Small Beginnings - Final Update 6/18/04, ITEOTWAWKI, AIFF!
- Thread starter Enkhidu
- Start date
Enk&D'Shai
First Post
"On Deadly Ground," or, "Fire Down Below!"
Well, you give the masses three weeks to enter to get free dice, and you get - let me count - two qualified entries.
Well, Enk, they were your dice.
But, according to the complicated mathematical formulas I have worked out, we do have a winner.
You forgot to carry the two.
Dang it! Now I have to start all over again!
Why not just save time and call it a draw?
Oh... that's just crazy enough to work. I guess we have two winners - Rel and Badger. So, we'll need you to send us your mailing addresses - send them to enkhidu527@cs.com and we'll send out a set of dice (like the ones I described initially - lots of dice pleasing to the eye but not necessarily an exact match).
And order now for your Dragon-Keeper Meepo Action Playset Ander and Thoqqua not included (Check, Money Order, Loose Change, and First Born Children accepted).
Tip O' the Day
"When holding a contest make sure to give out a prize people will want, I mean Enk doesn't even want his dice. He's the only gamer I know who wants to use the leadership feat for an official diceroller. Sheesh!"
Thank you to all of you who participated, and we will have another contest soon. Maybe some modules or other fine prizes to be awarded.
We would also like to say Thank You for all your patience while we rested up from our battle with the evil Lord EN-fluenza. (Note: I am the one who had to do all the work because, well, Enk really does roll that badly.....I told him he should have been a spellcaster.)
And on that note...
*****
"On Deadly Ground," or, "Fire Down Below!"
Aurora waited on the small landing as Ashrem and Theo pulled the Sarcophagus lid into place just above her head, the stone cap resting heavily on Ander’s staff so as not to close completely. Below her she could see Pack, Meepo, and Ander already exploring this new chamber using the dull green glow of the strange torch that had so recently lit the now dead dragon priest’s tomb. It appeared to the sorceress that at some point this had once been a secret room below the citadel; now only a few stone steps remained, hanging above an earthen passage created from whatever earthquake unburied the place.
With the lid nearly closed, Theo turned and dropped off the landing using the dirt walls to slide to the bottom. Ashrem turned and looked at Aurora, and the young sorceress knew from the glimmer in his eyes that, in his own way, he was saying thank you for what she was about to do. With a reaffirming smile she took the bag from his hands and gave him a playful push off the landing, where the feloine made a graceful roll to join the others.
Alone on her perch, she could see Ander looking up at her, a frown still fixed on his face. The sorceress knew he was none too happy about allowing her to be last one down; however, he, like the others, knew that this needed to be done. After Theo had given such a grand eulogy for the cremated priest, pleading for his soul to be forgiven so that he might enjoy his afterlife, none of the company could object. No crime could have been worth a century or more of being buried alive as punishment.
The young maiden took a moment to focus her thoughts and prepare her mind. She calmed herself with a breath and pulled her magics around her like a shield protecting her from the influences of the sphere. When she felt confident, Aurora opened the bag.
Light washed over the sorceress as she drew forth the Sphere of Sorrows. Images of her mother flooded her mind, pulled to the surface by the hungry orb. Quickly, she pushed them away only to have them replaced by the grisly image of her mentor dead in his study, assassinated by a rival hungry for power. The young mage felt tears well up on her cheeks just as they had before, but with a final push Aurora let go of her thoughts as she let go of the sphere.
For a moment the light continued to flow around the sorceress, but with a quick tug on Ander’s staff the sarcophagus lid came crashing down and the orb’s hallowed music became silent. She knew that the eyes of her friends were upon her, but the sorceress took a moment to compose herself before sliding down the wall to join them.
“Well, looks like only one direction to go now,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood. Meepo’s eyes were the only pair not focused on her, being instead fixated on something hidden in his hands that he alternately sniffed and licked. When her companions didn’t react to her jibe, the sorceress simply handed the staff and bag back to their owners and marched ahead to see what the kobold was attempting to eat. She hadn’t taken more than a few paces when everyone else seemed to snap out of their melancholy and took their spots for the march ahead. The sorceress paused to knock a bug out of Meepo’s hand and then they too joined the advancing group.
The passage continued to grow until the green torch no longer illuminated the walls and large holes began dotting the ground. To Aurora it seemed that they were inside a large gopher hole with lots of smaller passages leading in all directions, but still the small group marched forward. When the passageway seemed at its largest, Meepo stopped them and pointed left. “This way to old master,” he said in his native tongue.
“No Meepo, we are going to fight the demon first.” The kobold looked confused, which was nothing new, but shrugged its shoulders and walked on.
“What was that?” Ander asked as he dropped back to join the young woman.
“Meepo says that’s the passage we need to follow when we leave.”
“Ashrem has a scent to follow, that’s why we didn’t stop to ask which way we should be going. It’s good to know though.”
After a while the passage began to narrow again until finally it ended, exposing a cave-in that led back to the carved stone of the citadel. It was a short hoist up to get back inside the carved stone structure of the keep and, following Ashrem’s lead, the party moved quickly through a tangle of hallways. Aurora was almost relieved when the feloine finally raised a clenched fist to signal the party to stop. The sorceress watched as Ander and Ashrem exchanged whispered words and finally Ander nodded as Ashrem slunk off around the corner.
