Post by K Man on Aug 10, 2004 10:02:04 GMT -5
Hero, Newt, Garor, Caelith and Callian - {Hero and Newt have replied, Garor is getting married this week, Caelith is offline and so is Callian...I guess this climactic battle falls to me to run the retreat of... 
}
{And since it's up to me, it's coming out like a story rather than dice rolls.
}
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Garor continues to hold the tunnel exiting the keep with his men, some wounded, some dead...but all fighting for the safety of those making their way into the night and the forests beyond.
Hero and Newt ensure that Garor's efforts, and those of all in the keep have not been in vain. They see that each innocent life is led safely to the trees and that they remain there while the men, that so valiantly held the keep, catch up...if they survive.
Mothers clutch daughters and sons to their busoms, the elderly lean on each other for support held up by the arms of the few capable warriors. Even the young men seem on the verge of tears.
The survivors off Boon's Freehold turn their gaze to their home as it crawls like an overrun ant hill.
The walls are littered with ropes, ladders and most of all...the hoarde that has lain siege to this keep for so long, waiting to pounce from the shadows of the keep like a stalking panther.
Garor, the Captain, Caelith and Callian all make their ways into the tunnel, sighing as they watch what they have defended with their very lives become the new home grounds for the hoarde. {I remember something about blowing up the Black Powder barrels in key points to collapse the keep around the intruders...right?} As the last of the men slips into the tunnel and the safety beyond, the barrels are lit and set to go off.
As those inside run from the tunnel, those of you in the trees catch a glimpse of a group of warriors rapidly crossing the distance to the edge of the glade. Less in number than expected, your heart still soars to see that they were not totally annhilated. The ballistae tug on the wooden drawbridge and it finally rips free of the bars holding it, collapsing to the ground.
Then, it is as if the gods themselves smote the landscape for the evil here....
Two blasts, nearly immediate to each other, errupt into the night. These blasts shine brilliantly like two stars that explode with such force, rocks and stone ramparts are sent raining into the field with terrible velocity. Walls crumble, wood splinters, and metal groans as is it pushed out from the center of the keep. Screams of the terrible monsters fill the night as they are literally ripped apart by the blasts and the ensuing chaos...
...a small consolation for so much damage...
You smile meagerly knowing that most of the invading army is either destroyed or lying beneath the crushed rubble of the walls. You turn to the people of the Freehold, most importantly the duke who stands facing his once loved keep, tears welling in his eyes. He mutters softly beneath his breath.
"All that I had and more...gone with a wave of The Masters hand..."
"Ne'er has man seen a darker time..."
He turns and says nothing, leading his distraught people through the forest.
You push through the night, having what you think are several close encounters with monsters following you, but it turns out to be your overactive imagination and residual adrenaline. It is only when you see the majestic spires and towers of Ravenshead that your heart finally slows to an acceptable pace.
Soldiers of Sturmguard spot you from the towers and race to your aid, bringing carts and wagons to help all the survivors into the keep. The duke stays on his feet, carrying a small child in his arms as he walks like it was his own. As you look upon the face of a defeated lord, you know it will be a long time before a smile graces those lips again.
Within a hundred yards of the gates to Ravenshead, you see Sturmguard himself ride like the wind to your group of survivors atop a noble horse. He stops and dismounts, addressing you and the duke as you approach.
"Tell me what has happened..."
You hold your breath, wondering what to say to the King...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuri, Sehanine, Girud, Romar and Galdren -
{Krysta, Listen Check} You hear nothing from deeper within the complex.
The regal elf looks you over, judging you quickly. He raises his arms and those around him lower their weapons to move forward beyond you, intent on clearing out the remainder of the complex. A few remain by his side, most notably a female elf with strikingly similar features...a sister perhaps?
"King Sturmguard?"
The elf surprises you with a most ungraceful spit to the ground.
