NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
[X] Study the murals on the walls, most of them seem to be related to learning?
Quest to Become a Hero
- Thread starter adwarf
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- California
[X] Look at the statues placed behind the pedestals.
TwistedJester
Tired Lurker King
- Location
- Hell
[X] Look at the statues placed behind the pedestals.
- Location
- New York
[X] Look at the statues placed behind the pedestals.
- Location
- In my Lair, on my Hoard
[X] Investigate the tiles beneath your feet for they contain countless sends of battle intricately carved on them.
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
*scenes
[X] Study the murals on the walls, most of them seem to be related to learning?
Videogames have taught me that ancient murals are always to be inspected.
[X] Study the murals on the walls, most of them seem to be related to learning?
An Old Man and a Terrible Rest
adwarf
Possibly Terrible Writer
- Location
- Trapped with a Keyboard
[X] Study the murals on the walls, most of them seem to be related to learning?
After the flame falls silent you turn away to examine the Temple at large. You find that upon closer inspection the images that are formed on the murals and tiles seem to shift as you watch them from one scene to the next. While the tiles morph from one intricate carving of battle to the next the murals change to display entirely new scenes of figures engaging in all form of trade, or practice.
Instinctively your mind turns to the murals for they seem to be largely related to knowledge in one form, or another though you quickly find them hard to study. Strangely most of them seem to turn blurry the moment you focus on them before speedily switching to another scene almost as if resisting any attempt at understanding. However, in the middle of the constant flow shifting murals you find one that remains the same no matter how long you stare at it.
It depicts an incredibly aged man, his body seemingly worn away to a skeletal figure of wrinkled leather by the passage of time, stooped over a pile of books with a quill in hand. Slowly the words on the pages and book covers become clearer, the aged man becoming more life like as time seems to rewind. Books disappear from the area around him, his body straightens and his skin returns to a youthful, vibrant tone as a smile spreads upon his face.
By the time you begin to hear someone speaking softly in your ears you realize you are falling unconscious, but willingly embrace it. Something about the experience feeling comforting as everything in front of you turns to black, the voice growing louder with every moment...
---
A life sentence they called it, a punishment for crimes against the Imperial Family for daring to spread the truth of knowledge to the masses.
"What kind of punishment is it to offer a student of Knowledge a chance to spend the remainder of his life browsing and copying the personal library of the Emperor Himself? Bwhahaha, truly I've lucked out this time. No one to bother me and all the knowledge of the world to view! Such idiots."
With that you turn to the table laden with books, just a few for now but their value is truly incalculable for every one is an ancient record of the Imperial Library. Blank pages, ink, sand, and a quill rest next to them for it is all you would ever need to copy these aging masterpieces. Hesitation and excitement fill you as you sit down to work, a hand shakily preparing the quill while the other readies the pages for your work...
From there it all becomes a blur. Time passes, days or weeks or even years perhaps? You can't tell for all that is clear to you is the man's actions, no... your actions? Whatever lies on the books is a blur to you, but every action of those hands and arms is clear as they copy page after page. Book after book. Wrinkles form, tanned skin turning pale as the blurred contents are poured out onto new pages under the increasingly skilled hand.
By the time you can no longer move it, for all that you feel from your own two hands is crippling pain, you know that you have achieved something few before ever have. Sure, it was simply copying but you had honed it into an art-form. Perhaps it is okay to pass away with having achieved this?
"Yes, yes. This is good enough. I can sleep in peace knowing this..."
With that your frail form clambers onto a straw mat next to the desk, warmth leaving your body with every movement as the world starts to fade. Colors bleed away turning the world black and white, your body quickly refuses to respond, and yet you are satisfied...
---
You awake with a start, searing pain radiating from your head and hands as you feel something gently licking at your hands. Before you can find the time to look towards the source of whatever was licking you a horrible coughs starts up and you bring your hands up to cover your face. When it subsides and you finally pull your hands away you find them stained in blood, your skin split open in a dozen places...
"What the hell!?"
You scream out loud as you force yourself up to look at the mirror next to the bed, your companion hopping down to stand beside you as an intense feeling of worry is sent to you. However, now isn't the time to comfort the creature for in the mirror you find your face covered in dried blood which seems to have came from your nose.
"Well, that would explain the pain in my head, but the real question is... Why in the name of the Gods did any of this happen in the first place?"
You mutter as you begin to shakily clean yourself with the room's washbasin, your mind wandering as you wonder how to deal with this...
What do you do?
[] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
[] Go purchase a health potion from Gerald.
