Justicar's Bastion - Eagle Elf [Updated 5th Dec 06]
Treguard
First Post
To be fair, I almost got laid out by the club he tried to wrap around my head- I wanted swift retribution dammit!DeGlove said:Yes, but "Let's throw him (tied up) in the river" wasn't very encouraging
Besides, what seaman could be worthy of the title if he couldn't swim entangled in nets, hmm?
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PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Barge Chase
Derris had hoped for a more glamorous start to his adventuring career. Hunting for halforcs in the slums of Junnis wasn't the lowest you could go, but it was close. The rancid smells and layers of filth were not endearing Barge End to him either. Luckily Layla knew what she was about, sweet-talking the first docker they came across into for directions to their prey. After navigating several twisting streets they had found the jetty they were looking for.
As they scanned the rafts, barges and boats for a halforc with a large iron-capped tusk emerging from his mouth, a halfling woman working nearby shouted out "Irontusk, strangers looking for ya". Derris saw a halforc stand from a nearby shoddy boat and quickly assess them, before turning and leaping away to another boat. A cry went up from his companions and the chase was on.
Derris lead the chase, running across one slippery deck and leaping to another with Bjorn close behind. From the edge of his vision the De Marco son saw Ra and Sam rushing off down an alley, hoping to cut off their prey if he cut into Barge End from another jetty. Derris had the feeling it was the bright robes of the priest which had given the away to start with. Cade and Krunk started taking pot shots at the halforc and Layla was gathering her magic to aid in the chase.
Irontusk has having troubles of his own, caught in some sort of net or webbing as he fled from craft to craft. The sickly sweet stench of rotten fruit nearly overwhelmed Derris on the first boat he jumped to, and on the next his vision was filled with chicken feathers as the birds panicked in a nearby cage. He heard the barking of dogs and when the feathers cleared he could make three hounds on the boat at the end of the jetty he'd reached.
The halforc was on the move again, with one of Cade's arrows in his shoulder. He heard Layla cursing the halfing about something but couldn't make out the details. Bjorn charged alongside him as they attempted to beat a path through the dogs. Two of the hounds slumped into a slumber as Layla's magic took hold on them and the third retreated to the far end of the boat, licking a bleeding flank. Derris heard snoring behind him and quickly glanced down to find the Olman asleep, no doubt caught at the same time as the hounds.
Derris caught the halforc on a fishing boat, as Irontusk struggled through loose netting which had wrapped around his legs. The noble leapt to attack his foe, gritting his teeth through the pain as a club almost broke his thigh. He held up the Irontusk long enough for Layla to work more of her magic, his opponent slumping to the deck in a restful sleep. Before too long they had Irontusk bound on a jetty, with everyone gathered round.
The priest walked a way off as they started to threaten their captive, who was reluctant at best to tell them anything. A thorough search had come up with a pouch of gold and some sort of map, but no key. Once they promised to let him go, his tongue loosened and he spilled the beans.
"It were two days ago. Some thugs known as the Green Dagger Gang wanted a specific key for a hundred gold. No way I was gonna turn that down. Gave them it this morning and got my gold. Lost some already at cards with some dodgy blokes down the Brass Kettle."
"Only saw two of 'em. One was real sick like, an' the one in charge was this rich-looking elf. All dressed in black they were, with little green dagger cloak-pins too. Hang out down at the River Quarter, squatting in some large 'ouse."
"You gonna let me go now?"
After making sure of the description of the house, they untied the halforc and threw him in the river. Derris watched him swim away through the dirty waters of Barge End, turning to follow his companions as they went to investigate the Green Dagger Gang.
Derris had hoped for a more glamorous start to his adventuring career. Hunting for halforcs in the slums of Junnis wasn't the lowest you could go, but it was close. The rancid smells and layers of filth were not endearing Barge End to him either. Luckily Layla knew what she was about, sweet-talking the first docker they came across into for directions to their prey. After navigating several twisting streets they had found the jetty they were looking for.
As they scanned the rafts, barges and boats for a halforc with a large iron-capped tusk emerging from his mouth, a halfling woman working nearby shouted out "Irontusk, strangers looking for ya". Derris saw a halforc stand from a nearby shoddy boat and quickly assess them, before turning and leaping away to another boat. A cry went up from his companions and the chase was on.
Derris lead the chase, running across one slippery deck and leaping to another with Bjorn close behind. From the edge of his vision the De Marco son saw Ra and Sam rushing off down an alley, hoping to cut off their prey if he cut into Barge End from another jetty. Derris had the feeling it was the bright robes of the priest which had given the away to start with. Cade and Krunk started taking pot shots at the halforc and Layla was gathering her magic to aid in the chase.
Irontusk has having troubles of his own, caught in some sort of net or webbing as he fled from craft to craft. The sickly sweet stench of rotten fruit nearly overwhelmed Derris on the first boat he jumped to, and on the next his vision was filled with chicken feathers as the birds panicked in a nearby cage. He heard the barking of dogs and when the feathers cleared he could make three hounds on the boat at the end of the jetty he'd reached.
The halforc was on the move again, with one of Cade's arrows in his shoulder. He heard Layla cursing the halfing about something but couldn't make out the details. Bjorn charged alongside him as they attempted to beat a path through the dogs. Two of the hounds slumped into a slumber as Layla's magic took hold on them and the third retreated to the far end of the boat, licking a bleeding flank. Derris heard snoring behind him and quickly glanced down to find the Olman asleep, no doubt caught at the same time as the hounds.
