"AM TOO!" Ruce howled. He stomped his 10 year old foot and puffed up. "Everybody here knows it!" The other kids cleaning out the neighboring stalls all nodded earnestly. "See? I *AM* the sole survivor of the Tor-line expedition. I have family all over the kingdom of Avenloff. My grandfather was in the royal court! As soon as the war is over, they will send another search party for me!"
From atop his pony, the elf youth glared daggers at Ruce. But then an evil smile spread across his face. "I understand now. How rude of me to cavil the tale of your lineage."
Ruce paused, uncertain of what was just said. It sounded ... kind of like an apology, he thought. "Uh…"
"You don't belong in these stables, do you boy?" The elf continued, his smile growing wider. "You're not a real orphan at all. Your parents died at the hands of a troll raiding party, didn't they? Your mother WASN'T some whore who sold you to her dealer for one more night's worth of gibberweed, was she?"
"My mother was an EMMERSRY--" Ruce beat his chest.
"EM-IS-SAR-Y, right - on the Tor-line expedition. Why, EVERY kid knows of that tale! You must be QUITE respected among all the other whelps here. Everyone wants to be friends with the son of royalty, so that when the family does come back, maybe he'll take them too. May I shake your hand, SIRE?" The elven youth leaned low in his saddle and offered out his hand, encased in the softest black suede.
Ruce stepped forward and offered his own hand back, but the elf instead lunged and grabbed a fistful of the boy's hair. Ruce shrieked and swatted at the elf's arm, but the older lad was shockingly strong and actually lifted Ruce off the ground.
"Oh just one question!" The elf roared over the cries of all the other children running up. "What happened to your EARS boy? They're ROUND! And the one thing everyone SHOULD know about the Tor-line expedition: everyone on it was HALF ELF! Did the trolls bite your ears off? or MAYBE they are hiding in all your horse shit!"
With that, the elf released his grip and kicked Ruce in the stomach, sending him tumbling back into the filthy stall where he landed in exactly that, just as the Fairwind orphanage/stable owner ran into the barn to see what the commotion was.
What he saw was: the son of his best boarder ride off laughing… a cluster of his scuts standing around not working … And his prime trouble-maker slowly stand, shaking with fury and shame, covered from head to toe on the right side of his body with manure.
The stable owner, an ancient (and suspiciously dark-skinned) elf, frowned, nodded once, and turned to grab a whip from the barn door.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Shackled City: DM: Entry 2
EVEN the greatest of adventuring troupes tend to bicker, but when these blackguards weren't balefully staring at one another, they were making overt threats. Why were any of them even here? To make a quick buck? Just for the chance to watch each other bleed out?
WELL, there was at least one of them with a good reason. But did the naive, if well-intentioned crusader realize the magnitude of the brewing storm in his wake that he would be bringing down on the backs of the orphans? It might be better if he didn't live long enough to see the results of his handiwork. There was surely at least one other soul who would look out for the children.
THEN again, maybe everything I just wrote is irrelevant. When you take a second look at these guys it becomes pretty obvious they're all under the mistaken impression that this is the local chapter of their Reptilophilia club. I suddenly feel dirty. Get me away from these freaks. I'm not chronicling any more of this.
WAIT, wasn't there an elf? That guy was alright. What happened to him, anyway?
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Krolor: Bio
For the last 50 years I've been teaching a class of nature. I studied pretty much everything in the field of nature. Over that time i had gained a very strange, but yet interesting, pet snake the size of me. The first time i saw him i thought that he was a pile of crap, but when i start to study this pile of crap he tried to bite me. Luckily i had my Armor on, that's when i was younger and could hold up armor, i casted entangle on him then cast flare. I told him if he expects to live he will calm down; I used calm emotions on him. He calmed down and over the time of a couple of years he learned to get used to me telling him what to do.My parents were deathly afraid of Guano, i named him that because he look like pile of crap. My father and mother are both axanis, that is why i am a lesser axani. My father always wanted me to be a necromancer, but my mother wanted me to be a druid. My father said "Be a druid to make your mother happy, then you can become a necromancer when you think its necessary." I nodded in agreement and went to druid school. Then when i grew up i became a teacher and taught a class of nature and druidness. I have lived in Cauldron all my life. My parents moved because they liked the city and hated the country. I live on the north-west side of the lake. My life has been a normal life besides the story of the giant squid thing in the lake. It scares me to think that it lives about two or three houses away from my house, but i got used to it living there because it i think its a myth.
