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Children of the Dead
- Thread starter Elven Lord
- Start date
Omylia grins as she gets her camera back.
"Oh... yeah...! Time for a little reminder that blood sells, tee hee...!"
Pointing her camera at Runa, she CASTS HASTE on the ally.
"Gotta go fast! Slay, queen! Convince 'em to give us a wide berth outta here!"
"Oh... yeah...! Time for a little reminder that blood sells, tee hee...!"
Pointing her camera at Runa, she CASTS HASTE on the ally.
"Gotta go fast! Slay, queen! Convince 'em to give us a wide berth outta here!"
HolyDiver
Well-known member
"I guess that concludes negotiations," Nelson says to himself with a grin, loading his weapons. To the Drow he shouts, "We gave ya'll a chance to let us go peacefully. We had no fight with you 'til you brought it. One of ya better let Asha know that Miss Runa here's got something to say to her."
The drunk drow reels back as Lorca lunges at him, loses his balance, trips on a chair leg, tumbles into the table and rolls on the floor at Sir Kae's feet. Lorca, in her hungry blood frenzy, lept at the first meat she saw, but she lands on a table full of the drow guard's untouched dinner. She has a moment to admire the arrangement offered by the chef, before her leap ends with her crashing down on top of it. All of the food survives, just maybe not as pretty. It'll still taste the same...sort of. Though it's difficult to tell how well meat mixes with the mystery sauce now splattered everywhere.
It takes Sir Kae a while to get his armor off the drunk unconcious drow on the floor, but he manages it...after rescuing his sword from Lorca's frenzied feasting.
Meanwhile, the light of Forsyth intensifies around Sprague and Omylia, pushing the drow back still farther. The curious faces of bystanders peer around the corners of the gate on the far end of the courtyard, but they quickly vanish as Runa, empowered with greater speed by Omylia's magic, carves through the drow guards, opening a path through which the party can flee.
Nelson's six shooters are fully loaded. The weight feels good in his hands like he's once again complete.
ENCOUNTER
It takes Sir Kae a while to get his armor off the drunk unconcious drow on the floor, but he manages it...after rescuing his sword from Lorca's frenzied feasting.
Meanwhile, the light of Forsyth intensifies around Sprague and Omylia, pushing the drow back still farther. The curious faces of bystanders peer around the corners of the gate on the far end of the courtyard, but they quickly vanish as Runa, empowered with greater speed by Omylia's magic, carves through the drow guards, opening a path through which the party can flee.
Nelson's six shooters are fully loaded. The weight feels good in his hands like he's once again complete.
ENCOUNTER
DestroyerHive
Member
The cooked meat is nice, but her Viper cravings demand fresh blood. Lorca rises from the ground and takes in the scene around her. Sir Kae is nearby, donning his armour. Runa is off tearing through the enemy with unparalleled strength. Nelson is back at the entrance to the courtyard, blasting away with his pistols. Sprague is protecting those nearest to him in a dome of hard light. Omylia is... taking pictures?
Salivating, she searches hungrily for her next prey, when her eyes settle on the unconscious drow under the table wreckage. No! she thinks, your place is by your Warlord's side! This is exactly what got Great Acrochis killed!
Shrieking in frustration, she slithers to Sir Kae's side and powers on her shields. "We appear to be separated from the rest of the pack. I will protect you, but please mind where you swing that great sword. Despite popular belief, our tails do not, in fact, grow back."
Salivating, she searches hungrily for her next prey, when her eyes settle on the unconscious drow under the table wreckage. No! she thinks, your place is by your Warlord's side! This is exactly what got Great Acrochis killed!
Shrieking in frustration, she slithers to Sir Kae's side and powers on her shields. "We appear to be separated from the rest of the pack. I will protect you, but please mind where you swing that great sword. Despite popular belief, our tails do not, in fact, grow back."
Maintaining her Haste spell, Omylia backs up and puts herself behind the rest of the party. Hip feeling a bit better, she remains poised to ENGAGEMENT STRIKE any enemies who might get near to her.
NARRATION
Runa squawks as repeated haste spells are cast on her. "Keep that up and I'll feel like the witches' pot from that one poem! Double double toil and trouble, fire of newt and cauldron bubble or whatever. Fine fine, I'll deal with this, but I hope y'all have a plan BESIDES hacking and slashing your way through a drow town...in a subterranean world...that's always pretty dark..."
Runa tears through the rest of the guards in the clearing pretty quick then collapses against the side of the fort, chests heaving, looking older than she did before. A stray or two manage to reach omylia and Nelson, but the one gets a surprisingly sharp kick to the groin from the helpless looking she-elf, while the other backs off seeing the very intense way the viper is tracking his approach...like someone eyeing a piece of prey...not a worthy opponent.
