The midday sun beating down on Faerun wakes you from your slumber and stings your eyes as you try to open them. The fresh summer breeze does nothing to cool the warmth of the sun, but does bring the pleasant smell of trees in the height of their grandeur for the year. It feels as though you have been sleeping for hours and you are suffering from a dull pain in the back of your head. A brief feeling of the area gives no clues as to the cause of the pain. Searching the other parts of your body, you find no signs of injury. Scattered around you is all the earthy possession you took with you out of Rashemen the day you set off on your dajemma.
Glancing around, you find yourself on the side of a sizable hill. Masses of trees span out between yourself and the next small hill that blocks your view and forms a small valley. No signs of civilization on the floor of the valley can be seen in either direction. Behind you is the mouth of a cave that seems especially dark in contrast to the hot sun bearing down on you. Birds chirp cheerfully in the distance but you cannot help but sense that something is not right about this situation.
Try as hard as you might, you cannot conjure any concrete memory of what you had done recently or how you had come to be passed out in this small clearing. Trying to pinpoint any image or idea only leaves you a bit confused and bewildered. You can clearly remember leaving your home in Rashemen and heading across Lake Ashane into the lands called Ashanath on the eastern boarders of the Great Dale. You also remember traveling for many days by foot after abandoning your small keelboat. After this there is nothing but a black void in your memory with a few scraps of information floating just outside of your reach. Flittering images of a strange man with a wily beard and the mention of some type of contest are the only things that you have any sense of certainty that are part of your recent history. Concentrating on these points in your memory only send the ideas skittering back into you unconsciousness.
What do you do?
Spoiler:
This will be the only time I tell you what your character is thinking or feeling. It is part of the opening story, but I still make my apoligies. The helm is yours, sir.
Mynis look around bewildered. How could I let such important facts slip my mind. I must have been struck by a brigand or run afoul of a sorcerer. Perhaps not, I seem to have all of my possessions and I don't feel charmed.
He slowly gather his scattered belongings and moves toward the cave. After all, my loss of memory could have been brought on by to much exposure to the heat and sun. Mynis takes a cool drink from his waterskin then stow it safely away in his pack.
He slowly approaches the cave. This might be a suitable place to camp for the day and clear my head.
Spoiler:
Is this how you would like the post to be formated? Also I lets try me desctibeing my attacks and you can roll and tell me the effects. I have a cool way that I can guess the rolls without you have to tell me how bad I missed by.
Ac 10 minus/pluss size mods, exuals clean miss.
Dex, dodge, deflection etc. Equals enemy dodges/parries.
shield bonus plus enchancements equals enemy blocks.
Natural armor then Armor and its enchanments = hits but no penetration.
Upon entering the cave a cool wind coming from within the cave overtakes you and cools your body within a few seconds. It takes some time for your eyes to adjust. The walls are uncut stone that look as if they are damp. In a few spots plants have powered their way through the stone and have taken up residency, feeding off the small amount of sunlight entering the cave and the dampness of the cave itself. In the distance, perhaps thirty feet in front of you, there is a flickering light being whipped around by the breeze.
Spoiler:
I assume that everyone will have their own way of formatting their posts. Yours is perfectly fine in my opinion. Also, I like your idea of describing attacks, I will use it.
In the distance, perhaps thirty feet in front of you, there is a flickering light being whipped around by the breeze.
Mynis, unsure if this is his campfire or a possible assailant's, draws his large curved Falchion and sets it at the ready. After checking to see if anyone or anything could prevent his retreat from the cave, spot modifier of 2 (ranks 2 wis 0) he slowly approaches the source of the flickering light.
After venturing a few feet further into the cave it can be clearly seen that the unidentified light is a lone torch mounted sitting in a small torch holder affixed to the wall. As you approach it you notice the walls have turned to worked stone with strange writing inscribed from ceiling to floor in a foreign language.
After walking perhaps thirty-five feet you reach the torch. You see the hallway ends ahead of you with the torch mounted on this wall and branches to the left and right at ninety degree angles. Running water can be heard to the right passage while the source of the breeze seems to be coming from the left passage. Both passages continue for some distance before ending in seemingly impenetrable darkness.
After walking perhaps thirty-five feet you reach the torch.
Mynis takes the lone torch in his right hand. He rolls it in his hand, inspecting it, to see if he can get an idea of how long it may have been burning.
hmm... to the right I hear water. I think I will go left. I wouldn't whant to chance my only source of light getting extinquished.
Walking slowly down the hallway, after turning left, Mynis thinks to himself, what a strange place this is to be found out here in the wilderness. Chuckeling to himself Mynis muses, wouldn't it be ironic if it was in this place I lost my memory? Now I return to have in search of answers only to have them lost again. What a visious cycle that would be.
The torch appears to not have been lit very long, ten minutes at the longest. The torch struggles in the strong breeze as you make your way down the hallway.
As you move into the darkness the sound of running water fades until you can hear nothing but the wind moving past your ears. The flickering flame reveals the corridor is again covered by strange foreign writing from ceiling to floor. After what must be more than fifteen yards the corridor slopes down and a strong light can be seen illuminating an opening to what must be a large room.
