A New Old World

[topaz]

Timon

I woke nearly half an hour before dawn. I collected my weapons, and grabbed the last things I would need to carry with me. A small bag of holding containing all my necessaries (spellbook, maps, and personal items). I left most of my previous aquisitions in hopes of gathering new, better items.

I looked at my spellbook. Only six spells graced the pages. It was all I was able to gather before I was banished by the Magic User's Guild of the Elven Kingdom. The Guilds controlled all the magic in the land, and if you were not a member, you did not get to learn new spells.

This was one of my reasons for desiring time on the New World. I would give my right arm for one volume of some of the magic of the ancients I knew had inhabited that land. My plan was to start searching the ruins in the northern part of the continent.

[Gen. Volkov]

Helm

I frowned at the young elf, after telling him that my clan would follow us, at least to the borders of the highlands. He didn't seem to recognize me, or even be particularly impressed at meeting me, one of the greatest warriors ever to live. Maybe he was still groggy from meeting the girl.

And then I realized, that was Clyaette, a famous beauty and the princess of a far off land. Tales of her had reached my ears, even in my sequestered highlands. The elf's reaction to her made a bit more sense now.

We were ushered out of the King's Chambers, and the king continue his conference with the elf. Timon, I think his name was. It struck me as a little odd that he would be sending an elf, and such a weak-looking one at that to lead an expedition to the "new" world. The logical candidate would be myself.

"Oh well," I thought to myself, "kings are odd people at times, maybe he thinks I'll take over if the going gets too rough."

I went back to the inn where my clan was staying, and made sure they had gotten what supplies they needed. We had a conference of clan leaders, and it was decided that they would follow me only part way, and then return to our highland home. I was sure they'd be fine while I was away. I'd have an old friend of mine keeping watch over them, just in case. He usually was anyway, to keep an eye on me, for one reason or another.

I spent the rest of the day readying my old traveling gear and various arms and armor for the voyage. Most of it went into my large bag of holding, well, large for most people, just about right for me, but I did leave out a few items to be strapped on or otherwise donned in the morning, and then I went to sleep...

I arose bright and early the next day, and strapped on my armor that I had been wearing down to the capital, as well as my two favorite swords, as well as an array of other protective or magical items that I had picked up in my journeys.

I then rode down with my clan, to meet with Timon and the rest of our group, and get started on our way...

Dyrn

The night was a blank. I had started drinking around noon and not stopped until well past midnight. I don't remember much after going to the palace. But that wasn't too strange for me. I hefted my hammer and rode down with Timon to where we had decided to assemble before starting our voyage to the new world.

I wasn't too sure about this voyage, or Timon for that matter, but the promise of riches was enough to keep me interested. Well, that and getting away from a few of my pursuers for awhile...

(OOC: I'm trying to play him as I gathered from your introduction of him, sorry it's not totally in dwarf character. If you want me just to play Helm, that's fine.)

[topaz]

Storyteller's remarks

I think it's time I mention some important facts about the world we are talking about. Since we are travelling and adventuring throughout an entire planet, not just a localized area, we will have to account for many different cultures and conditions that won't figure into the normal rulebook way of thinking.

MONEY:

As in our world, money types and vlaues vary. Currency as we know it has not been invented and precious metals are the normal medium of exchange.

The definitions and rules are as relatively simple. Each metal can be spent in peices and coins. A piece is roughly half the value of a coin (on the black market it can be less). We will value Gold at roughly 10x silver and silver at 10x copper to keep things easy. Platinum is the wildcard as its value can vary according to demand.

LANGUAGE:

Remember each species has its own language, and there is the common language we all share. Each alignment has a language too, but it is not necessairily spoken.

AREA DESCRIPTION:

We are in the midst of a landlocked kingdom and we have to travel to the sea in order to cross it. This means crossing enemy territory so action will begin immediatly. We also have to arrange a ship or passage. Our destination is the only thing in concrete at this point...I could care less how we get there (ok maybe not in a blimp, though LOL).

[topaz]

Timon

We wasted no time with introductions. Those are for king's court in my opinion. I am much more comfortable in the wilderness or on the battlefield where names are not important. What matters here is what you do, not who you are.

(OCC. Volk, could I persuade you to keep two of your clan members? I am seeing a young Oger-mage and a valet for yourself, if that is alright with you. I will write this post assuming the answer is yes.)

Having a woman along was not an easy addition to my plans, but it soon proved helpful. I suggested that Helm and his men form a rear guard for us as we rode the trail. I was thinking of protection for the females (she had a lady-in-waiting with her), but this move saved many of us from harm.

