captivity
In the morning I talked siegecraft with the castle's engineers, and most interesting talk it was. Then in the afternoon I'd made my way to the forge, where I talked the mastersmith into letting me do some work. Well, not so much talked—I know elves are supposed to be talkers, but while I appreciate a well turned phrase I prefer a certain economy with words. Smiths tend not to be the garrulous type, either. I understand a smithy better than a noble court. At any rate, I walked in, racked some tools, set out a couple of my own, donned apron, checked the fire and cocked an eyebrow. He allowed as how if I singed myself it was my own Madonna-cursed fault, which I took as permission. Ah, there is a simple clarity and elegance to smithcraft. I was working on a sword—not so much for use as to investigate how certain dwarven techniques might be combined with Northlander pattern-welding. I suspect it would have been a poor sword, but I was learning something. If this siege lasted a while before my friends figured out a way to break it, I was thinking the time would be well spent. Things were looking up, thought I, as I walked up to our room to check how the others were doing.
Pop. As I walked in, suddenly I was somewhere else. Specifically, over a pit, falling in. But that wasn't left to chance—before I could fall, let alone clear my head, there was a shout and a slab of wood slammed me down into the pit. Stunned, I gathered my wits and tried for a spell, but nothing was happening, and I felt the absence about me—I was in no mana. Obviously you can't teleport someone directly into a no-mana space, so they had done the next best thing. I was in darkness, but after a moment the cover lifted; I saw many crossbows aimed at me, and the pit's sides were not especially climbable. They ordered me to strip or I would be filled with holes. Then a couple of soldiers came down on a ladder and clubbed me down; when I awoke, I was in a cell.
The cell was of stone and I could feel the mana around me; I thought this seemed amazingly foolish, as many wizards can pass through or reshape simple walls of stone. But no, although I myself was in mana, the walls, ceilings, floor and door were all mana-free. I shudder at the risk some mage must have undergone just to trap me—or rather, I suppose, to blackmail my companions. I was stripped, which seemed a trifle undignified, and there was nothing in the cell—no chains, no cot of straw, and most of all no chamberpot. After a time the place began to smell. So did I. I suppose it was also distinctly cold and uncomfortable, but the humiliation told on me far more. From time to time a square in the cell door was unlatched and food tossed in—again, they gave me neither bowl nor utensil; water was squirted in a stream, which I was obliged to catch in my mouth and drink down as best I could—another humiliation.
After a time, some people came in to talk to me. Soldiers and wizards and an inquisitor, oh my. The inquisitor's name was Cassius, and he wanted information and to inform me of my godless status and the possibility of repentance. Really, he was more interested in the second, and in a way not even that. I'm no veteran of interrogations, but I had the distinct impression that it was all rather pro forma. He didn't value my information much, and as an elf he was fairly certain that I wouldn't be sincerely converting to the faith of any mayfly's deity I have uncles older than (well, or did until the Blackwoods). My value as a prisoner seemed pretty clearly to lie elsewhere. But he was a professional. I think he was reading my mind, because he would ask questions and pay little attention to the answers I spoke, going a bit vague. And again, it seemed as if he was largely following the forms—if he read my mind, he didn't need to torture me and indeed I suspect my agony shut out many thoughts of information, but “the book” said interrogations include torture and he was going to do a good job of it. I expect some of you reading this imagine that you could hold up under professional torture. That is, I expect some of you reading this are fools. No ordinary person can resist torture for long—and it's worse when there's no point. No doubt if I had some dire secret and knew I was winning as long as I could hold it within me—but I had no secrets in particular, and I had nothing to win. And he knew my fears, too—those he did read. My worst did not come to pass, but it was threatened. I cracked, oh yes. In blood and piss and screams and shit and tears, where was the vaunted elegance of the elves, that grace under pressure that we think defines us? Far away and irrelevant.
But he didn't know everything about me. Not all, no. I am a maker; they thought, with nothing in the cell, they had denied me everything that could be used to create, but they were wrong, and when they took my dignity they made themselves more wrong. They were too cute—I realize now and indeed suspected then that I was being used as a lure, or the cell would have been magic-free throughout for greater security and to stop any from tracking me. I can create earth and stone, as many mages can. Now I knew that, did I do anything too obvious or constructive in that line they would stop me. But they had left me no chamberpot, and the cell began to stink. The guards themselves found it hard to take the stench, so they quietly failed to raise objection when I made sand to bury my offal in. Fools. For in that sand I could hide other things. Before the interrogation I would have scorned to rummage in my waste just to hide some tool, but my dignity was gone, and I determined they would learn the folly of taking an elf's limits away.
I have a rare magic. Some wizards can create items from nothing—but these do not last, they disappear as soon as they are no longer held or worn; there is an element of illusion about such things. They cannot exist without mana. I have studied the making and breaking of things long and hard, and learned the elvish magic that lets me make a finished artefact from raw materials, provided I could make it normally given the tools, and the artefact is real and true—only the shaping is done by magic. I made a shield of stone, and a glass sword from sand, and a couple of hooks, and hid them in the sand. And to wield the shield, for handles, I braided my hair—but I could not cut it neatly, for I was not supposed to have a blade. I yanked it out in handfuls. I wrapped the swordhilt in leather, for better grip—I used my own skin, carefully cutting where the inquisitors had cut and then healed, healing myself again afterwards so I looked unchanged. My screams were no doubt horrible; I expect they thought me mad. A matter of degree, I suppose. With the success of the swordhilt, I began to work slowly on a set of leather armour. It is well, I think, that rescue arrived before I had progressed far.
I expected rescue. But I also expected the defenses to be tough, perhaps too hard for my friends to reach me. A bit of help could make the difference. My plan was this: The cell door had two openings of sorts, a grill to look through, and the square flap through which food was sent, latched on the outside. If the alarm went up, I would begin to create an earth barrier in front of my cell door, and mock the sentry that he would be unable to come in to kill me before rescue could arrive. My hope was that he would come to look at what I was doing, and when his face was at the grille I would do my best to stab him through the eye with the glass sword. When he fell, out would come a hook which, fed through the grille, I hoped would enable me to open the latch on the flap. Opening the flap, I would put through my hand and the larger hook, and attempt to get the door key from his belt. I believe the lock to be within arm's reach of the flap. Out I would come, or perhaps better first drag my jailer in to gain his clothes and armour, depending.
In the event, they managed to punch a gate through right outside my cell door, overpowering any teleport blocks, much to my and I'd say my captors' amazement. I did injure my sentry somewhat—discounting the helpless prisoner within, he turned away to face the danger coming through the gate, and the glass point took him in the neck. It distracted him, but his gorget was too tough for me to do his business that way. But with no foes to fight through, the couple of sentries by my door, even though one was a mage with some competence, were never going to stop people like Errandis, Dain, Kraypike and Ismail. So I was rescued, a naked, stinking elf bereft of dignity, under the eyes of my friends. I was grateful, but I nearly broke once more at their refusal to leave me alone. Errandis was the worst—his noblesse oblige, wanting to help me when I needed him to not see me, to not have seen me. By helping, by giving, he drew attention to my lack.
I had no real interest in this contest between humans up until now. That has changed. I can have no dignity until this Monsignor Cassius lies dead. Perhaps not then. But whether I regain any claim to elegance or no, these people will regret stripping it from me.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Errandis's Journal 2007-06-22
Errandis's Journal 2007-06-22
Cast of Characters:
Fingolfin - Captured
Artesian -
Kraypike -
Rene -
Ismael -
Errandis -
Location:
Castle of Maximus, Duchy of Serrun (Loyalist)
Camp of Sergius , Duchy of Serrun (Rebel)
Our Story Continues...
There are times I despair of my friends reckless ways. Upon learning of Fingolfin's capture I returned to the Castle under siege and managed to convince them to wait until I have prepared defenses against spies to discuss our rescue plans. Part of which involved growing plants in the room into a pentagram.
Our room secured we begin making plans. I decided to withhold my suggestions and allow them to present their own ideas and inform them of what is and is not possible thaumaturgically. We finally agree to Kraypike's plan.
I find Lord Henri and inform him that I must drop the Wisdom Spell I have maintained for the last week, but I offered to aid him to find similar and more permanent solutions elsewhere. He intern offered his thanks and favour in the future.