Aurora’s curiosity was peaked as Ander approached the remaining team. In a hushed voice the woodsman began, “Ashrem says that there are several goblin guards down the next hallway. There is a door between us and them, but we still think it is best if we hit them from surprise. Ashrem and I are best suited to deal with this so the rest of you wait here while we handle it. Okay?”
Aurora noticed Pack and Theo nodding their heads – even Meepo nodded, mimicking the actions of the companions - but the young mage was not yet convinced. “How many, Ander?”
“Aurora, we don’t have time…” Ander stammered. She noticed the distinctive, and increasingly familiar, furrow on the woodsman’s brow that indicated that he was not pleased with her line of questioning.
“How many?”
“Eight. Maybe more. But we think they are spread out in three different rooms behind three different doors.”
“Take Meepo.”
“You can’t come. I know that somehow you walk like your feet were covered in feathers but the fighting will be in close quarters. Besides, we need you to save your energies for when we find this tree-demon.”
“Ander Lad, she said take Meepo, and I agree. Those odds are too high for just the two of you,” Theo quietly rumbled. Aurora could see the priest was holding back a smile and Pack’s sudden interest in the floor indicated that he also found something highly amusing. The sorceress suddenly felt her face brighten and she too found something else not in Ander’s direction to occupy herself.
“Meepo? Oh, yes. Meepo would be a help,” she heard Ander remark blankly. “Alright, Meepo, let’s go.”
At the mention of his name, Aurora saw the kobold’s head snap up to look at Ander, a slight tilt emphasizing his confusing. The sorceress was about to explain until Ander drew his new blade and started around the corner and suddenly recognition flashed in Meepo’s eyes. The small scaly warrior quickly rushed to join the woodsman, stopping only when he noticed that Aurora was not following. A slight nod of her head seemed to tell the kobold all that he needed to know and with what seemed like a sly smile to the sorceress, Meepo the warrior rushed off to battle.
Aurora stood with Theo and Pack, patiently waiting for some indication to the events that were unfolding around the bend. The sorceress strained her ears listening for any sound that might give her some clue, but only silence drifted back to her ears. Wringing her fingers ever tighter around her wand the young maiden tried to calm her nerves, but after many frantic heartbeats she gave in to her desire and pushed forward to aid her friends. Only Theo’s firm grip on her arm stayed her course, and his grim-faced shake of the head let the sorceress know that she was acting foolishly.
Suddenly the hallway erupted with sound; loud thuds, deep throated grunts, an occasional crash, and every so often the high pitched shout of “Meepo Missile!” The three companions quickly bolted around the corner eager to aid their friends. The grisly scene that awaited them was not quite what they had expected.
Ander and Ashrem were both quietly cleaning and sheathing their blades as a half dozen goblin bodies littered the floor about them, each corpse sporting only a single precise wound indicating its cause of death. Behind them, Meepo was actively engaged with running his dazed goblin captive’s head at full speed into a wall while yelling “Meepo Missile!” The resulting impact knocked both kobold and prisoner backwards, and left the latter with a sizable dent in his head.
“Meepo!” Aurora gasped. “Don’t play with your… your… enemies!”
Meepo’s eyes rose to meet Aurora’s and the sorceress immediately felt ashamed about her comment. She knew that the kobold was only doing what was instinctive, and she knew that she had no right to expect him to do any differently. Still, Aurora felt that Meepo was different from the rest. Something deep down inside her told the sorceress that he was special, that Meepo could rise above the primal instincts of his race and become something more: something great. Right, just like what Master Fanzineir saw in me. Only this time I hope it’s real, at least Meepo can’t get ejected from the academy. Sorry Master. Sorry I failed you.
Aurora felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes again at the though of her departed mentor but with a steeled nerve the sorceress pushed the emotions back down and patted the kobold gentle on the head as an apology. Meepo eagerly accepted the affection and turned away pulling a nearby door closed so that he could retrieve his spear that pinned yet another goblin corpse to its wooden surface.
“We decided to let Meepo have the last few.” Ander said almost apologetically. “Ash and I wanted to gauge his fighting skill better so we would know how to react later on.”
“And?” Aurora asked, not wanting to let the woodsman know she hadn’t the slightest clue what he was referring to.
“It is a monster,” Ashrem replied nonchalantly, “and it fights like one. Let us hope our lives never depend on it.”
Ashrem words rang in her ears and Aurora could only stare at the scaly creature as he ripped his spear from his victim’s guts and then proceeded to take a few additional stabs at the lifeless corpse. When Meepo finally paraded up to the sorceress to proudly display his gory weapon, she could only shake her head and smile. Reaching down Aurora patted the kobold’s horned head. “Ashrem’s wrong about you Meepo. We’ll show him. One day you will be a great hero.”
* * *
Meepo loved a good fight, especially when the other side didn’t know there was a fight: it was the kobold way. Lifemate and Soultaker obviously approved, as they seemed very skilled at kobold tactics. Their skill was even more obvious by the way they cleaned the lifeblood of their enemies from their blades, showing they had no respect for the skills of their foes and did not need to add their life spirits to their weapons.
Meepo knew that if he wanted to gain favor with the Rora Angel that he would need much lifeblood to compare with the skills of the Angel’s chosen warriors. It had surprised the dragon keeper that the Angel had come to inspect his handiwork so soon after the battle was joined, but the reaction she had given him when he had presented his weapon coated with his enemies’ lifeblood raised the kobold’s spirit.
