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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
A Dawnforge Legend Storyhour (Chapter 7 started on May 27th)
- Thread starter Tokiwong
- Start date
Tokiwong
First Post
Side Story...
Chapter 5 - Part 2
She raised her longbow, and took careful aim as the small humanoid crept through the tangled brush, trying to remain hidden and failing as the lithe woman lined up her shot. She let the arrow fly, and the aim was true as the goblin stumbled forward from the impact of the arrow, and then fell face down in the damp earth and brush.
Four days of hunting, to track these dangerous scout of the Winter Wolf. The woman whistled as she settled into her hiding spot once more. A whistle replied to her in the waning darkness as the sun slowly rose in the east and crept into the sky, its light peeking through the branches.
The woman opened her water skin and took a small draught of its cold contents as she brushed hr golden hair from her fair face. Her forest green eyes scanned the dense forest for more of the scouts. Her eyes caught the sight of her pet prowling through the trees, her friend, Ember a female wolf with an ebon coat and piercing gray eyes. The wolf slinked through the trees, sniffing for more of the loathsome goblins as it made it way to the dead goblin laying face first in the damp soil; its black blood pooling around the wretched humanoid. Its skin was a putrid mix of green and gray, and littered with scars and tribal tattoos.
The woman jumped when she heard a distant roar, followed by several shouts and the sound of combat, and metal upon metal. She smirked and motioned for Ember to follow as she stood in a fluid motion and rushed towards the sounds o fighting, it was just like him to charge in head by himself without help.
She slid down a hill and rolled into the brush. She rose to see a lithe lowlander dressed in a dark green cloak, that seemed to shift with the colors of the woods, as if to mask his presence as he whirled and spun, wielding a wicked double bladed sword, one end glowed with fire, while the other end had more subtle although quite lethal enchantments.
The woman sighed, “Ember, why do I even bother, I knew he would charge in without even trying to ask for help,” glancing to her wolf companion. The wolf just shrugged in reply.
She focused on the vicious melee, already four goblin bodies lay on the ground bleeding from vicious wounds as the lithe human warrior spun, and parried attacks from two hobgoblins dressed in polished chainmail trying to flank and outmaneuver the lone human. He ducked low to avoid a war hammer and ran the hobgoblin on his left through, and then simply reversed the motion stabbing the flaming end through the sole remaining hobgoblin.
He pulled his blade out and walked toward the woman, as both bodies collapsed to the ground. He spun the double bladed sword with ease and smiled. He glanced to where the woman was hiding, “They are all dead, the scouting party as much too weak, not a normal move for the Winter Wolf,” he spoke in perfect Anderlar.
The woman rose, “My thoughts exactly, Baile, not a single giant among them, I think this was a feint, or maybe just a test of our defenses.”
Baile nodded, as he pulled his hood back from his head, revealing shaggy dark hair, and stubble on his weathered chin. His looks were rugged from many days and nights out under the stars and his eyes were dark and brooding, almost intense in nature. He stopped right in front of the woman and spoke, “I know that look Julia; you think I should have told you first before I attacked. I gauged the threat, they were conscripts at best.”
Julia rolled her eyes, “We are supposed to work together Baile, that is how a partnership…”
Baile cut her of with a deep kiss, “Yeah I know, lets strip the bodies for materials and return to the fort, and report in what we found.”
Julia sighed, “We don’t have much to report, Baile, just another small scouting party at best, maybe raiders at worst. Besides that can’t be all of them,” she knelt down, “these tracks are much bigger they are…”
“Frost giant tracks,” Baile whispered, “he is hiding just across the clearing and three goblins have been circling around on us. You can handle them, I will take the giant, when you finish with them, please oblige me with some help.”
Julia shrugged, “I will think about it,” as she knocked an arrow. She turned and dashed behind a tree and motioned for Ember to flush out the stalking goblins. The wolf howled as the goblins squealed from their hiding place. Julia whipped around the tree and let an arrow fly, ducking behind the tree once more, already knowing the arrow found its mark. In the distance she heard a gurgling, and the sounds of the goblins squealing as the wolf set upon them.
Baile rushed back down into the clearing, as the giant decided to reveal himself by tossing a boulder at the young lowlander ranger. The fifteen foot tall giant lumbered out from behind the copse of trees hefting a mighty ice forged greataxe. The blue skinned brut had long white straight hair, and wore a pelt of bear hides over iron chainmail, the standard of the Winter Wolf worked into the design of its armor. Baile grinned as he spun his double bladed sword to the ready, the flaming end pointed towards the giant as it charged the ranger.
Baile rolled aside as the huge axe passed over his lithe frame. He dashed quickly spinning the double bladed sword at the giant’s tendon, cleanly cutting it, causing the brute to collapse under its weight. It bellowed loudly, as Baile jumped onto the creature’s chest and tried to plunge the flaming end of his blade into its neck but a single massive fist smashed into the young ranger sending him sprawling to the ground several feet away, his mind spinning from the blow.
Baile stumbled to his feet, as he heard Julia’s voice shout, and the squeals of the goblin and the howl of the wolf. But dominating the sounds bouncing in his head, were the curses of the frost giant, as he continued to stumble in his blurred vision stupor. The giant had struggled to his feet, using a thick tree to lean upon as it loomed over the confused and stunned ranger.
Baile shook his head as he stumbled towards his double bladed sword stuck in the damp earth. Julia though focused her eyes on giant, narrowing them as she took careful aim, and then let the arrow fly! It stuck into the frost giant’s eye, causing it to recoil, and slip towards the ground on it back once more, with a thunderous sound. Baile instinctively rolled forward and picked up his weapon in one smooth motion, his vision clearing.
Baile shouted, “Thanks Julia… now to finish this!”
Chapter 5 - Part 2
She raised her longbow, and took careful aim as the small humanoid crept through the tangled brush, trying to remain hidden and failing as the lithe woman lined up her shot. She let the arrow fly, and the aim was true as the goblin stumbled forward from the impact of the arrow, and then fell face down in the damp earth and brush.
Four days of hunting, to track these dangerous scout of the Winter Wolf. The woman whistled as she settled into her hiding spot once more. A whistle replied to her in the waning darkness as the sun slowly rose in the east and crept into the sky, its light peeking through the branches.
The woman opened her water skin and took a small draught of its cold contents as she brushed hr golden hair from her fair face. Her forest green eyes scanned the dense forest for more of the scouts. Her eyes caught the sight of her pet prowling through the trees, her friend, Ember a female wolf with an ebon coat and piercing gray eyes. The wolf slinked through the trees, sniffing for more of the loathsome goblins as it made it way to the dead goblin laying face first in the damp soil; its black blood pooling around the wretched humanoid. Its skin was a putrid mix of green and gray, and littered with scars and tribal tattoos.
The woman jumped when she heard a distant roar, followed by several shouts and the sound of combat, and metal upon metal. She smirked and motioned for Ember to follow as she stood in a fluid motion and rushed towards the sounds o fighting, it was just like him to charge in head by himself without help.
She slid down a hill and rolled into the brush. She rose to see a lithe lowlander dressed in a dark green cloak, that seemed to shift with the colors of the woods, as if to mask his presence as he whirled and spun, wielding a wicked double bladed sword, one end glowed with fire, while the other end had more subtle although quite lethal enchantments.
The woman sighed, “Ember, why do I even bother, I knew he would charge in without even trying to ask for help,” glancing to her wolf companion. The wolf just shrugged in reply.
She focused on the vicious melee, already four goblin bodies lay on the ground bleeding from vicious wounds as the lithe human warrior spun, and parried attacks from two hobgoblins dressed in polished chainmail trying to flank and outmaneuver the lone human. He ducked low to avoid a war hammer and ran the hobgoblin on his left through, and then simply reversed the motion stabbing the flaming end through the sole remaining hobgoblin.
He pulled his blade out and walked toward the woman, as both bodies collapsed to the ground. He spun the double bladed sword with ease and smiled. He glanced to where the woman was hiding, “They are all dead, the scouting party as much too weak, not a normal move for the Winter Wolf,” he spoke in perfect Anderlar.
The woman rose, “My thoughts exactly, Baile, not a single giant among them, I think this was a feint, or maybe just a test of our defenses.”
Baile nodded, as he pulled his hood back from his head, revealing shaggy dark hair, and stubble on his weathered chin. His looks were rugged from many days and nights out under the stars and his eyes were dark and brooding, almost intense in nature. He stopped right in front of the woman and spoke, “I know that look Julia; you think I should have told you first before I attacked. I gauged the threat, they were conscripts at best.”
Julia rolled her eyes, “We are supposed to work together Baile, that is how a partnership…”
Baile cut her of with a deep kiss, “Yeah I know, lets strip the bodies for materials and return to the fort, and report in what we found.”
Julia sighed, “We don’t have much to report, Baile, just another small scouting party at best, maybe raiders at worst. Besides that can’t be all of them,” she knelt down, “these tracks are much bigger they are…”
“Frost giant tracks,” Baile whispered, “he is hiding just across the clearing and three goblins have been circling around on us. You can handle them, I will take the giant, when you finish with them, please oblige me with some help.”
Julia shrugged, “I will think about it,” as she knocked an arrow. She turned and dashed behind a tree and motioned for Ember to flush out the stalking goblins. The wolf howled as the goblins squealed from their hiding place. Julia whipped around the tree and let an arrow fly, ducking behind the tree once more, already knowing the arrow found its mark. In the distance she heard a gurgling, and the sounds of the goblins squealing as the wolf set upon them.
Baile rushed back down into the clearing, as the giant decided to reveal himself by tossing a boulder at the young lowlander ranger. The fifteen foot tall giant lumbered out from behind the copse of trees hefting a mighty ice forged greataxe. The blue skinned brut had long white straight hair, and wore a pelt of bear hides over iron chainmail, the standard of the Winter Wolf worked into the design of its armor. Baile grinned as he spun his double bladed sword to the ready, the flaming end pointed towards the giant as it charged the ranger.
Baile rolled aside as the huge axe passed over his lithe frame. He dashed quickly spinning the double bladed sword at the giant’s tendon, cleanly cutting it, causing the brute to collapse under its weight. It bellowed loudly, as Baile jumped onto the creature’s chest and tried to plunge the flaming end of his blade into its neck but a single massive fist smashed into the young ranger sending him sprawling to the ground several feet away, his mind spinning from the blow.
Baile stumbled to his feet, as he heard Julia’s voice shout, and the squeals of the goblin and the howl of the wolf. But dominating the sounds bouncing in his head, were the curses of the frost giant, as he continued to stumble in his blurred vision stupor. The giant had struggled to his feet, using a thick tree to lean upon as it loomed over the confused and stunned ranger.
Baile shook his head as he stumbled towards his double bladed sword stuck in the damp earth. Julia though focused her eyes on giant, narrowing them as she took careful aim, and then let the arrow fly! It stuck into the frost giant’s eye, causing it to recoil, and slip towards the ground on it back once more, with a thunderous sound. Baile instinctively rolled forward and picked up his weapon in one smooth motion, his vision clearing.
Baile shouted, “Thanks Julia… now to finish this!”
