Saturday, June 14, 2008
or maybe not...
Okay, so we are looking at a July date for our next game session. The only alternative is to play a week night.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Next session
Just wanted to post this and get it in electronic stone. The next session for our game will be on the 27th. If possible, it would be great to start a little earlier since Matt will need to leave by 11:00.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sylvia at dusk
My fondest daughter Lydia,
As this message reaches you, I am sure you have long since relieved yourself of all hope for my sake. From the day I have been captured, it has been many months, and what I am sure will be my last winter has fallen on me at last.
The hunger and suffering I have endured over these last weeks has taken it's toll and I'm afraid reality and the workings of my hagrid imagination have blurred. Indeed, this moment of clarity which allows me to write to you now has been one of the few true moments I can truthfully describe since I spoke to you last. I'm afraid what I have to tell from beyond the shadow of life is not a happy tale.
Of course, I was captured. Your training was nearly complete when we last spoke. You were a fine pupil, daughter of mine. I am most proud. But the happenings of even the last days we were together is a blur.
On the fringes of our own woods, I was ensnared by a band on horseback. I was gathering roots for a spring soup when they came at me from behind. My old instincts kicked in, but I'm afraid that the onset of my years has slowed my reactions, and I was all at once in the grips of my captors.
At first I thought I was simply being robbed, but a cart soon arrived and I was pushed into it. A large block of wood locked into place and I was trapped for the duration. However, I was not alone in that buggy. From the dark a weak voice spoke to me. It seems I was not the only captive.
My fellow passenger was a younger man. He had clearly fought his imprisonment, and lost the battle. What was left of him was slowly seeping away. What I learned from him before he drifted away entirely was quite frightening. We had been selected it seemed. Our capture was not by accident. Winter, though many months away, demanded a price, and our souls were the bounty. We had been captured to pay a toll to the undead who awake in the long of night.
When we arrived at our destination, it was many days later. Delirious with hunger and thirst, and fully aware of my companions rotting wounds, I dropped from my cage when it opened like a tattered rag. I had no strength to speak of and was already long for the world. It was treated for my sickness of hunger with potions and magic, but it was too late. The days in that carriage had already taken the toll on my mind.
Upon my walk to my final resting spot, one of the guards who was in charge asked his men to back off and volunteered to take me the rest of the way on my own. There was something different about this guard.
"Old woman," he said to me, "I can do nothing to forsake your life. A pennance must be paid each year with the souls of those who are righteous. It has been thus for many decades. Before then, four kings, brothers, held back the night each long winter, and our land was safe. But since the eldest, the one born in winter betrayed the other three, the peoples of this once great citidel have suffered. Many years went by and we fought the creatures of the dark with our youngest and brightest. Many generations have been lost here to the night. In time we discovered the depths to which we are about to cast you. There is something about that dark world under the city. The first legion we sent down there perished at the hand of those not living. Something about the loss though seemed to appease the darkness, and our city was allowed to survive a winter. When a second legion was sent down the next year, the same thing happened again."
And so, I learned, that it has become the quiet tradition of this community, to capture souls from abroad, and feed them quite literally to the night. It explains the disappearances in our land that have happened. But my guard did not stop revealing his secrets just yet. "There are some of us who believe there is a better way," he said. "Among the souls we capture each year, we strive to find those who could fight back in the darkness. The very nature of these captives will be obvious at night fall." Look for them. They will be the ones fighting the darkness. We have selected them specifically to fight the night and halt it's progress." With that I was handed a few items, told to keep them safe and then cast into the depths of my now prison.
It has been a long wait for this last winter to begin. Nothing here can satisfy my hunger, no one here can calm my mind, and so my thoughts are left to their own devices.
