"I would be more than happy to lead you to a small hamlet. I happens to be north, so it will work out well for you."
___
After a short rest, you continue on for another few hours. You arrive in a small town, and take shelter in the inn. The halflings that run the inn are generous, kind, and by chance, are distant cousins of Til's. Because of this they give you a small room for free for the night. Ria and her crew sleep in a separate room.
___
The next day, following your rest at the inn, you part ways with Ria and her crew. They have decided to make their way to Flamekeep in order to speak with an enclave member on her present situation. Leonardo agrees to lead you to the northern border. It takes many days to get there, but no one stops your ragtag band. It appears as though there are whispers of some large amount of action on all sides of the border though.
Once the cross the border, Vorik asks Darius to scout out ten minutes ahead of them, then to hide and wait till the group catches up, fill them in on what he finds, and repeat. Meanwhile, he leads the group, keeping his sword and shield out and up at all times.
I have some bad news guys.
I really can't keep up with this Play by Post any longer. I don't have the time to write out an original adventure or generate the PCs, and therefore, am retiring this game. Very, very sorry.
I want to thank you all SO much for sticking with me and making it to 700 posts, which is really cool and halfway decent! Thank you so much, and I've had a blast playing with and driving you all insane!
Have a good one, and I hope we get to play in the future!
So wait a sec, your killing off this game in favor of you Osirion one, whose recruitment began three months after this game started?? That's kinda rly messed up. Except replace "messed" with a stronger word that begins with a f and with ed and has uck in the middle.
I get that your running modules there, so its pre-created, but its not like in this game your running in a homebrew and need to randomly make stuff up. Nor is Eberron a world deviod of adventure ideas n NPCs, though not everything is done for you.
If its the players not posting fast enough, I've been following along, checking in several times a day usually, though at times I was waiting for others. And while we lost one or two PCs, I told ya I have a RL friend who wants to play in this.
In closing to say I'm disappointed is a understatement. I had high hope for this game, and worked hard on Vorik, making a PC who really meshed with the backstory of where we've playing.
You said you hope we game again together, but I'm not sure if id ever want you as my GM again.
Okay guys, yesterday I made a rash decision, and after Monkey's rather, erm, "powerful" statement, I want to make ammends and keep going. We'll need new blood and a faster posting rate.
Monkey and team, let's talk this through in the Discussion Thread.
Okay team, we're working on getting some fresh blood in this campaign and plugging along! Please all check in at the Discussion Thread so that I know you're still here and you want to continue playing. I'm sorry for the chaos.
Bones, Darius, Dakvor, Vorik, and whoever else is with make their way to Flamekeep the next morning. Leonardo is more than happy to guide you there.
Along the road you hear gossip of action on both the Thranian and Karrnathi borders, and there are rumors of small skirmishes!
How would you like to proceed?
Vorik makes his way to a group of travelers "Greetings, my name is Sir Vorik, and I am a Paladin of Dol Arrah. I hail from Karnathi, so I am worried about my homeland. Any information you can tell me would be most appreciative."
As the group continues their journey, Darius's scouting ahead reveals some stirring of troubles on the borders of Thrane and Karrnath.
Dakvor muses silently and can't help but draw a parallel on the group's situation. Seems the mood on those borders reflect our group's temperament, I do hope we don't truly come to blows!
Then as he looks at The Shadow, he can't help but smile. Nah! The elf here can handle the welcome respite from too much seriousness!
The half-orc's musing is interrupted as Vorik approaches a group of travelers. He steps nearer so he could hear more of the conversation.
alongheads for Flamekeep as well albeit not together
The group of travelers happens to be a group of pilgrims making their way to Flamekeep - a journey that is required for all members of the Silver Flame faith to take at one point or another.
Vorik, though charismatic, fails to break the group's nation-based prejudice. One male member of the group remarks, "Nothing you would worry about skeleton kisser."
The group of travelers happens to be a group of pilgrims making their way to Flamekeep - a journey that is required for all members of the Silver Flame faith to take at one point or another.
Vorik, though charismatic, fails to break the group's nation-based prejudice. One male member of the group remarks, "Nothing you would worry about skeleton kisser."
