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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Sagiro's Story Hour Returns (new thread started on 5/18/08)
- Thread starter Sagiro
- Start date
Originally posted by Sagiro
I've made a conscious decision recently to write the Story more like a story, with more dialogue, and less like a dry journal. I want it to be more fun for people to read. Other Story Hours on the board have raised the bar in this regard; I'm just trying to keep up!
Well, I've always found this Story Hour a lot of fun to read. The additional dialogue just makes it even better!
Maybe it's because I've always read the Story Hour as it's been posted, rather than on the Charagan web site. Having the run summaries interspersed with your insightful DM-ing comments, plus all the banter and commentary from the players and the peanut gallery, makes them seem a lot less like a "dry journal".
Of course, that's a bit more difficult to do now that the message boards those old posts appeared on are long gone. Someone would have had to collect all of those posts, format them, and preserve them in document form for handy re-reading.
That'd be pretty... er... fannish behaviour, really, wouldn't it?
I mean... what are the odds?
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Want the original story hour? All praise the wayback machine! There she is, parts one and two. Darn, the internet is cool.
Swack-Iron
First Post
Piratecat said:
Hey, I cancelled a game this weekend to let Bandeeto play with you guys. No foolin' around on the web! Back to gaming!!
Barastrondo
First Post
Sagiro said:
Genius.
Not the giant, obviously, but the person behind him. Sagiro, if you ad libbed this at the table, I'm going to cry a little tear of jealousy.
Thank you for the recent bunch of updates, Sagiro! It feels like when I first started reading story hours, and spent half a week reading all of yours
I definitely like the added dialogue, you've succeeded admirably in removing any dry journal feeling that may (or may not) have been there!
-blarg
I definitely like the added dialogue, you've succeeded admirably in removing any dry journal feeling that may (or may not) have been there!
-blarg
Nail
First Post
blargney said:
Alright, guys. We've got to knock off this "dry journal" bit. It's funny that Sagiro shows his modesty in this way, true. (The line about having to keep up is hysterical...I thread with 61,328 views needs to keep up? Then what does my story hour need?.....eeek.) But this isn't a "dry" journal; such a journal would not have hundreds, if not thousands of fans.
You're doin' great, Sagiro.
Sagiro
Rodent of Uncertain Parentage
Mmmmmmm....flattery.Nail said:
But seriously, the early parts of this story hour are dry... Which is not a bad thing, since I didn't write them with an audience in mind. I wrote them so I'd have notes about what happened, given that I was a first-time DM attempting a fairly ambitious long-term story. Have I mentioned recently that all DM's running story-arc-based campaigns should keep a journal? They should! Oh, and my game has (I'm guessing) dozens of fans. It's Piratecat who has thousands.
(Some of my players are a bit freaked out that there are all these people on the web following their characters' exploits, but I think it's neat!)But enough rambling. I promised an update, and an update you shall have!
Sagiro’s Story Hour, Part 184
The dragon looks real. It sounds real. It smells real. Wisps of brimstone-scented smoke rise up from scaly nostrils as the beast towers over the courtyard. At Kibi’s mental command it rears up and glares down at the giant wrestling with Aravis. Said giant, shaking off the last of the confusion, whimpers at the sight of the dragon. Having already been bludgeoned by Morningstar, whipped by Dranko, bitten by Pewter and grappled by Aravis, this is too much for him.
“I surrender!” he calls out in giantish. Kibi relays this to the others. Then, just for fun, Kibi has the dragon get up on its hind legs and crane its neck over the top of the other giant’s prison on the high balcony. The creature puts its head right up to the opening.
“Aaaaaaahhhhaaaaaiiiieeee!” comments the giant.
The dragon winks at him and pulls its head away. Then the Company gets down to questioning the un-boxed giant, using Kibi as their spokesdwarf.
“We don’t want to hurt you or any other giants,” says Kibi. “But you should answer our questions.”
He gestures meaningfully toward the illusionary dragon, which turns its head and shows its teeth.
“Why are you guarding this statue?” asks Kibi.
“Cause Eigomic told us to,” answers the Giant.
“Who is Eigomic, and why do you do what he says?”
“Well, he’s the Keeper. We always do what he says. He works for the chief, Tegmannic, and he can do magic stuff. He’s in charge of the statue, and he makes sure it stays guarded all the time.”
“Do you know where Eigomic lives?”
“Sure. It’s about seven blocks from here. You go out the northern archway, turn left, walk down the road past the smithies and turn right at the barrel-ball field. His house is down that way, with the boars’ heads mounted on pikes. Can’t miss it.”
“Do you know why Eigomic always has someone guarding this statue?
“I dunno. I guess it’s important or something. Always thought it was kind of ugly, personally. I mean, why would someone want to make a giant version of those nasty little tundra eyes.”
Hm.
“What exactly are ‘tundra eyes,’ asks Kibi.
