observe Rhedarios being used as a doll, apply hand to face then look for a scroll detailing a cave system near a forest and a river or lake, preferably with an abundance of game animals.
after reading, proceed to attempt to repair the shoes that magically appeared on my feet.
((I'll be using simplified rolls that don't give experience for actions during this very early prologue part. Which is good, because normally you'd take a massive penalty for not being skilled and having no tools or materials.))
[6][2][6][4] You fish out the last scroll detailing a location rather than a Dungeon Lord.
Wizard reports the river comes from a massive cave mouth on a cliff face. Volume seems overly large for local geography, magic suspected. No signs of hostiles, heavy presence of wildlife suggests lack of local inhabitants.
Desirable but unlikely for rebels, infeasible for chokepoint.[5] You manage to polish up and reattach several key pieces of your shoes. They're still obviously in shambles, but in a rather classy sort of way.
Rhedarios looked around. That sometimes happened to him for no particular reason.
After being used by the woman as a doll for enough time as to not hurt her feelings, the quarter-breed comes back to the table with the ribbon. Probably with it on his head, but...After getting to the table he raises his hand:
"We could try reading all the scrolls before deciding on leaving for one of the places we have already read about. We might get lucky."
[6] You come back with the woman still attached. She continues playing with your ears, and your attempts at relocating the ribbon only succeed at getting her to experiment with styles on your tail as well.
Eric's jaw was hanging open for a while after he read the scroll. Upon coming back to his senses, Eric passed the scroll around the table, glee in his eyes, unable to keep the excitement to himself:
"I knew this was gonna be something! Check this out: that, my friends, is the biggest, baddest wolf in the forest, with a rapidly growing barbaric horde of his own and someone real powerful backing him. He's not just a golden opportunity to make a killing; he's the Dark Lord of the century! I want in with him, Captain. What's it gonna take?"
Ask the Captain if he can get me into Karth's horde.
"Eh, Karth, yes... he's eh, *cough* bit of an odd one, 'e is. Mainly get slaves, give 'im odds 'n ends. Don't doubt I'd get a bounty fer bringin' you in, but I'm inclined to warn ye he doesn't mess aroun' with the weak. Trial by combat, more likely 'an not.
Still, if 'at's what yer after, an' you can get a few more ta go with ye, it's not an overly difficult trip... long as nobody knows where we're after an' why."
Brew a potion of drunken sleep using: Cheap (whatever drink we've been drinking), straw from the floor of a tavern, sandman dust, and the hair of a drunkard. Follow the green man at a respectable distance if/when he leaves the table.
((I'll be using simplified rolls that don't grant exp for minor, very start of the prologue stuff like this.))
[4] The contents of your mug slowly shift into potion that should conk out anyone who drinks it as though they've been at it all night. It's unlikely to be effective if simply applied to skin, though.
Just to be sure, Rhedarios picks Clarence's rejected scroll and checks for a place better than the Rift, by the alchemist's standards.
The human with an iron mask grabs the scroll before you can.
The captain looks around.
"Well now, seems we've got a fair company fer this Rift Island. Wish ye all the best with that, an' assuming ye all get to the ship in one piece it shouldn't be
too much trouble.
Now, as fer the rest o' ye... I suppose two er three trips might be worth me time, but I've no interest in droppin' ye off one by one ta die wherever ye please. No coin in it fer helpin' along dead men an' little fer hermits."
Tentative Travel PlansCaellath: The Rift
Unholy_Pariah: ?
HmH: Warlord Karth
Draignean: The Rift
Spinal_Taper: The Rift
Nirur Torir: Jungle Juts
Dungeon LordsFallas you filthy whore, you think this will stop me? I already
control Galren and Soroth, Methrel lies in ashes and Siprel is pleading for
mercy as we speak. A few butchered goblins will not save you, your
people, or your soul. Ready yourself, for my hordes are still limitless
and your kingdom is still mine.
-Sarvak, Lord of Destruction
I wish to devote this particular manuscript to the study of Lord Helsess, a truly resplendent Dungeon Lord as far as these things go. Unlike most of his vile, simpering kin, Lord Helsess maintains the strictest codes of honor and decency. I managed to catch up with him just as he was finished defiling a maiden during one of his conquests.
"I understand it, Lord Helsess" I spoke to the noble Lord, "That you completely eschew all things foul and nefarious in your schemings."
"Indeed!" he replied, magnificent in his gleaming armor, "For no undead nor other magical abominations dare grace my army's banners. When the captives have been properly flayed, they are artfully impaled on spikes as warning and decoration, not transformed into shambling crimes against all decency."
