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

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

Post by beowuuf »

Ok, so despite the map I posted, Westian didn't actually go left, so I won't have to backtrack that then! :)

Farel's commitment to head down the right passage no matter what seemed to galvanise the group, and pulled Westian and Haynuus back across the room. Haynuus gathered the torches scattered by the group as he went, and once the half-orc was threatened with running out of hands, Farel took the torch he himself had dropped earlier.

Helm managed to walk by himself, though he was still pale - and of course, it would be obvious that the man would be remembering the painful hobble he had already taken down this passageway not too long ago. The thief seemed to distract himself with such thoughts, aswell as the pain of his wounds, by keeping close to Westian and speasking to Ameena quietly.

"Are you feeling any better?" he asked. "I am sorry, I wish I had not put you in mind of Mount Anaias, Ameena," Helm said, "infact I wish I had never decided to come back to Viborg myself. Perhaps I should have asked to see your lands instead!" Helm winced as a random crack in the floor that caused him to stumble. He then cast a dark look to Falkor and said in an evn lower voice. "I wish I had not entabgled you, nor myself, in the dealings of dishonest mages."


Ameena, you don't have to make another poison save, you don't feel the twinge again. Partly because the DC shoud be decaying low enough that you would make it, and partially bcause the herbs you are breathing in are healing herbs. You can restore your hit points to maximum. Also, mark the herbs as healing herbs in your inventory. They can be used to restore 1d3 hit points if ingested/used in a bandage, and also give a +2 to the heal check to stabalise a dying person if used at that time.

The group made their way through the door, taking one last look at the scene of the battle. Of course, the grizzly remnants of the battle were still on the other side of the door, which the group had to pass!

Falkor has the RA key that might fit the door - although even if it fits, it might breaks, of course... Does the group want to risk closing the door behind them hoping the key will work, or do they want to risk leaving a door open behind them so that soldiers can come from behind them from two directionss :D

Also, does anyone want to perform last rites, last examinations or last lootings on the three soldiers here? Westian already has Arbrut's flask, but otherwise nothing has been taken from them. Both Sergeants Arbrut and Thinpas had the ornatedly adorned armour with the faces also embossed into the armour. The other soldier Passin just had armour plain as Aurek's (well, except for the skull-like visage decorating the helm, of course!)


The group carried on forwards, an odd huddle. Farel and Westian seemed to provide the impetus forwards. Helm, Haynuus and Aurek were eager to keep close to their respective focuses. Ameena and Falkor were being carried - Ameena literally - by the group's inertia.

Helm shifted uncomfortably as the group reached the first bend in the corridor, the one where Helm had fallen close to death. Blood still pooled around, and it was left to Haynuus to retrieve the torch he had thrown there. The group carried on, and soon enough the tunnel again turned so ot cntinued in the original direction away from the teleporter room.

Unsurprisingly to Falkor, there was a second Ra key-ed door at this turning. A quick look at the group revealed the same discolouration on the walls and floor as if energy had been discharged around this doorframe, despite the normal wooden door actually there now.

Just beyond this door was an alcove of the corridor where, as before, the RA keyhole could be accessed. However, opposite was a small chest-sized alcove in the wall. It was plain, and inside a scroll had been left.

Helm has already shifted and picked it up before any in the group could advice against it. He read it in a quiet voice, all the while looking up to the group and looking forwad down the corridor for signs of life.
"The keys to passage once lay hidden deep. Now the way is opened to those I have entrusted. Enter if you seek knowledge, if you seek shelter, if you seek to walk through istory. A way back is also here. If you instead progress deeper, respect those that roam my domain. What Lord Chaos wrought and those whom found shelter here I will not reject. Life in all its forms is precious. We must seek balance in all we do.
Helm shrugs, not understanding the relevance of the scroll. However, the sharper eyed amongst the party have already spotted that the snaking corridor continues to a third door.

Again, falkor is not surprised when the winding path leads to a last Ra keyed door. Again, a wooden door with evidence that once a magical energy existed in its place. More importantly, one it is stepped through, to the right of the door a Ra key was again found. And to the left an engraving.

Tomb of the Firestaff

"By the Five Fathers!" breathed Farel, making an odd sign of respect and bowing while taking a knee to the sign.

Helm shifts uncomfortably once he realises where they are. "The Tomb of the Firestaff? Was that not buried deep in Anaias?" The thief looks to the knight. "Are you sure there is a way out this way?"

"The kings were buried deep," says Farel, standing tall again, "but a path was said to exist to lead the devoted to their resting place. Certainly, that sounds like the route I was taken before was knocked unconscious."

The group realised the door was at a small t-junction. While standing at the sign of the Tomb of the Firestaff, the left hand way lead shortly to a set of stairs going upwards. Farel offered to check out the right-hand corridor that turned quickly. He id not go far, his torchlight still visible, before he returned.

"A set of steps lead downwards," he said. "We appear to have a choice of path."

"Unless we go back and through the teleporter?" said Helm, hopefully.

