Guardians of the Citadel — Legacy Forums

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#361

"We begin tonight's broadcast once more with the obvious story..."

The news camera switched over to a field reporter, who was standing in front of the Chrysler Building in midtown New York.

"Today, this graffiti was discovered written across the Chrysler Building in giant letters..." The reporter stepped back and the camera panned out.

Scrawled on the building, about twenty stories up, in something resembling black ink, were the giant words..."Raadalav, Prince of Thieves, was here!"

The camera turned back on the earnest reporter..."At this point authorities are still trying to ascertain if this has something to do with the recent...Event."

The professor groaned and switched the channel. Another news program...

The images were of downtown Washington, DC. What could only be described as a monstrous hydra the size of two stacked city busses, and sporting nine draconic heads, each one seemingly angry, was battling helicopters and tanks. Whenever one head was blown off by a missile or rapid machine gun fire, another would sprout from its neck. The creature raged.

*click*

News program...

"Bob, I'm surprised at you. Clearly this is somehow related to that secret right wing cabal, you call your friends. These "creatures", be honest, a ploy by republicans of some sort, I have no doubt. How timely during mid-term elections! This "goddess" as she calls herself, "Morena" traipsing through Maine currently, is surely the work of *your* people. Panic the populace with fears of the Feminine, eh Bob?"

The professor turned the tv off. He had lost twenty pounds since that night, subsisting on coffee, cigarettes, and crackers. "What have I done!" He said aloud for the thousandth time this past week. "Must try again" he sighed wearily, and began the ritual anew.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#362

Silveressa nodded at Echo's request to examine the tome more closely, "I don't see any harm in giving it a read through, spells aside it should prove a fascinating piece of history, something perhaps all of us would enjoy hearing? Give us something to read out loud around the fire in the evenings."

She stopped speaking as the dust on the horizon drew her attention, nodding at Echo's suggestion and following him into the shrubbery gesturing for the others to join them and lay the horses down.

I assume Wilhem and Tusserk are on the horses since Wilhem is just a child and Tusserk is still injured?

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#363

Lucky padded alongside the group, scenting the air for approaching threats and keeping a careful eye on Wilhem lest he wander into trouble, bobbing his head in agreement at Silveressa's suggestion of reading the book, "Lacking opposable thumbs I would enjoy hearing the tale, since it's the only way I'll ever experience it." He added softly, inscitually lowering himself to the ground as the column of riders became apparent.

"I think Cold Moat is about to be annexed." He growled, nosing Wilhem into cover and gently pinning him to the ground, worried the approaching soldiers may spook him into running and give away their position. "If we have to run hold tight to my fur and I'll get you to safety." He promised the lad, his ears pricked for any snippets of important conversation he might glean from the approaching militia.

Perception/Listening Roll: (16:23:01) Minion: Lady_Wolf rolls 1d20 and gets 18. Gossamer and Longspeak in chat to witness.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#364

They watched as the flags of Webhold came into view.

Crimson spiderweb on gray.

One hundred fifty riders came galloping by, some distance away from them, the small army's speed due no doubt to the proximity of their quarry. Coldmoat. Lucky seemed to be right. A reckoning was coming, though the wolf could not hear much in the tumult of horses.

Echo studied the book, unimpressed by the stampede.

Spiderheart observed then spoke, "If it's magical, I know of a hedge-wizard in the Vast."

A minute or two later, the charging horsemen had passed, as quickly as they had come.

The road was dusty but empty once more.

Spiderheart rose. "You seem to have left Coldmoat just in time. Shall we continue?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#365

“What you have described sounds very much like the balance and imbalance cycle in eastern theory. The portion I do not understand though, air is not an element in most of the eastern medicines and if it is included then it takes the place of metal and wood.” Tusserk walked beside the monk once they started moving again.

“Indio Asia uses five elements as well. Ether and Air is Vata, Fire and Water is Pitta, Water and Earth is Kapha. Nearly every eastern culture had a form of medicine that related to the elements and how they related to your health, food, sleep, or any other aspect of life.”

“Is this what I am going to learn?” Tusserk looked at Spiderheart as they continued to walk.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#366

After resuming their southward journey for several minutes her thoughts naturally turned towards the future, and what plans they had for it, which at the moment seemed minimal. "Once we reach this monastery, has anyone given thought on where we go from there?" She gestured back toward Cold moat as she continued speaking, "You mentioned treasure chests back at Cold Moat Valadaar, perhaps the way Echo exited the castle will allow us to make a new entry, then with a wagon attached to the horses we can haul forth the coinage and be off with it before a dawn breaks and they notice it's even missing?"