Meanwhile, Sir Kae manages to slip into his armor, having been delayed by the need to slip it off the drunk drow. He even has time to snatch Sprague's trident from the closet before heading out in the courtyard to join up with the rest of the party.
More drow appear in doorways holding swords and cudgels. None of them appear to be guards and none seem too eager to set foot outside. Their eyes watch the sky warily as a blue light appears in the West. It bathes the whole region in light. The drow retreat further before its rays, closing their doors and shuttering their windows. Even those left alive in the yard crawl hastily through doorways, helped by their neighbors. The bodies in the yard wither and burn beneath the light, filling the air with the reek of charred flesh.
The way is clear.
OPEN ROUND
Runa squawks as repeated haste spells are cast on her. "Keep that up and I'll feel like the witches' pot from that one poem! Double double toil and trouble, fire of newt and cauldron bubble or whatever. Fine fine, I'll deal with this, but I hope y'all have a plan BESIDES hacking and slashing your way through a drow town...in a subterranean world...that's always pretty dark..."
Runa tears through the rest of the guards in the clearing pretty quick then collapses against the side of the fort, chests heaving, looking older than she did before. A stray or two manage to reach omylia and Nelson, but the one gets a surprisingly sharp kick to the groin from the helpless looking she-elf, while the other backs off seeing the very intense way the viper is tracking his approach...like someone eyeing a piece of prey...not a worthy opponent.
Meanwhile, Sir Kae manages to slip into his armor, having been delayed by the need to slip it off the drunk drow. He even has time to snatch Sprague's trident from the closet before heading out in the courtyard to join up with the rest of the party.
More drow appear in doorways holding swords and cudgels. None of them appear to be guards and none seem too eager to set foot outside. Their eyes watch the sky warily as a blue light appears in the West. It bathes the whole region in light. The drow retreat further before its rays, closing their doors and shuttering their windows. Even those left alive in the yard crawl hastily through doorways, helped by their neighbors. The bodies in the yard wither and burn beneath the light, filling the air with the reek of charred flesh.
The way is clear.
OPEN ROUND
DestroyerHive
Member
Lorca sighs with disappointment as the last enemy disappears from sight. She was so looking forward to a proper battle...
She sees Runa collapse and is stricken with panic. "Great mage! Mediocre elf! Hurry and cast more haste-inducing spells on our powerful comrade - her heart appears to be failing!"
She hurries to Runa's side but upon seeing the mangled corpses strewn about the place, immediately forgets her purpose and begins ripping into the flesh of the nearest body. She feels her strength returning with each bite and gorges without ceremony.
She sees Runa collapse and is stricken with panic. "Great mage! Mediocre elf! Hurry and cast more haste-inducing spells on our powerful comrade - her heart appears to be failing!"
She hurries to Runa's side but upon seeing the mangled corpses strewn about the place, immediately forgets her purpose and begins ripping into the flesh of the nearest body. She feels her strength returning with each bite and gorges without ceremony.
Omylia shields her eyes from the strange light, squinting hard
"Aah! What is that, an underground sun? Perhaps this is the work of our query? Whatever the case, I think that's the answer to your question, Runa. The dark elves are hiding for now, let's go! This might be our only chance to find Tahyel!"
She moves to help Runa back to her feet, then advances to escape the immediate area. She isn't quite sure where she's going, but she knows they can't stay here.
"Aah! What is that, an underground sun? Perhaps this is the work of our query? Whatever the case, I think that's the answer to your question, Runa. The dark elves are hiding for now, let's go! This might be our only chance to find Tahyel!"
She moves to help Runa back to her feet, then advances to escape the immediate area. She isn't quite sure where she's going, but she knows they can't stay here.
Tornado
Fan Fiction Prompt Master
Jerrak Sprague retrieves his trident thanking Sir Kae.
"It feels odd that the drow would dwell where there is this kind of harm lurking above."
The priest assists with Runa as they make their way to an exit but waits for the blue rays to approach, reaching out with his partially gloved hand into the light.
"It feels odd that the drow would dwell where there is this kind of harm lurking above."
The priest assists with Runa as they make their way to an exit but waits for the blue rays to approach, reaching out with his partially gloved hand into the light.
NARRATION
Freed from their captivity and in the company of their secondary objective, the party ventures forth into the unknown subterranean world. Never in anyone's wildest imagination could something like this exist. Utgarians were legends...nay, myths. Scary stories told to children at their bedtimes to keep them out of mischief by day and night.
