Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder open voting
OK, how can I resist that pic?
Lore post it is.
Lore post it is.
Mythology: From the Tales of the Anwa Part I
From the Tales of the Anwa Part I
-As Told by Inge Aboard the Marcella,
inscribed by Zaia of Alexandria,
not from recollections, but living voice
inscribed by Zaia of Alexandria,
not from recollections, but living voice
Strange it is to listen to the words of a child by starlight with the waves sighting beyond the cabin window and stranger still to understand that you know less than she about what lies beyond the horizon. At times she would close her eyes, as though trying to summon up the scene of some past festival or fireside telling when she had first heard the tale and at other times she would go quiet, her eyes lost over the waters as though the sea itself told her its secrets, but for the most part the girl spoke much as one would expect of a child asked to play the part of lorekeeper, slow stuttering, at times uncertain. she would always find the thread in the end.
Theogony
Now it is said that in the Time Before Time when Ikomi lay with Ashinu to give birth to first to Nikure, Goddess and Poetry and Passion who then by her Sight witnessed the glory and the wonder of her siblings and so she moved her parents to continue the Dance whose first step they had taken from chance and curiosity alone. Thus was born Enki'le, god of the dawn and patron of travelers who bears the many colored bow and spills from his amphora the dew and thus also was born Alagde, the Smith who sought the bright things of the earth in the furrows of his father's plow and who ever after has been loved by those who who craft with mind and hand.
Many other Gods and Goddesses were born then, each in their own time and each at their own time and each blessed with a with the power and authority over things great or small in the world and among their number greatest was Elnu, First King who was known by his wise counsel and and by the love of Nikure who spoke to him of all things that were and hand been since the beginning and of some things that were yet to come. The gods seeing the wisdom of Elnu proclaimed him King and he was the first of all kings whose throne is set in the blue vaults of the sky.
For a long age there was order in the turning of the Wheel, as within so without, as above so below, but Ikomi was discontent in the order that has even yoked the very waves to its turnings and so swathed in warding mists she rose from the waters and walked beyond the Last Gate into the chaos that was neither dark nor light, hot or cold nor anything that men could name with words and from that Chaos she beckoned another to enter and he was the darkness that blinds the eyes of the seer and the flame that consumes the plans of great lords, he was Olweje.
War had come to the world, howling on a wind from the north and from the northern wastes he wrought his great drum, of all his works alone the only thing he is said to have crafted to last. The will of Slaughter was like thunder on the land and all the gods knew hearing that which they had not been forewarned of that all was changed and the reign of Elnu was challenged.
The seas unshackled roared with laughter and with rage, blood stained the hills red and the dark trees grew fat on the flesh of the fallen and ever after would it flow in their veins, but Nikure firstborn looked upon the small dwellers on earth, the men that in that time dwelt in the caves and deep places of the world and she had yet a plan to lay the wrecker low...
OOC:You will note that the above does not call Elnu a god of prophecy, only of fate and the friend of an oracle. Down south in the empire, he is seen as seer in his own right to mirror the Seer Kings. You are not going to find the same legends everywhere, not even close, though people who are in contact with one another are of course more likely to share stories. Not yet edited.
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I cheated a bit since I was just fleshing out the Anwa Myth and the perspective Inge would have on it. It's not like and update where I have to roll and narrate.
- Location
- Germany
Interesting that the god of war does not have a good reputation among these famed raiders here.
But then we already knew that they frown on war between themselves and any expeditions for loot are likely not considered "real" war.
But then we already knew that they frown on war between themselves and any expeditions for loot are likely not considered "real" war.
He has an mixed reputation, he freed the world from the weight of perfect predestination, it is just that the pendulum swung the other way a bit too hard when he was abroad and loose with no restraints.
Hypocrisy is the lubricant that keeps the wheels of society turning.
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Two "with".
Two "and".
Not so hypocritical as all that, even the most martial cultures did not really like unrestrained war. I mean consider the Iliad, this is an epic made by chariot riding slave taking, warriors who gloried in the clash of arms and found joy in loot and plunder. They still did not like Ares, no one likes the chaos of battle and the devastation for its own sake, it has to mean something. And that is what the tale of the three brothers which is coming up is about, giving meaning to war.
Thanks @DragonParadox for info, but I wrote this post as a humorous comment rather than as a serious reply.
Well joke or not it was a fair thing to question and it gave me the chance to explain something, so thanks for making it just the same.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Translation: "No! No! You broke the rules!"
Roland: "We were playing a game?"
Translation: "No! No! You broke the rules!"
Roland: "We were playing a game?"
And he would have been even more ignorant if he had not have gotten lucky enough to resolve this without violence so far at least. So far the social build has really been paying off for you guys and for Roland.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
It's called 'don't be a dick'.
It works a surprising amount of time, especially in the context of being thrust back into times of Antiquity, where all the heroes were massive dicks.
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Well yeah, that is an advantage when one is a stranger in a strange land, though it can also get you mixed up in all sorts of matters that someone less inclined to engage with the movers and shakers of the land would avoid.
If I may give a short portrait of Roland as he has been acted and voted on so far I would say he is a deeply social person without necessarily being a social climber, if you peel back the layers of depression he might even be someone who enjoys exploration for its own sake, meeting new people and doing new things. Come to think of it that might be part of the reason why the Crusade was so hard on him, given that its motto is 'meet new and interesting people... and kill them'.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Most people have heard of the Golden Rule, even if they choose to ignore it.
The Platinum Rule, however, i.e. "Don't be a dick", gets less air time.
If people can't live by one or the other, well, fuck'em.
