[PBP] Tholestia Chapter 1: Minotaur trouble and a failed ambush

[Sullaf]

"Don't mind my friend here.", Roland says while he stands up, "He has been parted with his trusted sword, a piece of equipment he does not like to be away from for too long a time. He is a bit ill tempered by the way the sword was taken from him. After all we are followers of Heironeous and we do not take distrust lightly.

Let me introduce myself: Roland says, while making the slightest hint of a bow "My name is Roland Goldsteel the second, named after my grandfather, who was an honorable hero in his times. I therefore take great proud in my name. These here are my fellow companions." He half turns towards the others and points at them. "We have Wulf, the -insert character class here-, Diactum my friend and well known in the arcane arts, and my trusted yet angry companion Tristan, deadliest man with a blade on this side of the land. I lead this little party in its quests against evil and have done so successfully for a long time."

Roland turns back and stands face to face with Ilan. "There are a few rules if you are to accompany us on our travels. They will be made clear in due time. One of them stands before all else: we will enter a battlefield with the same amount of people with which we will leave one: No one is left behind... ever... Do not fear death. Death is but a slight annoyance on the way to the Gods." He touches his holy symbol and looks upward and continues "Only in the presence of the Gods you will be judged for your actions: better make them as honorable as possible. Don't worry: we are guided by Heironeous. He will protect us in our holy quests."

He lets go of his holy symbol and looks Ilan straight in the eyes with a "cross me and you will die" look and says: "So by introducing my friends I have shown you a sign of trust. I will ask for the same trust from you. Now please tell us a little bit more of yourselves and I will inform you of our quest. Much honor and glory is to be gained and much evil to be fought."

 

[Ilan]

"Well met, we spend our last year travelling through and around Dunraven. Me and Deepwinter met up around the time we started adventuring actually, we shared many adventures. For our skills, i'm one of the most skilled trackers and scouts known to the Elven kingdom and my skills with the bow are not easilly matched. My companion here is very versatile and has no actual skill, but cooks a mean stew." I grin and look sideways to Deepwinter.

 

[Deepwinter 7]

"I'll cook a mean stew out of you, scrawny elf, if only there would have been some edible meat on your body." Deepwinter 7 retorts to Ilan

As for my skills, I am a one gifted with psionic powers of the mind. Some people call me a shaper for I specialize in creating objects and creatures out of thin air. Be patient and the diversity and use of my skills will prove their worth. Now let's proceed with our preparations, let's ride at dawn... I mean after lunch"

 

[Ravellion]

I think I am going to wait for one or two more days for C to complete his character.

 

[Sullaf]

"Well then now that we got acquainted I will explain to you the mission. There is a town in the hills called Highloon which apparently disappeared of the face of the planet. With the town vanished a tax levying party under the crown of Amstrad. Four knights where send to investigate, but never returned." Roland pauses for a moment while he makes a short prayer to those fallen in the battle. "Our mission is to find out what happened to the town, and its inhabitants and to retrieve some of the taxes that were already collected. As you all realize this is going to be a very challenging mission. Dangerous of course, but very rewarding. We will get to slay more evil, and tales will be told of our deeds. On top of all that we are to receive 900 gp each! While Roland faintly smiles he adds: "Except for the convicts of course..."

Then Rolands face abruptly turns into his normal, stern form and in a low, serious voice he addresses Deepwinter 7 and Ilan. "If we go in there, our lives most surely are at stake. I do not intend to take any unnecessary risks. Forget what they told you about Paladins. We are not the kind of people who rushes into the dragons lair only to be toasted or blasted to oblivion. There is no honor to be gained from being a suicidal maniac. We know when the odds are against us and retreat to fight another day. We assure ourselves with the fact that evil is everywhere, but good always prevails."

Roland takes a deep breath and looks both straight in the eyes when he continues, "Alas you two, newcomers, are a risk factor to me. I do not know you well enough, but I must still trust you with my life. I will protect yours, with mine, rest assured, but I hope I may ask for the same privilege. Many heroes only survived by the help of his friends. I could tell you tales of my grandfather who single handedly killed thousands of evil creatures. I know that the only reason he survived was by the aid of his companions. I hope you understand this... I will trust you for now, but make no mistake. If I ever get the feeling that our interests lie not in the same goal, measures will be taken."