"It is no surprise you ended up as prisoners under the direction of one so weak. We did pass the human keep you mentioned just oustide this forest...from what we could tell, it was destroyed...the army of The Master running it over."
"In time, Ravenshead will suffer the same fate as Sturmguard lacks the power to defend his people."
It hits you like a ton of bricks how...heartless this elf is. The woman by his side also shows little emotion, mearly standing and moving her cold eyes over everyone.
You hear the distinct sound of arrows loosing from sinews of bows and the gurgles of more guards dying as they are pumped full of arrows. The elf's companions are clearing out the keep for you.
The elf does not pay any attention to this. He moves his eyes to Sehanine and addresses her in the native tongue of the elves.
{Elven}"I mean you no harm Sehanine Lonodel. I can trust few in this time as 'The Master' slowly turns all to evil...forgive me."
"I am Irinys Treesong, and this is my sister Rellanya. We are son and daughter of Myriana Treesong, leader of the Empire of Astoril and Steward of Ephemiryl."
The elf repeats his introduction in common for all to understand. It now is less frightening how emotionless this elf is. He has to be, he's a leader...a prince.
"We have come here as we have knowledge that a piece of a crystal, nearly size of an ogre, is somewhere within this complex. This crystal holds great power and can be used to stem this war...to stop the master cold in his tracks."
"Our mother, Steward of Ephemiryl, has deciphered the sheer protective and combative powers of this crystal and we need the pieces."
The elf's face seems to melt for the first time as he looks over you.
"Listen, Sturmguard is a fool. He holds onto the ideals that a miracle will save him and his people. We elves know otherwise, we are taking an active stance."
"Join us and our search for this crystal, help us find the pieces of it and you WILL survive..."
The siblings study you, waiting for a response to their proposal...
__________________________________________________________________________________________
XP Summary: (Each by the way)
- 2,500 XP for story-award. (Mordrock, planning the exit tunnel, talking to the duke, Sir Mordrid etc)
- 1,500 XP for monsters defeated.
- 1,000 XP for good role-playing, planning and thought.
Total XP: 5,000 per character.
Please update your sheets accordingly.
A Well-Played Adventure Everyone!!
}{And since it's up to me, it's coming out like a story rather than dice rolls.
}__________________________________________________________________________________________
Garor continues to hold the tunnel exiting the keep with his men, some wounded, some dead...but all fighting for the safety of those making their way into the night and the forests beyond.
Hero and Newt ensure that Garor's efforts, and those of all in the keep have not been in vain. They see that each innocent life is led safely to the trees and that they remain there while the men, that so valiantly held the keep, catch up...if they survive.
Mothers clutch daughters and sons to their busoms, the elderly lean on each other for support held up by the arms of the few capable warriors. Even the young men seem on the verge of tears.
The survivors off Boon's Freehold turn their gaze to their home as it crawls like an overrun ant hill.
The walls are littered with ropes, ladders and most of all...the hoarde that has lain siege to this keep for so long, waiting to pounce from the shadows of the keep like a stalking panther.
Garor, the Captain, Caelith and Callian all make their ways into the tunnel, sighing as they watch what they have defended with their very lives become the new home grounds for the hoarde. {I remember something about blowing up the Black Powder barrels in key points to collapse the keep around the intruders...right?} As the last of the men slips into the tunnel and the safety beyond, the barrels are lit and set to go off.
As those inside run from the tunnel, those of you in the trees catch a glimpse of a group of warriors rapidly crossing the distance to the edge of the glade. Less in number than expected, your heart still soars to see that they were not totally annhilated. The ballistae tug on the wooden drawbridge and it finally rips free of the bars holding it, collapsing to the ground.
Then, it is as if the gods themselves smote the landscape for the evil here....
Two blasts, nearly immediate to each other, errupt into the night. These blasts shine brilliantly like two stars that explode with such force, rocks and stone ramparts are sent raining into the field with terrible velocity. Walls crumble, wood splinters, and metal groans as is it pushed out from the center of the keep. Screams of the terrible monsters fill the night as they are literally ripped apart by the blasts and the ensuing chaos...
