Slurping loudly and regularly wiping his mouth with the back of his fist, Toc noisily makes his way through the meal.
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Toc, as usual, grunts and snorts on his way to the bar. He listens as Whitley orders "Sounds ok. I'll have two of what hes ordered." When the staff pause, wondering if Toc means he'll have 'what Whitley's having aswell' Toc gives a series of gestures, not often seen in polite company, that confirm his appetite in no uncertain terms. ...And your best wine!
Lip still curled in distain, Toc follows with the others.
"Hng. Your stuff is safe now Gnome. I will not have you beaten." Toc thinks of the rocks that await his attention at the foundry, it was a fair way to stretch his muscles and release the tension in his body but it did little to quiet his mind. His constant background urge to fight. "I will come and I will eat and I will listen. A warning to you, do not cross me or the Gnome. I would destroy you where you stood."
"I am Toc. Why have you been looking for me? Do I look starved to you?" Toc stretches to his full, intimidating height and puffs his muscular chest "Do you think I can be bought with bread? What do you want little man?"
"Only the godless have dull minds. My brain is shining Bronze."
Distracted by Whitley's sudden appearance Toc missteps and ends up kicking a stone water trough. "Is it a good morning Whitley? Do your wishes have that power? You smile away, but the wine is still sour and the rocks still bite." As the pain in his food fades so his grump mellows "But I hope you are well and your targets have been generous this morning." Toc spots Sirrus' approach
Toc trudges towards the foundry, never wavering. He does not step aside for other people, people tend to subconciously move out of his way. A nostril flares, fresh bread.the taste of the sour wine is still in his mouth, not the worst he has ever tasted, but not pleasant. After all, a detour through the agora would not make him late... Just less early than usual. Sniff... Sniff, sniff Ducking his shoulders under a low slung awning, Toc steps into the market, following his nose.
Toc sleeps nude, curled on the floor next to a perfectly serviceable bed. A bird lands on the window ledge and it's claws click on the the sun hardened wood. With a snarl Toc it awake, crouched like a predator ready to pounce, the hammer he has cradled all night held ready to swing. The tension drains from his large sinuous frame as he realises there is no foe. As he rises to his full formidable height, arms spread wide, he stretches every creaking and cracking muscle in turn. He ties a rough cloth about himself to save the locals their blushes and crams the last few mouthfuls of last night's meal into his maw. Finally, he washes his breakfast down with the dregs of a cup of wine gone acid overnight and heads off to the foundry.
Toc is an orc on a holy mission. Equipped with what he believes to be his God's blessed hammer, he is following prophetic dreams that the 'answers' lie under the city. He has been working in a foundry, breaking rocks and working bellows. He is stern, serious, and zealous. If a little dim.
Ha! I'd all but given up on this one. Longest recruitment ever! Excited to go though, let's do this!
I look forward to seeing what you come up with Ruin. Some more details on Toc
10 Minute Character:
Five concept capturing points 1) Born physically ‘different’ (see appearance) bony, lean, facial structure is more simian than traditional orc. Toc also has regular dreams, unusually vivid dreams. Toc was maltreated as a child and eventually left his society as a young adult. To what extent this was his own decision vs it being forced upon him is debatable. He survived, barely, through a combination of self-sufficiency and working as a guard on the occasional mercantile caravan. 2) Finds an old hammer, abandoned in the wastes, and as he touches it it changes in his grip, a crystalline shell forms around it and the haft seems to mould to his fist. To Toc this is obviously an ancient relic. Toc’s mind drifts back to stories he had heard, to watching brutal soldiers sparing. The Sons of Grom. In Toc’s rather simple mind there is no doubt, this is The Hammer of Grom. 3) Following the finding of the hammer Toc’s dreams begin to feel almost prophetic, he gets the idea that he must travel to The City, that under the city lie the answers, the meaning. He is Grom’s Chosen one and he must follow his destiny. 4) Arrives in the city and has been working as a foundry assistant. Working bellows and breaking raw materials. He is biding his time for the opportunity to travel the undercity and follow his ‘destiny.’ 5) Toc is a fanatically driven and zealous character. He is unapologetically physical and considers it his destined duty to honour his god, Grom, to the extent that he refers to himself as Brother Toc (a nod to his parallel path with the sons of Grom.) He is slow of speech and unlearned but wise in his own way. He is loyal just so long as that loyalty does not get in his way and serves his agenda (as defined by his interpretation of his dreams/what he believes Grom wants him to do) Two character goals
Two secrets
Dramatis Personae
Key memories
…and a fear!
Any notes to tighten it into the setting GM?
First draft of Toc is done. I know his backstory/character in my head, just need to write it up. Few queries when you have a minute GM: On the Wiki the equipment section there are lists of a few items with costs, will we be using this coinage? Are there stats for these items? I've just taken bare bones at the moment (need to add armour and misc) I've added background skills, let me know if these aren't in use and I'll lose them. One of the traits I've selected, Big-boned, is technically for Tieflings only. Its perfect for fluff and crunch but again, if your not happy I'll pick another.