Spoiler:
Dungeons may be too complex from play-by-post D&D. There are a lot of stopping points that, while add to the atmosphere of the dungeon/world, tend to slow down gameplay. What do you think?
As you move into the darkness the sound of running water becomes greater.
clarification: I thought I went to the left away from the sounds of water. Is this still correct?
Alkuin wrote:
After what must be more than fifteen yards the corridor slopes down and a faint light can be seen illuminating an opening to what must be a large room.
Mynis gently rests the torch on the corridor floor, careful to not let it extinguish. Now with his second free he grips his mighty blade with both hands. The leather grip comforting in some small way. Slowly and as silently, as man clad in chain mail can be, he approaches the the illuminated room. Stopping as he nears the doorway to peer inside.
Spoiler:
I've never been a fan of dungeons anyways. They don't really seem all that "realistic" even in a fantasy setting. However, cellars, crypts, natural caverns, and true jail style dungeons can add considerably to the feel of an adventure. In the case of play by post we may want to make them less elaborate so as not slow the pace to a crawl.
Peering through the door you are treated to a view of a beautiful domed cavern the size of two barns put together. A three yard diameter hole is located at the top of the dome. This hole is both the source of the strong wind, which is now causing your braids to flutter around wildly, and a large beam of sunlight. The beam of sunlight shines directly down onto another smaller dome made of twelve mirrors which separate the light into smaller beams of light that serve to brilliantly illuminate the room. The walls are no longer made of carved stone, but are again rough stone with thousands of small white crystals. The light bouncing off these crystals gives the walls a slight glow, as if enchanted by some ancient magic of times forgotten.
There is no floor in the room as far as you can see into the darkness below you, even with the great amount of light helping you. A small four foot circular platform made of an unknown metal seems to be floating about a yard from the door. Even with the wind whipping around the room the platform does not move or shake.
Across the room, through the beam of light, you can see an open door again leading into darkness. You strain your ears trying to make out the sound of anything besides the winds flowing past your head. After a few moments you can hear the slight sounds of giggling in high-pitched voices coming from below you.
Peering through the door you are treated to a view of a beautiful domed cavern the size of two barns put together. The walls are no longer made of carved stone, but are again rough stone with thousands of small white crystals. The light bouncing off these crystals gives the walls a slight glow, as if enchanted by some ancient magic of times forgotten.
Mynis whistles threw his teeth at the sight of this wondrous room. Satisfied his sword would not be necessary here he replaces it in its scabbard on his back. Mynis takes a few moments to retrieve the torch he left behind. Carefully approaching the edge Mynis then reaches out as far as he can stretch. His fingers very close to one of these beautiful crystals. He decides to risk another few inches to see if he can secure himself such a wondrous souvenir. After all, who would believe his story if he had nothing to show for it.
Alkuin wrote:
There is no floor in the room as far as you can see into the darkness below you, even with the great amount of light helping you. A small four foot circular platform made of an unknown metal seems to be floating about a yard from the door. Even with the wind whipping around the room the platform does not move or shake.
After succeeding at securing a crystal (or not) Mynis turns his attention to the mystical floating disk. Seeing know other way to reach the other side of the cavern, and not one to shirk a test of his courage, he leaps toward the center of the platform. All the while praying to Mystra that whatever great magic wielder created this place intended for this unknown metal saucer to hold his weight.
Spoiler:
I would like to take a 10 for the jump and for balance if necessary. I have a -2 jump (str +3 armor check -5) and a -3 balance (dex+2 -5 armor check) hope this isn't hard!
Mynis stretches his body to its limits and a single medium sized crystal is barely within his grasp. Fumbling with the crystal he finds it to be strongly affixed to the wall. Taking hold of the crystal in one hand while using the other to hold onto the doorway as not to plunge into the perilous depths below, Mynis gives the crystal a strong pull in an attempt to free the crystal. The crystal does not move and Mynis begins to lose his footing. Letting loose of the crystal he quickly sets his feet back into place and watches a few loose stones fall down into the depths. He listens for the sounds of the rocks striking bottom for a few moments, but gives up after it is apparent no sound is coming. Not being on to give up on a task so easily, he stretches out again for the crystal. This time he doubles his efforts to loose the crystal. This time it comes free in his hand and he is able to pull it into the doorway. The crystal is made of a milky white substance and still gives off a faint glow whenever sunlight strikes its smooth surface. Placing the crystal into his backpack he turns his attention to the floating platform.
The platform only stands a few feet from the entrance of the room, but the price of failure for a jump like this would be disastrous indeed. Mynis takes his time and resettles his gear. After a few moments he feels ready, makes a running start from the corridor, and leaps into the wind. As he flies through the air he again hears the high pitched giggles coming from somewhere below. The sounds of laughter vanishes by the time he successful lands on the platform, albeit on the very edge of the platform. Mynis regains his balance within seconds despite the strong wind still whipping past his body. The platform does not shift at all under the weight of his body.