We were far from town when the ambush came. They waited until we passed them, thinking we would not watch behind. And fifteen wereboars are a force to be reckoned with, at least unless your name is Helm...

[topaz]

Xairn

I was scouting ahead when the attack came. I heard the a growling noise and turned about. The wereboars were fiercely sprinting out of the trees, and had cut off all possibility of retreat to the rear. They came from both sides of the trail upon which we walked.

I was too far ahead to attack immediately, so I approached cautiously, in case they had another ambush posted to the front. I saw the troll (dragash, or whatever his name was) heft a mighty longsword and run toward the approaching fray. Helm, of whom I had heard many stories, quickly drew two swords and faced the enemies.

As I approached the confrontation, I drew from my bag a potion fire potion. As soon as I was within throwing range, I chucked it with all my might, aiming for the center of the mass of enemies...

(OCC. Fighting rules as follows: It's okay to point out [and describe] obvious reactions in other characters like I did above, however let them do their character's fighting. As long as you don't make them do anything stupid, I don't mind you moving enemies either. Just keep the fihting fair. Some of our warriors may be highly skilled, however no one is untouchable.)

[Gen. Volkov]

(OOC: Yes, it's OK if we keep two clan members. I may exchange playing one of them for playing Dyrn though, if that's alright with you. As for fighting, that is exactly what Helm would have done. Oh, and as a note, Helm has some ridiculous armor stats, in the fights we will be encountering early on here, he will be nearly untouchable. Unless the enemies score critical hits, he will not be touched, let alone damaged by pretty much anything we meet.)

Helm

When my clan split off, two elected to stay behind, one a young warrior, desperately wanted to come along with me, the legendary warrior. I decided to use him as a second set of arms, though I really had no need, I couldn't think of anything else to do with him, and I felt bad for him, he had been orphaned at a young age. The second was a young mage, eager to go on his first adventure. His parents were approving of it, and I supposed we might be able to use his talents, somewhere along the way.

Timon suggested I and my two clan mates act as rear guard. I agreed, in my adventures I had either lead from the front, or played guard for the rest in dangerous country, I saw no reason I shouldn't reprise that role.

I was riding along at the rear of our little column, idly watching the countryside, when I heard a crashing noise in the underbrush and looked to the side and back, just as 15 wereboars crashed out of the foliage on the sides of the road. I grinned, drew my swords, and was down off the horse faster than most people could get their weapons free. I told my two companions to hang back for this fight, not telling them they'd likely just hamper me. That done, I looked around for the closest concentration of wereboars and charged into the fray. As I did, I was wondering how many I would fell in my first attack...

(OOC: I'm not sure if I should roll here, or simply say that Helm starts killing wereboars. I will modify when I know exactly how you're going to do combat.)

[topaz]

D'argash

I heard the attack before I saw it. Turning swiftly, I saw many wereboars closing on our rear. I counted ten, but they tell me there were more. I drew my sword, a two handed sword of colossal proportions. I then rushed toward the fray.

In the midst of the enemies, there was a flash of light and a large flame shot up. Several wereboars were dancing around with painful flesh burns. These weren't thinking of defense at the moment, so I simply swung my sword in long sweeping blows from side to side. I laid out four in this manner, however by that point some of their shock had worn off. Three of them, armed with swords and a polearm, attacked me simultaneously...

[topaz]

Timon

I had my attention on the trail ahead when I heard the crash that announced our attackers arrival. I just watched a moment, too surprised for action. Realizing our danger, I sprang back to the ladies to make sure they were protected. I saw D'argash and Helm holding back the attackers nicely. I watched as Dargash struggled with three of them, seeming to fall back, then springing foreward with a new frenzy of attack. I saw him knock aside one enemy's polearm and thrust into another's chest.

I saw two wereboars spring through the space between D'argash and Helm toward toward me. Suddenly, one stumbled an fell as an arrow hit him in the chest. I saw Dryn (apparently not much hung over) frantically reloading his crossbow.

The second enemy was nearly atop me, yet I waited an instant longer, clearing my mind for what I knew would come. In one swift motion, my right dagger sprang from its sheath (of its own accord) and hovered near my right hand. I immediately caught it and sent it spinning into the wereboar's wide chest. A trail of smoke followed the flying dagger, and he screamed in pain as it pierced his flesh. By that time, Dryn was there to finish him off with his massive hammer.

I had not seen much of the surrounding action, having my hands full at the time, yet I now took time to survey the scene.

A smouldering ring surrounded the place where Xairn's fire potion landed. He had been lucky that the grass beside the trail was still damp from the dew that morning. Thankfully, no trees were near enough to be endangered. I would have to talk to him about that.