Ok, there we go, tha't's pushed us forward a little bit. Obviously, at any point feel free to inject questions in the OOC thread or IC beats here. I'll post the full map of your route to make the above easier to follow. See OCC thread for more details.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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

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"I believe that if we wish to rest, the best place to do so would be between the 2nd and 3rd doors, with both doors closed, for a strategic advantage."
 
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Ameena waits while Westian changes his mind and apparently walks back in the other direction again. She wonders how long it will take the group to decide what to do, since she's starting to feel an urgent need to free up her whiskers. She does notice, however, that there's something about the herbs she currently has her nose stuck in - it might be something else, but the herbs seem to be making her feel better. That, she decides, will be worth remembering. Maybe they can be used to help someone else. Her leg hardly hurts at all now - barely the faintest twinge. The poison must have all but faded out entirely by now, she decides with some relief.
She hears the footsteps of the group and feels the movement of Westian as they proceed...somewhere. After a short while, however, she feels herself being set down and Westian finally tells her she can open her eyes.
Now standing on her hind legs once more, she does so, carefully, and is relieved to see no blood, no dead bodies. She cautiously pulls the pouch away from her face and gives a tentative sniff. She can perhaps detect the faintest whiff of death still in the air, but they're far enough away now that the smell hasn't fully spread this far. She closes the pouch and returns it to her belt, gives her left hind foot a bit of a flex to make sure it still works properly, then sits back and starts furiously scrubbing her face and whiskers in order to remove the particles of the herb that have stuck to them.
"Oh." she says suddenly, pausing for a moment and looking up. "Thank you for that, Westian."
Then she spends a few more seconds scrubbing at her face, making sure there's nothing covering any part of her whiskers. She'd love to have a full and proper grooming session right now, but decides there isn't quite time for that in between the one or two things that are currently higher on her list of priorities.
She stands upright again and looks around until she sees the pair of legs she'd been wanting to see for some time now.
"Helm!" she exclaims, darting over to him and peering up at him anxiously. He's been hurt, she can see. Badly.
She turns herself sideways to him and presses up against his legs (the only bit of him she can reach without physically attempting to scale the human), about the only murafu-style comfort she can offer at the moment.
But everyone else, meanwhile, seems keen on moving onward, so she drops down to all-fours and keeps close to the familiar human as the group begins to move, glad that her friend is alive. When he speaks to her as they walk, she listens to him and twitches a worried ear in Falkor's direction at Helm's mention of the fire-throwing halfling. That, she knows, is something that will most likely need to be resolved at some point in the near future.
"It's alright." she replies. "I chose what to do. I didn't realise the place I found was the Viborg you told me about until I heard the name being mentioned after I got there. Before then, I'd been just sort of...wandering, until I happened to find it. I...think I've remembered something about why I came here, but...It's still a bit vague."
They continue onward for a bit, then Helm removes a scroll from an alcove and reads it out loud. The words don't make a great amount of sense to Ameena, but she gathers that whomever wrote it would seem to have a respect for life similar to that of the Murafu, even for the kind of life that seeks to harm others.
Then Helm and Farel start talking about "kings" and something called "the Firestaff", talk which she doesn't really understand. She knows that a staff is a long stick which some people use to help them walk, or as a weapon, though some staves have s shining gem on the end which can be used to cast magic - she's seen that before. So maybe the Firestaff is one of these magic staves, one that presumably has some kind of fire magic inside it. She has a sudden thought that maybe that's why Falkor came here - he certainly seems to like the stuff.
She wonders what everyone will decide to do, and listens on as a couple of suggestions are made. Helm even suggests that they return through the blue telly-thing, though she isn't sure that would achieve much, considering that she's seen what's there and there's apparently no way out that way. That's all she wants, for now - a way out. Any place can be interesting and a joy to explore, but only if she knows she has an escape route. Not till then.
"Helm..." she says, standing upright and looking up at him. "I think walking around so much isn't doing you much good right now. If we have no time to rest, or if you don't want to, maybe I have a way to help..."
She removes the herb pouch from her belt once more.
"I think these herbs can help cure injuries." she says. "Maybe they can help you."
She holds the pouch up, offering it to him.


OOC - Sort of ret-conning/slipping my own actions into what the update says there. If Helm decides to sit/crouch down at some point, Ameena can interact with him properly. But meanwhile maybe he or someone else will use those herbs on his shoulder or something. Ameena's dead-body-stink protection will be gone, but should the need arise she'll try and come up with some other way to get around that if they pass through such an area again (though on this occasion it was made worse by her knowing exactly what caused the stink in the first place). Anyway, I just sort of ran my post through to interweave with the GM update - I could add in other replies and stuff if anyone else says anything to her during that time.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by beowuuf »

Cool, that's pretty much how I imagine these pushing forward updates working :) Will post some reactions tomorrow!
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Westian regretted not having had time to say a prayer over the dead bodies. He also regretted not being able to look through their equipment to see if they had anything of use. Not that he had any moral qualms about taking whatever they had - they were dead and did not need it. Even if they were alive they were in the service of an evil warlord, and so in Westian's opinion had relinquished their rights to be treated on an equal footing as those who served good. No, the reason he restrained himself from going back was the impression that would make. Being over-eager to loot corpses just did not seem to be appropriate for a cleric. Maybe later he would casually take a peak and see if anything worthwhile was salvageable.