I will cast the Gate spell using Ceremonial & Ritual Magic with support from the Castle's Defenders. I ask that he prepare the supporters and give me 3hrs to prepare a few surprises of my own. First I teleport to Telperion (Stirling) Wood and negotiated the use of a Ceremonial & Ritual Magic with a Delay. I teleport again to Istarlond, in Megalos and do it again.
Before I cast the Gate Ceremonial & Ritual Magic I teleport into the Rebel Investment and unleash a 25 hex Dispel Magic on their most heavily guarded position, then a 50 hex Sparking Cloud against their war horses, and then return to the Castle for the rescue. Then I warn Fingolfin we are coming.
Was it luck, fate, or destiny that allowed us to succeed I do not know. The Gate opens inside the building and the rescue begins. Kraypike casts his spell and creates a geyser that would fills one side of the corridor and pins one guard to the ceiling. Rene and Ismael fly out from either side of him and attack the remaining guard and wizard.
Fingolfin surprises everyone when a glass sword slides through the bars of his cell door and strikes the Wizard in the neck, distracting and disrupting his spell casting and Kraypike's Halberd strikes, but fails to pin the Wizard to the wall like an insect.
From the Castle side of the Gate I cast See Invisibility on on Ismael and Dain as they run through the gate
Then Dain bulls his way through to Fingolfin's cell , attaches hooks to the door which are connected chains, and pulleys which are in turn pulled by war horses on the other side of the Gate. Ready to rip the door open.
A flurry of blows are exchanged and on guard smashes his club against his shield and a brilliant flash dazzles us all. The ceiling above them crashes down.
My Teleport Other fails against the Wizard. Kraypike's Air Elemental friend gets the war horses pulling and the door groans, but holds. Another of the Wizards spells is disrupted and a guard spills out of the geyser onto the floor at their feet.
Ismael apports the other guard and he slowly floats towards the geyser. Knives from Rene's belt fly from their sheaths and attack the Wizard along with Kraypike and Arteasian, but somehow he defends himself. Unfortunately Dain's Great Axe buries itself in his chest killing him instantly.
The horses strain,but the door stays in its frame slowly warping enough for Fingolfin to slip out with Glass Sword in one hand and Stone Shield in the other. An unfortunate guard was lying there for him to vent his wrath upon. The ceiling above them collapses in and faces can he seen in the hole above.
Reinforcements open the door at the other end of the corridor and run smack into Kraypike's Geyser at one end and my Utter Dome at the other. A Wizard above frost bites Dain, who is stunned, but quickly manages to recover and grabs the Wizard's body as we begin our extraction. An Wizard above Air Jets Kraypike and sends his spinning him into the geyser which spat him out again relatively unharmed due to his armour. While the others withdraw I cast another Utter Dome blocking blocking the hole in the ceiling.
I cast one more spell through the Gate. A parting insult to Fingolfin's hosts. An old elven tune, bright, mocking, and victorious that will last for hours and carries through out the Rebel camp.
Fingolfin was in ill temper and forgot his shyness for a time and was not fit company. We healed our wounded and mended our gear and waited to hear his story. When he was ready he told us of his ordeal with a Church Inquisitor. Unspoken was his desire for revenge. Many of us are leaning heavily towards that. Arteasian and I loaned him some Powerstones and were amused that he no possessed more power than before his capture.
Kraypike apologized for not making the rescue amusing (Goblins!!!) And we discussed our next step. To break the siege we need to remove count Sergius's Wizards from the board. We could also strike at his supplies and officers. We also need to find the Wizard who kidnapped Fingolfin ann infiltrated the keep and our rooms.
Plans within plans, wheels with in wheels. Unfortunately now the Rebels are aware of the Fleet of Araterrean, Cardien, and Megalosian Fleets moving in on Serrun. I file reports to the Imperial Intelligence Ministry, Lord Imric, and Istarlond.
The Good:
A successful rescue.
Awarded XP: 3 1/2
The Bad:
Errandis's plans did not work out exactly as planned.
The Ugly:
Fingolfin made the acquaintance of an Inquisitor
Cheers
QM
Cast of Characters:
Fingolfin - Captured
Artesian -
Kraypike -
Rene -
Ismael -
Errandis -
Location:
Castle of Maximus, Duchy of Serrun (Loyalist)
Camp of Sergius , Duchy of Serrun (Rebel)
Our Story Continues...
There are times I despair of my friends reckless ways. Upon learning of Fingolfin's capture I returned to the Castle under siege and managed to convince them to wait until I have prepared defenses against spies to discuss our rescue plans. Part of which involved growing plants in the room into a pentagram.
Our room secured we begin making plans. I decided to withhold my suggestions and allow them to present their own ideas and inform them of what is and is not possible thaumaturgically. We finally agree to Kraypike's plan.
I find Lord Henri and inform him that I must drop the Wisdom Spell I have maintained for the last week, but I offered to aid him to find similar and more permanent solutions elsewhere. He intern offered his thanks and favour in the future.
I will cast the Gate spell using Ceremonial & Ritual Magic with support from the Castle's Defenders. I ask that he prepare the supporters and give me 3hrs to prepare a few surprises of my own. First I teleport to Telperion (Stirling) Wood and negotiated the use of a Ceremonial & Ritual Magic with a Delay. I teleport again to Istarlond, in Megalos and do it again.
Before I cast the Gate Ceremonial & Ritual Magic I teleport into the Rebel Investment and unleash a 25 hex Dispel Magic on their most heavily guarded position, then a 50 hex Sparking Cloud against their war horses, and then return to the Castle for the rescue. Then I warn Fingolfin we are coming.
Was it luck, fate, or destiny that allowed us to succeed I do not know. The Gate opens inside the building and the rescue begins. Kraypike casts his spell and creates a geyser that would fills one side of the corridor and pins one guard to the ceiling. Rene and Ismael fly out from either side of him and attack the remaining guard and wizard.
Fingolfin surprises everyone when a glass sword slides through the bars of his cell door and strikes the Wizard in the neck, distracting and disrupting his spell casting and Kraypike's Halberd strikes, but fails to pin the Wizard to the wall like an insect.
From the Castle side of the Gate I cast See Invisibility on on Ismael and Dain as they run through the gate
Then Dain bulls his way through to Fingolfin's cell , attaches hooks to the door which are connected chains, and pulleys which are in turn pulled by war horses on the other side of the Gate. Ready to rip the door open.
A flurry of blows are exchanged and on guard smashes his club against his shield and a brilliant flash dazzles us all. The ceiling above them crashes down.
My Teleport Other fails against the Wizard. Kraypike's Air Elemental friend gets the war horses pulling and the door groans, but holds. Another of the Wizards spells is disrupted and a guard spills out of the geyser onto the floor at their feet.
Ismael apports the other guard and he slowly floats towards the geyser. Knives from Rene's belt fly from their sheaths and attack the Wizard along with Kraypike and Arteasian, but somehow he defends himself. Unfortunately Dain's Great Axe buries itself in his chest killing him instantly.
The horses strain,but the door stays in its frame slowly warping enough for Fingolfin to slip out with Glass Sword in one hand and Stone Shield in the other. An unfortunate guard was lying there for him to vent his wrath upon. The ceiling above them collapses in and faces can he seen in the hole above.
Reinforcements open the door at the other end of the corridor and run smack into Kraypike's Geyser at one end and my Utter Dome at the other. A Wizard above frost bites Dain, who is stunned, but quickly manages to recover and grabs the Wizard's body as we begin our extraction. An Wizard above Air Jets Kraypike and sends his spinning him into the geyser which spat him out again relatively unharmed due to his armour. While the others withdraw I cast another Utter Dome blocking blocking the hole in the ceiling.
I cast one more spell through the Gate. A parting insult to Fingolfin's hosts. An old elven tune, bright, mocking, and victorious that will last for hours and carries through out the Rebel camp.
Fingolfin was in ill temper and forgot his shyness for a time and was not fit company. We healed our wounded and mended our gear and waited to hear his story. When he was ready he told us of his ordeal with a Church Inquisitor. Unspoken was his desire for revenge. Many of us are leaning heavily towards that. Arteasian and I loaned him some Powerstones and were amused that he no possessed more power than before his capture.