[] Handle it yourself. Wrap your hands with some of your clean rags after washing them properly.
[] Write-in.
Advanced Copy Writing (Beginner) to Copy Writing (Novice). Gained 9 Experience.
Advanced Copy Writing (Novice) to Copy Writing (Adept). Gained 12 Experience.
GM Note: I'm not really a fan of how this turned out, but here we go. Rather post something than get wrapped up rewriting it repeatedly...
After the flame falls silent you turn away to examine the Temple at large. You find that upon closer inspection the images that are formed on the murals and tiles seem to shift as you watch them from one scene to the next. While the tiles morph from one intricate carving of battle to the next the murals change to display entirely new scenes of figures engaging in all form of trade, or practice.
Instinctively your mind turns to the murals for they seem to be largely related to knowledge in one form, or another though you quickly find them hard to study. Strangely most of them seem to turn blurry the moment you focus on them before speedily switching to another scene almost as if resisting any attempt at understanding. However, in the middle of the constant flow shifting murals you find one that remains the same no matter how long you stare at it.
It depicts an incredibly aged man, his body seemingly worn away to a skeletal figure of wrinkled leather by the passage of time, stooped over a pile of books with a quill in hand. Slowly the words on the pages and book covers become clearer, the aged man becoming more life like as time seems to rewind. Books disappear from the area around him, his body straightens and his skin returns to a youthful, vibrant tone as a smile spreads upon his face.
By the time you begin to hear someone speaking softly in your ears you realize you are falling unconscious, but willingly embrace it. Something about the experience feeling comforting as everything in front of you turns to black, the voice growing louder with every moment...
---
A life sentence they called it, a punishment for crimes against the Imperial Family for daring to spread the truth of knowledge to the masses.
"What kind of punishment is it to offer a student of Knowledge a chance to spend the remainder of his life browsing and copying the personal library of the Emperor Himself? Bwhahaha, truly I've lucked out this time. No one to bother me and all the knowledge of the world to view! Such idiots."
With that you turn to the table laden with books, just a few for now but their value is truly incalculable for every one is an ancient record of the Imperial Library. Blank pages, ink, sand, and a quill rest next to them for it is all you would ever need to copy these aging masterpieces. Hesitation and excitement fill you as you sit down to work, a hand shakily preparing the quill while the other readies the pages for your work...
From there it all becomes a blur. Time passes, days or weeks or even years perhaps? You can't tell for all that is clear to you is the man's actions, no... your actions? Whatever lies on the books is a blur to you, but every action of those hands and arms is clear as they copy page after page. Book after book. Wrinkles form, tanned skin turning pale as the blurred contents are poured out onto new pages under the increasingly skilled hand.
By the time you can no longer move it, for all that you feel from your own two hands is crippling pain, you know that you have achieved something few before ever have. Sure, it was simply copying but you had honed it into an art-form. Perhaps it is okay to pass away with having achieved this?
"Yes, yes. This is good enough. I can sleep in peace knowing this..."
With that your frail form clambers onto a straw mat next to the desk, warmth leaving your body with every movement as the world starts to fade. Colors bleed away turning the world black and white, your body quickly refuses to respond, and yet you are satisfied...
---
You awake with a start, searing pain radiating from your head and hands as you feel something gently licking at your hands. Before you can find the time to look towards the source of whatever was licking you a horrible coughs starts up and you bring your hands up to cover your face. When it subsides and you finally pull your hands away you find them stained in blood, your skin split open in a dozen places...
"What the hell!?"
You scream out loud as you force yourself up to look at the mirror next to the bed, your companion hopping down to stand beside you as an intense feeling of worry is sent to you. However, now isn't the time to comfort the creature for in the mirror you find your face covered in dried blood which seems to have came from your nose.
"Well, that would explain the pain in my head, but the real question is... Why in the name of the Gods did any of this happen in the first place?"
You mutter as you begin to shakily clean yourself with the room's washbasin, your mind wandering as you wonder how to deal with this...
What do you do?
[] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
[] Go purchase a health potion from Gerald.
[] Handle it yourself. Wrap your hands with some of your clean rags after washing them properly.
[] Write-in.
Advanced Copy Writing (Beginner) to Copy Writing (Novice). Gained 9 Experience.
Advanced Copy Writing (Novice) to Copy Writing (Adept). Gained 12 Experience.