Bringing himself back to the current situation he acknowledged Ameena's thanks. "Not at all my murafu friend, anytime." He raised an eyebrow as she mentioned the curative properties of those herbs. That was something to remember in case of emergencies.

"People, I say we rest here for a while. What say you all? I think we all could do with it. Also we need to discuss some thing, not least the question of where we go next."

Realising that where he wanted to go next depended on the location of Deephold he turned to Helm with the intention of finding out how he had known that name. But seeing Ameena and him chatting like old friends he decided to let them continue on for now. Best not to interrupt, Ameena needed all the distractions she could get. Instead he turned to the others and said "Does anyone have an idea how to close these doors? If we could close one on each side it would give us a safer place to rest."

Westian felt weary and was looking forward to rest. He wanted to leave the dungeon, but he had to find Deephold first. Hopefully Helm could answer some questions on that front. Imagine how his superiors would act if he had travelled into Mount Aniais itself, without the protection of the Grey Lord, and brought back the missing cleric. Come to think of it, imagine if he solved the mystery of what was going on and found the Grey Lord himself! He would be a hero, and his reputation in both the order and society would be guaranteed! But those were just flights of fancy. He shivered as he considered the possibility that his future would simply be to fall at the hands of some nameless monster, and rot on the floor of this blasted dungeon.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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"So... We rest here then." Haynuus thought for a moment. "Westian, I'll check the fallen for anything that we might be able to use, and come right back." All of the conversation passed him by however, as to it's importance, it's significance. He'll just follow the others and was sure something or someone needed to be whacked eventually.

He next turned to the knight "If you like I can take first watch and will wake you up accordingly. We have enough bodies now that it won't be necessary to stay alert for too long... Tell me Sir Farel, do you have a preference as to which way to go afterwards?"
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Helm takes the pouch offered by Ameena, with a half-placating and half-embarrassed look on his faces as he tries to sniff them. However, his faux-smile turns to surprise as he catches the wet scent of the leaves. "Wait, there are Aldermans' Leaves!" he says, sniffing them again. He looks at the pouch warmly. "These..these would od well in a poltace for healing, if I remember my mother's lessons. Thank you, Ameena! Thank you very much!" Helm for now stows the pouch in his shirt until they reach rest.

Helm seems relieved when Westian and Aurek call stopping at the gap between the two doors, and finds a quiet part of the wall tp lean against. Even as Westian is looking to Helm in minds of discussing Deephold with the man, Westian notices that Helm ,too, seems to be regarding the cleric as if building the courage to speak at some point. However, Farel shifts uncomfortably at the delay, even more so when addressed by the hallf-orc.

"I fear my restlessness will not let me stop, though you have enough warriros, as you say, to watch if you wish to rest." Farel looks to the door. "I shall continue ahead....the stairs upwards I think. Close the door behind me, and should I find anything of note I will come back." Farel pauses a moment to see that the group are settled and alright, although his mind is apparently made up to go onwards.


Obviously need to wait for money's actions, and to see if LB has actions he wishes to do, but the rest of you can make minor comments on what is going on.

OB, you can of course go back with Haynuus and perform rites if you wish :)
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by money »

As they walked along the corridor, the surroundings seemed familier - he could not recall having visited the fabled tomb of the firestaff... but perhaps he had... in fact - he wasn't sure of anything but in any event - he continued to search and map each step...

OOC: Falkor: Rolled 1d20 and got 18

BIC: Falkor was tired, he had already pleaded for some time to rest so with Westians offer there was no hesitation "Yes, rest would be good - we need to get back to full strength". He took a look towards Ameena, gave a compasionate - if not regretful - smile and turned back towards Westian. The day had been long, Falkor had not really learnt a lot - a few clues here and threre. He knew where they were - or at least where they were supposed to 'Think' they were but Falkor had learned in life to be warey, and if they really were in the tomb of the firestaff then there was sure to be some trouble ahead. More importantly he couldn't understand why Gholst had been so powerful in spirit form.. he couldn't understand why he had said he would leave them for now... and then have soldiers come to collect them... Helm's comments ad confused him more and although his story could be plausable - he just didn't trust him.

Falkor sat on the cold floor, with his back hard pressed against the wall and closed his eyes... It was time to get a few winks, perhaps more would come to him, perhaps more would infact leave him.... but for now, gaining his stregth was his most important task.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Falkor searched him memory of the tales of this place. Certainly the three doors and scroll seemed to tie in with the tales he had read of the place. Although in the tales, the doors had been magical barriers to entry. It seemed strange that whoever had written the scroll - presumably the Grey Lord - would allow passage inside, given that it was said in the tales the Grey Lord's laboritories - at least some of them - were also inside.