Shackled City: ECL 2 Rain Black Talon Ss'ressen Lizardfolk Ninja 1 Fighter 1: Bio
I came from the swamp. This city is so different from the places I know. I guess that is what I get for my actions. I don't fit in with my kin. I never have. They are guardians and fighters for a cause. Protecting the matriarch with honor and making sure the nearby kingdoms are aware of our noble intentions as a tribe; that has never been my way. I keep to the shadows. I attack from a distance. I focus on speed and agility in combat rather than strength and power. For these reasons, I suppose, I was shunned from my tribe. Never allowed to handle important missions or act as a guard. I left to find people better suited to my nature, I doubt any I find will be alike to me in race. I will attempt to disguise my look and hope to fit in with the general population of wherever I end up. Of course if this doesn't work I can always use my sneaky ways to fix the situation.
Shackled City: ECL 2 Rain Black Talon Ss'ressen Lizardfolk Ninja 1 Fighter 1: Entry 2
I don't know if I trust these guys to give me the poison. I can tell already though that I don't want to join their guild, not if they represent the quality of their guild members. Oh well... at least I managed to give them what for with an accidental backstab.
ECL 1 Krolor lesser axani druid 1 (arcane hierophant): journal entry #1
Me and some new friends of mine found a dungeon under the key maker's house. I didn't want to go because i needed to rest. I went to the bar were Qabbiqah killed a homeless person for some unknown reason. Surprisingly, the bartender let me stay. It was terrible sleeping conditions, but it was the closest to the key master's house. Today i am going to the key master's house to find everyone.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Shackled City: Ruce Blackwind; Human; Urban Ranger 2: Journal Entry 2
That sound.
Again.
Ruce felt the blow as real as any weapon could have made.
From sound!
As if he had been charged and tackled from 4 directions at once.
He staggered for a moment, unable to shake it off. That had been twice as loud as the last roar from..
from...
from whatever in hell was hiding in some magic veil down in these tunnels. Each encounter worse than the last. Each encounter making him feel useless and greener than any cloistered neophyte. And each encounter a surprise.
So much for his "sixth sense of the streets" he had foolishly assumed on himself.
The Skulk in the keymaker's home -- surprised him from behind.
The Creepers in the hearth -- surprised him from under his nose and took him out with one strike
and now this howling -- from somewhere between the air itself. It pounded his lungs and raked every nerve. The echo of it surely would grip his thoughts and dreams for weeks.
Whatever it was - its attack worked. Ruce could think of nothing. Could not summon the strength to bend down an pick up even a fist full of dust. Could not speak. Could not process what his cohorts were yelling as they continued the attack. He could walk: barely. So he walked. Staggered. Halfway fell against the wall and slid around the corner. Could only avoid - MUST avoid -
That sound.
Again.
Ruce felt the blow as real as any weapon could have made.
From sound!
As if he had been charged and tackled from 4 directions at once.
He staggered for a moment, unable to shake it off. That had been twice as loud as the last roar from..
from...
from whatever in hell was hiding in some magic veil down in these tunnels. Each encounter worse than the last. Each encounter making him feel useless and greener than any cloistered neophyte. And each encounter a surprise.
So much for his "sixth sense of the streets" he had foolishly assumed on himself.
The Skulk in the keymaker's home -- surprised him from behind.
The Creepers in the hearth -- surprised him from under his nose and took him out with one strike
and now this howling -- from somewhere between the air itself. It pounded his lungs and raked every nerve. The echo of it surely would grip his thoughts and dreams for weeks.
Whatever it was - its attack worked. Ruce could think of nothing. Could not summon the strength to bend down an pick up even a fist full of dust. Could not speak. Could not process what his cohorts were yelling as they continued the attack. He could walk: barely. So he walked. Staggered. Halfway fell against the wall and slid around the corner. Could only avoid - MUST avoid -
That sound.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Shackled City: ECL2 Qabbiqah lesser earth genasi crusader 2: Bio
Having lived on the streets since the tender age of 12, I was finally taken in by a well meaning church as an orphan at the age of 15.
"Where are your parents?"
Why do they always want to know? They aren't around anymore. And I am doing well enough on my own. I don't need them to take care of me anyway.
The religion courses they forced me to attend seems to have rounded off the rough edges of my bitterness to some degree.
Even more so, their brand of religion has infected my soul. I feel compelled to carry their torch of goodness. But I will do so with my own forms of justice. My crusades are fought my way, the cause of the greater good outweighs their tedious methods and religious rules.
Just show me a cause and stand aside while I right the wrong. Those who stand in the way of the cause are understood to be servants of the enemy who seeks to stop my sword of righteousness. They shall be dealt with accordingly.
"Where are your parents?"
Why do they always want to know? They aren't around anymore. And I am doing well enough on my own. I don't need them to take care of me anyway.
