[First, let's welcome two new players from FA: zenfidelity (playing Reginald, who happens to have his own character blog) and Ferronic (playing Ferron). They're not going to be immediately joining up with the main party because I was rather impressed with the blog entry zenfidelity made; so currently they are located at position "v" on the map (the entrance).]
[Second, and somewhat associated with the first, is that we're starting to get to the point where the number of people playing is becoming a little too large for one group; both in the practicality of the game world, and in the real world (particularly when dealing with creating balanced combat scenarios, and gathering people online at the same time for "live" sessions). It might be an idea to split the party into two groups of five, acting in tandem to cover more ground, and converging occasionally to mix and match equipment and party members. On the other hand, this will mean more substantial updates, which means that I may have to change the update schedule to three times a fortnight rather than twice a week. And there are some gameplay disadvantages to this approach as well. That's why I'm leaving it up to you guys.]
[Third, I'm hopefully going to have the C++ code for the combat encounters done tomorrow; this ought to speed up combat a bit. Although it will need a bit of tinkering if you decide to split the party.]
[Fourth, I need to know how Cubist and Xandre intend on spending their Level Points, so I can update your character sheets.]
The party travels down the corridor, hoping to avoid any more combat encounters for the present. In a small alcove, where a large root has broken through the wall, the party discover a strange panel in the wall. This panel has an elaborate painted image on it [note: the word "elaborate" is used rather loosely in this case]. There appear to be some rather odd pieces missing from the image, and slots carved into the wall behind them to fit different pieces..
[There are six "missing pieces" in the image. There are numerous things which may fit into each spot, though only one correct set. The general type of object that fits into each slot is:
(1) A staff.
(2) A small shield.
(3) A large shield.
(4) A sword.
(5) A sphere or a ball.
(6) A book.
Also sorry that my drawing skill sucks.]
Meanwhile, a pair of men enter the dungeons through the entrance, to be greeted by the disturbing sight of two dead centaurs and a mass of evidence that someone - or something - has been here before...
Kit tilts his head, curious as to what this could mean. He does, however, poke at the tree branch with his shield a little.
ReplyDelete*examine the panel for a bit, and then starts to lok around, if i see anything about the situation of the stuff, or maybe a mark about where they stayed before*
ReplyDeleteWilliam looks over the panel. "Im no expert or anything, but Im betting we would have to collect a special set of items to fit the slots. I also really doubt they will be easy to find in this place, probably locked up all over the place to play with our mind...anyway" he then begins to walk up to entrance to the left of them.(The one just south of 3)
ReplyDeleteReginald could smell a fire, and meat cooking. And meat rotting. The first one appeals more, so he ventures off the path slightly. A makeshift camp was located outside of the dungeon ahead, with meat on a spit laying still and the fire still going. Figuring someone had to have been tending to it, he cautiously heads in the direction of the dungeon to find the owner of the site.
ReplyDeleteA silhouetted man is bent over what appeared to be carcasses of horse-like creatures just inside the dungeon entrance. Right in the middle of a NESW intersection. Without being too abrupt, he calls out to the man, softly at first, maintaining an appropriate distance so as not to fall victim to a possibly surprised warrior's weapon.
"He- hello? Helloooooo?" The man doesn't seem to move too much, so he ventures slightly closer, calling again, "Hi there, I'm Reginald. Is that your site out there? the one with the burning flesh- ha!"
Reginald trips over a hoof on the ground. The man was carving up the body of the beasts. Regaining his composure, he patiently awaits the reply of the man before him, hand at the ready to draw his gun.
Hopefully he won't have to use it. He awaits a reply.
James puts down his backpack and pulls out a pad of paper. He begins sketching the image on the wall, trying to write down the dimensions of the pieces missing from the wall. "umm... you think we'll need to collect these eventually to move on? or just a distraction..." James walks up to the wall and knocks on it, seeing if there are any hollow spots.
ReplyDeleteThe world is quiet save for the distant crackling of a campfire and the occasional sounds of animal life, both from within and without the dungeon. The sunlight quickly fades as the afternoon begins to pass into nightfall.
ReplyDeleteAlone in the darkness, a lone man rests on one knee while methodically slicing off portions of meat from nearby animal remains. The fetid smell, whil slightly offset by the appetizing smell drifting in from outside, was almost enough to kill one's appetite. Now finished his somewhat macabre work, Ferron begins to clean the short-sword he was using as a knife, on the second set of furry remains nearby.
