very much so. :D
OK. Finished Page 1. And full of both pride and regret. This is how I *should* have run the WotR intro.
And what a group!
You've inspired me to try to get my group back into their RotR form.
Beautiful so far!
Your GM is a friggin' genius.
I am probably coming off as super passive-aggressive, but what's up, doc?
It's been a while since I've been able to visit the forums, but I was listening to a largely useless conference call and decided to go catch up on Mikaze's journal when I noticed it hadn't been updated in a while. But I figured I post just to belay any concerns.
I talked a bit with him yesterday, and we were gaming together last week. My guess is just that he is probably taking a little break from the forums due to the typical stuff that goes on around the holiday season. I'm sure he will be back soon!
That's good to know, I had feared that he had some sort of burnout or problems in RL. Send seasonal greetings if you happen to read this thread in time. :)
Campaign still on?
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"Mikaze still on?" is the better question, given that he hasn't posted since April. :( I almost have the horrible thought that he got perma-banned for some inane reason (like posting passionately about the stupid Hugo awards controversy), the way nobody has seen or heard from him for months. I really hope that isn't the case and that he is well. He is my favorite person on this messageboard.
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Okay, this is getting freaky. What the hell happened to Mikaze? I hope somebody has an idea (looking at the people who play with him) and can give us an update if he is still around and just really occupied. Or whatever else is going on.
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Agreed. Anyone hear anything from Mikaze lately?
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I've been wondering about that too ...
Just checking back in here -- Mikaze's last post is still April 8, 2016 and I notice that the last 5 posts all got Faves, usually multiple. Mikaze, we're missing you . . . .