Meepo glanced up once more at the Rora Angel as she commanded her warriors to start moving again. The kobold could feel the power that emanated from the Angel’s life force; her majesty overwhelmed the small warrior making him feel invincible. Never in all his clan life had he ever experienced anything like it. He knew Queen Yusdrayl also had power, but her power had always made the dragon keeper sick in his scales, like when he had eaten bad rat. Meepo didn’t know what the Scorched God had planned for him but he knew with the Angel’s guidance he would not fail.
The sudden rise in temperature and the close but not too close crackling of something set ablaze pulled the kobold from his inner turmoil. He quickly scanned the room, shaking his head to clear away his daydreams, and tried to determine his whereabouts and what new danger threatened the Rora Angel. It seemed that the Angel and her followers were prepared for a fight: Soultaker held open a charred door while the others ran in with weapons drawn. Meepo charged forward as well.
The room was a furnace with an entire store of grain as its fuel. Only a lone dung grubber hurried frantically to extinguish it, beating back the fire with an old blanket. Tongues of flame licked out at the kobold and his companions as they moved into the fiery chamber. Lifemate sprang forward in an attempt to catch the Dung-Grubber off guard but the fire drove the warrior back with a threatening snap and burst. Thunderer yelled something in his overland speech, but the roar of the fire drowned out even his booming voice.
With sudden divine inspiration, Meepo realized the Scorch God had given him a chance to shine. He knew that his hard dragon scales would survive the flames much better than the soft fleshy scales the other followers had: it was up to him to eliminate the dung grubber before he realized their presence and sounded the alarm. Bringing his Rora-touched spear to bear, the kobold warrior charged through the fire to slay his hated enemy.
Meepo felt each clawed step as he darted forward. Every breath that the kobold inhaled pulled smoke and ash into his chest, yet he ran on focused only on his target. When only a few steps remained between him and his foe, the dragon warrior yelled out a battle cry and dropped his spear point into place. “Meepo Missile!”
Time seemed to slow for the would-be hero. The dung grubber’s blanket flapped at the flames like Cal’s wing after she had eaten too much – lazily and with little effect. He saw the stones beneath his target’s feet glow red, then white. And, with just a few strides between Meepo and the hob, the kobold threw himself to the side, just in time to see Lifemate streak by him and crash into the dung grubbing fire-fighter. Suddenly the floor beneath the tangled pair burst apart as the head of a fire-top worm broke through like a spear, and swallowed them both, leaving the kobold staring at one of the Scorch God’s most dangerous beasts.
The worm fell back through the hole, leaving a breathless Meepo at the edge of the remaining floor. He ventured a look down the hole and saw the worm rearing back over Lifemate as if ready to strike. Lifemate’s sword hung loosely in his hand, and his legs burned brightly. His screams echoed up the hole, and Meepo knew that the Rora Angel’s Lifemate was so much ash. All of his training under the clan masters yelped at him to run and hide, that better times to fight the fire-top would come, but the kobold’s legs simply picked him up off the stone and propelled him, spear-first, down toward the worm.
“Meepo Missile!” His shout seemed to come from someone else. Meepo dragon-keeper would never have jumped down on the back of a fire-worm. Meepo Rora-keeper would. The kobold cried out, enraged that the worm could hurt someone close to Rora Angel, and with a final shout he drove that rage into the worm’s back on the tip of his spear point.
The thing squealed in pain, lifting itself off of Lifemate’s legs, and Lifemate acted, burying his sword in the beast’s belly, right to the hilt. The worm shuddered and fell to the side, its heat fading as it stopped moving: Meepo stabbed it again and again to make sure it was dead. Then he spotted the broken remains of the dung grubber and stabbed it for good measure, though its head had already been crushed by the falling rubble. He then looked at Lifemate, stopped himself from stabbing the warrior, and took a deep breath.
Lifemate breathed, though his legs still smoked and smoldered and Meepo pushed rubble and dirt on top him to stop the flames. Dust and rocks continued to rain down on the kobold as the warrior stamped out the remaining fires before returning to check on the injured Lifemate. As the keeper examined the fallen warrior the Angel’s melodic voice rang out from above. “Meepo are you alright. Where is Ander?”
“Meepo fine but An-Dur trapped under rock and hurt bad by Fire-top worm. Fire-top worm dead now, no hurt Angel.” Meepo could barely hear the Angel issuing orders to her followers up top using the outlander speak before she yelled back down at him.
“Meepo we need your help. We don’t have much time. The fire up here is burning to fast and we need to get out now.” The small kobold felt his stomach churn, as he knew that the Angel was about to ask him to finish off An-Dur Lifemate so the enemy would not find him like this, but to his surprise the Angel tossed down a rope and asked something different. “Meepo tie the rope to Ander so we can pull him up and get out of here before the fire takes us.”
“Why you no come down and go this way?” The dragon keeper asked pointing down the dark passage underneath the Angel. “There is tunnel down here.”
“Tunnel? Where does it lead?”
“Meepo not know, but Meepo see many trees beyond the tunnel.”
“Trees?” The Angel asked perplexed. “How are there trees growing below ground?”
*****
Next Time!
"Theo Starts a Fight," or "The Perils of Infidelity!"
Well, you give the masses three weeks to enter to get free dice, and you get - let me count - two qualified entries.
