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The Age of Wurms – an Iron Kingdom setting
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<blockquote data-quote="Karl Green" data-source="post: 2535798" data-attributes="member: 1467"><p>Jack looked over the old abandoned mining station and shook his head in mild contempt – it sure didn’t look like much. A stone and wooden structure, two stories high, with a small wooden hitching post out front. Around back the remains of a pushed over outhouse and burned downed stable shared the small valley with a dry shag-brush and a few stunted trees. All of the glass windows had been smashed and broken long ago and the wooden shutters were very old and dry… they would not stand up to much more then a hard rap or two before giving way. The front door was hanging on one hinge and peering inside, Jack could see nothing but trash and debris littering the floor of a large dark room. </p><p></p><p>Opening the shutters to let in some light and air, Jack spooked a few pack-rats and a number of spiders (the normal kind) that had claimed the room over the last fifty or so years that it had been used by the miners of Diamond Lake. As the wizard Allustan had said, no one had used this station for a long, long time. </p><p></p><p>Exploring a bit more, Jack found a dinner hall with smash tables and benches and a kitchen where everything but the fireplace had been removed or destroyed and rusted over the years. There was also a rickety stairwell leading to the second floor and a small office under the stairs. In the kitchen there was a trap-door leading down to a small root-cellar and another door leading outside. That door had a lot of debris piled up around it, and blocking it from opening easily. </p><p></p><p>Upstairs he found a door leading to a roof-balcony that was surround by a low wooden palisade… but it to was heavily weather worn and he did not trust it to even support his light frame. Back inside, there were three doors that lead into two large sleeping quarters and one small private one. Again, all the furniture was destroyed and only trash and a few beds of rodents were found. </p><p></p><p>Claiming the small private room as his own, Jack set about cleaning and mending the broken glass in the window, a chair and simple bed. He then settled down for the night to sleep and await his new companions who were to arrive in the morning. A great adventure awaited them, and he could not wait to pry the secrets from this <em>Whispering Cairn</em>… </p><p></p><p>The next morning Pog and Nalu showed up first, Pog riding on the female Ogrun’s shoulders and leading the three, junk-laden mules. Pog decided to do some ‘exploring’ to see if there might not be any bolt- or cubby-holes in the place, while Nalu and Jack discussed whether or not there might be anyone else round. Arman and Jatkal showed up about an hour or so later, and group gathered in the main room for a meet and greet. </p><p></p><p>It became obvious very quickly that the gobber and the holy warrior of the north where not going to get along (occ <em>the characters, not the players as they are two of the best guys I know, and good role-players also</em> /occ), and Jack made the ‘suggestion’ that he and Jatkal go out and search for the Cairn, while the others shore up the station in case they might need to retreat to it. The area around here was riddled with old abandoned mines, and many had been overgrown, so the search was expected to take some time. </p><p></p><p>But then about an hour later, Jack and Jatkal, after checking a number of shafts, found one that was very overgrown with thickets and briar bushes, but with a small opening where the druid detected a number of large canine tracks. Spending another hour and a half the two cleared a larger opening and peering inside found a large twenty foot wide and fifteen foot tall tunnel. The wind, blowing from deep within the cavern, seemed to give off an eerily whisper so they were pretty confident this was the place.</p><p></p><p>Returning to the mining station they found their other companions in an argument over whether or not the animals (mules and horse) would be allowed indoors or whether they should stay out. Arman was adamant that they should remain outside, while Pog thought they might get their chill outside and should sleep with everyone else. Finally it was settled that they would remain outside and that for the rest of the day they would reinforce the station. With Jatkal’s woodcrafting skills and Jack’s arcane ‘mending’, they fixed the two doors and got most of the first floor shutters to be in good working order that might just hold up in more then a strong wind. </p><p></p><p>That night, Nalu thought to sleep outside under the stars and Jatkal and his lynx would sleep up on the 