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[Respite] - Factions
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#681Roused by the rainwater, the hunter looked up at the back of Kou'rha. A glance found his dagger and he quietly took it hand, his sounds covered by the rain, strengthening wind, and the rumbling of thunder.
Silently cursing his luck, he lunged at the exposed back of his enemy...
For Rajani,Gideon and Kour'ha
Rajani only has a chance to act before the Hunter, then Gideon and then Kour'ha. Gideon would need to bowl over Rajani to get there sooner due to close quarters and the like.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#682Seeing the look of surprise on the faces of Gideon and the native, Rajani turned to see the onrushing outline of the hunter. His intent was as obvious as the dagger in his hand. Rajani felt rage boil up, hot and sudden like the lightning of the storm. Since Endkelton she had eyeballs deep in people and creatures that had wanted to rob her, rape her, kill her, eat her, or things worse than can be imagined. Here it was again, more of the mindless hostility. She snarled, throwing out her hand, palm exposed. The magic, white and hot flowed through her, filling her voice with the might of the storm, with the inexhaustable vigor of the sun.
"KNEEL COWARD! She felt the magic, divine and churningly dynamic leave her with a suddeness that left her feeling momentarily weak.
Divine Spell: Command - 1 standard action - using the listed command Fall attempting to force the Hunter to go prone for one turn -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#683The hunter stopped mid-lunge, and, dropped. Again, his dagger fell from his hand, his mind filled with the sudden need to obey her word.
Head bowed, and on his knees, her magic held him for the moment.. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#684As the woman's words hit Kou'rha's ear - though he'd never heard them before, he felt he knew exactly what they meant - her expression suddenly changed. A flash shone from her hand. Kou'rha instinctively turned to protect his eyes, just enough to see the hunter's dagger fall as he dropped to his knees. Any doubt of the Other's intent gone, Kou'rha emitted an angry growl before lunging at the green-clad attacker.
Grapple attempt on the hunter. If checks are successful, attempt to pin. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#685That was the power of the gods at work! Still, Gideon had no time to stand in awe at the hunter's repentance, and kicked the dagger away from the wrestling duo. Fists might hurt, but a long as nobody got stabbed, there might be a way to solve this situation.
"Shall I pacify one or both of them?" he turned to his companions. "I am not entirely sure what this is all about, being not fluent in native gibberish."
To himself, he muttered: "Why can't natives just learn a reasonable language, for divinity's sake?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#686"Please Gideon, our newest friend seems interested to show his courage and honor," Rajani said. "But if this coward resists too ardently, then perhaps it would not be untowards for you to squish him." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#687Still woozy from his earlier encounter with Kou'rha, the hunter was easy prey for the Alun warrior. In moments he was held fast in Kou'rha's grip. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#688Rajani scowled at the hunter, she moved closer, but not incautiously close. "Who are you and why have you sought to do us harm?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#689Dazed by the magic, and barely clinging to consciousness, the hunter stammered out "We're looking for guy named Toboran. Traveling with a mixed bag of... " he trailed off, seeing the expression on the dampening Gideon. "Unfinished business."
A sudden flash of lightning lit up the area near as bright as daylight, followed barely a second later by a tremendous crash. Scattered drops were getting less scattered and they were coming in nearly sideways.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#690"If we have shelter, we should offer it to our captive." Rajani said, the rain soaking into her cloak. "I have no care to endure the storm more than I have to. With something over his head, he might speak with his mouth rather than with his blades." She said, a faint hint of contempt in her voice. She went and picked up the hunter's dagger and gave a quick inspection before wiping it on a leaf and wrapping it in her sleeve.
Rajani would like to speak with this hunter to discern his motives and why he is interested in Toboran. Will also like to take a moment when it is available to inspect the hunter's dagger. You can learn alot about a warrior by the weapon he carries, so the elders once said. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#691Jhoric had been standing a few yards away from the scuffle with an outstretched hand and energy on his fingertips; ready to blast either of the newcomers. Now that the situation appeared under control he deemed it wise to seek out Toboran and inform him of the hunter's target.
He found Toboran in the stone structure waiting out the storm.
"Hey, Toboran," Jhoric began, "Some guy came out of the woods and attacked the new guy, but Rajani hit him with some magic and now the new guy has him in a choke hold. Only thing I've heard out of him is that he was looking for you. I'm still not sure what's going on, but you might want to come check it out." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#692"Well", Toboran said, getting up, "from what you've said I don't know what's going on either, but I'll come and see."
He got up and led the way out of the stone building. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#693With the weather becoming ever increasingly annoying, Gideon picked up the hunter, and hauled him to the shelter beneath the conifer. "You be on your best behavior, lest I be on my worst." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#694As Gideon dragged the now compliant man away from Kou'rha, he saw Toboran walking towards them through the thickening rain. As they got closer, Gideon noticed a look of recognition flash across the man's features as Toboran came into view.