Kraypike apologized for not making the rescue amusing (Goblins!!!) And we discussed our next step. To break the siege we need to remove count Sergius's Wizards from the board. We could also strike at his supplies and officers. We also need to find the Wizard who kidnapped Fingolfin ann infiltrated the keep and our rooms.
Plans within plans, wheels with in wheels. Unfortunately now the Rebels are aware of the Fleet of Araterrean, Cardien, and Megalosian Fleets moving in on Serrun. I file reports to the Imperial Intelligence Ministry, Lord Imric, and Istarlond.
The Good:
A successful rescue.
Awarded XP: 3 1/2
The Bad:
Errandis's plans did not work out exactly as planned.
The Ugly:
Fingolfin made the acquaintance of an Inquisitor
Cheers
QM
The Black Woods Incident
The Black Woods Incident
It seems the dark elves, who were largely in control of the Blackwoods and had been expanding it at the expense of human territory for generations, had grown disillusioned and impatient with such incremental approaches. They had discovered magics capable of generating gates to other realms, other realities. Deep in the heart of the Blackwoods, a circle of their greatest wizards had opened such a gate, attempting to contact a plane from which they could draw something capable of putting an end to what they saw as the abomination of humanity. They succeeded too well. A swarm out of Lovecraftian nightmare came pouring through the gate, horrific beyond understanding, incredibly varied, yet all controlled by a single will emanating from an unimaginably huge being. The wizards were infested, parasitized and taken over in moments, before they could drop the gate. They remained there, keeping it open, while the dark things spread through the forest, breeding rapidly, and the central being began to come through the gate. It was so huge that the process was to take some years to complete. They threatened to spread through the entire world, ending all other life. Some dark elves escaped, and warned the elves of what was happening. Now the elves, while not massive in number and scattered in many small communities, are both magically potent and immortal. They have, or had, many wizards of great power and sophistication. They showed in this crisis that as a group, they neither ducked nor shirked; faced with disaster, they managed an unprecedented muster of elves from all over the continent. Unnoticed by the world, the elves went to war.
It was a disaster. The dark things were too numerous and too dangerous. Merely encountering them was to court insanity—they were so alien that their very nature awakened fear. The variety was bewildering. Some were large and some small, some invisible, but all perilous. Some leapt upon heads to cling like obscene helmets then punch tentacles in through the eyes to the brain, animating their victim like a living zombie. Some tracked prey by sensing mental emanations. One variety seems like nothing more than an oily fog—but the fog gradually began to digest those within it, defending its vulnerable nucleus with an immune system of bizarre subcreatures. The flower of the elves died that day; most of those that remained were insane, disabled or both. But a few of the most powerful wizards managed, when they saw the day was lost, to put into place a last ditch containment plan. The ongoing contact between worlds was in a strange, subtle way a source of great power. These wizards placed a network of standing stones in a pattern encircling the entire forest, and made of them a mystic barrier like an enormous pentagram. The dark things had sufficient power to break through, save for one thing: The barrier drew its power from the gate, and was linked to it. Should the barrier be broken, the gate too would fail. And the central controlling entity was only part way through the gate—should the gate shut, it would be cut in two. But this was a stopgap measure—given enough time, the being would finish its entry into our world, at which point it would quickly break down the barrier and begin expanding through the world. The world was ending, and hardly anybody knew.
It was a couple of years after these events that the remaining dark elves thought to contact Imric, the exile who had never been informed during the crisis. Having been blissfully unaware of the debacle, he was now one of the more powerful remaining elves, and acquainted with a number of other very dangerous people. The mission they hoped he could undertake, to shut the gate by whatever means necessary—probably the merciful death of at least one of the infested dark elven wizards doomed to maintain the circle. Of course, this would be no small task—the gate was at the centre of the forest, hundreds of miles in, and not only were the creatures incredibly dangerous but many of the elves who fought them had been taken over rather than simply dying; their arcane power now added to the danger. Imric assembled a team of expertly violent people to help with the task—particularly his old friend Too Tall from the Wrecking Crew and Cat from the Velvet Hammer. I'll write up what happened later. For the moment, let it be said that success was achieved but it was a near thing.
It seems the dark elves, who were largely in control of the Blackwoods and had been expanding it at the expense of human territory for generations, had grown disillusioned and impatient with such incremental approaches. They had discovered magics capable of generating gates to other realms, other realities. Deep in the heart of the Blackwoods, a circle of their greatest wizards had opened such a gate, attempting to contact a plane from which they could draw something capable of putting an end to what they saw as the abomination of humanity. They succeeded too well. A swarm out of Lovecraftian nightmare came pouring through the gate, horrific beyond understanding, incredibly varied, yet all controlled by a single will emanating from an unimaginably huge being. The wizards were infested, parasitized and taken over in moments, before they could drop the gate. They remained there, keeping it open, while the dark things spread through the forest, breeding rapidly, and the central being began to come through the gate. It was so huge that the process was to take some years to complete. They threatened to spread through the entire world, ending all other life. Some dark elves escaped, and warned the elves of what was happening. Now the elves, while not massive in number and scattered in many small communities, are both magically potent and immortal. They have, or had, many wizards of great power and sophistication. They showed in this crisis that as a group, they neither ducked nor shirked; faced with disaster, they managed an unprecedented muster of elves from all over the continent. Unnoticed by the world, the elves went to war.
It was a disaster. The dark things were too numerous and too dangerous. Merely encountering them was to court insanity—they were so alien that their very nature awakened fear. The variety was bewildering. Some were large and some small, some invisible, but all perilous. Some leapt upon heads to cling like obscene helmets then punch tentacles in through the eyes to the brain, animating their victim like a living zombie. Some tracked prey by sensing mental emanations. One variety seems like nothing more than an oily fog—but the fog gradually began to digest those within it, defending its vulnerable nucleus with an immune system of bizarre subcreatures. The flower of the elves died that day; most of those that remained were insane, disabled or both. But a few of the most powerful wizards managed, when they saw the day was lost, to put into place a last ditch containment plan. The ongoing contact between worlds was in a strange, subtle way a source of great power. These wizards placed a network of standing stones in a pattern encircling the entire forest, and made of them a mystic barrier like an enormous pentagram. The dark things had sufficient power to break through, save for one thing: The barrier drew its power from the gate, and was linked to it. Should the barrier be broken, the gate too would fail. And the central controlling entity was only part way through the gate—should the gate shut, it would be cut in two. But this was a stopgap measure—given enough time, the being would finish its entry into our world, at which point it would quickly break down the barrier and begin expanding through the world. The world was ending, and hardly anybody knew.
It was a couple of years after these events that the remaining dark elves thought to contact Imric, the exile who had never been informed during the crisis. Having been blissfully unaware of the debacle, he was now one of the more powerful remaining elves, and acquainted with a number of other very dangerous people. The mission they hoped he could undertake, to shut the gate by whatever means necessary—probably the merciful death of at least one of the infested dark elven wizards doomed to maintain the circle. Of course, this would be no small task—the gate was at the centre of the forest, hundreds of miles in, and not only were the creatures incredibly dangerous but many of the elves who fought them had been taken over rather than simply dying; their arcane power now added to the danger. Imric assembled a team of expertly violent people to help with the task—particularly his old friend Too Tall from the Wrecking Crew and Cat from the Velvet Hammer. I'll write up what happened later. For the moment, let it be said that success was achieved but it was a near thing.
Errandis's Jorunal - 2007-06-08
Errandis's Jorunal - 2007-06-08
Cast of Characters:
Ismael (Jonathon) - A male Human Rogue, Warrior, & Wizard.
Dain (Brian) - A male Dwarf Warrior.
Artesian (Chona) - A female mountain Elf Wizard.
Kraypike (Darryl) - A male Goblin Wizard.
Rene (Glenn) - A male Human Warrior.
Fingolfin (Rufus) - A male Wood Elf Wizard.
Errandis (Eddie) - A male Wood Elf Warrior and Wizard. Knight Bachelour of Lavalee.
Game Master:
Rufus - GMing
Darryl -
Eddie -
Location:
Castle Insanius (Harlech/Thunderdrome), Duchy of Serrun, Empire of Megalos
Telperion (Sterling Wood), Kingdom of Caithness
The Story Continues...
