Hero's Epitaph

[Inspectre]

And now, the thread will shortly start, using this post to do so (second page, time to quit the yammering and start the RPing, fools. ;p )


Post forthcoming. :-/

[flapjack]

*picks 3 torches off a wagon and pays the previous owner 15 gold pieces*

[Wraith[x]]

Uh yes. My character is here. He's just so ridiculosly stealthy (as are any companions/armies he may have) that you can't see him. Yet.

[Planetkiller II]

*The storm clouds gathered overhead as Rhea's massive stone foot slammed down to the ground, jarring the human next to him off the ground for a moment. The warrior-smith brought his feet back in time with the shaking earth below.*

"Rhea, how many times do I have to tell you to tread softer? Every time you do that it creates yet another pothole in this damned road, and this is not a time to be attracting attention to ourselves. There are orcs abound."

*The giant golem ground a rocky head around and downward to look at his small (relatively speaking, for Warder was a tall and hefty figure in his leather workman's clothing) companion and spoke in deep, gravely tones.*

“Metal-man talk much. Rhea walk how want. Smash all orcs.”

*Warder raised an eyebrow, and tried to maintain a kind of bouncing stride as he was bounced off the floor by the rock elemental’s earthquake creating gait. Suddenly, the wind changed, blowing with the thrust of magic and magical beasts. An unearthly screech sounded, and a massive black lizard blew past, flapping tattered leathery wings. Warder fell to the broken old road the two were traveling from the rushing force of the air, but Rhea merely grunted and cracked his knuckles. A second beast, another wyvern flew over, as fast and powerful as the first, but with skin of a purest white. The two flying lizards circled the two travelers, black and white exchanging in an ever changing blur of non-colour. After one last orbit, the dragon-like animals came in to land on the battered road, their screaming voices dieing away and their scaly wings folding up upon their backs. Close up, it was obvious from the white wyvern’s pink eyes that it was an albino. Both of them shuffled to the floor, allowing their riders to dismount. Upon the black one rode an elf, pale skinned and wearing dark leather armour. An ebony autocrossbow adorned with sigils was slung across his back. The rider on the white lizard looked like a mirror image, the same light armour and weapon, but all in white. He also seemed brighter, and of skin without the palid quality of the dark one. The light elf spoke first.*

“Well, it smashing orcs is certainly what we’re going to Fort Solifax for, my friends. Even from up there I could hear your dulcet tones Rhea, though some of that may be due to elvish hearing, eh brother Nosnoré.”

*The darker of the twins spoke slowly, almost with malice but not quite,*

“Yes twin Gabriel, it is time to make a stand agains these armies of Darius. I may use dark magics, but I for one will not be subjected to his rule.”

“On this at least we agree. It’ll be time soon. We’re less than an hour from the fort.”

*Thunder rumbled in the distance as Gabriel spoke. The white wyvern stumbled back a few steps at the sound, and the black one tossed a reptilian head.*

“Don’t worry Preto, that’s nothing to what’s coming. You’ll have to keep those pink eyes of yours clear, for I need you stabile to impale orcs on my bolts.”

“You too Branco, show your bravery my dark stead.”

*Rhea ground fist sized teeth together and rumbled out a few more sentences, then pounded his massive warhammer that he had previously been dragging behind him (creating a plough-like rut in the process) into his palm with a force that would bring down a small elephant, merely to emphasis his point.*

“Nice-pointy-ears and nasty-pointy-ears talk too much too. Talk less. Walk more. Kill orcs sooner.”

*Warder smiled, and rested his hand on the ruby pommel of his sheathed sword.*

“You heard the giant living rock, let’s get moving. To Fort Solifax!”

“Aye!”

*The cry went up from all four, except Rhea who made a bone shaking crunching sound that must have been his equivalent of a rousing cheer. The twin riders mounted their respective wyverns and took off, Preto and Branco bearing them swiftly towards the horizon and the castle upon it. Rhea and Warder followed, running now along the broken road and holding weapons ready to face the tide that would surely soon cross their path…*

[Fluffie]

I'd go with an archer kind of guy, but the arrows are costing me my extra ribs. Which I already sold.