Everyone who is from the original group, please make a perception check!
As Dakvor listens to Vorik fail to engage in a friendly conversation with the passing pilgrims, the young half-orc monk looks closely at the haughty man who boldly insults the paladin and then at the rest of its companions.
He understands the bitterness but could not accept the man's rude manner.
Dakvor notices a shadow in his peripheral vision - something is amiss! Roll for initiative!
Suddenly, several (7) elves garbed in pure black drop from the trees surrounding the road. They take aim at several of your companions as well as you - shooting arrows!
vs. Dakvor (MISS)
vs. Bones (MISS)
vs. Vorik (MISS)
vs. Leo (MISS)
vs. Kaius (MISS)
vs. Darius (MISS)
vs. Nic (HIT)
Vorik will cast Detect Evil before deciding whom to attack.
Vorik will cast Detect Evil before deciding whom to attack.
Vorik does not sense the presence of evil.
Rain pours down as the cathedral city of Flame Keep comes into view. Your boots soaked, cloaks drenched, and spirits dampened by the events of the past few days, you trudge forward, tears indistinct against your rain-wet faces. The attack came quickly - too quickly. The black-garbed elves appeared out of nowhere, killing the other party of travelers and cutting a bloody swathe through your comrades. Kaius survived the assault, darting in and out of the chaos, making dagger cuts and dealing as much damage as he was taking. Some members of your party were not as fortunate . You escaped, and now carrying the paladin that brought you out of the Mournlands, you make your way to the closest city, Flame Keep, a hot-bed of political corruption, international intrigue, and the command center of a recently mobilized grand army that follows a divine mandate. You see a group of humanoids at the gate. What do you do?
The group of you have formed an adventuring party in the past, and due to recent political upheaval and military activity on the Thranian-Karrnathi border, you have come to find yourself in Thrane. You are now gathered outside the gates of Flame Keep, seeking permission to enter the city which is on lock-down. You're wet and upset. A short distance behind you another party of adventurers approach. Ahead of you is a city guard that won't allow your entrance to the city - without proper identification. What do you do?
[ooc]Everyone PLEASE make sure you're profiles are all up-to-date and your back stories are entered into them. If you want to work together to write them to make a more "solid" group - go ahead, please do so in the Discussion Thread (link up top!). Game on!
Bastion points out the other group of people.
"Unidentified humanoids on our Six. Be prepared."
Upon coming near the gates, Vorik removes his helmet and makes sure his shield which bears his holy symbol is clearly visible. He then shouts "Guards of Flame Keep, I, Sir Vorik Kessler, Paladin of Dol Arrah, bear a son of Thrane and Paladin of the Silver Flame who has been mortally wounded by an ambush most cowardly. Please admit us entry so he may be given immediate medical care, lest this mighty champion be taken from you in his prime"
Gritting his teeth against the ongoing rainfall, Distan pushes a wet lock of hair back from his forehead and continues his ongoing campaign to impress the gate guard with the validity of his (admittedly sodden) identification and traveling papers.
"Look," he says, peeling one damp page back from another, "I realize the portrait's a little old, I had some really bad ideas about hair dye a few years back, but it's still me. See? Sivis stamp of approval and everything. I know you can't be loving the rain more than we are, so if you just let us through you can get back in your guardhouse where it's drier." Muttering under his breath, he adds, "And I can get outa the rain and light a damn cigarette."
Noting Bastion's warning, he turns his head to check out the new group approaching. "Ruttin' Seven..." he swears, seeing the near corpse they carry. "Guess some folks are having a worse night than us, anyhow..."
Distan and his group members are allowed into the city - escorted by a guard. Vorik's group is pulled into the gatehouse by the other guard - which then calls for a healer!
Everyone else?
Watching the other group take the Paladin into the guardhouse:"I see. Their comrade is damaged. I had not noticed previously."
"Excellent. The rain was beginning to bother me. Shall we find lodging then?"
Ancian shivers from the cold rain, and responds to Bastion, "Lodging would be a good idea, this rain is becoming a nuisance. However, I pray we stay only until it clears... I don't particularly like this place."