"How wonderful!" I exclaimed, noting the pride with which he spoke. "Can you say why more Dungeon Lords, indeed why more lords in general, do not follow your shining example?"
"Nay," he cried, with the practiced sorrow of one all too familiar with a reasonless evil. "'Tis simply that such creatures are useful, to cowards and knaves, beggars and thieves, weaklings and savages. Why they do not cast off the chains of their decay and embrace righteousness, I sadly do not know."
His eyes at this point took on the most heroic of sadnesses, and I could not help but feel moved by his valor and virtue. Truly, here was a Lord worthy of the title!
In the next installment of Hieramus Harackus' breathtaking interviews, he examines the peculiar culinary habits of the Queen of Spikes.
Esteemed Chancellor Maro,
I appreciate your concerns, but I believe you are vastly underestimating the dangers this beast poses. He is far more than a savage brute; we have, I assure you, ample enough experience dealing with them to not find them alarming, and to know when something is far more than that.
I realize this Dragon of Bones nonsense may seem preposterous in the extreme, but again I would remind you of his sacking of Merth, a walled and heavily defended city. Surely there must be some magical force at work here, unless you'd inform me that they've learned siegecraft instead.
More importantly, his claims are presumably the driving force behind the savage tribes not just joining him, but joining him in a berserk frenzy. I must once again stress that frothing savages are no strange thing to us; when I tell you that their rage is truly terrifying to behold, please understand that it is not the words of someone who has never seen such nonsense breaking against a tall wall or being cut down by disciplined soldiers. Whatever this Warlord Karth is doing to these brutes, it's not normal and it's not natural.
Our greatest advantage, then, is in our ability to work together. If the forces of decency, civilization, and culture cannot come together to beat back this unwashed horde, I fear it shall seep to your doorstep on its own terms. Please, think of your citizens and your home, and provide aid while it is still far away, rather than when it is battering at your own doors.
-Senator Iilme
-?
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Dungeon Locations21st Granite- Arrived at site. Scattered villages all around, rumors of Goldenboats being around here somewhere. No sign of them yet though. Mostly goatmen, some others.
Surveys look good- several heavily jungled mountains, sufficient mineral wealth within them. Natives might be a problem, mainly as thieves. Premium on gemstones, might make good trading partners if they had anything in return. Some exotic meats.
Threats of wildlife, local rumors of worse things. Requires further investigation to confirm, but not to settle.
Report on the Barren Fields, by Apprentice Mythrar
The Barren Fields are a somewhat rocky wasteland of no apparent value, but hold many secrets.
The Barren Fields contain dried riverbeds. This means there used to be rivers here, but now there aren't.
The Barren Fields contain very fertile soil beneath the surface. According to my research, this means they used to have a lot of plant life in them, but now they don't.
The Barren Fields contain lots of minerals. This means they would make a good place for a mine.
The Barren Fields contain disturbing animals that are very dangerous and strange. They are not like animals here.
In conclusion, The Barren Fields are a dangerous but interesting place.
Dark Lord Sytheriss,
I have completed my survey of the Horn of the Atradox, as per your orders. It appears in most ways to be similar to the rest of the Rift, in that it is bright yet there is void all about, plants of truly fascinating properties abound, as do animals that feed primarily by destroying these properties, and water courses out of nowhere before flowing back into the void. I have been unable to determine any particular properties regarding the Horn, beyond being made of stone as was assumed.
-Sril
Commander-
I have found the spire. It is a sheer pinnacle of rock which no humans could hope to climb and no humans could hope to reach in the first place. It will not satisfy our needs.
I will continue scouting the area until further orders, but be advised that this deep into the jungle will be very difficult to persuade the humans to attack.
-D
Entry 382
We have made shelter in a series of caves. This place is bitterly cold, and I have seen no traces of life that did not immediately attempt to trample and eat us. Carlac says he saw emeralds in one of the ice walls, but I'm not sure how that's possible.
Then again, I'm not sure how this place is possible either, but here we are. There's a stream running in the back, despite most of the cavern being ice in the first place. How bizarre.
Jarlson has been sent out to find food, but I doubt he'll find anything he can kill. I doubt even more he'll find anything he won't have to. I think I might have a plan, though...
Wizard reports the river comes from a massive cave mouth on a cliff face. Volume seems overly large for local geography, magic suspected. No signs of hostiles, heavy presence of wildlife suggests lack of local inhabitants.
Desirable but unlikely for rebels, infeasible for chokepoint.
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Topic: Outcast Power RTD (Prologue: Waking Up And Not) (Read 72482 times)