She shrugged, uncertain once they has a wagon load of wealth what they would do with it, but unwilling to let such riches remain in the hands of Clodo or whoever ousted him from his keep.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#367

Mystic continued to trudge along with the others, lost in his own head, a victim of his own dark thoughts.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#368

"It all depends on how things go between Clodo and his guests. I'm honestly surprised all that was between them and those treasures was a single locked door. He was very interested in anything we found on the decoy, so he knew about the key and therefore the lock. Maybe its fearsomely trapped if you don't use the key? If he tells them about it to save his skin, they'll likely just haul the door down and loot the place. If they can't get it open for whatever reason - traps, magic, then they'll come looking for it. They may guess we know something about it. He'll happily supply our description the info if it saves him or his fingers or his left-over ball. Double if they figure out someone's been in and looted things.

Frankly, I'd rather stay the hell away from Clodo and his new guests."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#369

"I haven't so far seen anything worth applying myself towards, no higher pursuit or goal worthy of risking for. Most people so far: abysmal. The scenery: moist and dangerous. I am very much curious whether the monastery or the Elven lands will cause any stirring within me. I have so much unfinished work back home..."

It was not nostalgia, it was a though about the meaningfulness of pursuits. So far, he saw no real meaning or purpose in this dreamland, stunningly realistic it might be.
Perhaps it was necessary to start applying oneself?
"Ah, forgive me my gloom; I'd say - establish ourselves with the monks or Elves, see what the lands have to offer. Find out what happened to Morena, mete out justice against the castellan whenever convenient, and try to keep an eye open in case Lady Rodden survived against all odds?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#370

"Where you walk I follow," He told Silveressa quietly, a part of him content to simply have food and companionship, concerns beyond that of survival of little import, the human side of him understood the difficulties it choosing a path forward, but felt largely content with the way things were, come what may. "What of the Alchemist? Silveressa and Mystic received some kind of thought projections from him, he told us to seek out an alchemist, which a shopkeeper told us was to the south."

He looked over at Mystic, hoping he could shed more light on the messages he had received.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#371

The rest of their trip to Webhold was uneventful. With their brisk pace, they reached the farmsteads and outskirts of Lord Webber's keep three days later.

Webhold the castle town, lived up to its name. More complex and solidly built than Coldmoat, the uniqueness of the place could best be appreciated from overhead. Five concentric walls connected by numerous towers, walkways and parapets, running perpendicular from the outermost wall to the castle, like spokes within a great stone wheel.

The town was divided into several wall-encased wedge-shaped neighborhoods, and indeed "wedge" passed as the local term for "ward" here.

The keep proper, at the center of this web, was shaped like a drum, with and extended tower rising from its center, eighty feet over the plains.

So close to the Soulmarsh Vast, Webhold was encased in a thick mist, as the companions approached its iron-latticed gates.

Scattered a half square mile around the gates of Webhold was a sprawl of squatters, small folk and camped travelers. A town outside a town.

(Hang on, one more post coming up shortly...)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#372

They camped outside the gates, because they had little choice. With the majority of fighting troops away from Webhold, along with Lord Webber himself, entry into the place was slow-going and restricted.

The companions found themselves camped between a contingent of farmers on one side, and a mummers troupe, carriages and covered wagons in tow, on the other.

That evening...

The actors from the mummers troupe of course put on a show atop a makeshift stage.

Spiderheart said he could sneak inside the city walls, and try to locate this "Tuyana", aunt of Willem. Over the last four days of travel, he had discussed theory with Tusserk non-stop, and in the mornings, the two monks would practice incessantly.

The monk suddenly seemed more on edge than he had been during their travels, however, here outside Webhold, though for no discernible reason. Spiderheart took off without another word.

The Val inside val glanced over the fog-enshrouded collective of squatters and travelers. Opportunities for theft were pervasive. More importantly, he even spotted a stall with a sign..."Dorgus the Hedge-Wizard, Purveyor of the Arcane. Fortunes read, tokens and charms on sale, queer magic identified."

Echo was glum, as he watched the mummers perform a play about some love-struck dragon and a princess. The troupe had drawn quite an audience. He was about to retire back to camp, when he was approached by a young human woman, dressed in typical flourished mummers attire.

"Oh, you are an elf. May I see those gorgeous locks?" She asked and smiled.

Mystic wandered the stalls glumly and aimlessly, until the great warrior realized something. Two figures seemed to be following him from stall to stall, and not so subtly. Cloaks and hoods drawn about them it was impossible to tell who or what they were, but clearly, they had a bead on him.

Willem hung with Lucky, and the child's comfortable presence with the dire-wolf, seemed to calm all those around them, who would normally be freaking out over a wandering dire-wolf.

Glancing over stalls stacked with potential new equipment for their upcoming swamp trek, Sil walked by a stall where she spotted an elf behind the counter, a strange tint of yellow to his otherwise flawless skin.

"Hail and well met" he uttered as he saw her. "What brings you up from the Vast?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#373

Silveressa regarded the elf with curiosity, his yellow tinged skin perhaps hinting at oriental ancestry, or some other breed of elf, sun elf perhaps? She smiled at his greeting, returning it with a friendly nod, "I was escorting a friend who was bringing trade goods to market, now my path takes me back south, and I find myself in need of better supplies for the cold weather and wet swamp lands, my former supplies were lost to a turn of ill fortune."