Tokiwong
First Post
Baile (Male Lowlander Fighter 4/Ranger 3 Chaotic Good): CR 7; STR 21, DEX 16, CON 12, INT 13, WIS 14, CHA 11; HD 4d10 plus 3d8 plus 7 (HP 59); BAB +7/+2; FORT +9, REF +8, WILL +7; AC 20 (+3 DEX, +1 Deflection, +6 Armor), Flat Footed 17, Touch 14; Initiative +3; Attack +14 melee (1d8+8 plus 1d6 fire and 1d8+5, 19-20/x2), +11 ranged (1d8 Longbow x3); Full Attack +12/+12/+7 melee, +11/+6 ranged; Move 30 feet; Skills- Climb (4) +9, Hide (6) +17/+15, Intimidate (4) +9, Knowledge Geography (4) +5, Knowledge Nature (6) +10, Listen (6) +8, Move Silently (4) +7/+5, Spot (10) +14, Survival (6) +12, Swim (4) +9, Tumble (10) +13/+11; Feats- Exotic Weapon Proficiency Two Bladed Sword, Combat Expertise, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus Two Bladed Sword, Two Weapon Defense, Improved Disarm, Power Attack, Track, Weapon Specialization Two Bladed Sword, Endurance; Languages- Common, Anderlar, Sylvan; Racial Talents- Fast Learner, Connected, Talent Skills (Knowledge Nature +3, Heal +3), Seaward; Racial Transformations- Hero’s Son, Roots in the Soil, Strength of Body, Mind, and Spirit; SQ- Favored Enemy Giant, Wild Empathy, Lowlander Traits; Legend Points- 2, Path of the Mighty (Diplomacy, Intimidate); Equipment- +1 Flaming Two-Bladed Sword (Flaming on one End), Elven Chainmail +1, Cloak of Elvenkind, 4 Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds, Ring of Protection +1, Travel Clothes, Masterwork Longbow, 20 arrows, Dagger
This is Dais brother, more will be revealed about him in due time...
This is Dais brother, more will be revealed about him in due time...
Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 5 - Part 3
Dais opened his eyes, and sat up quickly startling the normally unshakeable night elf. She peered curiously at Dais, “I guess you are stronger then you look, and there just might be some merit to Thane’s faith.”
“Huh, what happened, I am not dead am I?” Dais replied with a serious look of worry.
“No, far from it, you killed the shark but you were almost drug to the deep, but the captain decided to not be a coward and swam back to get you, thankfully she is a stronger then she looks,” she smirked, “Thane had no healing magic left, and called upon his immortal directly, and channeled her divine power through him, and into your wounds. By the way you looked a mess when the captain brought you aboard.”
“Wow I am sorry I missed it all,” Dais mused, instinctively looking to his arm, and seeing not a single scar he smiled, “I will have to thank Thane again for his help.”
Lain handed Dais a cup of water, “Drink, everyone is resting for now, Thane said he needs his spells, and the captain wants to make sure you are in tip top fighting condition.”
“Thanks,” Dais took the cup and drunk it down in two quick gulps before standing and stretching, “I feel great, actually.”
Lain smiled, “Well you are tougher then most lowlanders I have met, and strong as a bull. But for a moment I was worried…”
“Really?” Dais sounded surprised.
“Yeah I thought you might die before you had a chance to repay me for my troubles,” she grinned as she opened the door.
“Thanks for caring,” Dais laughed.
“Just be sure to warn me before you do something incredibly stupid,” she said as she left the first mate’s cabin.
Despite the confusion and the attack by the shark, Ayala was able to grab the potions of water breathing that Captain Fletcher had promised would be in his cabin along with one hundred and fifty gold coins, quite a decent haul. She of course would hold on to the booty till she could find a proper time to properly divide the treasure in an equitable manner, or so she claimed.
By the next morning the crew of the Radical Dream was ready to press on with the task at hand. Captain Celeste was slightly unnerved that the ghost of Captain Fletcher had yet to return, but it was of little consequence now, she had made an accord with the spirit and she would see it through, unless a better opportunity came along. Gus, Hon, and Rat stayed aboard the craft, while the rest drank the potions of water breathing and then descended to the wreckage of the Stingray.
This time Dais was armored and ready to face any dangers of the deep. Lain seemed nervous under the water, while the rest of the crew managed well enough to the adjustment of breathing underwater with some relative ease. Osan seemed to revel in the opportunity to see the wonders of the sea floor.
Ayala swam towards the captain’s cabin as the others followed, their weapons drawn the battle with the shark still fresh in their minds. Just beneath the raised afterdeck a door hung open on slowly rusting hinges leading to the upper companionway. On the right was the shattered remains of the door to the captain’ cabin and on the left the door to the officer’s cabin. Debris floated in the water from the damage this area had suffered from the attack and the more recent battle with the shark.
Captain Celeste gestured for Dais to head don the stairs that sat in the middle of the upper companionway between the two doors. Dais silently moves forward into the darker lower deck, his weapon ready for anything as he entered a large bay like deck where rows of ballistae sat pointing outward waiting for an enemy that truck without warning. Large ballista bolts lay scattered about the floor, the deck was in a state of disarray.
A soft glow in the far corner of the deck drew Dais attention and that of his companions as they followed him. The ghostly form of Captain Fletcher floated over a body crushed by a ballista that had toppled and slid in the confusion of the vicious melee.
The Captain turned his head to the party, “Oh there you are,” his voice strangely unaffected by the water, “The sea-men stripped her clean, even took the bodies of my men. Well most of the bodies,” he turned a forlorn look to the body crushed under the ballista.
“I have another boon to ask of you, I know we agreed on just the gem mate,” the ghost focused his gaze on Captain Celeste, “but I have no wish to linger here in these waters so far from my homeland. If you would so oblige an old salty dog, I would be grateful if you could return my corpse to Seagarden,” the ghost finished.
Captain Celeste mulled over the words, “How much is it worth to you?” her voice gurgled in the water.
“Them creatures stripped my body of me effects mate,” Captain Fletcher replied sullenly, “I am good and dead bub, and if you can retrieve me effects they is yours. What say you to that?”
“You have yourself an accord, children of the Dreaming Isles deserve to have their last wish honored,” Ayala gurgled once more.
Dais nodded, “This won’t be easy, but with some help, we should be able to handle it.”
“Aye,” the tiefling gurgled, as he moved to assist Dais. Lain sighed and tried her to best to help as well, while Thane and Captain Celeste scanned the room for any more dangers, especially sharks. The ballista slid off the crushed body of Captain Fletcher with a loud thump and crash as it tumbled over.
Captain Fletcher smiled, “Aye mates you done a good a thing, I owe you plenty for that favor, more then I can possibly share.”
Lain furrowed her brow, “Right,” she rolled her eyes and then turned her head quickly as a sound tickled her elfin ears. She turned slowly towards the stairs leading down to the next deck as a warbled gibbering filled her sensitive ears. “Silence…” she hissed to the others, “we are not alone!”
As Lain pointed to the stairs, three creatures swam up lazily into the hold. There bodies were humanoid in shape and taught moist skin pulled tightly over muscle and bone. Their eyes glowed a vicious yellow, and snarling mouths filled with black and yellow sharpened teeth, and a lolling black tongue. The creatures fixed their gaze on Lain and her companions and rushed to attack jetting quickly through the water with their powerful legs and arms.
Lain unsheathed her scimitar as the first of the three creatures crashed into her trying to bite into her soft ebon flesh. She rolled with the impact and used her scimitar to deflect the vicious and savage assault. Dais was too slow as the second of these strange watery creatures bit into his neck with its black and yellow teeth, digging deep into his flesh. For a moment he felt his muscles stiffen but he was able to fight off the feeling and draw his longsword and ready his shield as shook himself free of the savage unnatural creature.
Thane whirled on his heels and recognized the creatures for what they were, ghouls of the sea, the watery damned, undead corpses of vicious sailors and pirates who had been cursed by the Old Man of the Sea to linger forever beneath hi watery depths for all eternity. Thane grimaced and raised his heavy mace over his head as he tried to strike the final advancing ghoul but the water ruined his aim as he missed and raised his shield to fend off the strike of the charging undead.
Osan kicks forward in a spring through the water and lands a vicious kick on the creature trying to rend poor Lain to bits. The forceful blow sends the creature hurtling backwards into a ballista as it scrambled to reorient itself snarling. The creature hissed, “You will suffer for that, tiefling… oh you will suffer…”
“What the hell are these things?” Lain shouted desperately as she lunged at the speaking ghoul. Her blade sank into its cold damp flesh but it did not seem to mind the injury, as it grinned looking her in the eye.
Ayala stood her ground and began to sing, her voice rippling through the water in rushed yet soothing tones. Her song gave courage and strength to her companions as she leveled her crossbow preparing to fire at the closest ghoul.
Dais turned on the ghoul as it bared its blood stained teeth, he lashed forward with a vicious swing, nearly severing the creature’s left arm clean off as it stumbled back from the vicious blow. The ghoul hissed and leapt forward once more, but Dais was ready and raised his shield against the clumsy attack as he pressed the attack.
The lowlander soldier wasted no time and ran the creature through with his blade, grabbing the damned creature by the neck and pushing it to the floor. The glow in its eyes dimming as he stood over the twice dead corpse. Dais glanced over his shoulder and saw Thane stumble backwards from the claws of the ghoul, but his effort was wasted as he tripped on a large ballista bolt on the floor and floundered to the ground right next to the corpse of Captain Fletcher.
Ayala released a bolt from her crossbow and caught the creature harrying Thane in the neck. It looked up with a scowl, “Tsk, tsk wait your turn… I will feast on you soon,” the ghoul hissed.
Ayala winked, “Oh you tease,” as she worked to reload her light crossbow. But she relaxed her pose as the ghoul cocked its head in confusion, an expression that would be sealed on its face, as Dais’ blade severed its head with a skill strike. He then helped Thane up, as he turned and glanced quizzically to Lain who laid face down in the floor, while Osan crouched next to her body with a whimsical smile.
Thane broke the silence as the three twice-dead ghouls floated in the watery hold, “Is he dead?” he said as he rushed to her side.
“No, she is alive, jut paralyzed it seems, she can’t move a muscle, the creature slashed her face and then she just fell over not moving. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen, I would have stopped to laugh if my life had not been endanger at the moment,” the tiefling replied.
“So she is alive, how long will she be like that?” Dais replied.
“Too long,” Lain groaned as she rolled over, “if you ask me, and thanks for enjoying my plight, Osan.”
Thane smiled, “I am just glad you are alive, the Dawn-Bearer be praised for our success.”
Ayala shrugged, as she walked forward, “Well we lived, not that there was any doubt, but now what?”
Captain Fletcher rose up from the second lower deck, “There are holes in the bottom hold of the Stingray, looks like them dirty fishmen made their way in and out though them,” he says with a scowl.
Dais nodded, with a healthy smile of wonder, if only his brother Baile could see him now, a the bottom of the sea aiding the spirit of a privateer an hunting down mysterious fishmen. It would be quite the tale, as long as he lived to tell the tale.
Dais opened his eyes, and sat up quickly startling the normally unshakeable night elf. She peered curiously at Dais, “I guess you are stronger then you look, and there just might be some merit to Thane’s faith.”
“Huh, what happened, I am not dead am I?” Dais replied with a serious look of worry.
“No, far from it, you killed the shark but you were almost drug to the deep, but the captain decided to not be a coward and swam back to get you, thankfully she is a stronger then she looks,” she smirked, “Thane had no healing magic left, and called upon his immortal directly, and channeled her divine power through him, and into your wounds. By the way you looked a mess when the captain brought you aboard.”
“Wow I am sorry I missed it all,” Dais mused, instinctively looking to his arm, and seeing not a single scar he smiled, “I will have to thank Thane again for his help.”
Lain handed Dais a cup of water, “Drink, everyone is resting for now, Thane said he needs his spells, and the captain wants to make sure you are in tip top fighting condition.”
“Thanks,” Dais took the cup and drunk it down in two quick gulps before standing and stretching, “I feel great, actually.”
Lain smiled, “Well you are tougher then most lowlanders I have met, and strong as a bull. But for a moment I was worried…”
“Really?” Dais sounded surprised.
“Yeah I thought you might die before you had a chance to repay me for my troubles,” she grinned as she opened the door.
“Thanks for caring,” Dais laughed.
“Just be sure to warn me before you do something incredibly stupid,” she said as she left the first mate’s cabin.
