Story HourPost your ongoing tales from your campaigns, and read those from others for inspiration. Lots of other RPG boards post "Story Hours", but this is where it started!
In the Tears of Selune:
Breakwater moved his interceptor expertly through the field of asteroids all around him. His ship wove between floating rocks of death barely two halflings high distance from his cockpit window. He fired his ship’s laser blaster destroying several small chucks of rock heading toward him.
It was his job to make sure there was a clear path through the field for the dropship, Vector 1, lumbering behind him. Well, as clear as he could make it. The dropships had little to worry from the small chunks of rock Breakwater had fired upon. He had done it to make it easier for Fathom 12 and Fathom 4 to both dodge asteroids as protect the dropship from behind.
“”Fathom 2 to Vector 1, check your pitch! There is a huge asteroid coming your way at point zero eight and closing fast.” Breakwater was sweating up a storm, as he typed in new passage coordinates and transferred them to Vector 1.
“Understood Fathom 2,” the voice of the man known as Elgard Merril came back over the Comm. “Adjusting pitch and feeding in new coordinates.”
Breakwater watched through his rear monitor as the dropship fired its retrorockets and just managed to slip past a huge asteroid spinning wildly by. He was glad that Elgard was as good a pilot as he had first seemed when Breakwater had met him a year earlier.
“Fathom 12 and 4, watch yourselves. Enemy ships on your six.” Elgard’s voice rung out over the Comm once again. “There are four of them.”
“I see them,” Fathom 12 responded. “They’re trying to weave in past that cluster of rocks at point three two. Freddy, watch yourself.”
“No problem,” Freddy angled his interceptor behind a slow moving asteroid no larger that Vector 1 just in time to avoid the laser fire coming from the dragon wings. “They can’t hit what they can’t see.”
Freddy came out from behind the huge rock and locked on to the lead dragon wing. He fired his lasers and the dragon wing exploded in a fiery ball of light.
“Ooh, that’s gotta hurt,” Freddy brought his interceptor back into formation just as the turret guns from Vector 1 picked off two of the other dragon wings.
The last dragon wing pilot’s luck ran out. He crashed his ship into a spinning asteroid that came out of nowhere, while he was trying to avoid the wreckage of the other dragon wings. It exploded leaving hardly a trace it had been pursuing them.
“Tough way to go,” Fathom 12 gave full salute towards the remains of the destroyed dragon wing. “A fighter jock shouldn’t die that way. It’s not right.”
“Keep your mind on the task at hand, Fathom 12.” Breakwater’s voice rung out through the Comm. “You’ve more company coming in directly behind you.”
“Damn, there’s so many of them.” Fathom 12’s voice remained calm under pressure but Breakwater knew he was tired. They were all tired.
The dragon wings hadn’t hesitated to follow them into the asteroid field and the pilots behind the sleek, dragon-shaped machines were as good as the pilots of Fathom Wing. Reports had come in early of large flights of dragon wings breaking into packs of six to twelve. Fathom Left had lost three interceptors already and one dropship had been immobilized and crashed into a large asteroid. They couldn’t hope for survivors.
Six more dragon wings came up behind Fathom 12 and 4 firing several laser blasts. One of the blasts glanced of the shields of Freddy’s ship. Another struck the back of Vector 1 dead on.
“Damn,” Elgard’s voice broke through the Comm. “One more hit like that and we’re done like dinner.”
“Fathom 12 and 4, bank away. We’re going to give those Imperial bastards a little surprise.” General Bartleby’s voice came over the Comm.
“Sir?” Freddy didn’t like the idea of leaving Vector 1 wide open.
“Just do it,” The general’s voice had the tone of an order. “And cover your ears!”
Fathom 12 and 4 banked away from Vector 1 just as the dropship dropped out two strangely shaped objects from the undercarriage of the ship. The two objects quickly fell out and towards one of the larger asteroids near the dragon wings. The first object hit and an explosion took place that sounded like a pipe organ imploding. The weapon released a shock wave that destroyed four of the dragon wings and ripped the asteroid apart. The second device hit the debris field of the sundered asteroid and exploded with the same audible sound. The other dragon wings tried to avoid the effect but only one of them managed to escape.
“What the hell were those?” Breakwater had been surprised by the sound they made. In the depths of space, most exploding weapons made little or no sound at all. In space, such a sound should have been impossible.
“Sonic disruption charges,” General Bartleby’s voice came over the Comm again. “They’re mainly used in an atmosphere but I figured they’d do some damage in space as well.”
“That was so cool,” Freddy was chuckling.
“We’ve still got one dragon wing on us,” Fathom 12’s voice came over Breakwater’s Comm. “Don’t get sloppy, Freddy.”