[Ur_Quan]

That's a very nice post, PK2.

[Wraith[x]]

Kira T'ala's specialist camoflage spell (cast yesterday, so as to not use up spell points! ) wears off, and the three adventurers materialise from their stealthy stalthiness...






Name - Wraith

Rank - Main Character (+ 2 Dudes GPs)

Race - Human

Class - Fighter

Equipment...

Ravenwing - Cost: 135 gp
Throwing Knives (8 knives) - Cost: 30 gp
2x Naptha (4 jars) - Cost: 100 gp
*************
Mithril Chain - Cost: 75 gp
Mithril Chainmail Gauntlets - Cost: 30 gp
Mithril Chain Grieves - Cost: 45 gp
Dragon Skull Helmet - Cost: 75 gp
*************
Armour costs - 225
Giant’s Potion - Temporarily doubles strength - Cost: 55 gp
Speed Potion – Temporarily doubles speed - Cost: 45 gp
Whetstone – Necessary to resharpen a melee weapon – 3 uses - Cost: 35 gp
2x Wine – Water for 2 days, plus more refreshing/slight healing properties (this includes a wineskin) - Cost: 50 gp
3x Food – Food for 3 days - Cost: 45 gp
2x Torch – Used to search one area at night for salvage - Cost: 10 gp
Elixir – Heals serious wounds - Cost: 60 gp
Water – Water for 1 day (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 10 gp

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Name - Xyn

Rank - Sub Character

Race - Drow

Class - Sorceror

Equipment...

Kris Blade - Cost: 65 gp
Bronze Helm - Cost: 25 gp
Leather Armor - Cost: 20 gp
Mithril Chainmail - Cost: 30 gp
Food – Food for 2 days - Cost: 30 gp
Water – Water for 3 days (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 30 gp

Spells...

Level 1
Magic Missile
Camouflage - Specialist
Eagle-Eye - Specialist
Icicle
Rock
Gust
Shadow Strike

Level 2
Haste - Specialist
Fly - Specialist
Combust
Stalagmite - Specialist
Rising Breeze

Level 3
Crush
Explosion - Specialist
Ice Wall
Whirlwind - Specialist
Shades - Specilist

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Name - Kira T'ala

Rank - Sub Character

Race - Half-Elf

Class - Cleric

Equipment...

Frostbrand - Cost: 95 gp
Studded Leather Armor - Cost: 30 gp
Bronze Gauntlets - Cost: 15 gp
Boots - Cost: 5 gp
Knight’s Shield - Cost: 25 gp
Food – Food for 1 days - Cost: 15 gp
Water – Water for 1 days (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 10 gp
Torch – Used to search one area at night for salvage - Cost: 5 gp
Spells...

Level 1
Camouflage - Specialist
Eagle-Eye
Shield - Specialist
Shadow Strike
Dazzle - Specialist

Level 2
Sicken - Specialist
Slow
Icy Ground - Specialist
Stalactite - Sepcialist
Darkness

Level 3
Adrenaline
Invisible - Specialist
Ice Wall
Stoneskin - Specialist
Shades - Specialist

[Planetkiller II]

Originally Posted by Ur_Quan

That's a very nice post, PK2.

Why thankee

[Inspectre]

Originally Posted by Wraith[x]

Kira T'ala's specialist camoflage spell (cast yesterday, so as to not use up spell points! ) wears off, and the three adventurers materialise from their stealthy stalthiness...






Name - Wraith

Rank - Main Character (+ 2 Dudes GPs)

Race - Human

Class - Fighter

Equipment...

