Post by K Man on Jun 11, 2008 10:46:19 GMT -5
SEA GREEN
{I will assume no one has anything else to ask the council and will accompany either Ella to the Roc or Gro-Bug to the walls. If there is something you need, feel free to post it post-action and I'll do my best to address.}
The council indicates they have not seen a copper bone, nor heard of one in this region. They indicate that should it be found among the rubble, you will be contacted immediately. They order Madrigal to direct two of his men to search within the city. The Half-Giant agrees without question and bows low to respectfully depart.
Madrigal Sandstrider leads you out of the chamber and pulls the massive doors shut behind him.
"The council has much on their mind outsiders, I am not surprised at the brief audience you received." The massive warrior points to the outside of the ruined antechamber. "Come, we will address the giants from the safety of the ramparts first for I do not wish to be crushed if this fails."
{Here is where you can split and go with Ella or with Gro-Bug. Those with Gro-Bug can read on below.}
Madrigal moves outside of the chamber, his large legs carrying him at swift pace. You will have to weave through the rubble and ruin of the middle city to reach the walls, so youv'e got some time to discuss one of the things you came here to learn about, Girud Sandstrider.
"I know of the war of which you speak for it ended shortly before Girud returned to his home and started the Sandstriders. I have heard of some names before; Alton, Caelith, Krysta to name a few but I do not know of their histories like I know of Giruds'."
Madrigal passes a large clumping of rocks and nods, presumably to an unseen Sandstrider hidden in the rocks.
"When Girud returned from the war, he formed the Sandstriders out of fear that the city would need protection again; both from new threats and the chance of old threats reoccurring. It seemed Girud never fully trusted the death of the undead and wanted his homelands protected. He wanted his people safe, safe and sharp. He was a natural wartime leader and the citizens looked up to him. He was even offered a position on the council but feared constant bickering would make him soft."
"To avoid this end he continued to hone his skills as a warrior and teach others to be just as sharp, always ready for action. He would hold regular practices and drills with the fledgling Sandstriders, often driving them nearly to the breaking point. He would take them into the desert, a much harsher place then, and teach them all he knew about combat, survival and alertness."
"It wasn't long before the Sandstriders were all skilled and feared warriors, their reputation stretching far and wide. In Girud's aging years, he had become a legendary warrior...and the giants' heard of his skill."
"They came to test Girud and his Sandstriders, thinking that Half-Giants could not possess the strength, stamina and warskills of the full-blooded counterparts. Test them they did, and Giruds' Sandstriders passed every test much to the Giant's surprise. The Sandstriders were lean yet able to lift huge boulders, small yet able to wrestle with the largest of their kin, and of unsurpassed archery skills."
"The games continued the giants embraced their half-brothers and soon it became a matter of pride for the Half-Giant offspring to join the Sandstriders. Sure, some successive games were lost to the Giants, but the spirit of the sport was all that mattered."
"Giruds' ties to the true giants became strong and he was often invited to their enclaves and meetings for advice. In his final days, the true giants poured out of the mountains, deserts and even the sky to honor the ailing warrior. They honored as one of their own, a true-blood."
Madrigal stops at the base of the ramparts, now looming above. He looks to Gro-Bug and notes with all seriousness.
"It is not a far-fetched thought to think that if Girud did want to hide something, he would do so in the lands of the true-bloods."
The Half-Giant then begins to scale the wooden stairs to the city walls. Two guards at the top note his ascent and motion for him to move quietly. You do the same and crawl the few final feet to the crest of the rampart. A cool wind rustels along the stony wall, amplifying the chill running down your spine.
There, not more than twenty feet from the wall is an immense giant of rocky skin. To either side are two more giants, the brutish hill type that hold the bases of trees as clubs in their hand. The stone giant causally holds a boulder the size of a horse in one hand, tossing it up and down like it was play thing. He eyes the ramparts for movement, two large orbs with the texture of chiseled granite searching for a reason to throw.
Madrigal pulls a white scarf free from his belt and holds it tight. He gives Gro-Bug a worried smirk, then holds the scarf up above the rampart. You hear thundering footsteps just outside the wall. The giants have been alerted to your presence.
[In giant]
"Peace! We seek to speak in peace, if only for a moment!"
A thunderous voice rumbles in return, clearly the stone giants'.
"We grant no peace for the trespass! Show yourself and pay for your deed!"[/i]
[In giant]
"We know who trespassed. It was none of this city. Outsiders bring truth and they wish to speak in peace."
There is a moment of silence. The wind picks up, as if fueled by the tension in the air. The stone giant then speaks, his voice full of command.
"The outsider may speak in peace, for now."