More importantly, Falkor was trying to recall the sequence of the tale of Lord Chaos's demise. The champions who beat him had first encountered the Tomb without the means to gain the Firestaff. After all, the keys to passage lay hidden deep. However, Falkor was sure that the champions had first encountered the graves of the Old Kings under the mountain. Therefore, if Farel wished to find this exit he spoke of, it was most likely be up the stairs as he was directing himself.

More importantly, what was below? Falkro recalled some description of 'whirling chaos of action', didn't he? Was that the correct sequence of the tale? And really, were either of those paths likely to yield clues greater than the laboritories - even abandoned - of the Grey Lord himself?

Good roll, 23 in total. A little creaive license in memories gives a temporary +2 bonus there for a DC25 pass, so if there is anything you want to try and recall about the tomb of the surroundings I didn't cover, let me know
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Ameena »

Ameena is pleased that Helm seems happy with the herbs, but hopes he'll use them soon - he must surely be in pain.
The group having stopped, she stands upright and looks up at him, and at the clearly visible bloodstain on his shoulder.
"Umm...maybe you should use those herbs now." she suggests, somewhat tentatively. "And...if we're resting...you could sit down. You could sit on my cloak!" she says as the idea occurs to her - she knows that, with no fur to cushion themselves, members of these other races tend not to like sitting straight down on a cold stone floor. She does admit to herself that stone doesn't tend to be particularly comfortable, but she can usually make do.
The unknown human, meanwhile, appears to have decided that he wants to explore alone.
"Is it...do you think that's a good idea?" she asks him, now craning her neck back once more to look up at him. "Going alone, that is. There might be...bad things that way. More bad things, I mean."
She is aware that her suggestion probably won't make much difference - humans seem capable of being alone for much longer than murafu - some even make a life out of doing so. But what if he gets hurt? He might be lying there, unable to move, with no-one else around to look for him or know about him. He might die alone, and in pain. Surely no-one would want that...
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Helm had been leaning painfully against the wall, and was very thankful for the offer of a cloak. He started to wave it away, but after a pain in sitting down, he changed his mind.

"Thank you again. Yes, I could do with using the herbs. Some people eat the leaves, but they work wonders so I've been told if put right on the wound. If have have some bandages..." Helm then looks around, "infact if any of you have bandages or other materials to bind the leaves to my wound..." he then looks back to Ameena, "then that would certainly be an ieda. Or perhaps I can simply tear up my shirt..."

As Farel is addressed by Ameena, he turns to regard her. He gives a kindly smile, and walks directly infront of her, taking a knee and bending as long as possible to attempt to be face to face with her.

"Ah, hello there. I am glad to see you have recovered somewhat since the cleric took you back. We have not been introduced - my name is Sir Farel Somnuth. And you name is?" He continues after a moment of listening to the murafu. "I am afraid I have never met one such as you before - are you native to this place?" A brief look passes over the knight's kindly features to darken it. "Just as your companions strove to come afer you - both of you," he says, encompassing Helm aswell, "I too have a companion in this place who needs me and should not be alone at this time. I would drive to find him anyway, but given the fault that he is here is mine makes it imperrative." Farel looks over the group. "I could not ask you to continue with me at the speed I must go - many of you require rest and recuperation from your wounds. I am still in health, and while I - as you - find distaste for violence in all its forms, rest assured my training as a knight is not one that should be taken lightly by a foe. I can defend myself should ned arise until I find my squire. The High Lords have blessed me with no ill fortune so far, and allowed me to meet such noble people as you all. I take it as a sign that evil has not taken hold here, and that I can succeed as I must."

Farel stands up again, and bows to Ameena before returning to the door, ready to depart.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Ameena »

Ameena spreads her cloak on the ground for Helm to sit on, then momentarily turns her attention to the human as he bends down to speak to her.
"Ameena." she says in response to his request to know her name. As for his name, it sounds like another of those rather long and complicated human names about which she can never quite be sure of the correct use.
"I can defend myself too." she replies, after listening to him talking about his desire to venture out alone. "But that doesn't mean I can do so very well. But...I've never really met anything that was as much of a threat as anything here, because I don't seem to have any escape route from here. Not so far, anyway. I suppose...humans can sometimes do better alone. It's not like that for us. Murafu, I mean. That's what I am. We live in many places, but those who do live beneath the ground don't live in places quite like this. We all like to feel the open air, the wind, see the sunlight. So far, this place doesn't seem like the kind of place any murafu would choose to live inside. It seems rather...dangerous."
She then considers his words again.
"Then again..." she says slowly, "there is a...belief, I suppose you'd call it...a saying, rather. A murafu saying. I realise you're not murafu, but maybe it can still count here, and be why you want to go and find your friend. I hope you find him soon, then, Serfarrel, so you aren't alone for long. And if you don't, then hopefully you'll find your way back to us. Murafu...don't do very well alone. At least, not when we know for sure that there's no-one else friendly around."
She sniffs in his direction, remembering his scent in the hopes she'll smell it again, and that he'll still be alive when she does. She understands that he wants to do this alone, and hopes he'll succeed, but decides that if he doesn't and yet decides and manages to rejoin the group, she'll welcome him back.
Meanwhile, she edges closer toward Helm, though doesn't want to appear to be rudely turning her back on Serfarrel so continues to watch him for now.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by ian_scho »

"Good luck mister sir Farrel." said a smiling Haynuus. "Come straight back if you see trouble, and we're experts in finding it."

