GREYHAWK, THE GOLDEN ERA CY963: CHAPTER THREE

Waynan

Adventurer
"Well, that's a gem of a different cut."

Tam-Tam whispers; but loud enough for those nearest him to hear. He then gives a visible shiver.

"Looks like a nasty reception down there, folks."
 

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Tellerian Hawke

Defender of Oerth
GM: For Player Reference:


Well Diagram 001.jpg
 

MacConnell

Creator of The Untamed Wilds
Lathir interject.
"If zombies are impaled upon spikes down there, it means that they must have been up here before and something drove them or attracted them over the ledge."
 


Sylvar B.

Explorer
Sylvar draws his Naginata, walks behind the Orc, and levels it at his neck...well Orc fiend. While we appreciate your assistance we can't very well have you running off and bringing reinforcements now can we? So I give you this offer, I can give you a clean death, or you can swear fealty to The Raiders (Sylvar looks at Respen with a grin and winks at him) and join us.

GM: +1,000 xp to Sylvar for giving an NPC a real chance to prove himself.
 
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Tellerian Hawke

Defender of Oerth
Sylvar Recruits A Party Member!

The Orc seems surprised by Sylvar's offer, but simultaneously pleased. "If you're serious, Elfling, I shall take you up on it. I have served Gurrok Mak with loyalty and steadfastness, because it was the wish of my father. In fact, it was his dying wish. I told him that I would serve the Mak for as long as I was unsure of my life's destiny. For a time, I thought that perhaps my destiny was to become a war leader and hero of the Pomarj Empire; but lately, I have felt restless, and uncertain. Gurrok's orders no longer make sense, and he has his army scattered to the four corners of the Flanaess, looking for magical artifacts, or trying to recruit hideous creatures like Manticores and Chimeras. I even hear tell that he is trying to make deals with Dragons. He is obsessed with power, and I feel that he no longer cares as much for the lives of his men, the way he once did. I don't like the thought of being expendable. I also don't like the fact that the demoness has been in control of my squad for more than a week, and no one came looking for us. There were two other squads with us, exploring the woods. They surely know that we are missing by now. But the other sergeants in my company do not like to share glory. Ever since the schism, things have been different. When the other Orcs left, the ones who remained in the Pomarj, the ones who remained loyal to the True Gruumsh, began to change. They became more authoritarian, more despotic, more totalitarian. The army that my father served in, the army that I heard stories of as a child, no longer exists. The army that I served in was alien compared to what my father spoke of. Our kind has never been what you would call moral, ethical, or honorable; but in the past, they were more loyal to one another, and always put Gruumsh first, Empire second, Family third, and Tribe fourth. Nowadays, it's Gruumsh first, Empire second, and that's it. There are no more tribes, except on ceremonial days, and only in namesake. Family is no longer a concern at all, except that the family exists to serve the needs of the Empire. We live in a different age, and I for one, am sick of it. My destiny is NOT to die at the tip of your blade, Elfling. But I can see now that my destiny no longer lies with the Empire, either. And if I am no longer part of the Empire, then I can, by extension, no longer follow Gruumsh. Perhaps the other Orcs were right; perhaps the True Gruumsh is Marek after all. All I know for sure is that the Gruumsh that the Mak serves doesn't feel like the right choice. And I am not so blind as to follow the Mak over the edge of the cliff that he is most certainly headed toward. I will join you, if you let me, and I will swear fealty to your leader for a term of one year, in return for sparing my life. And I will serve you with complete loyalty for that term, perhaps even longer. The way I see it, one year will be sufficient time for me to decide whether or not my destiny is intertwined with yours. If serving you feels right, I shall remain your steadfast comrade until the bitter end; if not, then I shall part from you as a friend, and seek my own destiny, wherever that may lead me. What say you? Does one year of service, with the possibility of more, sound fair?"
 

Sylvar B.

Explorer
Sylvar wasn't expecting that outcome...He lowers the naginata letting the blade rest on the ground, looks at Respen, gives him a surprised look and shrugs.
 
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MacConnell

Creator of The Untamed Wilds
Lathir, thoroughly impressed with the Orc's speech, stands silently for a moment.
"That is a very laudable response. Sylvar, I am good with his word."

Walking toward the edge of the well, Lathir suddenly stops.
"I knew something was bothering me. I no longer hear that humming sound of the portal we used to arrive. I suspect we have lost our connection!"
 

Sylvar B.

Explorer
Sylvar concentrates on the rope...
Give attention and unwind
Uncoil as I demand
Release the ties that bind


Sylvar helps the Orc stand, offers his hand in welcome to the party. Then he picks up the rope neatly coils it and stows it in his pack.
 

Diarmadhim

Explorer
Clearing my throat at the unexpected change of events, I quietly ask, "Has anyone else noticed it doesn't sound like the portal is active anymore? If it proves true upon inspection, we really only have one option - forward, or in this case, down," I end with a slight grin.
 

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