Breakwater could see the end of the asteroid field. They would soon be out in open space again. Reports were coming in from the other groups. Two were already clear of the asteroids while the others were just approaching the edge. Roughly two dozen dragon wings were still in pursuit of the convoy from all available data but Breakwater knew that number was most likely misleading.
“General Bartleby, we’re approaching the edge of the asteroid field. Inform the other members of the convoy to break for the planet’s atmosphere. We will cover you as best as possible.”
“Understood, Fathom 2.” The general’s reply was somber and serious.
“But first, I’m going to get rid of this dragon wing.” Breakwater’s interceptor broke the edge of the Asteroid field. Breakwater tapped a key on his console in front of him and the interceptor moved up at a ninety-degree angle. Breakwater watched from a position above his group as Vector 1 passed beneath his ship then Fathom 4 and 12.
Then came the dragon wing.
“Oops,” Breakwater throttled his ship forward and down lining up the dragon wing. “Forgot to check his scope.”
“Nail him, cuz!” Freddy yelled out as Breakwater fired his lasers. The dragon wing exploded in a ball of light.
“Nice maneuver, BW.” Fathom 12’s voice was calm and confident.
“Thanks, but we still have a job to do. Fathom Left form two groups, designations – Firebirds 1 and 2. An even split boys. Those with me are Firebirds 1. Fathom 8, you point of Firebirds 2.
“Copy, Fathom 2.” Sandal Wingstrom’s voice crackled through Breakwater’s Comm. Fathom 8 was one of the few pilots left in the group with the experience to lead Firebirds 2. He was a good pilot, for a human.
“Firebirds 1, this is Breakwater. We’re cover for the dropships. Black Beholder formation. Firebirds 2, you’re the run and gunners. Take ‘em out!”
Breakwater led the interceptors of his group towards the dropships as they formed into a convoy again. Several dragon wings banked for the dropships but found the ships of Firebirds 2 already in position to meet them. The dogfight lasted until the edge of the atmosphere. Breakwater loss several good friends. Their numbers were now too small to fight the dragon wings effectively. Luckily, the ships of Firebirds 2 had taken out two dragon wings fro every Fathom interceptor lost.
“Fathom 2, we’re preparing to line up the dropships for descent into the planet’s atmosphere. Keep them off out backs a minute longer.”
“Understood general.” Breakwater banked his interceptor to meet the remaining dozen dragon wings and the ships of Firebirds 1 banked with him.” Fathom 8, what’s the situation on the perimeter?”
“What perimeter,” Sandal’s voice came across the Comm. He sounded desperate.
“Try to remain calm, Sandal. Where are you?”
“Approaching your left flank sir. Twenty two degrees down, forward plane. I’ve got two dragon wings on my tail. I can’t shake them.”
“Hold on Fathom 8, we’re coming.” Breakwater looked out and down towards where Fathom 8 should be. His ship went from a speck in the distance to nearly filling his entire window.
Breakwater fired destroying one of the pursuing dragon wings. The other ship banked right towards Fathom 12. Breakwater didn’t have time to warn his wingman before the dragon wing impacted the other ship. Both ships exploded in a ball of flame and light.
“Damn them all to the Reaper’s womb!” Breakwater lined up another dragon wing and fired. He missed but Freddy followed up from his secondary wingman position.
“Decker,” Freddy’s voice choked out the name of their dead friend. “I’ll miss you buddy.”
“Sandal, you’re my secondary wingman. Freddy, over to primary.” Breakwater angled his interceptor towards the dropships. They looked posed to begin the descent.
“Fathom 2, we’re ready to go.” Elgard’s voice confirmed it.
“Fathom Left, form up. We’re hit the atmosphere at full throttle. That should keep those blasted Imperials off our tail. Vector 1, you have point.”
“Breakwater, are you sure the engines will turn over at that speed?” Sandal’s voice sounded worried.
“Don’t worry about it Sand, my man. Breakwater and I use to do this all the time at home. Isn’t that right, BW?” Freddy was trying to lighten the mode after Decker’s death. It was his gift.
“Right Freddy,” Breakwater knew his cousin knew it was a small risk but they needed time to put some distance between them and the Imperial dragon wings once they had passed threw the upper atmosphere of the planet.
Breakwater ordered the remaining ships of Fathom Left, no more than six, into the atmosphere just as the dropship convoy entered the upper atmosphere. The darkness of space evaporated in a flash of engines roaring then cutting off to switch the mix and turn over to atmospheric operation.
Breakwater's interceptor stalled.
“Oh crap.”
* * *
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
I really haven't thought too much about what might be happening in the other regions of Toril. I've considered it a little but if I tried to write Realmsian Dragonstar from such a large perspective it would be so long I'd never have a chance of getting it finished.
However, once Book Three is finished I will write a special Epilogue that touches on every region of Toril, as well as the other worlds of the Amaunator System. (That is some time away, though.)