“Oh, you know. Pesky little floaty zappers that live out in the wilderness. They don’t bother us much; don’t like towns and us giants. They’re kinda like you: really small, but all sorts of magic zappy stuff comes out of ‘em. They don’t fly too high though, so we can swat ‘em with clubs if we get the chance. They fly pretty good if you get a good whack. They’re not usually as big a problem as the big frost boars, or worse, the blood foxes. Boy, you sure don’t wanna get caught by one of those little blood fox critters. They’ll eat your insides out.”
“No kidding,” thinks Kay.
But the whole Company groans at hearing this, and Dranko in particular starts to seethe. Their whole hurried plan was predicated on the idea that the mini-beholders had been sent by whomever was guarding Het Branoi, that they had been spotted, and that the jig might already be approaching up.
“Those were wandering monsters?” he thinks, fuming. “We let ourselves get rushed into a quick assault on the tower because of a random encounter?.
“Looks that way,” thinks Grey Wolf.
“I don’t detect any traps here,” thinks Flicker. "I’m going to try to pick the lock, using Kibi’s glitter to see. It’ll take some time.”
The dragon continues to watch the giant for another couple of minutes while Flicker works at the lock.
“Ah ha!” thinks Flicker excitedly. “I’ve got it figured out. I just have to wiggle this a little bit and…”
WHOOOOMPH!
Flicker is blasted backward in a cone of bright energy that tears skin right off his face and hands. Blood fountains up around him as he flies some fifteen feet through the air, landing on his back on the courtyard grass. The clerics rush over to heal him, fearing the worst, but barely, barely, he is still alive. Half a minute and several healing spells later he is back on his feet.”
“I think I avoided the worst of it,” says Flicker, his voice trembling. “If I hadn’t…”
“Don’t think about it,” thinks Step.
“I could try again,” says Flicker, “but I have to see what I’m doing. The glitter is good, but not good enough.”
“I can cast true seeing on you,” says Morningstar, “but with those Divination Sinks, it won’t do you any good.”
“Mr. Giant,” says Kibi, “We need your help. We want to finish our business here as soon as possible, and not cause any trouble. To do that, we need to move one of those big rocks with the blue gems inside. Aravis here is going to carry you up there. Just help him move that rock, and there won’t be any trouble, we promise.”
The giant looks skeptical.
The giant looks at the dragon.
The giant helps move the Divination Sink that points at the door and keyhole.
Morningstar casts true seeing on Flicker, who wastes a few seconds oooh-ing and aaaaah-ing at what he sees.
“The tower is loaded with spells,” he says. “All kinds of ‘em. I don’t really know what I’m seeing, but it’s impressive. And the door isn’t really a door. It’s more like a door-shaped impression in the stone. It’s only about half an inch deep.”
“Do you see the keyhole?” prods Dranko.
“Oh. Yeah.”
“Do you see magical traps on the keyhole?”
“Maybe. There are plenty of spells on both the door and the keyhole, but I don’t know what they are.”
“Whatever they are, I’m going to try to dispel them,” says Morningstar.
But Morningstar isn’t able to remove any of the spells on the tower. Neither is Ernie, who also tries.
“I’ve got an idea,” pipes up Dranko. “Hold on a minute…”
He prays to Delioch and channels pure faith into the door of the tower. It dissipates, finding no receptacle.
“Sorry, Flicker.”
“I’m going to try anyway,” says Flicker. “First, though, I’m going to see if I can disable the traps on the ‘door.’
For a few long minutes Flicker works gingerly at the door, scraping, tapping, chipping at the edges of magical effects no one else can even see. Eventually he steps back.
“Did it work?” asks Kay?
“I don’t know,” answers Flicker. “I don’t see any change in the magic on the tower. But I can see the keyhole perfectly now. I should be able to pick it, traps or not.”
“I’ll help you,” says Dranko. “Just tell me what I can do.”
“I’ll help you too,” says Morningstar. She casts shield other on him.
Flicker leans in and starts to work. His fingers move with dexterity and confidence, handling a myriad of thieves’ tools with a deft touch.
“I need light,” he says after a few minutes. “Right about here, behind me, reasonably bright.”
Morningstar activates the daylight power of her holy shield.
“Ack! Too bright! I’m actually looking for sharper shadows, and that washes them all out.”
“Sorry,” mutters Morningstar. Step fishes out a continual flame coin and holds it up.
“Yeah, that’s good,” says Flicker. “Now Dranko, do me a favor and hold this pick in place for me…”
For almost ten minutes, Flicker works at the lock on the tower. The rest of the party looks on, worried, hopeful, curious, as the halfling plies his trade. Even the giant is fascinated by Flicker’s work. Sweat borne of intense concentration beads the little rogue’s brow despite the chilly air. No one speaks aloud what they all fear; that even with Morningstar’s spell in place, another triggered trap could incinerate Flicker. And no one is more aware of that fact than the halfling himself.
“Almost there,” he says at last. “Dranko, when I tell you to, I want you to pull the pick you’re holding out, as quickly and as straight-back as you can manage.”
“Got it.”
“And don’t worry… about…”
Flicker stops talking. A confused expression crosses his face. Then he smiles wryly to himself. Only Dranko sees it.
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you later,” says Flicker. “Now, are you ready?”
“Ready.”
“Ok… on three. One. Two. THREE!”
