DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

[Ameena]

OOC - Ooh yeah, crap, I forgot I needed a heal, lol. I'm currently already carrying an Um-Vi potion, which I think I was given at some point between following Westian off the ledge and the whole mind-fookery bit during the fight with the undead widget.

BIC - Having managed to snatch a brief nap, this combined with the recent consumption of fresh food and water (not to mention health potions) makes Ameena feel physically refreshed and generally much better. She still doesn't feel particularly willing for the group split to take place, but realises there's nothing much she can do about it. The complexities of these creatures goes somewhat beyond her - they have all their complicated plans and things they want to achieve, and so have to set about doing so by equally complex means, any of which could so easily go wrong at any time. But this is the world in which she finds herself, so she knows she has to just deal with it, somehow, and get on with things as best she can.
"So...we have to find your friend Deephold, then?" she pipes up, looking at Westian. "I hope he's not in too much danger. Umm...what does he look like? I don't suppose you have anything of his that smells like him, do you?"
In asking these questions, she sets her mind in such a way that she can cope with the upcoming dangers, hopefully not let the fears become too strong, and attempt to concentrate on what she and Haynuus are supposed to be doing - find Westian's friend Deephold, and bring him back to the waterfall. Thoughts of what may be guarding him, or what she already knows the priest to be capable of, she briefly acknowledges but otherwise tries not to think about beyond that - if she were to do so, she'd probably just refuse to go. She hopes this Deephold person won't need too much persuading that a half-orc and a murafu are friendly creatures who want to help him.

[ian_scho]

Haynuus appreciated the T.L.C. received from Westian, and happily noted that Aurek was no longer wet and winded from talking to the elementals. "It's great luck that you can talk to them." he added for good measure. Of all of the things he could have spent his time, sticking your head in crusty books and trying to talk to musty old grey men attempting to learn a practically useless language was not one of them. He'd learnt to speak the common language the humans used by hanging out in bars and shifting things around in warehouses. It was amazing how much colourful language you could pick up that way. And how fast when your boss used a big stick.

The circlet bothered him a little. He realised that he's seen something like it before, worn by a half-ogre/orc mage. The mage's master had long gone insane by demonic practices and they said the band around his head was how he had been subjugated to his masters wishes. He was constantly chattering to himself and appeared tortured at times. Most orcs avoided him, but it was only now that Haynuus had the wit to actually pity him. Still, the feeling of not being inferior any more was liberating! He was always doing the grunt work for others as he possessed little aptitude to think for himself but now... He'd finish helping Westian as he owed him that, but he was suddenly far more confident to make it on his own. He always had a master, a driver, a brutish boss but now he was capable of working out his own problems now. He felt free!

He'd listen to the circlet, as he'd no reason to suspect it of malevolence yet. Both he and the king who previously wore it had their own free will. And instead of ruling a kingdom and seeking power Haynuus was truly ready to build his very own adobe, become a craftsman screamer handler and farmer. The circlet was made for kings, yet it would be the meek who would ultimately inherit it.

[ian_scho]

"Ameena has a good point. He's a dwarf, and a cleric. Can you tell us anything else? Perhaps you can give us some information about those who sent you to rescue him, so that we can gain his confidence? I could offer him some fish I suppose..." With that last comment Haynuus knew that he was no longer a simple minded half-orc, yet some things were going to stay the same.

[beowuuf]

Aurek was a little reticent over why he had chosen to learn the languages of the elementals. It was alsmost as if he knew, one day, he would need to speak to the elements of Anaias. Westian was more than forthcoming about explaining the logic of learning the ways of the outer plains, and mentioned his own dabblings with both that and the celestial language of the High Lords.