Derris caught the halforc on a fishing boat, as Irontusk struggled through loose netting which had wrapped around his legs. The noble leapt to attack his foe, gritting his teeth through the pain as a club almost broke his thigh. He held up the Irontusk long enough for Layla to work more of her magic, his opponent slumping to the deck in a restful sleep. Before too long they had Irontusk bound on a jetty, with everyone gathered round.
The priest walked a way off as they started to threaten their captive, who was reluctant at best to tell them anything. A thorough search had come up with a pouch of gold and some sort of map, but no key. Once they promised to let him go, his tongue loosened and he spilled the beans.
"It were two days ago. Some thugs known as the Green Dagger Gang wanted a specific key for a hundred gold. No way I was gonna turn that down. Gave them it this morning and got my gold. Lost some already at cards with some dodgy blokes down the Brass Kettle."
"Only saw two of 'em. One was real sick like, an' the one in charge was this rich-looking elf. All dressed in black they were, with little green dagger cloak-pins too. Hang out down at the River Quarter, squatting in some large 'ouse."
"You gonna let me go now?"
After making sure of the description of the house, they untied the halforc and threw him in the river. Derris watched him swim away through the dirty waters of Barge End, turning to follow his companions as they went to investigate the Green Dagger Gang.
PieAndDragon
Duncan T
The Strong Fall
Sam was still uncomfortable in cities, not yet used to so many gathered in such a small area. Used the endless sands of his homeland, even the greenness of the trees and vast stretches of water were strange to him. Yet the Tisiphone had often worked as mercenaries, so now he plied his trade, hunting for a key in the run-down parts of Junnis.
The two-storey house before him had seen better days. Knocking on the front door had proved fruitless, and a side door had also been locked. Cade had taken moments to unlock the door and they had piled on in, setting off an alarm bell as they did so. Now they were in a large hall with no signs of resistance in sight.
Bjorn crashed through a door on the right, and then another one beyond that. A loud thunk had stopped his charge and Ra followed in to aid the fallen warrior. When Layla followed in, she gave a cry as a human thug leapt from the shadows to attack her. Sam charged down his foe, a sickly man, and felled him with a single sword blow.
The rest of them found the a more dangerous foe. Krunk and Derris fled the beast, as Cade held his ground. When Sam caught sight of the beast, he saw some sort of feline-wolf cross with a spotted coat and a bristling mane. Then the flesh peeled back from its head, revealing white bone as it screeched in defiance. Sam's legs took control and he too tried to flee. Luckily Layla dazzled his senses and he barely made it to the door before overcoming his fear. With Krunk and Derris aiding him, he returned to help Cade finish off the beast.
As they began to search the bottom of the house they found one of their number missing. When they got to Bjorn, he was where Ra had left him, only someone had now slit his throat, leaving a large pool of blood on the floor. The Olman had found an armoury full of well-kept weapons and rushed to take some, only to be knocked out by a spiked ball of metal from above. Ra had left him stable but someone else was around. Someone who had caused the first death for their party. Sam hoped he wouldn't be the next one.
There would be time to mourn their companion later. A sweep of the ground floor turned up a corpse with its eyes swollen shut, a valuable painting frame, a kitchen, dining room and rooms of junk. Sam had picked up a well-made sword in the armoury, using it for the time being. That left them a large staircase, which split to lead two ways to the second floor It was through a room with a large chandelier, which Derris had been eyeing up in a peculiar fashion.
The chandelier came crashing down as they entered, injuring Krunk, and Sam spotted a figure hunched where the stairs divided left and right. The next minute was a blur as their foe retreated up to the next level, collapsing one side of the stairs to slow them and shooting at them with a crossbow. For a moment they had corned her on the landing, only for her to escape, injured back down into the bottom storey. As Sam ran back down the stairs, he saw a slim figure, dressed in studded armour, carrying rapier and shield.
Her cry for aid was answered by a group of thugs from a hidden room. Fortunately all were pale and weak, with swollen eyes, barely able to fight well. It took little time for Sam, Derris, Cade and Krunk to bring them down and the fight to end. Ra managed to staunch the wounds of all but one as Sam and his companions searched the secret room and stripped the fallen of their possessions. They were tired and wounded now, unsure whether to continue their assault on the Green Dagger Gang.
End of Session One
Sam was still uncomfortable in cities, not yet used to so many gathered in such a small area. Used the endless sands of his homeland, even the greenness of the trees and vast stretches of water were strange to him. Yet the Tisiphone had often worked as mercenaries, so now he plied his trade, hunting for a key in the run-down parts of Junnis.
The two-storey house before him had seen better days. Knocking on the front door had proved fruitless, and a side door had also been locked. Cade had taken moments to unlock the door and they had piled on in, setting off an alarm bell as they did so. Now they were in a large hall with no signs of resistance in sight.
Bjorn crashed through a door on the right, and then another one beyond that. A loud thunk had stopped his charge and Ra followed in to aid the fallen warrior. When Layla followed in, she gave a cry as a human thug leapt from the shadows to attack her. Sam charged down his foe, a sickly man, and felled him with a single sword blow.
The rest of them found the a more dangerous foe. Krunk and Derris fled the beast, as Cade held his ground. When Sam caught sight of the beast, he saw some sort of feline-wolf cross with a spotted coat and a bristling mane. Then the flesh peeled back from its head, revealing white bone as it screeched in defiance. Sam's legs took control and he too tried to flee. Luckily Layla dazzled his senses and he barely made it to the door before overcoming his fear. With Krunk and Derris aiding him, he returned to help Cade finish off the beast.
