Search Posts
Thanks guys. GM Fanguar is a tremendous GM, so it's extremely hard to let one of his games go, but I really want to ensure you guys all have a player who fully buys into the Way of the Wicked AP and can match Albrekt's hunger for destruction.
Hey guys! Sorry for the delays, but was slammed with the US holiday over here to a certain degree. As many of you recall I posted back in November that I was really struggling to sink my teeth into this AP for a number of reasons, none of which have anything to do with you guys or GM Fanguar - but I'm just not vibing the "evil AP" as much as I had hoped to. If GM Fanguar is OK with it, I'd like to offer up Kaynen's seat at the game for a replacement PC who could get more from the game and at the same time offer more to help the game pick up the pace. It seems like an appropriate time as folks are leveling up and I just hate being the least vested player into a game that could be made that much better by getting someone who'd really dig the whole setup.
Kaynen considers the chest for a moment. "Or, perhaps we spend a little more effort searching for the chest's key?" The bard-alchemist begins a thorough search of the chamber.
Kaynen nods in the general direction of Albrekt. "I'm sure he can carry it. I believe we have the simple matter of securing a few more rooms before our, ahh.. friends arrive?"
Kaynen knelt beside the chest and gave it a closer look.
Whistling, he stood, uncertain of the trap's origin but not wanting to appear so. "Not a simple matter, that one. We may wish to take the chest with us, it will take time and caution to ply its secrets, and I'd hate for this trap to destroy anything valuable hidden within."
"Well, that certainly makes things easy." Kaynen smirks as the commander disappears, continuing to whistle along to his bawdy tune.
for
Outside of the Lord Commander's room, Kaynen stifled a yawn. Everything had gone so easily, he had almost felt as if everything up to this point was merely a dream - or a ride in a riverboat where he was nodding off on a deck chair. As the Lord Commander called out a threat in Mitra's name, Kaynen's pulse raced as he "woke" from whatever daze he labored in. [b]"Oh! I know just the tune!"[b] The bard quickly began a somewhat vulgar rhyme, inserting Mitra in as the subject of all the mishaps and misteps.
As The Knot move swiftly and nearly quietly - save for Albrekt's heavy breathing, Kaynen kneels before the last door. Is it for dramatic effect? Did he even need to breath? Sucking in his own breath, Kaynen set to work on the final lock, hoping to ply its secrets as easily as the young ladies that he "studied" just a year ago before recent events began to unfold.
Kaynen winces, equal parts at Albrek's red grin and the sudden silence as the wizard's throat is slashed while he sleeps... the bard-alchemist clearly preferring the sounds of screams of burning victims to the silence that follows.
Kaynen shrugs and smirks, pushing back his hair. He whistles as he retrieves his implements, kneels and sets to work.
Kaynen hesitates briefly, watching the colors blast forth from Haruk and poised to work his mind-magic on any resistant guards.
Kaynen rubs his temples, the tension of the evening's events seeming to weigh on him in some manner. "The wizard's guards will likely know that a wizard is not one who requires guarding, and will likely be quite enthusiastic for a moment away from him. I do not doubt that internal politics will make such a ruse trivial, as the worship of Mitra comes along with the shackles of squabbling politics..."
I dropped our awesome GM a note that I was having some issues slogging through this PbP, which for me I think was two-fold: (a) the sandbox nature and (b) playing from an evil perspective. I still continue to pontificate which one is the bigger obstacle to getting fully immersed here...
Kaynen, arguably a by-stander as quiet deceptions were employed, simply gives a nod to Vank before stepping forward, kneeling and working to ply the lock's secrets.
Kaynen, lacking a light foot, but possessing an insatiable need to whistle, hesitates and gives the others a gesture indicating he's waiting a safe distance outside.
Kaynen, emboldened by the lack of resistance in what seems like ages, simply waves his hand at the others, encouraging them to move with due haste towards the priest's quarters.