I bid my friends good bye and Teleport to Telperion (Sterling Wood) in Caithness and make arrangements to recharge my Powerstones under the Malorn tree's branches which is a very high mana zone greatly reduce the time required to recharge them.
After resting, I Teleport back to Serrun in secret. I scout the investment looking for weaknesses and surprises, gather intelligence on Rebel Forces, and undermine their moral. Spreading rumour, propaganda, and sabotauging their trust in one another.
On the third day Fingolfin is kidnapped by an infiltrator capable of Suspending Enchantments, Illusion Disguises and avoiding detection, The Companions discover Fingolfin missing on day four. They contact me using an enchanted item and notify me of the situation. I cast Communicate with Kraypike and tell them that something has come up in the Lebethron (Black Woods) and I will be delayed.
The whole time I am subtly trying to signal that our conversation is being listened in on.
One of Kraypikes Air Elementals catches on and points out the presence of an invisible Wizard in the room. Panamonium insues, but the Wizard escapes. Later that day they find a note in our room.
The Rebel Forces are holding Fingolfin hostage for my good behaviour. Fortunately they do not know if they have communicated this to me. This gives us a subtle tactical advantage. Kraypike wants to go right now, but I caution them. Gather some intelligence, find Fingolfin, and confirm his presence.
The Companions use their resources to locate Fingolfin and devise a plan. My part in it is purely transportation, but I plan to have a surprise of my own in reserve.
Time will tell if we made the right descision.
Cast of Characters:
Ismael (Jonathon) - A male Human Rogue, Warrior, & Wizard.
Dain (Brian) - A male Dwarf Warrior.
Artesian (Chona) - A female mountain Elf Wizard.
Kraypike (Darryl) - A male Goblin Wizard.
Rene (Glenn) - A male Human Warrior.
Fingolfin (Rufus) - A male Wood Elf Wizard.
Errandis (Eddie) - A male Wood Elf Warrior and Wizard. Knight Bachelour of Lavalee.
Game Master:
Rufus - GMing
Darryl -
Eddie -
Location:
Castle Insanius (Harlech/Thunderdrome), Duchy of Serrun, Empire of Megalos
Telperion (Sterling Wood), Kingdom of Caithness
The Story Continues...
I bid my friends good bye and Teleport to Telperion (Sterling Wood) in Caithness and make arrangements to recharge my Powerstones under the Malorn tree's branches which is a very high mana zone greatly reduce the time required to recharge them.
After resting, I Teleport back to Serrun in secret. I scout the investment looking for weaknesses and surprises, gather intelligence on Rebel Forces, and undermine their moral. Spreading rumour, propaganda, and sabotauging their trust in one another.
On the third day Fingolfin is kidnapped by an infiltrator capable of Suspending Enchantments, Illusion Disguises and avoiding detection, The Companions discover Fingolfin missing on day four. They contact me using an enchanted item and notify me of the situation. I cast Communicate with Kraypike and tell them that something has come up in the Lebethron (Black Woods) and I will be delayed.
The whole time I am subtly trying to signal that our conversation is being listened in on.
One of Kraypikes Air Elementals catches on and points out the presence of an invisible Wizard in the room. Panamonium insues, but the Wizard escapes. Later that day they find a note in our room.
The Rebel Forces are holding Fingolfin hostage for my good behaviour. Fortunately they do not know if they have communicated this to me. This gives us a subtle tactical advantage. Kraypike wants to go right now, but I caution them. Gather some intelligence, find Fingolfin, and confirm his presence.
The Companions use their resources to locate Fingolfin and devise a plan. My part in it is purely transportation, but I plan to have a surprise of my own in reserve.
Time will tell if we made the right descision.
Kraypike's Point of View
Kraypikes Drunkenly Reminices about the siege: 2007-05-08
... Dain was still hot under the collar about the beard remark, so I tweaked him a bit more about it, reassuring him that although the old Dain's beard was bigger, his was more neat and orderly, silkier. Heh heh, Dain is so much fun when he isn't wreaking mayhem. Later, when that psycho elf bint Artesian suggested I keep creating earth elementals and sending 'em into the enemy camp, I explained that I make 'em too big to control afterwards, so the opposing mages don't just take 'em over. It's more fun that way. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Dain. So Dain says, how do you make sure they're friendly afterwards, and I just put my arm around Dain and tell him I make friends with them, just like I make I do with him. Ah, the look on his face was beautiful.
So, Errandis does his charming gracious act and says he has to recharge his stones and takes off on his own. As usual. That pompous pignut is a living demonstration of why the Elves are on the bottom, not the top. Powerful, charming, smooth, slick, and always gotta do it all on his own. No concept of working with the team. Constantly demonstrating his contempt by going off on his own without even the faintest attempt at co-ordination. It'd be fun looking forward to the day when we have to rescue him after he goes off to be the prima-donna, but we'd never know where to go to get him unless the opposition told us where they have him, like what happened with Fingolfin.
Fingolfin? Yeah, he got kidnapped during the siege. It was pretty slickly done too. Just vanished out of our room, even though the whole castle was teleport blocked. We got that after Artesian and Rene did some serious grilling of the servants. No no, just talking, no actual grilling, though if it wasn't for Rene, I swear that crazy... what? Oh yeah. So we tap one of the castle mages to seeker him, and the mage blows through some scryguard and tell us a mile that-a-way in a stone cell. And he saw a naked arm.
Turns out the other side has built some small squat stone buildings. Mage formed stone. So I send in an air elemental to scout. Any excuse is a good one for creating elementals. He finds Fingolfin, in one of the buildings and there's lots of guards and mages in there, and there was a no mana area between Fingolfin and the elemental. So it's a trap, see, 'cause they weakly scryguarded him but didn't put him in no mana. And the walls of the stone building are lined with wood inside. So then I send an earth elemental to scout from below. The earth elemental can't move up through the floor 'cause of wood.
So, then we clack Errandis' magic nutshell so we can update him. I was champing on getting some teleport items so we wouldn't have to do this in the future. We're too reliant on that flighty pribbling shard-borne... er, bold and noble knight. We tell him whats what, and he says he's busy and won't be back until he said he would be. No teleport goodies for us yet.
Then we do our first rescue attempt, which fails... but gets me a really really cool air elemental buddy... smart, sarcastic, and adventureous. "Danger is my middle name" he says. Then he had to think up a full name: "Haashaastaak Danger Trouble Zepher". Really great elemental. What? Oh the rescue attempt. That whacked out elf broad Artesian had a one shot high skill teleport item, so I created the elemental, cast body of air on Artesian, she gave the teleport ring to the elemental, and I told the elemental to sneak in and toss the ring through the no mana to Fingofin. Well, the elemental got jumped by a mage who could see him and air-jetted the hell out of him. He got away, but the ring wound up in enemy hands. Maybe the spy told 'em about the elementals.
Yeah, the invisible teleporting illusion disguised mage who was spying on us. What do you mean? Well Fingolfin didn't kidnap himself! How did we know, his capabilities? Well, after that there was a note left in our room saying they'd spring Fingolfin if Errandis stopped interfering. Yeah, he was doing his thing. "Recharging my stones" my ass. So Rene spins this bullshit line about having "mind powers" like his old companion that freaky Reptile Man in the Wrecking Crew and gets a reading of the paper's history and the personality of who wrote the note. A puissant sneaky cautious mage surrounded by enemies. Then good ol Haashaastaak asks how we know he ain't spying on us right now. "Good point", I say, "run around real quick and see if you bump into anyone". Whoosh! and Haashaastaak says "Someone's here, ups! He's gone". Well we pull in a castle mage, and it turns out our invisible buddy had cast suspend enchantment on the teleport block in a corner of the room. Nice trick eh? Then we grill servants some more so Rene can match personality readings off their stuff with them (I gotta find out what magic item he uses for that, the guy isn't a mage), and we learn that someone was in two places at once. Rene gets a read of that servant woman, and it she's not the spy. So, we have a mage who can teleport, be invisible, cast suspend enchantment, and do illlusion disguise. No wonder he nabbed Fingofin.