Yet here was a place teeming with the descendants of Utgar's creatures. As the party made its way along winding paths and treacherous ridges of spiky black obsidian they got a good view of the valley below. Strange plants grew along the banks of a winding river, their petals varieties of purple, blue, and black. They formed lines across the valley floor as though placed their with purpose. Pens held familiar species of livestock, but their flesh too was different, black and streaked with red pulsing down to the ground, as though feeding on the source of the planet's own power, magma.
The strange blue light continued across the "sky" as the party continued their journey, passing settlements and drawing curious, though not always hostile looks from the villagers. Many of them were clearly mixed bloods, much like the surface dwellers, but with more volcarren, drow, orc, goblin, than would be found above. A few even seemed to be mostly of human descent.
Far in the distance ahead of them they can make out what appears to be some kind of battle, or at the very least battle lines drawn up across the mouth of the valley's river estuary.
Distant cries carried from far off mountains. The silhouettes of long-bodied, winged creatures can be seen soaring above them. Bralfang may not be the only dragon the party encounters, it would seem.
The next person they meet defies all expectations. An imp wearing a funny orange hat that contrasts sharply with his dark grey skin jumps in front of them.
"Welcome travellers! Oh! I haven't seen surface dwellers down here in weeks and that last bunch was....brrrwoof! Not in any shape to buy anything!" A few quick waves of his hand, a brief woosh of slightly putrid smelling air, and a stand appears on the side of the road.
The thing looks like any other peddlers cart just larger. The imp hops in the back, and appears a moment later pushing aside some colorful purple and green curtains to reveal an ecclectic array of cloaks, weapons, potions, spellbooks, nicknacks, odds and ends, and even a small dragon skull perched on an ornately bound scroll.
"Welcome to Wiplock's Wonders, the weary traveler's friendly guide to all things gear, cures, and gossip! Take a look and let me know when you need a price!"
The imp looks at you expectantly. His eye falls on Runa, who has mostly recovered, but still looks like she aged another ten years and isn't quite steady on her feet. She still leans on Nelson for support.
"Perhaps a simple walking stick for your grandmother to start?"
OPEN ROUND
Freed from their captivity and in the company of their secondary objective, the party ventures forth into the unknown subterranean world. Never in anyone's wildest imagination could something like this exist. Utgarians were legends...nay, myths. Scary stories told to children at their bedtimes to keep them out of mischief by day and night.
Yet here was a place teeming with the descendants of Utgar's creatures. As the party made its way along winding paths and treacherous ridges of spiky black obsidian they got a good view of the valley below. Strange plants grew along the banks of a winding river, their petals varieties of purple, blue, and black. They formed lines across the valley floor as though placed their with purpose. Pens held familiar species of livestock, but their flesh too was different, black and streaked with red pulsing down to the ground, as though feeding on the source of the planet's own power, magma.
The strange blue light continued across the "sky" as the party continued their journey, passing settlements and drawing curious, though not always hostile looks from the villagers. Many of them were clearly mixed bloods, much like the surface dwellers, but with more volcarren, drow, orc, goblin, than would be found above. A few even seemed to be mostly of human descent.
Far in the distance ahead of them they can make out what appears to be some kind of battle, or at the very least battle lines drawn up across the mouth of the valley's river estuary.
Distant cries carried from far off mountains. The silhouettes of long-bodied, winged creatures can be seen soaring above them. Bralfang may not be the only dragon the party encounters, it would seem.
The next person they meet defies all expectations. An imp wearing a funny orange hat that contrasts sharply with his dark grey skin jumps in front of them.
"Welcome travellers! Oh! I haven't seen surface dwellers down here in weeks and that last bunch was....brrrwoof! Not in any shape to buy anything!" A few quick waves of his hand, a brief woosh of slightly putrid smelling air, and a stand appears on the side of the road.
The thing looks like any other peddlers cart just larger. The imp hops in the back, and appears a moment later pushing aside some colorful purple and green curtains to reveal an ecclectic array of cloaks, weapons, potions, spellbooks, nicknacks, odds and ends, and even a small dragon skull perched on an ornately bound scroll.
"Welcome to Wiplock's Wonders, the weary traveler's friendly guide to all things gear, cures, and gossip! Take a look and let me know when you need a price!"
The imp looks at you expectantly. His eye falls on Runa, who has mostly recovered, but still looks like she aged another ten years and isn't quite steady on her feet. She still leans on Nelson for support.
"Perhaps a simple walking stick for your grandmother to start?"