As they began to search the bottom of the house they found one of their number missing. When they got to Bjorn, he was where Ra had left him, only someone had now slit his throat, leaving a large pool of blood on the floor. The Olman had found an armoury full of well-kept weapons and rushed to take some, only to be knocked out by a spiked ball of metal from above. Ra had left him stable but someone else was around. Someone who had caused the first death for their party. Sam hoped he wouldn't be the next one.
There would be time to mourn their companion later. A sweep of the ground floor turned up a corpse with its eyes swollen shut, a valuable painting frame, a kitchen, dining room and rooms of junk. Sam had picked up a well-made sword in the armoury, using it for the time being. That left them a large staircase, which split to lead two ways to the second floor It was through a room with a large chandelier, which Derris had been eyeing up in a peculiar fashion.
The chandelier came crashing down as they entered, injuring Krunk, and Sam spotted a figure hunched where the stairs divided left and right. The next minute was a blur as their foe retreated up to the next level, collapsing one side of the stairs to slow them and shooting at them with a crossbow. For a moment they had corned her on the landing, only for her to escape, injured back down into the bottom storey. As Sam ran back down the stairs, he saw a slim figure, dressed in studded armour, carrying rapier and shield.
Her cry for aid was answered by a group of thugs from a hidden room. Fortunately all were pale and weak, with swollen eyes, barely able to fight well. It took little time for Sam, Derris, Cade and Krunk to bring them down and the fight to end. Ra managed to staunch the wounds of all but one as Sam and his companions searched the secret room and stripped the fallen of their possessions. They were tired and wounded now, unsure whether to continue their assault on the Green Dagger Gang.
End of Session One
PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Phew! That's taken longer than I expected. Switching from Journal entries to 3rd person will take some getting used to. I need the practice and it shows
Hope some of you are enjoying it
Hope some of you are enjoying it
It must be a lot more work (going by how many posts its taken to get through one session ), but it has more movement and action than the diary format, and I like the way you're rotating the focus between the characters.
Keep up the good work
(and why does the signature show always in the preview, but only sometimes in posts? Is it something to do with quick v full reply? or previewing it? or is it just my comp being strange? - I'm not going to go spamming the thread to try to work it out)
), but it has more movement and action than the diary format, and I like the way you're rotating the focus between the characters.Keep up the good work
(and why does the signature show always in the preview, but only sometimes in posts? Is it something to do with quick v full reply? or previewing it? or is it just my comp being strange? - I'm not going to go spamming the thread to try to work it out)
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PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Unexpected Resolution
Krunk listened to the others argue, as he finished tying his unconscious prisoner to one of the beds with strips of torn-up sheets. Some wanted to continue into the mansion, even though they were tired and heavily wounded. Others suggested leaving altogether and even the idea of camping down was considered. Their four prisoners of the Green Dagger Gang lay still and bound, no trouble to anyone at the moment.
Having listened long enough, the halforc interrupted Cade, who was arguing for continuing into the mansion .
"Lets try this another way". The voices quietened as heads turned to regard the warrior-mage. "Ra has no healing, and Layla has little of her magic left. I'm unlikely to make it through another fight and we're all a little battered. If we'd all have wanted to continue the fight, we'd have gone in, yes?"
Amazingly, they seemed to be taking note of his words. He didn't really care for any of them and he wasn't a charismatic speaker by any means. But he did know that he wanted to make it out alive, preferably making as much profit as possible in the meantime
"Right, so no going in.", he continued his speech "Which leads us to the chance to leave this place. They haven't attacked yet, and we can always leave at a later time. If we can get the key from this place, then we have to stay here. So anyone for leaving?". When no-one spoke up he came to the conclusion
"Which leaves us with staying here and gettin' some deserved rest. Any other ideas?" There were none voiced.
There had been a bit of talk when it came to how they were gonna lay out their rest. One of them had found a second secret door into the hidden barracks where their prisoners were being kept. Cade had locked the door beyond so hopefully no-one would find their way through there. If the residents of the mansion were going to attack, it would be during the night. So while most of them slept where the beast was kept, two people would watch the stairs for any signs of activity. Ra was happy to tend to the injured overnight, and keep an eye on the prisoners too.
The first watch had gone quietly, but in the early hours a female voice had addressed them from beyond the bannisters. Leaving Ra and Layla to their slumber, Derris, Cade and Sam joined Krunk among the shattered remnants of the chandelier dropped on them several hours before. The voice could belong to elf, halfling, human or something else, for without being able to match the tone with a face, it was hard to tell the nature of the person above.
"Come down and show yourself" Derris called up. Krunk didn't think that likely.
"Not enough trust for that" came the answer, "now, once more, what do you want from us?"
"a key" shouted up Krunk, " a specific key" he continued on, attempting to forestall any snarky reply. " the one from Irontusk"
There was a short silence before a reply floated down "we don't 'ave it no more, we got rid of it." Another pause, "but if you promise to leave, we can tell you who we gave it to."
This caused a brief conversation among Krunk and his companions. Derris seemed to swing between wanting to butcher them all one moment, and for giving his word the next. He was probably just tired. Cade seemed ready for an all out assault still, but the quiet calm of Sam and the pragmatic voice of Krunk swayed them to at least try this option.
Cade's quick voice, however, was the first to speak to the stranger.
"What's stopping us all coming up and finishing you all off. We already killed most of your gang!"
The reply was immediate, "'because know how many of you there are, and we know you're injured. If you thought you could take us, you'd have had a go by now" . Krunk thought there was a strange confidence to the voice. "So have we got a deal?".
