Darkwood--Into the blackness....

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Seven Words
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Post by Seven Words »

as there'll be no action type sequences, continuity can be very fluid here. I'm working up a dramatic scene.....no more dice rolling for a while, al RP.
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Katrina
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Post by Katrina »

[Before we exit the room, or if anyone comes in, I'll be replacing my mask and changing my appearance.]
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Kalindriel Ec'urb
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Post by Kalindriel Ec'urb »

With the return of the ladies on the flying carpet, Kali teases them, "Where have you been? You took off without a word to Sorchat. Thaaaankfully I was able to keep her out of trouble."
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Sigrid
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Post by Sigrid »

@Vynarkus - It was a Talisman of Ultimate Evil. An evil artifact with 6 uses. That was its last use.

"We were... flying." I blush again. "Sorchat can find me if she needs to. She said it would be okay, though. Was she a bother? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."

I look around for Sorchat.

[Ignore this, I'm playing with the formatting.]
  • 57hp MAX
    Sacred Healing is not active.[Fast Healing 9]
    Arcane Sight is active.[Detect magic auras]
    Disguise Self is active.[Disguise wings and glowing eyes]

    Code: Select all

    Cleric 0     |Cleric 1     |Cleric 2    |Cleric 3    |Cleric 4    |Staff  (50/50)				
     Create Water| Shield Faith| Bull's Str | Disp Magic | Dismisal   | L. Restore  1				
     Create Water| Shield Faith| Bull's Str | Disp Magic | Dismisal   | C Serious   1				
     Create Water| Shield Faith| Bull's Str | Disp Magic | Dismisal   | C Critical  2				
     Create Water| Shield Faith| Status     | Disp Magic |            | Restoration 2				
     Create Water| Shield Faith| Status     |            |            | Rem Bli/Def 2				
     Create Water| Shield Faith|            |            |            | Rem Disease 3				
    -------------|-------------|------------|------------|------------|--------------				
    Sorc 0 (6/6) |Sorc 1 (8/8) |Sorc 2 (8/8)|Sorc 3 (6/6)|Sorc 4 (4/4)|Wands
     Acid Splash | Burn Hands  | Scorch Ray | Fireball   | Orb of Acid| Acid Arr   15
     Arcane Mark | Identify    | See Invis  | Disp Magic |            | DetSecrD   15
     Dance Light | Mag Missile | Invis      |            |            | Disp Magic 50
     Detect Magic| Shield      |            |            |------------| FindTrap   50
     Light       | Feather Fall|            |------------|Rods        | Knock      15
     Mage Hand   |             |------------|Turn (13/13)| Empower 2/3| Lgtng Bolt 38
     Prestidigit |             |IncenseMed 4| Sacred Heal| Absorb 6/24| SonBlas    26
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Kalindriel Ec'urb
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Post by Kalindriel Ec'urb »

Over the course of the week, Kali disappears for long stretches of time. A day here, a night there. She is nowhere to be found during these periods.

When she is seen, it's often posing for one of the elven artisans. She commissioned a life-sized statue made of silver smelted from many of the coins retrieved from the tower. When asked, she gives a spiel about the dark elven maiden who helped bring freedom to the elves and how they should remember this day lest they fall to half-truths again.

Were she not easy to pick out in a crowd, her wardrobe changes would make one think she was a different elf. Her outfit of random slashes has become one of deep indigo (dragon!?!) scales and impossibly black silk. Her singular glove has been replaced by matched fingerless gloves, the left ending at the wrist and the right extending past the elbow. Her feet are now partially covered by leather wraps. Most noticeable, however, is that her gleaming pole-arm has been replaced with a new glaive. The design is similar to the one she had when rescued, but the blade is dark with hints of green fire and violet arcs of electricity and the haft of the weapon has intricate inlays of a strange reddish-violet metal.

After one of her re-appearances she finds Sorchat and gives her two sacks. One contains small blocks of wood. "These are aromatic woods from different regions. They should produce unique smells and flavors if you burn them." The other sack contains several smaller bags with tiny blocks of waxen material. "Now these are fascinating. When burned, they cause the flames to burn in vivid colors. Supposedly any elemental of fire which consumes one will take on these colors for a day! I thought you might find them enjoyable."
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Laurel
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Post by Laurel »

Laurel spends some time over the next few days familiarizing herself with her new harp (?) and searching in vain for a few items. Having just had three wishes granted from the draw of the deck, she uses the time to mull over what else she may request in response to the generosity of the elves.

Unaware that Annalysei had tried to surreptitiously leave the party for now, Laurel comes across her alone in the shade, quickly pocketing an item as the bard's presence is felt.