Lydia, my daughter, I am afraid this is it. My last testimony is in your hands. The good tidings I can bring, if there can be any, is that those who the guard had spoken of have revealed themselves among us and kept us alive. Indeed, I will be asking this final favor of one of them, to deliver this message to you. The child's name is Girgowil, and she is amongst friends who can bring this unfortunate circumstance to an end. If anyone can. The tools that were handed to me by the guard will suit her best.
If you are reading these words now, the darkness has settled on me, but moved on for the rest of the group. Bless them if you see this, they will have fought death and survived, and the soul that survives this sort of turmoil, is need of consecration.
The darkness is settling on me at last my dearest daughter and I must bring these final words to you now. The greatest reward of my life has been raising you in my love and devotion, all that I could bestow.
All my love,
Sylvia
As this message reaches you, I am sure you have long since relieved yourself of all hope for my sake. From the day I have been captured, it has been many months, and what I am sure will be my last winter has fallen on me at last.
The hunger and suffering I have endured over these last weeks has taken it's toll and I'm afraid reality and the workings of my hagrid imagination have blurred. Indeed, this moment of clarity which allows me to write to you now has been one of the few true moments I can truthfully describe since I spoke to you last. I'm afraid what I have to tell from beyond the shadow of life is not a happy tale.
Of course, I was captured. Your training was nearly complete when we last spoke. You were a fine pupil, daughter of mine. I am most proud. But the happenings of even the last days we were together is a blur.
On the fringes of our own woods, I was ensnared by a band on horseback. I was gathering roots for a spring soup when they came at me from behind. My old instincts kicked in, but I'm afraid that the onset of my years has slowed my reactions, and I was all at once in the grips of my captors.
At first I thought I was simply being robbed, but a cart soon arrived and I was pushed into it. A large block of wood locked into place and I was trapped for the duration. However, I was not alone in that buggy. From the dark a weak voice spoke to me. It seems I was not the only captive.
My fellow passenger was a younger man. He had clearly fought his imprisonment, and lost the battle. What was left of him was slowly seeping away. What I learned from him before he drifted away entirely was quite frightening. We had been selected it seemed. Our capture was not by accident. Winter, though many months away, demanded a price, and our souls were the bounty. We had been captured to pay a toll to the undead who awake in the long of night.
When we arrived at our destination, it was many days later. Delirious with hunger and thirst, and fully aware of my companions rotting wounds, I dropped from my cage when it opened like a tattered rag. I had no strength to speak of and was already long for the world. It was treated for my sickness of hunger with potions and magic, but it was too late. The days in that carriage had already taken the toll on my mind.
Upon my walk to my final resting spot, one of the guards who was in charge asked his men to back off and volunteered to take me the rest of the way on my own. There was something different about this guard.
"Old woman," he said to me, "I can do nothing to forsake your life. A pennance must be paid each year with the souls of those who are righteous. It has been thus for many decades. Before then, four kings, brothers, held back the night each long winter, and our land was safe. But since the eldest, the one born in winter betrayed the other three, the peoples of this once great citidel have suffered. Many years went by and we fought the creatures of the dark with our youngest and brightest. Many generations have been lost here to the night. In time we discovered the depths to which we are about to cast you. There is something about that dark world under the city. The first legion we sent down there perished at the hand of those not living. Something about the loss though seemed to appease the darkness, and our city was allowed to survive a winter. When a second legion was sent down the next year, the same thing happened again."
And so, I learned, that it has become the quiet tradition of this community, to capture souls from abroad, and feed them quite literally to the night. It explains the disappearances in our land that have happened. But my guard did not stop revealing his secrets just yet. "There are some of us who believe there is a better way," he said. "Among the souls we capture each year, we strive to find those who could fight back in the darkness. The very nature of these captives will be obvious at night fall." Look for them. They will be the ones fighting the darkness. We have selected them specifically to fight the night and halt it's progress." With that I was handed a few items, told to keep them safe and then cast into the depths of my now prison.
It has been a long wait for this last winter to begin. Nothing here can satisfy my hunger, no one here can calm my mind, and so my thoughts are left to their own devices.
