Hi everyone! Here is the In Character board for the actual game. Please keep these posts in character except where it pertains to current questions or out of game comments. For instance if you are in a combat round put in your description of your actions (such as a swirling ball of fire erupts from my hands engulfing the charging orcs) and then the out of character description (I cast fireball in the center of the orcs Reflex DC 18 save for half) but please use the ooc bbc codes to do so. As soon as everyone chimes in that they are here I will post the first in game post to get the ball rolling. When you chime in please tell me what your character is currently doing and where you are in the world (you do not have to be in the same area.)
It is currently the year 999 and many countries and cultures around the world are planning their celebrations for the millennium. The calendar is a 12 month 28 day per month calendar and it is currently March 5th.
Dot
Cael:
Darnail:
Logarth:
The Slice:
Germon:
Lance:
At first, it feels as if you must be dreaming. The sense of dislocation, the giddiness, the feeling of flying rapidly through space, all add to the unreality. Where are you? What were you doing a moment ago? These thoughts arise in your mind, as if you were half-awake, on the borderlands of consciousness. Perhaps you have been knocked senseless, or poisoned with some hallucinogenic drug. One thing is certain; you are in a
strange place and you do not remember how you came here.
What you can see before you is as clouded and vague as the contents of your mind. There seems to be nothing but mist, swirling in eddies around you, with a suggestion of huge shapes briefly glimpsed through it. The mist is cold on your face and with a start you realise that this is no dream. You are here, physically here in your body, fully dressed and carrying your equipment. There is wet grass beneath your feet. You feel no pain, so it stands to reason that you were not knocked out and dragged here. How, then, did you come to be here?
Alone in the mist, you wonder why you do not feel more afraid. There is a presence here, something old and comforting, like a childhood memory.
The mist begins to clear. In the faint light of a new day, you see the huge forms that you glimpsed before. They are megaliths – standing stones that tower over you, set into the form of a circle. This place is achingly familiar to you, yet you have never been here before. Through the thinning mists, you see that you are not alone. There are others here, and by the look of them, they are as surprised to find themselves here as you are.
Germon looks around filled with confusion. First he checks to make sure his faithful companion is still with him. Once he sees Barrett is ok he then turns his attention to the others. He straitens up and calls out in as calm as he can to the closest person.
"You there. I am Germon Falleyas. Who are you, and do you have any idea how we came to be here?"
Germon looks around filled with confusion. First he checks to make sure his faithful companion is still with him. Once he sees Barrett is ok he then turns his attention to the others.
Barrett is laying next to you, on his back, paws in the air. He seems to still be sleeping as his legs are twitching as if he is chasing something.
Germon looks around filled with confusion. First he checks to make sure his faithful companion is still with him. Once he sees Barrett is ok he then turns his attention to the others. He straitens up and calls out in as calm as he can to the closest person.
"You there. I am Germon Falleyas. Who are you, and do you have any idea how we came to be here?"
Upon being awoken by someone called Germon Falleyas, Cael, scrambles to his feet much like a great cat being sneaked upon. Before you stands a man who's head might very well reach the clouds themselves. His reactions are due to instinct rather than training. His hair a mess of blonde that could almost be mistaken for dreads his beard his full and thick and obscures all but the steel-grey blue eyes. His form is heavily muscled and corded this is apparent has his muscles bring a huge sword in front of him raising it above his head, like a child's toy, poised to strike any perceived threat. The fur clad young man speaks Cael. he momentarily taps his chest that you fear would knock most men out. Upon the next question he grips his sword again, shakes his head and says Stolen
When Cael and the others see Germon, they a tall, proud, and fearless young man. Though Germon is not particularly intimidating in appearance, he does have an aura of authority and nobility. His shoulder length blonde hair and a trim blonde beard and deep green eyes. His armor has a custom and unfamiliar emblem etched into it. He has a large mongrel asleep at his feet.
"Stolen?" He asked "By whom and for what purpose?"
He scanned the others and the surroundings
"Stolen?" He asked "By whom and for what purpose?"