On the subject of Deephold, Westian was a little taken aback at actually picturing what the dwarf would be like out of the order. Westian began by describing a dwarf who could, on surface description, sound like Soorec. Studieous and easily distracted by some weighty tome. However Darcow Deephold has a slow manner to him, and had a way of speaking as if lecturing. He was deeply loyal to the order. The physical appearance as Westian described him was more in keeping with a sturdy, thickset dwarf. Westian assumed the dwarf would probably smell of the dusty tomes and older libraries that he frequented. And probably very much of unwashed dwarf, thee dwarf could spend days studying at times.

As to the winning of trust...

"Oh. I haven't actually been given the mission yet." It was hard to truly naviagte the strangeness of time travel, but if all their conjectures were true, then Westian had not actually had the meeting he clearly remember, and infact if they rescued Deephold, he would never have the meeting he very, very clearly recalled having with his superior. Westian described the meeting anyway, as the name of the elder and the specifics of Deephold's mission. Westian conjecturered that the reason his order knew of the removal of the Grey Lord from Anaias was indeed the Soul Stone the order had gifted the Grey Lord.

Aurek in turn gave a few provisional comments about what he knew of Deephold's large and silent paladin bodyguard Umgold.

"Just be yourself, it worked to win my confidence," was Westian's encouraging comment to the half-orc. Whether he meant it or was secretly worried was not something he made obvious. After much hesitation, Westian then reached in and took out the holy symbol he had found in Soorec's room. "It is his symbol, if you explain where you found it, and how you knew it was his, that might be enough. At the very least, touching it would be a sign you are not aligned to evil." Once more, it was hard to know if this was actually true.

Sorry OB! I promise you're almost certain to have the potential chance to maybe have an opportunity get it back again!

The air started whipping around in the cavern. It appeared the air elemental was starting to get anxious to move on.


Poke? All ready?

[Ameena]

Ameena listens carefully to the descriptions of Deephold and Umgold. She hasn't met very many dwarves in her time, and in fact hasn't ever had an actual conversatio with one, but she's pretty sure she knows what they look like - murafu tend to carry around with them a mental description of every creature they've ever heard about, and a few creatures she's seen have matched the description she has of the creature called a "dwarf" - generally shorter and wider than a human, a little taller than a halfling, and with the mass of fur around the chin which those species refer to as a "beard". She imagines from the description taht she hopefully won't have too much trouble locating said dwarf once he's within range of her nose - after all, apart from anything else, as far as she knows he's the only dwarf down here - his smell should be unique amongst those she's encountered so far.
As to Deephold's guardian friend, she gathers from the description that he's human, and figures that hopefully he'll be close by wherever Deephold happens to be. As long as he doesn't attempt to attack herself or Haynuus straight away, she decides that maybe they'll be able to communicate their intentions easily enough to be able to head back to the waterfall shortly after finding them.
Thoughts of what the hostile priest might try and do to stop them keep trying to surface in her mind, but she remembers Westian's previous warnings and replaces the thoughts with other things instead, such as wondering whether the little green petal-creature on her shoulder has a name, and what kinds of interesting things the little piece of Air in her pouch wants to see. She decides she'll have to try and talk to them at some point and see if she can strike up some kind of conversation.
Finally, she looks up at Westian, her friend, and at Aurek, whom she still barely knows, and wonders whether there's really anything more she can say. She knows she might not see either of them again and still doesn't want the group to part ways, but at least she has the hope that they'll all be successful and manage to reunite and escape the unpleasantness of all the horrible things down here.
"I hope you manage to...do whatever it is you plan on doing." she says, wishing that their kind were familiar with the murafu gesture of snuffling their noses together by way of greeting or a parting gesture. Then again, as these creatures don't have whiskers, it would probably feel rather strange.
Then she looks around the cave, and calls out.
"Thank you again for all your help! I hope we'll be back soon, and maybe you can tell us more interesting things. It was good, at least, to be able to see the sky again."
Finally she turns to, and looks up at, Haynuus.
"Well, I suppose it's time for us to go, then." she says, glad at least that she doesn't have to travel alone again.

[ian_scho]

"Looks like we're ready to move on then chaps. Good luck." He turns to Ameena, "I think you had better put your nose out first to see if you can detect the danger. I'll follow closely behind, you'll smell me."