Health: Moderately Injured
Status Effects: Wounded Hands (-10 to any rolls involving your hands), Severe Headache (-5 to all rolls)
Heroic Legacy Points: 7
Level: 2
Experience: 127/200
Titles:
They Who Seek the Crown (Level One, 12/25) - A title earned by gaining the blessing of the God of War in a chance encounter with his will. It is a boon granted to those who seek to become like Lords, towering above the world with every action and word capable of bringing great waves of change. Currently it is weak and only grants you the power of Domination, but if you grow stronger and perform in a way that meshes with this Boon then perhaps its strength can grow.
Heroes can be Thieves Right? - In the name of Heroism you stole classified information from the Church of War without being caught. Now no innocent souls shall be ended with this dangerous knife, but ... yours might be if you mess up? Slightly increased chance of learning stealth and thievery related skills until discovered, lost if the Sealed Scroll is destroyed.
Ethical Scholar - A scholar's duty is that of facts, numbers, honesty, and boundaries. You have a devotion to the work of the written word that few would follow in the face of potential benefits. You seek simply to perform your work to the best of your ability and stand within the morals of your scholar code, even find yourself compelled to do so. Established personal Scholarly Code, sticking to it makes your work easier and better while going against it more difficult and with worse results.
Guild Rank: Wood (8/10)
Hidden Features: Unlocked Instructors in the Guild Store
G.P.: 155
Money: 1 Silver, 48 Copper
Current Booked Courses: Stealth, Beginner (1 Day)
Skills:
Mathematics (Beginner, 15%) - +4 to rolls requiring use of mathematics.
Local Administration (Beginner, 10%) - +4 to rolls involving administration of businesses and small land holdings.
Geography of Relgar Township Region (Beginner) - Capable of recalling information related to areas in the Relgar area that could be of use. Such as the size of a specific forest, important landmarks, etc.
Monster Knowledge (Relgar Township, Beginner, 45%) - You've memorized basic information provided on Vicious Rabbits, Giant Rats, Slimes, Monstrous Corn, Green-pelt Wolves, and Forest Bears.
Copying Writing (Adept) - You've experienced copying countless documents, books, and records to such an extent that it's almost an ingrained instinct in you. Time required to copy any form of writing is reduced and chance of wrongly copying something is greatly decreased.
Harvesting (Learning Beginner, 45%) - You are slowly obtaining experience in the act of harvesting plants and herbs. With some more work experience you are certain you'd be at least somewhat skilled in the act.
Evasion (Learning Beginner, 90%) - You are rapidly adjusting to utilizing your body to dodge incoming attacks, it still needs some work, but you're fairly certain you can at least slightly lower the chances of getting hit soon.
Haggling (Learning Beginner, 75%) - You have obtained a lot of insight into the act of haggling varying from the dos to the don'ts and you are certain with a bit more knowledge and actual practice you can put it to work helping you.
Identification (Learning Beginner, 10%) - After reading the book on Identification you have a vague idea of how the power works, but without a teacher to guide you in the absolute specifics you are unsure if you can learn to utilize this power.
Abilities:
Domination (Level One, 2/25) - Allows you to bind creatures/monsters that are one level below you (to a minimum of level 1) to your will permanently. Unless the creature in question has a particularly strong will then the power is bound to succeed. Does not work on humans. [Dominated Beings: 1/2]
+ Dominate Writing (Level One, 2/25) - You've obtained a new power derived from your blessing from the God of War. It grants you the ability to draw strength from the written word though... You are utterly uncertain what that actually means. [Dominated Writings: 0/1]
Traits:
Forbidden Scholar - You are more likely to notice lore and knowledge regarding those topics considered forbidden to the general populace. Of course, your affinity for these subjects does not create that knowledge where none exists.
Possessions:
Iron Kite Shield [???]
Iron Hand-Axe [???]
Simple Iron Dagger [???]
Simple Wooden Club [Damage: 3, Blunt]
Scholar's Writing Instruments
Plain Scholar's Robes [???]
Canvas Backpack [4/10]
- Ten Foot Rope
- Bundle of Clean Rags [10/10]
- Archbishop Julian Vandamule's Sealed Scroll
- Wooden Storage Box [Can hold up to twenty herbs (varies based on size) | 0/20]
- Paper Package of Vicious Rabbit Meat [5 pounds, goes bad in two days]
-
-
-
-
-
Belt Pouch [3/4]
- Flask of Oil [3 Units of Oil Remaining]
- Container with Six Vials [0/6 Filled]
- Flint & Steel
-
Status Effects: Wounded Hands (-10 to any rolls involving your hands), Severe Headache (-5 to all rolls)
Heroic Legacy Points: 7
Level: 2
Experience: 127/200
Titles:
They Who Seek the Crown (Level One, 12/25) - A title earned by gaining the blessing of the God of War in a chance encounter with his will. It is a boon granted to those who seek to become like Lords, towering above the world with every action and word capable of bringing great waves of change. Currently it is weak and only grants you the power of Domination, but if you grow stronger and perform in a way that meshes with this Boon then perhaps its strength can grow.
