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18:08, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls.

Posted by AuthorFor group 0
Author
GM, 962 posts
The Storyteller
Wed 28 Oct 2015
at 10:24
  • msg #1

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

To pray for Divine aid is a fruitless pursuit.  The Divine is without mercy.  The Divine is without malice.  The Divine simply is.
Though you may find ways to draw It down to the world from that place where It dwells, beyond the domes of the high heavens.
Beware though your own hubris as it may bring down Nemesis in the Divine’s stead.

--excerpt from the Cult of the Dragon's Scrolls of Contemplation

    The adventures took the northern road out of Galdion again, passing through the now rather familiar gate town of Sorom and before nightfall made their stop at the inn, the Serpent’s House.  This was their third visit to this particular inn and word had obviously trickled in about your deeds in nearby Kyssea, the inn was also rather packed with men and women from the Gravewatch.  Who were making their way to and from the recently besieged necropolis village.  Naturally they wanted to engage in a little celebration with their local heroes and your lodgings and food were provided for free.
  People were curious as to where you were going and what adventures you would have once you got there.  Willa tried to explain but made little to no sense to anyone and that besides she was quickly ostracised for being what she was and Phelan was simply too glad for the peace as he was treated as if he was the most dangerous creature in the inn, with far too many polite laughs and fake smiles directed at him whenever he met someone outside of his adventuring party.  Amare demonstrated a knack for playing musical instruments no-one had known before that he possessed and with his own unique talents he could play several different ones at once, he and the journeyman bard at the inn spent a good portion of the night in each other’s company discussing stories, songs and music.  Despite his monstrous appearance Jubei was treated just like one of the men though Drex was handled with some care as his intensity made people nervous.
  The following day you all awoke groggy or hungover to various degrees and only managed to take your leave from the inn around midmorning.  Taking the path further to the northwest not long thereafter.  The landscape changed from rolling hills and spares ridges wide, open plains over the next day.  The wind here was quite a force to be reckoned with, something Phelan was familiar with, having come this way not too long ago himself.  Clouds whipped and rolled past overhead rolling ever westward.  Around noon the weather settled down to a more pleasant, clouded sky with a light breeze stirring the still green grasses of the fields around them.
  You passed through a few small settlements on your way, most seemed to be way stops for travelers rather than proper villages, though there were some farmsteads visible nearby and as you walked you managed to spot some herds of cattle peacefully grazing.
  Just as evening descends upon the plains you come across another village though this one just barely has the view of Strine upon the horizon, at the time just a collection of lights.

  The next day, as you made your way to the city, you could not help but notice the towering slanted walls of dark, grey stone surrounding the city in a wide circle with sharp, pointed towers rising out of the stonework at regular intervals all along it.  The city of Strine itself was located well within the walls and there was a large area of clear terrain between the encircling wall and the city itself which had a large citadel under construction by a giant.
  The deeply purple figure was well over a hundred feet tall and far more muscular than any man could hope to be, his bulk even outstriped that of Jubei comparatively.  Though in the general shape of a man, the giant was much too wide and is waist was far too tall that and the four arms and serpentine neck cradling his woefully small head - at least in relation to the proportions of the body - made the giant look very peculiar.  Then the realization dawned that the immense creature was infact naked though it lacked any sort of genitalia you could recognize.
  At first you would have assumed the giant was attacking the city given how it loomed over it, but there were no fires or commotion.  Instead a few minutes watching the giant suggested it was infact building the citadel.  In the few hours it took you to reach the city the giant had almost doubled the size of the citadel.  More startling was that the giant seemed to be readily able to change his size as he would regularly grow smaller to work on some detail of the citadel, once disappearing from view entirely then suddenly rising over the city like some vengeful god.  Only to resume construction on the citadel.
  There were of course stories of the giants working to build great monuments yet few ever witnessed it and even less would truly believe it. This sight alone was beyond the chances of a single lifespan.

  You were still wondering about all this when you arrived at the large gate in the outer wall, which seemed to be the only way in and out of the city now.  It appeared to have been built to some gigantic proportions as well and was constructed of some peculiar sort of glittering, glassy stone which was barely see-through. The gate itself hung open above the gateway like some enormous flap held in place by two half-circular pillars of stone which jutted out of the ground in front of it.  Phelan speculated that the mechanism probably retracted into the ground and poked out behind the wall on the inner side when the gate was sealed.

  Inside the wall you saw a small encampment of soldiers, who stopped you as you entered ”Hey, you dracha what is your business coming into Strine armed like that? a guardsman backed by three other well armed humans approached you with their pikes and shields raised.
Iron Jubei
player, 458 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 16:28
  • msg #2

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls



Jubei furrowed his brows at the... fairly rude welcoming and gave them a stern look. "We are travellers on our way to Tolyn, and I am a paladin of the Dragon Cults, cease taking me for a petty thug that comes to your city just to start a scuffle. Now let us pass or give a proper reason to stop us with."

17:27, Today: Iron Jubei rolled 10 using 1d20+9.  Diplomacy roll: We shall totes pass!

Well, drat.

