“Ah so the lord of darkness has chosen me yet again to be an agent of his power, very well. What is it he asks of me, surly it must be some great deed as rewards such as this are quite extravagant.” as he talks he walks around examining his new found palace, his tail excitedly swings back and forth in an erratic pattern. “And what might you two be called?”
Sloth and Lust, at your service, Lord. Ye shall find out what to do, my Lord, in due time, and with proper investigation.
Mydravos frowns and turns to his two automatons. “Well if neither of you two have any more useful information, begone and make yourselves usefull. My chamber could use some cleaning as the bed is no longer made and there is dirt on the floor from my boots. And please set up an altar to dark one if there isn’t one already we must honor him here” he then turns and begins walking through the castle. And once he’s walked through the castle he leaves to see the outside area of his new estate.
”Well then...I suppose there is a catch? I mean, can’t be as simple as killin some other people and becoming a god. Right? How about ye explain to me exactly what needs to be done to start the contest and to end it.”
Mydravos frowns and turns to his two automatons. “Well if neither of you two have any more useful information, begone and make yourselves usefull. My chamber could use some cleaning as the bed is no longer made and there is dirt on the floor from my boots. And please set up an altar to dark one if there isn’t one already we must honor him here” he then turns and begins walking through the castle. And once he’s walked through the castle he leaves to see the outside area of his new estate.
The clockwork servants get to work cleaning the bedchamber. Mydravos explores the rest of the palace, discovering that there is a chapel dedicated to Hades already, with basalt altar and idol.
"Okay, great... But why am I here? Where is here? How did I get here? Why are you at my service?" Essel persists.
Mydravos walks outside the palace looking around it and see what this new place holds in store for him.
"Okay, great... But why am I here? Where is here? How did I get here? Why are you at my service?" Essel persists.
You are here to be the pawn of Kwan Yin in a Game of Mortals, and you were transported here by the goddess. Here is the Courtyard of the Gameboard, a demiplane created cooperatively by the six deities playing the Game. We were created to serve you.
"Now Jangle, can you please run and get us some food? And Jingle, please tell us about this "Game of Mortals?"
Jangle goes off to fetch some food from the kitchen.
Jingle explains the Game of Mortals to Ealsealf.
Jingle: Only one of the six mortal pawns can win the Game of Mortals by sitting upon the Throne of the Gods and becoming an immortal god. To do this, you must dispel the prismatic sphere that surrounds the Throne. To dispel the sphere, you must pacify all six of the Outer Domains and install an Overlord over each.
Mydravos walks outside the palace looking around it and see what this new place holds in store for him.
Stepping outside the palace, Mydravos sees the vast Courtyard surrounding him, and the great Pantheon temple at the center of the Courtyard. Looking around, he can make out a few of the other six palaces surrounding the Pantheon, and the canal encircling all...
”Six domains, six overlords, six contestants, one throne. I understand. Seems like we can’t kill each other till the end. Interesting. Cruel, but interesting. Ah well. Let’s meet the other sods, eh?”
After the six chosen champions have gathered their wits, gathered some information about their predicament from their clockwork servants, and gathered up and equipped their gear, they venture out of their palaces into the Courtyard.
It does not take them long to notice one another...
"So, I suppose you three are my co-players in this Game? Any idea where the last two are?" Essel, a dark-haired woman in white robes comments upon seeing the others. "Who are all you? I'm Essel, student of the arcane."
As mydravos walks forward he sees this group and listens to her speak then responds “A game you say, that sounds like the kind of thing lord hades would do. I only know of you three. But where are my manners, I am Mydravos, Hades harbinger.”
He looks like this but with more lordly clothes and no armor.
Sven walked up, and sized up the competition. They didn't seem like much of anything if it came to a fist fight, which told him that they were likely spellcasters.
"Seems like this is it for now. Mayhaps more will show up later after we've done the dirty work. Got some tricky gods out there. Though I'm of the mindset to just get on with it, regardless. Got ourselves six domains we need to subjugate, and something tells me the gods will get bored if we just sit on our arses."
Today is a temperate day in the Courtyard. A yellow sun shines directly overhead, indicating that it is about noon in the Gameboard when the champions emerge and begin to interact.
There is a light northwesterly breeze, and a few clouds in the azure sky above. The temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ground of the Courtyard is paved with gray cobblestones for as far as the eye can see, and seems level and flat, without valleys or hills. The palaces, central Pantheon, and encircling canal are the only visible features for leagues.
Birds fly in flocks overhead, sometimes landing on one of the palaces or the great Pantheon.
Rodents, arachnids, and other vermin scurry here and there, apparently sustained by fruits in the orchards and gardens surrounding the palaces and the Pantheon.
yes, I do think beginning this game is in our best interest. If we do not I fear that we may lose what little entertainment value we have now, and i would would like to keep that value. Losing it usually leads to a horribly agonizing death for those that become boring. mydravos says all this with the charismatic smile of someone who seems to have had their life threatened by beings of immense booker, plenty of times.
Essel stretches out her hand, feeling the air, "Well, at least it's comfortable here for now." she ventures up to the central building to get a glimpse of the Sphere, "Where should we start? The Urban domain would likely be the most straightforward- we can focus on fighting the inhabitants rather than just the elements." she suggests.
Mydravos nods That seems like a logical idea. he thinks to himself this woman is quite clever, she may prove very useful later on.