Toboran saw the man, but nothing stood out about his appearance, though the streaming rain and failing light made a detailed inspection impossible. The group plus the prisoner found themselves under the shelter, which was getting very crowded.
And still the weather continued to worsen...
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#695"IT looks as though this matter", Toboran said, motioning towards the man, "will have to wait for a moment."
He set to expanding upon and strengthening the shelter with his woodsman's skill.
(OOC: Survival check please. I'm built to survive out here, might as well help.) -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#696Kou'rha ignored the rain as it soaked through his tunic. He had, at the moment at least, some sense of relief: aside from the hunter, the Others seemed to accept him as their own. It was more civilized than he expected from the folk who had trespassed on Uorl'han's lands. Perhaps it was merely because he was an Alun, the most respected of races in the land.
What he had not thought through was the language barrier. He had heard of far-flung Alun clans speaking different tongues, but only in anecdotes from his uncle. It had - foolishly, he now thought - not occurred to him that the Others might be of strange speech. The one, though - the Shamaness - seemed to understand him. Keeping a close eye on the green-clad man as he was dragged off, Kou'rha approached the Shamaness. "כוהנת, אנחנו חייבים לדבר," he said in a low, urgent voice. "אני ב חשוב לחקור. אנחנו יכולים לעזור אחד לשני."
(OOC: Translation in spoiler, if Rajani can still interpret speech.) "Shamaness, we must speak. I am on an important quest. We can help each other." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#697"I agree stranger, we must speak." Rajani said, feeling her way around the magic of the words. She had never used such blessings before. "You are native to this world and I am afraid that though we are in our hearts refugees, in your eyes we must be intruders or invaders." She pulled her cloak around her, for a rare moment hating the rain. Endkelton had been dry most of the time, the fields watered by ditches and aqueducts and pumping stations driven by the winds. She felt a sharp pain, her heart aching for a home that was now ashes and dust.
"I bear you no ill will, lest you bear it to me first." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#698While Rajani conversed with the native, Gideon kept watch over the hunter.
"Who might you be, sneaking up on us instead of announcing yourself like an honest man? And what was your intent?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#699The rain showed no sign of easing off, and indeed, seemed intent on flooding the planet. Toboran quickly checked the sagging structure, and with a few deft knots, adjusted the boughs to better direct the water away.
At Gideon's question, the hunter looked back and spoke up. "My name is Alar, formerly of Gylthhaven. I was just to find someone and his companions, and report back. Only half successful it seems," he said with a shrug.
"And you, huge sir?"
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#700"My name is Rajani of Endkelton, Priestess of the 6th Order and holder of the White Tablets, My home, and all of their's were destroyed in a horrific event it would please me to go into no more detail about. Sufficied to say my homeland is nothing but ashes and ruin without a single soul to light it." Rajani said, pulling her hood down under the cover provided by the shelter her allies had built. "So we are come by various portals into your land. We are hardy and strong, as those who were not did not survive the escaping. We are hungry and we invade your lands. There is nowhere else for us to go, so I can only make this apology and offer that I can only speak for my self. I would rather there be peace and cooperation between our peoples rather than violence and war. We have already been accosted, assaulted, and tested, and we still stand." Rajani said, a bolt of lightning flickering against her dark eyes and the golden clasps in her hair. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#701"Curse this rain, " said Sir Haldren, "and this bloody mission."
"Keep it down. He said go, so we go," Sir Morlon.
"How did he rise so fast anyway? We've seen no battles worth the name since we got here."
"Not sure, but keep it down, or the could very well be one, perhaps our last."
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#702"I am Gideon" the half-ogre replied, considering it sufficient. Rubbing his goatee, he questioned their captive further. "To whom were you to report? And why? We are but on the search for resources, nothing that would warrant a tracker on our trail - or is there more to this?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#703Balin climbed down the hole while the prisoner was questioned and the newcomer greeted. He quickly noticed the rune that Toboran had found and went over to inspect it.
It was a circle with two diagonal slashes through it. After a close examination he could determine little; only that it was a designation, such as a number or something, but no more. Perhaps there were more of these out posts around. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#704Alar looked up at Gideon, "As I said, I'm here to find someone - Toboran was the name - and let Theckswire and his men know. After that, no idea what it was they wanted."
A flash.
A bone-jarring boom.
The sound of splintering wood and the rustle of leaves as a nearby tree was sundered and came crashing down. The smell of ozone came drifting through.