And that was the problem with hightened intelligence thing. Suddenly Haynuus realised that maybe he should bathe so that he didn't upset the others. Being clever was a lot more work!

[beowuuf]

Both Ameena and Haynuus get to roll perception!


The crack was oddly dark and mysterious, impenitrable to the twinkling glow of the waterfall. A torch flaring - not too near Ameena's sensative fur - showed the darkness to be natural though. The crack was simply very difficult to navigate, narrowing and twising many times. There was a dowwards component to it, many times Haynuus would feel air where his boot should have met solid rock. Ameena's whiskers and closeness to the ground ensured she was not as startled.

It was not too claustrophoebic, the wafting of the air elemental flickering in aroudn the torch and ruffling Ameena's fur made it feel as if the crack was less enclosed than it was. The air elemental also whispered words to ensure the two companions did not try to walk into a secondary crack that probably led nowhere, or led to a long drop. Finally, the crack did expand more, and the jagged dark rock became lighter again. It was easier to navigate, and the downwards slope started to become step-like. The walls were wider, and the crack seemed to have more height, a very narrow line in the ceiling.

"The walls become boring and solid, earth holds sway further down. The way is obvious." The air elemental that had been their companion swirled around a little in a criss cross. Although all the air elementals had similar traits, this one seemed gruffer. Perhaps he felt put upon being pushed into the still air down here, in the depths of the mountain."The air dies to the left, and still has some life to the right. Your friend's friend might be to the right, though it is hard to fathom what you dwellers of the material plane and you who are tied to earth will do. Your ways are strange, you actively seek this tomb."

There was a sigh, like the wind through the trees in a dark and spooky night. "Your cause seems interesting though, I shall wait here - for a while - should you have need of aid to escape."

There was then an expantion of air, and it felt as if the air was a little freer, for the moment.


Ok, so I've not put you at the bottom of the slope, but there will be a bottom to this slope opening into a dungeon area again. If you want to ask anything of the air elemental, now is the time to ask. Otherwise, now is the time to work out if you are happy for Ameena going first, Haynuus at the back to be the continued order. Also, if Haynuus will hang well back so Ameena is at the edge of the torchlight, or if the two should travel together. Maps will start tomorrowwith the next update

[Ameena]

OOC - Well, Perception check = 17 (7+10)...I think it makes sense for Ameena to be going first, so her senses lead the way, though I'm not sure how close she should stay to Haynuus - certainly getting too far ahead would probably be a bad idea. Btw do these elementals speak Common, then, or was it just the watery ones that needed Aurek to translate?

BIC - Ameena nods her head at the airy being in response to its words.
"I'm glad you've helped us this far." she says. "Of course, you don't have to wait if you don't want to - I don't know how long this will take us. We might even die down there..."
As she speaks, she starts to move around, sniffing the ground and listening intently for anything odd. She hopes she'll recognise the scent of either Deephold or Umgold should she detect it, though she supposes that the former will be easier to detect, since no-one's mentioned there being any other dwarves down here. Then again, the scent of a slightly-familiar species may not necessarily be that of a dwarf - it might be any number of other things, too.

OOC - Ameena isn't going far, just poking around the immediate area in case there's anything obvious.

[beowuuf]

Elementals speak common and their language - it's a case of whether they deign to even speak their own language to common material plane mortals, let alone sully their mouths with the common language of the material plane! Feel priveledged!

[ian_scho]

OOC - Perception check (1d20+2=14)

Haynuus kept about 10 to 15 feet behind Ameena as she skittered and sniffed her way along the crack. Along the way he would peer up to see how far the crack in the ceiling went but then stumble as the uneven floor gave way to treacherous steps or holes. He would bite his tongue more than a few times to either stop himself from cursing, or simply because he hit his head.