With that Haynuus exited left "Be right back, 5 minutes." He meandered his way back to the corpses and assigned himself the grizzly task of searching their equipment for anything that may be of use. He had no torch, but the half-orc was more than happy with his dark vision and it was a relief to be alone, if only for a few minutes. Well, alone. Him and a few dead 'friends'.

He found them where he left them, uttered one of the few prayers that he knew over them (the orcish ones were always short, presumably to keep people moving as a violent death was quite common in orcish lands.), and knelt down to start work. He removed backpacks and checked belts, inside of boots and even for personal effects such as necklaces or rings. He even apologised once as he found that he was kneeling on the groin of one corpse to gain access to the boots of another. All of this was not good for Haynuus's state of happiness. He would return with a black cloud over his thoughts, and would want to sleep it off.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

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Perhaps the lack of a torch had not been a good idea. In the dark, the stark black and white made the faces on the armour of the sergeants seem...odd. Luckily, Haynuus did not have much imagination and so took the very, very faint sounds of whispering to be coming from his companions down the hall. There would be no need to burn the SAR rune here, even though he really should have.

Oddly, the soldiers seemed to possess nothing - no backpack, no food, nothing. Did that mean they were based somewhere, only doing small forays into the rest of the dungeon?

The sergeants had no personal possessions at all - well, Arbtur might have, but that work was a little too grizzly to do for too long. The soldiers all seemed to possess a belt pouch alone - Arbrut's was empty, and Thinpas's had an empty flask.

Meanwhile, the normal soldier Passin actually had a small amount of potion in his flask - what it was, who could say. He also had a non-descript necklace on him. His helm and chest plate had been crushed - probably what killed him - and Haynuus had to snap the small necklace and pull it out from the back with relative care. It seemed a small, plain chain with a tiny holy symbol of some religeon hanging from it. The symbol actually broke open, and inside was what might have been an illustration of a face. However, it had been defaced by some sharp object and was barely recogniseable as a face now.

Haynuus again apologised for the kneeling of earlier, slightly weirded out at the noise it had generated. Still, bodies made odd noises in death, he had learned.

The three men also carried black daggers with wicked looking design. All in all, it was a disappointing loot. Being on a mission from God was definitely different from the rich pickings of his previous life.

And that's it I'm afraid. These sldiers are special, so not much in the way of incidentals. There would also be their swords in the main room if you wanted to retrieve them.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by oh_brother »

"I am loath to split up the group again Sir Farel, but if you need assistance on your trip then perhaps one of us can accompany you? Just to avoid you being completely on your own. I am a cleric, that could be useful."

Nodding sagely as Haynuus offered to go check the bodies, Westian added "I will follow, to say a quick prayer. I will be right back."

As Haynuus went off first into the dark, Westian with his poorer eyesight delayed for a minute to find a torch. He walked quickly the catch up with the half-orc, but by the time he had got there the search was complete.

"Nothing of value on them?...I mean, um, I better say a prayer over the bodies." He cleared his throat "Lord Larethian, let these men find a fair judgement in the next life. Though they may have transgressed, whisper any good deeds they have accomplished into the ears of the other High Lords."

With that he turned to Haynuus "Is any of their armour salvageable? Could you fit into any of the greaves, or the back-plate? Or will any fit me? I think Aurek and Farel are okay for armour, and I doubt Ameena will wear any. Helm or Falkor either."
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by beowuuf »

Sir Farel bows to Westian's words, but looks over the party. "Good sir, I thank you for your offer, but I believe oth you and your charges require your aid more than mine." Farel does pause. "My rashness has alreayd lead to misfortune once, and almost again with your friend . I should not stand on pride of my skills. Aurek has already proved himself an able companion, if he is not fatiged from battle." Then Farel looks to Ameena. "Or perhaps Ameena, you may be a better companion. I do feel sad I have not been able to speak with you, and I do believe should trouble occur, you appear to be better suited to evade it long enough to warn your companions. Although I do not wish to pull you away from your injured friend."

Farel pauses to hear the deciison of the group, and also await Westian's return.

Westian was less able to see in the dark, although the glow of the teleporter by the body allowed him to finally see well. Westian notes too the escape of air from the body of Passin as Haynuus kneels on it, but is assuaged - and perhaps disturbed - by Haynuus's assurances on the behaviour of the dead.