After standing on the platform for about a quarter minute, Mynis notices two metallic objects floating up through the darkness. They gracefully spin as the rise from the darkness giving the impression that the platforms were meant to be inviting, and even beautiful to someone who finds metal enchanting. The objects settle to the right and left of the current platform at forty five degree angles and look to be identical platforms to the one Mynis now stands upon except for many intricately carved symbols running in a spiral from the outer edge of the disk to the very center. The platform float a perilous two feet away from his current platform. While the platform on the right stands unmoving, the platform on the left shakes unsteadily in the wild winds.
After the platforms float into place, two flying creatures also ascend from the darkness below. They float around the room giggling to themselves, seemingly carried by the wind. The creatures finally come to settle before Mynis and stare at him inquisitively. They look like small cloud white humans, perhaps three feet tall, with whirlwinds of air where their legs should have been. The float about five feet out from Mynis and a few feet above his head, continuously watching him.
Spoiler:
Take a look at the jump rules. No chance for a running start no and with the wind and starting/landing points taking a 10 is no longer possible
[The creatures finally come to settle before Mynis and stare at him inquisitively. They look like small cloud white humans, perhaps three feet tall, with whirlwinds of air where their legs should have been. The float about five feet out from Mynis and a few feet above his head, continuously watching him.
Mynis never haven seen such magical sprites greats them as he would any other person. "Hello Neighbors, I am Mynis Morne. I hope I am not intruding into your place of dwelling. I was unaware that anyone my live in such a magnificent place, such as this." he said as he sweeps his hand in an arc gesturing to the room about him.
"May I have your names that we may call each other friend?"
If I get no response in common I would like to repeat myself in my other known languages.
The strange beings look at each other and begin talking excitedly in a tongue you have never encountered before. After a rapid exchange ending with more giggles they turn their attention back to you and the one on the right begins to speak in the common tongue. Its speech is high pitched and excited, like the sound of strong wind whistling past a chimney on a stormy night.
"Greetings traveler, I am known as Shazara and this is my sister Hael."
The creature on the left quickly tilts forward, obviously an attempt to imitate a bow used by the Human nations. Shazara begins talking again in her excited voice, but she seems to be distracted by the winds around her.
"You have stumbled upon our home and we are obliged to help you so that you may move on in your trial, but please do not bore us, for..."
Hael breaks in suddenly in a voice more high pitched and excited than that of her sister.
"Do not fret, we are not easily bored"
With this comment she breaks off into the torrent of the wind swirling around the room, zig-zagging on an erratic path of wind invisible to the eye. Her giggles filling the chamber with a sound other than wind. Shazara begins talking again, but you can tell she is watching her sister our of the corner of her eye the whole time. As she speaks her voice gets more and more excited.
"If you have any questions about navigating our home please do not be afraid to ask us. We know the winds of this cavern like we know the..."
Her voice is lost in the wind as she speeds off to join her sister in the merriment of the winds. You are left standing on the wind swept platform watching the two creatures fly around the room chasing each other.
"Greetings traveler, I am known as Shazara and this is my sister Hael."
"Well met Ladies." Mynis says will bowing as gracefully as his chainmail will allow.
Alkuin wrote:
"You have stumbled upon our home and we are obliged to help you so that you may move on in your trial, but please do not bore us, for..."
"My trial? What trial is this and why have I forgoten how I came to be at the mouth of this place?"
Alkuin wrote:
"Do not fret, we are not easily bored"
"I would think it hard to ever become board in a home as enchanting as this." "What could its purpose possibly be? Surely its not here just to test the metal of would be warriors?"
Alkuin wrote:
"If you have any questions about navigating our home please do not be afraid to ask us. We know the winds of this cavern like we know the..."
"I have a simple question then. Which platform will take me safely on my way?"
"My trial? What trial is this and why have I forgotten how I came to be at the mouth of this place?"
This question only seems to raise further laughter from the pair as the swirl around the room, getting dangerously close to the walls at times, but always safely turning in a new direction at the final moment.
Mynis wrote:
"I have a simple question then. Which platform will take me safely on my way?"
With this question Hael comes flying straight at you, stopping only a few feet in front of where you are standing. She looks into your eyes for a few moments and then starts speaking quickly. As she speaks the wind moving past you increases, apparently from the proximity of the speaking creature.
"Ahhhh...I hate this question. Well, most people who come here never ask it, but it's still the most boring one they ask. A lot of times people ask very interesting questions, like 'Can you teach me to fly?' or 'Does this cavern have a bathroom?'. One time this Elf came to see us, but he didn't ask any questions. He just fell in the pit before he made it into our cavern. I told him the his armor was too heavy. Now for you question, I would say the platform on the right is the better choice."
This string for words comes flying out of her mouth rapidly, and by the time she has finished she has already zipped back off into the currents of wind.
"Ahhhh...I hate this question... I would say the platform on the right is the better choice."
"Well I thank you for your helpful advice." Mynis moves as if to step on the indicated platform but stops. Turning back to Hael, Mynis says, "Perhaps if you had some questions of me you may be more entertained, hmm?" This being said Mynis hops over to the next landing.
