Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Anka Seth - The Rise of the Hydra (New Update April 19, 2007)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Fiasco" data-source="post: 2857046" data-attributes="member: 15187"><p>Those injured in the fight saw to their wounds while the others returned to the dining hall. To their dismay, one of the prisoners was missing. Gelleck, it seemed, had freed himself of his bonds, though both Bethpry and Khossus remained. The comatose body of Rumscully Jack was dragged in to join them, then stripped of possessions and bound tight. </p><p></p><p>The escape of the prisoner left the Hydra nervous. They all felt as though they had ridden their luck to the limit. By some miracle they had wandered into the heart the pirates’ lair and prevailed, capturing their leader to boot. They felt an acute superstition, almost a premonition that the slightest carelessness or oversight would bring the entire edifice of their fortune down upon them. The knowledge that the rest of the pirate fleet was due back at any time was no small part of their trepidation. </p><p></p><p>While Mortec and Stravarius guarded the prisoners, Moxadder and Argonne searched the rest of the lair. Gerard and Morgan went to the aid of the remaining prisoners. Amongst Rumscully Jack’s possessions they had found a ring of keys and they were confident they could effect the captives release.</p><p></p><p>To the searchers, the rest of the lair yielded little of interest, consisting largely of barracks, guest rooms and a kitchen. Rumscully Jack’s room proved to be the exception. Even here, Argonne and Moxadder’s initial search found little of value. Frustrated, the Irudeshian began to pay closer attention to the walls. Squinting, he shuffled back and forth across the room, measuring distances in his mind. Eventually, he gave a snort and marched directly to the centre of the South Western wall. He probed a slender crack with a dagger and managed to swing clear an entire section of the wall. </p><p></p><p>Beyond lay the stuff to bring excitement to the heart of any seeker of fortune. A small square room was revealed that contained two large chests pushed against its back wall. Barely controlling his excitement, Moxadder forced himself to examine them carefully for traps. The livid scar on his chest was a potent reminder of the price for incaution. After careful scrutiny, he pronounced them safe to move and they set about dragging their find back to the central room.</p><p></p><p>Back in the main hall, Stravarius paced agitatedly before the captive pirates while Mortec squatted in front of Kuruul. “What did you do to make the fog disappear?” The gnome asked. The hound merely yawned, sending a waft of foul breath across the priest’s face. “Hrrmp, be that way, you recalcitrant beast” muttered the gnome. Frustrated in his enquiry, he turned his attention to Rumscully Jack’s items. </p><p></p><p>The tarnished, silver chased horn was definitely enchanted; they had already witnessed its properties. The pirate’s rapier was also of interest. Muttering a quick prayer, he confirmed that enchantments had been laid across the blade. Mortec rubbed his hands together. Not only had their mission proved successful, it would most likely be materially rewarding as well. Assuming they escaped, he reminded himself with a nervous glance at the cove.</p><p></p><p>At the cells, the prisoners had been rapturous at the arrival of Gerard and Morgan. Smiling a little condescendingly, Gerard worked at the locks with Rumscully Jack’s keys and managed to spring them open. Holding a scented kerchief to his face, he commanded the residents to identify themselves. </p><p></p><p>The captives began to clamour at once, detailing their suffering at the hands of the pirates at the top of their voices. Through sheer force of personality, Gerard was able to calm them down and impose some semblance of order. Questioning rapidly established they had all been taken from Ravenswood. The middle aged man was Olvan the boatwright, while the two young women were Leesha and Nadine. The old woman was Wilima, who had been sharing a cell with an old man. He had died the previous night. None of them knew him and he had seemed addled.</p><p></p><p>Looking at the abject condition of the villagers, Gerard decided that further questioning would be fruitless until they were properly fed and rested. With Morgan’s help he began to herd them towards the main hall. As they went he explained that they had killed all of the pirates they could find, but that they would have to leave quickly before more came. </p><p></p><p>On their return they saw that the others were all anxious to depart. Mortec had conceived of the idea to take the longboat and load it up with whatever they wished to take. Working quickly, the Hydra raided the pirate’s stores and took as much drink and food stuffs as they could stow. Loading these and the two chests taken from the secret room, they next turned to carrying their three prisoners aboard. Finally, the villagers and the Hydra boarded the boat. Even with over a dozen passengers, the craft easily accommodated them all. With Argonne in charge, they gently pushed the craft along the narrow channel and out into the open sea. </p><p></p><p>Their emergence into the clean air and gentle waves of the ocean was akin to being reborn. Once they saw the horizon was free of vengeful pirate fleets they let go of their accumulated stress and fear. They had fought and won three battles in one day. Though all of them had suffered wounds, their relief at having survived helped to the dull the pain better than any tonic could have. </p><p></p><p>Despite the general euphoria of the Hydra, Argonne kept his head. Instead of drifting aimlessly in the water, he set them to rowing the boat along the coast away from the Port of Warlock. He was determined to find somewhere secluded to land so that they could question prisoners and examine the loot in peace.</p><p></p><p>They rowed for an hour, more than enough time for the rowers to lose their exhilaration and feel the ache of every one of their cuts and bruises with each stroke of the oar. Finally, the Woodsman saw something that pleased his eyes and fifteen minutes later they had taken the boat into a sheltered cove. They dropped anchor and began ferrying supplies and prisoners to shore. </p><p></p><p>The villagers of Ravenswood were exhausted and barely had the strength to eat a simple meal before falling asleep. The Hydra light heartedly began making camp, exchanging jokes and banter as they relived their triumph. Eventually they ran out of words and merely grinned whenever they caught each others eye. They had bearded Rumscully Jack in his den and lived to tell the tale. Whatever the troubles of the morrow, this was a day to savour.