...a small consolation for so much damage...
You smile meagerly knowing that most of the invading army is either destroyed or lying beneath the crushed rubble of the walls. You turn to the people of the Freehold, most importantly the duke who stands facing his once loved keep, tears welling in his eyes. He mutters softly beneath his breath.
"All that I had and more...gone with a wave of The Masters hand..."
"Ne'er has man seen a darker time..."
He turns and says nothing, leading his distraught people through the forest.
You push through the night, having what you think are several close encounters with monsters following you, but it turns out to be your overactive imagination and residual adrenaline. It is only when you see the majestic spires and towers of Ravenshead that your heart finally slows to an acceptable pace.
Soldiers of Sturmguard spot you from the towers and race to your aid, bringing carts and wagons to help all the survivors into the keep. The duke stays on his feet, carrying a small child in his arms as he walks like it was his own. As you look upon the face of a defeated lord, you know it will be a long time before a smile graces those lips again.
Within a hundred yards of the gates to Ravenshead, you see Sturmguard himself ride like the wind to your group of survivors atop a noble horse. He stops and dismounts, addressing you and the duke as you approach.
"Tell me what has happened..."
You hold your breath, wondering what to say to the King...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuri, Sehanine, Girud, Romar and Galdren -
{Krysta, Listen Check} You hear nothing from deeper within the complex.
The regal elf looks you over, judging you quickly. He raises his arms and those around him lower their weapons to move forward beyond you, intent on clearing out the remainder of the complex. A few remain by his side, most notably a female elf with strikingly similar features...a sister perhaps?
"King Sturmguard?"
The elf surprises you with a most ungraceful spit to the ground.
"It is no surprise you ended up as prisoners under the direction of one so weak. We did pass the human keep you mentioned just oustide this forest...from what we could tell, it was destroyed...the army of The Master running it over."
"In time, Ravenshead will suffer the same fate as Sturmguard lacks the power to defend his people."
It hits you like a ton of bricks how...heartless this elf is. The woman by his side also shows little emotion, mearly standing and moving her cold eyes over everyone.
You hear the distinct sound of arrows loosing from sinews of bows and the gurgles of more guards dying as they are pumped full of arrows. The elf's companions are clearing out the keep for you.
The elf does not pay any attention to this. He moves his eyes to Sehanine and addresses her in the native tongue of the elves.
{Elven}"I mean you no harm Sehanine Lonodel. I can trust few in this time as 'The Master' slowly turns all to evil...forgive me."
"I am Irinys Treesong, and this is my sister Rellanya. We are son and daughter of Myriana Treesong, leader of the Empire of Astoril and Steward of Ephemiryl."
The elf repeats his introduction in common for all to understand. It now is less frightening how emotionless this elf is. He has to be, he's a leader...a prince.
"We have come here as we have knowledge that a piece of a crystal, nearly size of an ogre, is somewhere within this complex. This crystal holds great power and can be used to stem this war...to stop the master cold in his tracks."
"Our mother, Steward of Ephemiryl, has deciphered the sheer protective and combative powers of this crystal and we need the pieces."
The elf's face seems to melt for the first time as he looks over you.
"Listen, Sturmguard is a fool. He holds onto the ideals that a miracle will save him and his people. We elves know otherwise, we are taking an active stance."
"Join us and our search for this crystal, help us find the pieces of it and you WILL survive..."
The siblings study you, waiting for a response to their proposal...
__________________________________________________________________________________________
XP Summary: (Each by the way)
- 2,500 XP for story-award. (Mordrock, planning the exit tunnel, talking to the duke, Sir Mordrid etc)
- 1,500 XP for monsters defeated.
- 1,000 XP for good role-playing, planning and thought.
Total XP: 5,000 per character.
Please update your sheets accordingly.
A Well-Played Adventure Everyone!!