After steadying himself once again Mynis begins "I mean if this is some sort of testing grounds, you would get a chance to meet a varied group of peoples. Perhaps even before coming into their own."
As you step onto the platform it begins to shudder and shake beneath your feet. It jerks suddenly and drops and inch or two towards the black depths below. Shazara and Hael have both stopped their wild flight and watch with vested interest at your plight.
As you step onto the platform it begins to shudder and shake beneath your feet. It jerks suddenly and drops and inch or two towards the black depths below. Shazara and Hael have both stopped their wild flight and watch with vested interest at your plight.
Unsure weather he weight is too great, Mynis begins Doffing his chainmail. Putting the removed pieces on the platform previous in hopes of reacquiring them at a later time.
You quickly start removing your armor and tossing it onto the previous platform. The platform your currently standing on continues to shake violently and dropping a few inches suddenly every five or six seconds. After a few moments you hear a voice a few feet above you speaking excitedly.
"You shouldn't listen to Hael. She has the habit of always lying. I know it's terrible, but it's just her way of keeping from getting bored. We don't really...
The voice is suddenly interrupted by another voice, even more excited and high-pitched than the first. There is a tint of joking anger in the voice, as if this conversation has happened before.
"I don't lie! You always lie! You know this is perfectly normal. How else are we supposed to test their courage. Why do you always try to defame my character!"
"Me try to defame your..." the other creature replies, breaking mid-sentence into the language you heard them speaking earlier. They start bickering back and forth no longer concerned with you.
By this point the platform you are standing on has sunken about a foot below the other two platforms. The strange inscriptions on the platform have started flickering with glowing brilliance, as if struggling to come to life.
"You shouldn't listen to Hael. She has the habit of always lying. .
[b]"I don't lie! You always lie! Why do you always try to defame my character!"
"Me try to defame your..." They start bickering back and forth no longer concerned with you.
By this point the platform you are standing on has sunken about a foot below the other two platforms. The strange inscriptions on the platform have started flickering with glowing brilliance, as if struggling to come to life.
Mynis leaps back onto the platform that he was previously occupying.
"Enough!... He shouts. It is my character here that I'm worried about getting splattered all over the stones below. I have offered you both conversation and friendship. If this has no value to you then by all mean keep it up. Perhaps then you will see a side of me you find more entertaining!"
Mynis mutters something under his breath about being deceived.
"And another thing! Courage! Real... courage, isn't measured on whether a man trusts his life to a mystic platform or another. Its when a man is faced with lousing his life, and his loves for something of a higher value than fame or money or some unnamed test. Something like Honor, duty, or freedom. None of these things lie behind that door yonder! Nay this isn't courage, but foolishness."
Mynis collects his discarded chainmail and slowly re-dons his armor. After rechecking all the straps to make sure they are snug but not too tight he nods in satisfaction.
"Goodbye ladies, I hope you have learned something here as I have."
Having said his piece Mynis turns to leap back to the familiar passage.
"Goodbye ladies, I hope you have learned something here as I have."
Having said his piece Mynis turns to leap back to the familiar passage.
As you leap back to the passageway from which you entered the room the air moving past your back and towards the mouth of the cave increases. Both creatures have floated to the entrance way and are again bickering in their foreign tongue. After many seconds pass one finally speaks out to you.
"My sister is sorry. Please come back... It gets very boring around here without people. If you..."
The other creature cuts in before the other can finish its thought.
"Honestly, we don't want you here! We can have fun all by ourselves. Go on and go..."
With this comment the creature grabs its sisters hand and pulls her back into the torrents of wind, not waiting for a response.
"My sister is sorry. Please come back... It gets very boring around here without people. If you..."
The other creature cuts in before the other can finish its thought.
"Honestly, we don't want you here! We can have fun all by ourselves. Go on and go..."
With this comment the creature grabs its sisters hand and pulls her back into the torrents of wind, not waiting for a response.
Mynis turns back for one last try at a real conversation. "Why do you pull your sister from me? You say 'we don't want you here' but she has already spoken for herself. If you don't want me here that is fine. I will excuse myself from your company. However, it seems rather selfish of you to rob your sister of the interaction she seems to desire. Perhaps it is your courage that needs to be put to the test. Do you fear me little one?"
As soon as the words come out of your mouth, one of the creatures turns suddenly and come careening towards you at a phenomenal speed, stopping only a few inches from your face. Its curious eyes gaze into yours as if searching for something hidden. The small whirlwind that allows the creature to fly as if embodied by the spirit of wind itself causes small pieces of rock and dust from the floor beneath your feet to fly up into the air and fall again as if if were raining filth, but the creature seems not to notice. The falling debris causes the creature's cloud white skin to appear almost luminescent. The creature's small eyes, the color of a perfect pearl, dart from one of your eyes to the other continuing to search. Finally, after many seconds of searching, the creature's porcelain lips curl at the sides into a grin and it begins to speak in a very soft tone which somehow reminds you of a chilly summer night breeze on the high plains of Rashemen.
