Ties that Bind - Citadel Adbar - Chapter 1 "The best defense is a good offense..."

[gabrion]

Posting Guidelines:

• Please post on this thread at least once each day. Unless you let me know that you won’t be posting for some reason, I will take over your character’s actions after two days of no posting and if a week goes by without notice, I will look for Alts. The exception to this rule will be if I am gone for a period of time (traveling or the like), in which case I will let you all know that posting every day is not required (though RP posting is still encouraged).
• Speech should be “bold” and surrounded by quotation marks. You should use one specific color for your character’s speech, but please don’t use Light Blue or Dark Red as these will be primarily used by me. Don’t use the same color as someone else (first come first serve).
• Thoughts should be italicized and should be the same color (or a lighter version thereof) as your speech.
• Actions and descriptive text should be written in normal format (ie not bold or italicized).
• Out of game comments should be marked by “OOC:” and they should be placed in sblocks at the end of your post. This is where you should put any relevant rolls or statistics, or just a simple breakdown of what your character did for the round. Out of game stuff that isn't pertinent to the situation at hand can be posted on the OOC thread. Example OOC post:
  OOC:[sblock]Harry moves back 15 ft. and casts Tensor’s Silly Putty Spray at the Great Gold Wyrm doing 2 damage.
  
  AC: 10
  HP: 7[/sblock]
• Speaking of rolls, please use Invisible Castle for all rolls. Use your Character’s name as it appears on your sheet and put the purpose of the roll in the “notes” section. In combat I prefer you making your own rolls, but I will at times roll certain things for you (ie some search and spot checks, initiative, and other things if I feel the need).
• Don’t read the IC or OOC threads for the other half of this game. They other group isn’t your enemy per se, but reading their threads will give you info that your character wouldn’t have. Also on this topic, please don’t read sblocks addressed specifically to other people.
• Have fun! I’m really looking forward to this game and I hope you all are as excited as I am. Keep in mind that we are playing in a very high powered game and I’ve seen attitudes of one-upmanship come from such situations, so let’s be sure to avoid that. Everyone will be a vital part of the team so work together and enjoy yourselves!

Cast:

• GFSRumble – Bruggin Darkforge Fighter 6 / Mighty Contender of Clangeddin 6//Cleric 8 / Spellfire Channeler 4
• Someone – Jares Athuo Ranger 2/Fighter 4/Tempest 5/Exotic Weapons Master 1//Domain Wizard 12
• kyoni – Yorlii Rogue 4/Varient Ranger 1/Warshaper 3/Shadowlord 4//Psychic Warrior 5/Elocator 7

Links:

• OOC Thread
• RG Thread

 

[gabrion]

So it begins...

The air of Citadel Adbar holds a heavy smell of heated metal and flaming forges, a smell that has marked the Citadel’s power for years. Those who live here know they live in a fortress, and daily activities make it seem as though full scale war is being waged. The forges constantly turn out bundles of new weapons and racks of armor large enough to outfit whole legions, but the sounds of battle are not to be heard.

No, for the people of Citadel Adbar these trades are a way of life and though it may seem to the untrained eye that the Citadel is preparing for war, these are simply tradesmen carrying out their daily duties. War may not be on the door step of Citadel Adbar, but it is always happening somewhere it the realms and armies are always happy to be outfitted by the outstanding craftsmanship of the Citadel.

Despite the current stability of Citadel Adbar, King Harbromm watches over the city from his tower with a troubled mind. He didn’t regret leaving the confederation and was actually relieved to be free of their silly political games and constant weak minded attitudes. Never-the-less, he couldn’t deny the fact that strife within the League of Silver Marches would cause him trouble as well.

Ever since the cities of the north united, his problems with the barbarous creatures of the land had decreased as they hid from the combined strength of the north. Now that the confederation was showing weakness, he had no doubt that orcs, giants, raiders and any other monsters of the north would descend from their hiding places like a river breaking through a high dam.