Well, Enk, they were your dice.
But, according to the complicated mathematical formulas I have worked out, we do have a winner.
You forgot to carry the two.
Dang it! Now I have to start all over again!
Why not just save time and call it a draw?
Oh... that's just crazy enough to work. I guess we have two winners - Rel and Badger. So, we'll need you to send us your mailing addresses - send them to enkhidu527@cs.com and we'll send out a set of dice (like the ones I described initially - lots of dice pleasing to the eye but not necessarily an exact match).
And order now for your Dragon-Keeper Meepo Action Playset Ander and Thoqqua not included (Check, Money Order, Loose Change, and First Born Children accepted).
Tip O' the Day
"When holding a contest make sure to give out a prize people will want, I mean Enk doesn't even want his dice. He's the only gamer I know who wants to use the leadership feat for an official diceroller. Sheesh!"
Thank you to all of you who participated, and we will have another contest soon. Maybe some modules or other fine prizes to be awarded.
We would also like to say Thank You for all your patience while we rested up from our battle with the evil Lord EN-fluenza. (Note: I am the one who had to do all the work because, well, Enk really does roll that badly.....I told him he should have been a spellcaster.)
And on that note...
*****
"On Deadly Ground," or, "Fire Down Below!"
Aurora waited on the small landing as Ashrem and Theo pulled the Sarcophagus lid into place just above her head, the stone cap resting heavily on Ander’s staff so as not to close completely. Below her she could see Pack, Meepo, and Ander already exploring this new chamber using the dull green glow of the strange torch that had so recently lit the now dead dragon priest’s tomb. It appeared to the sorceress that at some point this had once been a secret room below the citadel; now only a few stone steps remained, hanging above an earthen passage created from whatever earthquake unburied the place.
With the lid nearly closed, Theo turned and dropped off the landing using the dirt walls to slide to the bottom. Ashrem turned and looked at Aurora, and the young sorceress knew from the glimmer in his eyes that, in his own way, he was saying thank you for what she was about to do. With a reaffirming smile she took the bag from his hands and gave him a playful push off the landing, where the feloine made a graceful roll to join the others.
Alone on her perch, she could see Ander looking up at her, a frown still fixed on his face. The sorceress knew he was none too happy about allowing her to be last one down; however, he, like the others, knew that this needed to be done. After Theo had given such a grand eulogy for the cremated priest, pleading for his soul to be forgiven so that he might enjoy his afterlife, none of the company could object. No crime could have been worth a century or more of being buried alive as punishment.
The young maiden took a moment to focus her thoughts and prepare her mind. She calmed herself with a breath and pulled her magics around her like a shield protecting her from the influences of the sphere. When she felt confident, Aurora opened the bag.
Light washed over the sorceress as she drew forth the Sphere of Sorrows. Images of her mother flooded her mind, pulled to the surface by the hungry orb. Quickly, she pushed them away only to have them replaced by the grisly image of her mentor dead in his study, assassinated by a rival hungry for power. The young mage felt tears well up on her cheeks just as they had before, but with a final push Aurora let go of her thoughts as she let go of the sphere.
For a moment the light continued to flow around the sorceress, but with a quick tug on Ander’s staff the sarcophagus lid came crashing down and the orb’s hallowed music became silent. She knew that the eyes of her friends were upon her, but the sorceress took a moment to compose herself before sliding down the wall to join them.
“Well, looks like only one direction to go now,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood. Meepo’s eyes were the only pair not focused on her, being instead fixated on something hidden in his hands that he alternately sniffed and licked. When her companions didn’t react to her jibe, the sorceress simply handed the staff and bag back to their owners and marched ahead to see what the kobold was attempting to eat. She hadn’t taken more than a few paces when everyone else seemed to snap out of their melancholy and took their spots for the march ahead. The sorceress paused to knock a bug out of Meepo’s hand and then they too joined the advancing group.
The passage continued to grow until the green torch no longer illuminated the walls and large holes began dotting the ground. To Aurora it seemed that they were inside a large gopher hole with lots of smaller passages leading in all directions, but still the small group marched forward. When the passageway seemed at its largest, Meepo stopped them and pointed left. “This way to old master,” he said in his native tongue.
“No Meepo, we are going to fight the demon first.” The kobold looked confused, which was nothing new, but shrugged its shoulders and walked on.
“What was that?” Ander asked as he dropped back to join the young woman.
“Meepo says that’s the passage we need to follow when we leave.”
“Ashrem has a scent to follow, that’s why we didn’t stop to ask which way we should be going. It’s good to know though.”
After a while the passage began to narrow again until finally it ended, exposing a cave-in that led back to the carved stone of the citadel. It was a short hoist up to get back inside the carved stone structure of the keep and, following Ashrem’s lead, the party moved quickly through a tangle of hallways. Aurora was almost relieved when the feloine finally raised a clenched fist to signal the party to stop. The sorceress watched as Ander and Ashrem exchanged whispered words and finally Ander nodded as Ashrem slunk off around the corner.
Aurora’s curiosity was peaked as Ander approached the remaining team. In a hushed voice the woodsman began, “Ashrem says that there are several goblin guards down the next hallway. There is a door between us and them, but we still think it is best if we hit them from surprise. Ashrem and I are best suited to deal with this so the rest of you wait here while we handle it. Okay?”
