RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to Reborn in Iron

06:54, 18th April 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 1: Taxes and Death.

Posted by GMFor group 0
GM
GM, 538 posts
Tue 9 Jun 2015
at 13:12
  • msg #652

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 651):


Titus and Uldaf are left mostly alone for the rest of the day.  Certainly the miller's people are curious, but they are busy enough that they don't have much time to snoop.

As the sun is setting, the men finish their work on the roof and the grinding in the mill itself.  Enrei emerges hot and sweaty but with a huge grin that only hard labor can bring to a person.

Brennan emerges from the cottage around that time, his face buried in an old book.


As the sun sets, Godrick has arranged for lodgings from some of the villagers.  The Miller invites you to dine in his yard where his daughters have set up some long trestle tables and plated it with simple bread, cheese and some meat on skewers.
Brennan Otthild
player, 393 posts
Heed this simple truth:
You've never been awake
Tue 9 Jun 2015
at 18:40
  • msg #653

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to GM (msg # 652):

Brennan sits thoughtfully, his mind obviously somewhere else unless someone were to address him directly. At one point, he beckons Titus over to him and speaks quietly with him while pointing at something in the book.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Wed 10 June 2015.
Titus Blackwell
player, 507 posts
Monochromatic
Totally won't kill Uldaf
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 12:28
  • msg #654

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 653):

Titus says privately as Uldaf and him start to walk away...

If I didn't know any better I'd swear you were developing a sense of humor and showmanship.


The two of them go back to colluding for the evening.  For a moment it seems all animus is forgotten between the two and they laugh and plan through a portion of the day.  When satisfied with their craft Titus accompanies Uldaf to the mill and makes sure he has access to the mill's medical supplies.

/ooc What do they have on hand?  I am planning to plunder their supplies to make sure that Uldaf has enough to continue our journey/ooc

goes and gathers the children of the mill around them and performs some juggling, basic prestidigitation, and a few fables... all with completely outstanding morals... except for one.  The one about the salamander crossing the river.  The moral of that story is if you are standing up to your neck in shit and someone throws a bucket of snot you should not duck.

Titus goes and sits next to Brennan for a time paging through a musty old book.
GM
GM, 540 posts
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 12:36
  • msg #655

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 654):

Slinking around the mill, Titus is confronted at every turn by yet another girl or young lady who will introduce herself as one of the Miller's daughters.  They seem to come in all shapes and sizes, all hair colors, complexions and tones.  If they are all truly his daughters, it's likely they do not share a mother.

Thus Titus finds it difficult to get any time alone in the mill.  When he makes subtle inquiries, he learns that two of the daughters are not entirely unskilled at basic care and have a small supply of cloths, poultices, herbs and lotions bought from the larger cities.

Work on the roof and in the mill being done, there is nothing but to gather with the Miller, his daughters and men at the tables, enjoy a simple meal and await Titus and Uldaf's much-hyped performance.

The Miller himself sits at the head of the longest table, flanked by his eldest daughters while the younger ones rush about bringing food, cleaning away empty platters and generally tending to everyone.

A large wooden pallet has been dragged out of storage somewhere and set in the grass beside the stone wall of the mill tower to form a small stage.
Titus Blackwell
player, 508 posts
Monochromatic
Totally won't kill Uldaf
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 12:47
  • msg #656

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to GM (msg # 655):

Titus smiles and thoroughly charms all of the daughters as he meets them.  Though he is uneasy with the arrangement that the miller has with his daughters.  He pulls aside what he deems to be the daughter who is both most intelligent and most infatuated with him and pulls her aside and whispers in her ear for a time.

As Titus sets up Uldaf in the medical bay and asks one of the daughters to circulate the word that there is a healer in residence he surreptitiously knocks a few cloths and herbs into Uldaf's case.
GM
GM, 541 posts
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 13:10
  • msg #657

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 656):


Though the Miller's daughters allow Uldaf use of one of the cottage's rooms, there really aren't any injured apart from your own company.