Cael shrugs his shoulders at Germon and then makes a head gesture towards him as if to say maybe it was you. He glances only briefly at the stars before turning his gaze back to the whelp of a boy.
** spoiler omitted **
T'shallah inverdri 'tuath deren'ollath
Elven
Please be at ease good sirs. It would appear that there are strange magics at work.
The rich and vibrant words flow like music as the speaker sits up, running a hand through a rich mane of golden blond hair, pulled back and held in place by a leather strap behind the neck. his angular features and long pointed ears leave no doubt he is an Elf. His eyes have a soft golden glow here in the early dawn as he also looks around and slowly rises himself.
His armor creaks softly, scale mail to those who know, and he carries a long blade at his hip and a large shield lays on the ground beside him. His build is tall and lithe, more of a dancer in comparison to the fellow with bulging biceps nearby. Under the mail, his clothes have a rich yellow color, occasionally mixed with orange or reds. A silver disk hangs from his neck, a sun giving rays of light behind an upraised blade.
He looks around, a calm and reassuring expression on his face(though he is just now wondering if anyone actually understood him.)
Cael startled by the elf sudden rising and his sing-songsy words puts him more on the defensive as if he is suspecting magics are going to be cast on him. He brings his sword from an overhead stance to positioning the blade between him, the boy and the elf.
Darnail will lift both hands, showing them empty and try again. In Common tradespeak this time.
"At ease good sir. As you can see i mean you no harm. You seem as out of place as i, so perhaps something similar has happened to both of us. Please lower your sword, I am not your enemy."
He will have a friendly expression, though his tone could also be slightly reproachful.
The greatsword is lowered tip pointed at a downward angle towards the ground. He puts the huge hand on his chest again, Cael and offers a hand towards the elf.
"Darnail"
Unsure if this is some local greeting ritual or custom, Darnail will return the greeting in the same way. First placing his own hand on his chest, then stepping close enough to give the fellow a firm grip in his hand.
He will then glance at the young man nearby.
"I believe you said your name was ...Germon? Well met. Is it just us here, or are there others?"
Darnail will look around the Circle after those words and if he sees any of the others he will move towards them to see if they can be woken or are showing any obvious injury.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I step forward from the grass and fens. Before you is a man with black boots with black embossed heavy leather shin guards, black leather bracers, black shoulder pads attached to a black leather breastplate which has the silver crest of the Charter House on the front; the prow of a wide sailing vessel with a silver tree on its main sail.
(For those of you who know, Charter House is a place in Xoth Sarandi, in which non-elves are trained by elves to become navigators, sailors, and officers that help serve the Elven nation as naval auxiliry officers and privateers).
Underneath the armor he wears extremely well-made clothing, though tattered and weather-stained. Dark blue trousers, a white linen doublet, a white cravat with a sapphire pin. A large great cloak covers him; it is heavy wool and midnight blue, and fastened with a silver broach in the shape of a falcon with outspread wings.
Poking out fromt he cloack on his left hip is but end of a curved elven blade, his cloak obfuscates the rest. A sailor’s kitbag (like a backpack) is slung over his back. He wears his hair long and tied back, and has a silver ring in his left ear. On his right ring finger is another silver ring, with a modestly cut ruby in it.
Seeming to ignore the party for a moment, he stares at the sky ---
"Selaziel, if this is another one of your demon-spawn, gods-cursed, sodding tricks..." he growls, then pauses, as if awaiting an answer. After a moment, when none seems forthcomming, he looks around, as if actually trying to deduce what is going on.
Hearing the elf, his eyes widen, and he offers a formal bow to him, with a touch of flair.
"|Greetings, good sir; may the stars shine upon thee.|" he adds in the elven tongue. Turning to the others around him, his eys widen, and he seems to trult take in the situation.