... Dain was still hot under the collar about the beard remark, so I tweaked him a bit more about it, reassuring him that although the old Dain's beard was bigger, his was more neat and orderly, silkier. Heh heh, Dain is so much fun when he isn't wreaking mayhem. Later, when that psycho elf bint Artesian suggested I keep creating earth elementals and sending 'em into the enemy camp, I explained that I make 'em too big to control afterwards, so the opposing mages don't just take 'em over. It's more fun that way. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Dain. So Dain says, how do you make sure they're friendly afterwards, and I just put my arm around Dain and tell him I make friends with them, just like I make I do with him. Ah, the look on his face was beautiful.
So, Errandis does his charming gracious act and says he has to recharge his stones and takes off on his own. As usual. That pompous pignut is a living demonstration of why the Elves are on the bottom, not the top. Powerful, charming, smooth, slick, and always gotta do it all on his own. No concept of working with the team. Constantly demonstrating his contempt by going off on his own without even the faintest attempt at co-ordination. It'd be fun looking forward to the day when we have to rescue him after he goes off to be the prima-donna, but we'd never know where to go to get him unless the opposition told us where they have him, like what happened with Fingolfin.
Fingolfin? Yeah, he got kidnapped during the siege. It was pretty slickly done too. Just vanished out of our room, even though the whole castle was teleport blocked. We got that after Artesian and Rene did some serious grilling of the servants. No no, just talking, no actual grilling, though if it wasn't for Rene, I swear that crazy... what? Oh yeah. So we tap one of the castle mages to seeker him, and the mage blows through some scryguard and tell us a mile that-a-way in a stone cell. And he saw a naked arm.
Turns out the other side has built some small squat stone buildings. Mage formed stone. So I send in an air elemental to scout. Any excuse is a good one for creating elementals. He finds Fingolfin, in one of the buildings and there's lots of guards and mages in there, and there was a no mana area between Fingolfin and the elemental. So it's a trap, see, 'cause they weakly scryguarded him but didn't put him in no mana. And the walls of the stone building are lined with wood inside. So then I send an earth elemental to scout from below. The earth elemental can't move up through the floor 'cause of wood.
So, then we clack Errandis' magic nutshell so we can update him. I was champing on getting some teleport items so we wouldn't have to do this in the future. We're too reliant on that flighty pribbling shard-borne... er, bold and noble knight. We tell him whats what, and he says he's busy and won't be back until he said he would be. No teleport goodies for us yet.
Then we do our first rescue attempt, which fails... but gets me a really really cool air elemental buddy... smart, sarcastic, and adventureous. "Danger is my middle name" he says. Then he had to think up a full name: "Haashaastaak Danger Trouble Zepher". Really great elemental. What? Oh the rescue attempt. That whacked out elf broad Artesian had a one shot high skill teleport item, so I created the elemental, cast body of air on Artesian, she gave the teleport ring to the elemental, and I told the elemental to sneak in and toss the ring through the no mana to Fingofin. Well, the elemental got jumped by a mage who could see him and air-jetted the hell out of him. He got away, but the ring wound up in enemy hands. Maybe the spy told 'em about the elementals.
Yeah, the invisible teleporting illusion disguised mage who was spying on us. What do you mean? Well Fingolfin didn't kidnap himself! How did we know, his capabilities? Well, after that there was a note left in our room saying they'd spring Fingolfin if Errandis stopped interfering. Yeah, he was doing his thing. "Recharging my stones" my ass. So Rene spins this bullshit line about having "mind powers" like his old companion that freaky Reptile Man in the Wrecking Crew and gets a reading of the paper's history and the personality of who wrote the note. A puissant sneaky cautious mage surrounded by enemies. Then good ol Haashaastaak asks how we know he ain't spying on us right now. "Good point", I say, "run around real quick and see if you bump into anyone". Whoosh! and Haashaastaak says "Someone's here, ups! He's gone". Well we pull in a castle mage, and it turns out our invisible buddy had cast suspend enchantment on the teleport block in a corner of the room. Nice trick eh? Then we grill servants some more so Rene can match personality readings off their stuff with them (I gotta find out what magic item he uses for that, the guy isn't a mage), and we learn that someone was in two places at once. Rene gets a read of that servant woman, and it she's not the spy. So, we have a mage who can teleport, be invisible, cast suspend enchantment, and do illlusion disguise. No wonder he nabbed Fingofin.
Diner Table Conversation
Setting the Scene: [The Compnaions are sitting down to a fine meal Errandis catered from Bilit Isle.]
IC: Errandis: "My friends, I need to talk to you about something that Arteasian has commented on. It involves my Vetoing of Dain's idea to Summon Quetzalcoatl using the Human sacrifice. I vetoed the idea because I am against Human sacrifice. I also think you are not fully aware of the consequences of using such magic in Megalos." [He looks concerned now]
"I am also concerned that you believe I am making unilateral decisions on your behalf with out consulting you. You are my friends, not my vassals, servants, or hirelings. If you feel I am behaving against your interests I will apologize and remove myself from your company. I cannot change who I am. I will respect your judgements"
IC Ismail: "I have known Errandis longer than any of this company, and know him to be a valiant and heartfelt friend to all who fight with him. We may question his motives, his taste in clothes, and the intentions of his horse, but not his loyalty to a cause or the sincerity of his words. I for one am honoured to keep his company and trust his advice, and will unhesitatingly enter any combat with him kept clearly in sight in front of me."
"And in this question I cannot but agree with him. Human sacrifice is repugnant to civilized mankind, which I agree may seem a curious qualm in the midst of a bloodily contended civil war, but for the benefit of the other species here assembled, please allow me to explain the difference. Any human sacrifice has a terror and horror to it that far exceeds that of
merely deliberately seeking the death of another. Any human sacrifice necessarily invokes some power, some god, as the sacrificer would have it, that is external to the world of men, and in whose debt we would then fall. More severe than this, is the terror or almighty God, called as He is by various names among men, that is the eternal and only God of all creation. To summon a great beast by means of sacrifice, especially a beast long worshipped by the Bilitese, would necessarily bind us in the tentacles of the sin of idolatry, which was forbidden us by the first and most solemn of the commandments given unto the prophet Moses (peace be on his name) that was first of God's messengers to all mankind. Such an act could only serve the way to corrupting us all and leading us onto a path that serves only the tentacles of him who waits in lower darkness to receive te world. We should do nothing to hasten his plan."
"The act proposed is therefore anathematous, and injurious to our very souls, which we should all hold dearer than our cause, or victory, or our lives themselves. Also, remembering that the Christians too believe as I do, we'd be doing our reputations such an injury by this act, that there would be nowhere safe for us to live thereafter ina ll Yrth, except perhaps Bilit, and I for one have already been there twice too often."
IC Fingolfin: "Dain said what? Did he really suggest human sacrifice? I wasn't paying close attention, I was trying to figure out how to improve my glassblowing technique. I'm somehow managing to take what starts as a lovely curved shape and have it squash into squat ugliness by the time it cools. But from what I caught, Dain advocated a result which as a non-wizard I think he just wasn't aware of the possible complications involved in trying to achieve. Personally, I'm not at all sure we could do it, with or without human sacrifice. I'm not sure that what Imric has is, or is still, quite what Dain thinks it is, and if it were I'm not sure we would have any real idea how to use it."
"I also hesitate to second-guess Imric, but the whole notion hinges on persuading him to do something dangerous with an artifact he's very serious about keeping safe, to help win a minor battle. I suspect he would give us that smile and say he had "the utmost confidence" in our ability to solve the problem without his help. You know how he gets."
"People are really so much more difficult to deal with than metal and mana. Did we not follow you into this danger? I personally have little stake in human civil wars, or understanding of their ramifications. But I trust your word that those ramifications are significant, as apparently do we all. What, then, would you begrudge your comrades a bit of carping about specifics? Would you "apologize" for some perceived problem by leaving us in the midst of a confusing and dangerous situation only you among us has a really strong understanding of?"
"But, as to understanding, whether what is going on or just who you or any of us is . . . this is all quite a mystery to me. I'm well out of my depth when it comes to people's frictions and reactions and slights. So if the conversation takes too complicated a turn from here on in, I'm afraid you will all have to forgive me if I go back to the forge. Wood and leather, metal and stone don't second-guess a man, and I have grave doubts I can contribute much to the tangling and untangling of whatever this is."