Titus is able to swipe a couple items, which he hands over to Uldaf.
Titus Blackwell
player, 509 posts
Monochromatic
Totally won't kill Uldaf
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 13:18
  • msg #658

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to GM (msg # 657):

Titus holds the girl by the shoulders at arms length and gives her a quick look up and down. 

He gives her a decidedly brotherly peck on the cheek and says

Good.
Brennan Otthild
player, 395 posts
Heed this simple truth:
You've never been awake
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 13:37
  • msg #659

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 658):

Brennan chats with Titus a bit before the performance.
Enrei Omal'i
player, 350 posts
Killing bad
Wrestling good
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 13:57
  • msg #660

Re: Chapter 1

Enrei takes a seat at the miller's table most convenient to the little meat skewers being offered for supper and eats heartily.  His day of wheat hauling leaving him ignorant of his companions' goals (moreso than usual) he simply enjoys the meal.  Though he's amiable to any of the miller's daughters' attentions, all of their intentions are lost on him.
Titus Blackwell
player, 510 posts
Monochromatic
Totally won't kill Uldaf
Fri 12 Jun 2015
at 14:45
  • msg #661

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 660):

At the meal Titus proposes a flowery toast to the lord of the mill and a promise of a great evening's entertainment to come.

Titus eats quickly and then retires ahead of the meal to check all of the preparations from millfolk and ensure that he has everything in place.  Once satisfied the stage will hold  and the lighting is satisfactory he goes back to the waning feast.  While there he unslings his lute and plays and sings while the onlookers eat.
Uldaf Asbjorn
player, 385 posts
Situational Cannibal
Ally to Animals
Mon 15 Jun 2015
at 21:37
  • msg #662

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 661):

Well this has already proved to be a fruitful stop.

Now, let's see what sort of show these simple folk are ready for.

And will a story in which a man who doesn't pay his taxes to his local lord and isn't eaten by a bear be to on the nose?

Nah.

Brennan Otthild
player, 398 posts
Heed this simple truth:
You've never been awake
Tue 16 Jun 2015
at 15:10
  • msg #663

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 662):

Brennan glances up from his book just before Titus and Uldaf perform, and takes a seat next to Enrei.

"They've been practicing all day," he tells the bigger man. "This ought to be good."
Enrei Omal'i
player, 351 posts
Killing bad
Wrestling good
Tue 16 Jun 2015
at 16:32
  • msg #664

Re: Chapter 1

"Mmph?" Enrei looks up, removing three bare skewers from his mouth then looking toward Titus and Uldaf with a smile as he chews.
Titus Blackwell
player, 513 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Wed 17 Jun 2015
at 14:30
  • msg #665

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 664):

After the meal has completed Titus gathers all of the children around him and they move en masse to the stage.  Titus tells several childrens stories and even uses Uldaf as the villian in one or two.  He's a bit stiff on stage but serviceable.

He builds his performance to a crescendo and has the children clapping and singing with Titus as he capers and dances around the stage.  The song ends in crescendo as Titus throws his hand to the sky with sweat beading on his forehead.

The children cheer and Titus looks slightly disappointed.

[Illusions: Fail]

Thank you, just a warning for those of you in the audience... things are going to get a bit more... intense... You may want to put the kids to bed.


DAMNIT! I really wanted to end that with fireworks....


/ooc More to come just wanted to set the stage and let you know I'm not in one of my disappeared forever modes /ooc

This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Wed 17 June 2015.
Titus Blackwell
player, 514 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Wed 17 Jun 2015
at 16:19
  • msg #666

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 665):

He starts the second act of his performance with one of his staples, a progressively more raunchy version of hole in the bucket. With the audience eating out of his hand he now decides they are ripe for a sad song, harkening back to the beginning of their journey he sings the ballad of Min's third love; as he ends the song all of the women and even some of the men have tears in their eyes.

He sits silent on stage for a moment, tears even his eyes as he thinks about how far he has come and how far is still yet to go.  He visibly takes a moment to steel himself and decides now is the time to fill his promise to Brennan.  He adopts his story telling pose and strikes the most ancient of all chords....

