Hesh leaps into the air, looking to the sky as he jumps, victory within his grasp. A single spark shows in the air above him, and then a flash of lightning brightens his vision, blinking as he stumbles in unfamiliar terrain. Hesh appears to be on the beach, the sweltering jungle to one side, and a limitless blue ocean on the other. Ships partially buried lie on the beach and others are half submerged in the reef. A figure is seen further away. Sex or race can’t be determined, but judging from their body position they see you as well.
Thormir Brassbeard
Thormir’s glee is unbound as he places his hands on the wooden chest. He salivates at the thought of the gold inside. He relishes in the feel of the smooth wood beneath his hands and then he blinks in sudden blindess as electricity flares before his eyes. A trap? No everything else is different too, except for the fact that his hands still touched wood. As his eyes recover from their ailment, he sees he is not where he was. Also, his hands are no worse for the wear. A jungle lies off to his left, and an endless ocean off to his right. The wood he was touching appears to be a ship of some sort, half-buried in the sand. More ships are nearby, and yet more are half sunk in the reefs off shore. A figure is seen in the distance, too far to tell sex or race, but they see you too.
Last edited by EvolutionKB; 13th May 2009 at 04:11 AM..
Lorn was fighting for his life against the undead, his battle magics shaping the field around him. His allies were falling like flies, and an arrow took the ally to his left in the throat. As soon as his comrade hits the ground, his form twitched twice, then stood once more. His ally’s eyes shown red, and didn’t seem to care about the arrow sticking from his throat. The newly formed zombie reaches out to pull the mage to the ground, but it never got a chance. A blast of electricity arcs from somewhere behind it and splits it in half, and Lorn is next in line, who is blinded by the arc of lightning as well as the exploding gore from the undead’s destruction. Next thing he knows he is coughing and gagging on a combination of sand and seawater. After rolling over and ridding his lungs of the water, he realizes he is not in Cyre anymore. He is laying on a beach, soaking wet. Half buried ships litter the beach, and more are half sunk in the reef offshore. He stands and takes in his surroundings, surprised to see a huge warforged, partially made of stone, not steel, come out of a gap in the hull of a ship nearby. It is holding a large blade in two hands. The warforged sees the mage as well and stares at him in curiousity and perhaps a bit of untrust.
Xandren
Xandren was tall, taller than the elves that he fought alongside, but not nearly as tall as the giant that he served, who called the battle behind him. The jungle was loud with the eerie sounds of battle against the quori. There was the normal cries of the mortal deaths of drow and other warforged slaves, but the quori fell differently. They just as often died with a mournful wail as they dissolved into pools of slime. Fighting them made him uneasy but he had no choice. The one they were currently fighting had pincer like claws, slithered on a thick tail, and had a mass of eyes on it’s forehead. It’s very prescence was not natural. He raised his great blade over his head, and he smelled an ozone odor, then just as suddenly an arc of lightning struck his raised blade. Then he awoke, it was dark, but light poured through in an crack in the wall. The sounds of the jungle was around him. He felt around, and found the comfort of his blade. In the meager light, he could see the tip was scorched from the lightning. He walks into the light, and gathers his senses, then stares, on guard, at a pale frail looking creature, that seems to be gathering himself as well. He holds a staff, but seems harmless, but still it is strange to the warforged.
Stellan
Stellan was climbing a sheer cliff, hand over hand and foot over foot. Taking his time, he was stalking his prey. The bandits had taken the long way up the ridge, up the easy footpath. Stellan was climbing the cliff with other Wardens of the Wood and once they cleared the top would set an ambush for the bandits. Looking to the sky, clouds were gathering in the sky, and a storm was brewing. Thunder echoed nearby. Suddenly, lightning arced between the clouds, and then to the top of the cliff, where an avalanche was started by the force. One great boulder was rumbling right for him and the shifter tensed waiting for the impact. Light lanced into his eyes and he wonders how he escaped death...or maybe those Flame priests were right all along. Thinking himself captured by the bandits he held still and listened around him. No, the sounds were different here. Birds could be heard, but they were not the familiar bird calls of the woodlands where he lived. The crash of water against sand could be heard. He cracked open an eye cautiously and appeared to be in the crow’s nest of a ship that rested at an angle. Impossible. But it was true. He stood and looked around. He was indeed on a ship, but the vessel was buried in the sand of a beach. Other ships were nearby, also half-buried in the sand as well as half sunk offshore. He takes in his surroundings from his great height, and can barely make out the shimmer of water running down the beach from the jungle beyond the sands. That was good, he was immensely thirsty. Astonished he looks down, and notices two more figures below him, they don’t act like they’ve seen him yet. One is a warforged, massive, and not sleek, made partially of stone. The other is a young human, wet from the surf, clutching a staff. The pair seems to have just noticed each other and are still blinking in surprise(well, not the 'forged). Further down the beach, opposite the stream two other figures can be seen.