As she spoke she stepped closer and regarded his wares thoughtfully, keeping a casual eye on Lucky and Willem riding upon his back, a part of her hoping he would continue to share their company, the calming effect on both the populace, and Carly was one she felt reluctant to relinquish. She felt a grin of amusement cross her lips as she imagined the response from her comrades should she state her desire to keep the boy among them, a part of her warning a life on the road was no place for a boy, a less cautious, more motherly side of her silently questioning if this city, located in such a cold and hostile land would prove any safer for him?

"Have you furred blankets? Perhaps a warm jacket that would fit young Willem here?" She gestured to the boy stepping to the side so the merchant could get a better look at him and gauge his size.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#374

The val within val dismissed the opportunity for petty larceny. The amounts of money he needed to make any real difference and the risk/reward ratio in a place like this was prohibitive.

The costs for magic item identification were prohibitive also. He remembered the spell cost the caster 100gp. Any hedge wizard would charge at least double that for an identify, though perhaps access to the spellbook would be worth something.

Val did his best to blend in, and paranoid that someone from their employeer, Clodo, the Reeve or the various other enemies they had gained so quickly were about, he did his best to keep an eye out...

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#375

Lucky was careful to keep close track of the boy while wandering the market at Silveressa's side, the looks from the peasants a welcome change from the usual ones of distrust and outright fear, although a small part of him did miss the fun of making simpletons wet themselves by merely speaking to them. He turned to stre at the jaundiced elf as he hailed Silveressa, the Carly side of him immediately offering up a medical opinion of the mans condition.

Acute liver failure, likely late stage liver cancer or alcoholic liver disease, poor bastard, best he can hope for is hospice care at this point without proper medical treatment. He shook his head, nearly dislodging Willem as he did so, focusing on the here and now and making a conscious effort not to judge people by earth standards. "Sorry," he told Willem softly, "A bug bit my ear."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#376

Val kept an eye about for trouble. Despite the fog, he found some rather quickly. As the listless and depressed giant MysticMoon, made his way about from stall to stall, seeking sausages, Val spied two slim figures draped head to toe in cloth following the warrior. They seemed not overly concerned with stealth, and were getting closer.

The warrior paused to watch the play the actor's troupe was performing on a raised wooden platform draped in decorations. His head easily seen above the crowd of spectators.

-------

The elf smiled again, almost if inebriated Sil observed, then said something nothing to do with fur blankets or other supplies, as the smile disappeared from his face...

"Get away from here as quickly as you can. You are in grave danger. Mortal danger. There are many among us who believe that by slaying your companion, they will somehow bring back death and magic to our people. Bring back Morena. Seek out the others in the Vast. To the south and west. In Sunken Zamaloq you will find friends. You can trust the half-elven monk. He knows the way. But you are being hunted. Right now, right here."

He looked about before continuing,

"There are also those who do not wish you harm but to merely understand you...you're arrival and our goddess' departure."

The elf went back to smiling and showed Sil various blankets along with vials of Treant sap to ward off the vicious insects of the Soulmarsh, and a sleeved, elven-made furred jerkin for Willem.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#377

Valadaar sighed. If they were so unconcerned with stealth, they had a reason. Confidence no one would stop them.

He moved to get closer to the goons, taking the effort they weren't in being quiet. A clay pot snatched from a stall with a hurried apology was soon airborne and hurtling towards one of the goons.

(09:39:38) Minion: Tusserk has been logged out (Timeout).
(09:39:41) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d20 and gets 11.

Not the greatest, but back attack (+4) and dex bonus (+3) apply here. And I'm not trying to punch through armor....

Even before it landed, Valadaar attempted to break line of sight....

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#378

Silveressa looked at the man in mild alarm as he began suddenly uttering his dire warning, nodding in understanding as she feigned a stretch, casually scanning the crowd for any sign of pursuit or imminent danger, keeping voice low in reply, "Thank you for the warning, it shall not go unheeded, for now I will have the jacket and some of the treant sap vials and four of those nice furred blankets." She quickly fished into her backpack and withdrew her coin purse, hurriedly paying the elf before giving Lucky a grim nod and picking the quickest route from the area away from the crowds.

"Lucky, if you catch scent of any of our comrades do let me know," She told him quietly, knowing that now she was in a more outlying area of the market any pursuers would have a harder time remaining unseen, and her chances of spotting one of her friends would be much easier while not surrounded by people. "Also, if things look bad and we find ourselves in a potentially bad spot, let out a rallying howl, with luck our friends will hear it and come running, it will also draw attention, something those that hunt us hopefully wish to avoid."

(Can I have a spot check please GM? I'm searching for both anyone following us and any sight of the rest of our group.)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#379

Echo had enjoyed the play - why, he once had written a play about a princess, dragon and incompetent knights, and chuckled to this day whenever it came to his mind. Grinning at the dragon's antics ("Why doesn't anyone ever come to *lay* the dragon?"), the priestess swerved to meet the mummer's gaze, putting in a little swirl of the cloak for dramatic effect.
In a good mood, the elf took of the hood to reveal the carrot-red tresses. "Yes, how very observant of you. Here, look. I must disappoint you though - I am not giving any away."