Kaynen nods, humming to himself a mournful dirge that quickly turns to a haunting yet happy melody, as if the death of the priest were a happy moment for the world. He simply nods as he hums, indicating his approval of prioritizing the dispatching of the priest as their next goal.
Kaynen sighs and makes a mental note to carry a bucket of fresh livers and hearts to satiate Albrekt's latest bouts with his hunger. Now what rhymes with liver? Ah, yes... quiver.
Kaynen pauses on the Bridge of Death, finding it a source of momentary inspiration. "And no ballads or songs were composed of this tale? Pity... although I think the words are coming to me now." Giving a smile to the others, he adds, "pity it was ogres, I'd rather replace the victims with something that's easier to rhyme, although I will admit, it's been quite the challenge to rhyme Mitran. Luckily, it's quite a bit easier to rhyme with Mitran's screams..."
Kaynen considers a spell of his own, but simply holds his action when he sees Haruk proceeding along the same course. He smiles at Albrekt - a permissive grin. Soon enough, buddy. Soon enough.
Kaynen eagerly awaits the retrieval of the arrows, his mind alight with plans to burn them in a great pyre once they can be moved outside of town.
Perhaps with these cues from our GM it would make sense to attend the performance instead and try to get various folks in attendance to excuse themselves separately, individually and bring them to a point where folks are waiting in ambush? Pick them off one by one? Perhaps by suggesting that someone (Ember?) is waiting to "entertain" them?
Kaynen observed Albrekt's transformation quietly, his mind racing to compose a dark ballad that would be befitting to accompany such a transition. Absorbed in his own creativity, he was roused from his thoughts as Xanos proposed a plan involving fuses and fire. Smiling, he began to sway and bob his head working Xanos's words into his composition of burning curtains and props. His fingers itched for the cold feel his flasks and the fire that burned to be unleashed from within. That night he slept uneasy, anxiety consuming him and his thoughts of wanton fires and death looming on the next eve.
Kaynen winces as he observes Albrekt collapse, but arches an eyebrow as he's fascinated as the man appeared to actually enjoy whatever was inflicted upon him. He glances to his worthless bow and all put hurls it to the ground before he selects an "upgrade" in his assault with his free hand by liberating a small flask, shaking its contents and throwing it at the orb. "Back up a moment!"
for
Kaynen, observing his rousing ballad seems to be rousing his allies, continues on, despite the fact he's never really carried on a tune for more than a short while, at least one capable of supernatural rousing He then fires off another arrow from his wretched shortbow, for what good it may do. for
Kaynen continues his song while seeing if his first arrow bore ill luck, or is just going to be wholly ineffective regardless of his luck. for
Continuing to hum aloud , Kaynen works to ascertain how the glowing orb will respond to a well-placed arrow. for He then wonders how much work it will take to well-place an arrow, wishing their foe was instead a Mitran with his back turned to make it much easier to place said arrow.
Kaynen smirks at Haruk's ruse, finding it far too funny. When Ember springs into action, he no longer resists the laughter, bellowing and imagining the lightning-ball's expression if it only had the ability to appear shocked. Seeing as he's in a choir hall, Kaynen opts to sing, although instead of singing of Mitra's virtues, he weaves lyrics of Mitra's downfall.
Kaynen gestures at the doors. "Not every door requires such an approach." Kaynen begins systematically opening the doors.
Kaynen effects a dramatic bow and accepts the file. "Absolutely, my dear Xanos." With a smile, he kneels next to the lock, sweeping back his long hair and allowing his agile fingers to work their magic - whistling as he works. After completing the task, he stands and surveys the room. "Ah illusions. Now I wish I had studied more, conjuring a greedy dwarf is such an excellent suggestion, Herr Stormfist." Kaynen winks at Albrέkt as he addresses his fellow conspirator.
Knowing he has just a sliver of a second before Vank's spell takes hold, Kaynen works to buy time against the room's guard.