Finally the elemental perked up and spoke and then formed a faint circular breeze in an intersection. "Thanks, we'd better go right then." He lifted his hiltless sword up and said "And I'll try not to ruffle too many feathers with this". He waited for Ameena to move and made a mental note of the area they were in, so as to not to forget the way back.

[beowuuf]

The elemental actually seemed tickled by Haynuus's fairwell greeting, giving a light laugh for much longer than the phrase warranted. Perhaps it gained something in translation if you were an air elemental. It did not comment on Ameena's musings on death. Was that ominous, or just the way of air elementals not to dwell on such things?

Having the air elemental around had made the torch flare and splutter, not the best for trying to listen for delicate sounds. Ameena stayed ahead of this, but the dead, still air further down was unpleasant and did not move scents well. Worse yet, it seemed to choke old scents too.

Still, there was something in the air that came from living creatures. The metal smell she associated with the solders was around, from both sides. Oddly, the metal and elf smell she had begunto associate with Westian - not any more, she supposed - was also hanging in the air. Both made it hard to tell if there was a scent of dwarf. Remembering what Westian had said, there was a faint scent of something like paper in the air. It seemed to be drifting from the right hand side.

Both could hear, once the torch settled down from the air elemental's retreat, a very, very dull sound. It seemed to be coming from what would be the left hand side of the exit out. Was it something to investigate, or avoid?


Here's a little map of what's down the stairs. Not really impressive yet Anyway, dull noise left, or paper scent right. The soldier scents all criss cross too much, but they too seem to concentrate on the right too.

[Ameena]

Ameena sits very still, moving her head around slightly as she tries to take in and mentally pick through each of the scents she's detected. After several moments of working through this sensory input, she goes over to Haynuus, standing upright so as to be able to talk to him more easily.
"I can smell soldiers around here." she says. "Well, it's the smell like their armour, anyway - I suppose it might just be someone wearing their armour, rather than the soldiers themselves. It's all around, but it seems to come mainly from the right. There's a smell like...what's it called...paper? That's coming from the right too - that was what Westian said Deephold would smell ike, isn't it? Maybe that's a good sign. And I don't know if you can hear it, but there's some kind of...sound...coming from the left. I can't quite make out what it is, though. I think maybe we should go right - at least if there are soldiers there, we know a little more about them than...whatever's to the left. And if that is paper I can smell...well, I suppose it might not be Deephold, but...well, maybe there's...I don't know. But familiar things are to the right, and even though I'd normally love to explore something new, down here I...I'm not sure I want to any more."
She lowers her gaze as she says this, almost as though she's ashamed to admit it, though in truth she's only just realised the fact as she spoke the words - even her innate and almsot insatiable curiosity has somehow been quelled by the numerous hostile forces she's encountered down here. Somehow, she doesn't want to sniff out what's making that noise, because somehow she knows that it's probably not going to be something very nice. Of course, she might be wrong, but she's learned that down here it's better not to press things too far.
She pushes these thoughts aside for now, however, and looks back up at Haynuus.
"What do you think?" she asks.

[beowuuf]

I killed murafu curiosity I did not realise I was such a bad person until now

[ian_scho]

OOC - The THSword that Haynuus has, con he turn it 'off' by letting go of the handle or is it always 'on'? Can he sheath it?

"I'm happy to move right and follow the paper... Paper doesn't wield a sword does it?" he smiled back at the Murafu. He'd known her for a little time now and had picked up that if her whiskers were pointing a little down, then it was an indication that she was fatigued or suffering. "We'll just be as quiet as possible. I'm not wearing any clanking armour now and my sandals will caress the floor so gently it would be as if they were lovers." OK. Maybe he was applying it a bit too thick now.

He lifted his hand up to feel the breeze of the elemental, it was almost assuring. He could walk right through it and would never know. He wondered how many more elementals and fantastic beings he had just trotted on by without a second glance.