An immense warforged, plainly of a make not found in modern Khorvaire, strides forward towards the small, weak-looking creature with the staff. Its plating is wrought with harsh lines and strange angles, and it features more stone and less metal than modern warforged. Its right hand reaches over its shoulder and grips the hilt of an equally immense blade as it finally speaks.
"Who are you? What are you? Where is this place?" he demands in a deep voice. Then, more intently, "Are you a servant of the Quori?"
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
Hesh blinks his eyes a moment, peering intently into the strange jungle and beach. A trick of the enemy. Foolishness. The hobgoblin spins around, eyes straining for sight of anything or anyone. If this was elven trickery, he would need to find his bearing and then find a way back. Staying... staying was out of the question. He had duties. He had obligations. This... this was a setback, nothing more.
He focused on the shadowy form before him. Approaching without caution, the flail of his father casually—but readily—slung over his shoulder, he stomps through the wet sand. When he gets closer, the hobgoblin starts and blinks a moment. Nope, he's sure of it. A dwarf! What in the name of the Six Kings is going on?
Planting his feet wide, he boldly addresses the stranger. You, dwarf. Are you here by elvish trickery as well? What do you know of this place?
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
The young man, dripping wet and still covered in the signs of battle that he thought he was fighting only moments ago staggered back a step holding his forked staff up in a defensive posture. For a long moment he stared at the large warforged in confusion, it didn't look like any House Cannith model he'd ever seen.
Huh? Quori? I stand for Cyre...
He backed up another step, his eyes shifting from side to side to see if there were any more of them.
What side are you on? Who's your owner?
He paused for a second.
And what do you mean, where is this place? You tell me!
EvolutionKB
Does Lorn recognize anything about the warforged from a historical perspective, even something as general aesthetics of design?
"Owner? Side? the warforged replied, doubtful. "I serve the giants in the never-ending wars against the accursed Quori. If you are not a thrall of the Quori, what manner of creature are you? I do not know this 'Cyre'."
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
The shifter's muscles tensed, careful not to move too much lest he alert the others to his presence. Eyes narrowed, his mind raced in an attempt to reason his way through the lapse in his perceptions. He was moving toward an ambush site. Could the enemy have beaten him there? Why was he still alive if that was the case? Why was he on a ship buried in sand?
He started to piece things together. Lhazaarites come from islands of the coast of Khorvaire. They must have been transporting him back to their homeland for some dire purpose, only to have the ship run aground. The druids were right, he though to himself. The power of nature will shield us from disaster. The next big question was which of the figures beneath him were survivors from the Lhazaarite ship. I haven't seen them use metal-men, although they seem easily purchased. And the human isn't dressed as the Lhazaarites, although that is easily faked. I haven't seen enough to know which side they hunt for. He decided to watch events unfold from the safety of his current perch.
The end of his staff dipped down as his stance relaxed somewhat. He studied the strange warforged for a short time trying to process what it was saying.
I'm...no thrall to your Quori. You really mean to tell me you don't know what I am?
You never could tell what lay behind those strange impassive faces, he thought.
I am a man of Cyre...one of the 5 nations...
He watched the warforged, trying to gauge its reaction though such might be a hopeless task. At the same time his mind was racing madly trying to piece together the implications of what it had said.
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
"I do not recognize your kind," the warforged said. "The nearest thing I can compare you to is a tall, pale elf, with rounded ears. At the least, most Quori nightmares are much more obviously unnatural."
The warforged continued to gaze at the creature before him.
"I do not know of these 'five nations,'" he finally said, "but for now, but you seem harmless enough. If I discover you are attempting to deceive me, though, you will regret it. I am Xandren."
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
An offspring of Cyre? Stellan's concern began to grow. When did they start working with the Lhazaarite jackals? If they combine forces, how can we resist them? Pushing the rapidly expanding sense of doom to the side, the shifter continued to observe what was happening below. As he watched, a plan started to form in his predatory mind. I'd best use the opportunity to learn as much as I can, and see if I can't turn this pack against itself.
The sun is bright upon the brows of the newcomers even at it's current height in the sky. It will only be a matter of a few hours before it dips below the horizon, leaving the Lost in the dark, without a source of water, shelter, or an idea of what exactly has happened.