Aurora noticed Pack and Theo nodding their heads – even Meepo nodded, mimicking the actions of the companions - but the young mage was not yet convinced. “How many, Ander?”
“Aurora, we don’t have time…” Ander stammered. She noticed the distinctive, and increasingly familiar, furrow on the woodsman’s brow that indicated that he was not pleased with her line of questioning.
“How many?”
“Eight. Maybe more. But we think they are spread out in three different rooms behind three different doors.”
“Take Meepo.”
“You can’t come. I know that somehow you walk like your feet were covered in feathers but the fighting will be in close quarters. Besides, we need you to save your energies for when we find this tree-demon.”
“Ander Lad, she said take Meepo, and I agree. Those odds are too high for just the two of you,” Theo quietly rumbled. Aurora could see the priest was holding back a smile and Pack’s sudden interest in the floor indicated that he also found something highly amusing. The sorceress suddenly felt her face brighten and she too found something else not in Ander’s direction to occupy herself.
“Meepo? Oh, yes. Meepo would be a help,” she heard Ander remark blankly. “Alright, Meepo, let’s go.”
At the mention of his name, Aurora saw the kobold’s head snap up to look at Ander, a slight tilt emphasizing his confusing. The sorceress was about to explain until Ander drew his new blade and started around the corner and suddenly recognition flashed in Meepo’s eyes. The small scaly warrior quickly rushed to join the woodsman, stopping only when he noticed that Aurora was not following. A slight nod of her head seemed to tell the kobold all that he needed to know and with what seemed like a sly smile to the sorceress, Meepo the warrior rushed off to battle.
Aurora stood with Theo and Pack, patiently waiting for some indication to the events that were unfolding around the bend. The sorceress strained her ears listening for any sound that might give her some clue, but only silence drifted back to her ears. Wringing her fingers ever tighter around her wand the young maiden tried to calm her nerves, but after many frantic heartbeats she gave in to her desire and pushed forward to aid her friends. Only Theo’s firm grip on her arm stayed her course, and his grim-faced shake of the head let the sorceress know that she was acting foolishly.
Suddenly the hallway erupted with sound; loud thuds, deep throated grunts, an occasional crash, and every so often the high pitched shout of “Meepo Missile!” The three companions quickly bolted around the corner eager to aid their friends. The grisly scene that awaited them was not quite what they had expected.
Ander and Ashrem were both quietly cleaning and sheathing their blades as a half dozen goblin bodies littered the floor about them, each corpse sporting only a single precise wound indicating its cause of death. Behind them, Meepo was actively engaged with running his dazed goblin captive’s head at full speed into a wall while yelling “Meepo Missile!” The resulting impact knocked both kobold and prisoner backwards, and left the latter with a sizable dent in his head.
“Meepo!” Aurora gasped. “Don’t play with your… your… enemies!”
Meepo’s eyes rose to meet Aurora’s and the sorceress immediately felt ashamed about her comment. She knew that the kobold was only doing what was instinctive, and she knew that she had no right to expect him to do any differently. Still, Aurora felt that Meepo was different from the rest. Something deep down inside her told the sorceress that he was special, that Meepo could rise above the primal instincts of his race and become something more: something great. Right, just like what Master Fanzineir saw in me. Only this time I hope it’s real, at least Meepo can’t get ejected from the academy. Sorry Master. Sorry I failed you.
Aurora felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes again at the though of her departed mentor but with a steeled nerve the sorceress pushed the emotions back down and patted the kobold gentle on the head as an apology. Meepo eagerly accepted the affection and turned away pulling a nearby door closed so that he could retrieve his spear that pinned yet another goblin corpse to its wooden surface.
“We decided to let Meepo have the last few.” Ander said almost apologetically. “Ash and I wanted to gauge his fighting skill better so we would know how to react later on.”
“And?” Aurora asked, not wanting to let the woodsman know she hadn’t the slightest clue what he was referring to.
“It is a monster,” Ashrem replied nonchalantly, “and it fights like one. Let us hope our lives never depend on it.”
Ashrem words rang in her ears and Aurora could only stare at the scaly creature as he ripped his spear from his victim’s guts and then proceeded to take a few additional stabs at the lifeless corpse. When Meepo finally paraded up to the sorceress to proudly display his gory weapon, she could only shake her head and smile. Reaching down Aurora patted the kobold’s horned head. “Ashrem’s wrong about you Meepo. We’ll show him. One day you will be a great hero.”
* * *
Meepo loved a good fight, especially when the other side didn’t know there was a fight: it was the kobold way. Lifemate and Soultaker obviously approved, as they seemed very skilled at kobold tactics. Their skill was even more obvious by the way they cleaned the lifeblood of their enemies from their blades, showing they had no respect for the skills of their foes and did not need to add their life spirits to their weapons.
Meepo knew that if he wanted to gain favor with the Rora Angel that he would need much lifeblood to compare with the skills of the Angel’s chosen warriors. It had surprised the dragon keeper that the Angel had come to inspect his handiwork so soon after the battle was joined, but the reaction she had given him when he had presented his weapon coated with his enemies’ lifeblood raised the kobold’s spirit.
Meepo glanced up once more at the Rora Angel as she commanded her warriors to start moving again. The kobold could feel the power that emanated from the Angel’s life force; her majesty overwhelmed the small warrior making him feel invincible. Never in all his clan life had he ever experienced anything like it. He knew Queen Yusdrayl also had power, but her power had always made the dragon keeper sick in his scales, like when he had eaten bad rat. Meepo didn’t know what the Scorched God had planned for him but he knew with the Angel’s guidance he would not fail.