Lydia, my daughter, I am afraid this is it. My last testimony is in your hands. The good tidings I can bring, if there can be any, is that those who the guard had spoken of have revealed themselves among us and kept us alive. Indeed, I will be asking this final favor of one of them, to deliver this message to you. The child's name is Girgowil, and she is amongst friends who can bring this unfortunate circumstance to an end. If anyone can. The tools that were handed to me by the guard will suit her best.
If you are reading these words now, the darkness has settled on me, but moved on for the rest of the group. Bless them if you see this, they will have fought death and survived, and the soul that survives this sort of turmoil, is need of consecration.
The darkness is settling on me at last my dearest daughter and I must bring these final words to you now. The greatest reward of my life has been raising you in my love and devotion, all that I could bestow.
All my love,
Sylvia
Mordoc's Story
(Notes taken from special examination during Mordock's prior military service, about 2 years ago).
To whom it may concern,
This account has been taken due to the special assignment of one of our more extraordinary soldiers, Mordok. Usually such examinations are rarely undertaken concerning common soldiers and are reserved for high ranking officers. But in this case, the order came from the top and I am obliged to comply. It seems Mordok has been selected to perform a unusual assignment that will require an extended stay behind enemy lines. Here is my assessment of his personal and combat history as requested by command.
Mordock was born to a common whore in one of the border towns of the frozen north which used to be subject of frequent orc raids. The town existed solely to supply and entertain soldiers fighting in the war. It has since faded from the maps in our records and it's name has been forgotten since. During a raid, Mordocks mother, (name missing from records,) was raped and later perished during childbirth. The madam of the local brothel raised her child, as a slave until age 10 when he was sold to a local weapon smith. Mordok's brute strength, which even as a boy enabled him to fire hot coals needed to forge his blades, was desirable. It is from the smith Mordock learned how to craft and use many weapons with great skill and ease.
6 years later, at age 16, Mordock was pressed into military service when a commander was at the shop commissioning a sword. He was immediately stuck by Mordocks strength combined with intelligence and adaptability possessed by few half-orcs.
During the last 3 years Mordock served in front line infantry, and by all rights should be dead. No human soldier has survived this many battles. In fact, he seems to possess the unique ability to harness his anger and fury, allowing him to battle as if he were 10 men. The ability of him to route troops through pure fear and terror was truly unique.
Upon interviewing Mordock, he appears to respect strength above all else, he is impatient, brutal, cunning and seems to have a weakness for human and elf women. He is often self serving and greedy but seems to oddly help the less fortunate as long as there is no risk to his own health. While technically he is required to serve in the army, he could clearly leave at any time thanks to unusual strength and the men's fear of him.
The nature of his mission appears to be a brutal assassination of an unknown target. So brutal, the enemies morale will be crushed. He is a natural choice for this mission.
In regards to motivation, it is suggested the only way to compel Mordock to complete this assignment successfully is a large amount of gold as well as his freedom. If he is successful, this terrible war will be over anyway. It is not like we possess the power to make him stay without suffering horrific casualties.
Maester and Chief Healer
Peter Anthony
4th regiment
His Majesty's Royal army
To whom it may concern,
This account has been taken due to the special assignment of one of our more extraordinary soldiers, Mordok. Usually such examinations are rarely undertaken concerning common soldiers and are reserved for high ranking officers. But in this case, the order came from the top and I am obliged to comply. It seems Mordok has been selected to perform a unusual assignment that will require an extended stay behind enemy lines. Here is my assessment of his personal and combat history as requested by command.
Mordock was born to a common whore in one of the border towns of the frozen north which used to be subject of frequent orc raids. The town existed solely to supply and entertain soldiers fighting in the war. It has since faded from the maps in our records and it's name has been forgotten since. During a raid, Mordocks mother, (name missing from records,) was raped and later perished during childbirth. The madam of the local brothel raised her child, as a slave until age 10 when he was sold to a local weapon smith. Mordok's brute strength, which even as a boy enabled him to fire hot coals needed to forge his blades, was desirable. It is from the smith Mordock learned how to craft and use many weapons with great skill and ease.