Willa
player, 515 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Thu 29 Oct 2015
at 17:11
  • msg #3

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

At the sight of guards, Willa dives behind one of Iron Jubei's massive legs hoping not to be seen.  Different guards, different town - same routine.  Let the game begin!

Stealth check
17:11, Today: Willa rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  What, Guards?  Hide!  Stealth..

Author
GM, 963 posts
The Storyteller
Fri 30 Oct 2015
at 06:43
  • msg #4

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

    The guard in front gives Jubei a disbelieving look as he scoffs at the paladin, looking over his companions he says "Petty thug looks exactly right." while another guard seems to have caught Willa's sudden movement "You should tell your little friend to step out behind you and make no more sudden moves. the guard in front nods.

  "Going to Tolyn seems like a lovely story but your here in Strine now and the Barony of Corbine and we take strange and armed folk very seriously here.  I'd like you do disarm yourselves and come quietly to the guard house so that the sergeant can look you over." said the guardsmen.
Willa
player, 516 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Fri 30 Oct 2015
at 16:57
  • msg #5

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

Ordinarily losing the game would have Willa running for the hills, expecting the guards to chase after her shouting, yelling and throwing things.  This time though she had an Iron Jubei between her and them.  He probably weighed a much as a warhorse in full plate barding, perhaps two.  Not that Willa had any experience of them other than in pictures.

So instead she meekly peered around the trunk-like leg she had darted behind and smiled shyly.  Feeling like she should say something, but perhaps not wanting to be friends with the guards who seemed particularly brutish, she said the first thing that came to mind.  Well, not really the first thing.  More like the only thing she had been thinking about for a number of hours now.

"Willa likes your giant."

The giant was a wonder.  She'd not met anything that was quite so large and quite so small at the same time.  It was a lot like an umbrean in the way changed size.  Though of course her race had less range.  She wondered if they were somehow related, but decided against it since it didn't leave trails of ooze behind it everywhere it went.  Or at least she didn't expect it to.  She'd learnt long ago that people tend not to like slime all over their things and if the giant was as slimy as she was, she doubted that it would be allowed anywhere near the town, let alone given a job in construction.  Unless...the building was for umbreans?  Could he be making something for the refugees from Kyssea?  She almost ran off to go and find out, but quickly realised that people didn't really like umbreans.  That probably also meant they wouldn't want them living nearby either.  Sighing to herself, she turned her attention back in the giant's direction and continued to ponder its existence.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Fri 30 Oct 2015.
Author
GM, 966 posts
The Storyteller.
Sun 1 Nov 2015
at 21:06
  • msg #6

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

    One of the guardsman visibly shuddered when Willa spoke, who then pointed his pike in the direction of the umbrean warlock.  "Your little pest will be kept out of the city." the lead guardsman said as he looked down at Willa, then returned his gaze up to Jubei "Now are you going to disarm yourselves or are we going to have to do so for you?"
Drex
player, 511 posts
Avenger
Mon 2 Nov 2015
at 12:38
  • msg #7

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

"It seems that your trying to persuade the wrong people, these pawns will take us to there leader and he will be the one we need to persuade. We will have to do what they say... At least for now." Drex whisperer to Jubei.

He looks at the guards. "Where do you what us to put our weapons? On the gourd here outside the gates? Where real bandits can pick them up and use them against you. And if they are stole, you and the guards of Strine will be hold liable for there loss. As member of the Adventures Guild of Galdiun created by the queen herself..." Drex shows his badge " and representative of the Aurelian Pantheon." he plants the hilt of his axe in the ground exposing the flat with the holy symbol to the Aurelians to the guards, his hands resting on top. "I will cooperate with you as will the rest of my party and disarm, but our weapons will accompany us even if you have to carry them yourselves to the guardhouse. For... save keeping. I think this reasonable, don't you."
Willa
player, 517 posts
Star Pact Warlock
HP:38/38 Surges:9/9 AC:15
Mon 2 Nov 2015
at 16:55
  • msg #8

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

Willa crossed her arms animatedly, along with a deep frown, much like a sulking child.  After a moment something occurred to her and she cocked her head to one side.  "Willa must go round Strine?  Meet friends other side for to get to Tolyn?"
Iron Jubei
player, 460 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Tue 3 Nov 2015
at 11:44
  • msg #9

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls



Jubei had been frowning the whole time, but was willing to comply to their demands. That was until they made a certain statement and he let out a deep growl in return.
"How dare you call her a pest. Her name is Willa and it's thanks to her that you softskins are not yet hip-deep in undead that even your fancy little wall wouldn't have stopped. We did not save Kyssia to now be treated like rabble and thugs. So how about you rethink what you just said and I will not mention this incident to your commander." , Jubei growled at the guards, his fists clenched, only his training keeping him from just punching the man right then and there.