Cheers!
KF72
p.s. More Realmsian Dragonstar next week. Taking a break in order to handle some RL concerns.
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
Knightfall,
Good to see you back writing again. Hope the medical problems have cleared themselves up. Coming back with a vengence too I see. The battle for Tyrol is definately one of the best stories from Dragonstar there is. I was thinking of an intereting adventure that could be run along with it (I know this is background for your adventure with arcanum of the stars). Anyway, and interesting adventure to run would be the one where the characters are looking for the material components for the spell Karsis's Avatar, the spell that cause Mystral to destroy herself. Thought is would be a interesting switch, the either Elminster or one of the other power mages sees it as the only way to defend the Forgotten Realms from the Empires onslaught. Well, got to go Keep up the good work.
Salcor
__________________ The meek shall truly inherit the Earth because that is were they will all be buried
I've got one question only: What's going on with the Dragon's of the Realms?
I pity the fool that comes a knocking on Klauth's door
Think clandestine meetings between ISPD officers and the evil and neutral dragons of Toril, allowing them to increase their domains and possibly be offered posts as regional governors.
I'm still mulling it over.
Later,
KF72
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
Think clandestine meetings between ISPD officers and the evil and neutral dragons of Toril, allowing them to increase their domains and possibly be offered posts as regional governors.
I'm still mulling it over.
Later,
KF72
Don't forget the Cult of the Dragon with their Dracolichs.... I'm sorry, I just have a Dragon Fixation
Think clandestine meetings between ISPD officers and the evil and neutral dragons of Toril, allowing them to increase their domains and possibly be offered posts as regional governors.
I'm still mulling it over.
Later,
KF72
Can't wait to read about the ramifications of those meetings!
Can't wait to read about the ramifications of those meetings!
Secondary story arcs will likely be written as story stories independant of the main story hour. I'll have to do a bit more reseach on the Dragons of Toril before I could write such an encounter.
After all, it is important for everyone to remember that this story isn't from actual gameplay. Realmsian Dragonstar is simply a backstory to where my Arcanum of the Stars campaign takes place. I'm still looking for players in Edmonton who want to play Dragonstar, however, my time is limited right now.
Note, I will be switching over to write more for my World of Kulan story hour before coming back to this one. Writing Realmsian Dragonstar updates takes a lot out of me and I will always have pain issues to deal with. Also note, that Part Three of Book Two isn't finished yet. It is turning out to be longer then I thought it was going to be. (Not that that's a bad thing.)
And thanks to linnorm for the bump.
Cheers!
Knightfall1972
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
Knightfall,
I hope everything has been going well with your recovery. I kind of understand it myself now that I have sustained a knee injury that is keeping me from doing my job at the moment. It is very frustrating. Anyway, I was wondering when we can expect the next Realmsian Dragonstar update. Probably on the best stories that I have read. It would be great if Wotc would liscense Fantasy Flight Games to let them publish it as an alternate Forgotten Realms World. Well have a good one.
Salcor
__________________ The meek shall truly inherit the Earth because that is were they will all be buried
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
Seriously, I've been thinking about bring this story hour thread back into the limelight. Writing it is a daunting task, however. Perhaps I should simply summerize some what is to come and skip ahead in the story. Basically, do for my Dragonstar universe what Sep did for Wyre.
Hmm...
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
Hmm, I think the great crash from last year deleted a few posts from this story hour...
So, here you go...
Part Three (conclusion) The Warlock’s Bridge:
Thul Gulokas fumed as he paced back and forth.
The Deva Wing had disappeared into nothingness. The Commander of the Dragon Brigade still couldn’t believe it. The ship had likely plane shifted away, or had some kind of distortion shield. It was inconceivable that an Outlands force would have such technology. They had to be getting help from someone within the Dragon Empire, most likely one of the Qesemet Houses.
It made Thul’s dragon blood boil with rage. Such technology was restricted to military use only, and even so it was completely theoretical. Most likely it was some sort of ethereal or astral contraption, stolen from the desks of the Empire’s top scientists.
“Report,” the half-black dragon had immediately called for his scryers to find out where the Deva Wing had vanished too. “Tell me something or die in ignorance.”
Gulokas turned to the Warlock’s head diviner in frustration and grabbed the man by the throat. The diviner’s eyes bulged out in shock, as he had been deep in his spell. The look on his face told Thul that the news was grim.
“The ship has definitely left the Material Plane, sir.” The man tried to take a breath but Gulokas tightened his grip, choking him. “B- but I c- cannot see where it has g- gone. Need… more… time.”
“Time is something we don’t have, diviner.” Gulokas choked the life out of the man in frustration. “I relieve you of your position on this ship.”
The Commander turned to the rest of the ship’s scryers.