Honestly, Echo enjoyed the feeling of having long hair, but hoped that Elven hair would behave somewhat like it did in movies. He had zero experience in tending to endless curly tresses.

"So, well met. Who might you be, and why are you asking?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#380

Lucky tilted his head in surprise at the Elves dire warning, following her without comment until they neared the outskirts, an unpleasant thought rising unbidden to his mind. "If we leave the boy behind he will be in grave danger, enough commoners have seen him on my back and in your company, those that seek us will attempt to find him, and use him as leverage against us, or perhaps use dark magics to tear into his mind to find out what he over heard us say about our next destination."

He looked back and licked the boy on the side of the face, his canine and Dire wolf parts flooding him with the instinctual drive to protect the young of the pack, even if it wasn't his own by blood. "How would you feel about staying with all of us for a while longer?" he asked the boy, fixing him with a piercing gaze, before lifting his head and scenting the air, searching for any trace of the others they called friends.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#381

The young woman admired Echo's hair...

"I am Sandrade, this is my brother Guyard." She motioned to another figure who sidled up beside her, and likewise examined Echo, with a wide friendly grin. The young man looked to be identical in every way to his sister aside from their sex.

"Indeed" he purred then exclaimed, "Mi'lady, my elven beauty, locks such as yours belong upon the stage!"

The woman giggled at her brother's words, "Guyard likes you" she announced, "And I like you" she added suggestively. "We are with the mummer's troupe. The Dragonspawn. We are well known, both in these soggy lands and across the sea," she assured Echo, in case he doubted her. "We are talent spotters. We recruit for our band. Mayhaps you have talents for drama and comedy? We would be tickled to count an elven actress as one of us." More smiling...

"What my sister is trying to say" Guyard took over, but the three were momentarily distracted by a flying clay pot which sailed past them, smashing into some poor cloaked figure a few dozen feet away...

"What she's trying to say is that we would welcome your presence in our tent this might. We have dreamed of making love to an elf ever since we saw our first one." More grinning...

The pair was drunk. But young and nubile, confident and attractive. If not overly charming.

Val's clay projectile found it's mark, smashing into the back of cloak #2's head, and he went reeling, knocking over another spectator as he stumbled. Val vanished into a sea of jostling people before the clay pot even hit. Likewise, as soon as the clay pot bashed cloak #2, cloak #1 vanished from site in the crowd.

It was difficult to make anything out further. Mystic still stood there, a head above, and in the midst of, a tightly packed group of people, eyes riveted to the stage where the "princess" was currently removing her robes and opining about the stamina of her dragon lover.

Val peered into the foggy group, but could not see either stalker.

Guyard hiccuped, laughed, and offered Echo a draught from his wineskin. Sandrade had moved on from the carrot locks and was now examining Echo's lithe figure.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#382

Willem stared into the dire-wolf's eyes...

"I want to stay with you!" He exclaimed and nearly leapt at Lucky, wrapping his pudgy hands around the wolf's neck, burying his face in Lucky's fur.

Sil purchased the blankets, jerkin, and sap and looked around again...

The d**n mist made it difficult to see any particular person properly. She spotted Tusserk. He was absentmindedly staring at the wares of a mustached vendor swathed in gray clothes, who had a collection of tiny frog statuettes carved from various semi-precious stones.

As she watched, happy to at least having spotted one companion, she noticed a robed figure approach Tusserk from behind. The figure paused and began speaking to Tusserk.

"Well met, friend." Tusserk heard a soothing voice behind him. "Won't you come with me now? I would speak with you and we will become like brothers."

(Tusserk needs to save vs magic...)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#383

Feeling a warm web slide across his brain before vanishing, Tusserk turned towards the speaker. Looking the person up and down Tusserk smiled slightly. Casually looking left and right to see if any others were dressed like this man Tusserk then threw his arms out wide and engulfed the man, below the elbows, in a bear hug. “Brother!”

Leaning his head in close to whisper into the man’s ear, Tusserk turned his head so his chin was pressing onto the carotid artery. “If you struggle then I will press harder and stop the flow of blood to your brain and then slowly crush your bones. So you can answer the questions and continue to live or you can fight back and die in a broken heap. Who sent you and for what purpose?” His eyes continued to scan the crowd as he talked. His concentration in scanning the crowd momentarily slacking his grip on the bear hug.

Rolled a 19+2 for saving throw vs spell of 15, Lady Wolf saw it
(22:12:31) Minion: Tusserk rolls 1d20 and gets 1. the attacking bear hug... evidently failed like Clodo's sex life

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#384

Lucky panted and licked the side of Will's face, "Then that's how it will be." He told the boy, reaching up a paw to gently rest on his shoulder.

"Over there Tusserk!" Silveressa's call yanked his attention to the mist enshrouded stall, her extended finger guiding his sight as he noticed the monk suddenly embracing someone, the realization they all could be in imminent danger pushing him into action.

