(IC) Against the Giants PBP Group 2

[Tonguez]

“ I have a few good berries that I can share” the Barbarian-druid replied without further explanation. The knight Falldur appeared to be a worthy man, respected by his followers and knowledgeable of lands and peoples beyond his own. Kahru could see that he had sustained injury, and spoke candidly of his predicament, so the Barbarian assessed him a capable enough warrior, overwhelmed by his enemies and concerned now for the welfare of his charges rather than personal glory.

” I can lead a hunt too, if you have men to spare. Has the area been scouted? We can hunt for enemy raiders as easy as we can meat.”

After making his offer, Kahru fell silent and turned to assess his companions. The elder, uniformed man looked competent enough, the bearing of a military man, though without weapons, whilst the other, younger man was harder to read though his bearing and movements indicated some grace

Whether they were good in the wilds or with an ogres breath in their faces was another story. The barbarian was keen to get back out and find the ogres and giants who were plaguing these lands. It had taken Kahru many months just to discover Mudsmuck name and now if he were lucky, he would find the ogre at this steading. If not, he would bash any ogre he did find, which would hold him over …

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Doc Sentenza had been in this strange land for some time ... a year, perhaps? He was laconic in his dealings, but his steely demeanor was always searching out for the small details, the understanding that the people here didn't believe in the righteous ways of the gun and the noose, but in wizards and magicks. Doesn't bother me none; call my pistol a gun or a spell, it's still the peacemaker in these parts.

Over time, Doc had realized that those screaming souls within him could be of use; sometimes, Doc would bring one to the surface, let that tortured soul see out for just a moment, so Doc would know what the soul knew. Other times, Doc would release those tortured souls flying on the edges of his bullets, so that others would share in his pain. Sometimes the dead can be more useful than the living. But the one thing Doc realized most of all was that he no longer felt the pull of the Nameless Sheriff. It was a freedom, of a sort.

So it was that Doc wandered from town to town, setting up shop in one inn after the other, drinking and gambling and meting out justice as he saw fit to make the lives of the common people just a little better. Usually, Doc would move on from each town after a little while; he could tell when the people began to become more afraid of him than grateful, and Doc knew better than to overstay his welcome. While drinking in yet another nameless village, he heard the people talking about some type of reward, some call for heroes or adventurers or the like. A bunch of tall rustlers threatening some rich ol' robber barons. Doc pulled the brim of his hat down lower and looked at his hand. None of my business; they can hire their own Pinkertons. But just then, he felt that feeling again. That pull....... what type of justice is the Nameless Sheriff requiring now?

The Lord Falldur looked up as he felt a cold wind blow through the cairn and thought he heard a faint whistling sound. As he did, he saw a figure framed in the way, cloaked in shadow with the light framed around him. The figure appeared to occupy some liminal zone between light and shadow, reality and madness, and Falldur could see only a strange hat and what almost appeared to be glowing flames where the eyes would be. The figure walked in, and there was a distinctive sound of the boots against the dwarven stone, and as the person crossed the threshhold into Culligan's Cairn, the features resolved. He was wearing some sort of leather vest and strange pants, with a belt slung over his hips and a container of some kind on his belt; his shoulders were covered by some kind of fabric that hung low to his waist, but not as low as a cloak. His head was not adorned by a helmet, but instead by some sort of exotic hat, with a wide brim all around. But what drew Falldur's gaze was the man's face; Falldur thought that his earlier view, backlit by the sun, must have tricked his senses, because now he saw this man's visage clearly. It was stoic and weathered, and keen, hard blue eyes stared at Falldur , as if the eyes were judging Falldur but necessarily finding him wanting.

Reckon you have a problem. Doc looks around and sees the others already there. Must be a lot of rustlers to need a posse like this. Doc tried to assess the others; none of them had guns, because of course they didn't. A year, and it still surprised him. Still, he could tell that the other three would be of some use. One was clearly a military man; Doc knew that the military men had the training to be useful, but sometimes lacked the .... flexibility ... to get things done. Another looked a little green around the edges; he hadn't yet learned that it's a hell of thing to kill a man. The last one, he had trouble getting a read on. He appeared to be another of those magic warriors Doc had seen.

Doc approached Lord Falldur, slowly and deliberately. I fix problems. Doc stared hard at the old knight. Permanently. Name is Doc.

 

[Maxperson]

Both men were old soldiers, but the elder, injured-looking one nodded as the new arrival bowed and offered, "Weclome, Kaligan. I am much obliged to you for your aid."

He took Kaligan aside as the Colonel spoke to his squire, saying, "I am sure you will all work together on this, but I have a particular charge for you, if you please. These giants of the hills have some sort of alliance with the mountainous stone and fire giants. I have seen them. I have heard that there might be giants of the northern glacier as well, but what fears me most is that they may ally themselves with the giants of the skies. The world will tremble. I need you to find evidence of a possible alliance with the cloud or storm giants. I don't know how you might prove that there is none - but if you can find that, well... that would be all the better."