[Ameena]

Ameena brightens slightly as she sees Haynuus's attempt to make light of the situation. She doesn't quite understand his comment about "lovers", but figures that it has something to do with the view his species, and others, have of physical contact which differs so greatly from that of the Murafu view.
"Well, I don't think paper can do us harm, no, but the soldiers might." she comments. "Still, you're right about being quieter. To my ears you were really quite...well, loud, before. You're still loud now, of course, just...less loud than before."
She looks around at the air and calls out.
"I really hope I can come back and talk to you again." she says. "I mean, you and the rest of the umm...talking air that's back up there. I haven't had a proper conversation with anyone since...well, since before I came down into this place. I mean, proper by murafu standards. I suppose I won't, though, unless I meet with other murafu again. Well, hopefully that day isn't too far off. Goodbye for now, though."

[beowuuf]

The butterfly on Ameena's shoulder twitches but otherwise stays on the murafu's shoulder, moving its wings open and closed a few times as if in greeting as Ameena speaks sadly.

The air picks up for a moment when Ameena says farewell to the elemental, swirling. "Do not talk of days, nor hours. Even minutes feel too long," says the elemental reproachfully. "Surely your task will be quickly resolve. Nothing good can come of staying in this still space for too long. Hurry back!" with that the air moves away.

Ameena and Haynuus moves cautiously forwards and right, looking and listening for anything out of the ordinary. It is up to Haynuus to find the first unusual thing. The stairwell that was so obvious when they were on it has disappeared now they are in athe corridor. The wall is completely blank. Luckily, Haynuus and Ameena have both seen this before in their own ways, even if Haynuus's circlet were not whispering words to the half-orcv's brain. Sure enough, Haynuus can push his head easily back int othe wall, and from the inside everything looks normal again, wiht the makeshift stairwell and the opening obvious. At least that ensured they might make a clean getaway if they could come back this way unseen!

Looking to the right, the corridor did not go on for long before it broke off. And those divisions also seemed to split up. This was not a good thing, especially fi the worst happened and they were relying on Aurek and Westian to come after them.

To Ameena's sense of smell, the new left-hand branch of the corridor smelled the most paper-like. Meanwhile, althogu hthe smell of soldiers - sweat and metal and humanoid smells combined - was everywhere, there seemed to be a far greater concentration of pure metal coming from the continuation of the original corridor.

To Haynuus's new awareness, all he realised was that these corridors seemed much more structured than alot of the recent areas had been. However, the corridors also seemed to show their age badly, with cracks and dirt in all the bricks. Still, a very dry area. No hint of this being connected tentatively to the watery cavern of the elementals. Perhaps they had travelled further than he realised. Did that mean they were closer to the main dungeon again, or further away? Didn't he have a compass or two for this sort of thing?


As you'll see from the map, a few choices. Just to keep thigns moving a little faster during this exploration phase, I'll spoil something. Either way to go, you will find no instant hints of the way to go or what's at the end. So aswell as choosing to go along the new (upwards) corridor, or carrying onwards, can you also indicate which way you want to go on the branches of those branches? Once you've gone that far, a new perception roll is fine to figure out what's down that way. More importantly, you might wanna start rolling stealth (Ameena is free to take 10 on perception and stelath if she thinks that will be enough btw).

I wish there was a better way to build up the tension, but really the tension is 'you are in a scary level twelve area apparently the domain of the priest.' Sooner or later, you may well find something really bad. If you have any imaginative ways to naviagte around at this time, feel free to share.

Anyway, tomorrow's update should provide you wish something to ponder, no matter your direction...

[Ameena]

OOC - Erm, I'm guessing you forgot this new map you speak of .