Ravenwing - Cost: 135 gp
Throwing Knives (8 knives) - Cost: 30 gp
2x Naptha (4 jars) - Cost: 100 gp
*************
Mithril Chain - Cost: 75 gp
Mithril Chainmail Gauntlets - Cost: 30 gp
Mithril Chain Grieves - Cost: 45 gp
Dragon Skull Helmet - Cost: 75 gp
*************
Armour costs - 225
Giant’s Potion - Temporarily doubles strength - Cost: 55 gp
Speed Potion – Temporarily doubles speed - Cost: 45 gp
Whetstone – Necessary to resharpen a melee weapon – 3 uses - Cost: 35 gp
2x Wine – Water for 2 days, plus more refreshing/slight healing properties (this includes a wineskin) - Cost: 50 gp
3x Food – Food for 3 days - Cost: 45 gp
2x Torch – Used to search one area at night for salvage - Cost: 10 gp
Elixir – Heals serious wounds - Cost: 60 gp
Water – Water for 1 day (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 10 gp

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Name - Xyn

Rank - Sub Character

Race - Drow

Class - Sorceror

Equipment...

Kris Blade - Cost: 65 gp
Bronze Helm - Cost: 25 gp
Leather Armor - Cost: 20 gp
Mithril Chainmail - Cost: 30 gp
Food – Food for 2 days - Cost: 30 gp
Water – Water for 3 days (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 30 gp

Spells...

Level 1
Magic Missile
Camouflage - Specialist
Eagle-Eye - Specialist
Icicle
Rock
Gust
Shadow Strike

Level 2
Haste - Specialist
Fly - Specialist
Combust
Stalagmite - Specialist
Rising Breeze

Level 3
Crush
Explosion - Specialist
Ice Wall
Whirlwind - Specialist
Shades - Specilist

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Name - Kira T'ala

Rank - Sub Character

Race - Half-Elf

Class - Cleric

Equipment...

Frostbrand - Cost: 95 gp
Studded Leather Armor - Cost: 30 gp
Bronze Gauntlets - Cost: 15 gp
Boots - Cost: 5 gp
Knight’s Shield - Cost: 25 gp
Food – Food for 1 days - Cost: 15 gp
Water – Water for 1 days (this include a waterskin) - Cost: 10 gp
Torch – Used to search one area at night for salvage - Cost: 5 gp
Spells...

Level 1
Camouflage - Specialist
Eagle-Eye
Shield - Specialist
Shadow Strike
Dazzle - Specialist

Level 2
Sicken - Specialist
Slow
Icy Ground - Specialist
Stalactite - Sepcialist
Darkness

Level 3
Adrenaline
Invisible - Specialist
Ice Wall
Stoneskin - Specialist
Shades - Specialist

Characters approved.

[Inspectre]

Originally Posted by Fluffie

I'd go with an archer kind of guy, but the arrows are costing me my extra ribs. Which I already sold.

Just get more arrows once you get to the fort d00d. Search for them at night, pick them out of corpses, steal some from the other defenders . . . use your imagination, or sumthin.

[Inspectre]

/ooc alright, let's get this show on the road. Nearly a week later than planned, but oh well . . . Consider this a little something to tide you over. Next DM post will probably consist of the move to the fort, or perhaps other activities around the tavern. Feel free to socialize. ooc/

With a subdued flash of bluish light, the portal deposits Bartus a short distance from the Cawing Raven, a large tavern located in the peaceful Tremon valley. Only several days' walk from Fort Solifax, the tavern frequently had on-leave soldier customers, in addition to numerous travelers passing through the valley. The mood in the tavern tonight, however, was far more solemn and serious than the usual joviality that the place exuded. Tonight, Vilas Stormgul had called a meeting. A meeting that would eventually lead to his death as well as all defenders of Fort Solifax, save of course for Bartus.

Bartus, alarmed at the possibility of being seen in his blood-stained clothes, ducks into his room at the Cawing Raven. There, he finds a fresh change of clothes, and soon emerges to find the meeting just being called to order. In the center of the massive tavern's floor, standing in a spot clear of tables and chairs, is Vilas Stormgul, brother to Bartus and owner of a small estate. The two brothers had fought many battles together, some for honor and some for money. With the money, they had managed to buy a small plot of land and built Stormgul Manor. With the honor, they had become famous throughout the kingdom of Wystria.

