Metropolis (The World in Waiting) - Chapter One

[Festy_Dog]

"So, do any of you have names, or is it just 'Ghost Hound and his nameless band' down here in the tunnels?"

"I am Ba'aktar of the Grimash," the half-orc says, prompted to identify himself.

Ru's face darkens. "Is it down here, too, then? The dead who won't die?"

"You say the undying aren't just below the streets?" the half-orc asks, somewhat concerned as he orientates the mouths of the ettin's heads away from himself.

 

[jkason]

"The yellow robes were stealing souls? From children?" Ru thinks of his younger siblings and seethes at the thought.

Feuled by that anger, perhaps, and the trio's relative forthcoming way, Ru's general reserve falls away.

"The undying is all over, from what I can tell. I was on a mission when I first encountered it: slain enemies rising again and again, no matter how much damage they took. Then I witnessed two men in the street gutting each other over and over. One would fall only to rise and attack again, then it would repeat itself. Bothered me so much I even ventured to the tower of Zsath's worshippers"

The memory of the trip and its frustrating results show on Ru's face as he says, "They were ... less than cooperative. I did uncover the fact that even Zsath's priests seem to be having problems connecting to his favor. It's entirely unclear what might have happened, but the gnome I spoke with suggested that, should Zsath absent himself from Metropolis--by choice or force--people would find their souls with nowhere to go other than their broken bodies. Why a god of death would choose to walk away from such an obviously lush source of death, I've no idea."

 

[Fenris]

"The undying is all over, from what I can tell. I was on a mission when I first encountered it: slain enemies rising again and again, no matter how much damage they took. Then I witnessed two men in the street gutting each other over and over. One would fall only to rise and attack again, then it would repeat itself. Bothered me so much I even ventured to the tower of Zsath's worshippers"

"No, men can still die, but it is rare. One trick is to stomp them into goo, not much threat then" says the human nonchalantly

The memory of the trip and its frustrating results show on Ru's face as he says, "They were ... less than cooperative. I did uncover the fact that even Zsath's priests seem to be having problems connecting to his favor. It's entirely unclear what might have happened, but the gnome I spoke with suggested that, should Zsath absent himself from Metropolis--by choice or force--people would find their souls with nowhere to go other than their broken bodies. Why a god of death would choose to walk away from such an obviously lush source of death, I've no idea."

"Yes, that is quite a curious puzzle now isn't it. But what about these shambling corpes you spoke about who sent you here Ru?" asks the human

 

[jkason]

"Yes, that is quite a curious puzzle now isn't it. But what about these shambling corpes you spoke about who sent you here Ru?" asks the human

Ru's eyes narrow as the human seems to casually brush past the mystery which has haunted and plagued the enforcer since he first encountered it, but he doesn't remark on it aloud.

"Unlike the ... undying I've encountered, these I'm pretty sure are more standard undead. Well, as standard as unlife can be, I suppose. They certainly fear being destroyed."

Ru indicates Ba'aktar's monster-head necklace, quipping, "Can't imagine why. They claim this Ghost Hound is their child. You're not running around with a zombie reporter, are you ...?" he trails off. Ru cocks his head to the side and stares down the human, adding evenly "You know, you still haven't been nice enough to share your name."

 

[Fenris]

Ru's eyes narrow as the human seems to casually brush past the mystery which has haunted and plagued the enforcer since he first encountered it, but he doesn't remark on it aloud.

"Unlike the ... undying I've encountered, these I'm pretty sure are more standard undead. Well, as standard as unlife can be, I suppose. They certainly fear being destroyed."

Ru indicates Ba'aktar's monster-head necklace, quipping, "Can't imagine why. They claim this Ghost Hound is their child. You're not running around with a zombie reporter, are you ...?" he trails off. Ru cocks his head to the side and stares down the human, adding evenly "You know, you still haven't been nice enough to share your name."

"And you'd be correct in that. Fact is, no one here knows my name. But then no one has asked either." replies the human with an equally hard stare back at Ru.

 

[Bront]

Taran preps a few boats to be rowed across the lake, "Well, why don't you tell me your name while you help me get these boats ready so we can ferry the children accross. Untill Vulgarth gets a look at them, I don't want them going topside."

OOC: Doh, wrong tunnel, sorry for the confusion. Revision with GM permision.

Taran examines the ladder by the well, and looks for some good places to secure some rope. "Well, why don't you tell me your name while you help me secure some ropes so we can help the children up. Until Vulgarth gets a look at them, I don't want them going topside."

 

[Fenris]

"Because all the kids are already on this side of the lake. And we should get a move on to your village Taran." responds the human

 

[Bront]

OOC: Doh, wrong tunnel, sorry for the confusion. Revision with GM/Fenris permision.
(See initial post)

 

[D20Dazza]

Ghost continues to keep the children calm while he watches the scouts return from their 'mission' "hmmm, looks like they've picked up a 'friend'" the pale elf thinks to himself as he stands up and begins to walk down the dark corridor towards the group.

 

[Fenris]

Taran preps a few boats to be rowed across the lake, "Well, why don't you tell me your name while you help me get these boats ready so we can ferry the children accross. Untill Vulgarth gets a look at them, I don't want them going topside."

OOC: Doh, wrong tunnel, sorry for the confusion. Revision with GM permision.

Taran examines the ladder by the well, and looks for some good places to secure some rope. "Well, why don't you tell me your name while you help me secure some ropes so we can help the children up. Until Vulgarth gets a look at them, I don't want them going topside."

OOC: Sorry Bront, couldn't help needling you there

"OK, what ropes? Up where? I am handy with a rope Taran, but I followed one of your kinsmen down here and we didn't use a rope at all, and from what Ru has said he led, or was led by, a group of honest-to-Zsath undead down here. Doesn't make much sense to rescue the children from the yellas to let'em get eaten by the undead" replies the human. And spying the approach of the man of the hour thinks to himself "well things will get interesting and hopefully informative now" but doesn't betray the identity of the approaching figure.