Despite the confusion and the attack by the shark, Ayala was able to grab the potions of water breathing that Captain Fletcher had promised would be in his cabin along with one hundred and fifty gold coins, quite a decent haul. She of course would hold on to the booty till she could find a proper time to properly divide the treasure in an equitable manner, or so she claimed.
By the next morning the crew of the Radical Dream was ready to press on with the task at hand. Captain Celeste was slightly unnerved that the ghost of Captain Fletcher had yet to return, but it was of little consequence now, she had made an accord with the spirit and she would see it through, unless a better opportunity came along. Gus, Hon, and Rat stayed aboard the craft, while the rest drank the potions of water breathing and then descended to the wreckage of the Stingray.
This time Dais was armored and ready to face any dangers of the deep. Lain seemed nervous under the water, while the rest of the crew managed well enough to the adjustment of breathing underwater with some relative ease. Osan seemed to revel in the opportunity to see the wonders of the sea floor.
Ayala swam towards the captain’s cabin as the others followed, their weapons drawn the battle with the shark still fresh in their minds. Just beneath the raised afterdeck a door hung open on slowly rusting hinges leading to the upper companionway. On the right was the shattered remains of the door to the captain’ cabin and on the left the door to the officer’s cabin. Debris floated in the water from the damage this area had suffered from the attack and the more recent battle with the shark.
Captain Celeste gestured for Dais to head don the stairs that sat in the middle of the upper companionway between the two doors. Dais silently moves forward into the darker lower deck, his weapon ready for anything as he entered a large bay like deck where rows of ballistae sat pointing outward waiting for an enemy that truck without warning. Large ballista bolts lay scattered about the floor, the deck was in a state of disarray.
A soft glow in the far corner of the deck drew Dais attention and that of his companions as they followed him. The ghostly form of Captain Fletcher floated over a body crushed by a ballista that had toppled and slid in the confusion of the vicious melee.
The Captain turned his head to the party, “Oh there you are,” his voice strangely unaffected by the water, “The sea-men stripped her clean, even took the bodies of my men. Well most of the bodies,” he turned a forlorn look to the body crushed under the ballista.
“I have another boon to ask of you, I know we agreed on just the gem mate,” the ghost focused his gaze on Captain Celeste, “but I have no wish to linger here in these waters so far from my homeland. If you would so oblige an old salty dog, I would be grateful if you could return my corpse to Seagarden,” the ghost finished.
Captain Celeste mulled over the words, “How much is it worth to you?” her voice gurgled in the water.
“Them creatures stripped my body of me effects mate,” Captain Fletcher replied sullenly, “I am good and dead bub, and if you can retrieve me effects they is yours. What say you to that?”
“You have yourself an accord, children of the Dreaming Isles deserve to have their last wish honored,” Ayala gurgled once more.
Dais nodded, “This won’t be easy, but with some help, we should be able to handle it.”
“Aye,” the tiefling gurgled, as he moved to assist Dais. Lain sighed and tried her to best to help as well, while Thane and Captain Celeste scanned the room for any more dangers, especially sharks. The ballista slid off the crushed body of Captain Fletcher with a loud thump and crash as it tumbled over.
Captain Fletcher smiled, “Aye mates you done a good a thing, I owe you plenty for that favor, more then I can possibly share.”
Lain furrowed her brow, “Right,” she rolled her eyes and then turned her head quickly as a sound tickled her elfin ears. She turned slowly towards the stairs leading down to the next deck as a warbled gibbering filled her sensitive ears. “Silence…” she hissed to the others, “we are not alone!”
As Lain pointed to the stairs, three creatures swam up lazily into the hold. There bodies were humanoid in shape and taught moist skin pulled tightly over muscle and bone. Their eyes glowed a vicious yellow, and snarling mouths filled with black and yellow sharpened teeth, and a lolling black tongue. The creatures fixed their gaze on Lain and her companions and rushed to attack jetting quickly through the water with their powerful legs and arms.
Lain unsheathed her scimitar as the first of the three creatures crashed into her trying to bite into her soft ebon flesh. She rolled with the impact and used her scimitar to deflect the vicious and savage assault. Dais was too slow as the second of these strange watery creatures bit into his neck with its black and yellow teeth, digging deep into his flesh. For a moment he felt his muscles stiffen but he was able to fight off the feeling and draw his longsword and ready his shield as shook himself free of the savage unnatural creature.
Thane whirled on his heels and recognized the creatures for what they were, ghouls of the sea, the watery damned, undead corpses of vicious sailors and pirates who had been cursed by the Old Man of the Sea to linger forever beneath hi watery depths for all eternity. Thane grimaced and raised his heavy mace over his head as he tried to strike the final advancing ghoul but the water ruined his aim as he missed and raised his shield to fend off the strike of the charging undead.
Osan kicks forward in a spring through the water and lands a vicious kick on the creature trying to rend poor Lain to bits. The forceful blow sends the creature hurtling backwards into a ballista as it scrambled to reorient itself snarling. The creature hissed, “You will suffer for that, tiefling… oh you will suffer…”
“What the hell are these things?” Lain shouted desperately as she lunged at the speaking ghoul. Her blade sank into its cold damp flesh but it did not seem to mind the injury, as it grinned looking her in the eye.
Ayala stood her ground and began to sing, her voice rippling through the water in rushed yet soothing tones. Her song gave courage and strength to her companions as she leveled her crossbow preparing to fire at the closest ghoul.
Dais turned on the ghoul as it bared its blood stained teeth, he lashed forward with a vicious swing, nearly severing the creature’s left arm clean off as it stumbled back from the vicious blow. The ghoul hissed and leapt forward once more, but Dais was ready and raised his shield against the clumsy attack as he pressed the attack.
The lowlander soldier wasted no time and ran the creature through with his blade, grabbing the damned creature by the neck and pushing it to the floor. The glow in its eyes dimming as he stood over the twice dead corpse. Dais glanced over his shoulder and saw Thane stumble backwards from the claws of the ghoul, but his effort was wasted as he tripped on a large ballista bolt on the floor and floundered to the ground right next to the corpse of Captain Fletcher.
Ayala released a bolt from her crossbow and caught the creature harrying Thane in the neck. It looked up with a scowl, “Tsk, tsk wait your turn… I will feast on you soon,” the ghoul hissed.
Ayala winked, “Oh you tease,” as she worked to reload her light crossbow. But she relaxed her pose as the ghoul cocked its head in confusion, an expression that would be sealed on its face, as Dais’ blade severed its head with a skill strike. He then helped Thane up, as he turned and glanced quizzically to Lain who laid face down in the floor, while Osan crouched next to her body with a whimsical smile.
Thane broke the silence as the three twice-dead ghouls floated in the watery hold, “Is he dead?” he said as he rushed to her side.
“No, she is alive, jut paralyzed it seems, she can’t move a muscle, the creature slashed her face and then she just fell over not moving. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen, I would have stopped to laugh if my life had not been endanger at the moment,” the tiefling replied.
“So she is alive, how long will she be like that?” Dais replied.
“Too long,” Lain groaned as she rolled over, “if you ask me, and thanks for enjoying my plight, Osan.”
Thane smiled, “I am just glad you are alive, the Dawn-Bearer be praised for our success.”
Ayala shrugged, as she walked forward, “Well we lived, not that there was any doubt, but now what?”
Captain Fletcher rose up from the second lower deck, “There are holes in the bottom hold of the Stingray, looks like them dirty fishmen made their way in and out though them,” he says with a scowl.
Dais nodded, with a healthy smile of wonder, if only his brother Baile could see him now, a the bottom of the sea aiding the spirit of a privateer an hunting down mysterious fishmen. It would be quite the tale, as long as he lived to tell the tale.
Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 6 - Part 1
Lain felt uneasy as she walked along the ocean floor, through the swaying fields of kelp as fish swam lazily by in large schools, shimmering from the sunlight above. It was strange to breathe the water as easily as she could breathe air; it was both wondrous and terrifying at the same time. The silly grin on Dais’ face annoyed her even more, he was actually enjoying this trip, and it was enough to make her want to slap him. But she desisted there were other more pertinent dangers in the deep.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and focused on the trail of refuse and coins that seemed to lead a path from the Stingray. It was the only clue she had to track down the fishmen, thankfully one of her hidden talents she had learned in the forests in her youth was how to track prey, both natural and supernatural. A skill that was being put to great use as she stalked the trail of coins and refuse.
Within an hour’s time she reached an underwater cave some ten feet above the sea floor shrouded by kelp, the trail came to an end at the base of the stone and rock face that extended in both directions for several hundreds of feet. She waved for her companions to approach, and crouched in the kelp as they walked an circled the night elf scout.
She looked up to her companions, “The trail ends here, above us is a cave entrance,” she gurgled, “My best guess is that the cave may be their camp, we will need to tread carefully,” she warned.
Ayala smirked, “I always tread carefully.”
“Indeed,” Lain replied coolly, “Dais and I will take point, I have the keen eyes and ears, and he has the strength.”
Dais nodded, “I notice stuff too.”
“Sure you do, sure you do,” Lain countered.
“Hey I am not totally clueless!”
There was an odd silence in the group as the others just sort of smirked and tried to break into laughter. Of course Lain failed and glided up towards the hole without another word, kicking her feet effortlessly against the salty water. Dais grumbled as he scrambled up the incline his heavier scale mail armor weighing him down as he struggled to keep up with the nimble night elf.
She crouched right at the entrance and waved for Dais to be silent. The lowlander soldier hunkered down as he scrambled up the incline. Lain gritted her teeth hearing the sound of Dais’ armor and heavy footfalls as she trained her eyes on the two floating fishmen who were thankfully involved in their own deep discussion to notice his approach.
To call them fishmen was a misnomer, they had slim agile bodies of blue and green with fins on the legs and arms, and webbed feet with short-yellowed hook-like nails. Their bodies were well muscled and their heads were almost shark-like with glinting yellow-white teeth flashing as the creatures spoke to each other. Each held a trident of hardened coral, and wore harnesses carrying more of their gear and effects. There eyes were predator like and darted back and forth as the two creatures spoke to each other in an animated motions and gurgling voices.
Dais whispered to Lain as best as he could in the salty waters, “I don’t see any more then two…”
Lain hissed, “I am sure there is more then two inside, these two must be sentries.”
“So what are we waiting for?”
“I would rather not face two, one could flee and alert the others, that is called worst case scenario, idiot,” she hissed once more.
“Oh, well then,” he motioned for the others to approach motioning for them to be silent. He turned back to Lain, “So we wait for one to leave, and then attack?”
“Exactly,” she smiled, “wow Dais, you are learning,” she whispered softly.
“Stop treating me like an idiot,” he scowled as he waited for the others to approach.
“Well if you would stop acting like an idiot then I would-” she paused as a shadow loomed over the two. Lain let out a quiet curse in her native tongue as she looked up into the eyes of the “fishman”. It looked down with a look on its face that seemed to spell amusement before it started to raise its trident over its head.
Lain felt uneasy as she walked along the ocean floor, through the swaying fields of kelp as fish swam lazily by in large schools, shimmering from the sunlight above. It was strange to breathe the water as easily as she could breathe air; it was both wondrous and terrifying at the same time. The silly grin on Dais’ face annoyed her even more, he was actually enjoying this trip, and it was enough to make her want to slap him. But she desisted there were other more pertinent dangers in the deep.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and focused on the trail of refuse and coins that seemed to lead a path from the Stingray. It was the only clue she had to track down the fishmen, thankfully one of her hidden talents she had learned in the forests in her youth was how to track prey, both natural and supernatural. A skill that was being put to great use as she stalked the trail of coins and refuse.
Within an hour’s time she reached an underwater cave some ten feet above the sea floor shrouded by kelp, the trail came to an end at the base of the stone and rock face that extended in both directions for several hundreds of feet. She waved for her companions to approach, and crouched in the kelp as they walked an circled the night elf scout.