As Westian prays over the bodies, he feels physically ill, as if the words wish to stick in his throat. He hears distant screams in his head, and only when the cleric presses on with his prayer do the screams fade. Westian feels as if his prayers were diverted somehow, and he feels no less ill when looking upon the bodies of the sergeants.

No such screams nor illness occur when he had turned his attention to the single soldier Passin. It was only as he focused on the man for relief, and to eye up the armour, that he realised something.

Of course, Haynuus had said air escaping from various orifaces and gas moving in bodies was a 'wonder' of nature. However, surely air would only escape and not...be sucked in again? Passin did not, infact, seem to be dead. Infact, Westian - even though he had no real medical training, realised that a more fitting way to describe the fallen soldier was...alive?

Heh, sorry, I asked you all to roll a d20 a while back as a perception/heal check incase you looked over the bodies. Farel inflicts non-lethal damage, and Aurek's 'killing' blow actually did not kill the soldier. That was one reason not to let Aurek behead this one! The fact you can have too much of a good thing was another. I really thought you would miss this given how events have played out... glad you went back!

So yeah, choices choices....what do you do with a soldier beaten senseless?
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Ameena »

Ameena looks up at Serfarrel in surprise at the suggestion that she accompany him.
"You want me to go with you?" she asks. "But...I don't know if I can help you much, and...if you get into trouble, I don't think...I mean..."
She pauses and tries to think how to word her thoughts, then goes on.
"Murafu don't leave each other to...to die." she says at last. "If you were to get into trouble, I wouldn't just abandon you. It's not what we do. That saying I mentioned...I'll tell you. A friend is for life. Life is for friends. It means if you make a friend, they are yours and you are theirs for life, and that you're each willing to give your life for each other, because they're your friend. All murafu consider each other friends, and family. We might not understand a lot of how things work among other species, but that certainly doesn't stop us forming friendships with them. If I go with you, it will be till either or both of us dies, or until we unite with other friends. But I would never just leave you alone. Especially if you were injured or...or dying."
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by beowuuf »

Sir Farel smiles kindly at Ameena's words, and bows again. "Then I hope we manage to meet again, for it sounds like there is much to commend your people and I would like to know more. However, it also sounds as if your place is to defend the friends you already have, not some foolish knight."

Sir Farel looks to Aurek while Westian is away. "While I would welcome you by my side, I think you have already showed your concern for your charge. Hopefully I shall find my squire and return back to you. Or perhaps the way will be blocked and I shall have a difficult choice to return and aid your own endeavours and turts the High Lords' mercy. I will try to mark the way should all be well. If you find no obvious marks, I would take another path."

Sir Farel moves to the door. "Oh, I almost forgot - I still hold your scrolls." The knight pauses for a moment, and then takes his pack off. "Your need is probably greater than mine, if you must stay in here longer. My pack only has a few provisions and torches, but they may serve you well."

LB, if you want to take his pack, Farel will take a torch and flint and tinder, but otherwise the scrolls you stowed with him, tow sets of iron rations, and two more torches will be yours. Aswell as a pack which you lack!
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by money »

Falkor was tired, and ready to sleep - but before he could settle he recalled the bandages that could help Helm... He rustled through his backpack and pulled out another roll of bandages. He slowly moved to Helm and offered to help...

OOC: Falkor: Rolled 1d20 and got 2

unfortunately - Falkor seemed to be making things worse, not better - and Falkor realised that this may have been seen as deliberate. So he left the bandages, apologised and returned to the wall he was previously resting against.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by beowuuf »

Helm gave Falkor a very distrustful look, but couldn't really turn down the aid. However, Helm was very resistant to Falkor's moves, and made it impossible to bandage the man well. Helm winced and cried out more than once, until he was handed the bandages by Falkor.

However, as Helm finished the task himself with the herbs pressed into his wound, he perhaps regretted his childish behaviour as he winced far more. "I'm sorry....and thank you, again," said Helm finally as he finished his make-shift wrapping up of the wound on his back. Obviously pained by the strain, he sat back with a wince, then sighed with an odd note. He even chuckled.

"I think I can feel the herbs working...it's numb, but in a good way." Helm smiled broadly at Ameena and nodded. However, he then looked back across as Falkor. His face darkened for a moment, then he sighed.

"I am sorry if I was...less than polite before. I was perhaps letting my mood be clouded by other things. I seemed to be living under your shadow around Fex. And I'm...well, maybe I'm not as skilled as I lead Fex and the cleric to believe. Still, Fex hoodwinked the cleric and myself, so I suppose it's poor of me to assume he wasn't trying the same on you."

Helm's expression did not perhaps fully lighten, but he seemed to at least not be actively glaring daggers at Falkor.