2nd floor balcony. Arman took one of the large sleeping quarters for himself, while Pog <em>decided</em> that him and Jack should be roomies and he would sleep in his room. Bedding down there was some early talk about ‘watches’ and what-not, but in the end no one wanted to… it was safe enough out in the woods. </p><p></p><p>And of course around one A.M., Jatkal was awakened by his lynx, hissing and growling low in its’ throat about something out in the dark. Peering over the wooden palisade, the druid could see nothing, but he noticed that the mules and the big horse were getting a bit skittish and moving around a bit scared. He then noticed two sets of red-glowing eyes, out in the darkness moving this way, and growling like a big dog or something.</p><p></p><p>Banging on the palisade to see if he could awaken anyone, Jatkal then ran back for the doorway back into the station to get down to the first floor. His banging did awaken Nalu, who was curled up next to the door outside. Sitting up confused and looking around she saw a dark black dog-like shape coming towards the animals out of the darkness. She rolled out of her bedroll and drew one of her shortswords and started advancing slowly into the dark. </p><p></p><p>Once inside, Jatkal yelled and banged on both of the doors to his companion’s room, saying something about animals after the mules, he then ran downstairs as fast as he could. The others where awakened… Pog jumping up and peering out the bedroom window, while Jack and Arman grabbed up their weapons and rushed to the stairs.</p><p></p><p>Outside, Nalu heard a strangely hypnotic-double bark coming from the creature and for a moment she felt her muscles freezing up. But shaking her head she overcame whatever it was and stepped forward to try and stab the creature – but the little light from the stars and moons was not enough and she missed her target. Suddenly the ‘dog’ snarled and leaped inside Nalu guard and bite her deeply on her right thigh – and it was then that she noticed that the dog had two heads! </p><p></p><p>Looking about Pog spotted another one of the dogs making a straight line for his mule, Breakfast, and when he noticed the two-heads he remembered a tale he had heard back at the Feral Dog Inn one night a few years ago; the creature was called an Argust and that its double-bark could freeze the blood of any sane man and root them in their place “<strong>Pulg yer ears! Dem’ doggies got some spooky a-barkin’ and iffin’ ye hears it, he be a helpless ya will!!</strong>” he shouted out the window as the Argust howl-barked at the mule Breakfast who had just broken it tether line and was about to bolt; but instead it froze in place, shaking with fear but unable to move! </p><p></p><p>Nalu drew her other shortsword to stab at the creature, catching it only a glancing stab with one of her shortsword, as Jatkal rushed outside and ran to her assistance, but not before one of the heads of the dog took another big bite out of Nalu’s leg. She almost screamed in pain and staggered but somehow remained on her feet. </p><p></p><p>Jack and Arman, still making their way through the building, heard Pog’s warning and Nalu’s scream and rushed outside, noticing the Argust ripping into a mule as it simply stood there and did nothing to get away or defend itself! </p><p></p><p>Pog ran for the balcony, making sure that his pistol was loaded with a special incendiary round, when Nalu stab the Argust biting into her leg and pierced its heart. It howled painfully and fell to the ground dead. Jatkal turned and rushed the Argust biting the mule but it was to dark and his aim with his hunting spear was off and he missed the animal completely while it continued to bite and tear into the helpless mule. Jack tried to put the creature to sleep with his strange arcane ways but it resisted his spell while Arman rushed to get his horse and the other mules out of danger.</p><p></p><p>It was then that a pistol cracked through the night as Pog lined up a devastating shot into the Argust’s side. It howled as its’ fur burned and then the double headed animal tried to tear the druid in half, but neither head connected – much to Jatkal’s relief. He then stepped back and this time stabbed the dog-thing in the body with his spear, driving it to the ground where he killed it! Silence returned to the small valley as the group look to each other to make sure they were all alive. </p><p></p><p>Assessing the mule and Nalu’s wounds later, Jatkal tending to them as best he could and said he could do more in the morning and that they should try and get as much rest as possible. Jatkal also thought that the tracks from the Argust where most probably those that he observed at the Cairn entrance… </p><p></p><p>In the morning, with Nalu feeling much better, it was decided to move the animals into the mining station (much to the joy of Pog) before they rest of them went to the Whispering Cairn – just in case there might be more of those hungry animals about.