"Hail, Annalysei!" Laurel greets her. "Did you and Sigrid have an enjoyable flight?"
~Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
Let the sound take you away...
~
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Seven Words
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Post by Seven Words »

Skyseeker comes over to Kalindriel. "Her Judgment come, but this is exhausting. They've been isolated here for millennia, believe they were the only elves to have survived. And they lost all their history, books, lore. And that never-sufficiently-cursed Protector and his people waged a covert war all this time, keeping people from trying to regain what was lost, letting civilization slip away by inches, under the guise of the "needs of the moment". Manufacturing crisis after crisis to justify their hold on power.

I've been trying to give back what was lost....everything I remember of our common history, legends, songs. That's his most unforgivable crime, I think....Elves are betimes said to be "the song of the world in flesh", and they took that from them. It's a joke with more than a grain of truth, that elves have a song for everything including passing wind. Songs for awakening, songs for the dawn, for breaking fast, for noons radiance.....These poor souls sing for passing of the moon each month, and for the seasons, and a few hymns for each of the gods. "
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Led Pighp
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Post by Led Pighp »

Led perks his head up. "Oh no, the elves have lost some of their history?"

He walks over to Skyseeker. "I have bemoaned how your group of elves left my people alone on the edges of the 'Wood, knowing only rumors of our past. But now that I see how they are treated with your kind to guide them, I start to wonder if perhaps everyone might be better off without the elves' history. The worst of this treatment was from these "lost" elves trying to ape what they thought they'd lost."

"I still see no reason to dissuade me from believing that the world would be better if your people were to just leave. The rest of us can clean up your mess and carry on with our lives. Just stick around long enough to make sure all of your cousins leave with you."
Geek the mage, first.
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Seven Words
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Post by Seven Words »

"What was, and and in some cases is still being, done to your people is an abomination. There can be no excuse, no rationale, no justification....I've spoken with the Council here. Any of the Shifters or WarForged who wish can join the exodus to the south, as equals." Skyseeker turns to look at the usual small crowd hanging around to look at The Great Liberators ..."EQUALS!" She shouts at them. "If they wish to remain here, this place will be given over to them, no elf shall remain unless specifically ASKED to do so by whatever leadership is formed."

OOC note--government form is appearing to end up as each "breed" of shifter is a clan....select from within their number a Voice....Voices are all equal, and select a Song from among themselves as leader. They are including a method/ritual for leaving/joining clans...Forged pick a clan.

"Those who wish to go south, will be welcomed as EQUALS" another searing look around "among my people, far to the south. I will not lie and say that those of your folk there are treated with perfect equity. But may She Who Waits hold me to my oath, and He Who Is Wisdom know my words for truth, all that I or my family can do for Valkhan's Grace upon your folk, we will. Or, we will help them to find what their kindred have built amidst the ruin my kindred made of Tar-Anedrel's Shining Gem, where you hail from, Led. Or wherever else they may wish to go."
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Katrina
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Post by Katrina »

Looking up from her game bouncing a "jacks" to Skyseeker "You're from the south too?"
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Led Pighp
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Post by Led Pighp »

"While I have learned to trust your word, Skyseeker, I still find the prospect of hoping for equal treatment from your people as a whole to be... dangerous at worse. At best, I just have to wonder why would we even try?"

"Why make ourselves vulnerable, in the hopes that millenia of history can be overcome? Why not just forge a home of our own, and be done with you? Even treated as equals, we would still be guests in an elvish nation. Beholden to you. In fact, not equal at all."

"Return to your roots. Leave us to what we can create of our own. Perhaps in time, your people will have something to offer us, and we will have something to trade you in turn. Then, we will come together in friendship."

Led smiles cheerfully, almost manic, as he continues, "Or perhaps, Darethon will answer our prayers, and one day an army of shifters and forged, freshly victorious over your dark cousins, will appear at your borders to the south, seeking the Vengeance so long owed to us. And whatever you might have had to offer us, we can take from the smoking ruins of your homes, instead."

He turns to the young girl playing jacks. "'Trina, I didn't know you were from the south. Which part? Skyseeker is from the far far eastern part of the south. And Laurel is from more to the west of the south. Maybe we can take you home, back to the Good Man, on our way to destroy the Bad Elves."
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Katrina
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Post by Katrina »

Continuing her game

"I know it south, and that's about it. I sent a birdy to the Good Man telling him I Dealt With the Bad Man, I had friends, and a kitty and a God and that I might not be home soon. The birdy went south,so that's where it is. That portal brought me here chasing the Bad Man."