Heroes can be Thieves Right? - In the name of Heroism you stole classified information from the Church of War without being caught. Now no innocent souls shall be ended with this dangerous knife, but ... yours might be if you mess up? Slightly increased chance of learning stealth and thievery related skills until discovered, lost if the Sealed Scroll is destroyed.
Ethical Scholar - A scholar's duty is that of facts, numbers, honesty, and boundaries. You have a devotion to the work of the written word that few would follow in the face of potential benefits. You seek simply to perform your work to the best of your ability and stand within the morals of your scholar code, even find yourself compelled to do so. Established personal Scholarly Code, sticking to it makes your work easier and better while going against it more difficult and with worse results.
- Scholar Code I - No work is better than hasty work. {Provides +2 to scholarly rolls when followed, take -2 to scholarly rolls when ignored.}
- Scholar Code II - Provide the facts to those that hire you, nothing more and nothing less. {Provides 2 bonus experience when followed, lose 2 experience when ignored.}
- Scholar Code III - Judgement is the employer's job. {Provides 2 bonus experience when followed, lose 2 experience when ignored.}
- Scholar Code IV - There is satisfaction in learning that which is known and that which is not. {Provides 2 bonus experience when learning new knowledge skills and advancing skill ranks.}
Guild Rank: Wood (8/10)
Hidden Features: Unlocked Instructors in the Guild Store
G.P.: 155
Money: 1 Silver, 48 Copper
Current Booked Courses: Stealth, Beginner (1 Day)
Skills:
Mathematics (Beginner, 15%) - +4 to rolls requiring use of mathematics.
Local Administration (Beginner, 10%) - +4 to rolls involving administration of businesses and small land holdings.
Geography of Relgar Township Region (Beginner) - Capable of recalling information related to areas in the Relgar area that could be of use. Such as the size of a specific forest, important landmarks, etc.
Monster Knowledge (Relgar Township, Beginner, 45%) - You've memorized basic information provided on Vicious Rabbits, Giant Rats, Slimes, Monstrous Corn, Green-pelt Wolves, and Forest Bears.
Copying Writing (Adept) - You've experienced copying countless documents, books, and records to such an extent that it's almost an ingrained instinct in you. Time required to copy any form of writing is reduced and chance of wrongly copying something is greatly decreased.
Harvesting (Learning Beginner, 45%) - You are slowly obtaining experience in the act of harvesting plants and herbs. With some more work experience you are certain you'd be at least somewhat skilled in the act.
Evasion (Learning Beginner, 90%) - You are rapidly adjusting to utilizing your body to dodge incoming attacks, it still needs some work, but you're fairly certain you can at least slightly lower the chances of getting hit soon.
Haggling (Learning Beginner, 75%) - You have obtained a lot of insight into the act of haggling varying from the dos to the don'ts and you are certain with a bit more knowledge and actual practice you can put it to work helping you.
Identification (Learning Beginner, 10%) - After reading the book on Identification you have a vague idea of how the power works, but without a teacher to guide you in the absolute specifics you are unsure if you can learn to utilize this power.
Abilities:
Domination (Level One, 2/25) - Allows you to bind creatures/monsters that are one level below you (to a minimum of level 1) to your will permanently. Unless the creature in question has a particularly strong will then the power is bound to succeed. Does not work on humans. [Dominated Beings: 1/2]
+ Dominate Writing (Level One, 2/25) - You've obtained a new power derived from your blessing from the God of War. It grants you the ability to draw strength from the written word though... You are utterly uncertain what that actually means. [Dominated Writings: 0/1]
Traits:
Forbidden Scholar - You are more likely to notice lore and knowledge regarding those topics considered forbidden to the general populace. Of course, your affinity for these subjects does not create that knowledge where none exists.
Possessions:
Iron Kite Shield [???]
Iron Hand-Axe [???]
Simple Iron Dagger [???]
Simple Wooden Club [Damage: 3, Blunt]
Scholar's Writing Instruments
Plain Scholar's Robes [???]