Recently, the neighboring orc tribes have been growing restless. A man by the name of Darius has positioned in himself as their new leader, proclaiming that he would lead the orcs onto a more equal footing with the Twelve Kingdoms, of which Wystria was a part. Darius had vowed to repay the Twelve Kingdoms for their arrogant dismissal of the orcs and other small outlying kingdoms. The rulers of the Twelve Kingdoms have dismissed his threats as utter nonsense, declaring that Darius could never even tilt the stability of the Twelve Kingdoms by the slightest, regardless of how many "barbarians" he would be able to amass.

Yet, there was an unmistakeable undertone of fear in the words and actions of the Twelve Kingdoms, and Darius was given free reign to amass his army. Then, he struck, unleashing his legions into the countryside of Wystria to burn and pillage at will. Still, at the moment Darius has kept to the outer fringes of even Wystria, one of the smaller Kingdoms. He no doubt fears that too great of an attack will threaten the usually slow-moving Twelve Kingdoms into action.

On this latest foray into Wystria, he has already smashed apart Fort Ralwort and the Wystria Guard stationed there with comtempable ease, and then continued on, crushing several more forts and leaving his army to consume everything they could carry and burn what they could not. Now Darius' army was approaching the valley where the Stormguls had made their home, and they were determined to stand against this tyrant even if their king would not.

Vilas Stormgul was generally the more charismatic of the two brothers, and thus they had decided a week earlier that he would call every able-bodied warrior together to the Cawing Raven, to try to convince them to stand and fight with the Stormguls at Fort Solifax, the remainning fortress between Darius's army and their valley.

Vilas looks around at the many faces arrayed around the room, some utterly bored, others somewhat curious as to what was about to be asked of them. Vilas takes a deep breath, and then launches into his prepared speech, his voice booming out to all corners of the tavern.

"By now you have all heard of Darius and his orc allies. You may have even heard that he is coming here, to this vary valley. Yes, Darius is coming here, to do what he has done to every other place he has conquered - set everything to the flame, and put everyone to the sword. Even our king is a afraid to face this man on the plain of battle. Our king, who is the ruler of one of the Twelve Kingdoms!! It is a sad and disgraceful day for our people. Still, I have not made my home here just so some two-bit tyrant can burn it to the ground because he feels slighted. I have called you all here for only one simple request. I ask each of you to stand with me. Stand with me at Fort Solifax, and make one last stand for the light. One last stand against Darius and his orc allies. Is it so much to ask each of you to fight and die on your feet like men? Or would you prefer to live on your knees at his feet, once he has smashed our last bastion of defense, Fort Solifax?!" And this point Vilas raised his voice to almost a shout, consumed with the passion of his cause. "I have made my choice, and I shall die on my feet with a sword in my hand!! My epitaph will be the mound I make with the bodies of my enemies!! Who has the courage to die with me, and to die well!" Seemingly exhausted by his raging emotions, Vilas dropped his voice down to a mere whisper, that still managed to reach across the room to everyone present, "Who has the courage to face the night?"

Vilas's speech concluded, he remains silent in the center, awaiting a response. For a few moments there is complete silence, and then the tavern is full of voices shouting, clamoring to be heard that they would join. Vilas permits himself a small smile, and then begins directing those willing to join toward a large table, where their names would be recorded.

Bartus walks over to stand beside his brother, and whispers in his ear, "You know that we don't have even a tenth of the men that Darius is said to command." Vilas turns to face his brother and replies, "I know. This will probably be the final battle of the Stormgul Brothers, but I'd rather be known for standing against Darius, and losing, than all my other victories." Vilas lays a reassuring hand on Bartus's shoulder, and then walks away to supervise the registering of the recruits.