"You have no skill for patience. You are only frustrated because you have not asked the right questions and made the wrong assumptions. I fear that your time in this place will come to a terrible end."
The creature's eyes still gaze into yours, but the curiosity has been replaced by something else, perhaps sadness or even remorse. The creature begins floating backwards, waiting for it's small body to float into a strong current of wind so that it may rejoin it's sister. In the background you can hear the other creature giggling, although how it was able to hear the near whisper in a windswept place such as this is a mystery.
"You have no skill for patience. You are only frustrated because you have not asked the right questions and made the wrong assumptions. I fear that your time in this place will come to a terrible end."
"So it’s my patience you test now, or perhaps my wit? If there is one thing the field of battle has taught me it’s this. Never play by the rules supplied to you by your opponent.'
With this Mynis rushes the small flying woman with intent to grasp her. "Why don’t we make this a test of courage once again?
Spoiler:
I’m assuming that she isn’t threatening and possibly flat footed as well. So I hope she doesn’t get an attack of opportunity. I have no intent on harming her (subdual or otherwise). So if it comes to that I’ll let her go.
If this succeeds please continue if not please ignore.
Mynis hastily makes his way to the first platform. ”Now that we share the same fate, which platform would you choose to cross this challenge, eh? Mynis waits for a reply then moves to the indicated choice, accepting his fate whatever it may be. "Now we shall see if our courage holds out!"
With a sudden movement of your arm you grab the creature from the air and move forward toward the platform. The creature squeaks in alarm and looks stunned, but as you step onto the first platform the small creature wriggles free of your grasp and flies near the top of the ceiling where its sister is watching with concern. Once it reaches its sister, and is sure it is safe from your reach, it turns to face you. Suddenly the two platforms in front of you fall into the darkness beneath. The creature begins to speak with a note of anger in it's excited, high-pitched voice.
"We are here to help you assuming you can help yourself, but the path you have chosen is an unwise one. This test was not only to test your courage, but also your wit and humility. Neither of those platforms will allow you to reach.."
As the creature speaks the platform starts slowly moving forward causing the passageway to become precariously distant. As it crosses towards the middle of the room you notice the wind is becoming fiercer and fiercer, almost to the point of knocking you from the platform. The creature interrupts its speech and gives a sidelong glance to its sister.
"Stop that Hael! That's not what we have in store for our young guest."
The other creature does not look pleased, but winds die down and the prospects of you falling become much smaller. The first creature continues speaking, this time in a somewhat calmer tone.
"Neither of those platforms will lead you safely across the room. Only by asking up to take you to the exit could you hope to cross our home."
The passageway is a distant four feet away at this point and increasing at an alarming rate.
"We are here to help you assuming you can help yourself, but the path you have chosen is an unwise one. This test was not only to test your courage, but also your wit and humility. Neither of those platforms will allow you to reach.."
"The path of the warrior is never a wise choice. It is one of desperation, necessity or ignorance. Perhaps it is the later in my case. Oh, you forgot one other thing you test here, trust."
Mynis slowly slides his pack off his shoulders and lays it by his feet. Opening up the pouch on its left side he remove the crystal he took from the cave wall.
" By your own words I must trust both of you to cross this place safely. Hail has clearly shown herself to be untrustworthy. To trust her with my life at any point, and now you after what I just attempted, would be folly." As he says this Mynis places the small crystal in the center of the platform upon witch he stands. " I return this to you. No mater how much I desire to have it, I am no thief."
Alkuin wrote:
"Stop that Hael! That's not what we have in store for our young guest.""Neither of those platforms will lead you safely across the room. Only by asking us to take you to the exit could you hope to cross our home."
"As to what you have in store for me we shall soon find out. If it is merely trick a me to my doom, you need take no further action. Watch in amusement or act in compassion, it seems we all will be tested this day." Mynis raises his arms out strait and takes one step backward toward the edge of the platform. As he shifts his body weight backward in a reverse swan dive off the disk he calls to Shazara and Hael, "Will you save this fool?"
The creatures do not move as they watch you fall backwards into the blackness beneath you. The air rushes past your ears in a deafening roar as the platform starts to become smaller and smaller in the distance. Suddenly there is a strong up draft of warm air pushing against your back causing you decent to slow, gradually at first, until you are floating in midair. Then the wind's strength increases and you start ascending until you are at the same level as the platform. One of the creatures giggles and starts to speak in it's unknown language. After a few moments the other creature nods and the speaking one descends to yours level, but still out of reach and starts excitedly speaking to you.
"It isn't that easy I'm afraid. You've upset my sister and she doesn't easily forgive people. One time a pesky Ranger shot his bow at me. That poor man spent three years swirling around this room. Of course I told her to let him go, but she wouldn't hear of it! Of course we can't let you die, that would be against the rules, but we can hold you."
With this the creature motions to its sister and they both make off towards the blackness beneath. They leave you suspended in midair, only a few long feet from the platform, trapped by the winds.
With this the creature motions to its sister and they both make off towards the blackness beneath. They leave you suspended in midair, only a few long feet from the platform, trapped by the winds.