Good night guys, see you tomorrow with knights, kings and strange spirits abroad in the world .
- Location
- Germany
I think now we're tied, anyone got another vote?
OK, vote closed, let's see if you can convince the local mercs to take orders from you
Arc 3 Post 10: In Halls of Stone
In Halls of Stone
The Forty-First of Elnu-hamba [Elnu Descendent] Year 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
Common sense dictates that you aught to move on, no matter what you had glimpsed, what you had heard this is no concern of yours, alas you never did have much sense. "See to the boy," you instruct Zaia loudly and in Anwari so that the armed thugs still surrounding you would know what he is about. "Check if he can be moved."
"Hey now what the fuck are you..." the leader begins belligerently.
"Did you hear that thing speaking though him just now?" you cut him off before he can stir up the rest of them. You keep your tone calm but firm for if there is one thing you have learned over the years it is that sounding like you know what you are doing is at least half of all leadership. "I doubt it meant well to any of us and if the boy is indeed a prince than we are best served getting him back to his kin unless you want to be found with an unconscious noble in the middle of the road suffering form who knows what ailment of flesh or spirit."
"He wanted to sneak out quiet like," one of the Teeth admits, looking almost shamefaced, wonder of wonders.
"Well this is about as quiet as a march with drums and horns," you proclaim. You shake your head and look right at Fioke. "I shall not speak ill of you nor you of me and we can both come out of this without drawing the ire of king and court."
The man nods slowly, reluctantly as you have ever seen one do it, but nod he does just the same. He spits in his palm and offers it to you. "A truce until we see who wanted to set us one against the other. " A water bond, the Anwa call it, not near as strong as the blood bond of setting steel to palm but better than words on the wind.
With but a moment's hesitation you copy the gesture take his hand. Then there is naught to do but wait in awkward silence for the doctor to finish his examination of the unconscious boy. It does not take him long. "Nothing ails his body, though of his soul I cannot say here and now, best to get him under a roof and the care of his kin as swiftly as can be. " Perhaps Antonio is not the only one among your companions who can be sly at need. He speaks no untruths but his manner invites them to assume that which he is not. Zaia's beard bears no rings.
As you set out Fioke commands half of his men to go 'back to the Narrows' whatever that may be. Even so it is with a far larger escort that you make your way to the palace up the straight road under the eyes of wary folk. Seeing this and not wishing to give cause for alarm to the king and his guards you bid Tom to run ahead with a greeting and a pledge that you do not come with ill intent, though as Zaia is quick to point out they are likely to have pointed questions just the same if the boy had left by stealth.
Thankfully at least there is no confrontation at the gates, only a request that thins your ranks further until, you are left with but two guards and Fioke with only three others of his company, though you are not asked to disarm. A mean wearing a tall eagle-feather plumed helm ushers you into the cool shadow of the cliff into a high hall. There are no windows here only shafts borne into the living stone casting patches of light dancing among the columns carved with birds and beasts, serpents and stranger things that are not quite one thing or the other. From the corner of your eye they seem almost to move... almost alive.
Yet you do not have much time to ponder the grandeur of the thousand caves for from soon you are confronted with the sight of another pair of guards flaking a woman of high birth. She cannot be much older than you, in fact she might even be younger if the lines around her bright green eyes are strain and not age. Not the boy's mother certainly, though it is hard to mistake the familial resemblance, a sister perhaps. The first words to come out of her mouth confirm the suspicion. "What fool oath did you swear Adi?"
"A raider's bond, blood for gold, the hire-sword," proclaims in the place of the unconscious boy.
"How much gold..." she huffs. "Oh never mind I will pay however much it is so that you leave us be. Father does not need this today of all days." She turns to you, expression softening slightly. She really is quite comely, some part of you that is not worried about affairs of wizards kings and demons, a heart shaped face framed by soft curls set in a sort of artful disorder that you suspect had taken quite a while to arrange, her green and gold cloak and dress also green clinging rather closer to her body than you are used to seeing.
All the more reason not to stare, you remind yourself of the doctor's advice when you had first come to Lirman and how much worse it would be to give offense to a lady of high rank. "My lady we brought him as swift as we were able for there was a strange evil afoot here..." you begin, giving as factual of an account as you can of what you had seen, carefully avoiding the fact that you and the Teeth had almost come to blows before the prince had been moved to stab you, at which Fioke gives you first a surprised look and then a respectful nod. What did he think you meant by 'truce'?
As you speak the princess' expression darkens with worry and fear, her gaze distant. When you are done she asks a question you did not expect. "How much is your silence worth, paid for now and sworn in blood that you will not recount to another what you heard Adi say and in what tone?"
"Five hundred gold pieces and wild dogs couldn't tear it from my tongue," Fioke pledges at once.
The woman glances back at her guards, who seem uneasy but resolved then says. "Done" and turns to you. "And your stranger, what is the pice of your silence?"
[] Request an audience with Luaza
[] You will not make a pledge in ignorance, not when that thing seemed to know you and willfully act against you, ask what that had been
[] Write in
OOC: Looks like you made a friend, well for values of friend that include mercenaries of dubious provenience. Not yet edited.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I sympathize, lady. Idiot younger siblings are a pain in the ass.
As for swearing another oath while ignorant of the circumstances which lead to it...Haha, fuck no. Lesson learned on that one.
[X] You will not make a pledge in ignorance, not when that thing seemed to know you and willfully act against you, ask what that had been
As for swearing another oath while ignorant of the circumstances which lead to it...Haha, fuck no. Lesson learned on that one.
[X] You will not make a pledge in ignorance, not when that thing seemed to know you and willfully act against you, ask what that had been