The Heroes of Icemist (SmallBeginnings 2)- Interlude update 2/21/2008!
- Thread starter Enk&D'Shai
- Start date
Things you "could" blame for the story hour being late..(roll a d10 for best results add modifiers as needed)
1) X-men or X-box or both (Darn game sucks the brain right outta ya
2) Puzzle Pirates...stupid online game sucks what's left
3) Football Pre-season (imagine what the real season will be like..GO STEELERS!)
4) Enk
5) Small Beginnings Book I (or Kinkos for not working with us to get it bound properly)
6) Rehearsal for talk like a pirate day (Sept 19 people!)
7) Treants and the work needed to cut them down from your back yard
8) Road construction (I blame it for everything else)
9) New Campaign starting Oct 1 (Maybe a new story hour..maybe not..hey we can't even do one on time)
10) Price of Chicken in China
11) Knee injury
12) Precarious precipace with armed ninjas
13) Money to buy a new laptop ....now which one
14) Baseball Playoff (Even if the Reds and Pirates are already out!)
15) Setting Tivo for fall schedule
16) Spiders and other random encounters
17) Acute case of computer phobia
18) Global Warming
1) X-men or X-box or both (Darn game sucks the brain right outta ya
2) Puzzle Pirates...stupid online game sucks what's left
3) Football Pre-season (imagine what the real season will be like..GO STEELERS!)
4) Enk
5) Small Beginnings Book I (or Kinkos for not working with us to get it bound properly)
6) Rehearsal for talk like a pirate day (Sept 19 people!)
7) Treants and the work needed to cut them down from your back yard
8) Road construction (I blame it for everything else)
9) New Campaign starting Oct 1 (Maybe a new story hour..maybe not..hey we can't even do one on time)
10) Price of Chicken in China
11) Knee injury
12) Precarious precipace with armed ninjas
13) Money to buy a new laptop ....now which one
14) Baseball Playoff (Even if the Reds and Pirates are already out!)
15) Setting Tivo for fall schedule
16) Spiders and other random encounters
17) Acute case of computer phobia
18) Global Warming
OaxacanWarrior
First Post
Those are some pretty good reasons for the dearth of updates. I just hope that they can all be overcome soon so that we can enjoy more story hour goodness in the very near future!
Enk&D'Shai
First Post
About Time
This is a test of your Emergancy Posting System. This is only a test. If this were an actual post there would be witty banter right here. Enk and Mrs. Enk have not given birth to another little Enkette. D'shai however is on a business trip, so anybody in the D.C area from 9/19/05 to 9/23/05 or Salt Lake City, Utah from 9/25/05 to 9/30/05 that wants to have a libation give us a post. We will now return you to your regularly way past due update from two weeks ago.
****
“This changes everything” Theo said, rubbing his chin. The Ionian could hear the concern in the old cleric’s voice.
“That's… that’s horrible!” squeaked Pack. “What kind of monsters… We can’t just leave him there, we’ve got to do something!" The bard’s voice cracked with panic, and Theo let a firm hand drop to the halfling’s shoulder. Pack calmed visibly at the old man’s firm touch.
"I told you we shouldn't have waited so long to go." Worm snapped as he glared at the woodsman.
"Ander?" Ashrem let the ranger’s name hang in the air for a moment. That he had chosen to use that particular name was telling. Soon, all eyes rested on the ranger.
How can you look to me after what I've done? "Gather your gear,” he said unsteadily, “we’re going now. Ashrem, are you sure it was the coachman that they had hostage?"
"That is difficult to say for certain: I could not identify what was left of his face. His scent is the same as the one who transported us to Sir Brandimere's. That is as sure as I can be." The feloine paused for a moment as he shifted in Grogger’s doorway, "I believe it to be no coincidence that his torturers are members of the same tattooed clan that attacked us when we first entered the city."
"Agreed,” said the woodsman as he shifted his hastily donned leather jack. He still felt the eyes on him. “Its a few blocks north right by the river, right? Very well, we’ll work in three groups: Ashrem, you take the lead, and Pack and I will follow about a block behind you. Theo, I need you and Worm to bring up our rear, about a block behind that. Try to stay out of lamplight as best you can.”