"Gentlemen, well met to all of you: I am Lance Antares, citizen of Xoth Sarandi, former captain of "The Scarlet Succubus" and heir apperent to my father's house. I can see by the looks on your faces that you, like I, am equally confused at what has happened. No doubt there is some vague mystery of great import," I add, pulling from a small satchel at my side thin slip of paper, then dabbing some crumbled tobacco on it from a pouch at my neck. Wetting the paper as I deftly roll it, I place it in my mouth and fumble for a bit of flint and steel.
"You sir, if I am not mistaken, are Gaelic, eh?" I said turning to look at the towering giant. "You come from proud people; trust me, I know. They are good folk. I am recently sailed from their shore, though I have lost my ship do to...er, complications. In any case," I add, striking the flint and steel a moment until the rolled paper ignites, then pausing to draw in a deep breath of tobacco "does anyone know where we are?"
Upon hearing the elven song and all the hustle and bustle Logarth stands up straight, his eyes quickly scanning his surroundings and you can tell that he is on edge ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.
He hails out to his companions, "Name's Logarth" is all he says. The others notice that he is abnormally large and overtly muscular with a dangerous grace to his movements. They notice his simple gui and his long black topknot on top his head.
When questioned about the location for the second time, Cael responds by pointing at the stars with the tree of an arm, and says one word matter of factly, North.
I scratch my chin a moment, exhaling a long stream of smoke from my nostrils.
"Well lads, here's the rub; for reasons unknown we're all here. Yet where is "here"? Seems likely it is the prime-material plane. We haven't strayed THAT far, at least I'd hope not," I add to myself.
"In either case, consider; we're still armed, armored, geared, and not robbed. Another thing; we still seem living, so I doubt they pilfered our souls. I suggest we spread out and examine the terrain a bit, perhaps we'd find clues to where we are, and, in my way of making; WHY we are here."
"Oh," I add solicitiously "does anyone care for a drink? I know I could use a snifter," I say tipping back a sip from a silver hip flask and offering around.
If there are no takers, I move forward about fifteen yards from the group and start a slow moving circle around us, looking for any sign of track, or evidence of why HERE is so important. If there ARE takers, I offer them a sip of the drink, and then continue on as mentioned above.
"|Greetings, good sir; may the stars shine upon thee.|" he adds in the elven tongue.
Darnail will give a genuine smile that someone else here is civilised as well before replying in kind.
"|The light of Brith shine favorably upon you, Good Sir.|"
Returning to common, as that seems to be more understood, he will continue speaking.
"I know not any of the faces here, nor how I arrived at this place. My last memories were of taking my rest in the evening of the fifth of March. I have...very hazy memories of a strange dream, and then i awoke here, clad in field wear, to find myself among you all. Can any of you tell me how i came to be here, or why? I would also like to know the date if possible."
His once-over of the others is not showing anyone hurt, so he is relaxing slightly and looking around him more. He will take a moment to retrieve his shield and sling it for carrying.
Edit:
After Lance's next words, Darnail will nod and flash a smile.
"Since you are offering, i will take you up on it."
As you look around, you start to notice some interesting things about the Megaliths. One is that as far as you can tell they are set in a perfect circle. Two there are twelve of them. Three, they all have a large marking on them.
In addition, there is one more person laying on the ground, snoring heavily. He is a young human, wearing dark silk clothing in flowing style and has a felt hat covering a shock of long white hair.
Darnail will move towards the sleeping man, and call out to him softly to try to rouse him. If that does not work he will shake him gently, but far enough away to not be looming over him in case he would startle easily.
"|Greetings, good sir; may the stars shine upon thee.|" he adds in the elven tongue.Darnail will give a genuine smile that someone else here is civilised as well before replying in kind.
"|The light of Brith shine favorably upon you, Good Sir.|"
Returning to common, as that seems to be more understood, he will continue speaking.
"I know not any of the faces here, nor how I arrived at this place. My last memories were of taking my rest in the evening of the fifth of March. I have...very hazy memories of a strange dream, and then i awoke here, clad in field wear, to find myself among you all. Can any of you tell me how i came to be here, or why? I would also like to know the date if possible."