The religion courses they forced me to attend seems to have rounded off the rough edges of my bitterness to some degree.
Even more so, their brand of religion has infected my soul. I feel compelled to carry their torch of goodness. But I will do so with my own forms of justice. My crusades are fought my way, the cause of the greater good outweighs their tedious methods and religious rules.
Just show me a cause and stand aside while I right the wrong. Those who stand in the way of the cause are understood to be servants of the enemy who seeks to stop my sword of righteousness. They shall be dealt with accordingly.
Shackled City: ECL 2 Qabbiqah lesser earth genasi crusader 2: Entry 2
Damn gnomes.
Damn gnomes and their bizarre whirring contraptions.
Rooms with random invisibility hiding the clockwork monstrosities that assail us with their deafening caterwauling.
After I use sheer brute force to push the horrible contrivance out of the invisibility field, we quickly disabled the thing.
Now that its defeated we can continue on searching for the kidnapped orphans.
Our motley crew of mismatched fellows seems to be working together more than they did at first. Perhaps after this particular crusade is over we will find some form of camaraderie to work together on future endeavors.
Although I do not trust the street urchins that call themselves thugs. It feels more like babysitting to me. At best they may get themselves killed by their own lack of experience. At worse, they may impede our crusade enough so that the kidnapped orphans may be deceased by the time we find them.
In either case, it would seem best to me if they just returned to the surface.
It would certainly not cause me any loss of sleep if I had to slay one of them for standing in the way of rescuing the children.
Damn gnomes and their bizarre whirring contraptions.
Rooms with random invisibility hiding the clockwork monstrosities that assail us with their deafening caterwauling.
After I use sheer brute force to push the horrible contrivance out of the invisibility field, we quickly disabled the thing.
Now that its defeated we can continue on searching for the kidnapped orphans.
Our motley crew of mismatched fellows seems to be working together more than they did at first. Perhaps after this particular crusade is over we will find some form of camaraderie to work together on future endeavors.
Although I do not trust the street urchins that call themselves thugs. It feels more like babysitting to me. At best they may get themselves killed by their own lack of experience. At worse, they may impede our crusade enough so that the kidnapped orphans may be deceased by the time we find them.
In either case, it would seem best to me if they just returned to the surface.
It would certainly not cause me any loss of sleep if I had to slay one of them for standing in the way of rescuing the children.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Shackled City: ECL 1 Rain Black Talon Ss'ressen Lizardfolk Ninja 1: Entry 1
I was just looking for some fun. Throw a bunch of shurikens at everyone in the ally and try not to get caught. I feel that I was fairly successful. But now I'm traveling with a bunch of crazy people. I hope they prove to be fun and don't continue to anger the savage in me.
Shackled City: ECL 1 Qabbiqah lesser earth genasi crusader 1: Entry 1
Crusader without a Cause
Fresh out of the required religion classes, I'm ready to right every wrong. I just need to find someone that needs justice...
Ahh, kidnapped kids? From an orphanage? Nevermind that they are orphans, they are kidnap victims.
A cause!
Finally I can put my crusader training to work.
Fresh out of the required religion classes, I'm ready to right every wrong. I just need to find someone that needs justice...
Ahh, kidnapped kids? From an orphanage? Nevermind that they are orphans, they are kidnap victims.
A cause!
Finally I can put my crusader training to work.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Shackled City: DM: Entry 1
HISTORIANS would later nearly universally agree that it was an act of upper-case Fate, one of the sort littered throughout the history books, that brought the group together. Yes, that all of them happened to be on that same street on that night was no accident, and the mark they ultimately left on Cauldron was unmistakable and irreversible*.
WHY Fate chose these particular people, who had, mercifully, never met before, as the solution to this particular problem, was, on the other hand, a subject of much debate. Some concluded that Fate was a force of evil, which our better natures must fight against at every turn. Others said that Fate was capricious, and as much good comes from chance meetings like this one as does evil.
I, on the other hand, know the truth. There's no such thing as Fate. These guys were hired by the government. IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB. WAKE UP, SHEEPLE.
*From a certain point of view.
Shackled City: Ruce Blackwind; Human; Urban Ranger 1: Journal Entry 1
What…
the hell…
is this?
Ruce stared at the building in front of him and for the first time that evening forgot about the bizarre companions he had met a few hours ago.
This… was NOT an orphanage. Couldn't be. Not unless it was one for the assassin guild. Not a pleasant thought, and also rather unlikely considering it was looked over by that St Cuthbert wench…
AHA! That explained it. This wasn't the hell hole scut factory, thieves den, or brothel-run slave box that society politely called an "orphanage." This was a home for rich church patrons to dump their bastards. Now THAT made sense. Because "this"? …
Bars on the windows, yes… Ruce's fingers started shaking and he grabbed his ax reflexively. But this is a decent looking building - above ground - with a roof, and a firkin YARD for doom's sake? A YARD?