Worm grumbled. “We should just rush them. Put them off balance and smash them while they spin.”
“No. Keeping to the shadows is our best path. If we can get into position and hit them all at once we might still be able to get that coachman out alive. It’s our fault he’s there in the first place.” Worm had already started whipping his massive cudgel around the room by the time the Ionian had finished, and the young warrior sighed and shook his head. “Ash, let’s move,” he said, turning back toward the feloine.
The doorway was already empty, the feloine already having disappeared into the shadows of the moonlit street. With a deep breath the woodsman followed suit, dodging across the street, weaving behind an abandoned cart, and sliding into a darkened alcove with his halfling shadow in tow. From structure to structure the pair noiselessly moved, dogging Ashrem’s steps and watching for those brief moments when the scout would glide through lamp-lit alleys from one building to the next. Good thing Theo knows this city. I doubt he and Worm would be able to keep up otherwise.
Finally, Ashrem slid through the glow of a high lamp illuminating a small riverside dock and took cover behind a single land-docked rowboat. With a pat on the halfling’s shoulder, the woodsman sent Pack to join him, and soon all three crouched behind the tiny ship.
“The shack is there,” said the feloine, pointing to a well lit but dilapidated shanty that leaned precariously toward the river near which it was built. “If all is the same, there are four men inside: the hostage and three others armed with small swords. There are two entrances, one in the front, and one in the back, and a window set in the roof.”
“Go ahead and get into position. Pack and I will wait here for Theo and Worm. On your signal we’ll move up behind you. You taking the roof?”
“Yes.”
The Ionian placed a hand on the scout’s shoulder. “Listen. About before. I should have told you. I should have…”
The feloine's yellow eyes seemed to glow as they turned to meet his. "You cannot undo what has been done, Ander. Whatever you have done in the past does not affect what you do now. If you make mention of it again, I will consider it an insult to our friendship." The words hung in the air long after the scout had skulked off into the night.
Ander watched as the scout edged around the circle of light surrounding the shack, moving in and out of the light as he crept around the corner of the shanty. Snakes bite my eyes! He's lost his whole island and all I can think about is myself! Gods mark me for a fool!
"Oh no!" Pack's whispered warning turned Ander's attention backward, toward the thumping footfalls that could be heard echoing from the adjoining street.
"Bones, Worm, no!" Ander hissed as the hulking half-orc sped from the shadows, racing straight toward the ramshackle hut. A bloodcurdling roar erupted from the warrior as he passed the hidden pair.
The woodsman could only watch as Worm’s shoulder demolished the shanty and began swinging his two-handed club. Ander cursed as he sprinted forward, leaving Pack quickly behind. Moments later the Ionian barreled through what was left of the doorway only to see a thug crash limply though the thin wood siding next to it, propelled with a wet smack by the half-orc’s huge club.
"Ha! I had to hit him a second time because I hit him so hard the first time he forgot that he got hit!" the half-orc proclaimed, leaning against his club and marveling at his own handiwork. Arrogant little…
Ander moved to join Ashrem on the far side of the hut where the feloine was cleaning his blade; the prone corpse of another clan member lay bleeding beneath his feet. “Where's the third?" the woodsman asked, as Theo and Pack entered the hovel. The cleric was breathing heavily after the unexpected run.
"He ran like a jackrabbit and dropped through a trap door before I could get to him,” said the half-orc, jerking his thumb toward a hatchway set in the floor. “I told you – smash ‘em while they spin. I must have scared him half to death when I came through the door. He even tried tossing a knife at me, but didn’t even come close.”
“I don’t think he was aiming at you, Worm,” said Pack quietly. The half-orc’s littler but older brother pointed past the smiling warrior to a long handled dagger protruding from the chest of the hostage, still bound to a chair in the middle of the bare room. The blade had been thrown expertly, and left no question as to its real target.
Theo, still winded, had already moved to the coachman and placed a hand to his neck. “Dead,” he said through breaths. “We’re too late.”
“Indeed,” said Ashrem. “The killer even had time to lock this escape route behind him.”
“Damnation!” Ander whispered as he clenched his staff. “Ashrem, open that thing so we can give that gutterrot what he deserves!”