Jhoric, standing the doorway out of the rain saw the flash out of the corner of his eye, and again was recovering from a flash. The concussion wave of the near strike stuck him like a blow. Oddly, it felt as if the flash had shooed something away from him, something now only conspicuous by its absence.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#705Fafnir shuddered, the storm was smothering. It was power incarnate. Proving to all that nature could do whatever she wishes at any time. Feeling no need for him, Fafnir sat down at the base of a tree and watched the nearby forest for signs of danger.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#706Nerves rattled, Jhoric stepped away from the doorway and made his way towards a back corner where he could be sure nothing was sneaking up on him. He sat down on the floor with intent of waiting out the storm, periodically peeking into the realm of magic to make sure nothing was lurking around unseen by normal sight.
His paranoia had been ever-increasing since the storm started heading his way. It felt like a dark omen, much like the ones the rituals of his old friends used to conjure up, but, he didn't know what power was behind this one, and that frightened him.
Balin was still in that hole, he thought to himself, I hope he comes up soon. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#707Another Flash. Even closer this time.
A small oak tree shattered perhaps ten yards from the lean-to, splinters of wood flying perilously close.
Fafnir began to doubt the safety of his location, the tree struck was barely taller then the one he sat beneath.
Something was wrong with this storm, he could feel it in his bones..
Jhoric felt something too - it was as if the lightning was energizing him.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#708Fafnir sat up and moved away from the cover of trees towards the others. "This storm is perilous, maybe we should find a safer place to rest!" He shouted over the storm, "As we learned before, nature's fury is dangerous. We would not be wise to tempt her power." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#709(OOC: Sorry for the delay. RL tends to take over toward the end of the school year.)
Kou'rha brooded over the woman's words. Talk of tablets and portals were beyond his ken, but the horror of destruction and loss was more universal. He did not like to hear tales of war, but it did seem to provide the opportunity for unity he had hoped for. "I am Kou'rha, son of Ak'foh, of Uor'lhan's Children," he spoke in his own tongue. "We have watched your people come and take our trees and stone. It has made many worried, and angry. My people do not know that you are outcasts. I will tell them, when we return to my village. I cannot promise their help, that is for the Council. But I can give my help. Our Great Spirits have grown silent. My uncle, the shaman, says that it is the same with your Spirits. If you help me find the Spirits of my people, I will help find yours. Only they can return you to your home." He looked at the woman - oddly appealing, despite her Other features - and locked his eyes on hers. "Will you help, Shamaness Rajani?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#710"Your offer, Kou'rha, son of Ak'foh, is generous," Rajani said, touching her fingers to her forehead, a gesture of respect in Endkelton. "We come from many different places, and have followed many different gods and spirits. These spirits and gods have indeed fallen silent for those who follow them and depend on their guidance." she said. She felt a stab of annoyance at the arrogance of some of the leaders of Respite, taking too much to build sailing ships when farms were needed more. Stupid foolhardy men, just like horses who have taken the bit into their teeth, nothing short of breaking their teeth can sway them from their course.
"I would love nothing more than to return to my home, but for me, that is nigh impossible unless you wished for me a painful death. I will tell you of my home," she said, the rain and lightning dancing violently. "Endkelton is a cruel and harsh land, dry in the summer, bitterly cold in the winter. We are only human there, there are no elves or dwarves or reptiles who walk as men do. We work hard, and when death comes, we fight it. We fight death so much that in Endkelton the dead rise from their graves and it is the duty of the Keepers of the Tablets to put such restless dead back to their rest, or to some task if they cannot be coaxed back into the earth." She felt the rain forcing its way through the shelter.
"Such a land, it breeds strong people, because only strong people can survive there. We dance and sang beautiful music. We made love as fiercely as we made war, and we were proud. And then," she said, her voice choking for a moment, "The end came. Things for which we do not have names invaded our lands. They came on wings and fouled the air with their brimstone stench. We fought them, and when they died, their blood poisoned the land, their bile turned sweet water rank and foul. We fought and as the our own dead rose, we fought them too. Each battle we were pushed back, each time a last stand deserving of hymns and glorious epics. They died in vain, they died for nothing. Endkelton was broken by these monsters. The mountains gave cries of pain and roared into the heavens with fire and flame. The sea cracked and drained into the deepest parts of the earth only to boil forth again as steam and showers of ash and mud." She felt her conviction waver, telling this was as painful as tearing open old scabs and letting the blood flow again.
"I would seek the friendship and the counsel of the natives of this land, to live in harmony with it and with your kind. My people, as much as we fought, we valued peace and prosperity and happiness. My home is ashes and death, swallowed up by the hungry jaws of Hell. I have no home to go back to, only the promise of finding here, a new place to call home again." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#711"Damn this weather" the half-ogre grumbled "and damn tiny tunnels" as he began to unfasten his armor. "As I have no intent of becoming a lightning rod, I will have to hide in yonder ruin - you all are ancouraged to follow or precede, as you will." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#712"Maybe we could expand on the stone building to accomodate the extra bulk? Just an expansion near the entrance may suffice. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#713The storm seemed to pause, gathering strength perhaps, and then it returned.