Madrigal looks to Gro-Bug, whispering all that has been said thus far. He also whispers that the Giants understand your tongue, they just prefer not to speak it. It is time for the Half-Orc to speak...
{Those of you not with Gro-Bug can see them crouched on the ramparts at the main gate of the city. You can see but cannot hear.}
DARK RED
{Yes, you were. It wasn't much, just mention of movement in the brush indicating where the horse ran to and the sounds of her hoofbeats making haste straight away from you. I'll see what's up with the whisper function.}
Gildas, Tyrano, Lief and Horace all thunder into the thickets. Horace shapechanges into his were-human form, pushing aside saplings and bushes alike in an effort to save his mate. Lief remains as a horse, offering Tyrano a faster method of travel. The four move swiftly, chasing into the night....
Wanderer -
Illyianna takes your cloak and wraps it around her shoulder. She moves to stand by your side, watching the four take off into the brush. One horse remains with you but it still looks to the glade as if wanting to run with its tribe. One of their own was in trouble...
"It seems you cannot escape trouble." The beautiful woman whispers, slipping her hand into yours. She gives it a gentle squeeze, trying to console your worry about your friends.
You turn and make your back to the camp and the crackling fire. The remaining werehorse moves to the edge of the camp, always watching the woods for sings of his friends. You notice his ears are perked and tuned.
Illyianna makes an effort to not sit more than a few inches from you, her hand only reluctantly letting go of yours to wrap her cloak tightly about her body. She stares absent mindedly into the fire.
"I hate to think what'd happen if you had come with me." She says moments later. "For now it would be you charging headlong into the woods. I wouldn't want that..."
She trails off, leaving the 'why' to your imagination. A few more minutes of silence. Nothing from the woods, no sounds reach your camp. Illyianna hasn't taken her eyes off the fire.
"I have been trying all day to think of a proper way to thank you for everything you've done, all the kindness you have shown." She finally lifts her eyes to meet yours. "From the sounds of it, the others want me gone by the time we reach the city so I have but a short while to offer all that I have left as yours in thanks..."
She slowly rises and drops the cloak from her shoulders. Her tattered dress follows seconds later, leaving her nude in the muted firelight. The firelight dances and plays on exposed flesh, highlighting all that was left to imagination second ago.
She takes a step forward.
Gildas, Tyrano, Lief and Horace -
It isn't hard to follow the trail made in the brush by Horace's mate. Whatever she is chasing has her doing it at break neck speeds and she makes no effort to move her form quietly or conceal her passage. You can hear her up ahead, but just barely. She has an incredible lead on you.
You continue the chase for what seems like minutes. Hearts pounding, feet pumping, Horace occasionally calling out for his mate in the tongue of horses. All without signs of the mate slowing or responding. Horace gets frustrated and crashes through the woods faster, leaving you in his wake.
You come rushing out of the dense woods into an open glade, illuminated by the moonlight high above. Across the glade, you can make out the dark form of Horace's mate just emerging from a raging river. She blasts out from the water and continues the chase, but your eyes follow her path to the woods a few hundred feet beyond.
Nothing, you see nothing.
Either whatever she is chasing is far ahead of her, or she chases nothing at all...
Horace continues to press on, galloping straight for the river.
LENNY -
Despite the fatigue, Lenny kicks the horses on. Vorkal, ready for the movement launches his planned spell. [Readied action triggered (movement), Maximized Ray of Enfeeblement]
Range Touch attack
[dice=20]
[Results = 18]
The sickening bolt slams into Lenny, sapping him all nearly all his strength. [Lenny takes 11 points of STR damage, cannot drop below 1] The bolt is drainging, so much so that you feel as if you couldn't go on in this state. Vorkal will surely kill you...
[AoO's from Shadows = 1 Hit on your horse for 3 STR, no hits on other horse.]
NEXT ROUND -
At Vorkal's beckoning, the shadows surround you once more. They leer menacingly, waiting for the chance to strike once again. [Double moves, same speed as horses.]
Vorkal hovers closer to you, bringing up his outstretched hand once more. It is clear the shadow will punish you for moving...[Ready once again.]
[Initiative Order: Shadows (15), Vorkal (12), Lenny (11)]
Map
<<<LEGEND>>>
L = Lenny (Fatigued)
h
h = Were-Horse Mount (-3 STR) (Fatigued)
h
h = Second Horse (-4 STR) (Fatigued)
V = Vorkal (Elevation 0ft.)
m = Shadow Minion (Elevation 0 ft)[rand=87757916374133020576901713565795698543179176202520793751667662136]
{I will assume no one has anything else to ask the council and will accompany either Ella to the Roc or Gro-Bug to the walls. If there is something you need, feel free to post it post-action and I'll do my best to address.}
The council indicates they have not seen a copper bone, nor heard of one in this region. They indicate that should it be found among the rubble, you will be contacted immediately. They order Madrigal to direct two of his men to search within the city. The Half-Giant agrees without question and bows low to respectfully depart.