After some bargaining, a few threats from Cade and Derris, and then some more chatter, they agreed to leave in exchange for information on the key.
"A few days ago, some of our lot started coming down sick. Their eyes swelled up real bad. Then a couple a days ago, a human man called Veltargo visited us. Said he could cure us. Said all we 'ad to do was nick this key from a locksmith called Theldrat. He was a thin bloke, goin' a bit bald and with crooked teeth. Wore the robes and starred hat of a priest of Stars. Really dirty tho', he had loadsa dirt under these black nails.
"Wouldn't normally deal with someone like 'im, but we were desperate. And so we stole the key, and gave it to him this mornin'. 'When he gave us this cure for the sickness. He was acting real strange, and 'ad this big book in is arms" When asked if the cure had worked, their was only a stony silence.
"Well, I told you all, so you better go now" the voice started up again.
Krunk replied this time, "We go in the morning, we need to rest still"
"No. You said you'd leave, so be off out of 'ere"
"But we never said when we'd leave" argued Derris, "only that we would"
"Fine" replied the voice, and they heard no more.
It was half an hour later, when Ra checked on the prisoners, that he found them gone. All of their bonds had been undone, the prisoners escaping through the secret door. Someone had unlocked the door Cade had secured. And taken the gang members out through the side door, clearing some of the barricades first. No one had heard them, which was quite a surprise. There was little more they could do except wait for the morning, hoping no more throats were slit.
When Ra did wake those who still slumbered with morning prayers to Sun, there was still no sign of the Green Dagger Gang. Cade shouted more threats up the stairs, but received no answer for his troubles. So they gathered what they had, and Krunk lead them back out into the bustling streets of the Jewel of the Inner Sea.
Krunk listened to the others argue, as he finished tying his unconscious prisoner to one of the beds with strips of torn-up sheets. Some wanted to continue into the mansion, even though they were tired and heavily wounded. Others suggested leaving altogether and even the idea of camping down was considered. Their four prisoners of the Green Dagger Gang lay still and bound, no trouble to anyone at the moment.
Having listened long enough, the halforc interrupted Cade, who was arguing for continuing into the mansion .
"Lets try this another way". The voices quietened as heads turned to regard the warrior-mage. "Ra has no healing, and Layla has little of her magic left. I'm unlikely to make it through another fight and we're all a little battered. If we'd all have wanted to continue the fight, we'd have gone in, yes?"
Amazingly, they seemed to be taking note of his words. He didn't really care for any of them and he wasn't a charismatic speaker by any means. But he did know that he wanted to make it out alive, preferably making as much profit as possible in the meantime
"Right, so no going in.", he continued his speech "Which leads us to the chance to leave this place. They haven't attacked yet, and we can always leave at a later time. If we can get the key from this place, then we have to stay here. So anyone for leaving?". When no-one spoke up he came to the conclusion
"Which leaves us with staying here and gettin' some deserved rest. Any other ideas?" There were none voiced.
There had been a bit of talk when it came to how they were gonna lay out their rest. One of them had found a second secret door into the hidden barracks where their prisoners were being kept. Cade had locked the door beyond so hopefully no-one would find their way through there. If the residents of the mansion were going to attack, it would be during the night. So while most of them slept where the beast was kept, two people would watch the stairs for any signs of activity. Ra was happy to tend to the injured overnight, and keep an eye on the prisoners too.
The first watch had gone quietly, but in the early hours a female voice had addressed them from beyond the bannisters. Leaving Ra and Layla to their slumber, Derris, Cade and Sam joined Krunk among the shattered remnants of the chandelier dropped on them several hours before. The voice could belong to elf, halfling, human or something else, for without being able to match the tone with a face, it was hard to tell the nature of the person above.
"Come down and show yourself" Derris called up. Krunk didn't think that likely.
"Not enough trust for that" came the answer, "now, once more, what do you want from us?"
"a key" shouted up Krunk, " a specific key" he continued on, attempting to forestall any snarky reply. " the one from Irontusk"
There was a short silence before a reply floated down "we don't 'ave it no more, we got rid of it." Another pause, "but if you promise to leave, we can tell you who we gave it to."
This caused a brief conversation among Krunk and his companions. Derris seemed to swing between wanting to butcher them all one moment, and for giving his word the next. He was probably just tired. Cade seemed ready for an all out assault still, but the quiet calm of Sam and the pragmatic voice of Krunk swayed them to at least try this option.
Cade's quick voice, however, was the first to speak to the stranger.
"What's stopping us all coming up and finishing you all off. We already killed most of your gang!"
The reply was immediate, "'because know how many of you there are, and we know you're injured. If you thought you could take us, you'd have had a go by now" . Krunk thought there was a strange confidence to the voice. "So have we got a deal?".
After some bargaining, a few threats from Cade and Derris, and then some more chatter, they agreed to leave in exchange for information on the key.
"A few days ago, some of our lot started coming down sick. Their eyes swelled up real bad. Then a couple a days ago, a human man called Veltargo visited us. Said he could cure us. Said all we 'ad to do was nick this key from a locksmith called Theldrat. He was a thin bloke, goin' a bit bald and with crooked teeth. Wore the robes and starred hat of a priest of Stars. Really dirty tho', he had loadsa dirt under these black nails.
"Wouldn't normally deal with someone like 'im, but we were desperate. And so we stole the key, and gave it to him this mornin'. 'When he gave us this cure for the sickness. He was acting real strange, and 'ad this big book in is arms" When asked if the cure had worked, their was only a stony silence.
"Well, I told you all, so you better go now" the voice started up again.