She looked up to her companions, “The trail ends here, above us is a cave entrance,” she gurgled, “My best guess is that the cave may be their camp, we will need to tread carefully,” she warned.
Ayala smirked, “I always tread carefully.”
“Indeed,” Lain replied coolly, “Dais and I will take point, I have the keen eyes and ears, and he has the strength.”
Dais nodded, “I notice stuff too.”
“Sure you do, sure you do,” Lain countered.
“Hey I am not totally clueless!”
There was an odd silence in the group as the others just sort of smirked and tried to break into laughter. Of course Lain failed and glided up towards the hole without another word, kicking her feet effortlessly against the salty water. Dais grumbled as he scrambled up the incline his heavier scale mail armor weighing him down as he struggled to keep up with the nimble night elf.
She crouched right at the entrance and waved for Dais to be silent. The lowlander soldier hunkered down as he scrambled up the incline. Lain gritted her teeth hearing the sound of Dais’ armor and heavy footfalls as she trained her eyes on the two floating fishmen who were thankfully involved in their own deep discussion to notice his approach.
To call them fishmen was a misnomer, they had slim agile bodies of blue and green with fins on the legs and arms, and webbed feet with short-yellowed hook-like nails. Their bodies were well muscled and their heads were almost shark-like with glinting yellow-white teeth flashing as the creatures spoke to each other. Each held a trident of hardened coral, and wore harnesses carrying more of their gear and effects. There eyes were predator like and darted back and forth as the two creatures spoke to each other in an animated motions and gurgling voices.
Dais whispered to Lain as best as he could in the salty waters, “I don’t see any more then two…”
Lain hissed, “I am sure there is more then two inside, these two must be sentries.”
“So what are we waiting for?”
“I would rather not face two, one could flee and alert the others, that is called worst case scenario, idiot,” she hissed once more.
“Oh, well then,” he motioned for the others to approach motioning for them to be silent. He turned back to Lain, “So we wait for one to leave, and then attack?”
“Exactly,” she smiled, “wow Dais, you are learning,” she whispered softly.
“Stop treating me like an idiot,” he scowled as he waited for the others to approach.
“Well if you would stop acting like an idiot then I would-” she paused as a shadow loomed over the two. Lain let out a quiet curse in her native tongue as she looked up into the eyes of the “fishman”. It looked down with a look on its face that seemed to spell amusement before it started to raise its trident over its head.
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Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 6 - Part 2
But luckily both Dais and Lain were quicker as the lowlander soldier hacked into its side and Lain slid her scimitar into its hardened underbelly. Despite the thick skin, she slid her blade into the humanoid’s vitals. It staggered back as Dai finished it with a quick slash that separated its head from its shoulders. Murky blood filled the water as the creature drifted back from the duo.
Lain kept her scimitar drawn as she scanned for the second fishman, and scowled as she realized that it had probably fled to warn its brethren. Surprise was lost but at least they still had their health, no thanks to Dais of course.
Osan swam up next to Lain, “Well that is one way to announce our arrival.”
“Hush you,” she spat.
Ayala had her rapier drawn as she swam up along side Dais. Thane followed as quickly as he could as Captain Fletcher brought up the rear his glow having dimmed somewhat to aid the stealthy entry of his companions. Ayala glanced to Captain Fletcher and spoke, “So is this one of those fishmen?”
“Aye it is mate, it is indeed one of them nefarious scalawags,” the spirit growled.
Lain turned from the discussion and watched the cave entrance as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She raised her blade as four more murky shapes came into view, darting forward with great speed; more of the fishmen came into view as her eyes picked out their features. Lain shouted a warning and then dove aside as one of the creatures tried to run her through with its hardened coral trident.
Lain had no more time to think of her friends as the creature lashed at her in a frenzy, it was a like maddened shark enraged by the blood in the water, gnashing its teeth as it tried to run the night elf through with several frenzied thrusts and swipes. She tumbled back and forth looking for an opening as the humanoid backed her up against a wall and swam forward menacingly.
Lain glanced to her left for a moment to catch a glimpse of Dais fending off one of the fishmen while Ayala gurgled out a song, a song powered by the magical training in her voice. Lain felt its energy wash through her, and she kicked off the wall moving upward right over the charging fishman and slashed her scimitar into its shoulder, the blade cut deep as the creature whirled in the water. As she oriented herself in the water, she could already see the creature coming at her once more. She turned to avoid the worst of the strike and felt white hot pain knife through her left arm as the trident struck home and drove her against the wall with a powerful slam knocking the water from her stomach. The humanoid gnashed its teeth at Lain as she raised her scimitar to fend off the strike from the blood-frenzied humanoid.
The fishman twisted the trident and then pulled it free of her limb ripping flesh and sending more of her blood into the water. Lain struggled to focus her eyes through the blood and the intense pain in her arm. She had to focus on her enemy or it would be over for her, and if she could help it, dying in this place would not be her fate.
The humanoid was coming again, the bloody trident slamming into rock as Lain quickly ducked and stabbed her blade into the creature’s gullet. She kicked forward and both her and the fishman tumbled back through the water spiraling as it raked at her with its claws and she tried to twist her blade free the creature. The pain from her arm rippled through her limber frame as she finally freed herself from the creature in a bloody spray, ripping entrails from the creature as it slowly lapsed into death.
Lain staggered to her feet as she scanned the cave entrance for her companions. Not too surprisingly Dais was still standing over two corpses of fishmen, and was menacing a third as it tried to rip spit Ayala on its trident. For a moment Lain fought down the temptation to smile, and instead swam quickly towards Dais, trying to flank the creature and hopefully run it through in surprise.
As Lain swam towards her prey Osan fended off another quick jab by one of the still swimming fishmen. The creature was nimble but between his innate infernal gifts and training he had avoided any serious injury, while gauging his opponent and hopefully buy some time for Thane to tend to Lain who out of the corner of his eye he could see needed some help. But the quick thrust of the trident passing by his crimson face brought his attention back to the task at hand. Thankfully the creature had left an opening its defense and Osan took it lashing out with a quick open palm strike to the chest, the water slowed his strike but his aim was true. He focused his internal energies into the palm strike stunning the creature as he followed with a spinning kick, which looked even more graceful as he floated in the water, his foot crashing into the neck of the fishman with a thud sending it spinning away.
Osan moved forward to finish the creature, but slowed his movement as Dais cleaved the humanoid in half with one neat strike. The cave entrance was still as the final fishman fell to the floor in two bloody halves, a look of shock and pain forever etched on its shark-like face.
Dais scowled, blood dribbling down his face from where a trident had glanced off his skull. His armor was tinged with the black-red blood of the fishmen as she shook the visceral matter from his blade. Ayala finished her song, as she swam lazily next to Dais, her eyes darting back and forth at the pale illumination from Captain Fletcher’s corpse. Osan broke the silence, “I am not hurt, badly, Dais?”
Dais shrugged, “Its nothing that will kill me,” ignoring the throbbing pain in his head as best as he could.
Lain smirked her arm looking much better now that Thane had laid his curative magic upon it. She rotated her arm, “It isn’t like he had much up there to damage anyways.”
Ayala ran her hands softly along Dais face and over his wound, “Don’t be so heartless, night elf.”
Lain narrowed her eyes ever so slightly at the words, “It was a joke, besides we are all fine and we should keep moving because we can’t give them time to regroup.”
Dais winced as Ayala gently prodded his injury, “It isn’t serious, but a few inches more and you would be quite dead,” the sultry saltblood crooned.
Dais answered by walking forward into the cave following Lain. Ayala scowled as the others followed the night elf and the lowlander. She sheathed her rapier and pulled out her light crossbow and swam after her companions, not wanting to let the lowlander or the night elf out of her sight for too long. She saw the way that Lain looked at Dais, and the sly dirty looks that the night elf carefully tried to hide. It was almost amusing how easy it was to toy with the two of them, and she had to smile inwardly at just how much she enjoyed the little game.
But luckily both Dais and Lain were quicker as the lowlander soldier hacked into its side and Lain slid her scimitar into its hardened underbelly. Despite the thick skin, she slid her blade into the humanoid’s vitals. It staggered back as Dai finished it with a quick slash that separated its head from its shoulders. Murky blood filled the water as the creature drifted back from the duo.
Lain kept her scimitar drawn as she scanned for the second fishman, and scowled as she realized that it had probably fled to warn its brethren. Surprise was lost but at least they still had their health, no thanks to Dais of course.
Osan swam up next to Lain, “Well that is one way to announce our arrival.”
“Hush you,” she spat.
Ayala had her rapier drawn as she swam up along side Dais. Thane followed as quickly as he could as Captain Fletcher brought up the rear his glow having dimmed somewhat to aid the stealthy entry of his companions. Ayala glanced to Captain Fletcher and spoke, “So is this one of those fishmen?”
“Aye it is mate, it is indeed one of them nefarious scalawags,” the spirit growled.
Lain turned from the discussion and watched the cave entrance as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She raised her blade as four more murky shapes came into view, darting forward with great speed; more of the fishmen came into view as her eyes picked out their features. Lain shouted a warning and then dove aside as one of the creatures tried to run her through with its hardened coral trident.
Lain had no more time to think of her friends as the creature lashed at her in a frenzy, it was a like maddened shark enraged by the blood in the water, gnashing its teeth as it tried to run the night elf through with several frenzied thrusts and swipes. She tumbled back and forth looking for an opening as the humanoid backed her up against a wall and swam forward menacingly.
Lain glanced to her left for a moment to catch a glimpse of Dais fending off one of the fishmen while Ayala gurgled out a song, a song powered by the magical training in her voice. Lain felt its energy wash through her, and she kicked off the wall moving upward right over the charging fishman and slashed her scimitar into its shoulder, the blade cut deep as the creature whirled in the water. As she oriented herself in the water, she could already see the creature coming at her once more. She turned to avoid the worst of the strike and felt white hot pain knife through her left arm as the trident struck home and drove her against the wall with a powerful slam knocking the water from her stomach. The humanoid gnashed its teeth at Lain as she raised her scimitar to fend off the strike from the blood-frenzied humanoid.
The fishman twisted the trident and then pulled it free of her limb ripping flesh and sending more of her blood into the water. Lain struggled to focus her eyes through the blood and the intense pain in her arm. She had to focus on her enemy or it would be over for her, and if she could help it, dying in this place would not be her fate.
The humanoid was coming again, the bloody trident slamming into rock as Lain quickly ducked and stabbed her blade into the creature’s gullet. She kicked forward and both her and the fishman tumbled back through the water spiraling as it raked at her with its claws and she tried to twist her blade free the creature. The pain from her arm rippled through her limber frame as she finally freed herself from the creature in a bloody spray, ripping entrails from the creature as it slowly lapsed into death.
Lain staggered to her feet as she scanned the cave entrance for her companions. Not too surprisingly Dais was still standing over two corpses of fishmen, and was menacing a third as it tried to rip spit Ayala on its trident. For a moment Lain fought down the temptation to smile, and instead swam quickly towards Dais, trying to flank the creature and hopefully run it through in surprise.
As Lain swam towards her prey Osan fended off another quick jab by one of the still swimming fishmen. The creature was nimble but between his innate infernal gifts and training he had avoided any serious injury, while gauging his opponent and hopefully buy some time for Thane to tend to Lain who out of the corner of his eye he could see needed some help. But the quick thrust of the trident passing by his crimson face brought his attention back to the task at hand. Thankfully the creature had left an opening its defense and Osan took it lashing out with a quick open palm strike to the chest, the water slowed his strike but his aim was true. He focused his internal energies into the palm strike stunning the creature as he followed with a spinning kick, which looked even more graceful as he floated in the water, his foot crashing into the neck of the fishman with a thud sending it spinning away.
Osan moved forward to finish the creature, but slowed his movement as Dais cleaved the humanoid in half with one neat strike. The cave entrance was still as the final fishman fell to the floor in two bloody halves, a look of shock and pain forever etched on its shark-like face.
