Round 10
Whipping his axes around in a gravity defying feat as he leaps up and slams his axe onto the foe attempting to regain its footing. He then follows it up with a literal upper cut with it as he slashes upwards. Sparks flies as the blade scraps the ground powered by dwarven fury.
Round 11
His repeated efforts pays off as his axe blades finds a chink in its fine armor and demolishes the bone beneath in a spray of white powder!!! The cascade from the impact sends it flying even as his follow through misses. It takes but a moment to reset his stance.
Round 12
Adding on to that momentum, he steps up and seeks out another target! His body feels warm as some strange power flows through it. Whatever the halfling had done, it had its effect though Koldur wasn't sure how to feel about it but in battle this was a distraction he didn't need. Putting it away for questions later, he lashes out in measured strikes building up the movement to unleash another devastating combo.....
As the three of you continue to pummel at the last skeleton eventually it falls with little damage put out on its end. Though with Saronis' magical weapon continuing to cut through its stronger damage resistance his blows are more effective.
Looking around you can see the five suits of at least half plate armor, if not full plate. There are also the metal shields with grasping eagles upon them. Eight short swords and a faintly glowing longsword that the wight held.
Looking around the room you can see the walls and any depiction has been crushed and defiled. Besides the gear of the guards and the wight there appears to be little other treasure.
[ooc]Thankd for boting me. Should be back to normal posting by Wednesday.[/b]
Johanna stands panting over the remains.
"That was difficult. Now we have made this safe. When we claim this into our territory perhaps some priest can come and sanctify the area. Let's collect everything. Even the bodies. Though we don't know who they were we can give them a proper burial and hopefully put them to rest."
"I agree with your idea. In their undeath, they're proven fighters. They must have being skilled warriors when they were alive."
He checks his own wounds.
"We might also wish to check on our wounds as well."
"An elaborate burial. I'm glad you were able to put them to rest. Olivira I'm am a man clearly not cut out for this adventuring life though I would still like to help the colony. I will return with you and help build the legal and intellectual infrastructure for so long as my debt last, and I will continue on after that I whatever new capacity I can."
Hundor pulls out some bandages and wraps his hands before pulling his greatsword.
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"It appears that we have a need of your home, may we use it Olivira, to store the bodies?" He adds to give credit to what the others are speaking.
"Johanna some healing would be appreciated, would you please be inclined to remedy the problem?" He asks.
"You know, for ones to have such interred with them in death they must have had much more in life. Perhaps there is more to be found. What is down that path?" He states as he begins to pick up one of the guards, then points at the hallway he had not gone down yet.
She nods, "Yes you may use my home. Collect the remains of the warriors and take it through the portal." She states as she begins collecting one set with its armor on her own.
Quickly enough the bodies are put into the portal and into Olivira's home. You exit and are ready to explore or leave.
"No idea but since we gotten this far, then we should explore further." Koldur checks himself as he replies.
"Thank you for your use of your home Olivra." as he watches her collect the spoils of battle.
She smiles at the dwarf, then says to the point, "Of course! You are always welcome." With that she does a small bow of respect.
He aids Sable in his meticulous search,
Saronis finds a level next to the final resting place of the boss. It opens up to reveal a glowing scroll case and an amulet of gold with a massive sparkling ruby in its center.
Casting a quick spell, he says, "I have got detect magic, though not much practice with spellcraft. Olivira has been helping me with it but it seems she teaches over my head most of the time. It seems that the scrollcase has preservative magic on it. No clue as to what the amulet is magically but it has abjuration upon it so likely protection."
"Our numbers have being depleted and yes I do feel that we need more help in this. It's good that our little settlement has begun attracting more adventurers. May some can be enticed to join us. Or maybe some of our acquaintances might help."
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"I agree with you old friend. We should send out a request of help. To our homes, the Aldori Academy, and any other places we can think of." He says in agreement. He then grabs the scroll case and opens it. Within he unflurls a map, a treasure map! He excitedly says, "Look at this!" He also picks up the amulet and stores it away safely with the scroll case and the treasure map once they are done ogling it.
