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
John play: Hero for hire
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="megamania" data-source="post: 6090028" data-attributes="member: 9255"><p>JOHN PLAY</p><p>“02 PLAY FOR THE MONEY”</p><p>SEGMENT 49</p><p>“INSPECTION OF THE RUIN”</p><p></p><p>Vult 12 996- </p><p></p><p>“Does the Sovereign Host dislike you guys?” asks John Play as he sizes up the tree’s trunk for climbing. He smiles to himself thinking about how these dwarves will ever climb a tree like this.</p><p></p><p>“Do we have rope for this climb?” asks Play to Balderk. </p><p></p><p>“I believe we do.” The serious and strictly business dwarf looks it over. “If you climb up we can follow then using the ropes lower the cargo down.</p><p></p><p>“Sound enough idea.” Says Play as he eyes the other cars. “Should we verify we are safe first? Anything could be in those cars.”</p><p></p><p>Though he agrees to it, Balderk often looks up to the Kundarak treasure car. It is wrapped in vines and damaged. The other car looks to be crushed by the vines. He plans to have Drumark, their ranger and nature specialist, look it over first.</p><p></p><p>The first car is on its side. It is burnt from lying on the conductor stones, many of which have blown up from the impact. The elemental that powered it once has long ago left. Play looks inside and sees two bodies of the Orien conductors. Their bodies are perfectly preserved and look merely stunned from the crash. He thinks that they should ask the Orien twins what to do with the bodies. Bring them back? Bury them? Leave them? Retrieve their signet rings? He is surprised that he never thought of these questions until now. Having such sorrowful thoughts may be why he missed the tracks in the dust, dirt and ash within the car. </p><p></p><p>“I wonder what happened to make the craft derail?” asks the ever happy Adrik.</p><p></p><p>“Being pulled at by a magical and fast growing tree would so it.” Says Veit with a yawn.</p><p></p><p>“Comon Happy and Sleepy- let’s move to the other cars with the others.” Suggests Play with a heavy heart. He knew this would be the hard part and tried to steel his mind for it but like war- it is impossible without shutting down your own emotions. That’s something he has never been able to do. Thus a large reason why he left the Dark Lanterns. Too many ‘whys’ and ‘Buts’.</p><p></p><p>The next cart is heavily damaged. It appears to have been lifted then dropped by the tree. It was a supply car. Weapons and tools are littered all around the craft. A few crates of food are broken but little of the food remains. Finally Play comes to his wits. “This kind of accident, with the shelter and food, will attract creatures. We need to worry about natural adversaries as well as undead.”</p><p></p><p>A loud sneeze lets everyone know Vondal is coming in. “You’re always telling us what to be scared of but never what to do.” He grumbles between sniffles.</p><p></p><p>“Balderk normally tells me and you guys what to do. I was hired as a guide and to help out against the locals- natural or supernatural.” The dwarves look through the storage area while John Play tries to clear a way to the sleeping quarters. Deciding the damage is too great, he goes outside and climbs up the bottom of the craft and finds a window to use as an entrance. This room was once a very well made and kept room. On the wall is a large banner of a Manticore. He looks around and finds a broken desk. A secret department is exposed by the damage it received falling as the car fell. Looking to see if anyone is watching, he pulls the panel apart and finds a thin journal. Without looking at it, he pockets it. He really hopes to learn more about the events leading to this disaster. He also finds a pouch with coins and some other items of possible interest to the Kundarak house. These he hands over to Balderk later. He documents everything- to the coin and gem and appraised value.</p><p></p><p>There are three other rooms to look at. One is so crushed he cannot enter the room. The others are heavily damaged. They appear to be sleeping quarters for the guards. He finds a few personal belongings and hands these to Balderk also.</p><p></p><p>When he climbed back onto the roof he spots Veit. He is pale and looks ill. He was just exiting the next car. Suspecting what he will find, he goes there with a heavy heart. Bodies. Three dwarves in their Kundarak honor guard armor. Also in here is a bunch of branches and tall grass. Play calls for Drumark. It is agreed. This is a nest…. Large creatures. And fresh. Some of the armor on the dwarves suggests the armor was pulled off the bodies. This bothers Play but he can’t figure out why. He fears waking up in the middle of the night knowing what it was and that it is too late.