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Ealsealf stays back, observing the group from the roof-top of their palace. As Essel leads the group towards the Pantheon they fly down directly in the path of the party. "Merry meet to you, I assume that you are my competitors in this "Game of Mortals?" I am Ealsealf Greenleaves, at your service."
They look like this, except their armor is made from the skin of beasts instead of the skin of trees
Mydravos looks at this gathlain with confusion and suspicion. “yes, well met indeed. We could use the added help, pacifing entire realms is hard work.”
”Depends. This is entertainment, no? I’d suspect that each ‘realm’ is of manageable size, and with a challenge designed for us to overcome.”
A tall, armored warrior steps out of one of the palaces and walks toward the others that are beginning to gather.
Namaste! I am Ashok Raven, a sacred warrior of Shiva. I will do my best to represent my patron honorably.
"Merry meet to you, our newest companion in the Game of Mortals."
Merry meet to you, as well! replies the armored Hindi with a smile and a bow.
A sixth mortal champion arrives at this first meeting in the Courtyard. Tall, lean, muscular and clad in furs and scalemail armor, this woman has a wild, feral aspect, with lime green hair in dreadlocks and mismatched eyes of gold and silver. Strapped to her back is a great maul like a meat tenderizer (earth breaker).
Hallo, you lot! I be Rowena McAnnis, daughter of Bloody Maggie O' the Bog! It seems we'll be mates... for the nonce...
She grins a savage grin, bearing sharp canines...
Eyeing the hulking woman with suspicion, and also the horned tiefling, Ashok clears his throat.
Forgive this brief assessment I must make of your auras, my new companions... But I must know what I should expect from each of you...
Ashok gazes at each of his new companions briefly, as if examining their karmic auras...
Ah... So... Thank you...
Eyeing the hulking woman with suspicion, and also the horned tiefling, Ashok clears his throat.
Forgive this brief assessment I must make of your auras, my new companions... But I must know what I should expect from each of you...
Ashok gazes at each of his new companions briefly, as if examining their karmic auras...
Ah... So... Thank you...
Sneering at the paladin, the changeling tilts her head coyly.
Curiosity killed the cat, mate... Find out what ye was wantin' to know, did ye?
Eyeing the hulking woman with suspicion, and also the horned tiefling, Ashok clears his throat.
Forgive this brief assessment I must make of your auras, my new companions... But I must know what I should expect from each of you...
Ashok gazes at each of his new companions briefly, as if examining their karmic auras...
Ah... So... Thank you...
Sneering at the paladin, the changeling tilts her head coyly.
Curiosity killed the cat, mate... Find out what ye was wantin' to know, did ye?
I confirmed with my eyes what my nose was telling me... There's an evil smell in the air hereabouts... But no matter... We have a Game to get on with, yes?
I confirmed with my eyes what my nose was telling me... There's an evil smell in the air hereabouts... But no matter... We have a Game to get on with, yes?Eyeing the hulking woman with suspicion, and also the horned tiefling, Ashok clears his throat.
Forgive this brief assessment I must make of your auras, my new companions... But I must know what I should expect from each of you...
Ashok gazes at each of his new companions briefly, as if examining their karmic auras...
Ah... So... Thank you...
Sneering at the paladin, the changeling tilts her head coyly.
Curiosity killed the cat, mate... Find out what ye was wantin' to know, did ye?
So it seems, pretty boy!
Essel crosses her arms, Paladins she thinks with scorn, Typical.
Essel crosses her arms, Paladins she thinks with scorn, Typical.
From interrogating the pair of automatons I found in yonder palace, I have gathered that there are six Outer Domains adjacent to and surrounding this central Courtyard. Our first quest is to pacify each of these quarrelsome realms, and to place one of us as Overlord over each. Is that what you have also come to understand? Ashok asks to no one in particular...
"We're currently aiming for the city, I believe? It seems the most logical." Essel notes, "It would be good to get our bearings."
”It would.” The oread looked at the paladin. ”Why act surprised? Half the gods be evil. I’d assume they’d pick champions they see as suitable. But with six domains to beat down, I think we need to be alive till the end. So I wouldn’t worry ‘bout them lot yet. Now that we’re all friends until we’re told to kill each other ‘cause a Godling is nay longer amused, let’s go. Action is better than words.”
Mydravos watches as the two new players of this game come forward as and introduce himself. Yes, it is a pleasure. I am Mydravos. upon hearing of the Paladin speak of evil he sneers showing several of his large fanged teeth. What you call evil, I call practical. upon hearing this woman speak to the man he smiles. I like her attitude, very primal. once talk resumes of which domain we would attempt first and the call for action he chimes in Yes, yes let us be on our way. Before the Gods deem their playthings broken and replace us.
The Urban Domain lies to the southwest! cries Jangle in a melodic metallic soprano.
The six Mortal Champions begin to trek southwest across the Courtyard toward the great gateway to the Urban Domain. It is a journey of approximately five leagues (15 miles), and will take about five hours at a steady march, assuming no interruptions. It is about twenty minutes past noon on Day One of the Game of Mortals, so it should be close to dusk by the time the party arrives at the gateway to the Urban Domain...
After about an hour of travel...
From about 200 feet to the north comes the jangle of armor and the galloping scrape of big raptor-like talons on cobbles! Five humanoids in exotic, oriental-style armor, with long, curved greatswords (no-dachi) raised menacingly, mounted on ugly raptor-like birds the size of camels are charging across the Courtyard toward the party!
BREEYAAAAARRRKKK!!! scream the armored hobgoblins in unison!