BIC - Ameena trots cautiously along the corridor, trying to keep quiet whilst at the same time keep ahead of the long-legged half-orc so that she can sense the way ahead as best she can. She isn't too worried at the discovery of another junction, knowing that the scent trail she and Haynuus are leaving behind will be simple enough for her to follow, provided something watery or magical doesn't come along and erase it during that time.
She sniffs around, and, based on her findings here, turns briefly to look up at Haynuus.
"I can smell the paper-smell this way." she says. "If it is paper, that is - it's not been a smell I've come across a great number of times in the past. The soldier-smell seems strongest down the other route, though it's still everywhere."
She gestures with a forepaw toward the paper-smelling route.
"I suppose that means we'd best be going this way, then?" she inquires, more to confirm taht Haynuus agrees with her than to actually ask him whether he thinks it's a good idea - she can see no reason why he'd want to head down the other path, based on what she can smell so far.
She then has a sudden thought.
"Maybe we can check the walls as we go." she says. "There might be more not-walls. Maybe if you run your hand along one wall, while I follow the other with my whiskers, we'll notice as soon as we reach one, if there are any to be found."

OOC - As far as route-following goes, Ameena will basically stick to the papery smell, at least for now while there's nothing else that seems worth investigating. Obviously if something weird comes up (a new smell, a fake wall, an alcove, an object on the floor, any sense that there's any other living being in the vicinity, or generally anything that might possibly be of interest/concern), she'll stop to investigate, but other than that she'll attempt to continue onward in the hopes of reaching this Deephold fellow .
I'll roll Stealth and Perception anyway...if I get crap rolls can I just take 10 instead or do I have to stick to the roll once I've made it, regardless of how rubbish it is? Well, I'll roll anyway, let's see what I get - Perception = 24 (14+10), Stealth = 32 (18+14). Okay, nice, I got above-average on the roll so that's cool .

[beowuuf]

Nope, did a separate post wit hthe map link...I guess the post did not want to actually appear on the forum Edited the main update. Shame, there goes a second update tonight then. And you either nominate taking 10, or you roll. It's not a safety net, it's a gamble that you won't do as well on the roll as taking the avergae. Or you could say rolling is gambling you can get higher than the average. Either way, they are mutually exclusive!

I pointed out the take 10 option simply because Ameena's got good bonuses for those, so it's a decet gamble to take the average.

[ian_scho]

Fascinated by the visual effect of the disappearing stairs the half-orc is somewhat concerned that they might not get out the same way. He briefly ruffles through his backpack for a stake that they picked up right at the start of the dungeon. With one in his hand Ameena suggests a direction, and Haynuus nods happily in agreement. He places the stake in the bottom edge of the corridoor, slightly in the direction they are now to head. He chuckled to himself as someone actually did this in an orcish fairy tale based in a labyrinth, although the path was indicated with the dismembered limbs of their enemies.

With the tips of his fingers now caressing the other wall Haynuus follows Ameena. He likes the idea, especially as he had heard that this Grey Lord fella was a kleptomaniac and actually went to great lengths to store things such as cheese and apples in hidden rooms or camouflaged alcoves.

OOC - Perception first, and Stealth second. (1d20+2=10, 1d20=17)
Ah bugger, I didn't jot down the compass stolen from the gnome did I?!

It was then Haynuus' new-found intelligence screamed at him that this was what a compass was for! He had always navigated the natural way by mentally marking interesting objects on the way (or occasionally just defocating to be honest as you never forgot it if you went near it) and was actually fascinated by the needle on the compass as he pulled it out. He looked for the pointy bit, and saw that as he moved his arm around him it kept it's direction steady. Now checking it occasionally would help them find their way back!... Pity that he was so fascinated with the thing that he wasn't really looking at his surroundings. This was always the problem with 'technology', wasn't it?!

[beowuuf]

The two move as silently as they can, Haynuus making a decent showing wihtout his armour, even if his compass was proving distracting. Alledgedly, the direction the they were thinking of as 'north' right now seemed to be a westward direction.

The two paths both meandered their own ways, but Ameena took them on the left hand path, apparently smelling the scent of paper stronger now. Unfortunately, paper was not the only thing she could smell. Other subtle scents were in the air as they got closer and closer to a solid wooden oversized door. Compared to the gigantic doors that had blocked their passage in the passed, this one looked a shade more normal, with two handles and a split in the centre.