"I'm sorry. I have no ability to detect magic. I will be carrying the sword the wraith was using as it is a magical blade. It will come of use if we encounter more of these undead."
"I have no objections to you taking the blade as you all well know, I favor the axe." Koldur is ready to go.
"We now have a decision to make. Should we head back to see if we can recruit others to our merry band or we continues as we are now. Halseen needs to head back and I trust him enough to manage the town given his upbringing."
"I don't recall us going down that way." Koldur shrugs.
"I wonder if all of these has some significance or something though."
"Not that I recall. Here Koldur." She uses the want of CLW
47 Charges Remain.
"Let's check it out then while we are here. We can't call this place safe if we haven't explored all of it."
The Cresent tiles are shorter than the other tiles. The only tile to easily step upon is the sun.
You find the treasure room still covered in black stuff. You decide to come back another time. It takes no time at all to leave the tomb. Soon enough you are on the trail back to your capital.
There you send out messages looking for capable explorers, adventurers, and eventual possible leadership.
Koldur accepts the offer from Johanna gratefully. He however is displeased to see their further exploration stymied by the unknown substance.
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Back at their council, a rested Koldur leans heavily against his chair.
"I have no objections as it's obvious that we have need of new blood. It might be interesting to see what latest news has gone through since we last visited."
The Dwarven trading post that had once been Oleg's bustled with activity as people purchased their goods and chatted with each other in line. Just outside the gate, the sound similar to a tree limb cracking from it's weigh and collapsing to the ground echoed loudly as a line of light began to break into reality itself, pure light pouring from the trail it made as it began to form a circle: in fact, it was a flawly, perfect circle.
Those brave enough to look through the active portal saw a city of gleaming, perfectly constructed and aligned buildings, and then the man moved through and the portal snapped shut behind him with none of the pomp and circumstance of it's beginning.
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The Humanoid man with close-cropped red hair and glowing white eyes was wearing some sort of armor that was part breastplate and part robe.
He stood just over 6' tall, but was mostly lanky as opposed to bulky. While his eyes lacked irises, his gaze seemed to take in the scene at once.
/
"To Olegs then. Perhaps more able body adventurers have shown up. Ones willing to make the lands safe with us."
Toki approaches the incongruous dwarven stronghold set on a hill in the Stolen Lands.
Riding straight and upright on his muscular wolf, the goblin in shining armor carries a wickedly pointed lance, with a kite shaped steel shield emblazoned with a Brevoy lesser asset's crest. The same sigil stands on the banner waving over his round head, snapping in the breeze as he rides up.
"Hello the fort! I come to offer my services, and seek entry!"
He speaks formally with a Brevoy accent and diction, although still with the characteristic high pitched timbre of his race.
A handsome man sits cross-legged in the afternoon shade on the porch of a small building, reading a small book to a group of children. He seems to be very animated and the young ones are enraptured by the voices he gives to each character, bringing the story to life. Finishing the book, the man hands it to one of the older children, who smiles shyly and takes his turn reading to the others. The man smiles again and moves away, headed toward the tavern and the group of adventurers he sees approaching.
"I've heard you lot are looking for help dealing with the dangerous creatures threatening the populace. I have some small skill in healing and magic, should you need my aid. The name's Ingvarr, by the way," he says.
Fair of hair and dazzling of smile, Ingvarr is a pleasing blend of human and elf. Clad in simple green and brown traveling clothes and a well-used chain shirt, he is seldom seen without a book nearby--and never seen without his ornate signal horn tethered to his side or in his hand. The shortsword at his side is well-worn, and the bow over his shoulder also shows he is fully capable of defending himself.
While you don’t recall personally meeting this half elf, the signal horn he carries is familiar to you. With its distinctive shape and the sigil of the ‘Battlecaller’ clan, you know it belonged to one of your house’s soldiers who served well for many years, though something happened to him a few years back...