Oh no. If your reasons are personal then noone cam argue with that, but I think there's life in this yet if you wanted to try and keep going, I for one would love to continue. Apart from anything else its just getting juicy and I'm pretty sure I just blew a man up! T
Toc drops to one knee, snapping a shot off at the most dangerous looking World Eater as he does so. Then launches a krak grenade at the same marine. "Now's your chance volunteers!" Calculations:
Half action standard attack against any world eater using a special close combat weapon, otherwise the nearest.
BS 65+10=75 Miss Half action standard attack against same marine.
Hit(2 degrees of success) Left Leg
Ouch! Looking at the crit table this could get interesting!
Yeah, its great. Increasing post rate might make things smoother though. T
I'm happy with either, depends how hot you need us to be on exact positioning to be honest. T
"I'll take unusual weapons as well...oh and explosives... Any explosives!" The group can almost hear glee in brother Toc's voice
caution is the better path but... nothing that can deploy from one pod can withstand our force as it stands... Marines, what say you we play a little prey turned predator on whoever's in that drop pod? Spread out, get the drop on them, and see if we cant keep someone talking long enough to gather some inteligence? Captain, I think maybe you best make up our second wave..."
As the group move through the ruins... "is there anything you can tell us of what happened when you were in orbit captain? Anything at all? I understand you had to make hasty planetfall, how are your ammunition supplies?"
Balls! Sorry, can't edit that now... T
"Dapphon, can you find our way back to the Captain, maybe he has made contact with other forces." The marines move off once we have regrouped with the captain we much take an oath, we must be united in this
I hear what your saying, but I see this battle slightly differently. There are fights going on all over the city but they are nothing like this. This is the point where Angron is making planet-fall, where the terror that is the world eaters unleash what will become their legendary blood-lust. This is not a fight where tactical withdrawl is an option. I dont think we will reach the Deathguard on the outskirts, I'm sure we will meet other pockets of resistance/traitors between here and there, things will develop. I think in 40k you're absolutely right. Marines are used to acting with autonomy, forces are much smaller. But in 30k these marines are very small fish in huge schools warfare is very different and I dont think even sergeants would be acting with much autonomy. On top of this the taboo of fighting fellow marines would be a major stalling point. Thiel was called out by his Primarch and sanctioned by Guilleman for even considering the possibility. I don't think, without more information about what is going on here, we would rush to kill fellow marines. Lastly, if this were a fighting withdrawal then we would see marines falling back already, I think this is a last stand. Holding Angron long enough to provide time for other marines to fall back, regroup and form a proper defense and push back. Toc would rather be in the push back than the last stand. Sorry to argue but I think this is an important point in the campaign that we need to reach a consensus on. T
Toc steps up to the former world eater, Laying a hand on his pauldron. "Stand down sergeant. Please. I do not command, the rank is yours. But I ask as a brother marine, as a comrade. I hear you renouncing the actions of your legion. Renouncing their name. Renounce with that their reckless abandonment of sense. Step away from this fight and prove yourself the better marine. There will come a reckoning, I oath myself to that, but sell your life more dearly than this. Take this oath with me... All of you, take this oath with me. We march to our certain deaths, but not here, not now. The Imperium will sing our names for all eternity!" Toc gently urges the warhound to his feet and turns to the group "Dapphon, lead on to Vorr. And on the way, keep an eye out for somewhere we may take an oath..."
Well the consensus seems to be that we'd love to, but we can't. So I think that's the way we roll... Posted. I hope its persuasive enough for y'all. We're not making our first battle a fight with angron me thinks... Plus ooc I have a sneaky suspicion I know who's coming next! T
Hear hear! Its very real I feel. But as fitting as the disagreement is, we need a course of action. Lets give Barak and Tyranius a chance to have their say, then decide. T
I'm more than happy to get stuck in here. I know Toc is technically leader but RP wise he's surrounded by superiors at this stage he's flexing his command muscles but I'm trying to reflect the fact that he's torn. He tries to make the "right" tactical decision in every situation but is not used to being master of his own destiny. In this instance he is deferring somewhat to Dapphon, subconsciously he also craves meeting up with a proper chain of command. All that being said, lets get stuck in marines! T
"We cannot let this go unanswered! To walk from this fight leaves us as onlookers, I have never been an onlooker in this lifetime. We must strike a blow first, then make all haste to link with Vorr and the others. We cannot be bystanders to this fratricide... I may speak out of turn, I am outranked on all sides, but I say we cannot let this stand..." Toc slumps, his vitriol fading and yet what can we possibly achieve "...you are correct sirs. Though the words stick in my throat. We must be wise in our actions. Which way to Vorr, Sergeant Dapphon?"
a lesson in level headedness from a devourer of worlds... This day has reduced me... "you are right sergeant, I regret speaking ill of you earlier. We must enter this arena, it is the only way to know..."