His once-over of the others is not showing anyone hurt, so he is relaxing slightly and looking around him more. He will take a moment to retrieve his shield and sling it for carrying.
Edit:
After Lance's next words, Darnail will nod and flash a smile.
"Since you are offering, i will take you up on it."
I grin and offer him a taste, waiting for the drink. When it is returned I indicate my plans to examine the surrounding terrain, getting our bearings. I have already heard everyone's names, and I also have made my own introduction. There seems little to do now, except to find out what happened, and how we can go about remedying it.
"I say," I add suddenly to the Gael "you said we're north, eh? You don't suppose we've stumbled in to The Corona, do you? After all, it is north, and we're shrouded in mystery, and probable magic, both of which follow The Corona like a bad plague..." I shrug my shoulders and continue the slow circle. After all, it doesn't really matter WHERE we are, if we can't get back. Still... I would rather no more then less at this point.
I walk around the perimeter looking carefully at each of the megaliths as well as looking for other signs of life
or
"While I am unsure of our location myself, there is wisdom in your words and suggested course. Does anyone recognize these markings?"
He points at the megaliths themselves, but won't move from the sleeping fellow until after he wakes up to investigate himself.
Cael scratches his beard with his heavy paw at Lance's musings Uhh...
At the mention of the question of how to get back Walk
He takes a moment to carefully sheath his sword and then picks up his Earth Breaker.
He looks at the megaliths like everyone else except not thinking of what the strange markings are but rather could he topple one if need be.
I run through my head every single Rune I know... which, other then Elven and the words of the Common man, are very few Runes indeed! The only other symbols I know, of note, are one's I learned navigating on the seas. But unless there are stars on these "monoliths" then I don't have much to offer.
Do they appear elven in origin, perhaps?
I do turn to the Geal "Oh, and as for walking, regrettably, I was aboard ship when my little... journey, happened. But even assume we could walk, were would we go? Which direction? I only have a few days of food on me, and who knows how dangerous the world is around us, or if we can even walk to get out of here. We arrived by magic, perhasp we shall not return to our homes, unless by magic. But we are all from the same world, I'd think, for we undertand each other, at the very least, and have simliar knowledge on world events. Perhaps we're all on the same world still... But if someone fashioned these things, perhaps they are still there, or at least, their descendants. Perhaps we should look for some signs of sentient life... unless anyone has any idea about these stone structure?" I add, as I stare at them.
I do turn to the Geal "Oh, and as for walking, regrettably, I was aboard ship when my little... journey, happened. But even assume we could walk, were would we go? Which direction? I only have a few days of food on me, and who knows how dangerous the world is around us, or if we can even walk to get out of here. We arrived by magic, perhasp we shall not return to our homes, unless by magic. But we are all from the same world, I'd think, for we undertand each other, at the very least, and have simliar knowledge on world events. Perhaps we're all on the same world still... But if someone fashioned these things, perhaps they are still there, or at least, their descendants. Perhaps we should look for some signs of sentient life... unless anyone has any idea about these stone structure?" I add, as I stare at them.
Walk South. Hunt.
For anyone who got above a 5
There is a dense fog all around the outside of the megaliths, if you venture outside you find yourself on lush green grass but other than that you cannot see as the fog is incredibly dense.
Darnail will squint at one of the megaliths, giving it a second, longer look.
"Your words may have more bearing then you think, Mister Antares."
He will point at the Megalith that cought his eye.
"I believe that marking there could be a constellation. Perhaps The Rose. Do any of the other's spark your memories? As a sailor you would be more familiar with the night skies."
He will try again to wake the sleeping man.
"Time to wake, good sir. Morning is upon us and you are far from home."
I immiedately recognize my own Birthsign, and see it clearly. Glancing from it back to the Rose, to mine own, The Satyr, I mentally count between the stones.
There are twelve months in the calander, and twelve principle signs. I presume the same number of monoliths... Glancing from one to the other, I look to see if they are aligned in order of the months. How does this corospond with the number of months, and if there IS a corolation, could this numerological/astrological placement be somehow connected to each of us?