Between the striking appearance of this half-elf and his talent with books and storytelling, you recognize this Ingvarr as the person who has been helping establish and supply libraries in the area, including your own town of Iron Peaks.
"Well met all. I am Baroness Johanna. I along with my husband Baron Balazar are trying to make the lands safe and stable. Any willing to provide service will earn a seat at the table as part of our council. There is much to be done and the work is dangerous. As such any are welcome to join us on a provisional status. The remaining council will meet and allow you to join if your aid and support align with our direction of protecting the people and making the land safe. Are there any questions?"
”Pleased to meet you, Excellency,” says the charismatic half-elf with a measured bow. ”The populace can hardly focus on improving their erudition with enemies threatening their lives. I will be pleased to serve in any capacity needed, ” he continues, asking, ”What might the most urgent need be?”
Among the kids sitting near and listening to the half-Elf tell his story is a much bigger “kid” of sorts. The (fully grown) young man seems to be as raptly held as the youngsters around him, and his hands are busy fashioning something from twigs, leaves and bits of cloth.
Having built his (albeit kind of crappy) makeshift creations, the man then sets about using them to enhance Ingvarr’s performance with a little puppet show and much to the kids delight.
Once Ingvarr seems to be done with his story, hands his book to one of the kids and then sets to leave, Syl takes a page from his book and gifts the newly made dolls to two of the younger girls that sat by watching with fascination. Hurrying up to catch up with Ingvarr, Syl introduces himself with a big smile and a wave. Hi! he points a thumb towards himself; Syl. before twisting it with a quizzical gesture, You?
After Syl follows Ingvarr into the tavern, Syl politely listens to the pretty lady ramble on for a bit (and not really paying attention) before being jolted back to the here and now by a question he thought directed at him.
Huh? Uhh... he jerks a thumb expressively towards Ingvarr With him.
”Nice to meet you, Syl. My name is Ingvarr. Are you wanting to join up with the adventurers as well?”
Sizing up the man, Ingvarr satisfies himself that Syl is unlikely to be an immediate threat to him, so he walks companionably next to him on the way into the council meeting.
Seraphina spent some time wandering after her tutelage with the woodsage Yakpank. She wondered where her path would lead her next. She had heard about another party in these lands, working to tame the wilderness, much the way she and her own companions had, once. She hoped she might meet up with them somewhere, but where might that be? The Stolen Lands were a vast territory, and she doubted her ability to seek them out. She was no tracker, after all. Even trying would likely mean a lot more wandering while wondering.
She heaved a sigh at the thought. Well, there was nothing else for it. She would have to return to Oleg’s Trading Post and wait there. If these adventurers did not check in there soon, perhaps she would be able to spend some time chatting up the patrons and learn their location.
With her destination decided, she turned north and once again lamented letting her horse wander off while she spent time with the Sootscales. She would sleep rough and be footsore by the time she arrived where she could procure another.
After some time on the trail, she glanced at the position of the sun and her brow knit with confusion. Had she wandered too far west, somehow? Berating herself for her poor sense of direction, she turned decidedly north again. But before long, it had happened again. Why was she slanting westward…there was no grade to the ground she traveled, it didn’t make sense. It was almost as if she were walking toward the shore from waist deep in the waves. No matter how carefully she proceeded due north, it was as if some unseen force was pulling her west.
She stood still a moment, trying to puzzle it out.. Facing north, the way she intended to travel, the way she knew the trading post lie… she felt some inexplicable wrongness. Holding her hand out in front of her, she began to slowly revolve counter-clockwise. When facing west, she again felt the strange tug. She tried to remember what lie in that direction. Could it be Perlivash and Tyg? Perhaps they were in need of help, trying to call out with their strange magic? It was the best explanation she could come up with. Well, the trading post would still be there tomorrow. She focused on the tugging sensation as much as possible and set out west.