6 years later, at age 16, Mordock was pressed into military service when a commander was at the shop commissioning a sword. He was immediately stuck by Mordocks strength combined with intelligence and adaptability possessed by few half-orcs.
During the last 3 years Mordock served in front line infantry, and by all rights should be dead. No human soldier has survived this many battles. In fact, he seems to possess the unique ability to harness his anger and fury, allowing him to battle as if he were 10 men. The ability of him to route troops through pure fear and terror was truly unique.
Upon interviewing Mordock, he appears to respect strength above all else, he is impatient, brutal, cunning and seems to have a weakness for human and elf women. He is often self serving and greedy but seems to oddly help the less fortunate as long as there is no risk to his own health. While technically he is required to serve in the army, he could clearly leave at any time thanks to unusual strength and the men's fear of him.
The nature of his mission appears to be a brutal assassination of an unknown target. So brutal, the enemies morale will be crushed. He is a natural choice for this mission.
In regards to motivation, it is suggested the only way to compel Mordock to complete this assignment successfully is a large amount of gold as well as his freedom. If he is successful, this terrible war will be over anyway. It is not like we possess the power to make him stay without suffering horrific casualties.
Maester and Chief Healer
Peter Anthony
4th regiment
His Majesty's Royal army
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Session 3 - message from the DM
Well, the group last night really could have used their rogue. They accidentally set off two traps. Girgowil was paralyzed for a few minutes, and was left to the devices of a teenage dwarf, who was putting her character in all sorts of funny postions. Then there was the pit that was a hot topic of conversation – how to get across. I believe that time it was Mordoc who took the plunge. I've never seen so many twenties wasted on climbing up a rope. Where is an adult red dragon when you need him?
It has been decreed that the next game-night is in two weeks on Friday night (May 9). I should point out, that that is Mother's day weekend, and that Friday is commencement for some schools (alan?). If that is an issue for anyone, we can adjust the schedule to the following weekend. The 16th appears to be clear of any national holidays where one could be construed as looking like a bad son or daughter for not celebrating.
Girgowil, Theodoric, Golsolis, and Mordoc all earned 1100 points in XP. Girgowil gets an extra 10 points for throwing a rock in her dream, causing her to turn into a toad instead of the other furry animal.
Congratulations on finding two mirrors in the deep. Are there more? Will they be as easy to find? What lingers behind the door underwater? Will the ghost come explain how he didn't fall into the trap? Will Golsolis give that screaming woman something she should really cry about? Does monstrous centipede taste better with salt? Does anyone really have a pocket big enough to hold a mirror?
Are you ba da da da dummmm, lovin it?
PS, I am free to play descent next week. Give me a shout.
Nate
It has been decreed that the next game-night is in two weeks on Friday night (May 9). I should point out, that that is Mother's day weekend, and that Friday is commencement for some schools (alan?). If that is an issue for anyone, we can adjust the schedule to the following weekend. The 16th appears to be clear of any national holidays where one could be construed as looking like a bad son or daughter for not celebrating.
Girgowil, Theodoric, Golsolis, and Mordoc all earned 1100 points in XP. Girgowil gets an extra 10 points for throwing a rock in her dream, causing her to turn into a toad instead of the other furry animal.
Congratulations on finding two mirrors in the deep. Are there more? Will they be as easy to find? What lingers behind the door underwater? Will the ghost come explain how he didn't fall into the trap? Will Golsolis give that screaming woman something she should really cry about? Does monstrous centipede taste better with salt? Does anyone really have a pocket big enough to hold a mirror?
Are you ba da da da dummmm, lovin it?
PS, I am free to play descent next week. Give me a shout.
Nate
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