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">*****</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fiasco, post: 2857046, member: 15187"] Those injured in the fight saw to their wounds while the others returned to the dining hall. To their dismay, one of the prisoners was missing. Gelleck, it seemed, had freed himself of his bonds, though both Bethpry and Khossus remained. The comatose body of Rumscully Jack was dragged in to join them, then stripped of possessions and bound tight. The escape of the prisoner left the Hydra nervous. They all felt as though they had ridden their luck to the limit. By some miracle they had wandered into the heart the pirates’ lair and prevailed, capturing their leader to boot. They felt an acute superstition, almost a premonition that the slightest carelessness or oversight would bring the entire edifice of their fortune down upon them. The knowledge that the rest of the pirate fleet was due back at any time was no small part of their trepidation. While Mortec and Stravarius guarded the prisoners, Moxadder and Argonne searched the rest of the lair. Gerard and Morgan went to the aid of the remaining prisoners. Amongst Rumscully Jack’s possessions they had found a ring of keys and they were confident they could effect the captives release. To the searchers, the rest of the lair yielded little of interest, consisting largely of barracks, guest rooms and a kitchen. Rumscully Jack’s room proved to be the exception. Even here, Argonne and Moxadder’s initial search found little of value. Frustrated, the Irudeshian began to pay closer attention to the walls. Squinting, he shuffled back and forth across the room, measuring distances in his mind. Eventually, he gave a snort and marched directly to the centre of the South Western wall. He probed a slender crack with a dagger and managed to swing clear an entire section of the wall. Beyond lay the stuff to bring excitement to the heart of any seeker of fortune. A small square room was revealed that contained two large chests pushed against its back wall. Barely controlling his excitement, Moxadder forced himself to examine them carefully for traps. The livid scar on his chest was a potent reminder of the price for incaution. After careful scrutiny, he pronounced them safe to move and they set about dragging their find back to the central room. Back in the main hall, Stravarius paced agitatedly before the captive pirates while Mortec squatted in front of Kuruul. “What did you do to make the fog disappear?” The gnome asked. The hound merely yawned, sending a waft of foul breath across the priest’s face. “Hrrmp, be that way, you recalcitrant beast” muttered the gnome. Frustrated in his enquiry, he turned his attention to Rumscully Jack’s items. The tarnished, silver chased horn was definitely enchanted; they had already witnessed its properties. The pirate’s rapier was also of interest. Muttering a quick prayer, he confirmed that enchantments had been laid across the blade. Mortec rubbed his hands together. Not only had their mission proved successful, it would most likely be materially rewarding as well. Assuming they escaped, he reminded himself with a nervous glance at the cove. At the cells, the prisoners had been rapturous at the arrival of Gerard and Morgan. Smiling a little condescendingly, Gerard worked at the locks with Rumscully Jack’s keys and managed to spring them open. Holding a scented kerchief to his face, he commanded the residents to identify themselves. The captives began to clamour at once, detailing their suffering at the hands of the pirates at the top of their voices. Through sheer force of personality, Gerard was able to calm them down and impose some semblance of order. Questioning rapidly established they had all been taken from Ravenswood. The middle aged man was Olvan the boatwright, while the two young women were Leesha and Nadine. The old woman was Wilima, who had been sharing a cell with an old man. He had died the previous night. None of them knew him and he had seemed addled. Looking at the abject condition of the villagers, Gerard decided that further questioning would be fruitless until they were properly fed and rested. With Morgan’s help he began to herd them towards the main hall. As they went he explained that they had killed all of the pirates they could find, but that they would have to leave quickly before more came. On their return they saw that the others were all anxious to depart. Mortec had conceived of the idea to take the longboat and load it up with whatever they wished to take. Working quickly, the Hydra raided the pirate’s stores and took as much drink and food stuffs as they could stow. Loading these and the two chests taken from the secret room, they next turned to carrying their three prisoners aboard. Finally, the villagers and the Hydra boarded the boat. Even with over a dozen passengers, the craft easily accommodated them all. With Argonne in charge, they gently pushed the craft along the narrow channel and out into the open sea. Their emergence into the clean air and gentle waves of the ocean was akin to being reborn. Once they saw the horizon was free of vengeful pirate fleets they let go of their accumulated stress and fear. They had fought and won three battles in one day. Though all of them had suffered wounds, their relief at having survived helped to the dull the pain better than any tonic could have. Despite the general euphoria of the Hydra, Argonne kept his head. Instead of drifting aimlessly in the water, he set them to rowing the boat along the coast away from the Port of Warlock. He was determined to find somewhere secluded to land so that they could question prisoners and examine the loot in peace. They rowed for an hour, more than enough time for the rowers to lose their exhilaration and feel the ache of every one of their cuts and bruises with each stroke of the oar. Finally, the Woodsman saw something that pleased his eyes and fifteen minutes later they had taken the boat into a sheltered cove. They dropped anchor and began ferrying supplies and prisoners to shore. The villagers of Ravenswood were exhausted and barely had the strength to eat a simple meal before falling asleep. The Hydra light heartedly began making camp, exchanging jokes and banter as they relived their triumph. Eventually they ran out of words and merely grinned whenever they caught each others eye. They had bearded Rumscully Jack in his den and lived to tell the tale. Whatever the troubles of the morrow, this was a day to savour. [CENTER]*****[/CENTER] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Anka Seth - The Rise of the Hydra (New Update April 19, 2007)
Top