Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Curse of Darkness - Florentine Affair
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 5896233" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p>***</p><p>"The Seeress will see you now.", rumbled the towering servant, after they had identified themselves. They had sent a messenger ahead, requesting an appointment, and had arrived at the proper hour.</p><p></p><p>The servant had an almost unnatural gray pallor, and looked as if he was somehow two men standing on top of one another, he was so tall. His step was silent, however, as he lead them through the lower chambers of the tower, and then up the spiral stair, passing floor after floor, until they reached the very top.</p><p></p><p>The Seeress Necrocia, she was called, and she lived up to the name. Her hair was long and black as night, and her gown was a sheath of midnight poured over her form. Her face was so pale that it fairly shone in the shadowed room, like the moon on a clear night.</p><p></p><p>"Dear lady, we were told that if anyone in this city could help us, it would be you.", Penn began flatteringly.</p><p></p><p>"I read your note, and have heard of the book.", she replied. "I may be able to locate it, though my time is valuable."</p><p></p><p>"I'm certain that your skills are worth the price.", replied the Bard. "Can we perhaps aid you, relieve you of some of your other burdens?"</p><p></p><p>"Perhaps.", she said as she turned, a sweeping gesture the covered a desk full of books and papers. "Do you, by chance, speak the language of the Djinn? My current project is a translation, and it consumes my nights."</p><p></p><p>Penn quickly reviewed the languages he knew. Three Fey dialects, Dwarvish, two Human variations and the Dragon tongue, but not the one she needed.</p><p></p><p>"There are enchantments that can aid translation.", he suggested.</p><p></p><p>"I will risk no enchantments around these books.", she advised, a dark smile dancing across her lips. "You never know what the book might do with such a thing. We don't want anything to escape too soon, after all."</p><p></p><p>"Then my aid will have to be limited to inspiration and perspiration. If you need my servants or myself to fetch research works or materials, you have only to ask."</p><p>*** </p><p>"Your servants?", asked Marcus in surprise, once they were away. "Weren't you just a slave a few weeks ago? Since when do you have servants?"</p><p></p><p>"I don't, but there's no reason to tell her that. I also don't have much money to pay her with, so I'm trading with what little I've got."</p><p> ***</p><p>"Hades take them all!", she muttered for about the hundredth time as she stared into her goblet. But this time it continued, the wine loosening her tongue. "May they rot in the darkness while rats chew their eyeballs!", she swore, then realized that she'd spoken aloud and lowered both her head and her voice. But not her temper.</p><p></p><p>"And damn me too, for being fool enough to believe them." She stared at the coin in her hand, the only token of the contract she had supposedly made. A single silver Denarius, smoked and tarnished. "Meet a ship in Piza, the man tells me. 100 dinars plus passage he says. Go to the Olympics he tells me, and all will be explained. And like a fool, I believe him. So I'm there, no ship, no contact, no explanations, and here I am, no money!"</p><p></p><p>She tucked the coin away, a reminder not to trust anyone who doesn't put their money up front, and leaned back in her chair, looking for patterns in the slate gray sky.</p><p></p><p>In a nearby square a commotion was beginning, so she scattered a few silver on the table to pay her bill, drained her goblet, and set off to work.</p><p></p><p>A crowd was gathered, with much shouting, and a man in dark brown robed was exhorting the crowd, calling on them to do their divine duty. Smoke began to rise from somewhere in the middle of it all, and a scream of protest was heard.</p><p></p><p>Then the sounds of fighting, like a brawl, and the crowd became a mob. "Ah", she said to herself, "Time to earn a living."</p><p>***</p><p>"So you think she can help us?", Cassius asked as they left the tower.</p><p></p><p>"I don't know.", Penn replied. "It would be nice if it was that easy, but I'm really expecting better results from the book sellers."</p><p></p><p>"You know what I think of that idea, Penn.", Marcus muttered. "Wait for someone to try and kill us? What kind of plan is that?"</p><p></p><p>"A desperate one, I admit. But I think it's our... wait!", the Half Satyr paused, an ear twitching to the sounds of a riot. "There's trouble over that way.", he indicated, pointing up a side street.</p><p></p><p>And away they went, quick pace. The way opened into a small square, and a large and ugly crowd.</p><p></p><p>One of those ubiquitous bonfires was burning, but apparently someone objected to the burning. It was hard to tell who to cheer for and who to foul, for the scene resembled a boisterous brawl more than a real battle. No weapons in evidence, other than fists.