With practiced motion the scout produced a small leather case filled with thin tools. “Have patience, Ander. He may run, but he cannot hide, and he has likely trapped his escape route. Give me a moment to…”
"Always with the talking when you should be doing,” grunted Worm. “Step aside and let the Wyrm show you how it’s done!" The half-orc shoved the scout aside and straddled a corner of the portal.
"No, lad! Don't!" cried Theo, rushing toward the half-orc. But the warning went unheeded, and Ander watched, puzzled, as the hulking warrior jumped a halfling’s height into the air.
“Blood and bones,” Ander whispered as Worm slammed feet first onto the hatchway, disappearing in a flash of brilliant light that sprouted tendrils of Zuras-like energy that arced toward the survivors.
This is a test of your Emergancy Posting System. This is only a test. If this were an actual post there would be witty banter right here. Enk and Mrs. Enk have not given birth to another little Enkette. D'shai however is on a business trip, so anybody in the D.C area from 9/19/05 to 9/23/05 or Salt Lake City, Utah from 9/25/05 to 9/30/05 that wants to have a libation give us a post. We will now return you to your regularly way past due update from two weeks ago.
****
“This changes everything” Theo said, rubbing his chin. The Ionian could hear the concern in the old cleric’s voice.
“That's… that’s horrible!” squeaked Pack. “What kind of monsters… We can’t just leave him there, we’ve got to do something!" The bard’s voice cracked with panic, and Theo let a firm hand drop to the halfling’s shoulder. Pack calmed visibly at the old man’s firm touch.
"I told you we shouldn't have waited so long to go." Worm snapped as he glared at the woodsman.
"Ander?" Ashrem let the ranger’s name hang in the air for a moment. That he had chosen to use that particular name was telling. Soon, all eyes rested on the ranger.
How can you look to me after what I've done? "Gather your gear,” he said unsteadily, “we’re going now. Ashrem, are you sure it was the coachman that they had hostage?"
"That is difficult to say for certain: I could not identify what was left of his face. His scent is the same as the one who transported us to Sir Brandimere's. That is as sure as I can be." The feloine paused for a moment as he shifted in Grogger’s doorway, "I believe it to be no coincidence that his torturers are members of the same tattooed clan that attacked us when we first entered the city."
"Agreed,” said the woodsman as he shifted his hastily donned leather jack. He still felt the eyes on him. “Its a few blocks north right by the river, right? Very well, we’ll work in three groups: Ashrem, you take the lead, and Pack and I will follow about a block behind you. Theo, I need you and Worm to bring up our rear, about a block behind that. Try to stay out of lamplight as best you can.”
Worm grumbled. “We should just rush them. Put them off balance and smash them while they spin.”
“No. Keeping to the shadows is our best path. If we can get into position and hit them all at once we might still be able to get that coachman out alive. It’s our fault he’s there in the first place.” Worm had already started whipping his massive cudgel around the room by the time the Ionian had finished, and the young warrior sighed and shook his head. “Ash, let’s move,” he said, turning back toward the feloine.
The doorway was already empty, the feloine already having disappeared into the shadows of the moonlit street. With a deep breath the woodsman followed suit, dodging across the street, weaving behind an abandoned cart, and sliding into a darkened alcove with his halfling shadow in tow. From structure to structure the pair noiselessly moved, dogging Ashrem’s steps and watching for those brief moments when the scout would glide through lamp-lit alleys from one building to the next. Good thing Theo knows this city. I doubt he and Worm would be able to keep up otherwise.
Finally, Ashrem slid through the glow of a high lamp illuminating a small riverside dock and took cover behind a single land-docked rowboat. With a pat on the halfling’s shoulder, the woodsman sent Pack to join him, and soon all three crouched behind the tiny ship.
“The shack is there,” said the feloine, pointing to a well lit but dilapidated shanty that leaned precariously toward the river near which it was built. “If all is the same, there are four men inside: the hostage and three others armed with small swords. There are two entrances, one in the front, and one in the back, and a window set in the roof.”
“Go ahead and get into position. Pack and I will wait here for Theo and Worm. On your signal we’ll move up behind you. You taking the roof?”
“Yes.”