"But surely we can't just leave the defenders here without assisting! Has anyone made any contact? Do we even know who is defending this area from Angron's forces?"
In a level, consideted tone... "Do not confuse my tactical caution with cowardice world eater, question my legion brothers' honour again and I will cook you where you stand. I see only one set of legion colours 'turning traitor' here..." Turning to Dapphon... "Did the commander give any indication of his forces' movements, are they headed this way? Should we move to meet them sergeant?"
"Captain Temeter? Captain Garro? Have they responded to your vox?" Toc seems visually relieved at the prospect of a chain of command.
As we approach the LZ... "Still no contact made with friend or for?... I suggest we move round the plaza and keep our heads down, we need to link up with whoever is still holding out here. If anyone makes any contact shout it loud and clear that we are not with the assaulting force!
"I think Dapphon should range well ahead of the rest of us, he's by far the stealthiest and may well be more trusted by the defenders than... Some of us.
What sort of dimensions are we talking?
Toc falls in as rearguard with practiced precision, moving with the motley group towards whatever fate had planned for them. Switching back to his trusty bolter, he pans the surrounding areas. ...does the emperor protect?...
My question in the gameplay thread wasn't very well put, sorry. I was just wondering whether the marines that introduced themselves with their 'old' legion names, (Dapphon - duskraider etc) would want to change that. Since we don't know what's happened yet there would be no reason to renounce the new names yet, does that make any sense at all? Or shall I just shut up and slink away...
"A more Pressing concern, we now know we are opposed to at least a portion of the World Eaters... and yet we march with two of Angron's sons... how far can we trust our quiet companions"
Yeah, it's the bundle deal thingy. Since Tyranius abandoned his legion having served heroically, presumably for centuries, he must have seen some things! We humble marines were all on Istvaan during the strikes but Tyranius must have seen some evidence and therefore know a lot more about what is going on. Since he was not sent to Istvaan in the first place Fulgrim must have trusted him. I guess the question is how much GM wants us to know at this stage. T
"Agreed sergeant, we need to think and act strategically now... It is clear to me that defending the LZ would be our objective. No ground forces would ever bring down virus bombs on themselves. And since we have seen no planetfall before now, the forces defending the LZ must form, at least partialy, the target of the bombs. By extension we oppose the World Eater assault." We face at least two legions. Tyranius claims the Emperor's Children unleashed the horror, and now the World Eaters follow on the heel "Captain, I would dearly like to know more of what you saw in orbit... how deep is the rot?"
"one marine can change the course of a war, five can shape planets. It's just a matter of finding the right place to be at the right time."
Would we marines recognise what happened I.e. that virus bombs ets were used?
"Sergeant Dapphon, may I borrow those magnoculars?"
Toc hands the magnoculars to Barak "call it a hunch, does your lord Angron lead that formation? " When do the eaters of worlds make planetfall after a orbital strike... When there are foes to finish up close... What force in the galaxy could survive today's firestorm and be facing the prospect of an assault by Angrons finest and still need softening up on the way in... Only legion forces... Toc slows, gazing at the sundered clouds... what is going on up there
"Sergeant Gil'een! Sergeant, are you in contact with those forces?" It seems a battle has begun. In times like these, battle strips illusion and reveals truth. If any sense is to made of this day, I'd wager that battle is where it shall be found "Goldenboy, any luck with that vox link? Gil'een?... Kemeul?... does have any information!" Exasperated Toc opens a private vox link... "I don't trust that salvation is descending on these wings... Do you recognise the attack pattern Sergeant? Is there anything you can tell me about those forces? We need to start acting smart"
If no-one has any objections shall we move forward with me leading and the Oath of the emperor? T
Yeah I'd be happy with either of those oaths. (Toc edit complete) T
It seems we are surrounded by the Eaters of Worlds "Any more of you white ghosts in the night sergeant Gil'een?" "It seems we are forced into a party of sorts, each of us have had more than enough opportunities for ambush and slaughter, so I suggest we find somewhere safer to parley" "Sergeant Dapphon, do you not think we should find somewhere nearby that will provide cover for us all? Goldenboy included. I suspect his bulk is beyond the sewerage system." "I think you should keep an eye on our ghostly companions, Angron's feral brood can be unpredictable." As Dapphon moves off and the others follow, Toc takes rearguard behind the Dreadnaught, meltagun in hand.
I'll lead then, that being the case would it be ok if I were to rearrange my stat advances slightly, nothing major, just to make my Fellowship workable? Oath wise my vote would be for the Oath of the Emperor. Is the Oath changeable on the same basis as the leader, or is that fixed? T
Toc swings the melta to cover Barak "Is that an order Eater of Worlds?! Explain yourself and your sudden arrival here unannounced" "Is this your engineer then?" three legions, yet no hard information...
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