After this Rolands face relaxes and a smile begins to form. "I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but at least we understand where we stand. Better to let the truth be told, right. Except of course to my friend Tristan. Don't ever tell him the truth about his ugly face, hahaha"

Roland gathers all around the table and orders drinks for everyone. He starts the conversation: "Well now that everything is settled let's talk business. We have to fit the two of you into our strategy. Our normal approach is that Tristan and me do the fighting, while my friends Wulf and -insert wizard name here- provide both cover and support." Roland turns his attention to Ilan: "Lord Ilan, you told us that you were a fine archer. Well we could use one, as we don't have one. Tristan and me like to fight with a blade. A bow is fine but I never understood what honor is to be gained by killing a man from a distance. Seems hardly fair. Unless, of course, it was used to kill evil." After this Roland frowns and address Deepwinter 7: "Deepwinter 7 was it? I seem to forget your name very easily, although it is not a name that's very... common. I don't know exactly what your combat skills are, so I suggest you stay close to Diactum. He will protect you if the situation gets out of control. Then there is the matter of our riding order. Most fights are fought on the road. We should be prepared. My suggestion is that I will ride in front with Lord Ilan. An archer could be handy at the front. We will put Dupvi..." Roland blankly looks at Deepwinter 7 and rubs his chin while thinking hard and out loud: "hmmz... a yes... euhm... Dipwenter... no... Dopwinner... nah that wasn't it... a yes Deepwinter 7 THAT's it and Diactum in the middle, while Wulf and Tristan will protect the back. This way we can be quite certain that we do not fall in an ambush. So if that's settled, is there anything anyone might want to add or are there any questions?"

 

[Ilan]

"I have no problem with it all, Roland. I think it is best we make some time and ride after lunch. I take a sip from my drink and order something to eat."

 

[Ilan]

OOC: Since no one is replying, I'll make a jump in game

After lunch and discussing what we are gonig to do. We head to the gate after everyone buys equipment etc....We retrieve our weapons and horses....I don't cause a scene this time....And we ride and ofcourse travel light and mabye we will even hunt some Orc

 

[Ravellion]

Your Journey is uneventful this day, and you are still riding the paths that intersect Amstradan farmland, when it is time to make camp. You have further chance to get acquainted around the campfire which you use to prepare the fresh food you have bought before you left.

OOC: This is a big hint: Only let Casper or Jurgen post their characters and a bit of their backgroud and fighting style, as an introduction to DW 7 and Ilan. After that we'll get the story rolling. I am still going to wait a bit longer for C and J. Unless they post, I am going to put this on hold till Saturday. Of course, that has more to do with the fact that I am extraordinarily busy right now than anything else, but hey, at least I am telling you, right? (Ducks away from rotten fruit)

 

[Ilan]

Anyway, did anyone else find this funny: Interesting bunch his grandfather must have travelled with.

OOC: Only Clerics with the healing domain, who heal him when he is down but don't lift a finger to battle them.

 

[Bacter]

Diactum decides to reveal more of his personality to Deepwinter and Ilan during supper:
"I, Diactum Abradacum, grew up in a town called Severna, located in a valley between 2 mountain rims, and used to teach here when I finished my education as a wizard. I got married and lived a quiet and happy life. After I was married for 5 years, about 10 years ago, the small town was raided by brutal Hill Giants and my wife was killed by the attackers. Unfortunately I was away on a road trip with my apprentices to study the molecular bioinformatics of pyrotechnics, so I was not there to protect my wife."

To the observing listener, an increase in the amount of eye-fluids of Diactum seems to be present, but he continues...

"After these events, a piece of me was destroyed, and I lost some of my faith in the world. I left the small town, because it reminded me too much of my grief and started traveling around. At first, adventuring helped me to get the past of my mind, but as time went by, I began to become more and more addicted to the concepts of adventuring. In battle I mostly rely on my spell-casting capabilities, but you will find out more about that at the appropriate time."

"Bon apetit"