IC Rene: "I must confess dat I vas not paying too much attention eider. But, you know - it seems as if zummoning ancient bad tings iz... not such a great idea, particularly given de specifique requirements mentioned."
Really, I don't care too much if ze Megalans want to cut each other up into leetle peeces. I'm not too sure what is going on 'ere; and I'm pretty sure I don't really want to know. I trust 'dose of you who do dat you are giving good advice and want to be doing de right thing. An I am pretty sure dat zummoning dis Qwetza guy is probably not a good idea or a good t'ing.
IC Dain: "I have to agree with you all human sacrifice is a bad idea and i was unaware that it took this terrible act to summon the breast and knowing this I will veto the whole plan. to do something that evil would only hurt us all."
IC Kraypike: "Dain! You told me that to do this you were going to get Imric involved in some ceremonial magic and sacrifice your virginity. You need to work on your Anglish. There's a big difference between sacrificing virginity and sacrificing a virgin."
IC Fingolfin: "Well, as long as it's just Dain's being sacrificed. Although, didn't he have a fling in Tredroy? And in Dekamera, with some little acrobat girl?"
IC Kraypike:" No no, that was the *other* Dain, wasn't it? ... from before Bilit Island. The Dain with the bigger beard. This Dain hadn't seen a human before then. << leans over to Dain and mutters in a low voice >> you *are* still a virgin aren't you?"
IC Dain: "BIGGER BEARD no way i have the BIGGER BEARD. you fat ugly green monkey. [OOC: This is said with a smile on his face]
[Errandis gets an odd look his face and coughs behind his hand. You think he just avoided choking laughter. He elegantly reaches for some wine and raises it slightly to you in toast.]
IC Errandis: "Thank you my friends. I will endeavor to be worthy of your trust and be a better friend. Dain I did not mean to accuse you of advocating such action. I simply wished to point out to you the consequences involved in such action."
"With regards to the siege I find it necessary leave for 10days to Recharge my Powerstones. I can return, but will only be able to operate under my own power or with you assistance. Do you have any low powered suggestions?"
[Errandis smiles at you all. Looking mildly embarrassed. He spent his 60pt. Powerstone bringing you all here.]
IC Kraypike: "If you're teleporting off somewhere, come back with some serious movement magic items so we can do hit and run raids on that army encampment and actually get away. Hawk flight or teleport items would be good. I'm quite willing to spend the gold to buy that kind of gear if you're short on funds. Say, Dain, need a loan?"
IC Dain: "A loan A LOAN are you play games with my mind i dont want a loan from a goblin you would never let me hear the end of it. Plus i have more money then you and thats all that matters."
IC Rene: "Peut-etre nous pouvons ...find one of dose colonists from the New World on Earth and sacrifice them, non? I understand 'dere are beaucoup des Virginians in zose. colonies."
IC Errandis: [He smiles broadly at Rene's statement and adds] "Uhm... Rene, could you say that again in Anglish. I do not believe it translated very well."
IC: Errandis: "My friends, I need to talk to you about something that Arteasian has commented on. It involves my Vetoing of Dain's idea to Summon Quetzalcoatl using the Human sacrifice. I vetoed the idea because I am against Human sacrifice. I also think you are not fully aware of the consequences of using such magic in Megalos." [He looks concerned now]
"I am also concerned that you believe I am making unilateral decisions on your behalf with out consulting you. You are my friends, not my vassals, servants, or hirelings. If you feel I am behaving against your interests I will apologize and remove myself from your company. I cannot change who I am. I will respect your judgements"
IC Ismail: "I have known Errandis longer than any of this company, and know him to be a valiant and heartfelt friend to all who fight with him. We may question his motives, his taste in clothes, and the intentions of his horse, but not his loyalty to a cause or the sincerity of his words. I for one am honoured to keep his company and trust his advice, and will unhesitatingly enter any combat with him kept clearly in sight in front of me."
"And in this question I cannot but agree with him. Human sacrifice is repugnant to civilized mankind, which I agree may seem a curious qualm in the midst of a bloodily contended civil war, but for the benefit of the other species here assembled, please allow me to explain the difference. Any human sacrifice has a terror and horror to it that far exceeds that of
merely deliberately seeking the death of another. Any human sacrifice necessarily invokes some power, some god, as the sacrificer would have it, that is external to the world of men, and in whose debt we would then fall. More severe than this, is the terror or almighty God, called as He is by various names among men, that is the eternal and only God of all creation. To summon a great beast by means of sacrifice, especially a beast long worshipped by the Bilitese, would necessarily bind us in the tentacles of the sin of idolatry, which was forbidden us by the first and most solemn of the commandments given unto the prophet Moses (peace be on his name) that was first of God's messengers to all mankind. Such an act could only serve the way to corrupting us all and leading us onto a path that serves only the tentacles of him who waits in lower darkness to receive te world. We should do nothing to hasten his plan."
"The act proposed is therefore anathematous, and injurious to our very souls, which we should all hold dearer than our cause, or victory, or our lives themselves. Also, remembering that the Christians too believe as I do, we'd be doing our reputations such an injury by this act, that there would be nowhere safe for us to live thereafter ina ll Yrth, except perhaps Bilit, and I for one have already been there twice too often."
IC Fingolfin: "Dain said what? Did he really suggest human sacrifice? I wasn't paying close attention, I was trying to figure out how to improve my glassblowing technique. I'm somehow managing to take what starts as a lovely curved shape and have it squash into squat ugliness by the time it cools. But from what I caught, Dain advocated a result which as a non-wizard I think he just wasn't aware of the possible complications involved in trying to achieve. Personally, I'm not at all sure we could do it, with or without human sacrifice. I'm not sure that what Imric has is, or is still, quite what Dain thinks it is, and if it were I'm not sure we would have any real idea how to use it."
"I also hesitate to second-guess Imric, but the whole notion hinges on persuading him to do something dangerous with an artifact he's very serious about keeping safe, to help win a minor battle. I suspect he would give us that smile and say he had "the utmost confidence" in our ability to solve the problem without his help. You know how he gets."
"People are really so much more difficult to deal with than metal and mana. Did we not follow you into this danger? I personally have little stake in human civil wars, or understanding of their ramifications. But I trust your word that those ramifications are significant, as apparently do we all. What, then, would you begrudge your comrades a bit of carping about specifics? Would you "apologize" for some perceived problem by leaving us in the midst of a confusing and dangerous situation only you among us has a really strong understanding of?"
"But, as to understanding, whether what is going on or just who you or any of us is . . . this is all quite a mystery to me. I'm well out of my depth when it comes to people's frictions and reactions and slights. So if the conversation takes too complicated a turn from here on in, I'm afraid you will all have to forgive me if I go back to the forge. Wood and leather, metal and stone don't second-guess a man, and I have grave doubts I can contribute much to the tangling and untangling of whatever this is."
IC Rene: "I must confess dat I vas not paying too much attention eider. But, you know - it seems as if zummoning ancient bad tings iz... not such a great idea, particularly given de specifique requirements mentioned."
Really, I don't care too much if ze Megalans want to cut each other up into leetle peeces. I'm not too sure what is going on 'ere; and I'm pretty sure I don't really want to know. I trust 'dose of you who do dat you are giving good advice and want to be doing de right thing. An I am pretty sure dat zummoning dis Qwetza guy is probably not a good idea or a good t'ing.
IC Dain: "I have to agree with you all human sacrifice is a bad idea and i was unaware that it took this terrible act to summon the breast and knowing this I will veto the whole plan. to do something that evil would only hurt us all."
IC Kraypike: "Dain! You told me that to do this you were going to get Imric involved in some ceremonial magic and sacrifice your virginity. You need to work on your Anglish. There's a big difference between sacrificing virginity and sacrificing a virgin."
IC Fingolfin: "Well, as long as it's just Dain's being sacrificed. Although, didn't he have a fling in Tredroy? And in Dekamera, with some little acrobat girl?"
IC Kraypike:" No no, that was the *other* Dain, wasn't it? ... from before Bilit Island. The Dain with the bigger beard. This Dain hadn't seen a human before then. << leans over to Dain and mutters in a low voice >> you *are* still a virgin aren't you?"