I thought I had protected the ladies, yet a body lay at Clyaett's feet, nearly cut to ribbons. I had no idea how she did it but I would like to have seen it.

I would also like to have seen the explanation of the many bodies that lay around Helm's position. He must have been busy...

[Gen. Volkov]

Helm

As I was running forward, someone lobbed a fire potion into the middle of the mass of wereboars. Several wereboars reeled away, covered in burns, then D'argash the troll charged in and killed four of them in quick succession.

I went into my familiar battle frenzy and immediately started killing wereboars. My first attack felled 4, the next, only 3, I somehow managed to whiff a strike on one of them, even though he was right in front of me. My swords flashed around me in a whirl of steel and blood. One of the wereboars did manage to land a blow, I wasn't paying attention, due to seeing things through a cloud of red, but it was a very minor wound. I quickly looked around, and saw several others managing their own part of the fight, including the princess.

"My," I thought to myself, "I guess the tales I heard of her were not exxagerated."

There was one wereboar left, the one I had missed on my first series of attacks. I immediately cut him down, hit him so hard in fact, he was cut clear in two.

The last of the wereboars killed, I came down off my beserker high, and suffered the usual fatigue. My ring of regeneration quickly healed my wound, and I was back in top form, except for being a little tired, but that wore off soon enough.

I looked up to the front of the column, and saw that two had managed to get by me, but Timon and Dyrn had dealt with them. I looked down at the familiar ring of bodies surrounding me, several mostly cut in half by powerful swordstrokes, then walked p to the front of the column and said to Timon.

"Well that was a nice little fight to get the juices flowing. I think I'll stay here at the rear guard position, to fend off anymore ambushes. No one's hurt, are they?"

Timon responded in the negative, and I suggested we search some of the bodies, to see if this was planned by someone, or simply a random bandit attack.

[topaz]

Timon

I agreed with Helm, that we should search the bodies. Leaving the rest of the party to protect the women, we proceeded together to the heart of the battlefield. After searching a few bodies fruitlessly, I looked up at some motion I noticed in front of me. D'argash was striding in my direction, and as he approached, I noticed fresh bloodstains on his upper body.

"What happened," asked Helm. I had already seen the answer in the form of a bloodstained polearm whose staff protruded from the severed body of a dead enemy. The polearm had been slammed home with great strength--staff first!! Another blow (I guessed it came from Helm) had severed the body in two peices.

I took a closer look at his shoulder while he discussed the fight with Helm. The wound was nearly healed...regeneration was the one quality I coveted from trolls. It was nearly worth the ugliness.

As D'argash walked to rejoin the party, Helm and I continued to search the bodies of our enemies. It appeared the attackers were merely out-of-luck bandits who were hoping for some easy loot. I'm afraid they were greatly disappointed.

All in all, we found seven worthwile purses, containing 10-15 gold pieces each. On the leader of the band, we found 15 gold coins and two gemstones of mediocre value. We also found numerous weapons that were quite inferior to our own...not worth the effort of carrying.

I instructed Helm to keep the gemstones, for he had killed the leader, and divide the gold evenly among the party members. I took none, as I carried the king's gold and the rest of the party needed to eat.

[Gen. Volkov]

Helm

As I walked back with Timon to search the bandit corpses, I noticed that D'argash was wounded, and asked what happened. He told me that one of the men I had killed had managed to stab him with a spear before I had cut him in half. He pointed back to where the man was, and I saw that the man's spear was now sticking out of his chest, backwards. I have to admit, that was one of the more unusual sights I've seen on a battlefield.

I slapped him on the back, and said:

"Sorry about that my friend. I usually don't miss like that. I guess he was the one I whiffed on when I was first slicing into them.", I continued, "Looks like you and I make a pretty good team though, maybe we should right at the back together, and coordinate our efforts next time?"

Timon instructed me to keep the gemstones for myself and divide the rest of the gold fairly. Did this man's ego know no bounds? Imagine a weak little elf, instructing me on how to divide gold among a party, or telling me what I could keep for myself. I gave him a glare, and growled out:

"Watch how you speak to me sonny. I'm not one of your little soldiers who you can boss around. I'm with you as a favor to the king, you might want to keep that in mind."

Now, being very wealthy myself, I didn't much care about the gemstones, but I kept them anyway, it wasn't much of a fight, but it was my first in a while, and I wanted a memento to remember the beginning of this new adventure by. I wasn't going to let that self-important elf ruin that for me.