Madrigal Sandstrider leads you out of the chamber and pulls the massive doors shut behind him.
"The council has much on their mind outsiders, I am not surprised at the brief audience you received." The massive warrior points to the outside of the ruined antechamber. "Come, we will address the giants from the safety of the ramparts first for I do not wish to be crushed if this fails."
{Here is where you can split and go with Ella or with Gro-Bug. Those with Gro-Bug can read on below.}
Madrigal moves outside of the chamber, his large legs carrying him at swift pace. You will have to weave through the rubble and ruin of the middle city to reach the walls, so youv'e got some time to discuss one of the things you came here to learn about, Girud Sandstrider.
"I know of the war of which you speak for it ended shortly before Girud returned to his home and started the Sandstriders. I have heard of some names before; Alton, Caelith, Krysta to name a few but I do not know of their histories like I know of Giruds'."
Madrigal passes a large clumping of rocks and nods, presumably to an unseen Sandstrider hidden in the rocks.
"When Girud returned from the war, he formed the Sandstriders out of fear that the city would need protection again; both from new threats and the chance of old threats reoccurring. It seemed Girud never fully trusted the death of the undead and wanted his homelands protected. He wanted his people safe, safe and sharp. He was a natural wartime leader and the citizens looked up to him. He was even offered a position on the council but feared constant bickering would make him soft."
"To avoid this end he continued to hone his skills as a warrior and teach others to be just as sharp, always ready for action. He would hold regular practices and drills with the fledgling Sandstriders, often driving them nearly to the breaking point. He would take them into the desert, a much harsher place then, and teach them all he knew about combat, survival and alertness."
"It wasn't long before the Sandstriders were all skilled and feared warriors, their reputation stretching far and wide. In Girud's aging years, he had become a legendary warrior...and the giants' heard of his skill."
"They came to test Girud and his Sandstriders, thinking that Half-Giants could not possess the strength, stamina and warskills of the full-blooded counterparts. Test them they did, and Giruds' Sandstriders passed every test much to the Giant's surprise. The Sandstriders were lean yet able to lift huge boulders, small yet able to wrestle with the largest of their kin, and of unsurpassed archery skills."
"The games continued the giants embraced their half-brothers and soon it became a matter of pride for the Half-Giant offspring to join the Sandstriders. Sure, some successive games were lost to the Giants, but the spirit of the sport was all that mattered."
"Giruds' ties to the true giants became strong and he was often invited to their enclaves and meetings for advice. In his final days, the true giants poured out of the mountains, deserts and even the sky to honor the ailing warrior. They honored as one of their own, a true-blood."
Madrigal stops at the base of the ramparts, now looming above. He looks to Gro-Bug and notes with all seriousness.
"It is not a far-fetched thought to think that if Girud did want to hide something, he would do so in the lands of the true-bloods."
The Half-Giant then begins to scale the wooden stairs to the city walls. Two guards at the top note his ascent and motion for him to move quietly. You do the same and crawl the few final feet to the crest of the rampart. A cool wind rustels along the stony wall, amplifying the chill running down your spine.
There, not more than twenty feet from the wall is an immense giant of rocky skin. To either side are two more giants, the brutish hill type that hold the bases of trees as clubs in their hand. The stone giant causally holds a boulder the size of a horse in one hand, tossing it up and down like it was play thing. He eyes the ramparts for movement, two large orbs with the texture of chiseled granite searching for a reason to throw.
Madrigal pulls a white scarf free from his belt and holds it tight. He gives Gro-Bug a worried smirk, then holds the scarf up above the rampart. You hear thundering footsteps just outside the wall. The giants have been alerted to your presence.
[In giant]
"Peace! We seek to speak in peace, if only for a moment!"
A thunderous voice rumbles in return, clearly the stone giants'.
"We grant no peace for the trespass! Show yourself and pay for your deed!"[/i]
[In giant]
"We know who trespassed. It was none of this city. Outsiders bring truth and they wish to speak in peace."
There is a moment of silence. The wind picks up, as if fueled by the tension in the air. The stone giant then speaks, his voice full of command.
"The outsider may speak in peace, for now."
Madrigal looks to Gro-Bug, whispering all that has been said thus far. He also whispers that the Giants understand your tongue, they just prefer not to speak it. It is time for the Half-Orc to speak...