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Karl Green, post: 2535798, member: 1467"] Jack looked over the old abandoned mining station and shook his head in mild contempt – it sure didn’t look like much. A stone and wooden structure, two stories high, with a small wooden hitching post out front. Around back the remains of a pushed over outhouse and burned downed stable shared the small valley with a dry shag-brush and a few stunted trees. All of the glass windows had been smashed and broken long ago and the wooden shutters were very old and dry… they would not stand up to much more then a hard rap or two before giving way. The front door was hanging on one hinge and peering inside, Jack could see nothing but trash and debris littering the floor of a large dark room. Opening the shutters to let in some light and air, Jack spooked a few pack-rats and a number of spiders (the normal kind) that had claimed the room over the last fifty or so years that it had been used by the miners of Diamond Lake. As the wizard Allustan had said, no one had used this station for a long, long time. Exploring a bit more, Jack found a dinner hall with smash tables and benches and a kitchen where everything but the fireplace had been removed or destroyed and rusted over the years. There was also a rickety stairwell leading to the second floor and a small office under the stairs. In the kitchen there was a trap-door leading down to a small root-cellar and another door leading outside. That door had a lot of debris piled up around it, and blocking it from opening easily. Upstairs he found a door leading to a roof-balcony that was surround by a low wooden palisade… but it to was heavily weather worn and he did not trust it to even support his light frame. Back inside, there were three doors that lead into two large sleeping quarters and one small private one. Again, all the furniture was destroyed and only trash and a few beds of rodents were found. Claiming the small private room as his own, Jack set about cleaning and mending the broken glass in the window, a chair and simple bed. He then settled down for the night to sleep and await his new companions who were to arrive in the morning. A great adventure awaited them, and he could not wait to pry the secrets from this [i]Whispering Cairn[/i]… The next morning Pog and Nalu showed up first, Pog riding on the female Ogrun’s shoulders and leading the three, junk-laden mules. Pog decided to do some ‘exploring’ to see if there might not be any bolt- or cubby-holes in the place, while Nalu and Jack discussed whether or not there might be anyone else round. Arman and Jatkal showed up about an hour or so later, and group gathered in the main room for a meet and greet. It became obvious very quickly that the gobber and the holy warrior of the north where not going to get along (occ [i]the characters, not the players as they are two of the best guys I know, and good role-players also[/i] /occ), and Jack made the ‘suggestion’ that he and Jatkal go out and search for the Cairn, while the others shore up the station in case they might need to retreat to it. The area around here was riddled with old abandoned mines, and many had been overgrown, so the search was expected to take some time. But then about an hour later, Jack and Jatkal, after checking a number of shafts, found one that was very overgrown with thickets and briar bushes, but with a small opening where the druid detected a number of large canine tracks. Spending another hour and a half the two cleared a larger opening and peering inside found a large twenty foot wide and fifteen foot tall tunnel. The wind, blowing from deep within the cavern, seemed to give off an eerily whisper so they were pretty confident this was the place. Returning to the mining station they found their other companions in an argument over whether or not the animals (mules and horse) would be allowed indoors or whether they should stay out. Arman was adamant that they should remain outside, while Pog thought they might get their chill outside and should sleep with everyone else. Finally it was settled that they would remain outside and that for the rest of the day they would reinforce the station. With Jatkal’s woodcrafting skills and Jack’s arcane ‘mending’, they fixed the two doors and got most of the first floor shutters to be in good working order that might just hold up in more then a strong wind. That night, Nalu thought to sleep outside under the stars and Jatkal and his lynx would sleep up on the 2nd floor balcony. Arman took one of the large sleeping quarters for himself, while Pog [i]decided[/i] that him and Jack should be roomies and he would sleep in his room. Bedding down there was some early talk about ‘watches’ and what-not, but in the end no one wanted to… it was safe enough out in the woods. And of course around one A.M., Jatkal was awakened by his lynx, hissing and growling low in its’ throat about something out in the dark. Peering over the wooden palisade, the druid could see nothing, but he noticed that the mules and the big horse were getting a bit skittish and moving around a bit scared. He then noticed two sets of red-glowing eyes, out in the darkness moving this way, and growling like a big dog or something. Banging on the palisade to see if he could awaken anyone, Jatkal then ran back for the doorway back into the station to get down to the first floor. His banging did awaken Nalu, who was curled up next to the door outside. Sitting up confused and looking around she saw a dark black dog-like shape coming towards the animals out of the darkness. She rolled out of her bedroll and drew one of her shortswords and started advancing slowly into the dark. Once inside, Jatkal yelled and banged on both of the doors to his companion’s room, saying something about animals after the mules, he then ran downstairs as fast as he could. The others where awakened… Pog jumping up and peering out the bedroom window, while Jack and Arman grabbed up their weapons and rushed to the stairs. Outside, Nalu heard a strangely hypnotic-double bark coming from the creature and for a moment she felt her muscles freezing up. But shaking her head she overcame whatever it was and stepped forward to try and stab the creature – but the little light from the stars and moons was not enough and she missed her target. Suddenly the ‘dog’ snarled and leaped inside Nalu guard and bite her deeply on her right thigh – and it was then that she noticed that the dog had two heads! Looking about Pog spotted another one of the dogs making a straight line for his mule, Breakfast, and when he noticed the two-heads he remembered a tale he had heard back at the Feral Dog Inn one night a few years ago; the creature was called an Argust and that its double-bark could freeze the blood of any sane man and root them in their place “[b]Pulg yer ears! Dem’ doggies got some spooky a-barkin’ and iffin’ ye hears it, he be a helpless ya will!![/b]” he shouted out the window as the Argust howl-barked at the mule Breakfast who had just broken it tether line and was about to bolt; but instead it froze in place, shaking with fear but unable to move! Nalu drew her other shortsword to stab at the creature, catching it only a glancing stab with one of her shortsword, as Jatkal rushed outside and ran to her assistance, but not before one of the heads of the dog took another big bite out of Nalu’s leg. She almost screamed in pain and staggered but somehow remained on her feet. Jack and Arman, still making their way through the building, heard Pog’s warning and Nalu’s scream and rushed outside, noticing the Argust ripping into a mule as it simply stood there and did nothing to get away or defend itself! Pog ran for the balcony, making sure that his pistol was loaded with a special incendiary round, when Nalu stab the Argust biting into her leg and pierced its heart. It howled painfully and fell to the ground dead. Jatkal turned and rushed the Argust biting the mule but it was to dark and his aim with his hunting spear was off and he missed the animal completely while it continued to bite and tear into the helpless mule. Jack tried to put the creature to sleep with his strange arcane ways but it resisted his spell while Arman rushed to get his horse and the other mules out of danger. It was then that a pistol cracked through the night as Pog lined up a devastating shot into the Argust’s side. It howled as its’ fur burned and then the double headed animal tried to tear the druid in half, but neither head connected – much to Jatkal’s relief. He then stepped back and this time stabbed the dog-thing in the body with his spear, driving it to the ground where he killed it! Silence returned to the small valley as the group look to each other to make sure they were all alive. Assessing the mule and Nalu’s wounds later, Jatkal tending to them as best he could and said he could do more in the morning and that they should try and get as much rest as possible. Jatkal also thought that the tracks from the Argust where most probably those that he observed at the Cairn entrance… In the morning, with Nalu feeling much better, it was decided to move the animals into the mining station (much to the joy of Pog) before they rest of them went to the Whispering Cairn – just in case there might be more of those hungry animals about. [/QUOTE]
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