</p><p></p><p>The last car on the ground is another engine. It is still on the conductor stones and floating and powered up. The elemental still remains. The car can go nowhere however. Thick roots have grappled the car in two places. Looking ahead he finds the Orien operator. He still stands up right and has his hands on the control rods. He has an empty and haunting stare on his face. Play is certain Veit will not be the only one having trouble sleeping tonight. The conductor stones end about forty feet ahead. Ruins of a wooden small village or outpost are here. Most of the wood has toppled or rotted away. Odd considering how much of the land is preserved perfectly from the Day of Mourning.</p><p></p><p>Morrikane yells for everyone to return to their cars. Play steps out onto the rails and uses the vines to go on top. He can see some sort of humanoid on the roof of the main empty cargo car. They’re under attack!</p><p></p><p>As he rushes over he sees that they are humanoids but Dire Apes. They look slightly wrong however. Like everything trapped within the boundaries of the mists- they are mutated and not in a pleasant way. </p><p></p><p>The seven of them (Balderk generally stayed within the Kundarak car for safety) rush back as the Dire Apes pound on the sides of said car. Two are on the roof also pounding on the roof. Some try reaching inside where the undead T-Rexes shattered the windows. When nothing comes of this they try pulling the bent boards and metal out. The car is being torn apart by these Ravenous Dire Apes. (Ravenous Template from eating the Mournland preserved dwarves).</p><p></p><p>Play rushes from roof top to roof top (or the side at one point) while the dwarves travel. Being they were closer, they reach the car even as Play does. Thus far, the creatures have not seen them. They intend to terrorize the people inside.</p><p></p><p>And of course, Play left his bow within his room. He pulls out his magical dagger and throws it to gain their attention. It strikes the creature on the shoulder and it snarls at him. It reaches for the blade but it pulls free on its own and returns to Play’s waiting hand. Drumark and Snow White attack one. The beast steps back and avoids their attacks and growls loudly at them. The growl projects red frothy spittle at the dwarven ranger. Karson does what he does best- charges in blindly. The Ape swings at him but he lowers his head to drive his weapon in deeper. The monstrous apes then redirect their attention on the dwarves outside of the car or on its roof (in the case of Play). Karson is smashed into the forest ground and nearly is bitten by the creature. Snow White dodges another ape but Play is struck as two apes surround him on the roof. Morrikane’s armor protects him from an Ape’s attack but the Ape lacks that armor. Two strikes drive the ape into a death rage. Vondal calls up his favorite spell- Flame Strike. The ape screams in pain and thrashes about striking to strike whatever is attacking it. Veit stops at a safe distance and wills a lightning spell to course through a wand he carries. Adrik moves to the backside of the ape targeting the Kensai Warrior. Adrik trades blows with the beast Adrik stands afterwards while the ape falls. Balderk remains inside with a spell in mind but will not allow him to be endangered by these wild and insane creatures.</p><p></p><p>Play ducks and tumbles past a creature and strikes at it. He stabs the leg hoping to slow it down. Drumark gets in one strike and Snow White gets in an attack that finishes it off. Karson grins like a challenged child and rushes the closest Ape. His first strike goes deep but the awkward pulling of the Dwarven War axe out throws his next swing off. It drops the burning ape. Snow White continues to attract the one remaining ground ape’s attacks. She easily dodges the swings and attempts at biting. On the rooftop, Play tries to avoid the creatures but they are boxing him in. He takes a claw strike to the back again. Morrikane buries his blade into the beast (crit with a Large Great Axe!). Vondal and Veit are unaware that Play is fighting two apes on the roof. Adrik can hear the activity but fails to look up. Balderk watches the ceiling in concern. He can hear the apes there moving around and striking the top.