Oni
No information currently comes to mind at the origin of the strange warforged before you, although it is definately not modern. After it speaks though, you do remember pieces from your education about a war long ago between giants and creatures called quori in Xen'drik.
Redclaw
If you want to stay hidden give me a stealth check with a +2 bonus. NM, I took care of it. Don't forget, you see another pair down the beach.
Last edited by EvolutionKB; 23rd January 2009 at 11:48 PM..
He returned its inhuman gaze as though considering what to do next. Finally he spoke.
I am Lorn. If you're not my enemy then you've nothing to worry about from me.
His stance relaxed the rest of the way and he sighed as he squinted up at the sun beating down on them. This was all very strange, not so long ago he was facing certain death and now he was standing gods knew where on some beach talking to an antiquated warforged that seemed to think it was fighting some millennia old war. It was clearly addled. Speaking to the sky he asked no one in particular, Where are we, what's going on?
Lorn glanced back down at the unusual warforged, something it said bubbling back to the surface of his mind.
You don't know where you are do you? How did you get here?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Last edited by Oni; 23rd January 2009 at 07:01 PM..
"No, I do not know where we are," Xandren replied. "I was fighting a Quori monstrosity when lightning struck my blade. I blacked out, and the next thing I was aware of, I was here."
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
Hmm, That's sounds very similar to what happened to me. We were fighting for our lives against a Karrnathi patrol and just when it looked like my time was up there was this blast, like lightning, and the next thing I now I'm here. Where ever here is...
He licked his lips and looked up at the sun again. The taste of sea salt made Lorn realize how thirsty he was. Pulling the waterskin from his side he started to take a sip then stopped. He hefted the skin in his hand experimentally, damn, better to save it.
Lorn looked up the beach, then down, and finally back at the warforged that called itself Xandren.
You could probably stand here to the end of time, but I need to find some water I can drink. I'm going down the beach to look for a stream.
He paused and studied the warforged for a moment.
Since we're in the same boat it might be a good idea to stick together. Who knows what else is around here.
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Last edited by Oni; 23rd January 2009 at 10:14 PM..
"You are correct, Lorn of Cyre," Xandren replied, "I do not require food or drink. But I will accompany you, as you are the only clue I have to what's going on, even if you yourself are as unsure as I am."
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
Stellan ducks down, and listens to the pairs conversation. Seemingly the pair are not enemies, and decide they both don't know what is happening, and decide to look for shelter. Unfortunately, the wind gusts hard, it grabs the shifter's cloak whipping it over his head, revealing him to those below him.
ooc
Just keeping things moving. Roll Lookup
Stealth check of 7. For your sake, let's hope I roll like this for the first combat.
Elsewhere on the beach, the hobgoblin known as Hesh speaks to a silent dwarf. Finally the dwarf speaks, though, clearly from the words, he still is stunned by his appearance in this strange place.
Grimacing at the fickle nature of the wind, Stellan stands and looks down at the two figures below. It sounds like your experience matches mine, he calls down to them. My time was just about to end, at the hands of a large falling rock, when I suddenly appeared here. The good news, however, is that I can see what looks like a river not too far away. His silence broken, he climbed to the deck below. I am Stellan, he said to the human, head tilted to the side, nose seeking the other's scent.
Hearing the snap of cloth in the wind, Lorn whirled around. For a second he was confused, then he looked up and saw the figure above them. Lorn leveled the forked end of his staff at the newcomer as he watch the shifter climb down from his perch. It seemed he had been listening the whole time.
Well Stellan, I take you already know our names as well then.
Lorn glanced at the big warforged then back at the eavesdropping shifter.
Alright then, which way is the river?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Elsewhere on the beach, the hobgoblin known as Hesh speaks to a silent dwarf. Finally the dwarf speaks, though, clearly from the words, he still is stunned by his appearance in this strange place.
"Who are you, hobgoblin? Where am I?"
The hobgoblin raises an eyebrow. You question? I asked you first, dwarf. But, no matter. Apparently, you are beffudled by the elven works. Keep with me little one and we will see that they pay for this insult. He looks over the dwarf a moment, then shrugs. Not a armsman, I see. Give me time, I'll figure a use for you yet. For now, keep an eye out for those pointy-eared devils. You may call me Hesh, by the way, Hesh Sul'tashk, Warleader of the 5th Spine of the Hundred Strong.
Keeping to his word, Hesh tries to find a local high spot to get a better look at the beach and the wreckage.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
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