Dais scowled, blood dribbling down his face from where a trident had glanced off his skull. His armor was tinged with the black-red blood of the fishmen as she shook the visceral matter from his blade. Ayala finished her song, as she swam lazily next to Dais, her eyes darting back and forth at the pale illumination from Captain Fletcher’s corpse. Osan broke the silence, “I am not hurt, badly, Dais?”
Dais shrugged, “Its nothing that will kill me,” ignoring the throbbing pain in his head as best as he could.
Lain smirked her arm looking much better now that Thane had laid his curative magic upon it. She rotated her arm, “It isn’t like he had much up there to damage anyways.”
Ayala ran her hands softly along Dais face and over his wound, “Don’t be so heartless, night elf.”
Lain narrowed her eyes ever so slightly at the words, “It was a joke, besides we are all fine and we should keep moving because we can’t give them time to regroup.”
Dais winced as Ayala gently prodded his injury, “It isn’t serious, but a few inches more and you would be quite dead,” the sultry saltblood crooned.
Dais answered by walking forward into the cave following Lain. Ayala scowled as the others followed the night elf and the lowlander. She sheathed her rapier and pulled out her light crossbow and swam after her companions, not wanting to let the lowlander or the night elf out of her sight for too long. She saw the way that Lain looked at Dais, and the sly dirty looks that the night elf carefully tried to hide. It was almost amusing how easy it was to toy with the two of them, and she had to smile inwardly at just how much she enjoyed the little game.
Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 6 - Part 3
She followed behind lazily breathing the water with little effort feeling the water fill into her lungs. It was a strange feeling as she blinked her eyes trying to focus in the growing darkness, but it was becoming incredibly hard to see for her human eyes. She hissed softly to Osan just in front of her, “I need light, I can’t see.”
Dais agreed, “Yeah, I am fumbling around in the dark here, it isn’t like we need to mask our presence. Thane do you have any magic to light our path?”
Thane nodded and concentrated as he touched his hand to his medallion, a golden sphere with the face of a woman engraved into it. He uttered a single word in Celestial, “Light,” and then touched his shield, causing a wash of golden light to filter through the cave, providing enough light for Ayala, Dais and himself to see. Lain glanced to the light and sighed at the humans in her midst, somewhat amazed that their species had survived this long.
Dais smiled, “Thank you holy one,” he turned his attention to the path ahead and continued walking forward behind Lain who half swam and walk along the cave path. The cave took a steep decline into a large circular chamber, where two more fishmen watched the path anxiously, obviously on alert.
Lain raised her hand and motioned for her companions to halt before the creatures could see them and tried to peer around the rocky outcropping she was using for cover to better see into the chamber pass the two sentries. Within the chamber there was a purple hazy light illuminating the chamber and she could make out the shadowy silhouette of a figure looming within but the light and displacement of water made it hard to determine just what kind of figure it could be. The obscuring effects of the water was really starting to grate on her nerves as she tucked her scimitar away and raised her shortbow, knocking an arrow.
The sentries were attentive but the slender night elf had ways of staying unseen and unheard from even the most skillful of eyes and ears. She pressed her body low to the ground and crawled down slowly. Barely disturbing the water around her as the sentries scanned the cave back and forth, as their gills rose and fell slowly in heart pounding anticipation.
Lain crawled up until she was within thirty feet of the room, allowing her a good vantage of the layout and its occupants. The room was circular and lit by phosphorescent seaweed that swayed lazily in the current. A single figure stood pensively in the center of the chamber. Lain furrowed her brows in confusion as she focused her keen eyes on the strange feminine humanoid. It looked like an elf with green-blue skin and green billowing hair framing a beautiful if sinister face wearing a rotted gown.
“Sea elves?” she mouthed curiously to no one in particular.
Lain glanced over her shoulder and saw her companions were poised for action, it was now or never and she raised her shortbow from her hidden spot in he shadows and let the arrow fly. It caught one of the sentries right under its ‘chin’ and it collapsed gurgling blood and water as the second sentry shouted a warning and swam forward with powerful strokes towards Lain.
Lain kicked back and slung the bow as she tried to swim back towards her companions, though it was obvious that the fishman was much faster in his natural environment. She slipped her dagger from her waist and twisted her body in the water evading the sentry’s trident and running her dagger across its chest in a spray of black-blood. The slash ignited a blood frenzy in the creature as it backhanded Lain and sent her whirling into the cave wall nearly knocking her senseless.
Dais’ blade flashed into view just as the shark-like humanoid tried to sink its teeth into Lain. He bashed his shield and knocked the creature back interposing himself between the frenzied warrior and Lain.
Lain cleared her eyes still grasping her dagger, “Thanks,” she muttered.
But Dais was fully focused on his foe as his blade moved in quick powerful strokes keeping the sentry on the defensive. Lain pushed off from the wall and swam forward as a bolt flew under her towards the sentry catching it in the side. She glanced quickly to see Ayala reloading her crossbow with a careful wink to the night elf, which only made Lain scowl as she turned to see Dais chop the creature down with a powerful blow laying the creature low.
Thane shouted a warning as the strange green maiden loomed in the entrance to the circular room. Her eyes were narrowed as she began intricate movements with her hands, and individual fingers. A shimmer of light pulsed in front of her as she raised her hand with a shrill cry, a bright lance of light flaring into the chamber.
Dais raised his shield as his vision went stark white, unable to see the young soldier flailed his arm about helplessly still holding his sword and shield tightly. Lain stumbled as well as her eyes quickly readjusted to the flash of light, luckily Osan seemed unaffected as the tiefling monk swam forward and tackled the sea green elven seer.
The two fell back into the circular room, but the elven woman was more powerful then her supple frame had let on and she rolled back and pinned the monk to the ground with a toothy snarl, revealing several needle like teeth behind the gentle façade of her sea-blue pouting lips. Osan screamed as the woman sank her teeth into his shoulder, the razor like teeth rending his crimson flesh with ease. The flowing of the blood incited a frenzy in the elven-witch and she bit and tore at the tiefling’s flesh with a savage hunger.
Lain closed the distance in several strokes and stabbed her dagger into the elven-witch’s shoulder narrowly missing the neck, as she ripped the blade out and prepared a second strike. The sea-witch shrieked and launched herself onto Lain, she caught the strike and clamped hr powerful hand around the raised hand holding the dagger as her second talon clenched tightly around the night elf’s neck.
Lain gurgled as she struggled to swallow water, “Bitch…”
“Suffer air breather, I don’t know how it is that you have come to my lair and disturbed my peace, but you will not have long to rue the choice of disturbing Mother Merrow’s lair,” the sea-witch snarled.
“Don’t… be… so…” Lain coughed trying to swallow, as her mind struggled against the inevitability of the growing darkness clouding her sight.
“Your suffering brings-” Mother Merrow’s gloating was cut short by a powerful strike to the back of her head. She collapsed in a heap as Thane breathed heavily, holding his mace in a tight grip.
“I have to tend to the,” Thane’s voice showed a slight hint of disgust as he uttered the words, “tiefling.”
Lain nodded as she rubbed her neck and looked down to the sea-witch on the ground, with a sigh of relief, and then to her still stumbling companions with a mirthful smile. But the smile grew into a grin as she began eyeing the trinkets and treasures strewn about the room, these fishmen and their sea-witch had been quite busy and very successful in gathering loot and precious riches. Too bad she would have to share some of it…
She followed behind lazily breathing the water with little effort feeling the water fill into her lungs. It was a strange feeling as she blinked her eyes trying to focus in the growing darkness, but it was becoming incredibly hard to see for her human eyes. She hissed softly to Osan just in front of her, “I need light, I can’t see.”
Dais agreed, “Yeah, I am fumbling around in the dark here, it isn’t like we need to mask our presence. Thane do you have any magic to light our path?”
Thane nodded and concentrated as he touched his hand to his medallion, a golden sphere with the face of a woman engraved into it. He uttered a single word in Celestial, “Light,” and then touched his shield, causing a wash of golden light to filter through the cave, providing enough light for Ayala, Dais and himself to see. Lain glanced to the light and sighed at the humans in her midst, somewhat amazed that their species had survived this long.
Dais smiled, “Thank you holy one,” he turned his attention to the path ahead and continued walking forward behind Lain who half swam and walk along the cave path. The cave took a steep decline into a large circular chamber, where two more fishmen watched the path anxiously, obviously on alert.
Lain raised her hand and motioned for her companions to halt before the creatures could see them and tried to peer around the rocky outcropping she was using for cover to better see into the chamber pass the two sentries. Within the chamber there was a purple hazy light illuminating the chamber and she could make out the shadowy silhouette of a figure looming within but the light and displacement of water made it hard to determine just what kind of figure it could be. The obscuring effects of the water was really starting to grate on her nerves as she tucked her scimitar away and raised her shortbow, knocking an arrow.
The sentries were attentive but the slender night elf had ways of staying unseen and unheard from even the most skillful of eyes and ears. She pressed her body low to the ground and crawled down slowly. Barely disturbing the water around her as the sentries scanned the cave back and forth, as their gills rose and fell slowly in heart pounding anticipation.
Lain crawled up until she was within thirty feet of the room, allowing her a good vantage of the layout and its occupants. The room was circular and lit by phosphorescent seaweed that swayed lazily in the current. A single figure stood pensively in the center of the chamber. Lain furrowed her brows in confusion as she focused her keen eyes on the strange feminine humanoid. It looked like an elf with green-blue skin and green billowing hair framing a beautiful if sinister face wearing a rotted gown.
“Sea elves?” she mouthed curiously to no one in particular.
Lain glanced over her shoulder and saw her companions were poised for action, it was now or never and she raised her shortbow from her hidden spot in he shadows and let the arrow fly. It caught one of the sentries right under its ‘chin’ and it collapsed gurgling blood and water as the second sentry shouted a warning and swam forward with powerful strokes towards Lain.
Lain kicked back and slung the bow as she tried to swim back towards her companions, though it was obvious that the fishman was much faster in his natural environment. She slipped her dagger from her waist and twisted her body in the water evading the sentry’s trident and running her dagger across its chest in a spray of black-blood. The slash ignited a blood frenzy in the creature as it backhanded Lain and sent her whirling into the cave wall nearly knocking her senseless.
Dais’ blade flashed into view just as the shark-like humanoid tried to sink its teeth into Lain. He bashed his shield and knocked the creature back interposing himself between the frenzied warrior and Lain.
Lain cleared her eyes still grasping her dagger, “Thanks,” she muttered.
But Dais was fully focused on his foe as his blade moved in quick powerful strokes keeping the sentry on the defensive. Lain pushed off from the wall and swam forward as a bolt flew under her towards the sentry catching it in the side. She glanced quickly to see Ayala reloading her crossbow with a careful wink to the night elf, which only made Lain scowl as she turned to see Dais chop the creature down with a powerful blow laying the creature low.
Thane shouted a warning as the strange green maiden loomed in the entrance to the circular room. Her eyes were narrowed as she began intricate movements with her hands, and individual fingers. A shimmer of light pulsed in front of her as she raised her hand with a shrill cry, a bright lance of light flaring into the chamber.
Dais raised his shield as his vision went stark white, unable to see the young soldier flailed his arm about helplessly still holding his sword and shield tightly. Lain stumbled as well as her eyes quickly readjusted to the flash of light, luckily Osan seemed unaffected as the tiefling monk swam forward and tackled the sea green elven seer.
The two fell back into the circular room, but the elven woman was more powerful then her supple frame had let on and she rolled back and pinned the monk to the ground with a toothy snarl, revealing several needle like teeth behind the gentle façade of her sea-blue pouting lips. Osan screamed as the woman sank her teeth into his shoulder, the razor like teeth rending his crimson flesh with ease. The flowing of the blood incited a frenzy in the elven-witch and she bit and tore at the tiefling’s flesh with a savage hunger.
