Post by K Man on Dec 15, 2004 14:36:23 GMT -5
Callian, Caelith, Garor, Newt, Krysta, Girud and Galdren - Discussions continue atop the cliff as you sort through the gear of the fallen Elves somewhat like vultures...but vultures that earned your spoils.
It is clear that several things will need to happen before this party once again becomes a smooth machine like the forces of 'The Master' encountered at Boon's Freehold, but the age-old adage may hold true - "Time heals all..."
The most interesting fact is the return of Callian and his news of great importance. King Sturmguard has turned his back on the Elven Empire of Astoril, informing his ambassadors that they are 'to fall victim to treachery no more'. The great human King has even authorized the use of lethal force to stem the Elves and their attempts to seize power from Blackwing.
You imagine, should your paths cross again, that the Queen will be most displeased with this decree - apparently the war has no entered political arenas as well.
Even more puzzling is the mention of the shard in 'The Glade' - the enigmatic home of the most ancient druids in the lands. Who is Karn? Why does his temple of eternal rest lay partially on this plane and partially in the Nine Hells? Does this benefit you?
The questions are nearly enough to make your head hurt...but at least there is a good duel going on nearby to distract.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero - The Elf wraps his hands around his blade and stands, leveling it at your head. If his eyes could leap from his skull and run down the silver edge of his sword, you have no doubt they would try to consume you.
Luckily for you, traitors lack such powers.
With a simple step forward, you hack twice down the Elf's sternum. [Attack Rolls = Nat. 17, Crit Confirm, success. 23] Both attacks are directly at mid-section, one sounding like it cracks the left side of his rib cage. [Damage Rolls = 20 (Crit.), 11]
The warrior stumbles back, his eyes widen as though the realization of what he's up against suddenly strikes him dead in the face. Still, he's not above his oath so he returns the attack. [Attack Roll = 23] The attack barely lands and does little more than draw a thin line of blood from Hero's jaw. [Damage Roll = 6]
[Initiative: Hero, The Elf.]
Elf is near death, down 31.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Romar and Yuri - The woman you presume is Veya, as the name she gave you, studies you from beneath the furred mask. She eventually tilts her lance upright and places it into a holder in the saddle of her giant bird. She dismounts, landing on the ground with a soft step, keeping one hand on the ruffled neck of the giant hawk.
She pulls back the furs and cloak from around her face to reveal she is young, human and rather attractive.
Pale red hair collapses about her face in waves, framing a rather soured expression of a woman who has been scorned by war and depressed by lost. She bears a simple headband about her forehead that appears to, at one time, have been a man's necklace. If you had to guess her age, it would be around eighteen.
"I admire your honesty Romar Belamor, a quality one rarely finds anymore in these dark times."
"As I said, I am leader of 'The Fatherless' - what the surivivors of this desolate city call themselves." Veya absent mindedly thumbs the necklace about her forehead as she goes on. "We used to be the woman, the children and the wives of this town. Things were good, until 'The Master' and his damned abominations began to show up in small patrols here and there. We lost many a good man to those small skirmishes and if we had known we would lose much more, we would have left almost immediately."
"However...we did not..."
Veya chokes back a lump of tears.
"They came as one large army, the Orcs, Goblins and the dead, intent on descimating our town. The fathers and men of the town would not see their most precious loved ones turned into unholy creatures of the night so our most powerful elder chief made an offering to the great birds that have always roosted nearby our small town."
"In exchange for meat and the remainder of the small towns' grain, the birds carried us to the safety of the mountains high above. 'A small price to pay for the safety and continued life of my daughter' - my father said to me before he kissed my forehead goodbye, before I was lifted into the cold clouds, their screams fading into the coming snow storm."
Veya seems almost on the verge of tears. You get the impression that she has never conveyed the sadness of her story to anyone before. She continues, stiffening her resolve.
"Most of the children died that winter, leaving only young maids and wives atop those cold desolate cliffs. Over the next year, we befriended the giant birds, learning to ride them and use their power to our advantage. We scavenged some lances and weapons, trained ourselves to use them and now, we too, seek retribution for lost loved ones Romar..."
"So you can see we are alike."
Veya's eyes dart over you hungrily, a betrayal that she has indeed spent nearly the last year or more atop a cold mountain with little more than women for company. It must be hard, for someone her age to be alone in such a dark time.