The sudden rise in temperature and the close but not too close crackling of something set ablaze pulled the kobold from his inner turmoil. He quickly scanned the room, shaking his head to clear away his daydreams, and tried to determine his whereabouts and what new danger threatened the Rora Angel. It seemed that the Angel and her followers were prepared for a fight: Soultaker held open a charred door while the others ran in with weapons drawn. Meepo charged forward as well.
The room was a furnace with an entire store of grain as its fuel. Only a lone dung grubber hurried frantically to extinguish it, beating back the fire with an old blanket. Tongues of flame licked out at the kobold and his companions as they moved into the fiery chamber. Lifemate sprang forward in an attempt to catch the Dung-Grubber off guard but the fire drove the warrior back with a threatening snap and burst. Thunderer yelled something in his overland speech, but the roar of the fire drowned out even his booming voice.
With sudden divine inspiration, Meepo realized the Scorch God had given him a chance to shine. He knew that his hard dragon scales would survive the flames much better than the soft fleshy scales the other followers had: it was up to him to eliminate the dung grubber before he realized their presence and sounded the alarm. Bringing his Rora-touched spear to bear, the kobold warrior charged through the fire to slay his hated enemy.
Meepo felt each clawed step as he darted forward. Every breath that the kobold inhaled pulled smoke and ash into his chest, yet he ran on focused only on his target. When only a few steps remained between him and his foe, the dragon warrior yelled out a battle cry and dropped his spear point into place. “Meepo Missile!”
Time seemed to slow for the would-be hero. The dung grubber’s blanket flapped at the flames like Cal’s wing after she had eaten too much – lazily and with little effect. He saw the stones beneath his target’s feet glow red, then white. And, with just a few strides between Meepo and the hob, the kobold threw himself to the side, just in time to see Lifemate streak by him and crash into the dung grubbing fire-fighter. Suddenly the floor beneath the tangled pair burst apart as the head of a fire-top worm broke through like a spear, and swallowed them both, leaving the kobold staring at one of the Scorch God’s most dangerous beasts.
The worm fell back through the hole, leaving a breathless Meepo at the edge of the remaining floor. He ventured a look down the hole and saw the worm rearing back over Lifemate as if ready to strike. Lifemate’s sword hung loosely in his hand, and his legs burned brightly. His screams echoed up the hole, and Meepo knew that the Rora Angel’s Lifemate was so much ash. All of his training under the clan masters yelped at him to run and hide, that better times to fight the fire-top would come, but the kobold’s legs simply picked him up off the stone and propelled him, spear-first, down toward the worm.
“Meepo Missile!” His shout seemed to come from someone else. Meepo dragon-keeper would never have jumped down on the back of a fire-worm. Meepo Rora-keeper would. The kobold cried out, enraged that the worm could hurt someone close to Rora Angel, and with a final shout he drove that rage into the worm’s back on the tip of his spear point.
The thing squealed in pain, lifting itself off of Lifemate’s legs, and Lifemate acted, burying his sword in the beast’s belly, right to the hilt. The worm shuddered and fell to the side, its heat fading as it stopped moving: Meepo stabbed it again and again to make sure it was dead. Then he spotted the broken remains of the dung grubber and stabbed it for good measure, though its head had already been crushed by the falling rubble. He then looked at Lifemate, stopped himself from stabbing the warrior, and took a deep breath.
Lifemate breathed, though his legs still smoked and smoldered and Meepo pushed rubble and dirt on top him to stop the flames. Dust and rocks continued to rain down on the kobold as the warrior stamped out the remaining fires before returning to check on the injured Lifemate. As the keeper examined the fallen warrior the Angel’s melodic voice rang out from above. “Meepo are you alright. Where is Ander?”
“Meepo fine but An-Dur trapped under rock and hurt bad by Fire-top worm. Fire-top worm dead now, no hurt Angel.” Meepo could barely hear the Angel issuing orders to her followers up top using the outlander speak before she yelled back down at him.
“Meepo we need your help. We don’t have much time. The fire up here is burning to fast and we need to get out now.” The small kobold felt his stomach churn, as he knew that the Angel was about to ask him to finish off An-Dur Lifemate so the enemy would not find him like this, but to his surprise the Angel tossed down a rope and asked something different. “Meepo tie the rope to Ander so we can pull him up and get out of here before the fire takes us.”
“Why you no come down and go this way?” The dragon keeper asked pointing down the dark passage underneath the Angel. “There is tunnel down here.”
“Tunnel? Where does it lead?”
“Meepo not know, but Meepo see many trees beyond the tunnel.”
“Trees?” The Angel asked perplexed. “How are there trees growing below ground?”
*****
Next Time!
"Theo Starts a Fight," or "The Perils of Infidelity!"
Hi guys!
P-Kitty just gave me the ability to prune some old non-story posts, and I took the chance to clean out everything from 2002 not directly related to the story itself. Hopefully this will make it easier for our existing readers to look up posts from yesteryear while making it easier for new readers to breeze through the meat of "what has come before."
By the way, Small Beginnings passed 7000 views earlier today (before I started pruning the thread and screwed up the count) - that makes about 1000 views in the month of February. From the looks of it, we have some new readers. Welcome aboard!