Krunk replied this time, "We go in the morning, we need to rest still"
"No. You said you'd leave, so be off out of 'ere"
"But we never said when we'd leave" argued Derris, "only that we would"
"Fine" replied the voice, and they heard no more.
It was half an hour later, when Ra checked on the prisoners, that he found them gone. All of their bonds had been undone, the prisoners escaping through the secret door. Someone had unlocked the door Cade had secured. And taken the gang members out through the side door, clearing some of the barricades first. No one had heard them, which was quite a surprise. There was little more they could do except wait for the morning, hoping no more throats were slit.
When Ra did wake those who still slumbered with morning prayers to Sun, there was still no sign of the Green Dagger Gang. Cade shouted more threats up the stairs, but received no answer for his troubles. So they gathered what they had, and Krunk lead them back out into the bustling streets of the Jewel of the Inner Sea.
PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Trail of the Key
Derris was enjoying his new lifestyle. Though pretty much anything would beat the cell of Justicar's Bastion. He had money to enjoy the pleasures of Junnis, he had interesting traveling companions, even one pretty one! And he had a quest to complete, which while neither glorious or well-paid, was a quest to help one of lesser station nonetheless. He couldn't really have hoped for more after escaping the prison on another plane.
He had gone with Krunk into the market, trading their hard-won plunder for for much gold which they distributed evenly among the six survivors. Derris had taken a fine rapier as part of his share, with many of the others keeping bits and pieces with theirs. Browsing the wares of the market here had turned up no suitable gifts for his beloved, so he waited for something which she would truly appreciate.
Their companions had had some luck with the trail of the key, Layla doing much of the talking at the main temple of Stars with Sam and the priest of Sun for company. Their quarry Veltargo was not a genuine priest, but an imposter. He had waylaid a true priest, taking his robes and starred blue hat, symbol of their religion. In the struggle, the priest had managed to tear a stone pendant from Veltargo, which he had given up to those hunting him. The pendant was of blood-red marble, shaped into a clenched fist squeezing out a drop of blood. There were some strange indentations on the back of it, the purpose of which no-one yet knew.
As they planned their next step, their saviour had visited them again. Masym lingered in the city, looking for work at Mercenary's Square and enjoying a good rest. He had asked if they would shelter another, a creature the servant of Fire had found lurking in the Square. The creature's name was Bennin, a feral-looking humanoid with cat-like ears and bestial features. In some ways it represented one of the large hunting cats the noble had read of. Bennin's claws looked unusually sharp and he carried a massive sword strapped to his back. Derris didn't know what nature of man it was, but he would certainly take care around their new companion.
The next few days they had spent at the Great Library of Junnis, looking for clues about the red pendant. Well, some had looked for clues. Derris had snuck off to pursue one of his passions, find recipes by master cooks from the Free Cities, elven dishes of Yandaris and the odd item from further afield. Bennin had looked at books full of sketches and drawings, Krunk was researching dragons while Cade searched for signs of his ancestors. Which meant in actuality only Layla, Sam and the Shiny One of Sun had searched among the tomes detailing such pendants. Such were the duties of the lower castes.
The pendant was a cairn charm, this one in particular unlocking the way to the Tomb of Blood Everflowing. Located in the Cairn Hills a day and a half north of Junnis, it had once been a shrine to Earth, now long-deserted. Derris hoped that they would find the key and Veltargo there, for he was beginning to find this quest a little dull.
Apparently this fake priest of Stars was also a thief. The watch had been swarming around both the Temple of Stars and the Great Library, looking for a priest of Stars who had been seen fleeing the latter with a large book. The contents of the book were unknown, as it had a clasp held by a magical lock no one could open. Derris and the other had put their clues together, with the conclusion that Veltargo wanted the key to unlock the book, and was also the aforementioned stealer of books.
Now they were on the path from Junnis, equipped for a short overland journey and then the descent into the Tomb of Everflowing Blood. Only glory awaited one as bold and daring as Derris De Marco, adventurer extraordinaire!
Derris was enjoying his new lifestyle. Though pretty much anything would beat the cell of Justicar's Bastion. He had money to enjoy the pleasures of Junnis, he had interesting traveling companions, even one pretty one! And he had a quest to complete, which while neither glorious or well-paid, was a quest to help one of lesser station nonetheless. He couldn't really have hoped for more after escaping the prison on another plane.
He had gone with Krunk into the market, trading their hard-won plunder for for much gold which they distributed evenly among the six survivors. Derris had taken a fine rapier as part of his share, with many of the others keeping bits and pieces with theirs. Browsing the wares of the market here had turned up no suitable gifts for his beloved, so he waited for something which she would truly appreciate.
Their companions had had some luck with the trail of the key, Layla doing much of the talking at the main temple of Stars with Sam and the priest of Sun for company. Their quarry Veltargo was not a genuine priest, but an imposter. He had waylaid a true priest, taking his robes and starred blue hat, symbol of their religion. In the struggle, the priest had managed to tear a stone pendant from Veltargo, which he had given up to those hunting him. The pendant was of blood-red marble, shaped into a clenched fist squeezing out a drop of blood. There were some strange indentations on the back of it, the purpose of which no-one yet knew.
As they planned their next step, their saviour had visited them again. Masym lingered in the city, looking for work at Mercenary's Square and enjoying a good rest. He had asked if they would shelter another, a creature the servant of Fire had found lurking in the Square. The creature's name was Bennin, a feral-looking humanoid with cat-like ears and bestial features. In some ways it represented one of the large hunting cats the noble had read of. Bennin's claws looked unusually sharp and he carried a massive sword strapped to his back. Derris didn't know what nature of man it was, but he would certainly take care around their new companion.