[Planetkiller II]

"You said we were less than an hour from the fort!"

*Warder narrowed his his as he ran through the town streets, rain beating down on him. Rhea was out of sight up ahead, but making even more noise than usual as he raced around trying to find somewhere to escape the water the rock skinned creature hated so much. The wyverns paced Warder easily, wings folded away, claws tapping on the cobbles.*

"I lied. It got you moving didn't it?"

*Warder glared at the elf, but kept running. They reached Rhea, who had got himself caught in a dead end, and was scratching huge grooves in the side of a house. Warder tried not to laugh at the normally dangerous golem's plight, but couldn't restrain a slight grin.*

"Come on Rhea, there's a promising looking tavern up ahead, just follow us!"

*Unsuprisingly, it wasn't that easy. Upon hearing the warrior-smith's words, Rhea took off in the direction he was pointing, heading for the lights at full speed. Warder looked at the mounted elves.*

"Aren't you going to stop him? He could hurt someone."

*Gabriel looked at Nosnoré. Both shrugged in concert. There wasn't much they could do really. Rhea reached the front door, looked up for a moment at the swinging wooden sign above the door, which depicted a raven crying out, then simply pulled the heavy oak door out of its hinges and stomped inside, whereupon he sat down on the floor and went to sleep, happy just to be slightly warmer and out of the driving rain. There was much drawing of swords and pulling tight of bows by the occupants who had been disturbed by what could easily have been a raging rhino. Fortunately, Warder arrived before chaos could ensue, and explained things. After about a minute of grumbling, the people lowered their weapons and continued about their business. Warder turned to the twins, still standing serenely outside. Nosnoré spoke against a backdrop of thunder.*

"We're going to find somewhere to tie up Branco and Preto. Get us some rooms."

"Sure. Then I'm going to have to try and get Rhea to put the door back."

*There was a general sigh, and Warder turned to the pile of rocks on the floor, and began to think about the best way to wake him up without getting a limb or two pulled off.*

[Fluffie]

If you start captured, do you have equipment? Or will it be totally gone? Or will it be laying around, in some tent?

[Ur_Quan]

"You are smiling Veruna?"
"I had not expected the world to be so beautiful, master."
"From up here, yes, it is.
"How can it be so different on the ground, master?"
"Oh, it's not different. It is, in fact, quite the same. The difference is that up here, you don't get that many people."
"If you do not like people, then why didn't you object to the Supreme Council's decision when they elected you for this assignment, master?"
"We do not pick our fate, fate picks us. Besides, nobody argues with the Supreme Council, not ever.

The two rode their weaverns in silence for a while, until Veruna ventured to speak again.
"I thought the battle was to take place at Fort Solifax, master? We're too far to the west."
"You are correct, Veruna. However, it is not Fort Solifax that we are going to now. We must meet with the resistance's leader first. I believe he was to found in the local tavern. It shouldn't be much further."
"There's a tavern below that large raincloud over there, master. Is that the one?"
"Well, there's only one way to find out."

Lothax began to descent and as his wyvern spiraled downwards, Veruna followed him. As soon as they had gone through the thick cloud, rain started pouring down on them. Several minutes later they landed safely on the townsquare, just opposite a tavern called 'The cawing Raven'.

"You will find some shelter for our wyverns. I will get us some rooms for the night. Meet me in the tavern when you're done."
"Yes master"

Veruna started looking for a place to stable their wyverns while Lothax walked to the entrance of the tavern. He noticed that, for whatever reason, the door had been removed from its hinges, causing some rain as well as a draught to enter the otherwise fine establishment. He looked around the room until his gaze fell on the man that seemed to be in charge. Lothax strode forward until he was within arms' reach of the man and spoke: "Vilas Stormgul?"

[Bakan]

[ooc]Pokes the dead threads corpse with a long stick[/ooc]

[Wraith[x]]

Gimme a B

[Bakan]

"b!"