Spending 1 Fame token to make them back off, because fuck those guys... and RNGjesus.
Keela
New Player, 17 posts
HP:34/34 Surges:8/8 SV:8
AC:19 F:15 R:18 W:16
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 03:12
  • msg #10

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls


In other circumstances Keela would have turned tail. Now, for some reason she felt different. With a soft walk that looked like a predator seizing her victim she made her way forward, in her wake letting her weapons belt on the ground. Once she stopped she was between Willa and the guard and crossed her arms.
Drex
player, 513 posts
Avenger
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 12:19
  • msg #11

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

This sudden outburst from Jubei startled Drex, but he tried not to show it.  This is new... Drex thought.  I wonder if he has children back home?  This could explain some of his actions, especial this one. The protective father... who would have gust.  Drex gives a smirk to this thought.  Willa is part of our party yes, but she is still and Umbrean and we should expect this reaction where ever we go.  Even if we feel differently about her. He regards Willa now standing behind Keela.

Drex though it wise to stay quite. And in support of Jubei he also stiffens his stance, nods his head and moves his attention back to the guards.
Author
GM, 967 posts
The Storyteller.
Wed 4 Nov 2015
at 20:37
  • msg #12

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

    Jubei was quite easily overheard by other folk nearby and very quickly drew a crowd.  Seeing this crowd gathering, and the overhear a few people talking about the events they had heard about in Kyssea the guardsman relented.  Though one of them was not defeated going so far as to say he would keep an eye on you.  Clearly this was just an idle threat to try and save some kind of face.

Guards at the Gate:  100 Experience Points for each player and recieve 1 Fortune Token.

  Once you were past them, and well out of earshot, Amare said ”I pity them for being unable to see your hearts.” he sighed.  Amare hardly resembled the buck-nude man which had descended from the sky less than a fortnight ago.  After little less than a day Amare had demonstrated the ability to conjure almost anything out of thin air.  What he described as manifestation, he explained that he could only manifest rather simple items for now such as clothing or crude instruments and he wore clothing he himself had brought into existence.  A dark blue, long sleeved, roughspun tunic which he wore over an off-white vest of linen.  His pants were a dull brown set of woolen trousers and he wore simple leather boots.  All of which had needed some tailoring after their initial creation as Amare was not quite as capable at making things as they should be as he would have liked to have been able to.  His other possessions included a backpack which he had at first attempted to make himself before having one given to him simply to spare him the embarrassment of failing to make anything that would actually resemble something as complex as a backpack.  As well as other items common to travelers you had pitched in to acquire for him and one final item he had made himself over the span of the last few days.  A long, sinuous staff made up of what appeared to be hardwood or bone into a fragile-looking helix which joined into a thick almost-sharp point at the bottom and a long, stylized bident at the top.  The appeared very unwieldy and flimsy but you had seen it change its shape in response to Amare’s will, as the helix would close and swell into a proper shaft for Amare to grip no matter where on the staff he held it.  It was also at least as strong as tempered steel as Amare had asked Jubei and Drex to try and break the staff to a lot of huffing and no avail.  Amare also seemed to be able to be able to make the staff vanish and appear at will which fascinated Willa to no end.  Though Amare explained he could only do that with a few specific things for now and none of those could in anyway be another living thing.  The staff was referred to by Amare as his “instrument” he he claimed he would need if he was to make more precise manifestations.

  A few minutes passed as you made your way down the main road which lead into the city of Strine, where immediately the cries of hawkers and merchants assaulted you from almost every side.  Criers expounded the wonderous wares and services of merchants and business in the city, street performers cavorted, astounded and amazed folk and yourselves as you passed by.  The main road through the city was a thoroughfare of activity impossible to take in all at once and yet incredibly delightful all at the same time.  Even music from minstrels and songs from bards could be heard mingling into a cacophony of humorously disjointed stories and themes.
  No one seemed particularly disturbed by the giant working overhead.  Despite the colourfulness of the city streets the citadel at the center was a dark and foreboding building within which no life seemed to stir, there was almost a mesmerizing quality to it you had to shake yourself to get away from.
  Not long after you entered the city the giant paused for a moment with an odd frown wrinkling the top of his snout and cast his completely sea-green eyes about the city as if looking for something and stopped his gaze in your general vicinity then he crooked an eyebrow and seemed to be in thought for a moment before giving facial shrug and resumed his work.  Only Willa and Amare appeared oblivious to the giant’s actions.

[This is the last major city you’ll find yourselves in for a while so if you want to buy stuff, or make use of any services now will be it.  I assume you will also be spending the night in the city and setting out at dawn the next day.  So please state your Inn preference.]
Drex
player, 514 posts
Avenger
Thu 5 Nov 2015
at 13:05
  • msg #13

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls

"Did you guys noticed that the giant was just looking at us?" Drex said as they continued down the street. "Well it seems as if it was looking at us at least."

"We are planing to stay for the evening are we?"
Iron Jubei
player, 461 posts
Paladin 22AC 15 otherDefs
37 HP 14 Surges
Fri 6 Nov 2015
at 16:47
  • msg #14

The Haunting of the Rose - Chapter 4, Night Falls


"Maybe the giant was just looking for a way to move. I don't think it'd want to step on anyone here.", Jubei said and yet couldn't quite help but be impressed by that being, considering how but a simple missstep could already flatten a house. "But yes, I suppose we're going to stay here, unless you'd rather sleep out in the wilderness. Which I personally would rather avoid."
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