Ruce snorted, and turned his attention back to his "cohorts." This may be the weirdest bunch he had ever melded into.
After a decade living on (or barely off) the streets, he had become pretty good at "joining" groups; showing up just as they "happened" to meet somewhere, and acting like he was supposed to be part of them all along. Keep your head down. Do what you're told (assuming anyone even talks to you) or do what everyone else is doing. Usually good for a few days of work when you needed money, or a few hours at a party when you wanted to spend it.
This group was different, though. It was the way they had all rushed to that cleric's aid at the same time: that was it. That's why he thought they had been together before now. But clearly… not so much.
Ruce had to fight to keep from laughing out loud now.
THIS group had no clue. A cavalier in clanking armor and WAY too eager to prove his holiness, scaring the crap out of random dwellers. A creepy old man with what seemed to be a giant python pet. The snake was actually intriguing in a strange way, but the old man might have spent a little too much time around it; they both had the soulless black stare thing going. There was a damned elf. With the magic school robes on no less.
Crap.
And then not one but two rather obvious lizardfolks. Or maybe not so obvious? Ruce couldn't decide if the one dressed all in black was trying to hide that he had a frikkin TAIL and scales…. or if he was playing ninja. And the other one. Hmmm! He'd never seen a dragon before except on the random tavern sign, but something about that last guy made Ruce think of those fabled beasts.
*SLAM*
Well the cavalier just got shot at by a vicious old halfling. Now SHE belonged in an orphanage. Ruce could definitely believe her as a terrorizing taskmaster for the kids. This was hilarious. The crusader wannabe seemed quite perplexed that people weren't deferring to his quests.
Quests… this group had been given a "quest" to find the "poor missing orphans." Wow, Ruce had wanted so bad to slap that righteous witch when she pretended sympathy for the only 4 orphans in the city who happened to have names. (or at least the only four with names SHE knew). This made a little more sense tho. If this was a house for the bastards of the upper class, then yes, the Cuthbert lady might be more concerned about keeping it from happening again.
But a 2500 gold reward? for FOUR orphans? Spawn of the rich or not, every kid in that orphanage COMBINED wouldn't see 2500 in their entire lives. Why would that church lady be so desperate that she would send THIS group to… to….
"Ahhh."
Ruce smiled. The group seemed to be splintering up in confusion for the night. Talk by the crusader of returning in the morning to continue his "quest."
Sure, Virginia, why not? I'll come back. I'll try to find your son or daughter.
the hell…
is this?
Ruce stared at the building in front of him and for the first time that evening forgot about the bizarre companions he had met a few hours ago.
This… was NOT an orphanage. Couldn't be. Not unless it was one for the assassin guild. Not a pleasant thought, and also rather unlikely considering it was looked over by that St Cuthbert wench…
AHA! That explained it. This wasn't the hell hole scut factory, thieves den, or brothel-run slave box that society politely called an "orphanage." This was a home for rich church patrons to dump their bastards. Now THAT made sense. Because "this"? …
Bars on the windows, yes… Ruce's fingers started shaking and he grabbed his ax reflexively. But this is a decent looking building - above ground - with a roof, and a firkin YARD for doom's sake? A YARD?
Ruce snorted, and turned his attention back to his "cohorts." This may be the weirdest bunch he had ever melded into.
After a decade living on (or barely off) the streets, he had become pretty good at "joining" groups; showing up just as they "happened" to meet somewhere, and acting like he was supposed to be part of them all along. Keep your head down. Do what you're told (assuming anyone even talks to you) or do what everyone else is doing. Usually good for a few days of work when you needed money, or a few hours at a party when you wanted to spend it.
This group was different, though. It was the way they had all rushed to that cleric's aid at the same time: that was it. That's why he thought they had been together before now. But clearly… not so much.
Ruce had to fight to keep from laughing out loud now.
THIS group had no clue. A cavalier in clanking armor and WAY too eager to prove his holiness, scaring the crap out of random dwellers. A creepy old man with what seemed to be a giant python pet. The snake was actually intriguing in a strange way, but the old man might have spent a little too much time around it; they both had the soulless black stare thing going. There was a damned elf. With the magic school robes on no less.
Crap.
And then not one but two rather obvious lizardfolks. Or maybe not so obvious? Ruce couldn't decide if the one dressed all in black was trying to hide that he had a frikkin TAIL and scales…. or if he was playing ninja. And the other one. Hmmm! He'd never seen a dragon before except on the random tavern sign, but something about that last guy made Ruce think of those fabled beasts.