“Get off my bridge, you useless louts!” He bellowed. “Crewman One, status report on the Firewurm and the Spider Eater, now!”
“Both ships have been decimated. There isn’t much hope the ships can be salvaged, sir. Shall I send in the runnerships to pick up the ships’ crews?”
“No, let them suffer in their own stupidity.” Thul would waste no more time or resources on failure. “What about the Victory?”
“The ship is turning about. They will be on us in moments, sir.” Crewman One’s voice was deadpan.
“Hells, where did that ship get such technology? It doesn’t make sense.”
The bridge crew of the Warlock seemed unsure of how to react. They had never seen their commander so trouble in all their time aboard the ship. The silence was deafening, until Farhand, the soulmech, walked onto the bridge. He, no it, immediately knew something was wrong. Farhand ignored the blank faces staring at him as he glided effortlessly over the deck plates.
“Thul Gulokas, I have a bone to pick with you!” Farhand had never been overly diplomatic in its former life and it was even less so now. “How dare you destroy Imperial ships without cause or reason!”
The soulmech’s monotone voice raised to a pitched boom and all turned towards the being that would dare challenge their commander. Weapons were drawn, as the entire bridge crew moved to defend their liege.
“Be still,” Thul’s voice rose even higher than Farhand’s had. The half-dragon’s crew stopped in mid-stride. Farhand continued towards Thul. “Be still, soulmech or I’ll rip off your shiny new head.”
“Don’t threaten me, Gulokas. I might not be an Imperial Admiral of the core worlds, but you will show me the respect I am due.” Farhand continued forward, now near fearless in his new form.
“You have no respect here, construct. You are not even a man anymore. And once I tell the Dragon Emperor of your incompetence in the taking of this world, I doubt you will be allowed to captain a freighter.”
“Don’t talk to me of incompetence. You destroyed two Imperial ships when it would have been more favorable for the Empire that you only cripple them and take the ship’s crews hostage, in order to cover your tracks. You think that the Dragon Emperor will simply forgive you for killing his loyal subjects.”
Farhand’s servos stopped whirring only after it stood toe to toe with the Dragon Brigade Commander. Its soulmech body was nearly as tall as the half-dragon, almost. Farhand showed Gulokas no respect or any sign of fear.
“My failure was impossible to predict, but your crimes are apparent for all to see.” Farhand stared up into the half-dragon’s eyes.
“You are pushing your luck, tin-man.” Gulokas growled. “One word from me and my bridge crew will blow you to bits. How will you report anything to the Emperor then?”
“Maybe I’ve already sent Mezzenbone my report, dragon spawn. Did you ever think of that?”
“No signal leaves this ship without my or the Warlock Aspect’s knowledge.” Thul was beginning to admire this Farhand. It was a good bluff and Thul actually considered that the soulmech might have found a way to send a message without him knowing.
“Yes, that might be true, but magic is a wonderful thing. It tends to break the rules in ways you’d least expect.”
“You’re not that powerful, tin-man.”
“Sir, shall I have this thing removed from the bridge?” Crewman One knew Farhand’s ancestry.
“No, let it stay and watch.” Gulokas turned away from the soulmech waving his hand. The bridge’s crew went back to their stations, as Gulokas turned his attention to the Victory, which was now banking away towards the planet’s moon. “It may learn something about how a starship is suppose to be run.”
“Yes sir,” Crewman One handed a datapad to his commander as Farhand looked on, disgusted. “We do have some good new, it seems that the Spider Eater is still in fighting shape. They estimate that the ship is working as 60 to 75% of its normal abilities.”
“Good, inform the ship’s captain to begin a sweep around the other side of that moon. He’s to follow the Victory, but stay clear of her cannon’s range. Begin a full sensor sweep of the system for any other ships. No more surprises, understood?”
“Yes sir!” Crewman One looked out towards the moon of Toril just in time to see the Deva Wing return from the Ethereal Plane. “Sir, look!
“Ah, this captain is clever.” Thul walked to the glassteel window in order to study the Deva Wing more carefully. “He or she has Imperial training, I’m sure of it. Now, if I just figure out where he got that marvelous, working device. Crewman One, I want that ship and its captain captured.”
“It will be as you command, sir.” Gulokas’s second bowed and returned to his station.
What happened next, not even the Gods of Toril could have guessed.
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
I'm not reallly updating this right now, just to let you know. I do have a bit done for part four, but I didn't want to tease people with something I'm not currently updating. I'm hoping to get back to it soon, but it's more likely that I'll update my Kulan story hours before I update this one.
So, the question is, do you want to see the two parts I have for Part Four, or would you rather wait until I've written more?
__________________ Robert Blezard I write; therefore, I am!
D&D v.3.5, d20 Modern, OSRIC, Pathfinder, True20... OGL Forever! Walk the Road
Avatar by Sialia
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