IC Dain: "BIGGER BEARD no way i have the BIGGER BEARD. you fat ugly green monkey. [OOC: This is said with a smile on his face]
[Errandis gets an odd look his face and coughs behind his hand. You think he just avoided choking laughter. He elegantly reaches for some wine and raises it slightly to you in toast.]
IC Errandis: "Thank you my friends. I will endeavor to be worthy of your trust and be a better friend. Dain I did not mean to accuse you of advocating such action. I simply wished to point out to you the consequences involved in such action."
"With regards to the siege I find it necessary leave for 10days to Recharge my Powerstones. I can return, but will only be able to operate under my own power or with you assistance. Do you have any low powered suggestions?"
[Errandis smiles at you all. Looking mildly embarrassed. He spent his 60pt. Powerstone bringing you all here.]
IC Kraypike: "If you're teleporting off somewhere, come back with some serious movement magic items so we can do hit and run raids on that army encampment and actually get away. Hawk flight or teleport items would be good. I'm quite willing to spend the gold to buy that kind of gear if you're short on funds. Say, Dain, need a loan?"
IC Dain: "A loan A LOAN are you play games with my mind i dont want a loan from a goblin you would never let me hear the end of it. Plus i have more money then you and thats all that matters."
IC Rene: "Peut-etre nous pouvons ...find one of dose colonists from the New World on Earth and sacrifice them, non? I understand 'dere are beaucoup des Virginians in zose. colonies."
IC Errandis: [He smiles broadly at Rene's statement and adds] "Uhm... Rene, could you say that again in Anglish. I do not believe it translated very well."
Errandis's Journal: 2007-05-25
Errandis's Journal: 2007-05-25
Cast of Characters:
Ismael (Jonathon) - A male Human Rogue, Warrior, & Wizard.
Dain (Brian) - A male Dwarf Warrior.
Artesian (Chona) - A female mountain Elf Wizard.
Kraypike (Darryl) - A male Goblin Wizard.
Rene (Glenn) - A male Human Warrior.
Fingolfin (Rufus) - A male Wood Elf Wizard.
Errandis (Eddie) - A male Wood Elf Warrior and Wizard. Knight Bachelour of Lavalee.
Supporting Cast:
Joseph (NPC) - A male Human Rogue. Adopted/Apprenticed to Ismail.
Eryke Goldfarb (NPC) - A male Half-Elf Rogue Wizard. Jewish Wanderer. Pledged to our cause.
Master Herbert (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Son of a Landed Knight held Hostage. (Wisdom +5 spell maintained by Sir Errandis)
Centurion Lemitamis (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. The third youngest son of a local Baron? Commander of 40 Legionaires (Elite Troopers), 4 Wizards, and numberous slave labourers.
Baron Maximus (Mad Max) Insanius (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Besieged by Count of Shambray.
Sir Hendrix (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Knight Commander of the Fortress and Serrun Forces. The old man with a strong sense of local stratgy.
Master Maxwell of the Silver Hammer (NPC) - A male Human Wizard. Warlock to Archbishop of Serrun.
Game Master:
Rufus - Full Force GM
Darryl - Offered information on Eric Goldfarb.
Eddie -
Locations:
Hallowed Wood - South of Serrun.
River Bridge - South of Serrun.
City of Serrun - Occupied by Rebel Garrison Forces
Harlech Fortress - Besieged by Count Sergius of Shabray
A Bridge Too Far... Or Too Short? ;)
I gleemed some more information from Eryke Goldfarb. It's become a matter of public opinion that Earl Magnus of Dekamura has undergone some personality changes. There were also rumors of a Healer who's description reminds me of the "Mad Monk". Magnus's bad habits have all but disappeared. Perhaps someone cast Cure Insanity on him, to removing his most crippling personality problems?
Meanwhile reconnaissance of the Legionaries nearing construction provided me with some excellent intelligence on them. As I watched their Centurion walk away from his men I saw an opportunity and cast Communicate with the Companions and told them to expect the Legion Centurion.
When the Legion Commander was walking alone I cast Invisibility, Teleported beside him, and Teleported him back to our base of operations in the Hallowed Wood. Where upon Kraypike and the others waiting tried to beat him unconscious.
I arrived in time and shouted, "Put up you weapons!" in a voice ringing with command. The Companions stepped back and waited. Finally I got everyone to put away their weapons and then offered the Centurion some wine and a proper introduction. I accepting his parole of coarse.
At first I tired to get the Centurion Lemitamis to change his allegiance, but quickly realized this intelligent and witty young man was loyal to his Baron. I then attempted to get him to surrender his forces and leave the field with his honour and men's lives intact. The also did not work.
So I simply enjoyed exchanging stories of past battles and future dreams. He let slip a few things and eventually gave me enough to that I could impersonate him if need be. I left him to relax under Master Herbert's guard and told the Companions what I had learned.
We discussed several strategies and tactics before finally settling on a plan of action.
Ismael acquired the Bull and we moved into position. I cast Bless, Shapeshift Other (Great Eagle), Invisibility, and See Invisibility on Ismael and the Bull. Ismael cast Apportation on the Bull/Eagle and then Shapeshift (Raven) and flew over the target. We watched from a safe distance.
Once over the target Ismael transformed back to human form Apportated himself, readied his staff, and signaled he was ready. I canceled the Shapeshift Other and the Bull/Eagle transformed back into a Bull. Ismael cast Flesh to Stone and the Bull fell towards the bridge.
Halfway down I cancelled the Invisibility and cast Great Voice to carry to the Legionaries at the bridge. Mimicking the Centurion's voice
"Look! Up in The Sky! It's a Bird! It's a Bull!... No! It's a Stone Bull!"
Ismael guided the Stone Bull to it's target and then disappeared. It stuck the bridge with terrific force and passed right through it, hitting the water and vanishing into the depths. The stunned Legionaries watched as the bridge slowly, majestically collapsed into the river and vanished from sight. At this point it was easy to recognize the difference between the Engineers and the Elite Troopers. One engineer fell to the ground in helpless gales of laughter, much to Kraypike's a satisfaction. [Bloody Goblins and their sense of humor.]
The Centurion looked awestruck and upset all at the same time. He turned to me and said, "I guess this means we have to return to the Baron after all Sir Errandis, we definitely do not have the materials to build another bridge". After checking with Imperial Intelligence we exchanged salutes and went our separate ways.
Ismael and Kraypike later rescued the Bull from the river bottom, restored him to his natural state, and sold him back to the herdsman.
I asked the Companions to return to our base in the Hallowed Wood and then travelled to Serrun. The City had fallen to Rebel forces and was occupied by Garrison Troops. Traveling further I arrived at a Harlech style Castle by the sea. Besieging troops were based at the bottom of the hill, far out of range of siege weapons, and magic.
I landed out of bow shot and walked to the Castle Gates, under the watch full eyes and weapons of the Defenders, and announced myself. I quickly advanced up the chain of command until I found myself in the presence of the Lord of the Castle, Baron Maximus (Mad Max) Insanius.
I reported on the our activities to the south and the current state of affairs in the Civil War and Lord Maximus gave me news of local events and asked for the purpose of my visit. I tired to explain if in the ancient style of Tamlin, but he did not understand so I resorted to a more mundane style.
He in turn had some interesting news for me. Apparently a mercenary group known as the Francescan's were hired by Earl Magnus of Dekamura to emulate what we were doing in his rear area. They are known for using their Francesca Axes to great effect. They were recently employed by the Legions to augment their forces guarding the Emperor's Wall.
In essence I informed him WE required the Port of Serrun. The Companions would raise the siege if the Baron would commit force to recapturing and garrisoning the Port. I then requested a large room for myself and the Companions a place to Teleport them here. The Baron agreed.
I cast Communicate and notified The Companions to be ready to move out in two hours. Then I prepared to cast a Ritual Gate to bring them all here and a Darkness to hide the method of their arrival. The Ritual turned out to be unnecessary. The must Mana flow.
The Companions arrived in the darkness area and moved beyond it. Then we all retied to our new accommodations, prepared our defenses and counter-espionage spells. Then informed them of our new operation and we discussed more strategies and tactics. It was agreed that to life the siege we need to cripple the besieging forces Wizards and break the siege.