*SLAM*
Well the cavalier just got shot at by a vicious old halfling. Now SHE belonged in an orphanage. Ruce could definitely believe her as a terrorizing taskmaster for the kids. This was hilarious. The crusader wannabe seemed quite perplexed that people weren't deferring to his quests.
Quests… this group had been given a "quest" to find the "poor missing orphans." Wow, Ruce had wanted so bad to slap that righteous witch when she pretended sympathy for the only 4 orphans in the city who happened to have names. (or at least the only four with names SHE knew). This made a little more sense tho. If this was a house for the bastards of the upper class, then yes, the Cuthbert lady might be more concerned about keeping it from happening again.
But a 2500 gold reward? for FOUR orphans? Spawn of the rich or not, every kid in that orphanage COMBINED wouldn't see 2500 in their entire lives. Why would that church lady be so desperate that she would send THIS group to… to….
"Ahhh."
Ruce smiled. The group seemed to be splintering up in confusion for the night. Talk by the crusader of returning in the morning to continue his "quest."
Sure, Virginia, why not? I'll come back. I'll try to find your son or daughter.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Pools of Radiance: ECL 6 Riff Strongblade Human Warmage 6: Entry 1
Death...
Anyone who walks down The Path will know my words to be accurate. The Sublime Way runs straight and true, with no deviations or detours. The Way may look different for each traveler with their own obstacles and areas of danger, allies and areas of safe travel, but the destination (or at least the purpose) is the same.
My friends and I were forced from a dreadful situation and sent to a foreign land. I understand that the cleric is somewhat familiar with this and now feels much more at home, while the rest of us feel sort of lost. I felt horrible. I know my destiny and the cause for each and every one of my lives, but this new world is not part of it. Having been transported to a new world, I have been separated from The Path. I feel my soul burning with the power of the Jade Phoenix, but how can I be a guardian when I am worlds away? There is now un-balance. A new mortal cannot take up the mantle of my destiny until this frame has given up the energy it contains.
I must return home somehow, that is the only way I can fix this. I lack the power and knowledge to travel to to other worlds, or take myself home by any means. But I know enough about the nature of my being that if I die here, my soul will return to to where I truly belong. I only hope that through my death I can offer some sort of protection to those I leave behind. I will go down in battle, doing my best to win and allow the others to continue on.
Life...
I awaken in a more familiar place than I have known for quite some time. I am in the light-less tunnels of my homeland. I can tell right away that I have returned home. For some reason I have been made whole in the body I have known for almost two decades. I can only assume that the need for me to continue in this life and attain the ability to unleash the power of the Mage, is great.
As I survey my surroundings, thankful to not be stuck behind enemy lines or surrounded by the walking dead, I see a familiar object lying on the ground. As I pick it up a powerful feeling courses through my being. I realize that a mistake was made and I was meant to return home with something, or someone...
Anyone who walks down The Path will know my words to be accurate. The Sublime Way runs straight and true, with no deviations or detours. The Way may look different for each traveler with their own obstacles and areas of danger, allies and areas of safe travel, but the destination (or at least the purpose) is the same.
My friends and I were forced from a dreadful situation and sent to a foreign land. I understand that the cleric is somewhat familiar with this and now feels much more at home, while the rest of us feel sort of lost. I felt horrible. I know my destiny and the cause for each and every one of my lives, but this new world is not part of it. Having been transported to a new world, I have been separated from The Path. I feel my soul burning with the power of the Jade Phoenix, but how can I be a guardian when I am worlds away? There is now un-balance. A new mortal cannot take up the mantle of my destiny until this frame has given up the energy it contains.
I must return home somehow, that is the only way I can fix this. I lack the power and knowledge to travel to to other worlds, or take myself home by any means. But I know enough about the nature of my being that if I die here, my soul will return to to where I truly belong. I only hope that through my death I can offer some sort of protection to those I leave behind. I will go down in battle, doing my best to win and allow the others to continue on.
Life...
I awaken in a more familiar place than I have known for quite some time. I am in the light-less tunnels of my homeland. I can tell right away that I have returned home. For some reason I have been made whole in the body I have known for almost two decades. I can only assume that the need for me to continue in this life and attain the ability to unleash the power of the Mage, is great.
As I survey my surroundings, thankful to not be stuck behind enemy lines or surrounded by the walking dead, I see a familiar object lying on the ground. As I pick it up a powerful feeling courses through my being. I realize that a mistake was made and I was meant to return home with something, or someone...
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