Once upon a time...
Titus Blackwell
player, 515 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Thu 18 Jun 2015
at 12:19
  • msg #667

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 666):

...When the dream was new and the doors between heaven and hell were still open... before Hyrium and Galeena united... before even the juggernaut wore armor... even before the nature of the first traitor was known... there was a time of lawlessness and chaos.

As he says this the lights cut out and a large bowl with a burning fire is brought out to cut the light low and red, casting shadows up on his face.

The king and queen were too busy fighting each other to pay much attention to the machnications of hell.  Nor did they realize that there was a traitor in their midst, and darkness was approaching.

Villages on the outskirts of both Hyrium and Galeena's kingdoms were disappearing.  Imagine if you will, this mill...

poof!

Gone.


The fire flares with purple and blue.

Of course the warring king and queen assumed the other was to blame, not wanting to show any weakness or bow their necks to the other they kept it a secret and redoubled their efforts against each other.

The war escalated and became even more bloody than before.


/ooc more to come need some mythos help from the GM /ooc
Titus Blackwell
player, 516 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Thu 18 Jun 2015
at 12:49
  • msg #668

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 667):

Weeks go on and villages keep vanishing... but now they are no longer the villages on the outskirts of the kingdom.  They are disappearing closer and closer to the capital.  Finally, simultaneously, and independently the two rulers arrived at the same decision.

He adopts the pose of stately Hyrium:

Fetch me the Juggernaut!

Of course as is his way the Juggernaut takes his sweet time in responding to the summons.  The Juggernaut bows to no man... not even his king.


He pauses to wait for the laughter to die down.

The juggernaut arrives wearing nothing but a loincloth and bearing a club.  Still a formidable a frightening figure.  His face was a tempest, he speaks brusquely

My Leige, why have you taken me from the front lines of battle?  I was scheduled to crush the western flank of Galeena's forces and your men are now fighting a pitched battle.


I have a more important task for you.  Villages are disappearing on the outskirts of kingdom, whole villages, without a trace.  I want you to investigate.

He unrolls a map and points towards a corridor of destruction that leads directly towards a town in contested territory.

I believe this to be the next target, based upon the the pattern we have seen thus far... go save that town and bring them to our side.


/ooc I'm going to change up how I write these, let me know if they are too tough to read... Titus needs a storytelling format... /ooc
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Thu 18 June 2015.
Titus Blackwell
player, 517 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Thu 18 Jun 2015
at 14:07
  • msg #669

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 668):

Titus continues:

quote:
The juggernaut nods his acquiescence and stomps out of the room without a word.

Meanwhile..

adopting a softer pose

Fetch me Magalan!

Magalan promptly appears in the queens doorway, as always in shining armor and bristling with weapons both known and unknown.  Some that have endured to this day, some deemed too terrible to use ever again, some that... just... didn't work all that well.

My leige, why have you taken me from the forge, we are preparing to cast a new weapon that will lay waste to Hyrium's forces.

I have a more important task for you.  Villages are disappearing on the outskirts of kingdom, whole villages, without a trace.  I want you to investigate.

She unrolls a map and points towards a corridor of destruction that leads directly towards a town in contested territory.

I believe this to be the next target, based upon the the pattern we have seen thus far... go save that town and bring them to our side.

Magalan claps his fist to his heart

Yes my queen.

With that he leaves with great haste.


/ooc still more to come, posting in small chunks as I am able to do so. /ooc
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Thu 18 June 2015.
Titus Blackwell
player, 518 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Thu 18 Jun 2015
at 15:46
  • msg #670

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 669):

He runs from one side of the stage the other, then alternately rides an invisible horse from the far side back
quote:
The Juggernaut, as is his way decided that he would just set off sprinting to the village club in hand.  He sprinted through towns as people dove out of his way or be crushed under his huge feet, he bounded over rivers, and plowed through a lake with such ferocity the lake split around him showing walls of water as high as building to either side.

While the juggernaut sprinted Magalan rode on a splendid warhorse.  The horse was fully armored and its bags bulged with all manner of blacksmith puzzles, half finished ideas, and his prized hammer.  It took Magalan a full day and a half of riding to arrive at the small town and he arrived there in the mid-afternoon, while crossing through the town square a winded... and very wet Juggernaut flew past him and skidded to a stop at the edge of the square.