"Cover your ears Wil, I'm going to see how loud I can howl." He told the boy, trusting he would see it as a game and not become frightened, nodding as Silveressa scooped him up and he clamped his hands over his head.

Taking a deep breath Lucky raised his head and barked loudly, yipping in three short barks followed by three longer howls and then three short barks, repeating the pattern twice more before falling silent. The distinct S.O.S call he trusted would be universal enough for his earthen companions to recognize it as a signal of distress and warning and send them running, but would otherwise be seen by natives as only a wolf howling at the moon.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#385

Silveressa winced at the piercing howl, biting back the instinctive reprisal that rose to her lips, a hold over from yelling at Lucky when he saw fit to bark and growl at anyone he deemed threatening to those he cared for. As the distress call echoed through the fog she scanned the crowd for any signs of her companions, hoping her friends would find them soon so she could relay the warning and vanish with them into the darkness and be well away before their pursuers even knew they had gone.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#386

Echo was at a loss for words initially. Looking back to his erstwhile troupe, it was not unusual for everybody to sleep with everybody else. Actors.
The idea of taking on twins was so very tempting, that the priestess swallowed the excessive saliva before answering. Negatively.
In addition to concerns of fidelity, though perchance worlds apart, Echo found drunkards unappealing for conversation and intercourse.
"I am flattered, certainly, but I already have a girlfriend."

She nodded apologetically. "When you sober up, I would not mind to act in your troupe though - but we should part for now." Verily, Echo would love to try this new-found dexterity on stage.
But it was time to find Silveressa. He had to get a few cues about being a girl.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#387

Val doubted the assailants had given up, and he already filled his off hand with a dart. He looked about, trying to be as subtle as possible, while looking out for others doing the same. Like submarine combat. They hadn't seen him yet, and he barely them. So, he'd have to watch for intentions. One would surely be looking for whoever brained him. The other - the same or continue on to Mystic.

Why did they always seem to disperse like cats? Didn't anyone remember not to split the damn party?

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#388

It was as if a malicious force separated them anytime they arrived at a new locale, Echo wondered while looking for any signs of Silveressa - or the others. It was even stranger because back on Earth, he always clung to someone he knew at open air events, fairs, concerts, conferences out of ... anxiety? Laziness? Subliminal gregariousness? He did not know, but this trait had been constant.

d**n, he could really use to find any of the others to shed that queer feeling, and to ventilate the tension of having been hit on, perhaps get a little external validation from the band. It was then that he heard the howl, one that could have only Lucky as a source. Determined, Echo headed in that direction, drunken threesomes a faint memory at most.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#389

The pale priestess showed a little more color than usual for her pale countenance, and it could not all be chalked up to the recent action. "Sil? May I make use of your emotional quotients and experience with the human condition?"

Silveressa looked over at Echo's approach and nodded, grateful Lucky managed to alert at least a few of her comrades. "Of course, what happened?" She looked at the priestess in concern, leading her a few stps away from Lucky after depositing Willem at his feet.

It was obvious that Echo was different when earnest and out of her comfort zone, less cocky and more sincere.
"Some of us have adapted better to the mismatch between our old and new self" Echo eyed Lucky.
"For me, it was mostly a difference in basic bodily functions so far. But…"

Silveressa eyed her friend with concern, raising an eyebrow and nodding, “Something happened recently?” She lowered her voice so as to give them a bit more privacy. “Whatever you wish to share I shall keep in the strictest of confidence, keen canine ears aside.” She glanced over at Lucky who seemed more occupied keeping Willem from tickling his belly than listening to their interactions.

"I bet I will read it all tomorrow in the Webhold Gazette. Shocking revelation, the elves are sexually confused!"
That was easy.
"Well, I should have expected this to happen sooner or later. I just figured that you being more feminine and developed, the attention would be bestowed upon you. I got hit on, though, and this brings up so many questions that I don't know where to start."
Excellent, dig a little in the dirt with your shoe to appear *more* nervous. There.
"First of all, am I a hopeless nerd for refusing a threesome in a fantasy land, just because the other two were drunk? And am I naive to cling to faithfulness in a dreamscape of fancy?"

Silveressa listened thoughtfully her slightly amused smile vanishing as she grasped the gravity of the situation, noddingly in understanding. “I usually have Lucky around in this land, and he can be a bit.. Off putting when it comes to garnering the attentions of strangers.”

"No, it's an established trope in fantasy settings that cross-species love is … well, happens all the time." She blushed. "Sorry, please continue."

Silveressa smiled and blushed slightly herself at the reference to her relations with Lucky, shrugging self consciously. “Were the two that propositioned you elves, a married couple by chance?”

"Humans, why?"

She shrugged and continued to speak quietly, “I recall the guards at the palace making some remark about Elven women being amazing between the sheets, perhaps this couple had heard similar things and were just drunk enough to approach you in the hopes of getting lucky?”

"I like sober partners… Okay, but I certainly *hope* I am amazing. No change from my human self, of course."