</p><p></p><p>One combatant staggered back into the trio, blood running from his nose.</p><p></p><p>"That's telling 'em!", Penn said enthusiastically, helping the man to his feet, a kindness that was repaid by a sharp blow to the chin.</p><p></p><p>"A piece of advice, Penn?", Cassius laughed good naturedly. "Don't lead with your face."</p><p></p><p>They watched the small riot for a few moments, trying to pick out who was who. Many of the brawlers wore a simple symbol, a twisted loop like an empty hourglass.</p><p></p><p>"I've seen that symbol before.", Marcus noted. "Supposed to look like the mark of Kronos, but they got it wrong."</p><p></p><p>"Well, we can't just stand by and do nothing.", Cassius said. "Let's see which of you can do a better job of breaking this up. A copper to the winner."</p><p></p><p>Penn laughed, struck a dramatic pose, took a deep breath and raised his voice in a stenorian shout, "The guard! Run, Run!"</p><p></p><p>The tumultuous tangle of enraged humanity responded not at all. Penn sighed, and with a sweeping gesture indicated that it was Marcus' turn.</p><p></p><p>"Silence, while a Son of Jupiter speaks!", commanded the cleric, in the voice of an angry parent. He, however, got too close and was rewarded with a backhanded cuff to the eye.</p><p></p><p>"So far, no winners.", laughed Cassius. "Next round, two coppers."</p><p></p><p>Penn spied a watering trough nearby, with a wash bucket depending from the pump nozzle. "Come on, Marcus. Maybe the bonfire's the key."</p><p></p><p>He seized the bucket as he strode past the pump, dipping in the trough in a single smooth move. Then he drew a small flask from his pouch, took a sip to clear his throat, and hummed a small tune as he handed the bucket to Marcus. Cassius saw the laughter in the Fey's eyes, but held his tongue.</p><p></p><p>Marcus, full of enthusiasm, ran up and flung the 'water' onto the bonfire. The results were shocking and instantaneous. The small pyre erupted into a roaring pillar of flame that towered over the nearby buildings, drawing the full attention of everyone in the plaza.</p><p></p><p>Marcus looked flustered, then stepped back from the heat. Seeing the gaze of the crowd fixed on him, he managed to stammer out, "How did that happen?"</p><p></p><p>Then, looking down at the bucket, still in his hands, he did the only sensible thing. He ran. Out of the plaza, up a side street and away, with the howling mob in hot pursuit.</p><p></p><p>"I think you owe him two coppers.", Penn smirked.</p><p></p><p>"What was that?", Cassius asked in shock.</p><p></p><p>"Remember that foul brew Seeburn called 'single malt'?", Penn replied. "That was a few gallons of it. Horrible stuff, but still a shame to waste it."</p><p></p><p>Then he and Cassius, noting that the fires were beginning to endanger nearby buildings, made a far better use of the pump and bucket while they waited for the guard to arrive.</p><p>***</p><p>Marcus fled as fast as his feet could carry him while the enraged crowd hurled rocks and bits of crockery at him. He was confident that he could outrun them, but knew that he could get cornered in a closed alley if he made a wrong turn. He also knew that those rocks hurt, and if one of them managed to knock him down he'd never get up again.</p><p></p><p>He turned left and right, always staying to major avenues, heading for the nearest temple. And the mob followed. In fact, some that they passed got caught up in the mania and began to pursue him as well, even though they had no idea why. Such is the way of mobs.</p><p></p><p>Ahead he spotted a chance. A peasant, besotted with wine, lay in the opening to a narrow lane. He fled past, then spun in place and intoned the words of power: <em>"Titan's Stature"</em></p><p></p><p>The man's body doubled in size, filling the narrow lane and obstructing pursuit. Then he took to his heels once more.</p><p> [FONT=&quot]***</p><p>"What's the fuss?", Sylus asked, looking at the mad scene in the plaza. Like the others he had heard the riot, but had arrived too late to help.</p><p></p><p>"Another mad preacher.", Penn answered. "See if you can help any of the injured."</p><p></p><p>"How do I tell friend from foe?", the Ranger asked. </p><p></p><p>"If they're wearing the empty hourglass, leave them where they lay.", Cassius supplied. "They're the madmen who want to burn everything. The others are, well..."</p><p></p><p>"They're friends of that man.", an Elf maiden replied, indicating one of the fallen. "The mob moved in here dragging him and all this stuff. They took it from his house, and were going to 'save him from his wealth', whether he wanted to be saved or not. He objected, and...", she gestured at the dozen or so who had been beaten unconscious.</p><p></p><p>Just then the guard arrived, having taken the time to gather their numbers.</p><p></p><p>"They went that way!", Penn said helpfully, as he continued to toss water on burning heaps. "But you'd better leave someone here, to prevent looting."