It was not long before the tugging faded into a different sensation, a high-pitched keening sort of wail, just inside her hearing range. It tickled her ear in much the same way the Kobold’s signal flutes did. The same flutes that were only audible to dragon-kin. Now more sure than ever that someone needed her help, she quickened her pace. The sun was near to setting and she wanted the benefit of light while she searched for her quarry. The sound grew louder as she drew closer and a much deeper sound was soon intermixed, it sounded like a great roar of pain. She stopped short, panting as she heard it. “That’s not Perlivash!” she exclaimed aloud, but quietly, stunned almost to silence instinctively by the sudden roar. She breathed out through pursed lips, gathering her wits and her nerve as she crested the last rise and looked upon the creature that had managed to call out to her somehow across several miles.
The setting sun gleamed red-gold off his shining scales and she gasped at the sight of what she thought was a young copper dragon. But as she drew closer, she realized it was just a trick of the light. His scales were golden, not copper and he was nearly 15 feet long. And bleeding from a half dozen places! She hurried heedlessly down the slope to get a better look and see how she could help, sending a spray of rocks clattering down in advance, heralding her approach to the wounded dragon. He whirled around to face her in a clatter of steel and chains and bellowed a warning cry so fierce that it blew her hair back from her face. Taking the hint, she slowed her approach and held up her hands to show she was unarmed. Not that any Sorcerer was ever truly unarmed, least of all herself. She called to the creature in Draconic, hoping to make it understand that she only wanted to help.
”Be calm, now. Be easy. I see your pain and rage. I have come to help.” The dragon thrashed rebelliously against his bindings and she finally saw what had wounded him. Bear traps! Huge steel bear traps were biting into his pristine hide. He must have landed into one and then tried to thrash his way loose and snapped the others up in his turmoil. They were everywhere. Latched onto the side of his long neck, snapped onto his forelegs and ripping into his ridged tail. He even had one marring a glimmering wing. The stakes had all been pulled up by his turmoil, but the chains were the real problem. They had twisted and tangled in such a way that he could hardly move, let alone free himself or harm her. Still, he would do harm to himself if she allowed him to keep on like this. Taking a moment, she cast upon herself and soon she was growing to match his size. Once she was standing over him, looking down on the helplessly tangled and wounded creature she shouted with all her might.
She commanded in Draconic, her shout echoing through the rolling hills. The dragon blinked up at her in surprise and growled something inarticulate under his breath. But he did not move again, just watched her, warily. Looking at the sturdy traps, she used another spell to further increase her strength and then flexed her magically enhanced muscles. (22 all buffed) She was most concerned about the one on his neck, so she started there. She phased her hands into claws and gripped the steel maw, prizing it apart and freeing the dragon’s neck from it’s bite. She tossed the vile thing well away, with a sneer of revulsion. But when she looked back down, she noticed her patient was now bleeding more profusely. She quickly applied pressure to staunch the bleeding and then met the dragon’s eyes.
Golden irises with slit pupils searched her own copper-colored eyes. She watched as he noted more details this close. The tiny metallic scales that had begun forming around her eyes. The shine off the scales of her claws. His voice came out rasping, made rough and ragged by the tearing and bruising to his throat. ”You are… like me?” She nodded, thinking he must mean that she had dragon’s blood. He returned the motion and then his eyes slipped closed and his body slumped limply. Panicked, she felt for his pulse and sighed in relief when she found it. Not dead, just unconscious. Likely exhausted from pain and stress, not to mention blood loss. She checked that the bleeding had stopped and then went to work removing the rest of the horrid bear traps and untangling the heavy chains. Soon she had freed the dragon and tended his wounds to the best of her ability. She was no great healer like her priest friend, Maja. But she had resources enough to see that he would heal, and be well again, soon.
She set up her meager camp, fetched some water and waited, standing watch over the unconscious dragon. But the trials of travel and the day’s excitement had taken it’s toll, and soon she was nodding off against a tree. She wondered sleepily if it was really wise to set her camp so close to the dragon. He might wake up ravenous, afterall and she was no longer his same size anymore… But metal dragons were always supposed to be good… she remembered reading that somewhere. And then she was dreaming about dragons, as she did often.