OPEN ROUND
"Yes! yes, of course, most noble knight. Let's see, you carry a fine sword, but I notice you have no backups. Nothing to aid you should you become disarmed by some foul foe!" The imp disappears inside the cart. Rummaging noises meet the party's ears, a few loud bangs and curses from the imp as he knocks over some of his wares stored inside, and then he reappears hauling a pair of long vambraces (forearm armor). "This outta do it!" he says, panting and dropping the armor on the table.
With deft fingers the imp begins demonstrating how his merchandise works. He shows various compartments, some capable of shooting powder or liquid, one on each has a long dagger inside that shoots out and retracts like a claw, and one is actually just a snack compartment, the desiccated remains of ancient nuts still foul the interior. Embarrassed, Wiplock quickly cleans it out.
Sprague's magelight isn't really necessary. The blue sun still shines in the sky above them at what would be 2 hours past noon in the surface world. The light feels cold to Sprague. It is not the light of his goddess warming the world, and he is certain he can draw no power from it. He can still see by its light though. Nothing seems to stand out to him from what's on display...but then, what peddler leaves their best stuff where it can easily be stolen?
With deft fingers the imp begins demonstrating how his merchandise works. He shows various compartments, some capable of shooting powder or liquid, one on each has a long dagger inside that shoots out and retracts like a claw, and one is actually just a snack compartment, the desiccated remains of ancient nuts still foul the interior. Embarrassed, Wiplock quickly cleans it out.
Sprague's magelight isn't really necessary. The blue sun still shines in the sky above them at what would be 2 hours past noon in the surface world. The light feels cold to Sprague. It is not the light of his goddess warming the world, and he is certain he can draw no power from it. He can still see by its light though. Nothing seems to stand out to him from what's on display...but then, what peddler leaves their best stuff where it can easily be stolen?
DestroyerHive
Member
The landscape is hauntingly beautiful and the sheer quantity of Utgarian prey that must live here is staggering.
Perhaps if Lord Ullar were to learn of this place, he would mobilize the Vipers to cleanse it... Then we can reduce our self-cannibalization and once again wage glorious war!
Then, another thought occurs to her: The Marro I was chasing... could this be their breeding ground!? It would explain how they escaped notice for so long - perhaps they have a hive here...
She approaches the imp and modulates, "We will need all the dried meat you have, although I am unsure how we can compensate you. I doubt that my packmates' currency is any good here. Additionally, I have a pressing query..."
She leans in close to the imp and lowers the volume of her voice box, "Is there a Marro hive in this complex? If not a hive, perhaps you know of this individual? [She describes the Marro who killed her Warlord]."
Perhaps if Lord Ullar were to learn of this place, he would mobilize the Vipers to cleanse it... Then we can reduce our self-cannibalization and once again wage glorious war!
Then, another thought occurs to her: The Marro I was chasing... could this be their breeding ground!? It would explain how they escaped notice for so long - perhaps they have a hive here...
She approaches the imp and modulates, "We will need all the dried meat you have, although I am unsure how we can compensate you. I doubt that my packmates' currency is any good here. Additionally, I have a pressing query..."
She leans in close to the imp and lowers the volume of her voice box, "Is there a Marro hive in this complex? If not a hive, perhaps you know of this individual? [She describes the Marro who killed her Warlord]."
"Ohohoho!" Wiplock says cheerfully waving his fingers in delight, "a curious one I see!"
"Hmm," the imp taps a finger against his chin, "I accept all forms of currency with a gold, silver, or other precious alloy base. If the overworld still uses some form of the listra (they do), that is acceptable for many things in my shop. Other things cannot be bargained away for anything so cheap as money. No! No! You must trade me delightful baubles, curious sundries from far off lands, or juicy bits of information few others know...or should," he adds with a sly wink.
He waits, looking expectantly at Lorca as though waiting for her to offer payment for the information she requests. His head twitches occasionally keeping an eye on Sir Kae and the vambraces.
"Hmm," the imp taps a finger against his chin, "I accept all forms of currency with a gold, silver, or other precious alloy base. If the overworld still uses some form of the listra (they do), that is acceptable for many things in my shop. Other things cannot be bargained away for anything so cheap as money. No! No! You must trade me delightful baubles, curious sundries from far off lands, or juicy bits of information few others know...or should," he adds with a sly wink.
He waits, looking expectantly at Lorca as though waiting for her to offer payment for the information she requests. His head twitches occasionally keeping an eye on Sir Kae and the vambraces.
DestroyerHive
Member
Lorca casts a sidelong glance at Omylia and wonders if elf hearing is as good as they say. She lowers her voice box volume further and leans in closer to the imp. “We can offer you the elf in exchange for what we need. She is mild mannered and an excellent salesman. You will see profits double - no, triple! She is also… erg… useful… as a bodyguard, and can… protect you… in com… bat.” She struggles to force out the last words.