It seems reassuringly solid. However, there was the remnants of some unpleasnat burnign smell in their air. AS if thigns that should not have been set on fire had been repeatedly set on fire. Worse, Ameena could swear she could smell a very strong scent of soldier coming form the door. A moment's pause made her think there could be someone in the room beyond.


I thought Falkor had grabbed the gnome's broken compass? I thought you had gaffled the one from the odds and sods room after the puzzle where you met Soorec.

[beowuuf]

[Ameena]

Ameena pauses, then turns to look up at Haynuus, gesturing for him to stay where he is and to keep quiet - obviously, with his ears as far away from her as they are, she can't really whisper directions to him.
Then she creeps forward to the double-doors, peering to see whether it's at all possible to see through the crack down the centre, and finally carefully places her ear against the right-hand door, listening intently for any sounds that might come from within.

OOC - I'm guessing I don't need to re-roll Perception and Stealth yet, since it was kind of recent that I last rolled them .

[beowuuf]

I've assumed the same rolls, so you learn nothing new doing what you are doing I'm afraid!

[ian_scho]

OOC - http://www.dungeon-master.com/forum/vie ... ss#p106278 This time it was Haynuus' thievery!

Ameena had stopped in front of the door and she had her whiskers twitching at double speed. Either she was taking extra long to ascertain what was inside or something was bothering her. He softly padded up to the door and put his ear to it. (1d20+2=10) Why not? What was the worse thing that could possibly happen?

[beowuuf]

What indeed...

To Ameena's delicate ears, once Haynuus came forward, there was some soft sound. A gentle clanking, as if of...armour...

Before she could say anything, Haynuus's ears pressed to the door could hear it though. And before he could react, the door was thrown open...

Standing at the door was an impressively built man, standing in black armour with gold and purple trim. The armour was a much, much fancier version of the blackskull armour they had seen before on those such as Captain Drommal. The man was not wearing a helm, and the face revealed marked him as human and also foreign. His skin had a golen cast to it, and he wore neck length hair platted in a strange design.

The man had apparently not expected anyone to be standing right at the door, and his black eyes refocused on Haynuus then Ameena. There was a very, very pregnant pause. The man has one hand on the door he had swung inwards, and one hand on a black dagger tucked into his belt. However, he looked at the two companions as if he had no idea what to make of them.

Both Haynuus and Ameena had fuzzy memories surfacing. This man was something to do with a blade...someone important.

Oh, yes. The man was called Garax Warblade. Both recalled, Haynuus a little clearer than he had in his memories previously, that this man was one of the most important men in the ranks of the blackskulls. Certainly a gifted fighter. And most certainly, standing within weapon's reach of the two.

This was, quite possibly, not good.


Ain't I a stinker? Anyway, the good news is, of course, a rat and a half-orc at the door was really, truely, the last thing he ever expected. You might want to play with that. Or run, of course It's all good!

For those of you wondering what he looks like, he looks vaguely like Aeres from Xena (Kevin Smith)
http://alwheaties.com/KSmith/Ares1.gif

[Ameena]

OOC - Rat? Rat?! I hope that's just you voicing his opinion of what they are .