She woke facing east and with the sun beaming right into her eyes, momentarily blinding her. The events of the previous day came rushing back to her and she whirled about, trying to fix the dragon in her sight. But then she felt, more than heard, a heavy footstep behind her. Her spine froze and her shoulders locked, but her head swiveled to look behind her, slowly. And just as she caught sight of him, he dropped a fat rabbit carcass in her lap.
She took it for a gift of friendship and sighed with relief, stretching her back and shoulders to loosen them. Breakfast was roast rabbit and a lifelong friendship was made over the meal.
“How long… have you been... like me?” he asked, his bruised throat still healing.
”How long? As long as I have been alive as I understand it. The Dragon-blood must run in my family. My father’s side, I would guess.” She answered with a shrug, but he was already shaking his horned head. ”No…” he rumbled, “How long… have you been… alone?”
”Oh… Not very long. I think it’s been… I’m not really sure, anymore.” She answered slowly, hesitantly, her gaze fixed on her hands.
”Very long… for me.” he rasped sadly ”Since I was… your size” He made a motion with his front forelegs, indicating roughly her height, though shown lengthwise, and she noticed they moved much like human arms.
They spent a few days this way, eating together, conversing and resting while they waited for the dragon’s wounds to fully heal. Finally one morning, he looked as if he had healed enough to fly again. ”I suppose you’ll be winging your way now. Where will you go.”
”Wherever you go... if you allow. If you agree.” He explained to her the nature of his kind, to seek out a humanoid companion and bond with them for life.
“A lifetime commitment, eh? Well, in that case, you had better tell me your name. I am Lady Seraphina Medvyed.”
”My name is Meir, my Lady.”
”I was travelling northward to the trading post, when I sensed your call. We’ll start there. It’s a dwarven stronghold now.”
And so it was that Seraphina made the last leg of her journey, not on foot, but by flight. Meir strove skyward with a pounding of wings that blew the saplings nearly doubled over as they lifted off. Sera scrambled to secure her seat and clung to his neck, awkwardly, as they sped over the rolling terrain. The wind swirled through her hair as she watched the hills whisked away to reveal smooth to plains beneath. She knew it was not long now. Soon the low-lying bulk of the stone, dwarven fort peeked over the horizon. She asked that Meir land outside the gates, lest the clan mistake her arrival for some sort of attack.
Butterflies twirled and danced somewhere in her middle as she contemplated landing, and whether or not she might find Kesten Garess among those manning the fort now.
They landed in another fury of wings, churning the air to swift breeze as Meir decreased their momentum before touching down. ”It will be some time before I grow accustomed to that, Meir." The dragonkin rumbled a low laugh as Seraphina took a moment to smooth her garments and hair, making sure she was clean and presentable and then gathered up her backpack and saddle bags. “Alright, I must go in alone. I’m afraid you would be too cramped, if you could fit inside at all. You won’t be too far?” The dragonkin shook his head. ”Good, I will check in around sundown.” She said and turned to the gates.
As she proceeded inside, sharing empty pleasantries with the dwarves, she felt a dip in her mood. She suspected moving further from Meir might be part of it, but some of it was sadness. The Levetons had been her friends and she had not come here much since the trading post had passed into the hands of the Stone Hammer Clan.
She came into the common room, dressed simply and perhaps a bit travel-worn. Her deep red, wind-blown hair shone like spun copper in the afternoon light. Her eyes gleamed like new-made pennies. She had markings around her eyes which looked at first glance like some artistic work with cosmetics but upon a closer inspection actually appears to be tiny metallic scales lining her eyes.
She could hardly believe her good fortune to find the Baroness there, not to mention recruiting help. She knew this was the time to put in her bid. There were a lot of would-be adventurers out and about today!
”Well met, Baroness. I would be of service to your barony. I am Seraphina of House Medvyed. But if I may ask, what precisely is ‘your direction of protecting the people and making the land safe.’ Have you a Charter drawn up that I might peruse?”