</p><p></p><p>"What happened here?", the commander asked in wonder. </p><p></p><p>"A Cleric of Jupiter called on them to stop, and one of them hit him. Then there was this pillar of fire, higher than the roofs. Never seen anything like it!", Penn declared in awe. "Then he headed for the temple, and they followed. Fast."</p><p></p><p>The guard set off in dogged pursuit of the rioters.</p><p></p><p>"That's not exactly what happened.", Cassius noted. </p><p></p><p>"Well, it isn't exactly <em>not</em> what happened either.", Penn said, mock serious. "It will do wonders for his reputation. Seriously, he'll thank me for it later. Really he will."</p><p></p><p>"If he survives.", Cassius noted.</p><p></p><p>Their shared joke was interrupted by the Ranger. </p><p></p><p>"Look at this!", Sylus said, raising something he found in a pile of debris that hadn't yet met the flames. It was a book cover, black leather, with the Elder sign on it. The title confirmed the identity of the work. It was the book they were looking for, though there were no pages evident.</p><p></p><p>Now the group set about the search in earnest, though the guard who remained was confused, unsure if he should stop them or not.</p><p></p><p>"Look at this.", indicating another find. A sheaf of pages, loose, sat within a second heap, amid scrolls and other writings. They were blank, but were of a size and volume that they were a perfect fit for the cover.</p><p></p><p>"Either the book is written in secret ink, or someone stole the pages, then sent this down to be burned, hoping to fool someone.", Penn said thoughtfully.</p><p></p><p>"How would you reveal secret ink?", Cassius asked.</p><p></p><p>"Fire usually works.", Penn noted ironically. "Check the ones with the empty hourglass. See if any have the pages."</p><p></p><p>In short order, Cassius again came up with the answer. "Here, this woman.", he called, holding up a piece of paper.</p><p></p><p>The trio gathered around the fallen one, more girl than woman, joined by the Elf maiden, more out of curiosity than purpose. </p><p></p><p>The page he held was blank, but was of a size and make to match the blank pages they'd found.</p><p></p><p>Cold water was splashed on the girl's face to rouse her, and she reacted in fear to the sudden attention.</p><p></p><p>"You've been a bad girl, haven't you.", Penn admonished. "You've been stealing things you were supposed to burn. Why, if either the guard or your friends found out..."</p><p></p><p>"You can't tell anyone!", the battered girl whimpered. "The priest said to do it, said I'd be rewarded. He'll kill me if he finds I failed."</p><p></p><p>"Now now, child, we'll keep you safe.", Penn said soothingly. Then, noting the thinness of her frame beneath the soot and the bruises, he made another offer. "When did you last eat?"</p><p></p><p>They left the square together, with Penn sweet talking the waif all they way. She knew who had the remains of the book, so she was their new best friend.</p><p>[/FONT]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 5896233, member: 6669384"] *** "The Seeress will see you now.", rumbled the towering servant, after they had identified themselves. They had sent a messenger ahead, requesting an appointment, and had arrived at the proper hour. The servant had an almost unnatural gray pallor, and looked as if he was somehow two men standing on top of one another, he was so tall. His step was silent, however, as he lead them through the lower chambers of the tower, and then up the spiral stair, passing floor after floor, until they reached the very top. The Seeress Necrocia, she was called, and she lived up to the name. Her hair was long and black as night, and her gown was a sheath of midnight poured over her form. Her face was so pale that it fairly shone in the shadowed room, like the moon on a clear night. "Dear lady, we were told that if anyone in this city could help us, it would be you.", Penn began flatteringly. "I read your note, and have heard of the book.", she replied. "I may be able to locate it, though my time is valuable." "I'm certain that your skills are worth the price.", replied the Bard. "Can we perhaps aid you, relieve you of some of your other burdens?" "Perhaps.", she said as she turned, a sweeping gesture the covered a desk full of books and papers. "Do you, by chance, speak the language of the Djinn? My current project is a translation, and it consumes my nights." Penn quickly reviewed the languages he knew. Three Fey dialects, Dwarvish, two Human variations and the Dragon tongue, but not the one she needed. "There are enchantments that can aid translation.", he suggested. "I will risk no enchantments around these books.", she advised, a dark smile dancing across her lips. "You never know what the book might do with such a thing. We don't want anything to escape too soon, after all." "Then my aid will have to be limited to inspiration and perspiration. If you need my servants or myself to fetch research works