"Why are you angry kitty over that? Isn't all that land just wet jungle, dead grassy places, and that place halflingish people go after being kicked out of real cities?"

"I kinda wanna go home, but you said there are Bad Elves. I gotta Deal With those. For Kitties."
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Led Pighp
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Post by Led Pighp »

"Oh, not so far south as the wet jungle, there's a big giant forest. Really big. The trees are so thick there, you can't see the sun. It's as dark as night, inside there. That's where the really Bad elves live. The Bad Man that you dealt with, he works for the really Bad elves. I would guess that if the Good Man knew about the really Bad elves, he'd want them Dealt With, too. But, I don't know the Good Man, so maybe that's not true."

"But, all of us want them Dealt With. So, I'm sure pretty soon, once we're done buying stuff and resting, we'll start walking south so we can take care of that."

"These elves around here, they're just kinda bad. So maybe we'll Deal With them, and maybe we won't. That will be later. If they help us Deal With the really Bad elves... we'll see."

"So, would you like to come with us to the South, little 'Trina? You'll need a horse to ride, if you do."

"Oh, I know. You could ride a kitty. We could go hunting together. Would you like that?"
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Katrina
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Post by Katrina »

That almost creepy singsong

"Bad is Bad. Good is Good. Deal With the Bad ones, just like you should."

That huge grin breaks out across her face

"Leddycat! I get to ride the kitty!"

Leaving behind her jacks and dashing up to Led and snuggling his mane.

Mumbling into his fur.

"Hunty Kitty, stalks the prey."

Scritching the ears

"Deal With Bad Ones in our way"

Climbing up facing backwards

"Bringing Vengeance, till there's none"

Batting at the tail

"They die tired, if they run!"
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Led Pighp
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Post by Led Pighp »

Led trots off to the stables where his old horse is still billeted. He stays downwind of the horses themselves, so as not to spook them, but collects his military saddle from the stablemaster (or the saddlemaker, if it's a different guy) so they can talk.

"Sir, I would like to hire some custom work to this saddle. I need it to be able to fit onto my own back, and to hold this girl. And it's possible that I will be climbing up walls, so it should include structure to keep her attached. Only, she might also need to suddenly dismount, so we can't go with simply buckling her in place. Do you get my meaning?"

"Also, I believe that I have no further use for my horse, though he has served me well to this point. I would see him put where he will be respected. He's no Heshic courser, but I imagine you see few Sverdhame breeds this far north. Can you arrange his sale for me? The proceeds can be applied towards the work on the saddle."
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Annalysei
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Post by Annalysei »

Anna was so wrapped up that she didn't really hear Laurel until she spoke, and she gasps guiltily and the sound that comes out of her mouth sounding much like an "Eeeep!" and fumbles with the objects in her hands, trying vainly to stuff them back in her pouch, she's so hurried that she botches it completely, and a shiny silvery mass of mythril thread spills out of her hands and on to the forest floor in front of her lap.

She moans in humiliation and puts her head in her hands.

"Laurel, you have to vow to me, on your god, that you'll never tell anyone what you've seen here." With that, she shakily raises the mass of thread in her hands, exposing what she's been working on.

It's a mythril belt pouch for Sigrid. It has slots worked into it for each of Sigrid's wands and rings, so that they're easy to reach, and can be easily grabbed in the heat of battle, so there's never a risk of her picking up the wrong one. In the shining threads are sparkling gray crystals, worked into the shape of wings. Anna holds up a crochet hook and waves it about miserably.

"No one can know I can do this. I'm supposed to be a hardened warrior, not a dainty lady making doilies." She sighs rather pitifully. "I learned needlecraft at my father's keep, and when I couldn't sneak off to train, this" she gestures at the pouch "is what I was doing. I was supposed to be a dutiful embodiment of femininity, and when I left, I swore to leave that part of me behind. The problem is, I'm good at it. Really good. But a Spellreaver isn't supposed to sit around doing needlecraft. I'm supposed to be polishing my weapon and sending abominations back to the abyss."

She sighs and goes back to using the hook, the thread flying under her deft fingertips, "So there you have it. Please don't tell anyone, especially Kali. She'd laugh until she strains a muscle. And for that matter, pretty much everyone else would, too. Sigrid wouldn't, of course, but I can't have it bandied about that I do this sort of thing."
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Kalindriel Ec'urb
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Post by Kalindriel Ec'urb »

[Needlecraft is good. You could make me a hat! :biggrin:]

Kali shrugs at Skyseeker. "Their history has been thoroughly twisted. No way to know what is real, what they have lost, what they should have learned. They should toss everything away and start anew to see what comes from it. They have an opportunity to forge a path without the baggage of the past encumbering them."
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Annalysei
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Post by Annalysei »

Pouch finished, Anna holds it up and checks it. Satisfied that it turned out the way she wanted it to, she tucks it back into her bag and leaves her hiding spot in the wood.