As I said, the roll was flavour text, and I figure it's just as likely that you have a poor patient as poor skills :D
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by ian_scho »

Westian had approached after the search and while Haynuus had put his head in his hands trying to get his thoughts together again. "Ohh." He put himself on track again and said something to try to distract the cleric from the fact that he was loathing himself for his actions. "Look! Two flasks. This one has some liquid in it and this one is empty. I've got a broken necklace too, perhaps you can divine the symbol from it? It might tell us who these people are!" With that he handed all three items to Westian, and once more wiped his hands on his trousers as if to remove his guilt from his being.

"Armour?" It was a good question from Westian. Haynuus hadn't really thought about it. The reason was simple though. Just as armour from a Trolin wouldn't 'fit' the half-orc, nor would armour tainted from really bad people. He wanted nothing to do with it in case it's curse wore off on him. Then again... The cleric was right. Oh, the greaves. You're right. We could take those. There is a backplate and another full chest/back plate too if you want it.

Haynuus launched back into stripping the armour off the bodies, but it was Westian who was obviously in control of the situation. The half-orc had removed the greaves and was starting on the upper bodies. It was then while holding a torch over the scene that Westian had noticed that one of the soldiers was alive! Haynuus sat back shocked when he said it. If he felt guilty before, he felt awful now.

"We could use this potion on him now?" the half-orc asked. "Perhaps take him back with the others, just in case."
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Lord_BoNes »

After reaching the stairwell and deciding to rest, Aurek watched as Westian & Haynuus vanished off into the darkness... then Farel was speaking with Ameena... after that, he turned to Aurek and handed him his backpack. Aurek was surprised but also glad for the gift, "If you need anything, take it with you. But, thank you for the gift, friend. However, I do believe you're right, I'm needed with my charge. They also may need my extra sword-arm. I bid you well on your quest, Sir Farel... and, I wish you to come to no harm, and you to find your squire, or return to the group." offering a friendly handshake at the end.

OCC: Soz for the lack of posts. I'm not sure what I've gotta roll for... but I'll roll a d20 nows: (1d20 = 10)
 
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Ameena »

Ameena just nods in response to Serfarrel's words, then watches and listens as he and Aurek exchange a few words and items. Somehow, she's not entirely sure she's been pronouncing the human's name right. But he hasn't complained, so maybe she's mistaken.
Meanwhile, Falkor has approached Helm and attempted to bandage his shoulder. Ameena winces herself every time Helm does, but she knows she's not much of a healer herself and doesn't really expect she could make things any better for him. She watches Falkor in silence and, she realises, not without a little nervousness. But she says nothing as he returns to leaning against the nearby wall.
Since Serfarrel appears to be leaving alone, and everyone else is staying to rest, Ameena, on all fours, steps over to Helm. She stands beside him, on his unwounded side, and somewhat hesitantly edges closer. She knows she's told him about the Murafu - she remembers doing so. But does he? Well, she'll soon find out. She can't go on the way she has been for much longer, she knows that. Not with all that's been happening.
With that thought, she huddles up right against him, in a nervous sort of crouch. She remains somewhat tense for now, though, ready to move away if Helm has any objections, like humans so often seem to do.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by oh_brother »

Westian froze as he realised that the soldier was still breathing. "Yes, we can give him the potion. First lets get him away from the other bodies." Pulling him into the corridor, it was clear that they were in a bit of a conundrum. Together they had tried to kill this soldier, but now that he was helpless and unarmed they could not just let him die. But they could not take him with them either. What to do?

"Quick Haynuus, give me a hand with this." He took some rope out of his backpack and tied his arms and legs as firmly as possible, cutting off the excess rope and returning it to his backpack. "Okay, now we revive him." They poured the liquid into his mouth and splashed some on his visible wounds.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Lord_BoNes »

"Farel, before you go, I've come to realise that Haynuus and Westian have been gone for longer than I expected... I'm going to check on them... can you wait here until I return with them?"
 
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by ian_scho »

After helping with the ropes, Westian's fingers were more dexterous than the half-orc's, and got the corpse cum body into position away from the others. Haynuus threw the greaves into his backpack and watched with fascination at the effects of the potion. He assumed that Westian would intuit that the potion was for healing. He was glad that he was with someone such as the cleric who could communicate their intentions clearly with others, knew what they were doing and see the minor details - such as spot a non-dead corpse.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by beowuuf »

Helm shifted in surprise at as Ameena came close, but then settled back down. He tried an awkward pat of her shoulder as he could see she was tense, but otherwise made no move, seemly content to have her closeby.

Helm took a final look around at the conversation of Farel and Aurek, and a last look at Falkor, then shifted until the healing herbs settled into the small of his back and closed his eyes too. "So that's what the stars meant," he mumbled to himself.

Sir Farel shrugged at the words of Aurek. "If I have learned anything in my years Aurek, it is that aside from survival possessions are never important." He then looks embarrassed. "Well, personal possessions. Obviously my armour is my family, and that I must protect and honour. Otherwise, anything I have neglected cannot be important. May you find it useful, or at worst a reminder of me should we not meet up again. Although I do hope you would travel to Varette at least once when we all escape this madness!"