Mynis laughs a great thunderous laugh, at his own expense, as they disapear into the blackness below. "I hope they get board and return before night falls and the lights go out." He mutters to himself.
Mynis waits for a short while taking in the situation. Then, not content to let sit idly by and accept his fate a hopeless, Mynis starts thrashing about in a attempt to move himself about the room. When this meets with little success he slowly begins removing one of his javelins from its quiver. Grasping it with both hands, he uses the tail end to push himself away from the platform and back toward the mouth of the cave. Thinking to himself that if this works he may be able to kick off the cave wall and sail threw the light and into the cave on the other side of the room.
You stretch as far as you can reach with your javelin in both hands to push off the platform. You push with all your might, but the javelin slips, only giving you a slow glide towards the wall. This works to your advantage, though, as there seems to be no resistance to your movement in this room now. You slowly glide towards the wall as you curl yourself into a ball, preparing to launch yourself off of the wall. After a few seconds, your feet touch the wall and you aim for the exit on the far side of the room. Double checking your trajectory a few times, you spring like a frog from a lily pad towards the middle of the room. You are momentarily blinded as you sail through the beam of light in the middle of the room and almost do not clear the pedestal of mirrors. You successfully glide into the doorway and are rudely deposited on the floor in a heap. As you stand and start to brush the dirt from your body you hear the high pitched voice behind you.
"Weapons are the instruments of ill omen, conflict is a negative quality, warrior-leaders are officers of death with no heaven above, no earth below, no opponent ahead, no ruler behind. Do not think you have won today, for that thought will lead to your destruction in the future."
"Weapons are the instruments of ill omen, conflict is a negative quality, warrior-leaders are officers of death with no heaven above, no earth below, no opponent ahead, no ruler behind. Do not think you have won today, for that thought will lead to your destruction in the future."
"Won?!? For me to have won, someone else would have to have lost. No good lady, I don't think I have won. Today I only survived. From were I'm standing, that is victory enough."
With this Mynis relights the torch he found upon entering the cave and turns to explore anew.
The hallway before you is made from rough stone and moving in the torch light is somewhat of a challenge. More than a few times you stumble on your path, but regaining your footing is not a difficult task. After walking for a minute or more you come to a large door, still of uncut stone. In the center of the door is another stone surrounded by a circle of script, but is still in a language you do not understand. The stone is different from the door in that it is smoothly ground in the shape of a circle and slotted into the door like a peg. About an inch of the stone protrudes from the door.
The hallway before you is made from rough stone and moving in the torch light is somewhat of a challenge. More than a few times you stumble on your path, but regaining your footing is not a difficult task. After walking for a minute or more you come to a large door, still of uncut stone. In the center of the door is another stone surrounded by a circle of script, but is still in a language you do not understand. The stone is different from the door in that it is smoothly ground in the shape of a circle and slotted into the door like a peg. About an inch of the stone protrudes from the door.
Unsure what to do here, Mynis tries pushing twisting and pulling on the smooth stone peg.
As you press the stone it slides into the door and there is a slight rumbling. The door slide down into the floor until only a foot of it is sticking out of the ground. The room beyond the door in fairly small, around twenty feet across in both directions. A squat boulder sits in the middle of the room. The details of the room are somewhat vague as there is no light source here.
The summer on the high plains of The Great Dale has been especially warm this year, or at least you have been told so by the locals. The rolling hills of long grass stretch in all directions as you make your way back to Kront. Spending your last two weeks at the Burgenson homestead while the head of the house, Tom Burgenson, was ill turned out better than expected. The people of the Great Dale are fiercely independent and winning their trust is a task akin to convincing a child to take his medicine. Luckily, the family was friendlier than most and you only spent two nights sleeping outside before they accepted your help. The two weeks went by very fast as you spend most of your days going out to watch the sheep with Parson, Tom's young son. While Tom and his wife seemed too concerned with the trivialities of living a hard life on the plains to care anything about religion, Parson seemed more than willing to hear about the church and Lathander's teaching. In fact, he was willing to listen to talk of anything that didn't involve life on the plains. Within a week Tom was back on his feet and helping his wife with tasks around the house. Tom, a proud man by nature, wouldn't hear of you wasting any more time helping him and his family. Besides, he said, his cousin Marcus would be out with his family in a month to help out and start a new life of herding. Urging you back to Kront, he offered up a few gold pieces the family had stashed away for your troubles and seem genuinely touched when you refused the money. As you mounted Al-Shama the family invited you back at any time or, if you needed any assistance, to call on them.