The Ionian placed a hand on the scout’s shoulder. “Listen. About before. I should have told you. I should have…”
The feloine's yellow eyes seemed to glow as they turned to meet his. "You cannot undo what has been done, Ander. Whatever you have done in the past does not affect what you do now. If you make mention of it again, I will consider it an insult to our friendship." The words hung in the air long after the scout had skulked off into the night.
Ander watched as the scout edged around the circle of light surrounding the shack, moving in and out of the light as he crept around the corner of the shanty. Snakes bite my eyes! He's lost his whole island and all I can think about is myself! Gods mark me for a fool!
"Oh no!" Pack's whispered warning turned Ander's attention backward, toward the thumping footfalls that could be heard echoing from the adjoining street.
"Bones, Worm, no!" Ander hissed as the hulking half-orc sped from the shadows, racing straight toward the ramshackle hut. A bloodcurdling roar erupted from the warrior as he passed the hidden pair.
The woodsman could only watch as Worm’s shoulder demolished the shanty and began swinging his two-handed club. Ander cursed as he sprinted forward, leaving Pack quickly behind. Moments later the Ionian barreled through what was left of the doorway only to see a thug crash limply though the thin wood siding next to it, propelled with a wet smack by the half-orc’s huge club.
"Ha! I had to hit him a second time because I hit him so hard the first time he forgot that he got hit!" the half-orc proclaimed, leaning against his club and marveling at his own handiwork. Arrogant little…
Ander moved to join Ashrem on the far side of the hut where the feloine was cleaning his blade; the prone corpse of another clan member lay bleeding beneath his feet. “Where's the third?" the woodsman asked, as Theo and Pack entered the hovel. The cleric was breathing heavily after the unexpected run.
"He ran like a jackrabbit and dropped through a trap door before I could get to him,” said the half-orc, jerking his thumb toward a hatchway set in the floor. “I told you – smash ‘em while they spin. I must have scared him half to death when I came through the door. He even tried tossing a knife at me, but didn’t even come close.”
“I don’t think he was aiming at you, Worm,” said Pack quietly. The half-orc’s littler but older brother pointed past the smiling warrior to a long handled dagger protruding from the chest of the hostage, still bound to a chair in the middle of the bare room. The blade had been thrown expertly, and left no question as to its real target.
Theo, still winded, had already moved to the coachman and placed a hand to his neck. “Dead,” he said through breaths. “We’re too late.”
“Indeed,” said Ashrem. “The killer even had time to lock this escape route behind him.”
“Damnation!” Ander whispered as he clenched his staff. “Ashrem, open that thing so we can give that gutterrot what he deserves!”
With practiced motion the scout produced a small leather case filled with thin tools. “Have patience, Ander. He may run, but he cannot hide, and he has likely trapped his escape route. Give me a moment to…”
"Always with the talking when you should be doing,” grunted Worm. “Step aside and let the Wyrm show you how it’s done!" The half-orc shoved the scout aside and straddled a corner of the portal.
"No, lad! Don't!" cried Theo, rushing toward the half-orc. But the warning went unheeded, and Ander watched, puzzled, as the hulking warrior jumped a halfling’s height into the air.
“Blood and bones,” Ander whispered as Worm slammed feet first onto the hatchway, disappearing in a flash of brilliant light that sprouted tendrils of Zuras-like energy that arced toward the survivors.
OaxacanWarrior
First Post
Enk&D'Shai said:
I am about a half hour drive north of Salt Lake City. I'd love to meet up for lunch or something like that while you're out here in my neck of the woods. Shoot me off an email and we can discuss.
Great update! You have just got to love Worm, don't ya?
OaxacanWarrior
First Post
dshai527 said:
I can understand that feeling. I'm sure I'd be the same way.
Yep, I got them. I'll probably reply sometime later today or tomorrow (depending on what you consider today and tomorrow really seeing as it is now 1:35am my time.)
Okay so here I am in our nation's capitol and they must have known I was coming. i mean why else does my hotel room have an eight person conference table in it with a full fridge and a microwave. This is sweet. Gaming at my place and yes I packed my dice. I mean who travel's without their dice. Can't wait to see what Salt Lake city does for me
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