Post by K Man on Jun 3, 2008 17:27:21 GMT -5
SEA GREEN
Mardigal lets his hand slip from the door handle at the mention of Girud Sandstrider.
"I am a direct descendant of Girud Sandstrider." You heard the half-giant speak the name, but maybe you thought it was a title. "My father, a sand Giant, is the son of the giant who fathered Girud. We have far different mothers but the same lineage of fathers..."
And in response to seeking the Dune Palace, Madrigal smirks as he places his hand back on the door.
"This is the Dune Palace. One of them anyway."
The Half-Giant pushes open one of the double doors with his massive girth, easily moving the half-ton door. As it swings it open, you can see its counterpart is nearly two feet thick and made of solid stone; quite the masterpiece. The doorway opens to reveal a recessed starway into the ground that descends at least ten feet, cooling the air as you follow Madrigal. The stairs land on the floor of a massive chamber well over a hundred feet in width and twenty feet high at it apex. The whole chamber is lit by a combination of smokeless braziers, sconces of magical torches, and ambient light emanating from intricate ceiling tiles above. The chamber reeks of elegance and purpose.
The tiles above form a magnificent relief of half-giants bowing before the brightened sun, the source of most of the light in this room. Many of the Half-Giants are warriors, dressed in their finest armor and weaponry. At their center lies an immense Half-Giant, his back to you as he worships the horizon and the setting sun, seeming to forever be a wanderer. Between massive marble pillars, more reliefs of Half-Giants are set into the tile.
Along the far wall is a marble semi-circled bench of beautiful rose-colored stone. Behind this bench sit five figures; a Half-Giant like Madrigal, an aged Elven woman, a human woman of middle age, a human male of similar features to the woman and a wisened Gnome female topped with a crop of white hair. Each is dressed in regal robes that belie status and authority. Before this rounded desk are empty stone pews. You imagine that if the council were holding a formal ceremony, the audience would be seated here and attentive...but now there is nothing.
You can hear the council arguing about something as you approach.
"We must find out who these men are!" The Half-Giant bellows, his voice heard first. You note that it sounds much like Madrigal.
"That cannot be our priority," The Elven woman quips in return. "Our city is in ruins because of a misunderstanding. We must calm the giants."
"Which can only be accomplished by uncovering the truth." The humans say in unison.
Madrigal clears his throat as he approaches, letting the council know they are being heard. They cease their bickering and set eyes upon you as you close to a respectable distance. Madrigal sweeps his massive hand across your party.
"Council of Gathered Nations, I beg your forgiveness for the interruption. I present to you outsiders that claim to have the ability to answer many of your questions and may have information that would help in our time of need. I believe them to be honest and true, so I bring them before you to judge in your wise ways."
The council nods at Madrigal's introductions. The Half-Giant is first to speak among them, his tongue impatient.
"What do news do you bring?"
DARK RED
Illyianna nods, her eyes daring but a split-second glance at the horses.
"Y-Yes, I know their strength." She mutters, her body language practically screaming the words but I don't trust them like I trust you!
At Horace's nod, one of the horses transforms into a comely woman of middle age; Horace's mate. The woman grabs a nearby cloth for propriety, having tranformed into a human without clothing. She silently nods at Illyianna and trudges past into the woods beyond. Illyianna casts one last, longing glance at Wanderer before slowly turning and heading into the woods with the Horse-woman. Some time passes around the fire, the usual lively debate between Wanderer the Yehuxl brute and Gildas, the Tertian patriot. The fire crackles and hisses, eating away at the last dying logs and leaving behind a white, ashy residue.
You realize you have not heard from Illyianna in a few minutes...an uncomfortably long trip for nature's call.
A shrill cry pierces the air; Illyianna! A scream of alarm, not of pain or suffering. Still it's nothing to scoff at. Being that it is Horace's mate out there as well, the great black stallion thunders into the underbrush, knocking over saplings with ease. {I assume you grab your things and follow.} It is not hard to follow the massive steed and the distance is short. He comes to a halt about seventy feet from the campfire in the darkened woods. There, Illyianna is huddled against a tree, barely having covered herself. Horace's mate is nowhere to be found and the stallion make no effort to conceal his concern.
"She-She-She said she saw something." Illyianna stammers out. "She whispered for me to stay down and took off, turning into one of those things!"
The great stallion snorts loudly, stamping his feet anxiously. He turns his black eyes to the woods...
{I'll allow a Listen Check DC 20 and a Spot Check DC 30}
LENNY -
You lean forward, whispering the ultimatum to your steed. He stamps his hoof, a sign of anger and the urge to fight. Clearly this mount wants nothing to do with running and hiding. He is steadfast and strong, ready to make a run for it. The other horse nods slowly as well, indicating he too is ready to make a break for it! With a 'Yee-Ahh!', you spur them into the throng of shades...
[Initiatives:
Vorkal @ +4
[dice=20]
Lenny @ +5
[dice=20]
Shadows @ +2
[dice=20]
{Horses will act on your init}
[Initiative Order: Vorkal (15) + Shadows (15), Lenny (11)]
{Since Vorkal and his minions go first. They will descend to ground level. Vorkal will Ready and his minions will move.}
Map before start of round
Map now
<<<LEGEND>>>
L = Lenny
h
h = Were-Horse Mount
V = Vorkal (Elevation 0ft.)
m = Shadow Minion (Elevation 0 ft)[rand=5265040258498907405539200754619428746149111306897534293436689928]
Mardigal lets his hand slip from the door handle at the mention of Girud Sandstrider.
