Here is the thread for both groups.
The messengers entered the plain apartment. It could have been a room anywhere on the continent. Except for the black cloaked figure that appeared more insubstantial than substantial. What is going on? came out from the general direction of the head in a hoarse, ominous whisper.
The first messenger reports, "The elves had more humility than anyone could imagine, and through stoic endurance, they have avoided conflict with their nearest neighbors. They have secured essential supplies for their continued survival. Already the humans seem taken with their ambassador."
The second messenger reports, "It goes well for the dwarves too. After a treacherous ambush and being outnumbered three to one, the dwarves somehow managed to fight the humans to a draw and earn their respect. They too have renewed their source of supplies."
The whispering voice continues, "Not again, not again."
Go the Dwarves! We rock!!
Haha 'More humility'? Sounds like you prissy elves bent over backwards. The Dwarves made the humans respect them!
"Sounds ta me like ye don't 'ave any fire in yer bellies. What's gonna 'appen when ye can't talk yer way outta a spot o' trouble, eh?"
Another quiet gathering an a nondescript apartment. Two messengers once again arrive and report.
A whispered voice croaks, "Report."
The first messenger reports, "The dwarves have entered the icy wastelands and the icy monolith. They have not been thwarted because every trace of undead power is gone from there. The skeleton lord must have lost."
The whispered voice speaks, "Skeletons, ghouls, poison gas, and diabolical traps were not enough. That is disturbing."
The second messenger reports, "The elves were thwarted by the Rovagug cult. But now the Rovagug cult has triumphed over nature and are sapping the power of the dryad for evil purposes. Unfortunately the elves escaped with their lives."
"The bad news is a human kingdom revolted and is planning on allying with the elves. They are thick as thieves with the elves. This new human nation is weak, but they are rebuilding."
The voice whispers again, "A third player emerges, these Rovagug cultists are dangerous. Dispatch someone to watch them. They may be more dangerous than the elves and dwarves combined."
It seems that the elves weren't able to talk they way through the Rovagug cult and had to go running to the humans for help. Let the humans do the fighting while they keep their hands clean.
Two more messengers discuss their news before meeting the cloaked figure that fills them with dread.
The first one says, "I hope he likes your news better than mine."
The second messenger says, "The dwarves are easy to follow, they leave a trail of bodies and angry humans everywhere. Unfortunately the must have found the old Grandmaster's sanctuary and looted it. They are trading with the humans and I think they have the hated artifact. The good news is they are on their third leader, and it is another ranger."
The second messenger responds, "The Coastal kingdom is firmly allied to the elves. They gave the elves the other cursed artifact as a gift--who would have thought that? The elves have disappeared in the heart of the large human city without a fuss. All we know is they have added a cursed paladin to the team. They are probably charming everyone they meet again."
They both do not speak about the missing third messenger. No news on the Rovagug cult may not be a good sign.
Somewhere in a padded cell deep beneath the mountains.
"THEY CALLED ME A HOBBIT!"
A dwarf in a straight-jacket foams at the mouth and and starts singing a rather impolite song about human genitals to the tune of an accursed song from the deepest bowels of the abyss.
R.I.P. Brask Alpsbane.
"...The elves have disappeared in the heart of the large human city..."
"Wait. Elves? Those guys with big pointy ears and a foot and a half on me? What kind of idiot can't track 'em in a human city?"
They both do not speak about the missing third messenger. No news on the Rovagug cult may not be a good sign.
The short red-head whistles innocently as she pushes a man with a half-dozen arrows sticking out of his back under the table.
"Er... Ahem. Must have taken a wrong turn there... A lot of short hairy men in here." ;)
"OI! I'm neither a man nor hairy! Thank you!"
The elves must all be blind because while she is short, Joan is obviously not stout enough to be a dwarf maiden.
"My apologies for the offense, it was not intended Milady." Wil bows his head, ignoring the snipes and jibs of these strange folk. "Soon we will earn the respect of our fellows and come to some type of cooperation with one another."
A sorceror projects the images of two powers in the world and known threats to the elves and dwarves to an audience of dark creatures in shadow. The two images are quite realistic. A huge queen rat is being burned, shot, and hacked by elves until she spills gouts of blood into a slimy channel of water. Then an alien ant with a huge misshapen head almost too big for its torso is completely stunned and helpless to an onslaught of dwarves, gnomes, humans, and what looks to be a hobbit mounted on a small pony.
"It looks like they grow stronger at the expense of creatures that would threaten our enemies."
The small figure at the table uttering the words quickly stops as he realizes he has gone to far.
The single cloaked figure in the corner says two words, "Leave me." The room quickly clears and the images fade.
In a dark underground shrine. The priest of Rovagug has a disturbing vision. The Destroyer has intervened, and he has drawn the wrath of two immortal foes dedicated to preserving the balance. He addresses the dark cloaked messenger, "The oracle has spoken. The dwarven diety Magrim has intervened followed by the elven diety Labelas Enoreth. They are no match for Rovagug, but their cleverness cannot be underestimated."
The messenger replies, "I will report this, keep the sacrifices going until you get another vision. This one will not suffice."
The servant returns to the underground shrine. "The extra sacrifices were not in vain. The elves have a secret sanctuary and shrine to Labelas entrusted to a Paladin, the dwarves have a secret sanctuary in an icy monolith entrusted to a battle cleric."
Meanwhile in the dark shrouded room, an ominous cloaked figure gathers his minions. "The Rovagug cult tried to spawn an infestation of insects, but the queen was killed and the hive is scattered. They may try this again."