Lain closed the distance in several strokes and stabbed her dagger into the elven-witch’s shoulder narrowly missing the neck, as she ripped the blade out and prepared a second strike. The sea-witch shrieked and launched herself onto Lain, she caught the strike and clamped hr powerful hand around the raised hand holding the dagger as her second talon clenched tightly around the night elf’s neck.
Lain gurgled as she struggled to swallow water, “Bitch…”
“Suffer air breather, I don’t know how it is that you have come to my lair and disturbed my peace, but you will not have long to rue the choice of disturbing Mother Merrow’s lair,” the sea-witch snarled.
“Don’t… be… so…” Lain coughed trying to swallow, as her mind struggled against the inevitability of the growing darkness clouding her sight.
“Your suffering brings-” Mother Merrow’s gloating was cut short by a powerful strike to the back of her head. She collapsed in a heap as Thane breathed heavily, holding his mace in a tight grip.
“I have to tend to the,” Thane’s voice showed a slight hint of disgust as he uttered the words, “tiefling.”
Lain nodded as she rubbed her neck and looked down to the sea-witch on the ground, with a sigh of relief, and then to her still stumbling companions with a mirthful smile. But the smile grew into a grin as she began eyeing the trinkets and treasures strewn about the room, these fishmen and their sea-witch had been quite busy and very successful in gathering loot and precious riches. Too bad she would have to share some of it…
Tokiwong
First Post
Just updating the characters they gained another level, and are now about third level now, and moving along swimmingly, I will probably slow the level progression around five to six... we shall see I hope this is as fun for you as it is for me... next Chapter is already well under way 
Dais (Male Lowlander Fighter 3 Neutral Good): CR 3; STR 18, DEX 14, CON 16, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 12; HD 3d10 plus 9 (HP 35); BAB +3; FORT +5, REF +3, WILL +3; AC 17 (+2 DEX, +4 Armor, +1 Shield), Flat-Footed 15, Touch 12; Initiative +6; Attack +10 melee (Masterwork Longsword 1d8+4 19-20/x2), +6 ranged (Light Crossbow 1d8 19-20/x2); Move 20 ft.; Skills- Climb (6) +10/+5, Swim (6) +10, Craft Artwork (6) +6; Feats- Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus Longsword, Quick Draw, Power Attack, Cleave; Languages- Common, Anderlar; Racial Talents- Ironwall (Longsword, Spear, Light Crossbow), Seaward; Racial Transformations- Hero’s Son; SQ- Lowlander Traits; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Longsword, Light Crossbow, 20 bolts, Dagger, Scale Mail, Light Steel Shield, Uniform, Traveler’s Clothes, Backpack, 480 GP, Potion of Cure Light Wounds
Brash young soldier from Ironwall, with an uncharted destiny and a penchant for meeting the wrong people at the right time. He is a good person, and is naïve and wants to see the good in everyone, and is the most likely person to try and save an enemy, if only because there may be some good in that person.
Dais is average height and has a lean build with dark hair that touches his shoulders. He has a young slim face, and strong gray eyes which burn with his youth and idealism. He truly believes that good can triumph over all evils in the world. His greatest dream is to become a hero like his brother Baile.
Lain (Female Night Elf Rogue 1/Ranger 2 Chaotic Good): CR 2; STR 12, DEX 18, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 14, CHA 10; HD 1d6 plus 2d8 (HP 18); BAB +2; FORT +3, REF +9, WILL +2; AC 16 (+4 DEX, +2 Armor), Flat-Footed 12, Touch 14; Initiative +4; Attack +3 melee (Scimitar 1d6+1 18-20/x2), +7 ranged (Masterwork Longbow 1d6 x3); Move 30 ft.; Skills- Balance (4) +8, Climb (4) +5, Decipher Script (4) +6, Disable Device (4) +6, Heal (3) +5, Hide (6) +12, Listen (6) +8, Move Silently (6) +12, Open Locks (4) +8, Sleight of Hand (4) +8, Spot (6) +8, Survival (6) +8; Feats- Stealthy, Track, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot; Languages- Common, Elven, Anderlar, Sylvan; Racial Talents- Unusual Stealth, Songs of Mending; Racial Transformations- Minor Spell Resistance; SQ- Night Elf Traits, SR 8, Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding, Wild Empathy, Favored Enemy Evil Outsider +1, Archery Combat Style; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Dagger, Masterwork Longbow, 20 arrows, Leather Armor, Backpack, Traveling Clothes, Thieves’ Tools, Scimitar, 590 GP
Capricious, and dishonest, Lain lives her life on the edge. A petty street thief, surviving off the scraps of the city, she has eked out a good living for herself far from the lands of her people. She arrived in Seaward nearly fifteen years ago, fleeing persecution from the dawn elves. She hates that her people are involved in a civil war and tries to steer clear of it, wishing that it would end so maybe one day she could go home, but until that time comes she just enjoys herself.
Lain has a lithe curvy build with smooth ebon skin and a bright smile. Her eyes are silver just like the silken strands of her hair, which she wears short, around her face. She usually carries a permanent smirk on her face, and is always dressed for mobility.
Thane Madrigal (Male Trueborn Disciple 3 Lawful Good): CR 3; STR 10, DEX 10, CON 16, INT 12, WIS 18, CHA 16; HD 3d8 plus 9 (HP 29); BAB +2; FORT +5, REF +1, WILL +7; AC 15 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield), Flat-Footed 15, Touch 10; Initiative +4; Attack +2 melee (Heavy Mace 1d8 x2), +1 ranged; Move 20 ft.; Skills- Concentration (6) +8, Diplomacy (4) +7, Heal (6) +10, Knowledge Religion (6) +7, Spellcraft (2) +3; Feats- Improved Initiative, Favored Disciple, Combat Casting; Languages- Common, King’s Tongue, Celestial; Racial Talents- Divine Mastery (Extra 1st and 2nd level spell slot); Racial Transformations- Divine Health; SQ- Trueborn Traits, Intercession 1/day, Divine Spells, Spell DC 14+Spell Level, Innate Spells (Light, Cure Light Wounds); Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Heavy Mace, Scale Mail, Light Wooden Shield, Disciple’s Robes, Divine Focus, Supplies, 367 GP, Scroll of Cure Light Wounds x2, Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds
Spells Prepared- 0th (Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Purify Food and Drink); 1st (Bless, Magic Weapon, Shield of Faith, Protection From Evil); 2nd (Aid, Hold Person, Bull’s Strength)
A pious disciple, Thane shows promise to his brethren, and favor of his chosen Immortal. He is a gentle soul, and much prefers words to action, and is not the kind to embark on adventuring indeed, he is much happier in his enclave then traipsing about trying to right wrongs forcefully. But it seems fate has a different path in mind for Thane.
Thane is short, and an unimposing figure. He is bald, by choice, and wears a long dark robe. He does not carry any weapons though he is trained in their use, he just does not travel about armed unless he must. His eyes are dark and filled with wisdom, but he is not overly prideful, though he can be a coward at times.
Osan Lightbane (Male Tiefling Monk 3 Lawful Neutral): CR 3; STR 12, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 12; HD 3d8 plus 6 (HP 26); BAB +2; FORT +4, REF +6, WILL +6; AC 16 (+3 DEX, +3 WIS), Flat Footed 10, Touch 16; Initiative +3; Attack +4 melee (Masterwork Nunchaku 1d6+1 x2), +5 melee (Unarmed 1d6+1 x2), +5 ranged; Move 40 ft.; Skills- Balance (6) +13, Diplomacy (6) +11, Sense Motive (6) +9, Tumble (6) +9; Feats- Dodge, Stunning Fist, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Finesse Unarmed Combat; Languages- Common, Valhedrin, Sothren; Racial Talents- Infernal Gift I (Flare & Mage Armor 1 time per day), Prophetic Instinct; Racial Transformations- Tail; SQ- Tiefling Traits, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike, Evasion, Still Mind; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Nunchaku, Red Fist Monk’s Humble Clothes, Wicker Hat, 306 GP, Potion of Cure Light Wounds x2
Born in the desert of Zangala, Osan is an anomaly among the tieflings of the Dominion. He was born into a wealthy merchant house, and was groomed to live in the lap of luxury but he did not excel in the arcane arts, and showed little if any hint of the infernal influence in his mindset or actions. He was in short an embarrassment and a potential threat to the families continued status and prosperity.
At the age of fifteen, Osan was shipped off to a monastery deep in the desert away from the family to be forgotten. It was the last time he would ever see his family, and his new life as a Monk of the Red Fist began. A group of ascetics of Zangalan natives who found the tiefling in their midst an oddity, but their teachings welcomed all students and in time, he was fully accepted as a brother in the order. Osan spent the rest of his youth at the order and learned their ways, and now travels to perhaps find meaning in his existence and perhaps make sense of why he was forsaken by his family. He is tall for a tiefling and slim of build. His face is angular with sharp slim black markings on his crimson red skin. Two horns grow on his head, rolling back through his prickly dark hair, and his eyes are coal black. He could be handsome, if eerie and very much touched with the infernal. He dresses in the simple robes of the Red Fist, wears a conical wicker hat, and carries a well-crafted pair of nunchaku on his hip.
Ayala Celeste (Female Saltblood Bard 3 Chaotic Neutral): CR 3; STR 10, DEX 16, CON 12, INT 12, WIS 10, CHA 18; HD 3d6 plus 3 (HP 17); BAB +2; FORT +0, REF +6, WILL +3; AC 16 (+3 DEX, +3 Armor), Flat Footed 13, Touch 13; Initiative +7; Attack +3 melee (Rapier +1 1d6+1 18-20/x2), +6 ranged (Shortbow 1d6 x3); Move 30 ft.; Skills- Appraise (5) +6, Diplomacy (6) +10, Gather Information (4) +8, Knowledge Geography (5) +6, Knowledge History (5) +6, Perform Sing (6) +10, Profession Sailor (5) +5, Sleight of Hand (4) +7, Swim (4) +9, Use Magic Device (4) +8; Feats- Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Reload Light Crossbow; Languages- Common, Dorlian, Anderlar; Racial Talents- Boisterous, Danger Sense; Racial Transformations- Agile; SQ- Saltblood Traits, Bard Spells, Spell DC 14 + spell level, Bardic Knowledge +6, Bardic Music ( Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1, Inspire Competence); Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Studded Leather, Shortbow, 20 arrows, Rapier +1, Buckler, Travel Supplies, Radical Dream (Her Father’s Ship), Pouch of Spell Components
Spells Known- 0th (3), Detect Magic, Know Direction, Ghost Sound, Message, Read Magic; 1st (2), Charm Person, Sleep, Cure Light Wounds
Ayala is the daughter of the daring and intrepid Zanzibar Celeste, a heroic sea captain from Seagarden and legendary explorer. But that was years ago before her father a living legend, disappeared on the seas, leaving his family without a father, and her mother without her loving husband. All that was found of him was his legendary ship the Radical Dream, sailing aimlessly along the waves, with no sign of her father. Ayala took command of the ship and now runs a profitable merchant business with it, but wishes to one day perhaps see her own legend on the seas and perhaps find her father, if he still lives.
Ayala has a lithe curvaceous frame with exotic eyes, and pouting lips. She is as beautiful as she is charismatic and charming. She dresses in a thin gauzy shirt, which leans off one shoulder, exposing her tanned and tattooed flesh, and she is very free with her desires and emotions and tends to act before she thinks. She is not particularly moral, and seems to do as she wishes, and is not very consistent in her actions or emotions, and tends to be careless with others as well.