Dranko yanks out the pick. Flicker turns his wrist and pushes in with a hooked wire.
WHOOOOMPH!
Once again the trap is set off, and Flicker is blown backward by a crushing wave of energy. Morningstar cries out in pain as the skin is torn from her face and arms, even as the same thing happens to Flicker. The halfling lands in a heap as Morningstar drops to her knees. Again the clerics and Step rush to apply healing. Both are alive, and from the severity of their wounds it is clear that without Morningstar’s shield other spell, Flicker would be naught but a smear on the grass.
“He should probably stop doing that,” comments the giant. “It looks painful.”
“Shush,’ says Kibi.
“What are you people, exactly? You’re like little tiny giants, except for him.”
He points at Aravis.
“Where did you come from? And you, giant, why are you helping them?”
“We’re from really far away,” says Kibi.
“Oh,” says the giant. “And what about…”
He points at Aravis, frowning. Then his eyes go wide with shock.
“I know what this is about!” he cries, his voice hardening. “And I’m not saying anything more.”
Kibi translates for the others.
“What is it?” asks Kibi. “What’s the problem? I doubt you really know what’s going on.”
The giant just glares at Aravis.
“He’s not from around here either,” says Kibi.
“He’s from Krizzag, isn’t he!” blurts the giant.
“Where’s that?” asks Kibi.
“I’ll be he knows. He’s from there! He’s a spy from Krizzag come to spy on Rikorag. I’m not talking any more.”
Kibi sighs. “He’s from a lot farther away than that. I promise you, none of us are from Krizzag, and we’re not here to spy, or do anything to harm your town. Our only concern is with that.”
He points at the tower.
“Why are you messing around with the statue in the first place?” asks the Giant.
“To save the universe,” says Kibi.
“Universe?”
“The whole world.”
“Oh. Well. Uh, I’m pretty sure you’re in the wrong place. That’s just a statue of a big monster. It doesn’t do anything, except I guess it blasts that really little guy.”
“You’re probably right,” says Kibi. “We should probably just give up and look somewhere else.”
Flicker sits upright, healed of his recent wounds. Despite his failure he wears a contented smile on his face. Dranko gives him a curious look for a moment before it dawns on him.
“You heard the waves, didn’t you,” he says to Flicker.
Flicker nods. “I did what I should have done that first time in Gohgan’s basement,” he says quietly. “My debt for Mrs. Horn’s life is paid.”
“You did good, Flicker.”
“I guess. Would have been better if the dang door had actually opened. Morningstar, you saved my life, as usual.”
“I’m the only one left then,” says Ernie. “But my promise is kind of open-ended.”
“Er,” interrupts the giant. “Since I’d rather not see more fighting, I’m going to warn you that the next shift is going to be along in just a few minutes.”
There’s some more hasty discussion over the mind-link. The general consensus is that the next step is Eigomic. The Company considers various plans of diplomacy, stealth and violence, weighing pros and cons. The plan they decide on is this: most of the party will fly up and out of sight, wind-walking, invisible or both. The giants will be released to report exactly what happened – that a bunch of little people with magic powers were here tampering with the statue. That should bring Eigomic out to investigate, allowing Dranko the freedom to sneak into his house and search for the tower key, and any passwords that might be necessary for entrance.
“Before you go,” says the giant. “I’m…er… pretty hurt, from when you guys were beating me up. I’ve seen you heal the tiny little guy back to health. Can you give me some of that?”
“Sure!” says Kibi.
“No!” say Aravis and Morningstar at the same time.
“There could still be trouble before the day is out,” says Morningstar. “I don’t think we can waste out resources on the giant. Besides, it’s mostly subdual damage; he’ll heal.”
“But we hurt him, and he was just doing his job,” protests Kibi. “He’s not evil. He’s been quite helpful, all things considered. If you won’t heal him, I’m giving him one of my healing potions.”
“That’s even worse,” says Aravis. “Our potions are non-renewable. If we’re going to heal him, we should use a spell.”
“I really think it’s a bad idea,” says Morningstar. “I still say no.”
Grey Wolf nods his head in agreement, but Step shakes his head, clearly siding with Kibi.
“It’s the right thing to do,” says Kibi, obstinate. “If you won’t heal him, I’m giving him my potion, and that’s that.”
“Fine,” says Morningstar, exasperated. “Tell the giant to ask me for healing, and I’ll do it. Better that than you waste your potion.”
She heals the thankful giant, glaring at Kibi as she does so.
“We’re leaving now,” says Kibi. “You can tell Eigomic everything. We don’t want you to get into trouble on our account.”
“I hear the other giants coming,” says Dranko. “Let’s go.”
Kibi picks up the dragon-card from the ground and the huge red monster winks out of existence. The Company flies up, up and away. Behind them they hear the giant call out to his boxed-in friend, “Hey Korrin, I’m coming up to help you out of there. You ok?”
“Yeah,” says the trapped giant. “They tried to trick me into drinking this wine that’s probably poisoned, but I was too smart for ‘em. We’ve got to go tell Eigomic what happened.”
“Yup. Good idea.”
…to be continued…
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