The next few days they had spent at the Great Library of Junnis, looking for clues about the red pendant. Well, some had looked for clues. Derris had snuck off to pursue one of his passions, find recipes by master cooks from the Free Cities, elven dishes of Yandaris and the odd item from further afield. Bennin had looked at books full of sketches and drawings, Krunk was researching dragons while Cade searched for signs of his ancestors. Which meant in actuality only Layla, Sam and the Shiny One of Sun had searched among the tomes detailing such pendants. Such were the duties of the lower castes.
The pendant was a cairn charm, this one in particular unlocking the way to the Tomb of Blood Everflowing. Located in the Cairn Hills a day and a half north of Junnis, it had once been a shrine to Earth, now long-deserted. Derris hoped that they would find the key and Veltargo there, for he was beginning to find this quest a little dull.
Apparently this fake priest of Stars was also a thief. The watch had been swarming around both the Temple of Stars and the Great Library, looking for a priest of Stars who had been seen fleeing the latter with a large book. The contents of the book were unknown, as it had a clasp held by a magical lock no one could open. Derris and the other had put their clues together, with the conclusion that Veltargo wanted the key to unlock the book, and was also the aforementioned stealer of books.
Now they were on the path from Junnis, equipped for a short overland journey and then the descent into the Tomb of Everflowing Blood. Only glory awaited one as bold and daring as Derris De Marco, adventurer extraordinaire!
PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Bloody Tomb
Bennin kept mostly quiet alongside his new pack-mates. They were unlike other creatures he had known, somehow un-attuned to the world around them. But he was not a slave tothem. They did not scar him if he moved too slowly, or beat him if he looked at the wrong time. He had seen no many-eyed masters floating among them, or their grey-skinned, short, bald servants. So far he was free, and intended to stay that way.
He knew little of the world, growing up among his pack-mates, serving the many-eyed masters in their blasted homelands and subterranean cities. Sometimes members of his pack were dragged off for experiments, or taken away to the battle-lines above and below ground. A short time ago, several of them had managed to escape, fleeing the wrath of their masters under the leadership of a creature known as a human. It had lead them to Jooniz, where the pack had split for a time, hoping to evade the agents the many-eyed masters would surely send.
Now Bennin could smell the overwhelming scent of blood. Not just a small amount, but a whole pool of the noxious red liquid. Many of his pack turned away or gagged at the blood, but it bothered him little compared to the horrors his kind saw in the twisted land of his birth. At the moment they could find no way forward, so hunted for passages hidden in the stone walls covered in writing he could not read.
The day before, he had seen his pack in battle for the first time. A large insect-like denizen had burst from the ground and attacked the four-legged beast that served them, sending it fleeing. Most had reacted immediately, engaging their foe alongside Bennin, bringing it down in moments. Not even one of them had been injured. It was a good omen of things to come.
Someone had found a way down, touching a small red stone to the wall, and invoking the stone to slide up. The pack waited as the blood of the pool drained down the stairs, then followed Bennin as he descended, looking for foes to rend and tear. Others baulked at the strong stench of more of the red liquid, but not him.
The twisted caverns and caves surrounded a waterfall of blood, filled with walking corpses which fell before Bennin’s enraged assault. The human in shining clothes kept invoking his holy master, but nothing seemed to come of it until late into the battle, when many of the corpses fled into deeper caverns. Other pack-mates battled alongside him, the human with a blade of steel and large shield a worthy warrior, and the short one also a keen combatant. Another human, a mongrel of some sort, used a thin piece of metal as a weapon, but it did little to bring the walking corpses down. Others conserved their strength, the human mongrel with the scythe and the human female human guarding their retreat.
Some walking corpses got away, as a seething mass of rotting rats, long dead, sought to devour their flesh. Bennin cut through swathes of the vermin, as one mongrel fell to the onslaught and the rest of the pack rushed to beat them back. The short one was overwhelmed by them, retching in a corner as the dead rats fled into nooks and crannies of the cave.
Pausing for breath, they let the human in shining clothes restore their strength, then descended further, Bennin leading the way once more. The walking corpses hadn’t gone far, standing in a pool of blood which came up to their thighs. An armoured human was visible beyond them, hidden mostly by the reddish shadows of pillars and strange crimson light. The short one rushed past Bennin, heading for the enemy human, slowing slightly as the blood came up to his shoulders. Bennin invoked the powers of his kind, taking on the visage of a feral cat, his claws lengthening and growing stronger as he too leapt towards the enemy.
Beasts of bone with curved blades stood from among the blood, joining the animated corpses as they sought to overwhelm his pack. The short one fell to four of them in the middle of the pool, his blood mingling with that which would soon drown him. Bennin held back the horde, fighting side to side with the thin blade-wielding mongrel and the human with blade and shield. Their foe across the pool briefly sent Bennin into slumber, but he was quickly awoken by the mongrel, to find others fleeing. Shouting with rage, Bennin leapt into the mass of flesh and bones before him, only to be overwhelmed, then cut down by a blade through eye and brain.
Bennin kept mostly quiet alongside his new pack-mates. They were unlike other creatures he had known, somehow un-attuned to the world around them. But he was not a slave tothem. They did not scar him if he moved too slowly, or beat him if he looked at the wrong time. He had seen no many-eyed masters floating among them, or their grey-skinned, short, bald servants. So far he was free, and intended to stay that way.