Dais (Male Lowlander Fighter 3 Neutral Good): CR 3; STR 18, DEX 14, CON 16, INT 10, WIS 10, CHA 12; HD 3d10 plus 9 (HP 35); BAB +3; FORT +5, REF +3, WILL +3; AC 17 (+2 DEX, +4 Armor, +1 Shield), Flat-Footed 15, Touch 12; Initiative +6; Attack +10 melee (Masterwork Longsword 1d8+4 19-20/x2), +6 ranged (Light Crossbow 1d8 19-20/x2); Move 20 ft.; Skills- Climb (6) +10/+5, Swim (6) +10, Craft Artwork (6) +6; Feats- Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus Longsword, Quick Draw, Power Attack, Cleave; Languages- Common, Anderlar; Racial Talents- Ironwall (Longsword, Spear, Light Crossbow), Seaward; Racial Transformations- Hero’s Son; SQ- Lowlander Traits; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Longsword, Light Crossbow, 20 bolts, Dagger, Scale Mail, Light Steel Shield, Uniform, Traveler’s Clothes, Backpack, 480 GP, Potion of Cure Light Wounds
Brash young soldier from Ironwall, with an uncharted destiny and a penchant for meeting the wrong people at the right time. He is a good person, and is naïve and wants to see the good in everyone, and is the most likely person to try and save an enemy, if only because there may be some good in that person.
Dais is average height and has a lean build with dark hair that touches his shoulders. He has a young slim face, and strong gray eyes which burn with his youth and idealism. He truly believes that good can triumph over all evils in the world. His greatest dream is to become a hero like his brother Baile.
Lain (Female Night Elf Rogue 1/Ranger 2 Chaotic Good): CR 2; STR 12, DEX 18, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 14, CHA 10; HD 1d6 plus 2d8 (HP 18); BAB +2; FORT +3, REF +9, WILL +2; AC 16 (+4 DEX, +2 Armor), Flat-Footed 12, Touch 14; Initiative +4; Attack +3 melee (Scimitar 1d6+1 18-20/x2), +7 ranged (Masterwork Longbow 1d6 x3); Move 30 ft.; Skills- Balance (4) +8, Climb (4) +5, Decipher Script (4) +6, Disable Device (4) +6, Heal (3) +5, Hide (6) +12, Listen (6) +8, Move Silently (6) +12, Open Locks (4) +8, Sleight of Hand (4) +8, Spot (6) +8, Survival (6) +8; Feats- Stealthy, Track, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot; Languages- Common, Elven, Anderlar, Sylvan; Racial Talents- Unusual Stealth, Songs of Mending; Racial Transformations- Minor Spell Resistance; SQ- Night Elf Traits, SR 8, Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding, Wild Empathy, Favored Enemy Evil Outsider +1, Archery Combat Style; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Dagger, Masterwork Longbow, 20 arrows, Leather Armor, Backpack, Traveling Clothes, Thieves’ Tools, Scimitar, 590 GP
Capricious, and dishonest, Lain lives her life on the edge. A petty street thief, surviving off the scraps of the city, she has eked out a good living for herself far from the lands of her people. She arrived in Seaward nearly fifteen years ago, fleeing persecution from the dawn elves. She hates that her people are involved in a civil war and tries to steer clear of it, wishing that it would end so maybe one day she could go home, but until that time comes she just enjoys herself.
Lain has a lithe curvy build with smooth ebon skin and a bright smile. Her eyes are silver just like the silken strands of her hair, which she wears short, around her face. She usually carries a permanent smirk on her face, and is always dressed for mobility.
Thane Madrigal (Male Trueborn Disciple 3 Lawful Good): CR 3; STR 10, DEX 10, CON 16, INT 12, WIS 18, CHA 16; HD 3d8 plus 9 (HP 29); BAB +2; FORT +5, REF +1, WILL +7; AC 15 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield), Flat-Footed 15, Touch 10; Initiative +4; Attack +2 melee (Heavy Mace 1d8 x2), +1 ranged; Move 20 ft.; Skills- Concentration (6) +8, Diplomacy (4) +7, Heal (6) +10, Knowledge Religion (6) +7, Spellcraft (2) +3; Feats- Improved Initiative, Favored Disciple, Combat Casting; Languages- Common, King’s Tongue, Celestial; Racial Talents- Divine Mastery (Extra 1st and 2nd level spell slot); Racial Transformations- Divine Health; SQ- Trueborn Traits, Intercession 1/day, Divine Spells, Spell DC 14+Spell Level, Innate Spells (Light, Cure Light Wounds); Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Heavy Mace, Scale Mail, Light Wooden Shield, Disciple’s Robes, Divine Focus, Supplies, 367 GP, Scroll of Cure Light Wounds x2, Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds
Spells Prepared- 0th (Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Purify Food and Drink); 1st (Bless, Magic Weapon, Shield of Faith, Protection From Evil); 2nd (Aid, Hold Person, Bull’s Strength)
A pious disciple, Thane shows promise to his brethren, and favor of his chosen Immortal. He is a gentle soul, and much prefers words to action, and is not the kind to embark on adventuring indeed, he is much happier in his enclave then traipsing about trying to right wrongs forcefully. But it seems fate has a different path in mind for Thane.
Thane is short, and an unimposing figure. He is bald, by choice, and wears a long dark robe. He does not carry any weapons though he is trained in their use, he just does not travel about armed unless he must. His eyes are dark and filled with wisdom, but he is not overly prideful, though he can be a coward at times.
Osan Lightbane (Male Tiefling Monk 3 Lawful Neutral): CR 3; STR 12, DEX 16, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 12; HD 3d8 plus 6 (HP 26); BAB +2; FORT +4, REF +6, WILL +6; AC 16 (+3 DEX, +3 WIS), Flat Footed 10, Touch 16; Initiative +3; Attack +4 melee (Masterwork Nunchaku 1d6+1 x2), +5 melee (Unarmed 1d6+1 x2), +5 ranged; Move 40 ft.; Skills- Balance (6) +13, Diplomacy (6) +11, Sense Motive (6) +9, Tumble (6) +9; Feats- Dodge, Stunning Fist, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Finesse Unarmed Combat; Languages- Common, Valhedrin, Sothren; Racial Talents- Infernal Gift I (Flare & Mage Armor 1 time per day), Prophetic Instinct; Racial Transformations- Tail; SQ- Tiefling Traits, Flurry of Blows, Unarmed Strike, Evasion, Still Mind; Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Nunchaku, Red Fist Monk’s Humble Clothes, Wicker Hat, 306 GP, Potion of Cure Light Wounds x2
Born in the desert of Zangala, Osan is an anomaly among the tieflings of the Dominion. He was born into a wealthy merchant house, and was groomed to live in the lap of luxury but he did not excel in the arcane arts, and showed little if any hint of the infernal influence in his mindset or actions. He was in short an embarrassment and a potential threat to the families continued status and prosperity.
At the age of fifteen, Osan was shipped off to a monastery deep in the desert away from the family to be forgotten. It was the last time he would ever see his family, and his new life as a Monk of the Red Fist began. A group of ascetics of Zangalan natives who found the tiefling in their midst an oddity, but their teachings welcomed all students and in time, he was fully accepted as a brother in the order. Osan spent the rest of his youth at the order and learned their ways, and now travels to perhaps find meaning in his existence and perhaps make sense of why he was forsaken by his family. He is tall for a tiefling and slim of build. His face is angular with sharp slim black markings on his crimson red skin. Two horns grow on his head, rolling back through his prickly dark hair, and his eyes are coal black. He could be handsome, if eerie and very much touched with the infernal. He dresses in the simple robes of the Red Fist, wears a conical wicker hat, and carries a well-crafted pair of nunchaku on his hip.
Ayala Celeste (Female Saltblood Bard 3 Chaotic Neutral): CR 3; STR 10, DEX 16, CON 12, INT 12, WIS 10, CHA 18; HD 3d6 plus 3 (HP 17); BAB +2; FORT +0, REF +6, WILL +3; AC 16 (+3 DEX, +3 Armor), Flat Footed 13, Touch 13; Initiative +7; Attack +3 melee (Rapier +1 1d6+1 18-20/x2), +6 ranged (Shortbow 1d6 x3); Move 30 ft.; Skills- Appraise (5) +6, Diplomacy (6) +10, Gather Information (4) +8, Knowledge Geography (5) +6, Knowledge History (5) +6, Perform Sing (6) +10, Profession Sailor (5) +5, Sleight of Hand (4) +7, Swim (4) +9, Use Magic Device (4) +8; Feats- Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Reload Light Crossbow; Languages- Common, Dorlian, Anderlar; Racial Talents- Boisterous, Danger Sense; Racial Transformations- Agile; SQ- Saltblood Traits, Bard Spells, Spell DC 14 + spell level, Bardic Knowledge +6, Bardic Music ( Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1, Inspire Competence); Legend Points- 0; Equipment- Masterwork Studded Leather, Shortbow, 20 arrows, Rapier +1, Buckler, Travel Supplies, Radical Dream (Her Father’s Ship), Pouch of Spell Components
Spells Known- 0th (3), Detect Magic, Know Direction, Ghost Sound, Message, Read Magic; 1st (2), Charm Person, Sleep, Cure Light Wounds
Ayala is the daughter of the daring and intrepid Zanzibar Celeste, a heroic sea captain from Seagarden and legendary explorer. But that was years ago before her father a living legend, disappeared on the seas, leaving his family without a father, and her mother without her loving husband. All that was found of him was his legendary ship the Radical Dream, sailing aimlessly along the waves, with no sign of her father. Ayala took command of the ship and now runs a profitable merchant business with it, but wishes to one day perhaps see her own legend on the seas and perhaps find her father, if he still lives.
Ayala has a lithe curvaceous frame with exotic eyes, and pouting lips. She is as beautiful as she is charismatic and charming. She dresses in a thin gauzy shirt, which leans off one shoulder, exposing her tanned and tattooed flesh, and she is very free with her desires and emotions and tends to act before she thinks. She is not particularly moral, and seems to do as she wishes, and is not very consistent in her actions or emotions, and tends to be careless with others as well.
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Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 7 - Part 1
Ebernath the city of the druids of the Panthic Order, perhaps the most powerful and influential order of magic in the known world. Certainly the city literally pulsed with magical energy and life, and it was both an architectural wonder and bounty of life and beauty. The sunlight shimmered over the ivory white towers of the Panthic Order, the golden light filtered down through the tall and bountiful green trees that shared the streets and skyline of the grand city.
The sight gave Lain pause as she recalled the hidden enclaves of the elves deep in the forests of Sildanyr. The city smelled sweet and fresh, the streets and avenues were broad and clean, and it seemed that the people were as healthy and beautiful as the city itself. It was truly a symbol of prosperity and power, and although many could attribute this to the spirit of the Anderland people; the lines of power certainly stemmed from the ivory towers that ringed the ancient city-state.
“Who knew men could build such things?” Lain mused as she lounged in her chair, she glanced to her company; the spectral form of Captain Fletcher and Thane.
Thane listened as he tried to shave the stubble from his baldhead, keeping it smooth and unmarred. He replied as he paused in his work, “Men are capable of many things, we are the builders of the world, and Alharra preaches that it will be men that will lead the world into prosperity.”
Captain Fletcher scoffed, “Do tell, holy one?”
Thane sighed, “I am not a holy one, only a simple disciple of the Dawn bearer.”
“Well you spout all that fancy talk about Alharra this, and Alharra that, you’re about drive me to my second death mate. Don’t you disciples ever talk about anything else?” the ghostly saltblood chortled.
Thane made a sour face, “We students of Alharra attempt to transcend the simple desires of the flesh, and instead devote our lives to her scripture, to her journeys, and her will.”
Lain smiled, “I have to agree, you don’t speak much about yourself Thane, just about the all-consuming source of your devotion. It can get a little dull,” she yawns mockingly.
“One, don’t you start,” he gestured to Lain, “and two, why are you still here Captain Fletcher, we got the Eye of the Sea Dragon back right?”