or materials, you have only to ask." *** "Your servants?", asked Marcus in surprise, once they were away. "Weren't you just a slave a few weeks ago? Since when do you have servants?" "I don't, but there's no reason to tell her that. I also don't have much money to pay her with, so I'm trading with what little I've got." *** "Hades take them all!", she muttered for about the hundredth time as she stared into her goblet. But this time it continued, the wine loosening her tongue. "May they rot in the darkness while rats chew their eyeballs!", she swore, then realized that she'd spoken aloud and lowered both her head and her voice. But not her temper. "And damn me too, for being fool enough to believe them." She stared at the coin in her hand, the only token of the contract she had supposedly made. A single silver Denarius, smoked and tarnished. "Meet a ship in Piza, the man tells me. 100 dinars plus passage he says. Go to the Olympics he tells me, and all will be explained. And like a fool, I believe him. So I'm there, no ship, no contact, no explanations, and here I am, no money!" She tucked the coin away, a reminder not to trust anyone who doesn't put their money up front, and leaned back in her chair, looking for patterns in the slate gray sky. In a nearby square a commotion was beginning, so she scattered a few silver on the table to pay her bill, drained her goblet, and set off to work. A crowd was gathered, with much shouting, and a man in dark brown robed was exhorting the crowd, calling on them to do their divine duty. Smoke began to rise from somewhere in the middle of it all, and a scream of protest was heard. Then the sounds of fighting, like a brawl, and the crowd became a mob. "Ah", she said to herself, "Time to earn a living." *** "So you think she can help us?", Cassius asked as they left the tower. "I don't know.", Penn replied. "It would be nice if it was that easy, but I'm really expecting better results from the book sellers." "You know what I think of that idea, Penn.", Marcus muttered. "Wait for someone to try and kill us? What kind of plan is that?" "A desperate one, I admit. But I think it's our... wait!", the Half Satyr paused, an ear twitching to the sounds of a riot. "There's trouble over that way.", he indicated, pointing up a side street. And away they went, quick pace. The way opened into a small square, and a large and ugly crowd. One of those ubiquitous bonfires was burning, but apparently someone objected to the burning. It was hard to tell who to cheer for and who to foul, for the scene resembled a boisterous brawl more than a real battle. No weapons in evidence, other than fists. One combatant staggered back into the trio, blood running from his nose. "That's telling 'em!", Penn said enthusiastically, helping the man to his feet, a kindness that was repaid by a sharp blow to the chin. "A piece of advice, Penn?", Cassius laughed good naturedly. "Don't lead with your face." They watched the small riot for a few moments, trying to pick out who was who. Many of the brawlers wore a simple symbol, a twisted loop like an empty hourglass. "I've seen that symbol before.", Marcus noted. "Supposed to look like the mark of Kronos, but they got it wrong." "Well, we can't just stand by and do nothing.", Cassius said. "Let's see which of you can do a better job of breaking this up. A copper to the winner." Penn laughed, struck a dramatic pose, took a deep breath and raised his voice in a stenorian shout, "The guard! Run, Run!" The tumultuous tangle of enraged humanity responded not at all. Penn sighed, and with a sweeping gesture indicated that it was Marcus' turn. "Silence, while a Son of Jupiter speaks!", commanded the cleric, in the voice of an angry parent. He, however, got too close and was rewarded with a backhanded cuff to the eye. "So far, no winners.", laughed Cassius. "Next round, two coppers." Penn spied a watering trough nearby, with a wash bucket depending from the pump nozzle. "Come on, Marcus. Maybe the bonfire's the key." He seized the bucket as he strode past the pump, dipping in the trough in a single smooth move. Then he drew a small flask from his pouch, took a sip to clear his throat, and hummed a small tune as he handed the bucket to Marcus. Cassius saw the laughter in the Fey's eyes, but held his tongue. Marcus, full of enthusiasm, ran up and flung the 'water' onto the bonfire. The results were shocking and instantaneous. The small pyre erupted into a roaring pillar of flame that towered over the nearby buildings, drawing the full attention of everyone in the plaza. Marcus looked flustered, then stepped back from the heat. Seeing the gaze of the crowd fixed on him, he managed to stammer out, "How did that happen?" Then, looking down at the bucket, still in his hands, he did the only sensible thing. He ran. Out of the plaza, up a side street and away, with the howling mob in hot pursuit. "I think you owe him two coppers.", Penn smirked. "What was that?", Cassius asked in shock. "Remember that foul brew Seeburn