The giant bird squawks loudly, tilting its head towards the inner portion of the city. Veya looks back and then out and over the city confines.
"Tell me, is there someone with you?"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
It is clear that several things will need to happen before this party once again becomes a smooth machine like the forces of 'The Master' encountered at Boon's Freehold, but the age-old adage may hold true - "Time heals all..."
The most interesting fact is the return of Callian and his news of great importance. King Sturmguard has turned his back on the Elven Empire of Astoril, informing his ambassadors that they are 'to fall victim to treachery no more'. The great human King has even authorized the use of lethal force to stem the Elves and their attempts to seize power from Blackwing.
You imagine, should your paths cross again, that the Queen will be most displeased with this decree - apparently the war has no entered political arenas as well.
Even more puzzling is the mention of the shard in 'The Glade' - the enigmatic home of the most ancient druids in the lands. Who is Karn? Why does his temple of eternal rest lay partially on this plane and partially in the Nine Hells? Does this benefit you?
The questions are nearly enough to make your head hurt...but at least there is a good duel going on nearby to distract.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero - The Elf wraps his hands around his blade and stands, leveling it at your head. If his eyes could leap from his skull and run down the silver edge of his sword, you have no doubt they would try to consume you.
Luckily for you, traitors lack such powers.
With a simple step forward, you hack twice down the Elf's sternum. [Attack Rolls = Nat. 17, Crit Confirm, success. 23] Both attacks are directly at mid-section, one sounding like it cracks the left side of his rib cage. [Damage Rolls = 20 (Crit.), 11]
The warrior stumbles back, his eyes widen as though the realization of what he's up against suddenly strikes him dead in the face. Still, he's not above his oath so he returns the attack. [Attack Roll = 23] The attack barely lands and does little more than draw a thin line of blood from Hero's jaw. [Damage Roll = 6]
[Initiative: Hero, The Elf.]
Elf is near death, down 31.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Romar and Yuri - The woman you presume is Veya, as the name she gave you, studies you from beneath the furred mask. She eventually tilts her lance upright and places it into a holder in the saddle of her giant bird. She dismounts, landing on the ground with a soft step, keeping one hand on the ruffled neck of the giant hawk.
She pulls back the furs and cloak from around her face to reveal she is young, human and rather attractive.
Pale red hair collapses about her face in waves, framing a rather soured expression of a woman who has been scorned by war and depressed by lost. She bears a simple headband about her forehead that appears to, at one time, have been a man's necklace. If you had to guess her age, it would be around eighteen.
"I admire your honesty Romar Belamor, a quality one rarely finds anymore in these dark times."
"As I said, I am leader of 'The Fatherless' - what the surivivors of this desolate city call themselves." Veya absent mindedly thumbs the necklace about her forehead as she goes on. "We used to be the woman, the children and the wives of this town. Things were good, until 'The Master' and his damned abominations began to show up in small patrols here and there. We lost many a good man to those small skirmishes and if we had known we would lose much more, we would have left almost immediately."
"However...we did not..."
Veya chokes back a lump of tears.
"They came as one large army, the Orcs, Goblins and the dead, intent on descimating our town. The fathers and men of the town would not see their most precious loved ones turned into unholy creatures of the night so our most powerful elder chief made an offering to the great birds that have always roosted nearby our small town."
"In exchange for meat and the remainder of the small towns' grain, the birds carried us to the safety of the mountains high above. 'A small price to pay for the safety and continued life of my daughter' - my father said to me before he kissed my forehead goodbye, before I was lifted into the cold clouds, their screams fading into the coming snow storm."
Veya seems almost on the verge of tears. You get the impression that she has never conveyed the sadness of her story to anyone before. She continues, stiffening her resolve.
"Most of the children died that winter, leaving only young maids and wives atop those cold desolate cliffs. Over the next year, we befriended the giant birds, learning to ride them and use their power to our advantage. We scavenged some lances and weapons, trained ourselves to use them and now, we too, seek retribution for lost loved ones Romar..."
"So you can see we are alike."
Veya's eyes dart over you hungrily, a betrayal that she has indeed spent nearly the last year or more atop a cold mountain with little more than women for company. It must be hard, for someone her age to be alone in such a dark time.
The giant bird squawks loudly, tilting its head towards the inner portion of the city. Veya looks back and then out and over the city confines.
"Tell me, is there someone with you?"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
))