Footsteps echo throughout the entranceway as someone approaches from behind, the fading light casting their shadow over rough, uneven stones. A voice calls out "He-Hello?" followed by more, fainter footsteps as the individual approaches. Ferron changes the grip on his semi-clean sword and shifts his stance slightly, preparing for the worst.
"I'm Reginald. Is that your site out there? The one with..." As the man approaches closer, he stumbles on the remains of the second animal. Using this to his advantage Ferron turns around. The sound of metal hitting metal can be heard as he does so. Facing the other man, shotsword held in a non-threatening but firm grip, he replies,
"Not many choose to be here, and for good reason. You should leave while you still can"
The other man doesn't move.
"If you insist on staying...I can offer you some hospitality. My camp is just outside. It isn't...wise...to sleep within these walss."
Ferron resheathes his short-sword a begins to walk back to his camp. Noticing the other man's hand hovering near his hosltered weapon he adds,
"None of that. You coming or not?"
Hand moving away from the holster, Reginald is content to walk behind the man and just outside the entrance. A little put off by the ease with which the man deferred him as no threat, but content. As they approach the fire, Reginald finds a seat just out of range of the sparks flying off of it, and begins eyeing the meat. But there are more pressing things at hand.
ReplyDeleteIn the twilight, he observes that the camp has been set up recently, as there are still bits of it packed up. He thinks to himself that this fellow before him, likely has intentions of venturing into the cave, and that he has some information on the level of danger contained within. Reginald was just going to venture in for lack of a better direction to go, but the possibility of this new relationship could prove... fruitful. Inwardly, he smiles.
"So since neither of us are making a big deal about our being here, and obviously neither of us consider the other to be a threat to our respective persons - i.e. you're not shot, I'm not stabbed - I believe an introduction is order," Reginald extends his hand for a shake, "You already know my name, but my full one at that is Reginald Bligh Falstaff. I am pleased to make your acquaintance!" His face lights up with a slight grin, as he adds "Let's be comrades!"
[ooc: So, are Detect Trap and Danger Sense constant skills? Or do I need to initiate an 'awareness' and roll to check? I know Discount is constant, so I was just curious. Also, this first bit with Ferron is for sake of introduction of character, and we plan on moving into the dungeon very soon :P]
Ferron takes the other man's hand an shakes politely. His leather fingerless gloves catching the dim firelight, he beckons the other man to take a seat near the fire.
ReplyDelete"You hungry? Grab some." Pointing towards the roasting meat on the fire.
As Reginald sits, Ferron begins cooking some of the other meat strips he just finished cutting.
"My name is Ferron." He says quietly. "I would be glad for the company but...what are you doing here?"
Reginald takes some meat from the spit, careful not to burn his hands, and fumbles a bit with it while blowing away some of the heat. Taking a bite, he stops mid chew and looks back at Ferron, "You know that this is Centaur meat, right? Not just horse?" Finishing his mouthful, he focuses on Ferron and becomes a little bit more serious.
ReplyDelete"I'm here by chance, you could say. You see I was actually going to be passing through these parts, happily on my way to some conference thing I was invited to to speak about something or other... it's all very boring and formal, so I tend to forget the details. Anyway, my cab driver has to stop because there's something in the road, so we get out to check what it is."
Reginald pauses to lean in closer and smile, as if to place emphasis on his next words. His tone lowers slightly, intimating to Ferron alone despite no one else being around to hear, "Maybe you saw it over there," he indicates away from the cave, "but if you didn't, there happens to be a the glided remains of a were-boar!" His tone indicated mixed confusion and excitement.
"Well I figure if you have a half man half boar lying around, someone put it there. Dead. Curiously covered in gold, at that!" Reginald leaned back, arching his back to get more comfortable, "Well the idea is so far fetched, that if it were real it would be the beginning of an adventure in investigating strange happenings, don't you think?" He would have waited for a response, but the story demanded a conclusion. It was a rhetorical question anyway.
"The long and short of it is, I'm not one to pass up a good adventure. That and my cabby raced off before I could collect more than by backpack and my staff," He said picking it up at his side and examining the length of it, "Sure I suppose I should be scared, entering a dungeon-like cavern with nothing but a backpack full of supplies, harboring unknown danger and mystery, but then again..." he put his staff down and returned his focus to The fire-lit man across him, "but then again if it has people in it carving up centaur meat and offering hospitality, it can't be all bad, right?"
A devil-may-care grin creeps ear to ear as Reginald suppresses a small laugh and adds: "What's your story, then, 'Mr. Hangs-out-in-dungeons-carving-centaur-meat Warrior Man'?"