He knew little of the world, growing up among his pack-mates, serving the many-eyed masters in their blasted homelands and subterranean cities. Sometimes members of his pack were dragged off for experiments, or taken away to the battle-lines above and below ground. A short time ago, several of them had managed to escape, fleeing the wrath of their masters under the leadership of a creature known as a human. It had lead them to Jooniz, where the pack had split for a time, hoping to evade the agents the many-eyed masters would surely send.
Now Bennin could smell the overwhelming scent of blood. Not just a small amount, but a whole pool of the noxious red liquid. Many of his pack turned away or gagged at the blood, but it bothered him little compared to the horrors his kind saw in the twisted land of his birth. At the moment they could find no way forward, so hunted for passages hidden in the stone walls covered in writing he could not read.
The day before, he had seen his pack in battle for the first time. A large insect-like denizen had burst from the ground and attacked the four-legged beast that served them, sending it fleeing. Most had reacted immediately, engaging their foe alongside Bennin, bringing it down in moments. Not even one of them had been injured. It was a good omen of things to come.
Someone had found a way down, touching a small red stone to the wall, and invoking the stone to slide up. The pack waited as the blood of the pool drained down the stairs, then followed Bennin as he descended, looking for foes to rend and tear. Others baulked at the strong stench of more of the red liquid, but not him.
The twisted caverns and caves surrounded a waterfall of blood, filled with walking corpses which fell before Bennin’s enraged assault. The human in shining clothes kept invoking his holy master, but nothing seemed to come of it until late into the battle, when many of the corpses fled into deeper caverns. Other pack-mates battled alongside him, the human with a blade of steel and large shield a worthy warrior, and the short one also a keen combatant. Another human, a mongrel of some sort, used a thin piece of metal as a weapon, but it did little to bring the walking corpses down. Others conserved their strength, the human mongrel with the scythe and the human female human guarding their retreat.
Some walking corpses got away, as a seething mass of rotting rats, long dead, sought to devour their flesh. Bennin cut through swathes of the vermin, as one mongrel fell to the onslaught and the rest of the pack rushed to beat them back. The short one was overwhelmed by them, retching in a corner as the dead rats fled into nooks and crannies of the cave.
Pausing for breath, they let the human in shining clothes restore their strength, then descended further, Bennin leading the way once more. The walking corpses hadn’t gone far, standing in a pool of blood which came up to their thighs. An armoured human was visible beyond them, hidden mostly by the reddish shadows of pillars and strange crimson light. The short one rushed past Bennin, heading for the enemy human, slowing slightly as the blood came up to his shoulders. Bennin invoked the powers of his kind, taking on the visage of a feral cat, his claws lengthening and growing stronger as he too leapt towards the enemy.
Beasts of bone with curved blades stood from among the blood, joining the animated corpses as they sought to overwhelm his pack. The short one fell to four of them in the middle of the pool, his blood mingling with that which would soon drown him. Bennin held back the horde, fighting side to side with the thin blade-wielding mongrel and the human with blade and shield. Their foe across the pool briefly sent Bennin into slumber, but he was quickly awoken by the mongrel, to find others fleeing. Shouting with rage, Bennin leapt into the mass of flesh and bones before him, only to be overwhelmed, then cut down by a blade through eye and brain.
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PieAndDragon
Duncan T
Prayers to Sun
There was little hope left, unless Sun performed a miracle.
The halfling lay dead in 2 foot of blood, Bennin had been cut down by a skeleton and Sam fled under a magical compulsion. Derris had retreated beside Ra, Layla was behind them, her magic having little power over the undead, and Krunk was holding the passageway against the horde of zombies and skeletons attempting to break through. Ra's power to banish undead had been squandered in the upper caves, having no idea the numbers of unliving they would face today.
Their foes fought under the symbol of an empty chest, a mark of a power Ra did not recognise. Sun was the foe of creatures such as these, and he would mark a servant who prevailed against such. Now was the time to dig deep, to hold true and believe his companions had the strength to overpower the enemy priest and his minions.
Ra gave over his mace to the half-elf noble, of more use against bone than the rapier Derris usually used. The two half-breed stood side-to-side, enabling only one foe to reach them at a time, destroying skeletons and zombies with grim efficiency. The priest of Sun grasped the wand of curing, using its magic liberally to close the wounds suffered so far, and Layla stood ready to enchant living enemies should they show their faces again. Even Sam had shaken off his magical fear, returning to bring pain and destruction to his foes.
As the flow of undead faltered, the adventurers broke out into pool of blood, the three warriors finishing off the last skeletons as Ra continued to heal any injuries they suffered, and Layla focusing her magic on the enemy priest. With a howl of rage, he leapt to engage them as the last of his unliving minions faltered. Derris switched from mace to rapier, for such a foe, joining Sam their last foe. Krunk circled around, chanting quickly and invoking magic to guide his blows, leaving the priest dazed and limping. In moments they beat down his mace and shield, raining blows upon him until but a corpse remained, it's spirit sent to meet whatever power he had served.
For a few seconds they celebrated their victory, checking the dead bodies of their fallen comrades, and using the dwindling power of their curing wand. But their joy was short-lived, as the doors beyond the columns burst open and the sounds of spellcasting filled their ears. A horse-sized skeletal creature with rending claws rushed towards them, while a human in banded armour called down the power of his infernal god. In the dim red light, Ra could make out the man's crooked features and balding head, matching the description of Veltargo, the priest they pursued.
A transparent halberd appeared beside Layla, striking at her as it was guided by an unseen hand. Derris took great blows from the bear-like skeleton, but was soon joined by the stout shield and sure blade of Samson. Combat paused briefly as a single word echoed through the room, commanding Sam and back by divine might.