By the way, if you are a lurker feel free to post comments, criticism, and questions - D'Shai and I like those!
P-Kitty just gave me the ability to prune some old non-story posts, and I took the chance to clean out everything from 2002 not directly related to the story itself. Hopefully this will make it easier for our existing readers to look up posts from yesteryear while making it easier for new readers to breeze through the meat of "what has come before."
By the way, Small Beginnings passed 7000 views earlier today (before I started pruning the thread and screwed up the count) - that makes about 1000 views in the month of February. From the looks of it, we have some new readers. Welcome aboard!
By the way, if you are a lurker feel free to post comments, criticism, and questions - D'Shai and I like those!
LuYangShih
First Post
Comment: Lifemate seems rather biased against Kobolds, especially given the fact he likely has little to no experience with them up to this point. You'd think he'd be more accepting of the raging psycho bodyguard.
Criticism: I don't think it makes sense for Meepo to use a spear when he has such a high Dexterity. I would think he would use something he could finesse, or preferably, a ranged weapon. It would fit better with the cowardly nature of kobolds, as well.
Question: Are these Heroes of the "destined to succeed" type? In other words, unless they commit near suicidal acts of stupidity, they will never die, right?
Criticism: I don't think it makes sense for Meepo to use a spear when he has such a high Dexterity. I would think he would use something he could finesse, or preferably, a ranged weapon. It would fit better with the cowardly nature of kobolds, as well.
Question: Are these Heroes of the "destined to succeed" type? In other words, unless they commit near suicidal acts of stupidity, they will never die, right?
Just my two cents...
Just my two cents on the questions, and by no means does my opinions reflect or in anyway come close to those possibly held by the main brains behind this great thread...*looks for kleenex to wipe off nose*
I think Meepo uses the spear because it is an upclose and personal weapon, and while the others in his tribe may be cowardly and think to throw stones and use bows, Meepo is a kobold on a mission. He wants to prove that he is worty of Rora Angel's blessing and to do that, he has to be a mighty warrior. Kinda hard to be mighty with a bow in the shadows...
As far as racial bias, that could well be art imitating life, look at our own culture and how some people still can't look past skin, religion, and what not, regardless of if they have been exposed to different things or not. This could be a case of "everyone else hates them, guess I do too.."
As far as the death goes, I think if they really screwed the pooch, they could die, but for me personally, if Theo was to die in Act three, I wouldn't want to know in advance that he did. So, in some things, its best to stay in the dark.
Would talk more, but my class for today is about to start...
More to follow as I can...
Badger
P.S. I'll get the addy soon for the dice...my girl said I could bronze them since I so psyched I tied to win..
Just my two cents on the questions, and by no means does my opinions reflect or in anyway come close to those possibly held by the main brains behind this great thread...*looks for kleenex to wipe off nose*
I think Meepo uses the spear because it is an upclose and personal weapon, and while the others in his tribe may be cowardly and think to throw stones and use bows, Meepo is a kobold on a mission. He wants to prove that he is worty of Rora Angel's blessing and to do that, he has to be a mighty warrior. Kinda hard to be mighty with a bow in the shadows...
As far as racial bias, that could well be art imitating life, look at our own culture and how some people still can't look past skin, religion, and what not, regardless of if they have been exposed to different things or not. This could be a case of "everyone else hates them, guess I do too.."
As far as the death goes, I think if they really screwed the pooch, they could die, but for me personally, if Theo was to die in Act three, I wouldn't want to know in advance that he did. So, in some things, its best to stay in the dark.
Would talk more, but my class for today is about to start...
More to follow as I can...
Badger
P.S. I'll get the addy soon for the dice...my girl said I could bronze them since I so psyched I tied to win..
Good questions, overall!
I think you're talking about Ashrem, the one that Meepo calls "Soultaker." So far in the Story Hour, he's had very little contact with kobolds, true, but I can safely say (without giving anything away too soon) that Ashrem has more experience with them than he lets on. All will be revealed in time.
Not exactly. The PCs went into the Sunless Citadel a bit more powerful than your standard beginning PCs, in order to account for the background D'Shai wanted us to cook up (at least 2 or 3 years of connections in Icemist in order to provide for some intraparty connection). What your seeing here is the fallout from that slightly higher level of power. For a better idea of what the party is like when it all begins, you can check out their stat blocks in the Rogue's Gallery here.
Other than that, D'Shai believes in the concept of the "Freebie," where death is avoidable for a PC one time during their career. Usually, he just uses it as an excuse to mess with the player even more (as in "there are worse fates than death!").
Anyway, keep asking and we'll keep answering!
LuYangShih said:
I think you're talking about Ashrem, the one that Meepo calls "Soultaker." So far in the Story Hour, he's had very little contact with kobolds, true, but I can safely say (without giving anything away too soon) that Ashrem has more experience with them than he lets on. All will be revealed in time.
What you say makes perfect sense - unfortunatly, Meepo doesn't usually make a lot of sense. This is a situation of our characters (PC or NPC) making "substandard" choices based on events in the story - in this particular example, Meepo's rather skewed view of "Rora Angel and her followers" has made him place a greater than proper significance on a simple spear.