BIC - Ameena doesn't have time to try and repeat her "stay there" gesture to Haynuus - the half-orc has moved forward almost before she'd realised it, her concentration being mainly focused on whatever might lie behind the door. Now, however, she's suddenly found out. And she isn't quite sure what to do. Beyond the fact that this human is one of the very important soldiers and that his name's Garax Warblade, she can't really remember much else. Presumably she's met him before, else how else would she recognise him? But she can't remember what happened back then, or what this human is like, or indeed anything else.
However, based on what she knows of these soldiers so far, she figures that one of their important people like this is probably not the most pleasant of people to be around. It doesn't seem as though he's recognised either herself or Haynuus, though that might just be because he hasn't quite got over his surprise and finding them both right outside his door. He must have been standing right next to it, or else moved really very quietly, and quickly, in order to have opened it before she had a chance to react.
She quickly pulls back a little and remains standing upright, looking up at the imposing human. Still not quite sure what to do, she decides to go with the first idea that comes into her head.
"Oh!" she exclaims, not needing to pretend to be surprised at his sudden appearance. "Hello. Umm...sorry. We were just...looking around. We're just sort of passing through, really. Wow - you're wearing big armour. But you're not fighting. I suppose maybe, with all the dangerous creatures that are down here, you need to be careful all the time in case something tries to eat you, yes? Well, we're not going to try and eat you. I don't think I'd even want to try eating a human. Ick. Well, seeing as you're here, I suppose maybe this is where you live, perhaps? Or maybe you're just...standing around, doing...soldiery things, like soldiers seem to do. You know, guarding things, or something. Or maybe...maybe you don't do that, because you're too important. I mean, I know species like yours often like to arrange everyone in order of importance, rather than everyone just being the same, so I suppose if you're the one in charge, you just tell everyone else to do the standing around, while you do really important jobs, like...well, like whatever it is you do. But I'm sure that's none of my business. If we'd known you were in here, we wouldn't have come this way. I'm sorry about that! But maybe we should go now..."
Her rate of speech increases quite dramatically as she speaks, so by the end she's practically running all her words together, though on this occasion she's doing so on purpose, in the hopes that this human will just pass her off as something harmless and, hopefully, clueless. She wonders why he doesn't recognise them, but then remembers what Westian said about time moving, or whatever it was. She still doesnt' understand what he meant, but maybe it's why other people's memories have been affected, not just those of the group - after all, Soorec didn't seem to know who she was, either.
She realises there's probably quite a high chance that Garax will either attack them, or just call for more soldiers and get them to attack, or maybe he'll try to capture them and lock them away somewhere horrible. Either way, she knows, they're probably not going to be able to just walk away from this. She wishes she could remember more about this human - is he on the side of either Soorec or the priest, or of neither? What would happen if she were to mention either of those people? Since the priest lives somewhere in this region, she supposes that maybe Garax is on his side, since why else would they be living so close together? Or maybe Garax was just passing through this area as well.
So little information she has, and not much clue of what to do with it! If she knew more, she'd know what to say - she knows how shape her words in order to tell the truth and yet confuse someone into thinking something else. It's easy, she knows, when you use the right kind of phrasing.
And that's supposing that Haynuus doesn't say something which goes against whatever she might say...

[ian_scho]

"... And my name is Haynuus." and he holds out his hand with a smile.

[beowuuf]

"Hardly amusing. If this is you, Dolo," came the deep rumbling reply. The man was reaching backwards for a strange set of shapes at his back. Some stirring memeory made the two companions think it was a weapon.

Conspicuously, the man was not reaching out to take Haynuus's hand, although he was regarding the half-orc alone with an appraising eye. As Ameena spoke, she felt some stirring correctness about thinking that this man being on Soorec's or the priest's side was important.


Remember to do some rolls if you are trying something as ballsy as speaking to one of the head evil guys And yes, I was saying what Garax would think of tthe two of you when I mentioned the rat. Some pretty reasonable assumptions in Ameena's speech there...

[ian_scho]

Haynuus pulled his own weapon out, and feigned surprise.

"Ohh, I forgot. Mine's broken." Then the madness of swirling wind and vortices started from the hilt of the sword and extended with slow yet forceful movement away from the half-orc. "I use this to dry my hair."

OOC - Bluff (1d20-1=15). Can I ready an action for Haynuus to both defend himself and the murafu?

"We're here to take all of the paper for Soorec. It's apparently fortunate that neither of us can read."

[beowuuf]

Indeed. I'll use the bluff as a 'pull agro' and you can use an 'aid another' to grant a +2 Ac bonus to Ameena/ Or it might be easier just to ready a movement action to stand infront of Ameena. One lets her attack still, the other ensures she won't get hit.