</p><p></p><p>Balderk hears a thud and then sees an ape roll off the roof and flash by the broken in window with another thump as it strikes the ground. The remaining Ape strikes Play in a rage. Play and the beast trade blows. Play cuts it down piece by piece and stands victorious.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="megamania, post: 6090028, member: 9255"] JOHN PLAY “02 PLAY FOR THE MONEY” SEGMENT 49 “INSPECTION OF THE RUIN” Vult 12 996- “Does the Sovereign Host dislike you guys?” asks John Play as he sizes up the tree’s trunk for climbing. He smiles to himself thinking about how these dwarves will ever climb a tree like this. “Do we have rope for this climb?” asks Play to Balderk. “I believe we do.” The serious and strictly business dwarf looks it over. “If you climb up we can follow then using the ropes lower the cargo down. “Sound enough idea.” Says Play as he eyes the other cars. “Should we verify we are safe first? Anything could be in those cars.” Though he agrees to it, Balderk often looks up to the Kundarak treasure car. It is wrapped in vines and damaged. The other car looks to be crushed by the vines. He plans to have Drumark, their ranger and nature specialist, look it over first. The first car is on its side. It is burnt from lying on the conductor stones, many of which have blown up from the impact. The elemental that powered it once has long ago left. Play looks inside and sees two bodies of the Orien conductors. Their bodies are perfectly preserved and look merely stunned from the crash. He thinks that they should ask the Orien twins what to do with the bodies. Bring them back? Bury them? Leave them? Retrieve their signet rings? He is surprised that he never thought of these questions until now. Having such sorrowful thoughts may be why he missed the tracks in the dust, dirt and ash within the car. “I wonder what happened to make the craft derail?” asks the ever happy Adrik. “Being pulled at by a magical and fast growing tree would so it.” Says Veit with a yawn. “Comon Happy and Sleepy- let’s move to the other cars with the others.” Suggests Play with a heavy heart. He knew this would be the hard part and tried to steel his mind for it but like war- it is impossible without shutting down your own emotions. That’s something he has never been able to do. Thus a large reason why he left the Dark Lanterns. Too many ‘whys’ and ‘Buts’. The next cart is heavily damaged. It appears to have been lifted then dropped by the tree. It was a supply car. Weapons and tools are littered all around the craft. A few crates of food are broken but little of the food remains. Finally Play comes to his wits. “This kind of accident, with the shelter and food, will attract creatures. We need to worry about natural adversaries as well as undead.” A loud sneeze lets everyone know Vondal is coming in. “You’re always telling us what to be scared of but never what to do.” He grumbles between sniffles. “Balderk normally tells me and you guys what to do. I was hired as a guide and to help out against the locals- natural or supernatural.” The dwarves look through the storage area while John Play tries to clear a way to the sleeping quarters. Deciding the damage is too great, he goes outside and climbs up the bottom of the craft and finds a window to use as an entrance. This room was once a very well made and kept room. On the wall is a large banner of a Manticore. He looks around and finds a broken desk. A secret department is exposed by the damage it received falling as the car fell. Looking to see if anyone is watching, he pulls the panel apart and finds a thin journal. Without looking at it, he pockets it. He really hopes to learn more about the events leading to this disaster. He also finds a pouch with coins and some other items of possible interest to the Kundarak house. These he hands over to Balderk later. He documents everything- to the coin and gem and appraised value. There are three other rooms to look at. One is so crushed he cannot enter the room. The others are heavily damaged. They appear to be sleeping quarters for the guards. He finds a few personal belongings and hands these to Balderk also. When he climbed back onto the roof he spots Veit. He is pale and looks ill. He was just exiting the next car. Suspecting what he will find, he goes there with a heavy heart. Bodies. Three dwarves in their Kundarak honor guard armor. Also in here is a bunch of branches and tall grass. Play calls for Drumark. It is agreed. This is a nest…. Large creatures. And fresh. Some of the armor on the dwarves suggests the armor was pulled off the bodies. This bothers Play but he can’t figure out why. He fears waking up in the middle of