He doubled back looking the blacksmith up and down his hand ready to reach for his club.  They looked at each other like two dogs deciding if they were about to fight, and finally they both say simultaneously

So you are the one destroying Galeena's towns!


So you are the one destroying Hyrium's towns!

And with that the both unsheath their weapons and charge the other.  As Hyrium charges the Juggernaut takes a mighty swing of club knocking him back to the entrance of the square and denting his armor.

Wait!  Please wait.

The blacksmith says as the Juggernaut charges to follow up his mighty stroke.

Galeena has not been destroying Hyrium's towns!

Nor has Hyrium been destroying Galeena's

The two of them lower their weapons, carefully as some kind of fragile detente has been reached.

If we have not been destroying the towns then whatever has will be here soon.  Let us wait, 3 days, if by noon on the third day nothing has come, we will resume our battle.


Agreed.

Titus Blackwell
player, 520 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Fri 19 Jun 2015
at 15:35
  • msg #671

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 670):

Titus sits on the stage... looking bored

quote:
The Juggernaut spent his days drinking at the tavern.  While Magalan spent his days at the forge making new and amazing inventions... specially designed to contain the juggernaut.

One noon of the third day the two heroes met in the town square, and stared the other one down.  Just as the sun was to eclipse its zenith... a shadow fell over the square and the entire town.  Just on the horizon they both saw what caused the eclipse.

Titus breaks character

A monster so large... think of the biggest thing you have ever seen... a castle!  Yeah it was bigger than that, take that castle stick another castle on top of that and that STILL isn't big enough.  I mean It blocked out the sun!  I don't know what else to say!  Its legs were the size of trees, its fingers were bigger than a wagon!

Titus goes back into character

The monster was huge and heading directly towards the town.  Horrible purpose in its gate and a hooded figure standing on its shoulder.  Despite the jostling of the titan the passenger stood steady as a rock.

Magalan and the Juggernaut looked at each other... shrugged, and simultaneously charged to the beast.  The juggernauts loincloth fluttered in the breeze as he ran while Magalan's armor jangled rhythmically.

The Juggernaut arrived at the demon first and with superhuman agility climbed to the to the chest of the demon by the time Magalan arrived at the demons foot.  As Magalan swung his sword and severed the demons foot the Juggernaut punched into the demons chest, ripping out its heart and throwing it onto the ground.

The demon screamed in pain and sunk to its knees, and the Juggernaut reached the shoulder where the hooded figure was hiding.  He got a glimpse under the hood of a face that was... almost familiar... and wearing a knowing smirk.

As he reached for the figure it stepped gracefully back and leaped off the shoulder of the demon and vanished in midair.

Thinking the demon finished the two warriors congratulated each other and began making preparations to go back to their respective rulers...

When an odd thing happened...

Titus Blackwell
player, 523 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Fri 19 Jun 2015
at 16:03
  • msg #672

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 671):

Titus twists and contorts himself unnaturally on stage, writhing as if in pain.

quote:
The demon's heart... walked away.  Simply without fuss developed a mouth, eyes, teeth and legs... and walked away.  By the way, it was the size of a cow.

The foot grew tentacles and writhed its way down the road seeking refuge in the forest.

Magalan grabbed the Juggernauts shoulder aghast and pulled him towards the blacksmith shop he was working in.

We must work together to defeat this demon come with me I will outfit you!

With that Magalan removes an Iron Maiden that he was planning to use on the juggernaut and quickly turned it inside out, adding in joints as best and as quickly as he could.  He also took a sword that he had forged for just such an occasion, a flamberge that could not be weilded by any normal man... but the juggernaut was able to use as a hand-and-a-half sword.

Thus outfitted the newly armored Juggernaut and Magalan went back to the town square finding the demon rasping for breath and clearly on the road to recovery.  To their horror the demon speaks, its voice cracking the bell in the church tower.

I AM BAAL!  CHAMPION OF HELL!  HERE TO LIE WASTE TO YOUR PATHETIC CITIES AND END YOUR WAR!