Next to Ancian a figure coverd in a fairly ratty looking old cloak pipes up "Could be worse at one point people like me would probably have been hung for being here" The speakers voice is fairly young sounding and in sharp contrast to what she is saying actially sound quite cheerfull about being there,
Looking to Distan, the guard states, "You do not hail from Thrane do you? None of you are."
The rain still soaks your boots, and you desire to dry off.
___
In the guard-house the other guard calls for help, as Vorik lays the injured paladin on a strong oak table. The room is dimly let with candles, but the light reflects around the room through a series of small silver mirrors. Kaius stays close to Vorik.
The rest of you?
Distan stands to the side as the injured man and his party are ushered past, a look of slight concern on his face blossoming and then quickly being snuffed as the gate guard resumes his interrogation.
"Can't speak for the rest, but no; I'm Brelandish. Sharn, to be precise. Here on business. But y'know..." he continues, adopting as familiar and friendly a tone of voice as possible, "I've always kind of thought that, if you're from Sharn, it's almost like being from all five nations at once, really. So in some ways, this is like coming home." He pauses and bites his lip, craning his neck a bit to peek into the guardhouse. "Um. Say... do you guys need a hand with that? I got some healing magic in my pack, if waiting for a healer is going to take too long..."
Vorik walks over to the wounded Paladin, and lays his hands on him. He concentrates for a moment and then his hands are surrounded by a shifting aura of a rainbow of colors. Those of you who have ever seen a Paladin Lay on Hands before, know this in stark contrast to the gold or silver that usually appears aroun their hands when healing in this fashion.
"Sharn as well," the warforged says. "I might be of assistance as well. If you could give me but a minute, I can infuse bandages with some curative magicks."
Ancian glances quickly at the guard, answers with a simple "No" and just as quickly turns his attention to Tika. He whispers, "Yes, at one point you would have been hanged, but times are better now. At one point, I fought for Aundar against many of these very men, I'm sure. Thrane has taken much from us, and although I hold no grudges, it is not easy to be here."
Leonardo , sputters as his body convulses from the healing touch. His eyes widen as if in fear, and then he passes out, very much alive, wounds closed, but too exhausted to stay awake.
The Guards eye Vorik up with mistrust seeing his Lay on Hands. Kaius clings to Vorik's side, hands ready to grab his daggers.
___
Outside, the guard turns suddenly to the group, and states bluntly that because of their foreigner status that they will have to come with him to the Guard House. He doesn't state why - which worries you. There seems to be a tension you can't quite place, as if the guards are unsure of their duty in this situation.
Tika looks quizzically at the others but follows the man to the guardhouse.
"Very well."
Distan's breezy string of patter comes to an abrupt end as the guards order everyone into the guardhouse. A flicker of worry crosses his features for a moment before he resumes smiling; a youth spent on the streets of Sharn has left him perpetually wary of putting oneself into the hands of authority figures. Nevertheless...
"Of course," he says, nodding to the guard. "Anything to get out of the rain, eh?"
As they are escorted to the guardhouse, he drops back in formation a bit so as to be surrounded by his allies and begins offering suggestions, pitched low so only those near him can hear. "This is probably routine, but just in case, watch your backs; literally. Be wary of them surrounding us..." and continues in this fashion as they march along.
The guards usher the new group inside of the guardhouse. Once inside the guard house, he shuts the door and bars it. The other guard is inspecting the unconscious paladin, and keeping a wary eye on the man in dark-plate (Vorik) and a slender, yet well-muscled man dressed in plain, almost ragged clothing.
"Problem, sir? That wasn't a particularly welcoming signal. Some might take offense to such a signal, were they to know what it means."
Upon seeing the hand signal, Vorik readies his shield and sword. He then examines the newcomers and the guard with the ability all Paladins posses "None of you radiate foulness, ready yourselves as we might need to fight passed the reinforcements just called for"
"I hardly know what you mean, warforged."
You hear footsteps above you.
"That was, obviously to anyone with a military background, a signal for reinforcements. Are you expecting trouble from us?"