Here is the gameplay thread.
"And so it begins." - King Theoden of Rohan
DOT
"I'm here to kick butt, and chew bubble gum...and I'm all out of BUBBLE GUM!"
Dot
The sound comes first - not words, but metal, deliberate and sure. The measured cadence of heavy boots over stone. No rush. No hesitation.
Then he steps into view: Image
A man clad in full plate, the kind not polished for court but hammered for war, dulled by dust and time. His arms, with gauntlets spiked and scarred, hang at his sides - silent promises of violence.
His face is worn, pale from long marches beneath moonlight, not sun. Silver eyes scan the scene like a soldier counting threats, not companions. He says nothing at first.
When he speaks, his voice is rough and quiet.
Measured. Like a man who values silence and spends words carefully, as one might spend coin before winter.
"If you were waiting for a sign," he says, adjusting the strap on his armor, "you might consider me one."
He doesn't smile.
We will begin after 4:00 pm today.
hooray
You all start on your way to the Inn of the Last Home. Otik is preparing some stewed potatoes. You are all gathering here to discuss signs of the True Gods (Paladin, Gilean, and Takhisis to be sure).
Heading there, you see some goblins discussing the whereabouts of some kind of Crystal Staff.
"Goblins ahead," Ahto whispers quickly to the group. He reflexively checks the crossbow in his hand is cocked and loaded.
Ahto makes a careful assessment of the group, looking for the biggest, most dangerous goblin.
Yes, you're on the road to Solace and heading to the inn.
"Goblins ahead," Ahto whispers quickly to the group. He reflexively checks the crossbow in his hand is cocked and loaded.
Ahto makes a careful assessment of the group, looking for the biggest, most dangerous goblin.
Naturally curious, Drakkor attempts to see if he can hear more about what they are discussing.
The half-elf walks with his hood up, his green cloak covering part of his white robes. Though they are not as fancy as a wizard of greater power, they are better than those he wore as an apprentice mage, even if he was apprenticed to his parents in the Tower of Wayreth, or here in Solace, since his mother and by extension himself, would not really be allowed in Qualanesti, while his father, a white robed war wizard was allowed to go in and out of the elven lands.
He looked up at his patron, Solinari, his mind on his Test and the gift he was given by Par-Salian, the Staff of Magius. It had been grueling but his dedication to Solinari in the Test was rewarded by Par-Salian.
He was thinking of this as his companions moved towards the Inn of the Last Home, a place that he had been to a few times before. Thinking about staff his grasped and caressed the Staff of Magius in his hand, a Blue Crystal staff? he whispered to his companions.
Naturally curious, Drakkor attempts to see if he can hear more about what they are discussing.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
The goblins speak intelligibly to your minotaur ears.
The goblins speak intelligibly to your minotaur ears.Naturally curious, Drakkor attempts to see if he can hear more about what they are discussing.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
The goblins speak intelligibly to your minotaur ears.Naturally curious, Drakkor attempts to see if he can hear more about what they are discussing.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
They are just looking for it for their superiors.
As she speaks goblin, Kellandra listens and translate. The Inn of the Last Home might have to wait a little.
She readies an arrow on her bow with years of practice.
She's a tall woman, six feet, and well muscled, with dark long hair currently free, and grey eyes.
She usually wears casual, loose clothes, but on the road a light chain shirt covers her upper body, and a long, curved blade rests on her side.
Varis steps forward next to the minotaur.
"Anyone speaks that gibberish?" he asks
"I can just step up and ask them what's this all about?"
Varis steps forward next to the minotaur.
"Anyone speaks that gibberish?" he asks
"I can just step up and ask them what's this all about?"
Smiling down at the others, the brown and red furred minotaur speaks with an air of intensity and intelligence that seems odd to most people. His rough but simple clothing, rope belt, and walking staff seem at odds to his demeanor and size. He presents himself as a simple farmer or wanderer, but no one laughs at the hulking humanoid with fists the size of small hams.
”Goblin is not a language I have mastered yet, but they are speaking mostly in the common vernacular as far as I can hear…something about looking for a crystal staff of some sort for their masters.”
Drakkor leans harder on his driftwood quarterstaff.
”It must be a magical item of some sort. Crystals shatter easily, so even diamond would be impractical and nearly useless as a weapon of such nature unless reinforced with magic. What say you wizard? Does my logic reason out?”
Varis steps forward next to the minotaur.
"Anyone speaks that gibberish?" he asks
"I can just step up and ask them what's this all about?"
Yes, you all know each other. :)
"Move off the road and let us pass!" Ahto shouts to the goblins. "You have no business with us, and we don't want any trouble!" He taps the stock of his crossbow for emphasis.
"Move off the road and let us pass!" Ahto shouts to the goblins. "You have no business with us, and we don't want any trouble!" He taps the stock of his crossbow for emphasis.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
One of the goblins look at you. Apparently, you put fear into the others.
"We are looking for the blue crystal staff," he says, trying to hide his fear.
Sighing, Drakkor feels that things will undoubtedly escalate. He shifts a bit, putting a foot properly for a better balanced stance.
”It should be obvious we are not carrying such a device or artifact. My staff is merely wood. Feel free to inspect it.”
He then holds the staff out casually.
Sighing, Drakkor feels that things will undoubtedly escalate. He shifts a bit, putting a foot properly for a better balanced stance.
”It should be obvious we are not carrying such a device or artifact. My staff is merely wood. Feel free to inspect it.”
He then holds the staff out casually.
The goblin takes a look at it, checking it's weight. "This is not the staff we are looking for," says the goblin.