I distributed the gold among the rest of the group, Clyaete didn't seem to care one way or the other, my two companions were happy to get it though.

"There will soon be much more of this sort of thing, if I'm any judge of these things." I said to my companions.

We continued on our way, this time I was a bit more vigilant. They nearly caught me by surprise that time. I was sort of hoping there was more to this attack than just bandits, but sometimes bandits are just crazy.

[Tetigustas shadowson]

Clêyette:
Faced with the inevitability she must kill another creature, Clêyette reaches for her
sword and advances toward the strange being. Suddenly a flying limb strikes her in
the back, the bracer on the limb tears at her flesh. spinning on one heal she finds
there is no foe behind her, then a new pain as the creature now behind her delivers a
sharp jab to her left arm. Dropping her sword to the ground at her feet and
grabbing her arm just below the shoulder, her face scrunches with the pain as the
blood begins to flow between her fingers. Looking at her hand she can see the fresh
blood oozing down her arm, when suddenly the air about Clêyette explodes with a
furry of flying debris. When the air clears the once feared creature lays about the
ground in small bloody chunks, not even resemble the wereboar at all.
Over the years Clench has learned to keep his distance when Clêyette actually
draws her sword. As he knows she can sometimes be blinded by the fury of the kill,
he witnessed this at a tender age of 14. Clêyette was once attacked by a band of
rouges just outside a small village while she and clench played in the fields of their
homeland, when it was all said and done she had slaughtered 15 villagers in a
vehemence of blood lust. Granted she was only responsible for 7 but the result is the
same. Clêyette struggled with what had just happened, as she doesn’t do death very
well, as a matter of fact it can sometimes cause severe physical distress and a
possible personality shift.
A bag of gold lay upon the path at the feet of a stunningly beautiful Elvin woman,
the edges of a long flowing gown dangled back and forth across the small brown
bag, a single coin laid on the ground.
Clêyette trembled from the blood fever traveling through her muscles, Elvin eyes
flashed with red and yellow glares of hatred, seemingly scanning the crowd as if she
wanted to kill everything in sight, a trickle of drool hung from her lusciously plump
lower lip. Her chest heaved as she pants like a hunting tigress, preparing to pounce
upon a weakened prey.
Glints of shining steal spun about her head in a halo of flashes and flickers, as she
slowly calmed the swirling torrent slowed. Dozens of tiny daggers, no bigger than a
smallest human’s finger, flung around the enraged splendour. Her blushed cheeks
pulsed as the air passed through her gritting teeth, tiny blisters of sweat clung to her
forehead and the shallow of her throat, a purple and blue gown draped from one
shoulder, her nearly exposed torso, heaved with splendour.
Timon called to her; ‘Hey there lass, you ok?
Clêyette stood entranced, seemingly unaware of his call, the shinning glints of steel
are now but a few larger knives flitting about the young Elvin princess's head
Timon began to approach the silent, slightly exposed girl
suddenly
Clench stepped between them, ‘you must stop’ the giant man said ‘no talking; only
waiting.
The party stood silent for a moment, Clêyette’s tremors began to subside, now only
two daggers swung slowly about her head, the daggers flit down and connected with
the silver chain upon Clêyette’s waist, suddenly the knives vanished into two
medallions upon the chain.
Clêyette moved toward Clench, Stumbling she began to fall, Clench; reaching out
with one gigantic hand and deftly caught the dainty female.
Quickly he drew a cloak from his bag, Clêyette had removed the cloak and given it
to him earlier in the day, Clench draped the garment across her shoulders pulling
her to him. Silent and dazed Clêyette held firmly onto his arm, together they walked
around in a circle for a while, until she began to whisper quietly up at him, she
needed to feed and he knew it, the fever from battle took most of here reserves as
she hadn’t prepared for any confrontations.
When properly prepared Clêyette would feast before a battle, unprepared she could
eventually fall victim in a prolonged advance.
Clench pulled some rations from his bag and prepared it in a small bowl, he added a
fine white powder to the misshapen lump and a smitten of water. Pulling a wine skin
from his shambling cloak, he splashed the concoction with a brownish liquid. The
ration was soon soft and resembled a piece of meat. He handed it to Clêyette; she
gobbled it down furiously like she hadn’t eaten all day. the wound upon her arm
began to heal itself. Clench turned to Timon and said talk now, slow, small words or
die fast. He pulled at his Battleaxe adjusting it with his free arm, Timon stepped
back as if to ready his weapon. Clench’s immense head snapped around and he
glared at the skinny elf as to say don’t even try it, then he spoke ‘not Clench,
not axe, value life you say, talk soft, slow, small words, no anger, no shout,
anger make good for dead’.
I just wanted to know if she was alright Timon replied.
She will be ok after a while. Clench barked annoyed at the elf
Clench began walking in a wide circle with Clêyette he was trying to get her blood
slowed down.
Clêyette’s voice cracked, what happened?
Victory! Clench replied, we save friends, find gold, bad wereboars want to make
Clêyette dead, friends stop nasty wereboars, Clêyette ok too, need eat more, we are
not home.
‘We must rest soon’ Clench says firmly
Yes we should rest soon Clêyette responds
Clench reached down and picked up Clêyette’s sword, placing it upon her side the
weapon vanished leaving a large silver ankh, Returning to the spot Clêyette once
stood. Clench looked for the gold pouch but found nothing, the pouch was no longer
lying on the ground. looking down the trail Clench could see where the others had
walked they hadn't gotten very far, he could hear the druming of hushed
conversation as the party moved away from the dead wereboars