With the silence effect now preventing him from whistling, humming or performing anything really, Kaynen's hand strays to his side, quickly finding a flask and mixing its contents before lobbing it silently at the man before him. for
Kaynen smiles at the disheveled face, like a long-lost sibling returned after years of silence. "This one's of the utmost importance, it's heading..." Kaynen sticks his foot in the door to ensure it doesn't close prematurely. "... wait, is that a corvus albicollis? I've never seen one so..." He turns, his long hair hiding his smile, expecting his words to be cut short by silence at any moment...
Kaynen adds, "Well, don't kill one of them right away... we also don't want any witnesses." The bard-alchemist begins humming to himself, searching for appropriate funerary rights for the men before stopping. "Or, I suppose we could try the Branderscar "guard trick" all over again. Let me see if I can apply my charms to one of the men."
Bending down, Kaynen examines the lock, before standing and pushing back his hair again. "Beyond my skill, really. Perhaps if I studied more, but studying was always so dull." Kaynen takes a look down the stairwell. "Perhaps we can go, acquire the key from the good fellows below?"
Kaynen hesitates as he scans the supplies here.
Shrugging, he continues up the stairs behind Vank.
Kaynen does a quick count of the men and women. "Oh, gentlemen, I could always fetch a few more of her friends from outside if the party is going to be that large this evening."
Kaynen bows like a performer having already completed his performance. "Shall we?" Gesturing to the door beyond, he adds, "we should have about three hours, “The Fall of Amberlyn” is quite the show. It's almost a pit we have to miss it this evening." Kaynen hesitates ever briefly, considering how such a performance could be improved with some incendiary effects.
Kaynen good to go.
Kaynen smiles at Ember's proposal. "Agreed! That's a plan I can get behind."
With one swift movement, Kaynen pulls three vials from somewhere on his person and his lithe elven fingers make them "dance" as they spin and transition to and from various positions in his grip. "Poison, is it? Just say the word and the guards will find their next meals a bit more seasoned than they are used to..."
Kaynen continued to play to the dwarves' personal preferences, allowing them to revel in their victory over Albrekt. After a few more songs, he opted to pose a question to the audience. "So, in a properly fair contest which pits dwarf against dwarf, which one of you is most able to hold his or her drink? " Winking, he added. "I wouldn't to exclude the ladies, of course."
Kaynen continues to perform like he's nothing more than a traveling bard, occasionally working to stir up extra drinking on the parts of all dwarves not actively engaged in the contest. He almost seems to be another person given the good humored jests he keeps making in his efforts to "befriend" the demi-humans. "Ohhh... *chuckles* You're not going to let him drink that without you right?" "Who wants another shot? Ohhhh, I know you do!" "What? He did what? Oh, let's drink to that!" "Ouch, that's tough. You know what'd help? Another drink!"
"You there? Do you know The Feast of the Five King's Mountain?" Kaynen breaks into song, hoping the dwarves' join in...
... perhaps delivering an average performance so that the stout folk will "show him how it's really done". "My dear friends, I know the words, but I fear I may not have perfected the delivery"
Kaynen inches a few steps away from Albrekt and smiles, only slightly slipping in his cocksure demeanor. "Yes... of course, Albrekt. But not all of 've' will want to drink too much lest we lose our wits." He looks to the others for aid in placation of the group's anti-paladin and his insatiable hunger to inflict death.
Kaynen drums his fingers on the table. "I feel some sort of divine guidance leading us here... and the map is certainly where we're being pulled. He maintains the drumming, more rapidly building rhythm, seeming to almost be distracted by recreating some Taldan ballad before he suddenly stops. "A map does not take long to copy. A hang-over... welllll, those sometimes can take a whole day... or more." Kaynen smiles. "Didn't we just come into a lot of coin? Perhaps tonight's libations will be on us?"
Kaynen pushes his hair back and smiles, his agreement clear in his demeanor. "Tackling the dwarves next is a splendid idea... although, tackling a dwarf could prove difficult..." Kaynen waves his hand. "Center of gravity and all."
|