Omylia stamps her foot. It seems her hearing is good enough
"Don't say such things, you literal viper! Don't you barter me off like a sack of grain, or I'll turn you into a snakeskin purse! A really unflattering one!"
She sighs, pushing her hands out as she exhales as if to reset her mood back to Calm.
"I trade only in Gossip, Wiplock. We stumbled into some gruts, then into some drow, and now into you. What's going on in this underground, and how is it tied to Tahyel—and don't try to fool me, we know these recent rumblings are tied to Tahyel! I have goods or knowledge to part with, depending on what you desire."
"Don't say such things, you literal viper! Don't you barter me off like a sack of grain, or I'll turn you into a snakeskin purse! A really unflattering one!"
She sighs, pushing her hands out as she exhales as if to reset her mood back to Calm.
"I trade only in Gossip, Wiplock. We stumbled into some gruts, then into some drow, and now into you. What's going on in this underground, and how is it tied to Tahyel—and don't try to fool me, we know these recent rumblings are tied to Tahyel! I have goods or knowledge to part with, depending on what you desire."
The imp's eyes widen at Sir Kae's suggestion. "Good sir!" he says in a shrill voice. "I am an imp of business! I didn't get where I am by screwing my customers! The deal is simple. If you want information you must trade information. Tell me something interesting and then ask what you want to know and I will tell you something interesting in return! If it is armor or other gear you want, reach into your purses for your gold and silver and offer to trade like anyone else!"
His eye falls on Omylia, "Pity. She is a pretty one. The Sleeper's faction would pay handsomely for a slave like that."
He shrugs and goes back to waiting patiently. The party gets the sense that commerce works a bit differently down here. The customer pays, then gets their goods, without necessarily knowing what they'll get.
His eye falls on Omylia, "Pity. She is a pretty one. The Sleeper's faction would pay handsomely for a slave like that."
He shrugs and goes back to waiting patiently. The party gets the sense that commerce works a bit differently down here. The customer pays, then gets their goods, without necessarily knowing what they'll get.
DestroyerHive
Member
Lorca frets between anger, annoyance, and panic. The imp knows something! It might tell me where my mark is! If only I had information to trade with it... Damn my small brain - I cannot remember anything useful!
"Ms. Cardolan, I doubt that you could best me in a fight, and besides that, what need have I for grain? I am a carnivore!"
She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Besides that, I apologize for offering you as a bartering chip. You see, there is information that I desperately need (which you no doubt heard) and I will do anything to get it. So please, either offer this gentleman some useful information or otherwise prostrate yourself and beg for the job!"
"Ms. Cardolan, I doubt that you could best me in a fight, and besides that, what need have I for grain? I am a carnivore!"
She takes a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Besides that, I apologize for offering you as a bartering chip. You see, there is information that I desperately need (which you no doubt heard) and I will do anything to get it. So please, either offer this gentleman some useful information or otherwise prostrate yourself and beg for the job!"
Omylia nods at Lorca, muttering
"(I'm not flashing anything to this creature, who I've suddenly decided I don't like after how casually he talks about treating me so ghoulishly! Why don't you flash him your fangs, if he doesn't like what we have to barter with! It's been twenty minutes—I'm sure you could use another bite to eat already.)"
Then, louder to the merchant:
"I'll barter with what I have to part with. I have here a lich's drinking flask (showing the flask she took from Guilty's corpse) with no small amount of magical properties. It has life-extending capabilities, to the daring. Sup of it at your own peril! Or if it's information you want I can offer that instead. But now the ball is back in your court: is information what you'd prefer? I'll just keep this thing, if you don't care about dark arts. I'm certain another will pay my weight—er, make that double my weight—in gold for it."
"(I'm not flashing anything to this creature, who I've suddenly decided I don't like after how casually he talks about treating me so ghoulishly! Why don't you flash him your fangs, if he doesn't like what we have to barter with! It's been twenty minutes—I'm sure you could use another bite to eat already.)"
Then, louder to the merchant:
"I'll barter with what I have to part with. I have here a lich's drinking flask (showing the flask she took from Guilty's corpse) with no small amount of magical properties. It has life-extending capabilities, to the daring. Sup of it at your own peril! Or if it's information you want I can offer that instead. But now the ball is back in your court: is information what you'd prefer? I'll just keep this thing, if you don't care about dark arts. I'm certain another will pay my weight—er, make that double my weight—in gold for it."