called 'single malt'?", Penn replied. "That was a few gallons of it. Horrible stuff, but still a shame to waste it." Then he and Cassius, noting that the fires were beginning to endanger nearby buildings, made a far better use of the pump and bucket while they waited for the guard to arrive. *** Marcus fled as fast as his feet could carry him while the enraged crowd hurled rocks and bits of crockery at him. He was confident that he could outrun them, but knew that he could get cornered in a closed alley if he made a wrong turn. He also knew that those rocks hurt, and if one of them managed to knock him down he'd never get up again. He turned left and right, always staying to major avenues, heading for the nearest temple. And the mob followed. In fact, some that they passed got caught up in the mania and began to pursue him as well, even though they had no idea why. Such is the way of mobs. Ahead he spotted a chance. A peasant, besotted with wine, lay in the opening to a narrow lane. He fled past, then spun in place and intoned the words of power: [I]"Titan's Stature"[/I] The man's body doubled in size, filling the narrow lane and obstructing pursuit. Then he took to his heels once more. [FONT="]*** "What's the fuss?", Sylus asked, looking at the mad scene in the plaza. Like the others he had heard the riot, but had arrived too late to help. "Another mad preacher.", Penn answered. "See if you can help any of the injured." "How do I tell friend from foe?", the Ranger asked. "If they're wearing the empty hourglass, leave them where they lay.", Cassius supplied. "They're the madmen who want to burn everything. The others are, well..." "They're friends of that man.", an Elf maiden replied, indicating one of the fallen. "The mob moved in here dragging him and all this stuff. They took it from his house, and were going to 'save him from his wealth', whether he wanted to be saved or not. He objected, and...", she gestured at the dozen or so who had been beaten unconscious. Just then the guard arrived, having taken the time to gather their numbers. "They went that way!", Penn said helpfully, as he continued to toss water on burning heaps. "But you'd better leave someone here, to prevent looting." "What happened here?", the commander asked in wonder. "A Cleric of Jupiter called on them to stop, and one of them hit him. Then there was this pillar of fire, higher than the roofs. Never seen anything like it!", Penn declared in awe. "Then he headed for the temple, and they followed. Fast." The guard set off in dogged pursuit of the rioters. "That's not exactly what happened.", Cassius noted. "Well, it isn't exactly [I]not[/I] what happened either.", Penn said, mock serious. "It will do wonders for his reputation. Seriously, he'll thank me for it later. Really he will." "If he survives.", Cassius noted. Their shared joke was interrupted by the Ranger. "Look at this!", Sylus said, raising something he found in a pile of debris that hadn't yet met the flames. It was a book cover, black leather, with the Elder sign on it. The title confirmed the identity of the work. It was the book they were looking for, though there were no pages evident. Now the group set about the search in earnest, though the guard who remained was confused, unsure if he should stop them or not. "Look at this.", indicating another find. A sheaf of pages, loose, sat within a second heap, amid scrolls and other writings. They were blank, but were of a size and volume that they were a perfect fit for the cover. "Either the book is written in secret ink, or someone stole the pages, then sent this down to be burned, hoping to fool someone.", Penn said thoughtfully. "How would you reveal secret ink?", Cassius asked. "Fire usually works.", Penn noted ironically. "Check the ones with the empty hourglass. See if any have the pages." In short order, Cassius again came up with the answer. "Here, this woman.", he called, holding up a piece of paper. The trio gathered around the fallen one, more girl than woman, joined by the Elf maiden, more out of curiosity than purpose. The page he held was blank, but was of a size and make to match the blank pages they'd found. Cold water was splashed on the girl's face to rouse her, and she reacted in fear to the sudden attention. "You've been a bad girl, haven't you.", Penn admonished. "You've been stealing things you were supposed to burn. Why, if either the guard or your friends found out..." "You can't tell anyone!", the battered girl whimpered. "The priest said to do it, said I'd be rewarded. He'll kill me if he finds I failed." "Now now, child, we'll keep you safe.", Penn said soothingly. Then, noting the thinness of her frame beneath the soot and the bruises, he made another offer. "When did you last eat?" They left the square together, with Penn sweet talking the waif all they way. She knew who had the remains of the book, so she was their new best friend. [/FONT] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Curse of Darkness - Florentine Affair
Top