[ooc]Apologies, I shouldn’t ask that right after you said you won’t be able post again til Monday. Maybe someone else can direct me to a post or something with the barony’s basic laws and rights and such?
Entering the tavern, Toki jingles very little for such a well-armored person. The wolf padding next to him makes slightly more noise, but not much. He approaches the woman calling for adventurers and soldiers, and bows in a formal courtly fashion.
"Greetings, I am known as Toki Wolfrider, of House d'Corbus from Brevoy. I am here to offer my services as knight, scout, soldier, and whatever other tasks need doing."
As the portal snapped shut, the man walked into the outpost walls before anyone could stop him. He made his way where he saw a group of...
I believe they call themselves adventurers on the mortal plane
he thought as he entered the building. Inside, the bustle stopped for just a moment as the tall, oddly-dress man entered, and then life reasserted itself.
Drawing a folded piece of parchment from his pack, he opened it, read what was written there, and declared "Hello mortals. I am looking for a holy knight of Abadar named Oscar Cray. Apparently there are three of them? Could someone please guide me to one of them?"
The old dwarf watches the various future heroes of this kingdom enter. Some with flair to draw to the eyes of the crowd. Maybe over dramatic for some, good thing the guards didn't open fire. Metallic or not beasts like that will inspire fear.
He notices some silently entering along and others apparently on a mission. He observes each and everyone, noting their movements, their bearing and likely disposition. He remembers seeing one them before back in the Iron Peaks. One of the scholars that helped build up the library back then, a task ill suited for one such as he. It'll help his students learn something and perhaps prepare them for a life after their training. He remembered Gratus spending time there to learn his letters.
He looked at the obvious outworlder. His aura fairly rippled with power but then again looking at Olivia, they're probably all the same.
Directing his words to the silent elf most likely beside him the old dwarf asks.
"These newcomers, Sable. What do you think of them? They seemed to ripple with currents that may topple even the Fates set upon us."
His flesh upon his calves was still sore as the old dwarf had finally brought up the ancient runelore inherited by his clan. The current runes inscribed on him gave him speed that helped his footwork, it wasn't perfect but it could take time to relearn it as he wasn't a student of the Arcane.
Rai rides toward what was once Oleg's trading post at a slow canter, so as to not overtax his steed. As he rode up, he took in the smells, both old and new... mostly being the smell of all places many horses are kept, with the addition of a clan of dwarves, though there was also the distinct ozone-like tang of a portal to another plane hanging in the air. He made careful note of this as he entered the fort, caution being at the forefront of his mind until he could place the outworlder's origin. Taking care to hide his saddlebags as he removed his steed's saddle, despite there not being much worth stealing, he placed a blanket over the gentle creature before entering the tavern with his sword at his side and his spellbook under his cloak; his steed hated getting cold, much like himself, and the knowledge that an outworlder was here made him slightly uneasy.
As he entered the tavern, Rai quickly panned his eyes across the room, , easing up at the sight of what appear to be two Aasimar before removing his mask. With no small amount of relief, he sets his gaze upon the crowd again until he spots the familiar face of Seraphina. He makes his way to her quickly in his excitement, apologizing to patrons on the way as he bumps into them.
He attempts to introduce himself to the table, but upon seeing the collective confusion in the group, realizes that he was speaking in Azlanti, not Taldane. "My deepest apologies, force of habit. Hail, Seraphina! It has been too long since last we met." He casts gaze across the table, then settles it upon Johanna. "Ah, and you must be Baroness Johanna! I am Rai Thydel, son of Amarkeeri Thydel. Pleased to meet your acquaintance. It was my understanding that you're in need of more members for defense and exploration. I'm searching the Stolen Lands myself, and I would like to offer my services as a magus and duelist."
Anyone coming to the gate of the outpost would be met with dwarven voices up above. They might grumble a bit but let everyone into the outpost. Within you find that there are many humans moving about their chores and only a few dwarves besides those at the gate.