Not exactly. The PCs went into the Sunless Citadel a bit more powerful than your standard beginning PCs, in order to account for the background D'Shai wanted us to cook up (at least 2 or 3 years of connections in Icemist in order to provide for some intraparty connection). What your seeing here is the fallout from that slightly higher level of power. For a better idea of what the party is like when it all begins, you can check out their stat blocks in the Rogue's Gallery here.
Other than that, D'Shai believes in the concept of the "Freebie," where death is avoidable for a PC one time during their career. Usually, he just uses it as an excuse to mess with the player even more (as in "there are worse fates than death!").
Anyway, keep asking and we'll keep answering!
Rel
Liquid Awesome
Another fantastic installment. Loved the way they got rid of the Sphere of Sorrows and all the hot-Meepo-Missile action. The fact that I managed to tie for a win with Badger is just gravy.
I feel (unjustly) that I should make a great speach:
I'd like to thank all the little people who made this award possible. Especially Pack and Meepo, since they're, well...little.
I'd also like to give a special mention to the dung-grubbing goblins whose slaughter has really helped bring life to the party and who have frankly given us all lots of entertainment with their dying.
Then there's Enk and dshai whose brilliant writing helped inspire my choices for the movie roles. You guys sort of remind me of Afleck and Damon. Well, a "Good Will Hunting" era Afleck and Damon, not a "Reindeer Games" era Afleck and Damon. But you know what I mean.
Gosh, there are so many other people to thank. I'll list them alphabetically. There's Ander and Ashrem and Aurora and...*The "Hurry Up And Finish Your Speach" music drowns out the rest of Rel's pointless oratory.*
You guys still have one of the best story hours on the boards. And I'm not just saying that because of the bribe, er...gift, er...prize. Yeah that's it. The PRIZE that I EARNED.
I feel (unjustly) that I should make a great speach:
I'd like to thank all the little people who made this award possible. Especially Pack and Meepo, since they're, well...little.
I'd also like to give a special mention to the dung-grubbing goblins whose slaughter has really helped bring life to the party and who have frankly given us all lots of entertainment with their dying.
Then there's Enk and dshai whose brilliant writing helped inspire my choices for the movie roles. You guys sort of remind me of Afleck and Damon. Well, a "Good Will Hunting" era Afleck and Damon, not a "Reindeer Games" era Afleck and Damon. But you know what I mean.
Gosh, there are so many other people to thank. I'll list them alphabetically. There's Ander and Ashrem and Aurora and...*The "Hurry Up And Finish Your Speach" music drowns out the rest of Rel's pointless oratory.*
You guys still have one of the best story hours on the boards. And I'm not just saying that because of the bribe, er...gift, er...prize. Yeah that's it. The PRIZE that I EARNED.
Speeches...
Hmmm.....since Rel made his speech I feel it's only fair that I do the same...Pardon me while I whip this thing out...
I'd like to thank all the BIG people who made this award possible. Especially Ander and that Bear thingie in the woods, since they're, well...BIG.
I'd also like to give a special mention to the Amish whose home made cheese and horse drawn carriages really helped bring life to all parties and who have frankly given us all lots of entertainment with their facial hair and did I mention home made butter?
Then there's Enk and dshai whose brilliant writing helped inspire my choices for the movie roles. You guys sort of remind me of me and Rel. Well, a "Mork and Mindy" era me and Rel, not a "The World According to Garp" era. But I digress and ramble on pointlessly.
Gosh, there are so many more things I could say, but as Rel's speech ended rather abruptly here, then I guess mine must too. Thanks again for the outlet to waste the precious time alloted to me at something I enjoy, vice the reality the Navy tries to impose on me...
Peace and always remember 'No matter how bad the food may be, its nothing that a little Texas Pete won't fix.'
Badger
Yes, I know I will proly be banned after that shameless copy of Rel's speech, but I'm bored, and he left me the opening to use my "copy" function..
Hmmm.....since Rel made his speech I feel it's only fair that I do the same...Pardon me while I whip this thing out...
I'd like to thank all the BIG people who made this award possible. Especially Ander and that Bear thingie in the woods, since they're, well...BIG.
I'd also like to give a special mention to the Amish whose home made cheese and horse drawn carriages really helped bring life to all parties and who have frankly given us all lots of entertainment with their facial hair and did I mention home made butter?
Then there's Enk and dshai whose brilliant writing helped inspire my choices for the movie roles. You guys sort of remind me of me and Rel. Well, a "Mork and Mindy" era me and Rel, not a "The World According to Garp" era. But I digress and ramble on pointlessly.
Gosh, there are so many more things I could say, but as Rel's speech ended rather abruptly here, then I guess mine must too. Thanks again for the outlet to waste the precious time alloted to me at something I enjoy, vice the reality the Navy tries to impose on me...
Peace and always remember 'No matter how bad the food may be, its nothing that a little Texas Pete won't fix.'
Badger
Yes, I know I will proly be banned after that shameless copy of Rel's speech, but I'm bored, and he left me the opening to use my "copy" function..
LuYangShih
First Post
Enkhidu said:
Nah, I'm talking about Ander. I know the difference between Lifemate and Soultaker! Ander seems to be at least as disapproving of Meepo as Ashrem, despite the aid the little guy has given the party (and him in particular) so far.
Well, he should at least throw the spear every now and then.
Alright, then. I already looked at that thread, (that's how I knew Meepos Dexterity), but I figured the statistics were for the current incarnations of the characters.
Will do. Thanks for the answers.
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