Please only dot in for now.
You have all been gathered together in a close and dark room. A tall man stands before you.. the recruiter that sought you out for your adventurous nature and questing curiosity. Plainly dressed and androgynous of face, he calmly waits for the chatter to subside before speaking.
"You have been sought out to help explore some of the ruins that surround our city of Absalom. You know that over the centuries, many armies, despots, and warlords have attempted to take our city. And all of them have left the Cairnlands dotted with the remnants of their failures. A recent earthquake has granted access to one of these towers, and we require a search party to clear it and report back your findings. You have, perhaps heard rumors of this tower and the accompanying epitaph of "The Fallen Fortress". I can now confirm, that indeed, this is your destination. It is a couple of hours hike from the nearest city gate, but it should not take you long to make your way there, search the tower, and return. You may purchase any supplies you need on your way through town, and I hope to see you back tonight. If not, may the gods be with you. Does anyone have any questions?"
|
A delicate figure nears the gathered group, her long ears tapering to points above her head. Her beauty is almost painful in its perfection. She wears a simple silken sash lined with articulated metal plates and tied about the stomach to protect it over elegant clothing with a nature motif.
"Is this the right place?" she asks the others. "For the Pathfinders, I mean. I'm Isobel...I think I'm supposed to be here."
|
You have all been gathered together in a close and dark room. A tall man stands before you.. the recruiter that sought you out for your adventurous nature and questing curiosity. Plainly dressed and androgynous of face, he calmly waits for the chatter to subside before speaking.
The small Tian woman just looks out from under her broad, rice hat, around at the strange party assembled. She herself is dressed simply in the practical garb typical to an itinerant laborer. She bears a spear upon which is tied a burlap sack with her few worldly possessions therein. Before the recruiter speaks, she whiles away her time on her reed flute, providing a background score for the proceedings.
|
|
A tall slender man with stern demeanor stands at theback of the room. The grey in his beard indicate his age and his hands look like those of a man who works the land.
This sounds like a very straightforward mission. Do you have any knowledge of the history of this fortress? It might be of benefit in our exploration
|
Sitting in the shade of the far side of the room is what is very obviously a Wayang, dark-hued and sharp-featured even by the standards of his unique race. His clothes, though dark with macabre motifs, are festive by Wayang standards, and he wears a teak breastplate over them. What looks like a new and custom-forged sword hangs at his side, and he carries a bundle of the distinctive metal toys his people use in their magic. He says nothing as of yet, instead thinking of what preparations to make.
The man looks over Isobel "Yes, you are in the correct place. Whether or not this is the place you remains to be seen, but is mostly up to you." Turning to regard Turan, he states "There is very little way to know who brought what to which battle over the centuries, and there is no telling what devious implements may be left over. Be aware of your surroundings, and you should be fine."
Finished with the questions, the man departs and leaves you to your preparations. After a trip through the market, you make your way to the city gate and exit. Turning east, you follow the wall through the Cairnlands until after about an hour hike, you determine the tower that you seek is before you. The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior. As you stare up at the building, a small pack of wild dogs decides to take offense to this intrusion upon their territory.
Xasay Xyu
Turan
Fauxish
Dogs
The dogs cautiously move forward, growling and snarling.
Round 1
Dogs:
Red
Yellow
Blue
Party
-Posted with Wayfinder
Fauxish attempts to intimidate the dogs, but you swear you can hear doggy laughs coming back across the field..
Turan has quite a bit more luck, as he steps forward and puts an arrow through the neck of one of the dogs, dropping it where it stands. The dogs do not seem to be laughing anymore..
Dogs:
Red
Yellow
Blue
Isobel and Xasay
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Nikolai had been silent through the mission briefing, but he was conflicted. On the one hand, the Society was finally sending him into the field on an actual assignment - not some ridiculous courier mission, as they had for the last three years of his life. On the other, it was still in Absalom, and he'd had enough of the place. First thing I do when I get back, he thought. I'm putting in for a foreign assignment. I don't think I even care where.
As he approached the siege tower, he spotted the dogs running towards the group. "You know, I really should have picked up some knives before we left town," he says, shaking his head as they rush towards the group. "Ah well, nothing for it now." He moves forward, assuming a fighting stance. "COME ON, ROVERS, FEAST ON ME!", he cries, trying to make himself a target.
Xasay and Nikolai both hold action, waiting for the dogs to attack, while Isobel casts a spell at
Blue dog moves in on the party, biting at Fauxish. The dog comes close, but the nimble and defensive fox manages to evade.
Round 1
Dogs:
Yellow (Dazed x1)
Blue
Party
Xasay steps into melee but the nimble dog is able to bounce out of the way.. right into the arrow Turan speeds its way. Suddenly, a cloud of red mist envelopes the area, and Fauxish is left to wipe bits of fur and.. other things.. off of her face. There is nothing left except for a lonely paw standing upright where the dog was.. it wiggles a bit with remnant nervous impulses and falls over.
Round 2
Dogs:
Yellow (Dazed x1)
Fauxish, Isobel, Nikolai
The dog yips and snarls at Nikolai's week attempt to scare it off, but its tail is certainly between its legs after two impressive shots from Turan..
Round 2
Dogs:
Yellow (Dazed x1)
Fauxish, Isobel (May choose another action)
Fauxish moves into position, and Isobel is traumatized by the horrible events before her and by Nikolai's words.
Released from the spell, the remaining dog gives a mournful yip and turns tail, running hard and fast.
OUT OF COMBAT
The tower looms over the party, with the remains of a room laying all about you. Leading into the building, you can see two doorways.
|
|
"There, see, Foxface?", Nikolai says, extending a hand towards the last dog as it flees. "That mutt's still alive, and none of us are worse for the wear. Now let's check out this tower and see what we can find for our handlers." He starts picking his way towards the remnants of the tower's interior.
-Posted with Wayfinder
As the party advances, they can see nothing from the outside that would give a clue as to what may reside within. Turan pokes his head inside to see that the northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.