{Those of you not with Gro-Bug can see them crouched on the ramparts at the main gate of the city. You can see but cannot hear.}
DARK RED
[Was I supposed to see a Whisper under the Listen check line? I didn't see anything.]
{Yes, you were. It wasn't much, just mention of movement in the brush indicating where the horse ran to and the sounds of her hoofbeats making haste straight away from you. I'll see what's up with the whisper function.}
Gildas, Tyrano, Lief and Horace all thunder into the thickets. Horace shapechanges into his were-human form, pushing aside saplings and bushes alike in an effort to save his mate. Lief remains as a horse, offering Tyrano a faster method of travel. The four move swiftly, chasing into the night....
Wanderer -
Illyianna takes your cloak and wraps it around her shoulder. She moves to stand by your side, watching the four take off into the brush. One horse remains with you but it still looks to the glade as if wanting to run with its tribe. One of their own was in trouble...
"It seems you cannot escape trouble." The beautiful woman whispers, slipping her hand into yours. She gives it a gentle squeeze, trying to console your worry about your friends.
You turn and make your back to the camp and the crackling fire. The remaining werehorse moves to the edge of the camp, always watching the woods for sings of his friends. You notice his ears are perked and tuned.
Illyianna makes an effort to not sit more than a few inches from you, her hand only reluctantly letting go of yours to wrap her cloak tightly about her body. She stares absent mindedly into the fire.
"I hate to think what'd happen if you had come with me." She says moments later. "For now it would be you charging headlong into the woods. I wouldn't want that..."
She trails off, leaving the 'why' to your imagination. A few more minutes of silence. Nothing from the woods, no sounds reach your camp. Illyianna hasn't taken her eyes off the fire.
"I have been trying all day to think of a proper way to thank you for everything you've done, all the kindness you have shown." She finally lifts her eyes to meet yours. "From the sounds of it, the others want me gone by the time we reach the city so I have but a short while to offer all that I have left as yours in thanks..."
She slowly rises and drops the cloak from her shoulders. Her tattered dress follows seconds later, leaving her nude in the muted firelight. The firelight dances and plays on exposed flesh, highlighting all that was left to imagination second ago.
She takes a step forward.
Gildas, Tyrano, Lief and Horace -
It isn't hard to follow the trail made in the brush by Horace's mate. Whatever she is chasing has her doing it at break neck speeds and she makes no effort to move her form quietly or conceal her passage. You can hear her up ahead, but just barely. She has an incredible lead on you.
You continue the chase for what seems like minutes. Hearts pounding, feet pumping, Horace occasionally calling out for his mate in the tongue of horses. All without signs of the mate slowing or responding. Horace gets frustrated and crashes through the woods faster, leaving you in his wake.
You come rushing out of the dense woods into an open glade, illuminated by the moonlight high above. Across the glade, you can make out the dark form of Horace's mate just emerging from a raging river. She blasts out from the water and continues the chase, but your eyes follow her path to the woods a few hundred feet beyond.
Nothing, you see nothing.
Either whatever she is chasing is far ahead of her, or she chases nothing at all...
Horace continues to press on, galloping straight for the river.
LENNY -
Despite the fatigue, Lenny kicks the horses on. Vorkal, ready for the movement launches his planned spell. [Readied action triggered (movement), Maximized Ray of Enfeeblement]
Range Touch attack
[dice=20]
[Results = 18]
The sickening bolt slams into Lenny, sapping him all nearly all his strength. [Lenny takes 11 points of STR damage, cannot drop below 1] The bolt is drainging, so much so that you feel as if you couldn't go on in this state. Vorkal will surely kill you...
[AoO's from Shadows = 1 Hit on your horse for 3 STR, no hits on other horse.]
NEXT ROUND -
At Vorkal's beckoning, the shadows surround you once more. They leer menacingly, waiting for the chance to strike once again. [Double moves, same speed as horses.]
Vorkal hovers closer to you, bringing up his outstretched hand once more. It is clear the shadow will punish you for moving...[Ready once again.]
[Initiative Order: Shadows (15), Vorkal (12), Lenny (11)]
Map
| |
| |
mL | |
mh hm | |
hm | |
m | |
| |
| |
| |
|V |
| |
| |
| |
<<<LEGEND>>>
L = Lenny (Fatigued)
h
h = Were-Horse Mount (-3 STR) (Fatigued)
h
h = Second Horse (-4 STR) (Fatigued)
V = Vorkal (Elevation 0ft.)
m = Shadow Minion (Elevation 0 ft)[rand=87757916374133020576901713565795698543179176202520793751667662136]