Sir Farel dons his helm, but flips the visor open and nods to Aurek, taking the paladin's offered hand and shaking by clasping Aurek's wrist while placing his other hand over his own heart - it appeared to be some symbolic shake.

"I shall stay until your charge comes back, have no fear."

Meanwhile, Westian and Haynuus went about the task of stripping, moving and securing their newest problem. Westian had no real clue about the small necklace, it would be something to focus on later given the enormity of the current situation. Westian was sure he'd done a decent job of binding the ropes, but would certainly be glad of the half-orc standing close should things go wrong.

It was perhaps only as he stretched to dribble the potion into the soldier's mouth and tended the man's wounds - a nasty contusion on his neck and jaw - that Westian felt the pain of his own wounds. The cleric remembered, perhaps too late, that he had not tended his own nor Haynuus's further yet. Still, Westian could feel the mana in his body returning. As long as the rope held...

The solder mumbled at first, and then his eyes darted open quickly. There was a moment's pause as the soldier focused on the two people above him and seemed to recall the previous events. The man moved as if to roll away and get a weapon, before realising he was bound. There was series of threshing and yells in a strange language as he tried to tear apart his bonds and work them loose.

Luckily, they seemed to hold strongly.

The shouting was certainly heard by those further down the corridor. Helm shifted and winced as he tried to sit upright without moving Ameena. "What...what's going on?" he said, but in a low voice.

"What is occurring?" yelled Farel out loud, drawing his sword and taking a few steps forward to ensure Falkor, Helm and Ameena were behind him. The knight put a hand to the door that would seal the way to the teleporter room. He then took a step forward to ensure he would be on the other side of the door if it needed sealed.

Back with the soldier, the brief struggle seemed to end as the soldier realised his predicament. He became oddly calm quite quickly, and glared at the half-orc and cleric.

"You won't hide from Captain Drommal for long," he said with a shrug. "And don't think a prisoner will stop him."


And there we go. The flask was a VI potion, but a good roll meant it was enough to rouse the battered (and he was very, very battered) soldier.

OB, you can certainly offer Farel a potion when you remember.

Ian, the armour has these stats: Platemail +8AC -6ACP, +1dex maximum.

If you split up the armour, you will divide the bonuses and penalties as detailed below, and the dex restriction will go up.

Breastplate: +4AC -3ACP, max +2dex bonus
Greaves: +2AC, -2ACP, max +4dex bonus
Poleyn, etc: +2AC, -2ACP, max +4dex bonus
Greaves+poleyn: +4AC, -3ACP, max +2dex bonus

Haynuus's current breastplate would have felt a little loose actually after the battle.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by Ameena »

OOC - Umm, I'm guessing that Farel meant to get between Falkor, Helm, and Ameena, rather than himself ;).

Since Helm doesn't seem to object to her movements too much, and even reciprocates, though somewhat awkwardly, Ameena relaxes against him, relieved, and buries her face in his side, closing her eyes. Finally. Everything that's happened so far has been building up, as though threatening to crush her, and she's had no way of getting away from it. At laest here, now, she has a chance to seize a few moments of peace and feel at least slightly safe. And welcomed by someone who understands, at least a little, how her kind thinks and what they need.
She is half-listening to the conversation nearby, between Aurek and Serfarrel, and wonders at his statement that his armour is his family. Yet again she wonders at just how different some species can be. She, like any murafu, would much prefer a family who can share a conversation, accept new friends, explore the world, help and comfort each other. Not a "family" made of metal. Still, she supposes, one thing families do...at least, murafu families...is protect each other, and it can hardly be said that the metal-clothing of humans isn't designed to do that.
This is a brief stir as the sound of shouting echoes along the corridor from the room in which the fight occured. It subsides quickly, however. Ameena guesses that maybe one of the soldiers came back, or a new one showed up, and ran into Haynuus and Westian. She starts to wonder what they might have done with said soldier, then realises that she really doesn't want to know. If that's even what happened, anyway.
For now, she stays settled against Helm's side, hoping he won't decide to get up too soon. She hopes she's not making him uncomfortable, physically or otherwise, by snuggling up against him like this. From her position, with one ear against his side, her murafu hearing can detect his heartbeat. Slower than that of a murafu, it thuds away inside his chest, a constant reminder of life and feeling. Slower than that of a murafu, maybe, but no less comforting.
Were she not quite so worn down by recent events, she would probably be contentedly smiling. As it is, she just feels a wave of mental exhaustion, despite having not really been awake all that long, and remains motionless against her friend's side.
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Re: DM themed play-by-post D&D game : STORY THREAD

Post by ian_scho »

"You are in no danger if you accept your situation. Come." and with that Haynuus attempted to help the soldier off the floor.

"We'll just head back to the others, where you'll be safer with us than with your captain or other monsters that prowl this place." With that he gently pushed the soldier on his way back to the others.

"Coming! No problems!..." in reply to Farel.
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