Lightening flashed in a staccato display all about, crashing into the ground, shattering trees and filling the air with a near constant, deafening roar.
Sheets of rain came down, battering the lean-to and gushing through rents, soaking everyone and stifling any conversation.
Gathering his armor, and dragging his great sword behind him, Gideon made for the ruin. A struggle to enter was painful, but brief, his earlier injuries taking this opportunity to remind him of their presence. All managed to fit within, though a couple had to join Balin lower in the tunnel for all to fit.
Even as the last of the companions and prisoner entered the ruin, a final bolt struck the tree where they had recently built their leanto, bringing down a huge branch across it.
For all casters:
Any and all spells are completely restored. All of you have the distinct need to use your magic.
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Re: [Respite] - Factions
#714Jhoric, seeing the massive Gideon squeezing into the building, and with more hot on his tail, made sure he was near the doorway once everyone was inside. He was on edge, and the cramped lodgings weren't helping. The storm was having an odd effect on him, or something else was. Luckily, the urge to blast everyone and everything into ash wasn't as strong as his common sense. However, he did need to let off a little magical steam, and it looked like the other casters were itching to use their gifts as well.
Standing in the doorway of the ruin, he inhaled deeply and outstretched both his arms. After a moment, one of curious looks from the others and himself steadying his gift securely in his throat, he unleashed a massive cloud of fog from his mouth and a blast of black energy from each hand into the storm. The blasts cut through the forming fog leaving two distinct holes for a moment before all was filled in and nothing but the dim light of remaining day could be seen from inside their shelter.
Jhoric turned and gave his audience a apologetic look, "d**n, that felt good." was all he said before turning to stare out into the fog.
Spells cast:
That was my Breath of the Night Invocation, functions as a Fog Cloud spell. Duration: 30 minutes, unless the wind is moderate (11+ MPH / which disperses it in 4 rounds) or strong (21+ / in 1 round) and spreads out 20ft, 20ft high.
And obviously 2 Eldritch Blasts, I know I cant do 2 at once (normally), but that is rather irrelevant since I'm not really attacking anyone. Plus it was cool! -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#715Fafnir felt the weariness settling in. He was cramping from crouching in this godforsaken hole and hungry from little food in the wild. His eyes lit upon the prisoner for a moment and he remember how delectable human flesh was. Bloodlust sent the adrenaline through his veins, pumping his chilly fluids through his body. He made his way over the prisoner and his giant guard. "So what will we do with the traitor? Will we tear him limb from limb for sneaking after us, or will we torture him until he spills his guts?" Fafnir salivated at the thought of more violence. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#716Kou'rha stared at the rain as it poured down, studying it. He snorted and sniffed, the smell of lightning and moisture permeating his nostrils. It rained frequently on Uor'lhan's lands during the winter, sometimes even causing floods to bring their wrath down through the streams and rivers. But in all his memory, Kou'rha had never seen rain quite like this.
Jhoric's unexpected spell distracted the Alun. He snapped a glare at him, baring his teeth just enough to see their yellow-white sheen. "מתנות של רוחות לא אמור להיות מבוזבז!" he growled. With a snort he turned back to the rain. Such a display would be frowned on by his uncle and the shamans, especially with the Spirits gone. The fact that Kou'rha was on edge from the ominous weather did not help.
Translation:
"Gifts of the Spirits should not be wasted!" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#717"Whoa. Let's calm down here, all of you. We're going to sit this one out, and whoever feels the need to do something stupid can do it out there." His index finger pointed towards the exit for emphasis; a roaring thunderbolt slashed through the deluge at that very moment. "Cloister-phobic? Get over it."
He eyed Fafnir and their prisoner. "He is a captive, and a cooperative one at that. As long as he keeps a level head, there is no reason to harm him. And if he acts up, he's make fine rations" Gideon laughed. -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#718"My apologies friend Gideon, the energy from this storm is driving me nuts. This storm is strange, energy flows from it unlike a natural rain. I think its effecting the spellcasters more than us though." Fafnir made his way quite slowly to the open doorway and gasped a breath of fresh air. The smell of forest and rain calmed him. He spoke to Jhoric standing near the entrance after his brief spellcasting bit. "That was a showy display friend, Jhoric. I do not believe we have talked much before this fine quest. How are you doing?" -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#719"That sounds much better. To keep our wits together, it would be best if everybody told a story about himself. Sure beats sitting and frowning." -
Re: [Respite] - Factions
#720"You wish to hear a tale, friend Gideon?", Toboran said to the giant man, "Well, I wish you well in that endeavor. As for me, I do not wish to recall that which happened before these terrible things. I will not tell a story of myself, and I'd rather not listen to yours, meaning no offense."
Toboran moved over to the hole in the floor and slid himself downward.