[PbP] The Sandman's Binding Game Thread

[GoldenEagle]

"*clears throat and coughs* um...excuse us (very politely)...master steward...

Allow me to introduce my companions. This is Dorn Hardwood, friend of Dwarves, this is Sean Reaver, Noble Warrior, this is Ichtor, my new (blushing for not taking the time to get to know Ichtor better before introducing him) frined, Nazgrel the Loyal with Heart of a Lion, Claiborne the advisor and I am Jonas.

Jonas bows slightly.

We are looking for Donvena Swifthammer. We have common friends that said we could find her here. We were told that she may be with one of the high priests and that perhaps that Lord Swifthammer would be in the practice yard and that he might point us in her direction."

At Jonas' first chance he will try to talk to each member of the party and say essentially the same thing, "I am sorry to have introduced you without your permission. I was just trying to be polite."

To Dorn," I am not as familar with the customs of Dwarves as you. Perhaps you should be the one speaking as I do not want my ignorance to offend their customs or you, as you know their customs.

To Ichtor, "I apologize for the sloppy introduction. We never really got a chance to speak and I never did ask what brought you here. So, how did you come to be interested in this matter (this is said in a friendly way, not condescending )

 

[Krug]

To Ichtor, "I apologize for the sloppy introduction. We never really got a chance to speak and I never did ask what brought you here. So, how did you come to be interested in this matter (this is said in a friendly way, not condescending )

"I am interested in the inhabitants of dream... how real they seem," he says. "There are many things we can find here, that are reflected in the reality we think we inhabit."

 

[drs]

Sean glad with his introduction from Jonas nods to the steward. While Jonas continues to talk with the Dwarf, Sean will move behind a couple his companions and un-strap his rifle and load it. He'll then swing it over his back without securing its holding straps.

"This seems normal enough, but heck I myself have had some wild dreams and this may break into chaos any moment." Sean says in a whisper if anyone looks at him questioningly.

Not wanting to start a needles argument, Sean tries as best as he can to conceal his actions and his speech from the Dwarf.

 

[Paragon Badger]

The dwarf doesn't notice Sean adjusting his rifle. The old dwarf awakes and jumps to his feet obviously embrassed.

"Well, excuse my lazy bones! We don't get many visitors in these parts anymore." The dwarf begins. " Allow me to introduce myself, I am Steward Baldin Anvilstrike, I've served the Swifthammer family for most my life. So you say you come to see little Dovena? Well, she would likely be with the High Cleric but I'll have to escort you to see Lord Swifthammer first. Protcol dictates it."

The dwarf quickly regains composure and with a proper bow asks you to follow him.

If you follow he leads you to the single door and opens it. Beyond you see stone hallways of fine dwarven make. The halls stretch in front of you and to the left and right. All halls are illuminated by torches that don't seem to be smoking and sputtering as a normal torch would. The steward turns to the right a guides you down a hallway with several door. Some of the doors are ajar and you catach glances of what appears to be barracks for the soldiers of the redoubt. At the end of the hall a wooden door is open and you see several dwarves sparring with each other.

Baldin guides you through the door which opens in a huge 60' by 60' practive room. Two bright luminaries are onv opposing walls and light the room. You notice a large pratice is taking place. Four groups of ten seem to be competing against each other in some form of free for all combat. A large leather ball seems to be the focus of the contest, which each team attempting to gain possesion. Several more dwarves line a bench on the far wall. One is actively writing as the game progresses, keeping score you assume.

Standing next to the bench is an impressive figure. The dwarf has a long black beard with the first traces of gray starting to show. He wears a finely crafted breastplate obviously made by a master smith. At his side an ornate hammer hangs. Bladin guides you to this figure. He bows and begins, "Lord Swifthammer, we have visitors from afar. They say they are friends of Donvena and wish to see her." Baldin then properly introduces you all by name.

Lord Swifthammer looks at you and speaks, "Welcome to my redoubt. Any friend of my daughter is a friend of my clan. Unfortnately you missed little Donvena by a couple minutes. She just set out with the High Cleric Fali to heal a miner that suffered a minor wound. Yes, my wife and daughter always did keep care of the miners well. I'm suspossed to do an inspection of the mines after the pratice. If you wish to accompany me you may. Othwerwise I'll have Baldin get you quarters until we return."