The minotaur nods gently, his large polished horns glinting in the sunlight, and takes back the driftwood.
”As I said.”
"These are enemies. Why talk to them?!"
Varis doesn't speak much, but his fists are clenched tight. He speaks very softly, ideally so only his group can hear.
Because you'll meet more enemies than friends in your life anyway?
says Kellandra with a smirk
Kellandra lowers her bow, and talks to the goblin who seems in charge
It's been a long road, and we only want to get some food and rest in a safe place. Can we pass, as we don't have the staff you are looking for, obviously?
She pauses for a few seconds, then adds
MInd if I try to help you? That blue crystal staff you're looking for, do you know where it was last seen? It probably don't walk all by itself on the roads, I'm sure. Who's carrying it, do you know? Kenders? And if we got news about it, how can we inform you?
The wizard is watchful but silent, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to himself being a half-elf, a wizard and a wizard with a magical staff.
"We're at war and they are monsters! If you help them you're aligning with the armies of darkness!" hissing at Kellandra, Varis grows agitated, the smirk bothering him more than it should.
He visibly collects himself, but remains tense, ready to charge. He understands this is probably (hopefully) just a ploy to get goblins to talk, but he has hard time holding himself in check against those who burned his home.
Moving slightly, Drakkor attempts to place a calming hand on Varis’ shoulder, and whispers gently.
”Your anger is justified, but now is not your time. This is not your moment. Gather your courage to find patience, and see what fate brings. You may yet have your fight, but don’t let those of lesser nature pull you to their base level. Rise above it all, because we cannot fight whole armies by ourselves.”
Ahto shifts the focus of his gaze onto the goblin commander.
He keeps his crossbow lowered, but in the event that things go south, he knows where the first bolt will fly.
Because you'll meet more enemies than friends in your life anyway?
says Kellandra with a smirk
diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Kellandra lowers her bow, and talks to the goblin who seems in charge
It's been a long road, and we only want to get some food and rest in a safe place. Can we pass, as we don't have the staff you are looking for, obviously?
She pauses for a few seconds, then adds
MInd if I try to help you? That blue crystal staff you're looking for, do you know where it was last seen? It probably don't walk all by itself on the roads, I'm sure. Who's carrying it, do you know? Kenders? And if we got news about it, how can we inform you?
"All you need to know is that we are looking for information."
He looks at Varis and says, "I don't like you."
The half-elf speaks up, with some hesitance, but chooses his words wisely. We have no quarrel with anyone here. As you can see, we have no staff made of crystal, only ones made of wood. Let us pass and be on our way and we will leave you to yours.
He looks at Varis and says, "I don't like you."
Varis just keeps staring, tense.
Redmane tries to stop things before they escalate, letting his voice lose the easy going manor he had maintained up to that point.
”Either arrest us or let us go. We have people waiting for us.”
Redmane tries to stop things before they escalate, letting his voice lose the easy going manor he had maintained up to that point.
”Either arrest us or let us go. We have people waiting for us.”
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Fewmaster Toede and the others back down, and let you pass.
Drakkor does not trust the goblinoids, and keeps an eye on them, but leads the group toward the inn.
Ahto keeps his head scanning turning right and left so that the goblins are in his periphery as he walks. He keeps his crossbow cocked and ready.
"Any encounter with goblins you can walk away from is a good one," he says to no one in particular.
He's the one who seems to be barking orders. All of the goblins were in leather jerkins, his has a red stripe.
Turning back to the road, Drakkor comments mostly to himself.
"The history of goblins in Abanasinia is quite varied. Although I think joining an army is normally against basic goblin beliefs of self-preservation. The army must have promised them much for such loyalty."
They are numerous, and vicious, treacherous foes. So they are mostly used as foot soldiers, where they hope to overrun their opponents, and that the fatal blow will fall on the next goblin, not theirs. Not that much different that any human army, when you think about it.
Kellandra thinks a little, then says
That big, fat goblin leader was a little more cunning that I expected. I tried to get some information out of his mouth, but he wasn't as gullible as I thought.
She turns to Varis and adds
That's why I talked to goblins. War is chaos enough, and puts an end to the best ordered plans. You have to get informations to be succesful in a battle, or at least to reduce your losses, don't you agree?
Drakkor smiles gently and glances at Varis after Voss's question.
"I doubt Varis will agree. He seems determined to whet his sword with the blood of his enemies. But that IS what a sword is made for...Correct?"
Varis shrugs at Kellandra's remark. "Goblins are impulsive and unreliable. They won't be entrusted with anything significant."
Turning to Drakkor, he meets his gaze. "We erred in letting them go. They only let us go because we're strong, they prey on the weak. We've failed to protect the next innocent traveller. This is war - our people's safety is paramount."
He gestures to his tabard. "I might be the last of my line, casualties of this war. But it wasn't goblins who caused it - it was their generals...humans."
His fists, encased in spiked gauntlets, unclench in the next few minutes. He continues in silence.
"If even one of those goblins had escaped, our faces would be posted on every tavern and jailhouse wall from here to Tarsis. If we are going to become a part of this war, which seems more and more inevitable at this point, we need to pick our battles carefully and not draw undue attention to ourselves."
Redmane sighs.
”Inevitable. That term definitely seems to apply way too often lately. My father taught me to avoid conflict when possible. Inevitably it comes to you whether you want it or not. Of course this is coming from a Minotaur of course. My kind tend to draw conflict by our mere presence it seems.”
The White Robe adds to the discussion, Often prudence is necessary in these areas. We do not know how many goblins are in the area and the results of our actions may bring doom to Solace. If we find out more infomation, then we can be forewarned and forearmed.
No. You did not.