"Approach"
Ra saw a flicker of resolve in the warrior's face as he threw off the compulsion and continued to press his skeletal foe. Krunk joined the other warriors and soon the tide turned. Ra gave a brief prayer to Sun as the wand crumbled, it's magic exhausted, forcing him to look for other options. Veltargo's magic proved futile yet again, the warriors throwing off another baneful spell from the priest's patron.
When the skeletal bear crumbled to dust, only the one they hunted awaited them, buoyed now by more recitations. Charging in, Veltargo attempted to end his foes with crushing blows from a spiked morning star. The one-man assault was brought to a halt by Layla, her slight form working magics to dazzle his mind. Ra and the three warriors surrounded their foe, bringing his life to an unglorious finish in a lake of blood.
Their celebrations continued as they found a book and key beyond. Ra grew concerned when they found that the contents of the book pertained to necromantic deeds and half of the pages had been torn out. Furthermore, Theldrat's key had lost its magic and the little chance they had of reward from this. A message left for Veltargo pointed to a larger cult and more priests of their dark patron. Ra and his companions wasted little time in grabbing what valuables they found, leaving the bodies of their fallen comrades in ancient tombs long ago looted.
The return journey to Juniss was swift but undisturbed. The Grand Library rewarded them for returning the damaged but now unlocked tome, and Theldrat promised his locksmithing services should they ever require them. In the next few days, the remaining five from Justicar's Bastion mourned their fallen friends, split their spoils and looked to what the future might bring.
And Ra prayed loudly in thanks for their deliverance by his Radiant patron once again.
There was little hope left, unless Sun performed a miracle.
The halfling lay dead in 2 foot of blood, Bennin had been cut down by a skeleton and Sam fled under a magical compulsion. Derris had retreated beside Ra, Layla was behind them, her magic having little power over the undead, and Krunk was holding the passageway against the horde of zombies and skeletons attempting to break through. Ra's power to banish undead had been squandered in the upper caves, having no idea the numbers of unliving they would face today.
Their foes fought under the symbol of an empty chest, a mark of a power Ra did not recognise. Sun was the foe of creatures such as these, and he would mark a servant who prevailed against such. Now was the time to dig deep, to hold true and believe his companions had the strength to overpower the enemy priest and his minions.
Ra gave over his mace to the half-elf noble, of more use against bone than the rapier Derris usually used. The two half-breed stood side-to-side, enabling only one foe to reach them at a time, destroying skeletons and zombies with grim efficiency. The priest of Sun grasped the wand of curing, using its magic liberally to close the wounds suffered so far, and Layla stood ready to enchant living enemies should they show their faces again. Even Sam had shaken off his magical fear, returning to bring pain and destruction to his foes.
As the flow of undead faltered, the adventurers broke out into pool of blood, the three warriors finishing off the last skeletons as Ra continued to heal any injuries they suffered, and Layla focusing her magic on the enemy priest. With a howl of rage, he leapt to engage them as the last of his unliving minions faltered. Derris switched from mace to rapier, for such a foe, joining Sam their last foe. Krunk circled around, chanting quickly and invoking magic to guide his blows, leaving the priest dazed and limping. In moments they beat down his mace and shield, raining blows upon him until but a corpse remained, it's spirit sent to meet whatever power he had served.
For a few seconds they celebrated their victory, checking the dead bodies of their fallen comrades, and using the dwindling power of their curing wand. But their joy was short-lived, as the doors beyond the columns burst open and the sounds of spellcasting filled their ears. A horse-sized skeletal creature with rending claws rushed towards them, while a human in banded armour called down the power of his infernal god. In the dim red light, Ra could make out the man's crooked features and balding head, matching the description of Veltargo, the priest they pursued.
A transparent halberd appeared beside Layla, striking at her as it was guided by an unseen hand. Derris took great blows from the bear-like skeleton, but was soon joined by the stout shield and sure blade of Samson. Combat paused briefly as a single word echoed through the room, commanding Sam and back by divine might.
"Approach"
Ra saw a flicker of resolve in the warrior's face as he threw off the compulsion and continued to press his skeletal foe. Krunk joined the other warriors and soon the tide turned. Ra gave a brief prayer to Sun as the wand crumbled, it's magic exhausted, forcing him to look for other options. Veltargo's magic proved futile yet again, the warriors throwing off another baneful spell from the priest's patron.
When the skeletal bear crumbled to dust, only the one they hunted awaited them, buoyed now by more recitations. Charging in, Veltargo attempted to end his foes with crushing blows from a spiked morning star. The one-man assault was brought to a halt by Layla, her slight form working magics to dazzle his mind. Ra and the three warriors surrounded their foe, bringing his life to an unglorious finish in a lake of blood.
Their celebrations continued as they found a book and key beyond. Ra grew concerned when they found that the contents of the book pertained to necromantic deeds and half of the pages had been torn out. Furthermore, Theldrat's key had lost its magic and the little chance they had of reward from this. A message left for Veltargo pointed to a larger cult and more priests of their dark patron. Ra and his companions wasted little time in grabbing what valuables they found, leaving the bodies of their fallen comrades in ancient tombs long ago looted.
The return journey to Juniss was swift but undisturbed. The Grand Library rewarded them for returning the damaged but now unlocked tome, and Theldrat promised his locksmithing services should they ever require them. In the next few days, the remaining five from Justicar's Bastion mourned their fallen friends, split their spoils and looked to what the future might bring.
And Ra prayed loudly in thanks for their deliverance by his Radiant patron once again.
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