“Aye you did, but if you remember the accord, you promised to return it back to the Temple of the Old Man of the Sea here in Ebernath. Once that is done, then we is square, and I can move on to whatever just rewards I have coming to me mate,” the ghost grinned.
“Oh, well where is Captain Celeste, so we can send you on your way,” Thane replied.
“Oh trying to get rid of me, already mate?” Captain Fletcher laughed, “do I scare you lad, don’t you worry being dead ain’t that much different then being alive. Except I can sneak into the lady’s chambers unseen,” he raises a brow with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Lain sighed, “Why am I not surprised.”
Thane turned a deep crimson pallor, “You would shame yourself, by doing such a thing,” he finally blurts out. He clenched a fist, “Have you done this to Captain Celeste? Tell me now!”
“Settle down Thane, it was a joke mate. It sounds like you got a thing for the captain eh? She is a right shiny, pretty pearl she is; too bad she is sharing the bed of your crony eh?” Captain Fletcher shrugged as he lounged in the chair.
Thane scowled and was about to reply, but the steamed look on Lain’s face stayed his words. His face softened and he spoke calmly, “I will admit that she is intriguing, and I find her attractive physically but as a disciple of Alharra I have sworn myself to her cause. Perhaps when I am worthy for a proper lady, the Dawn bearer shall guide me to her. If it is meant to be then it shall be, but I shall not fixate on it.”
Lain nodded, “You place much faith in the Dawn bearer, I don’t know if I could do what you do.”
“Then I shall have faith for the both of us, and pray that with time and patience the Lady of the Dawn will bless us with our heart’s desire.”
The spirit rolled his eyes with a sigh, “No wonder you don’t have a woman.”
Ebernath the city of the druids of the Panthic Order, perhaps the most powerful and influential order of magic in the known world. Certainly the city literally pulsed with magical energy and life, and it was both an architectural wonder and bounty of life and beauty. The sunlight shimmered over the ivory white towers of the Panthic Order, the golden light filtered down through the tall and bountiful green trees that shared the streets and skyline of the grand city.
The sight gave Lain pause as she recalled the hidden enclaves of the elves deep in the forests of Sildanyr. The city smelled sweet and fresh, the streets and avenues were broad and clean, and it seemed that the people were as healthy and beautiful as the city itself. It was truly a symbol of prosperity and power, and although many could attribute this to the spirit of the Anderland people; the lines of power certainly stemmed from the ivory towers that ringed the ancient city-state.
“Who knew men could build such things?” Lain mused as she lounged in her chair, she glanced to her company; the spectral form of Captain Fletcher and Thane.
Thane listened as he tried to shave the stubble from his baldhead, keeping it smooth and unmarred. He replied as he paused in his work, “Men are capable of many things, we are the builders of the world, and Alharra preaches that it will be men that will lead the world into prosperity.”
Captain Fletcher scoffed, “Do tell, holy one?”
Thane sighed, “I am not a holy one, only a simple disciple of the Dawn bearer.”
“Well you spout all that fancy talk about Alharra this, and Alharra that, you’re about drive me to my second death mate. Don’t you disciples ever talk about anything else?” the ghostly saltblood chortled.
Thane made a sour face, “We students of Alharra attempt to transcend the simple desires of the flesh, and instead devote our lives to her scripture, to her journeys, and her will.”
Lain smiled, “I have to agree, you don’t speak much about yourself Thane, just about the all-consuming source of your devotion. It can get a little dull,” she yawns mockingly.
“One, don’t you start,” he gestured to Lain, “and two, why are you still here Captain Fletcher, we got the Eye of the Sea Dragon back right?”
“Aye you did, but if you remember the accord, you promised to return it back to the Temple of the Old Man of the Sea here in Ebernath. Once that is done, then we is square, and I can move on to whatever just rewards I have coming to me mate,” the ghost grinned.
“Oh, well where is Captain Celeste, so we can send you on your way,” Thane replied.
“Oh trying to get rid of me, already mate?” Captain Fletcher laughed, “do I scare you lad, don’t you worry being dead ain’t that much different then being alive. Except I can sneak into the lady’s chambers unseen,” he raises a brow with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Lain sighed, “Why am I not surprised.”
Thane turned a deep crimson pallor, “You would shame yourself, by doing such a thing,” he finally blurts out. He clenched a fist, “Have you done this to Captain Celeste? Tell me now!”
“Settle down Thane, it was a joke mate. It sounds like you got a thing for the captain eh? She is a right shiny, pretty pearl she is; too bad she is sharing the bed of your crony eh?” Captain Fletcher shrugged as he lounged in the chair.
Thane scowled and was about to reply, but the steamed look on Lain’s face stayed his words. His face softened and he spoke calmly, “I will admit that she is intriguing, and I find her attractive physically but as a disciple of Alharra I have sworn myself to her cause. Perhaps when I am worthy for a proper lady, the Dawn bearer shall guide me to her. If it is meant to be then it shall be, but I shall not fixate on it.”
Lain nodded, “You place much faith in the Dawn bearer, I don’t know if I could do what you do.”
“Then I shall have faith for the both of us, and pray that with time and patience the Lady of the Dawn will bless us with our heart’s desire.”
The spirit rolled his eyes with a sigh, “No wonder you don’t have a woman.”
Tokiwong
First Post
Chapter 7 - Part 2
A gray rat scurried down the hall skirting closely to the shifting robes of the tall gaunt man pacing down the arched pathway. He paused and raised a thin hand adorned with a single ring of gold, a sapphire shimmered in the sunlight filtering in from the stained glass roof overhead. Showering the long hallway in a wash of iridescent colors.
To the untrained the door looked simply closed, but to the arcane vision of the gaunt man, strands of magic energy pulsed over the door in layers. The gray rat sat up on its haunches and rubbed its whiskers quickly, waiting for its master to finish scanning the door.
The figure was satisfied that none of the defenses had been disturbed and opened the door with a wave of his hand. He walked in, the rat scurrying after him, along the soft crimson carpet and up the wide squat oaken desk. The door closed softly behind him with a soft click and he scanned the room with his arcane sight, picking out individual enchantments carefully placed, and several more wards intricately weaved into the magical tapestry of the chamber.
The man sauntered across the room and stared at his reflection in the mirror, a soft gray had set in just over the temples, marring his raven black hair that was cut short, and tapered along his slim skull. His eyes were a steel-gray and his face was clean-shaven, and ridged with worn pale skin. An amulet of silver with a single crimson stone hung around his thin neck, and a gold circlet adorned his head. The man adjusted his collar, and clothes smoothing out the wrinkles as he casually attended to his effects. The reflection in the mirror though revealed a second humanoid figure in the chamber, a gaunt towering figure of gray sinewy muscle, with large feathered wings protruding from its shoulders and sharp dagger-like talons adorning both four-fingered hands. Its head was bulbous shaped, and a large hooked beak probed out from its hideous visage, just under its predator like green eyes.
The creature bowed with contempt in its eyes speaking in a coarse whisper, “Master Bloodwin, the shipment has arrived. Captain Celeste awaits your presence.”
Master Bloodwin flicked lint from his shoulder, “We have a full accounting?”
“Yes, the cargo is accounted for,” the creature hissed, evil and malice seeping from its very skin like sweat.
“Then she shall be rewarded for her competence,” he replied with a flick of his wrist, as he preened himself carefully, “bring her into my audience and see to it, that my cargo is properly stored, Baathelmos.”
Baathelmos seethed at the mention of his true name, the towering demon glared down at the weak fleshy human with a burning scowl. The room filled with palpable wickedness, visibly growing darker before the hulking infernal brute flashed from sight, following the bidding of his master.
The gray rat scampered about the desk in excitement, trying to do its best to not make a mess of his master’s sanctum. The creature paused to twitch its whiskers in the air, feeding off the anticipation from his master. The rat turned its head slowly as he watched his master saunter slowly out the room back into the long hallway, the door opening with ease.
“Come Ithela, I am finished here,” Master Bloodwin spoke.
Ithela scampered off the desk and raced across the crimson carpet eager to please and follow his master. The wizard knelt down and cupped the rat in his hands and placed it on his shoulder as he started to walk down the long hall towards the audience chamber of his estate. The hallway did not exist in the physical reality it was but a mere pathway between two places, existing outside the normal bonds of reality. The path between worlds connected his estate to one of the ivory towers of the Panthic Order, in particular it connected his personal sanctum with his office, and only his key provided him access to the path between worlds. A novel discovery and application of his art that only hinted at his growing brilliance and power. Power that his peers would soon learn to fear; it was a clever endeavor that brought a mirthful smile to the wizard's lips.
A gray rat scurried down the hall skirting closely to the shifting robes of the tall gaunt man pacing down the arched pathway. He paused and raised a thin hand adorned with a single ring of gold, a sapphire shimmered in the sunlight filtering in from the stained glass roof overhead. Showering the long hallway in a wash of iridescent colors.
To the untrained the door looked simply closed, but to the arcane vision of the gaunt man, strands of magic energy pulsed over the door in layers. The gray rat sat up on its haunches and rubbed its whiskers quickly, waiting for its master to finish scanning the door.
The figure was satisfied that none of the defenses had been disturbed and opened the door with a wave of his hand. He walked in, the rat scurrying after him, along the soft crimson carpet and up the wide squat oaken desk. The door closed softly behind him with a soft click and he scanned the room with his arcane sight, picking out individual enchantments carefully placed, and several more wards intricately weaved into the magical tapestry of the chamber.
The man sauntered across the room and stared at his reflection in the mirror, a soft gray had set in just over the temples, marring his raven black hair that was cut short, and tapered along his slim skull. His eyes were a steel-gray and his face was clean-shaven, and ridged with worn pale skin. An amulet of silver with a single crimson stone hung around his thin neck, and a gold circlet adorned his head. The man adjusted his collar, and clothes smoothing out the wrinkles as he casually attended to his effects. The reflection in the mirror though revealed a second humanoid figure in the chamber, a gaunt towering figure of gray sinewy muscle, with large feathered wings protruding from its shoulders and sharp dagger-like talons adorning both four-fingered hands. Its head was bulbous shaped, and a large hooked beak probed out from its hideous visage, just under its predator like green eyes.
The creature bowed with contempt in its eyes speaking in a coarse whisper, “Master Bloodwin, the shipment has arrived. Captain Celeste awaits your presence.”
Master Bloodwin flicked lint from his shoulder, “We have a full accounting?”
“Yes, the cargo is accounted for,” the creature hissed, evil and malice seeping from its very skin like sweat.
“Then she shall be rewarded for her competence,” he replied with a flick of his wrist, as he preened himself carefully, “bring her into my audience and see to it, that my cargo is properly stored, Baathelmos.”
Baathelmos seethed at the mention of his true name, the towering demon glared down at the weak fleshy human with a burning scowl. The room filled with palpable wickedness, visibly growing darker before the hulking infernal brute flashed from sight, following the bidding of his master.
The gray rat scampered about the desk in excitement, trying to do its best to not make a mess of his master’s sanctum. The creature paused to twitch its whiskers in the air, feeding off the anticipation from his master. The rat turned its head slowly as he watched his master saunter slowly out the room back into the long hallway, the door opening with ease.
“Come Ithela, I am finished here,” Master Bloodwin spoke.
Ithela scampered off the desk and raced across the crimson carpet eager to please and follow his master. The wizard knelt down and cupped the rat in his hands and placed it on his shoulder as he started to walk down the long hall towards the audience chamber of his estate. The hallway did not exist in the physical reality it was but a mere pathway between two places, existing outside the normal bonds of reality. The path between worlds connected his estate to one of the ivory towers of the Panthic Order, in particular it connected his personal sanctum with his office, and only his key provided him access to the path between worlds. A novel discovery and application of his art that only hinted at his growing brilliance and power. Power that his peers would soon learn to fear; it was a clever endeavor that brought a mirthful smile to the wizard's lips.