The Coalition of Light maintains a magic messageboard. The current message has a interesting item on page 3:
'The Coalition has met both an elf and a dwarf groups that are moving freely through the world under arms. Rock Stonecrusher and Lady Ciedrel seem to be trying to make their nations more active forces. Currently our membership remains free of any of Lady Ciedrel's or Rock Stonecrusher's dwarves, as the Oath is too onerous for them. The older races are probably less likely to put ideals above racial and national affiliations then humans.
The Society of Secrets also sends out regular message traffic in the form of a newsletter. The latest newsletter has this on page 5:
'Representatives of Lady Ciedrel of the elven nation and Rock Stonecrusher of the dwarven nation have both been offered membership in the Society of Secrets. We want it known that Hon aka Mighy Low Blow is an associate member of the Society with all the rights and privileges thereof. Despite a rough introduction, the dwarves have paid their obligations in full. The elves have also paid their obligations in full.'
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You know it is a bit ironic that my membership in the Society of Secrets, an organisation whose very credo is enshrined in its name, is trumpeted far and wide. Just saying. :-)
I shall now raid the Emperors wardrobe for his magic invisible clothes.
I guess associate members don't get the full secrecy package :-)
The best elven and dwarven spies found this secret paper at great risk.
In another darkened meeting room, members report to the Dark One.
The first spy reports: "Both the elves and dwarves have established they have something in common. They are adept at solving riddles."
The second spy reports: "I have found something else both the elves and dwarves have established they have in common. They have proven they do not feel beholden to the Wheatfield Accords."
The master responds: "The first is disturbing. The latter may work against us, as it proves they are dangerous. But spread the word, as this must get out. Do not underestimate them."
"What? No mention of the human? What kinda third-rate intelligence op are these guys runnin'?"
"What are those elves and dwarves doing?_
The lackey answers, "The elves are assaulting a major staging area for evil cultists, I think. The dwarves are in giant held lands."
"What are those elves and dwarves doing?"
The lackey answers, "The elves are assaulting a major staging area for evil cultists, I think. The dwarves are in lands formerly held by giants."
Fixed that for ya.
Fixed that for ya."What are those elves and dwarves doing?"
The lackey answers, "The elves are assaulting a major staging area for evil cultists, I think. The dwarves are in lands formerly held by giants rabbits word is they are off drinking and painting eggs. Very undwarf like...[/i]."
Now its fixed. ;)
No, that'd be the gnomes.
As the cowled figure enters the room, his subordinates in black bow. He rasps in a wheezy voice, "What are they doing?"
The first agent displays a map. "The elves struck the cultists here. They devastated the logistics base and burned it to the ground. The cultists are on the defensive. All their supplies were lost. With that ship of theirs, they could be anywhere by now. It cannot be tracked very easily."
The agent resumes, "The wood elves have moved their armies into the field. They defeated the main cultist army and their leader killed three cultist leaders in series of duels using an enchanted glaive."
The other agent reports: "We lost the dwarves after they engaged the frost giants and fought a brutal battle. All we know is many dwarves died but they took out the jarl. His mate is in exile and the gnolls have taken control of their land. The gnolls have had the line of succession disrupted, and they fight a bloody civil war for control of the throne of power. A gnoll has joined the dwarf team."
The leader makes some comments: "I have heard the dwarven artifact was destroyed in their battle. The elves still have their bow with their embodied warrior in it. That will need to be watched."
He holds his left hand up and then his right.
"The elves have hurt us on the diplomatic front. The dwarves seem to have a penchant for stocking up on great items and wealth. I guess that was to be expected."
Now its fixed. ;)Fixed that for ya."What are those elves and dwarves doing?"
The lackey answers, "The elves are assaulting a major staging area for evil cultists, I think. The dwarves are in lands formerly held by giants rabbits word is they are off drinking and painting eggs. Very undwarf like...[/i]."
Ahem. I believe a certain elf owes a certain ranger an apology.
:D
Aw yes, forgot there was a Human on the dwarf team. >.>;
Apologies, forgot to include The dwarves and the female human ranger. :)
But you all teamed up with a gnoll?! D: Remember to wash the dog twice a day or they start to shed everywhere....
lol
There has been little contact between dwarves and elves, as the dwindling of their numbers and the growth of human numbers has separated them. There has been little opportunity for their interests to coincide or conflict. That is until........
The battle was known as the Battle of Ironwood Forest. A force of well-equipped dwarves led an armed expedition into the Ironwood Forest. Their objectives were never disclosed, but their supplies included siege equipment and extensive mining equipment.
The first day the expedition began to rapidly log trees in the Ironwood Forest to build a bridge across the Brown river. Two ents were roused and driven deeper into the forest and a dryad killed after many trees were removed.
Day two the counterattack of woodland creatures, three druids, and five ents was brutally repulsed by the dwarven forces.
Day three, however, the dwarves suffered a brutal setback as a band of wood elves, dryads, and druids flanked the dwarves as a force of ents easily forded the river and pinned the holding force. A massive golem killed the majority of ents and dryads attacking, but the wood elf mercenary band with a few dryad and druid auxiliaries fell upon the dwarven right flank and threatened to fall upon the supply wagons.
During the waning daylight hours, a dwarven holding force fought toe to toe and was quickly surrounded on three sides. Nevertheless, Chief Alspane and Thumper, the dwarven leaders, exacted a tremendous toll on the defenders.
The climactic battle between Chief Alspane and the Wood Elf warchief with his curved sword ended with the wood elf leader dying and Chief Alspane mortally wounded. Chief Alspane managed to slay four more elven spearmen before falling.
The wood elves have followed the dwarves back to their hold in human lands and laid siege. It appears the local human forces are content to let events play out, and have not moved a single soldier to help or hinder either side.