[topaz]

Xairn

Timon said we should get a few more miles in before dark, so I returned to my post scouting ahead. We left the lightly forested area where we had battled the wereboars and entered the darkness of the forest.

I slowed my pace, for I knew the others would do the same. Allowing my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness, I stopped around a hundred yards from the treeline to look and listen. However, I saw nothing.

I continued for nearly three miles, stopping regularly, for I did not wish to lead the group into another ambush. No one seemed angry about this first battle, so I would not be the cause of a second, at least not without warning.

Suddenly, I stopped. I was not sure what I heard, yet something in my subconcious mind would not let me take another step. I scanned a perimeter around myself, but the only thing I could see was my companions approaching from the rear.

Then I heard it. A voice...calling. Yet it didn't seem to come from the group, or anywhere else for that matter. It almost seemed to come from inside my head.

Or maybe above??

I quickly looked up. Light and motion immediately caught my eyes. A light, almost like a candle, was swirling around the entire party in a large circular course.

Timon and the others stopped short when they saw the light. They were quiet, hands upon their weapons, expecting anything.

[topaz]

Timon

My mind was busy when I saw that moving light. I was thinking of how foolish it seemed for us to leave on an important mission for the king, just to walk into an ambush. Granted, robbers and highwaymen abounded in Wyrn and the average traveler faced the same thing more often than not. However, we, who were supposed to be seasoned warriors, letting them get the advantage over us seemed almost a bad omen.

Not that we had any lasting hurt. The warriors who were injured in the fray seemed as apt at taking blows as they were at giving them.

As I said, my thoughts were intrerrupted by the light as it caught my eye. I saw it circle above Xairn's head, then it seemed to swing wide and soundlessly draw a circle around us all.

Xairn had frozen, seeming unsure about what to do, and I admit, I was not sure either. No weapon would have an effect on anything like this.

A sword was drawn quickly behind me. Before I could move to see who it was, the light suddenly stopped (nearly in front of my face) and a soothing male voice seemed to fill the air around us, yet come from nowhere at the same time. The voice obviously carried authority when it said:

"Put up your sword, Helm..."

Helm was so shocked he almost dropped the sword.

"There is no need to fear, yet even if there was, that would do you no good."

"Who are you?" I said.

The voice said, "I am Jurt, king of the fairies.

"I have come to see for myself the adventurers who travel to the lands of my youth. Do not be shocked at this, as the land is not new or lost. It is only different and far from here."

"You only wish to see us?" I asked, confused. Even the bandits had wanted more than that.

"I have a problem and I believe you could help me. Harno, a powerful man who used to be a lieutenant of mine (he slipped here 'man' should be taken as 'fairy') has rebelled. Many fairies followed him, and he led them to this 'new' (the tone was almost mocking) world. I want you to defeat him, as it is not convenient for me to follow him there. My tasks are here."

I pondered this offer as the light seemed to grow in intensity.

[Tetigustas shadowson]

Clench:
peering through the trees he could see the others ahead of Cleyete and himslef, he
sensed something wasn't right, every one had stopped moving and stood looking into
the air above. he quickly moved away from the trail, he knew if Cleyette had to
encounter another creature, she would be consumed by blood lust. he pulled more
rations from his bag and quickly prepared a small meal, cleyette hurredly consumed
it, Clench ate not for he was more interested in keeping his company than fulfilling
his dietary needs. he picked up his things and stowed them quickly, with battleaxe
drawn they slowly crept up to the giant oak where the others stood.

Cleyette seeing there was no threat put her hand upon Clenches and gave him that
look, he stowed his weapon and they moved in to join the party members below the
glowing circlet