 

[GoldenEagle]

Jonas looks at the group and then back to Lord Swifthammer. "I for one would be honored to accompany you to the mines."

 

[garyh]

"As would I," Nazgrel adds.

 

[Storminator]

OOC: Yay! I can get back to the boards! Heck of a time the past couple days.

Dorn nods in complete agreement when Sean loads up his rifle. Thinking exactly the same thing, and keeping the axe handy. Dorn takes his helmet off again. You can tell he's not comfortable with it on (tells people you want to hack them up) and he's not comfortable with it off (may need to hack someone up), and he keeps switching.

Dorn tells Jonas, "what I know of dwarves is that you earn their trust their hard way, but you better mind your manners. You're doing fine."

After talking to Lord Swifthammer Dorn leans over to Sean and murmurs, "led by the clan leader into the family mines? Heck of a lot o' hospitality for strangers. Be ready for anything down there." A quick look over Sean tells Dorn his warning was unnecessary. Dorn likes that. Hopefully Jonas isn't as uncaring as he looks, but that wizard is going to need to be pulled out of the fire.

Dorn stands at polite attention and watches the practice with the Lord. He tries to figure out the rules.

Dorn Hardwood

 

[Krug]

Ichtor looks around, and comments to Milgra. "Well... dwarf dreams are rather boring, aren't they, my little one?"

 

[drs]

"Be ready for anything down there."

"Always, friend." Sean says with a small smile, glad to have someone like Dorn on this journey. Sean then surveys the area for anymore exits then the one which they entered. Once happy with the situation Sean will watch the rest of the practice with his companions.

 

[Paragon Badger]

Sean will notice several exits from this practice yard. Two doors lie on the north wall, two doors on the east wall (you entered through the southern of the two), and two door in the south wall. Currently you stand by Lord Swifthammer and the dwarves on the bench along the west wall.

Lord Swifthammer will look you over as a group. "After this game is over my honor guard will take sometime to assemble. I'll take you over to our tavern and we'll swap a couple pints before I trust you not to stab me in the back!" Lord Swifthammer laughs, joking.

He'll motion to the game, "What we we got here is a dwarven game called Steal the Bacon. The object is to win by holding the ball for the longest. Every spring we send the teams out to the walled part of the valley and have a massive game with 12 teams. The whole redoubt turns out to watch. "

As the game continues you get a gist of each teams plan. The team in red seem to band as one group of ten and slug it out moving toward the ball. The blue team spreads out and passes it between all their players. Yellow breaks into 3 groups and attempts a hybrid strategy. Green seems to hold the strategy of 2 groups that form wedges. The game is called to an end by the scorekeeper who announces the Yellow won. Several dwarves near you cheer and tell the team to meet them at the tavern for a winner's round.

Lord Swifthammer congratulates all the teams and then turns to you. "Let's head to the tavern I get thristy after all that watching." He laughs.

You'll follow a group of Lord Swifthammer, the yellow team and their fans back out the door you entered. You be lead down the same hall you came in past the junction toward the entrance. Eventually the group takes a left and enters into a very impressive tavern.

Is well situated with enough room for nearly 120 people. A bar is found along the east wall and doors to the privy are in the northwestern corner. The yellow team and fans dispere to tables as Lord Swifthammer gestures to a table in the southeastern corner near the bar. Several dwarves will bow or salute Lord Swifthammer as he passes. He takes the time to acknowledge every gesture. He asks you take the seats along the wall and he takes a seat across the table with his back toward the bar. The only other exit to the room is in the northeast behind the bar. This seems to lead to the kitchen.

A dwarf in fine armor comes and saultes Lord Swifthammer then sits down. The dwarf appears younger than his lord and stronger built. Lord Swifthammer will introduce you, "This here is Captain Bal, my nephew and captain of our guard. He'll accompany us to the mines." He'll allow Bal to greet you and you to place orders for drinks or food.

Lord Swifthammer will begin speaking to the group, "So how did you come to meet me little Donvena?"

Replies?

OOC: Sorry for moving you from room to room without allowing for in between actions. Just trying to keep the game flowing along till we get to the dangerous parts . If you rather I'd take the slower route of allowing you to decide if you want to follow the NPCs when we are just switching scenes, just tell me and I'll switch methods. I'm not using the quick change method if I think your replies wouldn't be the same across the board. (ie. For some reason I thought your PC's wouldn't follow Swifthammer to the bar.)