A decidedly girlish sigh followed, shoulders slumped.

"It's just, what exactly am I now? And how am I supposed to handle this? And will we ever return? Shall I try to find love here, or try to cross back home to return to my dear? Can I, even? I know the narrative imperative demands the possibility to arise, but that's in books…"

Silveressa smiled reassuringly, reaching out to take Echo’s hand gently in her own, squeezing it softly. “Turning them down sounds like the right choice, once they sobered up the next morning they may well have reacted poorly to the results of their drunken proposition.”

She thought for a moment before continuing, “You’re still the person I call friend, no matter what shape you have, as for love, am I correct that you still find women your preference? I know feminine hormones may have awakened other desires.”

Well, that would be difficult - at least Echo's very face looked constipated with words unspoken.
Sigh.

"I would have left them both to ravish me, honestly. And if you tell this to the guys, I will go cry in a corner, because hormones. It's … I find people attractive now, without considering things as gender. I guess it's the Elven thing to do, but…"

Silveressa grinned slightly despite herself at Echo’s comment of crying in a corner, nodding in understanding, “Love is where you find it, gender and species, and even the number of romantic partners is of less importance than whether you love them, and they love you in return.”

"So, you wouldn't find the idea of Liantirie in a kitchen in an apron, baking cakes and being molested by a husband unmanly?"

Ah, back with those jokes, Echo? Yes, please. Jokes are funny, that's why they're jokes.
"It would be skull-shaped cakes of course."

The ranger giggled at the mental imagery Echo’s comments brought forth, squeezing her hand again, this time holding the squeeze for a second longer than necessary. “I think as long as you’re happy with a husband, baking skully cakes no one, least of all me, would find it at all unbecoming of you; living happy is what matters, not conforming to what you think others expect of you.”

"Well, the right to the pursuit of happiness sounds nice. The ideology works out perfectly, and if someone doesn't like it, I hope I'll know Holy Smite by then - how about the practical aspect? What's the Elven fertility cycle, pregnancy rate, cross-fertility rate, pregnancy duration and death rate in childbirth?

I have to worry about all these now, and I know jack squat about being a girl." Here, the Elven memory may help, certainly. "I am slightly … hesitant … about searching the memory for this. I mean, is Liantirie even a virgin? I may find… stuff."

Silveressa nodded again, slower this time, “I know what you mean about being hesitant to delve into your past memories, I too, worry what this body may have experienced, and if remembering those things will change who I currently am.”

"Well, the fact that you are whole and unharmed changes something for you already, doesn't it?" Echo hugged Silveressa awkwardly, she had still a lot to learn about sisterhood and… the feeling was stronger than remembered from online discussions.

Silveressa sighed at the priestesses observation, "I'd been in constant pain for so long back on earth I'd forgotten what it feels like not to hurt all the time, every moment here is blissful in that aspect." She waved a hand dismissively and gestured for Echo to continue.

"Don't worry, I'll patch up anything that hurts you now." The cleric quirked her lips briefly and continued speaking, "I'd say we should look and take what we like, then discard the rest. You know, considering this vast memory pool, perhaps we could do a Vulcan mind meld or something similar, and search them together? I bet Elves do this sort of thing. I could use help in interpreting things, and in return will remember who you are, and help you stay as much you as you want."

Silveressa returned the embrace readily, the feeling of connection with a fellow elf and friend, causing a surge of sisterly emotion within her, “I’d like that, doing it together sounds much better than attempting to delve into our memories alone, and lets us give each other strength.”

She smiled gently, understanding the level of trust and intimacy involved in such an undertaking would deepen their bond of friendship, an unexpected secondary flood of emotions that Echo trusted her enough to take such a journey together filling her heart; her smile growing warmer as she met the cleric's gaze.

"I like this smile of yours" Echo grinned, cheeky again, sweeping the concerns into the "resolved" bin. Able to carry a worry for decades, he was likewise able to file it away with the snap of fingers, provided it really was resolved. Catharsis at its finest.
"I'm not certain that it will work - but if it does, we might even find a recipe for skull-cookies."

Silveressa blushed again at the unexpected compliment, then giggled at the priestesses joke, “If we do, then I’ll be sure to buy you an apron to wear in the future.” She winked at her and relaxed visibly, realizing she still had her arms around Echo’s waist, deciding that it unexpectedly felt quite natural. “Perhaps sometime I can help you explore other aspects of being an Elven woman?” She offered, giving the clerics backside a playful squeeze, ready to pass the proposition off as a joke if her comment proved unwelcome.

Echo felt her butt being possessively squeezed, and jumped at the offer - surprising it was, though… "Not unwelcome" the pale redhead sighed, closing her eyes briefly, lips slightly parted by a wistful breath. "I … will tell you when I'm ready, alright?"

Silveressa closed her eyes in contentment for a moment, her smile widening as she nodded once in acceptance, “The offer will remain open for the foreseeable future, and I shall ensure we will not be interrupted when the time does come.” She gave Lucky a brief glance, “Carly won’t mind giving us our space if I ask, I promise.” She leaned in and gave Echo a second hug, briefly kissing her on the lips, grateful they had the chance to talk in semi privacy.