Citadel Adbar was secure to say the least, but Harbromm was not one to take chances. He would not see this great city fall on his watch, and if he had it his way, the Citadel wont have to worry about defending itself…

Players:[sblock]At this point I would like all of you to make a single post that describes what you’ve been up to in Cidatel Adbar (why you’re here, where you’re staying, what you do on an average day). Some of you have covered this in your background, but post it here in character.[/sblock]

 

[GSFRumble]

"Through smoke 'n 'aze 'n lonely days,
Me granpappy allus carried...
An axe o' steel an' a flint ter match,
An 'is swordwife she ne'er tarried!"

Bruggin grinned, rocking back and forth slowly on his stone stool. His father's axe was cradled across his lumpy knees, which bulged a bit at the bends in his trousers. Most Dwarves moved about their business, smithing busily... but Bruggin was contented to spend his time when he was not wandering simply polishing his axe, singing in his rough, Dwarven voice, and giving blessing and spellcastings to Dwarves who might wish his assistance with various tasks. The other day, he'd helped a younger Dwarf enchant an axe, much like his father's. A smile wrinkling his broad face, Bruggin went slowly into the second verse of his song, still slowly polishing his axe and watching the smiths bustle by.

"So me granpappy, he says he unto 'is wife,
"Me lovely, yor blades are dull!
Yor 'ammer is bent an' yor apron is sooty,
An' yor dinner time beer i'n't so tasty!""

Still smiling, Bruggin continued to hum his song to himself; he'd heard the grumbling, he'd heard the complaints. No matter what he contributed, the fiery Dwarf simply wasn't doing enough, it seemed. No matter how many orcs he crushed, no matter how many goblinkin laid low... it was the same. Bruggin wasn't fitting in so well as he "ought to"... the warrior priest sighed, and looked around. He needed something to do.

 

[Someone]

Jares arrived, mounted on a grey mare with hooves of smoke that dissolved in the clear air.

After the news he heard, he figured troble and war would soon raise their head in the north, o he teleporetd to the nearest location he knew of and conjured the phantom steed. None in Silveymoon neded his services, so he decided to visit citadel Adbar. They were, after all, filthy rich, and maybe they could need an expert warrior and mage to solve some impending problem.

But it´s taking an awful long time to get an audience with the king, and Jares is running out of patience in his inn outside the citadel.

 

[Kyoni]

Since a few days one can see a new face lurking in the tavern of the citadel: a halfling. Downing beer like most dwarves here, she listens to stories while telling a few mercenary stories of her own (mostly either not her own or made up).
For those used to mercenary ways the message was clear: she is looking for a job.

When she can't be found in the tavern, she can be found wandering about the citadel obviously visiting the trading places (if she happens to find a detailed map of the northern region, she will study it carefully). After all, rumors always travel quickly with a few beer, so she knows about the rumors about impending danger from the north.
Much less obvious was the fact that she also takes good note of the way defense is organized (number of guards, length of their duty and such).

But one might notice that she doesn't sleep nearly half as much as most people do. Unless she is capable of sleeping while downing beer or wandering around...? Somebody asking her about it might earn an angry stare and an anwer like:"It is as dangerous to sleep at the wrong time, as it is dangerous to ask the wrong question in the wrong place!"

 

[gabrion]

Bruggin:[sblock] Bruggin had spent a good deal of his life smashing the enemies of Citadel Adbar, so it was no surprise when one of Harbromm’s men came to tell him that he was needed by the king. The fellow was a low ranking dwarf with barely a beard growing on his chin, but Bruggin had grown used to such summons. Of course they never sent anyone important to bring him messages-just one more reason this place was becoming tiresome. At least the message he brought was interesting:

“Harbromm is looking for a few strong arms to handle a particularly tough job. I’m guessin you’ve done a fine enough job on things like this before, or he wouldn’t have requested that ya be a part of this. That or he doesn’t like ya and wants to send ya to yer doom!”

The dwarf roars in laughter at his own joke. Gaining control of himself again he continues:

“Actually I have no idea why he wants ya, but I’m supposed to tell you to meet him in his council chambers at high noon on the morrow. Old Harbromm’s been in an especially bad mood of late, so I’d be on time if you want to avoid that awful shoutin and waving of the axe he likes to do so much.”