"I am a direct descendant of Girud Sandstrider." You heard the half-giant speak the name, but maybe you thought it was a title. "My father, a sand Giant, is the son of the giant who fathered Girud. We have far different mothers but the same lineage of fathers..."
And in response to seeking the Dune Palace, Madrigal smirks as he places his hand back on the door.
"This is the Dune Palace. One of them anyway."
The Half-Giant pushes open one of the double doors with his massive girth, easily moving the half-ton door. As it swings it open, you can see its counterpart is nearly two feet thick and made of solid stone; quite the masterpiece. The doorway opens to reveal a recessed starway into the ground that descends at least ten feet, cooling the air as you follow Madrigal. The stairs land on the floor of a massive chamber well over a hundred feet in width and twenty feet high at it apex. The whole chamber is lit by a combination of smokeless braziers, sconces of magical torches, and ambient light emanating from intricate ceiling tiles above. The chamber reeks of elegance and purpose.
The tiles above form a magnificent relief of half-giants bowing before the brightened sun, the source of most of the light in this room. Many of the Half-Giants are warriors, dressed in their finest armor and weaponry. At their center lies an immense Half-Giant, his back to you as he worships the horizon and the setting sun, seeming to forever be a wanderer. Between massive marble pillars, more reliefs of Half-Giants are set into the tile.
Along the far wall is a marble semi-circled bench of beautiful rose-colored stone. Behind this bench sit five figures; a Half-Giant like Madrigal, an aged Elven woman, a human woman of middle age, a human male of similar features to the woman and a wisened Gnome female topped with a crop of white hair. Each is dressed in regal robes that belie status and authority. Before this rounded desk are empty stone pews. You imagine that if the council were holding a formal ceremony, the audience would be seated here and attentive...but now there is nothing.
You can hear the council arguing about something as you approach.
"We must find out who these men are!" The Half-Giant bellows, his voice heard first. You note that it sounds much like Madrigal.
"That cannot be our priority," The Elven woman quips in return. "Our city is in ruins because of a misunderstanding. We must calm the giants."
"Which can only be accomplished by uncovering the truth." The humans say in unison.
Madrigal clears his throat as he approaches, letting the council know they are being heard. They cease their bickering and set eyes upon you as you close to a respectable distance. Madrigal sweeps his massive hand across your party.
"Council of Gathered Nations, I beg your forgiveness for the interruption. I present to you outsiders that claim to have the ability to answer many of your questions and may have information that would help in our time of need. I believe them to be honest and true, so I bring them before you to judge in your wise ways."
The council nods at Madrigal's introductions. The Half-Giant is first to speak among them, his tongue impatient.
"What do news do you bring?"
DARK RED
Illyianna nods, her eyes daring but a split-second glance at the horses.
"Y-Yes, I know their strength." She mutters, her body language practically screaming the words but I don't trust them like I trust you!
At Horace's nod, one of the horses transforms into a comely woman of middle age; Horace's mate. The woman grabs a nearby cloth for propriety, having tranformed into a human without clothing. She silently nods at Illyianna and trudges past into the woods beyond. Illyianna casts one last, longing glance at Wanderer before slowly turning and heading into the woods with the Horse-woman. Some time passes around the fire, the usual lively debate between Wanderer the Yehuxl brute and Gildas, the Tertian patriot. The fire crackles and hisses, eating away at the last dying logs and leaving behind a white, ashy residue.
You realize you have not heard from Illyianna in a few minutes...an uncomfortably long trip for nature's call.
A shrill cry pierces the air; Illyianna! A scream of alarm, not of pain or suffering. Still it's nothing to scoff at. Being that it is Horace's mate out there as well, the great black stallion thunders into the underbrush, knocking over saplings with ease. {I assume you grab your things and follow.} It is not hard to follow the massive steed and the distance is short. He comes to a halt about seventy feet from the campfire in the darkened woods. There, Illyianna is huddled against a tree, barely having covered herself. Horace's mate is nowhere to be found and the stallion make no effort to conceal his concern.
"She-She-She said she saw something." Illyianna stammers out. "She whispered for me to stay down and took off, turning into one of those things!"
The great stallion snorts loudly, stamping his feet anxiously. He turns his black eyes to the woods...
{I'll allow a Listen Check DC 20 and a Spot Check DC 30}
LENNY -
You lean forward, whispering the ultimatum to your steed. He stamps his hoof, a sign of anger and the urge to fight. Clearly this mount wants nothing to do with running and hiding. He is steadfast and strong, ready to make a run for it. The other horse nods slowly as well, indicating he too is ready to make a break for it! With a 'Yee-Ahh!', you spur them into the throng of shades...
[Initiatives:
Vorkal @ +4
[dice=20]
Lenny @ +5
[dice=20]
Shadows @ +2
[dice=20]
{Horses will act on your init}
[Initiative Order: Vorkal (15) + Shadows (15), Lenny (11)]
{Since Vorkal and his minions go first. They will descend to ground level. Vorkal will Ready and his minions will move.}
Map before start of round
| |
| |
| |
|V m|
m| |m
m | | m
| |
| |
| |
|L h|
|h h|
| |
| |
Map now
| |
| |
| |
|V |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| m|
m|L h|m
m|h h|m
| |
| |
<<<LEGEND>>>
L = Lenny
h
h = Were-Horse Mount
V = Vorkal (Elevation 0ft.)
m = Shadow Minion (Elevation 0 ft)[rand=5265040258498907405539200754619428746149111306897534293436689928]
[rand=2387466588655067064345612583629955993710221058732088493560810877]