OOC: Kaligan's Quest (if he wants it): Find evidence if the 'sky' Giants are involved or not.

Kaligan seems troubled at Lord Falldur's words and glances up involuntarily as if hoping to catch sight of sky giants. After a pause to consider what he has head, Kaligan says, "If there is any information about this to be discovered, I will find it and deliver it to you."

Glancing at the Colonel and the squire, and then turning his head to look back outside, Kaligan is quiet for another long moment. "You mentioned other working with me. Who are they? I would like to meet them." Then Kalgin turns his head back towards Lord Falldur and smiles.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

As Kaligan asked to meet his future companions, there came suddenly a breeze that flickered the lanterns. The guards at the entrance startled and stepped away, some drawing weapons. A stranger strode in, outlandish in appearance. Though Lord Falldur was visibly shaken by the stranger's gaze, he said, after a pause where he calculated that the stranger would likely rattle the giants as much as he did those here, "You are welcome here, Doc."

Introductions were made of the four who had arrived, as they waited for what wold hopefully be a few more...

 

[Steve Gorak]

Gimlak had left the safety of the mountains a few days ago. He hadn’t felt the sun for so long for perhaps a hundred years. The air felt dry, full of smells that tickled his memory of times past. He had followed the map given to him, making a few annotations here and there when necessary, modifying the odd stream that had changed course.

The dwarven burial mound was a reassuring sight. He was eager to step into it, back into the safety of a familiar structure made by his kin.

Unceremoniously he walked in, and dropped his bags, proud yet down to earth. “I am Gimlak Silverbeard, son of Thorbin. I hear you have a problem with giants. The dwarves of the mountain have answered your call, to honour the ancient treaties and reclaim our land.”

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"By the gods! A dwarf!" exclaimed Lord Falldur before he could catch himself. His eyes glanced about. If he had felt no shame about lodging in a dwarven tomb before, it came upon him now. "I... I beg your pardon, Prince Gimlak. We have taken refuge in the tomb of your great-grandfather, for it makes a strong base that the giants dare not enter."

Gimlak was suprised by the human knight's knowledge of dwarves, though he had one thing wrong (Culligan Silverbeard was, in fact, his great-grandfather's brother). He had assumed that the short-memory of humans would have them nearly forgotten. Their presence in the tomb mattered little: Culligan's bones (and those of his immediate kin, who had shared the mound in death) had been transferred to under the mountain long ago.

While the knight explained what brought him and his men to this place, Gimlak thought of his own mission: He was not the first dwarf to leave the mountain. A small group had left ten years ago, to be sure that what the dwarves had left behind was safely buried. They had not returned. He was to find out what had happened to them, and complete their mission. So secret was this mission, that he had come alone.

OOC: Gimlak's Quest: Discover the fate of the Dwarves

 

[Steve Gorak]

Answering earnestly, "No pardon needs begging, the safety of your troops is what matters now. And please call me Gimlak; I am here as an equal."

 

[Maxperson]

Kaligan watches the exchange between Lord Falldur and Gimlak with interest. He has met few dwarves in his travels.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel appears impatient, and he's standing by the entranceway, looking out to the hills. "If there are no signs of anyone else, perhaps we should leave?" he asks the group. "The matter is urgent, and if more arrive, they can catch up. As it is, this group seems to be a workable strike team. What say ye all?"

He looks for assents.

"Donnell here has directions from Lord Faldur." He motions to the boy beside him, who appears scared, despite his armor and preparations. "I would say a prayer before we leave, for those who wish to join me. The Skyfather will be with us regardless. There is no escaping Him."

He looks for those who wish to come into the open air with him, but if he's alone, that's fine.

He's ready to depart after that.

 

[JustinCase]

Just in time, Duvrael thinks to himself as he hears one of the people proclaim his readiness to depart. He would smile, perhaps, if he were more human than serpent, but no.

"You will need my help," he says out loud, entering Culligan's Cairn accompanied by the guard he met outside. Dressed in layers of fine silks and carrying a bandoleer with some potions and pouches, the tanned man sports a small wellkempt beard and with his chin up, scans the area and the people with a haughty air.

"My name is Duvrael Oolo, and I am a wizard," he introduces himself simply. He does not feel the need to explain his presence, nor the divination magics that have guided him here. The yuan ti pureblood has been on adventures before, even though that has been a long time ago. He has a hunch there will be interesting books and magics to be discovered on this particular quest, although he doubts it can be found with the hill giants.

OOC: Duvrael AC12 HP 56/56 HD 9/9 PP15* SSdc17 4/4 3/3 3/3 3/3 1/1 P 4,17 Rolling for today's Portent (P X,X in the summary above): 1D20 = [4] = 4 1D20 = [17] = 17