Now, about ten minutes away from Kront, the task of finding a new mission awaits you. The hamlet of Kront doesn't offer the amenities of your home, but it has its share of people in need whether they know they want help or not. The people of Kront live off the money of the merchant caravans that pass through on the Cold Road on their way to other regions. The town is also famous as the only place to buy goods for a hundred miles around. All the herders in the region travel to Kront to pick up small sundries such as nails or salt that make living on the plains just a little easier. Local fishers also travel daily to sell their daily catches. Perhaps the locals should change the title of the town from hamlet to crossroads as it's a much more accurate. The leader of the hamlet is Lord Chinilvur who looks over the affairs of the town. The responsibilities include keeping the peace and the repairing of the ramshackle wooden ramparts which are more accurately described as a tall fence. Outside town, located on a small hillock, sits a two story stone tower. Albeit short, the locals still call it a tower because the building towers over everything else in the area. The locals say a strange Gnome recluse lives in the tower, but you have yet to spot the creature. The rest of the town is mostly comprised of short squat houses made to resist the harsh winters the plains experience ever year.
As you enter through the gates of the rampart the town guard gives you a slight of recognition and lets you pass without incident. Apparently you're starting to have a reputation in town.
Upon return, I aknowledge the guard that let's me in and depending on my perceptions of how busy Lord Chinilvur is, I would like to make sure he knew I was in town again. If he appeared extraordinarily busy with tasks, I will wait on this.
From there, I want to check in with the local church (doesn't need to be Lathander specifically, but one that is friendly disposed) and greet people as they come to the church. Since the church is often a place in town that bereaved, sick, or other needy people go, I would want to make sure they had the help they needed before going anywhere else.
If I had a reliable place to stay before, I'd want to make sure it was still available, or else some of my time would need to be spent in securing lodging for myself and my horse, even if that location was the same for both of us. While an inn or something would work, I'd much prefer to talk to someone in the market or nearby that I may be able to trade labor for a place to lay my head. I wouldn't, however, want to bother any of the people I was helping at the church (if any) for this accomodation. Since they would be in more need, I don't want to burden them any more.
If anyone in the market is selling seeds, I'll want to talk to them about maybe trading some seeds so I can have a larger variety of crop seeds. I would only be willing to trade evenly since having that variety isn't more important than having enough seeds to actually help people. If they weren't interested in a trade, I'll leave it alone. Hopefully the ability to sell seeds from further away would be enough incentive to trade away some local varieties.
That, assuming I'm not interrupted, should take most of the rest of the day.
Spoiler:
Generally, when in town if I can find a secure location for it, I won't be wearing my chain shirt. It seems a bit stiff and formal. Obviously, when stiff and formal is required, I'd wear it, or if I was expecting any sort of trouble. Normally I would expect to keep it on my horse, or in maybe the church if they'd have it. I assume my tunic would have the symbols of both Lathander and the Order of the Aster on it, and I keep my morning star available to me, peace knotted when asked.
As you press the stone it slides into the door and there is a slight rumbling. The door slide down into the floor until only a foot of it is sticking out of the ground. The room beyond the door in fairly small, around twenty feet across in both directions. A squat boulder sits in the middle of the room. The details of the room are somewhat vague as there is no light source here.
Mynis stretches his arm as far into the room as possible and slowly moves his lit torch from the left to right.
The torch light illuminates the small room and you can make out some sort of inscription on the boulder. As you look for other significant signs the whole room starts shaking. It lasts for a only a few moments, but after it subsides you notice you have a sizable cut along your left leg.
As you approach Lord Chinilvur's manor you are asked your business and turned away, told that the Lord is currently having his afternoon meal. The guard tells you that he would announce your presence and suggested that you come back in an hour or so.
As for the town church, it is nothing more than an old rundown home owned by a Priest as old as the home itself. The house does not look very large from the outside, but it has been extended underground twice, giving the home two basements and many rooms. The man himself is a worshiper of Chauntea and his work mostly consists of making room in his home to let the roaming Druids and Rangers stay when they need to pick up supplies. When you first came to town the old man had agreed without question that you stay at his home, only asking that you help to prepare dinner every other night and doing some cleaning every few days. The old man, who goes only by the name of Fredrick, greets you at the door and tells you that room you stayed in before is still waiting and tells his young apprentice to take Al-Shama around back to the Huntur family to look after.
By the time you've settled in to the room it has been almost an hour and a half and you make your way back to Lord Chinilvur's home. The guard outside once again stops you and says in a gruff plains raised voice.
"Sorry I told you to come back. Something has come up and the Lord doesn't have the time today to see you. You should come back tomorrow."
The torch light illuminates the small room and you can make out some sort of inscription on the boulder. As you look for other significant signs the whole room starts shaking. It lasts for a only a few moments, but after it subsides you notice you have a sizable cut along your left leg.
Mynis inspects his newly discovered wound. Looking for clues as to when he sustained it and to what its source might have been. "How did the cut pierce threw my mail? Is the cut long like a blade or wedged like and axe wound?" All these things sail threw Mynis's mind like he sailed threw the room previous.
After examining the wound it is clear that it was caused by a keen blade of some sort. It is neither deep nor serious, but the fact that your mail is not harmed in anyway is still something of a mystery. The bleeding coming from the five inch cut will stop on its own within a few minutes. Searching around the area gives no clues as how the cut was made.
After making sure the wound is clean, Mynis makes himself ready to proceed. Unsure as to whether or not he faces some sort of mystical assailant Mynis draws his dagger into his left hand. Right hand holding the torch he tries once more to survey the room ahead. This time trying to discern if there are signs of an invisible, or Chauntea help him, ethereal attacker in the room.