I arranged a meeting with Baron Maximus's Commanders. Sir Hendrix and Master Maxwell of the Silver Hammer. Both a veterans and skilled at their trade. We offered them our intelligence first and then asked after the besieging Wizards. There are members of the Count Segrius of Shambray's personal guard among them.
Finally I cast Communicate for Imric and informed him of our activities, plans, and requests an update from his end. He says confidently that he can secure Port Serrun with little difficulty, but I still wish to coordinate our efforts with the breaking of the siege.
Plans with in plans...
The Good:
Foiled the GM's ambush.
Experience Points Awarded: 3.5 (+ 0.5 to Errandis for foiling the GM's ambush.)
Moved on to Political and Strategic Operations.
The Bad:
The Puns, my gods the puns...
The Ugly:
Several tangents interrupting GM describing scenes and events.
Cheers
QM
Cast of Characters:
Ismael (Jonathon) - A male Human Rogue, Warrior, & Wizard.
Dain (Brian) - A male Dwarf Warrior.
Artesian (Chona) - A female mountain Elf Wizard.
Kraypike (Darryl) - A male Goblin Wizard.
Rene (Glenn) - A male Human Warrior.
Fingolfin (Rufus) - A male Wood Elf Wizard.
Errandis (Eddie) - A male Wood Elf Warrior and Wizard. Knight Bachelour of Lavalee.
Supporting Cast:
Joseph (NPC) - A male Human Rogue. Adopted/Apprenticed to Ismail.
Eryke Goldfarb (NPC) - A male Half-Elf Rogue Wizard. Jewish Wanderer. Pledged to our cause.
Master Herbert (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Son of a Landed Knight held Hostage. (Wisdom +5 spell maintained by Sir Errandis)
Centurion Lemitamis (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. The third youngest son of a local Baron? Commander of 40 Legionaires (Elite Troopers), 4 Wizards, and numberous slave labourers.
Baron Maximus (Mad Max) Insanius (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Besieged by Count of Shambray.
Sir Hendrix (NPC) - A male Human Warrior. Knight Commander of the Fortress and Serrun Forces. The old man with a strong sense of local stratgy.
Master Maxwell of the Silver Hammer (NPC) - A male Human Wizard. Warlock to Archbishop of Serrun.
Game Master:
Rufus - Full Force GM
Darryl - Offered information on Eric Goldfarb.
Eddie -
Locations:
Hallowed Wood - South of Serrun.
River Bridge - South of Serrun.
City of Serrun - Occupied by Rebel Garrison Forces
Harlech Fortress - Besieged by Count Sergius of Shabray
A Bridge Too Far... Or Too Short? ;)
I gleemed some more information from Eryke Goldfarb. It's become a matter of public opinion that Earl Magnus of Dekamura has undergone some personality changes. There were also rumors of a Healer who's description reminds me of the "Mad Monk". Magnus's bad habits have all but disappeared. Perhaps someone cast Cure Insanity on him, to removing his most crippling personality problems?
Meanwhile reconnaissance of the Legionaries nearing construction provided me with some excellent intelligence on them. As I watched their Centurion walk away from his men I saw an opportunity and cast Communicate with the Companions and told them to expect the Legion Centurion.
When the Legion Commander was walking alone I cast Invisibility, Teleported beside him, and Teleported him back to our base of operations in the Hallowed Wood. Where upon Kraypike and the others waiting tried to beat him unconscious.
I arrived in time and shouted, "Put up you weapons!" in a voice ringing with command. The Companions stepped back and waited. Finally I got everyone to put away their weapons and then offered the Centurion some wine and a proper introduction. I accepting his parole of coarse.
At first I tired to get the Centurion Lemitamis to change his allegiance, but quickly realized this intelligent and witty young man was loyal to his Baron. I then attempted to get him to surrender his forces and leave the field with his honour and men's lives intact. The also did not work.
So I simply enjoyed exchanging stories of past battles and future dreams. He let slip a few things and eventually gave me enough to that I could impersonate him if need be. I left him to relax under Master Herbert's guard and told the Companions what I had learned.
We discussed several strategies and tactics before finally settling on a plan of action.
Ismael acquired the Bull and we moved into position. I cast Bless, Shapeshift Other (Great Eagle), Invisibility, and See Invisibility on Ismael and the Bull. Ismael cast Apportation on the Bull/Eagle and then Shapeshift (Raven) and flew over the target. We watched from a safe distance.
Once over the target Ismael transformed back to human form Apportated himself, readied his staff, and signaled he was ready. I canceled the Shapeshift Other and the Bull/Eagle transformed back into a Bull. Ismael cast Flesh to Stone and the Bull fell towards the bridge.
Halfway down I cancelled the Invisibility and cast Great Voice to carry to the Legionaries at the bridge. Mimicking the Centurion's voice
"Look! Up in The Sky! It's a Bird! It's a Bull!... No! It's a Stone Bull!"
Ismael guided the Stone Bull to it's target and then disappeared. It stuck the bridge with terrific force and passed right through it, hitting the water and vanishing into the depths. The stunned Legionaries watched as the bridge slowly, majestically collapsed into the river and vanished from sight. At this point it was easy to recognize the difference between the Engineers and the Elite Troopers. One engineer fell to the ground in helpless gales of laughter, much to Kraypike's a satisfaction. [Bloody Goblins and their sense of humor.]
The Centurion looked awestruck and upset all at the same time. He turned to me and said, "I guess this means we have to return to the Baron after all Sir Errandis, we definitely do not have the materials to build another bridge". After checking with Imperial Intelligence we exchanged salutes and went our separate ways.
Ismael and Kraypike later rescued the Bull from the river bottom, restored him to his natural state, and sold him back to the herdsman.
I asked the Companions to return to our base in the Hallowed Wood and then travelled to Serrun. The City had fallen to Rebel forces and was occupied by Garrison Troops. Traveling further I arrived at a Harlech style Castle by the sea. Besieging troops were based at the bottom of the hill, far out of range of siege weapons, and magic.
I landed out of bow shot and walked to the Castle Gates, under the watch full eyes and weapons of the Defenders, and announced myself. I quickly advanced up the chain of command until I found myself in the presence of the Lord of the Castle, Baron Maximus (Mad Max) Insanius.
I reported on the our activities to the south and the current state of affairs in the Civil War and Lord Maximus gave me news of local events and asked for the purpose of my visit. I tired to explain if in the ancient style of Tamlin, but he did not understand so I resorted to a more mundane style.
He in turn had some interesting news for me. Apparently a mercenary group known as the Francescan's were hired by Earl Magnus of Dekamura to emulate what we were doing in his rear area. They are known for using their Francesca Axes to great effect. They were recently employed by the Legions to augment their forces guarding the Emperor's Wall.
In essence I informed him WE required the Port of Serrun. The Companions would raise the siege if the Baron would commit force to recapturing and garrisoning the Port. I then requested a large room for myself and the Companions a place to Teleport them here. The Baron agreed.
I cast Communicate and notified The Companions to be ready to move out in two hours. Then I prepared to cast a Ritual Gate to bring them all here and a Darkness to hide the method of their arrival. The Ritual turned out to be unnecessary. The must Mana flow.
The Companions arrived in the darkness area and moved beyond it. Then we all retied to our new accommodations, prepared our defenses and counter-espionage spells. Then informed them of our new operation and we discussed more strategies and tactics. It was agreed that to life the siege we need to cripple the besieging forces Wizards and break the siege.
I arranged a meeting with Baron Maximus's Commanders. Sir Hendrix and Master Maxwell of the Silver Hammer. Both a veterans and skilled at their trade. We offered them our intelligence first and then asked after the besieging Wizards. There are members of the Count Segrius of Shambray's personal guard among them.
Finally I cast Communicate for Imric and informed him of our activities, plans, and requests an update from his end. He says confidently that he can secure Port Serrun with little difficulty, but I still wish to coordinate our efforts with the breaking of the siege.
Plans with in plans...
The Good:
Foiled the GM's ambush.
Experience Points Awarded: 3.5 (+ 0.5 to Errandis for foiling the GM's ambush.)
Moved on to Political and Strategic Operations.
The Bad:
The Puns, my gods the puns...
The Ugly:
Several tangents interrupting GM describing scenes and events.
Cheers
QM
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