"I say, lads... this is generally a bit of a faux pas, but... well, when was everyone born? That is to say... I am wondering if these things may have something to do with our birth. An odd thing, but just a passing thought. Besides, it may give some clue."
All of a sudden your minds are filled with an awesome presence. You are riveted to where you stand by the force of the presence. Out of nowhere, a voice speaks to you. It is faint but perfectly clear. As it speaks, the stones thrum with a strange vibration, as if they were amplifying the voice somehow.
"The time of the Equinox is come. My children… I am sorry. I have done what must be done. You deserve answers. I am far… too far from you. You must learn who you are. The land
is yours. The people are yours."
The speaker seems to be under great strain, as if speaking to you was exhausting her.
"This place is sacred to you. Sacred to the stars that you are.
There are other places like this. From the time when people
remembered. Heed me now. If any of you should fall, then
bear him to the stones, and the soul will be able to enter the
flesh… once again. But make haste, for flesh that is spoiled
can never be made whole."
There is silence again and you wonder if that is all. Then the
voice speaks once more, faint as a dying echo:
"Know this. There is a force against you. Already it gathers,
already it senses your return. Seek the sword of Starkweather
John… it lies near, waiting to be claimed… when that is found,
you may begin to understand, to remember."
"Anyone else have a strange foggy..." I break off, looking to the men, confused.
"Well, in any case, well, has anyone heard of some lad named Starkweather John?" I add.
Bah, Let them come!
Does anything around look like it would be a tomb or a former funeral pyre?
You do not see any tombs or crypts. Only the stone megaliths and dense fog beyond. You see a VERY faint glow in what you believe to be the east, but it is just a faint lightening of the dark fog at this point.
Hmm... I examine the stone with my sign on it for a moment, and run my fingers over it, examining it closely, if possible.
If nothing exciting is forthcomming, I shall look to the east and see what I can see with my spyglass...
Cael hoists the Earth Breaker up and points at the faint light. We go?
You place the spyglass to your eye and see the most excellent shade of grey fog.
Cael hoists the Earth Breaker up and points at the faint light. We go?
"I'm with you, good sir," I say to the towering giant. "If there are any settlements of note, chances are they will be with the light. I say," I add as though the idea just struck me "has that one loafer actually woken yet, or is he still sleeping? I would rather solve this mystery sooner then later, but I simply can't see letting him lounge around here alone... Also, if he is still asleep, well, it may be a more complex enchantment..." I add somewhat dubiosly toward where are sleeper was; though for all I know, he may have already woken.
Germon is surprised by the elf's voice. Afte the elf speaks he
"That is a lovely voice sir." He then turns to megalith and examines it.
Darnail will look at the sky and around the circle once again.
"I would ask of you a little patience my friends. Dawnrise is almost fully upon us and as it is His time now, I would pray to His Radiance for guidance."
He will dig out a golden cloth from a pouch at his waist and after turning to face east will spread it in front of him, take his amulet from his neck and lay it upon it, and then clasp his hands in prayer.
Cael hoists the Earth Breaker up and points at the faint light. We go?"I'm with you, good sir," I say to the towering giant. "If there are any settlements of note, chances are they will be with the light. I say," I add as though the idea just struck me "has that one loafer actually woken yet, or is he still sleeping? I would rather solve this mystery sooner then later, but I simply can't see letting him lounge around here alone... Also, if he is still asleep, well, it may be a more complex enchantment..." I add somewhat dubiosly toward where are sleeper was; though for all I know, he may have already woken.
Cael looks back at the sleepy one and sighs, heavily, and visibly. Goes over and picks the body up and throws him over his massive shoulder. Problem solved. Now we go gesturing the heavy hammer towards the light.
When you step outside the circle of stones, the mist coalesces into a myriad of small shapes, rising up from the ground and solidifying into the shape of shadowy goblin-like figures.
Upon seeing the goblins Cael will drop the other companion on the ground freeing both hands to wield the giant hammer.
My initiative roll for tomorrow...