the night knowing what it was and that it is too late. The last car on the ground is another engine. It is still on the conductor stones and floating and powered up. The elemental still remains. The car can go nowhere however. Thick roots have grappled the car in two places. Looking ahead he finds the Orien operator. He still stands up right and has his hands on the control rods. He has an empty and haunting stare on his face. Play is certain Veit will not be the only one having trouble sleeping tonight. The conductor stones end about forty feet ahead. Ruins of a wooden small village or outpost are here. Most of the wood has toppled or rotted away. Odd considering how much of the land is preserved perfectly from the Day of Mourning. Morrikane yells for everyone to return to their cars. Play steps out onto the rails and uses the vines to go on top. He can see some sort of humanoid on the roof of the main empty cargo car. They’re under attack! As he rushes over he sees that they are humanoids but Dire Apes. They look slightly wrong however. Like everything trapped within the boundaries of the mists- they are mutated and not in a pleasant way. The seven of them (Balderk generally stayed within the Kundarak car for safety) rush back as the Dire Apes pound on the sides of said car. Two are on the roof also pounding on the roof. Some try reaching inside where the undead T-Rexes shattered the windows. When nothing comes of this they try pulling the bent boards and metal out. The car is being torn apart by these Ravenous Dire Apes. (Ravenous Template from eating the Mournland preserved dwarves). Play rushes from roof top to roof top (or the side at one point) while the dwarves travel. Being they were closer, they reach the car even as Play does. Thus far, the creatures have not seen them. They intend to terrorize the people inside. And of course, Play left his bow within his room. He pulls out his magical dagger and throws it to gain their attention. It strikes the creature on the shoulder and it snarls at him. It reaches for the blade but it pulls free on its own and returns to Play’s waiting hand. Drumark and Snow White attack one. The beast steps back and avoids their attacks and growls loudly at them. The growl projects red frothy spittle at the dwarven ranger. Karson does what he does best- charges in blindly. The Ape swings at him but he lowers his head to drive his weapon in deeper. The monstrous apes then redirect their attention on the dwarves outside of the car or on its roof (in the case of Play). Karson is smashed into the forest ground and nearly is bitten by the creature. Snow White dodges another ape but Play is struck as two apes surround him on the roof. Morrikane’s armor protects him from an Ape’s attack but the Ape lacks that armor. Two strikes drive the ape into a death rage. Vondal calls up his favorite spell- Flame Strike. The ape screams in pain and thrashes about striking to strike whatever is attacking it. Veit stops at a safe distance and wills a lightning spell to course through a wand he carries. Adrik moves to the backside of the ape targeting the Kensai Warrior. Adrik trades blows with the beast Adrik stands afterwards while the ape falls. Balderk remains inside with a spell in mind but will not allow him to be endangered by these wild and insane creatures. Play ducks and tumbles past a creature and strikes at it. He stabs the leg hoping to slow it down. Drumark gets in one strike and Snow White gets in an attack that finishes it off. Karson grins like a challenged child and rushes the closest Ape. His first strike goes deep but the awkward pulling of the Dwarven War axe out throws his next swing off. It drops the burning ape. Snow White continues to attract the one remaining ground ape’s attacks. She easily dodges the swings and attempts at biting. On the rooftop, Play tries to avoid the creatures but they are boxing him in. He takes a claw strike to the back again. Morrikane buries his blade into the beast (crit with a Large Great Axe!). Vondal and Veit are unaware that Play is fighting two apes on the roof. Adrik can hear the activity but fails to look up. Balderk watches the ceiling in concern. He can hear the apes there moving around and striking the top. Balderk hears a thud and then sees an ape roll off the roof and flash by the broken in window with another thump as it strikes the ground. The remaining Ape strikes Play in a rage. Play and the beast trade blows. Play cuts it down piece by piece and stands victorious. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
John play: Hero for hire
Top