"Thanks!" Echo seemed chipper, and ready to frolic, their more pressing concerns briefly forgotten.

(The previous was written by Echo and Silveressa in chat then posted here after editing.)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#390

Lucky dodged to the side as Willem once again grabbed at his tummy fur, barking playfully, careful not to hurt the boy as he kept an ear bent to the conversation the elves were having near by and scented the air for any trace of their other friends.

"Some of us have adapted better to the mismatch between our old and new self" Echo eyed Lucky.

That's because I have Lucky consciousness to keep me sane and a Dire Wolf's instinct to help guide my actions, if not for them I would probably still be figuring out how to walk and howling at my own reflection. He thought ruefully, nuzzling Willem and keeping a casual eye on his surroundings, the rest of their conversation about Elven sexuality of little interest, his mind, heart, and instincts confident that he was bonded for all time to Silveressa in love and a deeper magical union all rangers shared with their animal companions and never needed question their eternal connection.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#391

Lucky's howl pierced the night. The loitering folk nearer the wolf looked anywhere from alarmed to panic stricken. It was one thing to hear a wolf howl somewhere in the distance. It was quite another to hear a dire-wolf's howl close up and personal.

Some folk literally scattered. Others cowered. Some even had the gumption to stand nervously in place.

Nearer the stage packed with spectators meanwhile, the masses howled with laughter and applause as well, for at the very moment that Lucky howled, the princess in the bawdy play was trying a wolf on for size, having been rejected by her dragon lover.

No doubt the work of the mummers, they thought. And what timing! *cheers ring out*

Except Mystic, who turned his head at that moment knowing who that howl had to come from. Spotting Sil, Echo, and Lucky the warrior waved, and was about to shout something to them, when a queer look came to his face, as they watched. He squinted his whole face as if just having eaten a lemon, or having swigged some really bitter beer.

Then they saw him kind of "ooze" down, disappearing from view amidst the mosh pit of an audience watching the play.

Val spotted Cloak #1, just as Lucky howled. The figure rose unsteadily rubbing its neck. Looking around frantically, not spotting Val of course, but noticing Mystic going down. A quick pause, as if in thought, and suddenly the figure darted away from the makeshift town, the temporary bedlam from the wolf-howl helping his cause. He headed away from the stalls...heading for the wilderness and the night.

-------------

"Pfft...no doubt she has her moonflow, brother, let us find fresher game" Sandrade said to Guyard as the young man stood there, still shocked at being rebuffed by the carrot-haired elf.

"She wasn't even that attractive, sis, I just really liked her hair." He made a face.

"Her loss" Sandrade shrugged.

-----------

No, no, no...oh no

Somewhere between Sandrade's snide remark and Sil pinching his butt, Echo began to feel a dull aching pain building up inside him. Then something else...down there...Oh no. Well, why not, the stress he/she was under this last week was...yeah. He'd probably need more advice from Sil. Like now!

-----------

Tusserk's bear hug grip was loosened even as he applied it, the monk clumsily slipping down the stranger's body, his chin rubbing against his adversary as he slid. It was almost comical (you rolled a 1 :P). "Slippery sniveling, spellcaster for the win!" He could hear a gm shouting somewhere in his head...

"What the hell kind of move was that?" Spiderheart would no doubt say if he was here. And where was Spidey already anyway?

These thoughts and more as he slid downwards...

Recovering quickly however, Tusserk was instantly up on his feet again, but just then, his foe uttered the words "Egami Rorrim!" And suddenly Tusserk was facing five identical adversaries standing a few feet apart. A wickedly long and curved dagger in each one's hand! All five leered at the monk.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#392

A sudden flare of rage, Valadaar whipped the dart he held at the departing figure, even as he moved to get closer to Mystic - to see what happened, and to see if he could help. The dart missed.

His assailant must be close, where was he? He put his sling into his hand and loaded a stone.

(23:02:29) Minion: valadaar rolls 1d20 and gets 9, +2 for back. Can't hit much with 20 THACO :P

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#393

Echo sighed, back in "reality" after the heartwarming experience. "I'll need to buy clean linen in addition to provisions and arrows. And here I thought a master race like us Elves would have safeguards against this type of thing."

"What thing?" Sil interjected.

"Shedding of the uterine lining in preparation of establishing a new one to welcome the next ovulation, my dear" Echo sighed. "Let's save the boys, shall we? Then we can go shopping. For supplies, maybe shoes? You must teach me to love shoes - after we lay down some righteous wrath."

Bow drawn and pretty thoroughly pissed that whatever scoundrels were attacking them would not let her bleed in peace, Echo scanned the crowd for signs of hostiles, and the hard-to-overlook Moon.