Slowly surveying the room you see no signs of any type of presence besides yourself. The boulder in the middle of the room provides a blind spot in which you cannot see.
Slowly surveying the room you see no signs of any type of presence besides yourself. The boulder in the middle of the room provides a blind spot in which you cannot see.
Mynis slowly creeps into the room. Left shoulder leading, so as to provide a smaller profile to anyone who may be behind the rooms only cover.
The torch casts eerie shadows on the walls of the room as you creep towards the boulder. The silence is deafening as you approach step by step. Finally, after many tense seconds, you get a clear view behind the boulder. Nothing. Surveying the room you see a closed door opposite of the one you entered through as well as another door located on the same wall as the one you entered through, also closed. The boulder itself has some words inscribed on its surface, which are difficult to make out in the torch light.
"Sorry I told you to come back. Something has come up and the Lord doesn't have the time today to see you. You should come back tomorrow."
No problem, good sir. I mean no bother by my presence. If you could let the lord know that I'm in town again, I'd appreciate it. I'm staying with the Chautnea priest.
I then head over to the market to see if there are any seed or vegetable vendors to trade seeds with. Afterwards, or if nothing pans out, I think a relaxing evening after the work on the farm is warrented and will help the priest help prepare dinner for whomever is at the residence.
After dawn's prayer, I want to head to the repair work on the fencing and will see if there is a place I can help out.
Is the priest's name Fredrick, or is that just a churchmember?
The torch casts eerie shadows on the walls of the room as you creep towards the boulder. The silence is deafening as you approach step by step. Finally, after many tense seconds, you get a clear view behind the boulder. Nothing. Surveying the room you see a closed door opposite of the one you entered through as well as another door located on the same wall as the one you entered through, also closed. The boulder itself has some words inscribed on its surface, which are difficult to make out in the torch light.
Mynis stows away his dagger safely back in its sheath. Bringing the torch in his right hand closer to the boulder, he rubs his left over the runes to brush away any accumulated dust and cobwebs. Mynis studies the inscriptions, trying to grasp their meanings.
As you head off towards the market a large group of men pour out from the Lord's manor. You hear a gruff voice behind you bark out orders.
"Leon, Damvis head to the center of town and gather the people there as quickly as possible. You two head with me, we are heading up to the tower. The rest of you wait for the Lord and keep him safe."
The voice belongs to a large man with jet black hair, greased into place, and a set of severe eyes that look as if they have never smiled. His large frame is covered by a chain shirt and a longsword is attatched at each hip, although one looks as if it is in dire need of repair. He is well known in town as Xander Capstal, head of the local militia. He storms off towards the city gate with two strong backed young men following him. Two inept looking guards, apparently Leon and Damvis, run past you and start calling out to the surrounding people.
"Town Meeting in the center of town! Everyone to the market! The Lord Chinilvur requires everyone's presence!"
The townsfolk look a little confused over the order, but most of them start putting away their things so that they may go to the center of town, although many do not seem pleased. One old man, obviously disgruntled in the worst of ways, calls out to the young guards as they pass.
"We heard you the first time time you Uthmerian son of a whore! Now get on with you!"
This raises a great deal of laughter from the surrounding people and the old man looks obviously pleased with himself.
The rest of the militia, only four men from the looks of it, talk in hushed voices outside the large house waiting for the appearance of their lord. Their idle chatter is kept to whispers, but some of the men are visible nervous.
The light flickers across the boulder as you brush the dust and grime of many years from its surface. With a little bit of work you are able to make out the words clear enough to read them. They are written in simple common and read as:
”Light contains dark, dark contains light, both will bring a change, and the world will mature. With one move of light, and one move of dark, create a world in which, only light can persist”
Below the inscription is a grid of many small holes with a few oblong stones sticking out from the surface. The stones are all polished smooth, making them easy to see in the torchlight, but half are made of a smooth white stone while the others are made of some type of black metal.
Spoiler:
The stones are arranged as follows:
______________
|O|O|O|O|W|O|O|
----------------------
|O|O|O|B|O|O|O|
----------------------
|W|B|O|O|W|B|W|
----------------------
|O|O|O|W|B|O|O|
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Town Meeting in the center of town! Everyone to the market! The Lord Chinilvur requires everyone's presence!"
Seeing as that was where I was headed, I'll continue to the market. I assume it will take some time for people to assemble, so I'll still check on the seeds if there's a vendor and they're still open. While I'm talking to the vendor I want to be chatty with them (diplomacy check?) and see if these sorts of meetings are common.
”Light contains dark, dark contains light, both will bring a change, and the world will mature. With one move of light, and one move of dark, create a world in which, only light can persist”
Mynis grasps the first piece between the mailed fingers of his left hand. Choosing the white piece on the top row, He removes it with delicate precision then replaces it one space to the left of its starting location.
After contemplating his second move carefully, Mynis pulls the black metal piece from the bottom row and puts it in the 4th column from the left second row from the bottom.