With that the other dwarf continued on his way, leaving Bruggin to think about this offer. He'd had many summons like this before, but this one held a special intrigue. Perhaps this would give him a chance to get away for a while, or do something a little out of the ordinary. There was only one way to find out though.[/sblock]

Jares and Yorlii:[sblock]
Jares found little of interest during his visit to Silverymoon. Lots of elves and not much excitement made the stay a short one. Traveling to Citadel Adbar seemed like a fine enough idea, so he made a quick journey there to see if someone might have a use for his skills. After spending a few days unsuccessfully trying to get an audience with the king, Jares was left frustrated and almost ready to move on.

Yorlii’s first week in Citadel Adbar was likewise uneventful and rather tiresome. Most of the people weren’t too friendly to non-dwarves, making the experience that much more annoying. After a week she was left in a rather abrasive mood as anyone making the wrong comment toward her quickly found.

Visitors who are not known friends of the Citadel were mostly forced to stay in the same tavern and thus it happened that Jares and Yorlii both found themselves sitting around the common room of the same tavern, telling stories of their exploits and generally advertising their skills. One such afternoon a dwarf bearing the symbols of the Iron Guard approached the two of them with a proposition.

“Ey there you two, I couldn’t help but overhear some o’ the stories ya were telling these fine folk.”

Pausing for a moment the dwarf took a long look at Jares and Yorlii, trying to gauge their worth by examining both their physiques and the gear they carried. Seeming satisfied he continued:

“You two seem like able bodies for a Halfling and a half-elf and if yur looking for work I may have jus the thing for ya. Harbromm’s given me the task o’ finding a few capable hands to help him with a special task. If yur interested then show up to the council chambers at noon on the morrow and tell them Gortreg Brunsmith sent ya.”

It seemed a little suspicious that this man recruiting help would pick out a halfling and a half-elf to help for a job with so many able dwarves around. Perhaps it was something dangerous and he would rather send foreigners to complete the task. Maybe he it was just a ploy to get rid of some of the non-dwarves in Adbar. Before any of these questions could be asked though, the dwarf scuttled off like he had an task ahead of him, leaving Jares and Yorlii to contemplate the offer.[/sblock]

 

[GSFRumble]

"Hmmph! Imagern, warnin' *me* aboot Harbromm's temper!" The fiery Dwarf stroked his beard, rough fingers running over the thick, unbraided middle portion. "O' course, the ugly lil runt 'e sent after me's right... On both counts." With a grunt, Bruggin heaved himself up off his stool, maul and waraxe thumping against his legs as he stood. Taking a moment to stretch, Bruggin stamped off to the forges, to see if anyone was in need of healing from injuries or of blessings from Clangeddin.

Some days, Bruggin mused, it simply felt better to feel useful. This was one of them, especially after old Harbromm sent some half beardless runt to deliver a message to *him*. He was Bruggin Torunn, rightful Thane of the Clan Torunn... the last Torunn alive. Once again, as his heavy booted feet ground their way to the forges, Bruggin for just a moment entertained the thought of settling down and re-founding the clan...

Just for a moment.

He'd have to dedicate it to Clangeddin, of course.

 

[Someone]

Jares is about to warn the dwaf that he´s not exactly cheap or ready to do minor things, but since Gortreg spoke of the council it must be major thing what´s brewing, somethng that the dwarf won´t mention here. He nods and continues where he is, doing nothing, for a while.

"I hope it´s worth the time we´ve spent here. If not, I´m teleporting out here as soon as we finish with the council. This is an awfully boring place." comments to the nearby halfling.

 

[Kyoni]

"*snort* any town with enemies so close would be busy readying defenses... I'm really curious to see what 'task' they have for us... And believe me, if it's not interesting I'll be gone as fast as you!"
Yorlii continues to drink her beer while mumbling curses, silently enough to not be understood by any but the finest ears.
"I'm almost tempted to go at the last minute... what do you think?"

 

[Someone]

"I do make a point of showing at the announced hour. I was however thinking on an appropiate and dramatic way of appearing, it usually helps when dealing with miserly nobles. But I think I´ll pass with the dwarves." answers Jares. Then notices the halfling´s lack of stains in his fingers, pouches and any other indication of being a practicer of arcane things.

"You said you could teleport, too?" inquires.