"Disperse, citizens, for there is a monster in your midst. Stand apart and study those next to you, to discern him and be safe!"
Technically, she was speaking the truth - anyone to harm that adorable piece of beef was a monster in Echo's book.
If roll is needed, please roll for me.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#394

“A duel-wielding Wizard… this is new. Seeing as how your hands are both occupied I will assume you are either out of spells or only have spells with verbal components left. So the question now becomes this, Do you have any spells left of sufficient threat to me or are you willing to risk your body in hand-to-hand combat? Will you attack me physically or will you hang back while your illusions occupy my attention?” Tusserk slid into a narrow stance, his right foot slightly back and bouncing on its toes. His hands both came up, with his palms facing the center of the group as his elbows were tucked into his sides. “Let’s see how willing you are to risk your own body in close combat.”

Tusserk snapped a straight kick at the closest enemy’s stomach.

(21:34:21) Minion: Tusserk rolls 1d20 and gets 11.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#395

Silveressa suppressed a giggle and rolled her eyes, realizing that decidedly awkward conversation would require a tad more delicacy, offering up only a single sentence of advice as she drew her own bow and followed her forward. "Don't dwell on your bodies autonomic functions, focus on the task in front of us, I'll give you a hand with your feminine issue later.

She notched an arrow and trailed back by a half dozen paces, whistling for Lucky to gather up Willem and keep pace, feeling safer with them at her side than waiting somewhere alone.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#396

Lucky chuffed in amusement at Silveressa's choice of words, the Carly part of his mind envisioning just what kind of "hand" she hand in mind for Echo, the barked command to follow with Will suppressing her thoughts and pushing her into motion. In a smooth well practiced motion she lowered her head and lifted, scooping the boy onto his back where he waited for him to grab hold of the saddlebag harness before trotting calmly after the ranger, every sense hunting for danger.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#397

At first the crowd thought the two bow-wielding women and wolf-riding boy were part of the play. And they cheered like idiots. The cavalry arriving to save the lascivious princess from her latest spurned paramour. On stage, both princess and her third and latest lover, a Minotaur, stopped mid-line to stare out dumbly at the scene.

As Echo's warning registered however, neighbor began looking at neighbor with sudden suspicion and confusion.

Paving the way, the crowd scattering aside as he came, Lucky spotted Mystic first. The huge warrior was on his knees, seemingly in some sort of daze. Beneath him lay a man, no, an elf! His face completely smashed in, and bloody, courtesy of Mystic's mighty punch moments earlier. The assailant wasn't moving. One of the elf's arms lay sprawled at an odd angle as well, broken so thoroughly it resembled more a folded chicken wing rather than arm. Nearby, a long, cruel dirk could be seen, it's blade glistening from the lights onstage.

As Sil, Echo, and Lucky neared, Mystic gripped his polearm tightly and stood up while simultaneously raising his weapon to bring it down to strike. He was about to behead the elf. They could now see a dark, wet wound, staining Mystic's lower back.

"Willem Wolf-rider!" Willem shouted just then, for no reason whatsoever aside from his excitement.

On stage, the Minotaur and princess looked at each other, shrugged and began acting again, not sure what else to do at that moment. The show must go on.

"That meaty, bovine tongue of yours Bradatormandius, it shall be the end of me!"

The wizard cum assassin circled Tusserk, mouth open in a feral grin, teeth shining from the nearby light of a lantern vendor's stall.

All five men dodged away as Tusserk brought foot to battle. His sudden kick was fast, but his five attackers were surprisingly agile as well, feinting then lunging simultaneously to stab at the monk, with their wicked curved blades. Ably, Tusserk avoided the slicing dagger strikes, (only one of them was real anyway, he posited) and readied for a counterattack.

(Rolled 10 offline to hit. So missed. Initiative, Tuss. I rolled a 4.)

Sling at the ready, Val noticed both scenes simultaneously. The drama (double entendre :P) by the stage, and the Tusserk some distance away, taking on five similar looking attackers. Identical even. Val was no elf but his vision was keen enough.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#398

"Mystic STOP!"

Silveressa cried out, unleashing an arrow without hesitation smiling in satisfaction as it slammed through the opening under the polearm's blade, the shaft catching and, ripping it from his grasp. Before the first arrow had found its mark she had a second readied and aimed, this one centered on the crippled would be assassins throat.

"We need him alive, to tell us how many of there are and how they are tracking us." She told her friends more quietly, giving a nod to the muscled fighter, "Get him on his feet, or drag him by his hair, it doesn't matter how, he comes with us."

(20:37:28) Minion: Silveressa rolls 1d20 and gets 20. (Murometz and Longspeak in chat to witness roll.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#399

Mystic's eyes seemed to clear just then, his fearsome black iron weapon no longer in his grasp, and he glanced at Sil dumbly. Then he looked down at the still-life elf. "I--I don't think he's alive, Sil." The giant then shambled off, head down, to pick up his downed pole-arm. His movement was stiff.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#400

Valadaar, chose to help Tuss., and launched a set of darts trying to search out the real images. Sadly the darts missed.

He moved closer still. Hand on his sword this time. Watching for eyes and reactions, and movements.