The demon being energized by this statement rose back up to its full height, the ichor and blood from its chest spilling on the ground and singeing any natural material it came into contact with.  The blood spattered off of the juggernauts new armor, turning it dark, rusted and pitted; which suited him just fine.

The two heroes rushed the demon like a wind made of steel and death.  The demon grabbed the juggernaut and attempted to squeeze the life out of him but the spikes on his armor pained the demon too much and he dropped the combatant to the ground.

After many longs hours of fierce combat the demon succumbed to the onslaught of steel, chopped into pieces.

The heroes look around to congratulate themselves and find that there are no parts of Baal left around them, and that all of them must have fled the combat.

The head of Baal being the only part remaining bellows

YOU HAVE NOT WON!  I WILL LIVE ON!

With that the Juggernaut crushed his head with a mighty kick.  One of the demon's eyes rolled down the road, developed wings and strange spindley legs

Titus adopts a strange one legged hop, and makes a horrible shrieking sound.  One of the members of the audience... recognized as one of the daughters wails and runs into the aisle.

THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I SAW AND HEARD WHEN THE MILL WAS ATTACKED!!!

Titus reassures the young daughter and sees her back to her seat.

I know all of the stories of the land.  This one rang true here, allow me to finish my tale and I promise I will leave you on a high note. 
quote:
Thus 'relatively' disposed of, the demon no longer a threat to towns as a whole... The heroes solemnly vow to each other to return to their respective rulers and tell the tale of this day true.  As a show of faith and friendship Magalan allows the Juggernaut to keep his new armor.

And thus was the war ended, the traitor uncovered, and how the Juggernaut received his armor
.
Titus Blackwell
player, 526 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Fri 19 Jun 2015
at 16:39
  • msg #673

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 672):

The audience has a mixed reaction after the outburst.  Some who appreciated the story clapped their enjoyment of the tale, others stared blankly some looked angry.

If you are angry at that... wait until I am done with you.

Titus lets his dark hair obscure his face as he takes a bow and smiles to himself.

Allow me to put a cap onto your night.  I just want to warn you before I tell this next story that it may be a bit... instense for some, and that everything you are about to see is illusion, sleight of hand, and pyrotechnics.


The audience leans forward in their seats, not a single one of them moving despite the warning.  Titus looks at the Miller who is sitting in the chair he reserved for him front and center of the stage and smiles broadly.

All of you that brave huh?  Good.  I'd hate for you to miss it.


He says with a toothy grin.
Titus Blackwell
player, 528 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Mon 22 Jun 2015
at 17:14
  • msg #674

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 673):


Before the story Titus holds out his hand to the Miller.

I always like to have prominent local color in my plays... you get to terrorize Uldaf, and you get to play the part of the hero.  If you were ever a child I assure you that you know the part... and if I have learned anything from your bearing the rest will come naturally.

He says with his most charming smile.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!  Would you like to see your patron as the protagonist?!


The whole audience claps and whoops its ascension as Titus stands smiling with his hand out towards the lord of the mill.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Mon 22 June 2015.
Titus Blackwell
player, 529 posts
Taken to Oz
Titus + Uldaf = BFF!
Mon 22 Jun 2015
at 17:19
  • msg #675

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 674):

I can't hear you!!!!

Titus says baiting the audience into a raucous cheer.

A slight sweat pricks through Titus' forehead as he holds his hand out.

The audience as a whole begins to see what looks like grass peeking through on the stage and the world seems to bend so the sole focus of their attention are on Titus and the lord of the mill.

At this point the audience is chanting his name... maybe with a little push from Titus.

Peer pressure is a motherfucker.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Mon 22 June 2015.
GM
GM, 546 posts
Mon 22 Jun 2015
at 17:50
  • msg #676

Re: Chapter 1

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 675):

The Miller looks very much put out at first, but when he hears the applause of his townfolk, and perhaps notes the appeal one commands by being on stage, he carefully hoists himself out of his chair and makes a slow deliberate walk up to the wooden pallet beside Titus.
Sign In