Canvas Backpack [4/10]
- Ten Foot Rope
- Bundle of Clean Rags [10/10]
- Archbishop Julian Vandamule's Sealed Scroll
- Wooden Storage Box [Can hold up to twenty herbs (varies based on size) | 0/20]
- Paper Package of Vicious Rabbit Meat [5 pounds, goes bad in two days]
-
-
-
-
-
Belt Pouch [3/4]
- Flask of Oil [3 Units of Oil Remaining]
- Container with Six Vials [0/6 Filled]
- Flint & Steel
-
Health: 6/6
Status Effects: None
Level: 1
Experience: 15/20
Attacks:
Bite - [Damage: 3, Slashing]
Traits:
Sensitive Nose - +5 to finding herbs
Natural Gatherer - +5 to harvesting herbs
Skills:
Evasion (Beginner) - -4 to enemy attack rolls made against her.
Status Effects: None
Level: 1
Experience: 15/20
Attacks:
Bite - [Damage: 3, Slashing]
Traits:
Sensitive Nose - +5 to finding herbs
Natural Gatherer - +5 to harvesting herbs
Skills:
Evasion (Beginner) - -4 to enemy attack rolls made against her.
Payment: 50 Coppers, 25 GP, 1 Rank Advancement Point, 10 Experience
Description: Due to the recent influx of trade and people plying the many businesses of the Lord the request has been made to recruit more able scribes to help record all the financial records made in this time. Work would be long and tedious, but those with experience please accept.
Description: Due to the recent influx of trade and people plying the many businesses of the Lord the request has been made to recruit more able scribes to help record all the financial records made in this time. Work would be long and tedious, but those with experience please accept.
GM Note: I'm not really a fan of how this turned out, but here we go. Rather post something than get wrapped up rewriting it repeatedly...
Last edited:
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
Get to see how their health system works before anything serious is on the line. If it's too much of a cost or hassle, we can just treat ourselves instead.
Get to see how their health system works before anything serious is on the line. If it's too much of a cost or hassle, we can just treat ourselves instead.
- Location
- United States
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
Its based on what we can see. Nosebleed says internal damage we can't diagnose ourself
- Location
- California
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
Well dang, we just got a first-hand view of the Copying Writing skill, and it looks like it messed our hands and head up through some kind of bleed-through.
So, I've got a theory. Alright, so I believe that the statues are monuments to the original Heroic Spirits, and the pedestals are monuments to the Heroic Legacies. My guess is that the murals are monuments for people who managed to raise skills up to the maximum level, like that one Farmer guy in the Archbishop's Scroll. We probably got access to the Copying Writing dude because that's one of our own skills, plus it's part of our 'Scholar' build.
Well dang, we just got a first-hand view of the Copying Writing skill, and it looks like it messed our hands and head up through some kind of bleed-through.
So, I've got a theory. Alright, so I believe that the statues are monuments to the original Heroic Spirits, and the pedestals are monuments to the Heroic Legacies. My guess is that the murals are monuments for people who managed to raise skills up to the maximum level, like that one Farmer guy in the Archbishop's Scroll. We probably got access to the Copying Writing dude because that's one of our own skills, plus it's part of our 'Scholar' build.
TwistedJester
Tired Lurker King
- Location
- Hell
[X] Head to the Guild and see if they can treat you at the infirmary.
- Location
- PA
Hrrm...Personally, I half-think that the pedestals are linked to guild rank, given ours seemed to match what we had, more or less. As for the murals and the statues...Well, IDK for sure but I suspect that we got pulled into that place for a distinct lack of HEROIC ENDEAVORING, since holding that Scroll is very much a passive thing as is- there's no suspicion aimed our way, and keeping it safe in our hands is only vaguely different then leaving it in that library in terms of how much history cares...I think.
..So plans for the Scroll. I've got more or less 2 paths.
1. Carry on-basically hold on to it until caught.
1a. If caught we can copy the Mural Copier and basically bind our life to our pen and give it in service to the Authority of the land, making copies of their libraries in exchange for not being immediately killed.
1b. We may be able to offer the use of Dominate Writing to erase said scroll, preventing others from knowing that buried truth. This is basically a back-up if A doesn't work, or perhaps vice-versa.
2. Something I just thought of-Church will be Pissed to find some random dude with it right? We can dump it on some criminal that might otherwise escape justice, and then call in the Church on them. The Scroll HOPEFULLY this time ends up someplace where some random scholar won't stumble over it like we did, and we can relax from having that particular sword of Damocles no longer over our head.
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
Nice catch about the Guild Rank thing.
But I don't think we got pulled into the mural based on anything on our part. I think that the constantly shifting mural is a monument to people who managed to master a skill and/or git gud without being a Heroic Spirit/Legacy. We got pulled in because we looked at it and we got shown the Copy Writing guy because he was the closest match to us.