Once she reaches the clearing, she scans the area for Sigrid. Smiling, and trying her best not to sprint over, she walks over to join Sigrid and Sorchat. She snuggles up behind Sigrid, arms winding around her tiny waist. Pausing for a second to blow away a feather that had found its way into her mouth, she addresses the familiar, "Sorchat, may I steal her from you for a bit?"

Without really waiting for Sorchat's reply, Anna tugs Sigrid over to their tent and tugs on her hand until they're both sitting. Pausing for a second to steel her nerves...oh gods, I hope she likes this...She pulls out the pouch she'd made in the woods and hands it to Sigrid. "I, uh, made this for you. See there? You can put your wands in these pouches and your rings in these little ones here, and you can clasp it around your waist with this." She hesitates again for a second and takes a deep breath "AndIputwingsonitbecauseyoursarebeautifulandIhopeyoulikeit." she finishes in a nervous rush.
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Seven Words
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Post by Seven Words »

The next day......a great commotion is about the city...some great discovery locked away until now within the protector's demesne is being revealed, it seems...
An old, frail looking elf is being escorted out of the former Protector’s tower. One of the Shining Icewall Guards (the elite troops) informs you that “We’ve finally finished getting into the deepest cells. I’m over 500 years old, and I remember my elders telling me stories from their youth, about how their elders had a very wise and good speaker to the Council, a servant of the God of Knowledge, but he disappeared. His real name was lost long before he disappeared, he simply went by his title as high priest of the Lorekeeper, “One Who Knows”. Scourge-bled bastards have held him prisoner all these years.”

The elderly one speaks….”None who knew me still live. My name matters not. For I doubted the Knowledge granted to me, and so was ensnared. Let my name remain as dust, for my shame. Much must I tell you all, both from my own life, and from He Who Is Wisdom.” One pale, shaking hand points towards the largest grouping of Shifters and Warforged…..”Long ago, after the Darkening, we realized our hubris….how could we not, with it’s consequences writ large across the very world? And those we had wronged, the beings we had made, we strove to do right by. They were treated as our equals, by al save a bare few, but those few were shunned and despised. That noble start, that impetus to healing the wounds we had inflicted….was thwarted by Shugo’nar’Kherelth, who oh-so-humbly took the name Protector. Slowly, patiently, he has twisted what we are, what we wrought. The Lorekeeper graced me with much of what transpired in my captivity. The hubris which led to the Darkening is a part of us. Is this the legacy we wish to leave the world? When the last of the elves passes, shall those beings who remain curse us with their every breath for the horrors we set loose and then stood aloof from, wringing our hands and pitifully proclaiming it was not our fault? Even now, The Lord Of Blades And Warden Of The Home is imperiled by its’ own kin. The only light set against that dark branch has gone out. I have seen from all across the world, the fruiting of long-hidden, simmering corruption, infections of evil bursting like noxious cysts. Within Ma'ashii Tala'Ghesti, countless graves have vomited forth their contents, while without foul orcs maraud at will….the Pridefolk of the Plains flee, for from the mountains come giants, lead by dragons. The Bones of the Earth are splintering, nameless horrors from the deeps creeping forth, and ones Fallen into Corruption lead them…scorching winds at their backs, Those Who Sting cross into lush lands, slaughtering the cheerful kind, bringing tears uncountable. And leading them, crying for vengeance, a terror of sky hue, it’s brood diminished. Within the Towers of Glory, a long-shackled power stirs, seeking not to return to its pit, but rather to create such a place there. Amidst the jungle-lands of Puntaara, festering miasmas drift….Sky-Lords of ebon, and viridian now hold sway, raining vitriol upon all goodly folk. Only The Guardians of the Mother’s Bounty yet hold all evil at bay.”

Looking over at the party now….”The Flower knows where….against rhyme and meter, voice uplift…A mystery to work mysteries…..among the bladed folk, south….scions of its touch upon the planes…not beholden….”

And the ancient one collapses……
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Kalindriel Ec'urb
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Post by Kalindriel Ec'urb »

Kali runs her fingers across some of the blue scales in her new outfit. "By the lights of Mount Celestia..." she trails off with a realization.

She looks up at Vhashik, "See? This is how we make a name for ourselves. Up for fighting a wyrm? I hope so, since she isn't going to think too highly of us if I'm caught wearing one of her children."
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