Escaping Death, A Quest of Necromancy and Magic, but mostly Necromancy
- Thread starter Red12
- Start date
- Fantasy
- Pronouns
- you
[X]A true hunter knows when to retreat and get reinforcements - leave and come back tomorrow. During the day. With more kids.
Oh Gods...
Winning vote:
[X] Up tree climbing we go
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What all this says to you is that there's something really worth knowing about here. That tree clearly isn't there naturally. That means whatever made it knows someone is coming, and must be prepared to fight one way or another. You look to your friend, and he looks at you. There is fear in his eyes, mingling with trepidation and an almost literal thirst for adventure. He scratches his palms, even as they go for the hunting bow he had flung over his shoulders. It seems your pamls aren't the only ones hitching for a fight.
You both slowly make your way towards the tree. There is an eery silence, as if something was waiting for you to get within its reach to swallow you whole. The clouds ahead are gathering, and the few black birds that populate this place are perched on the burial ground's walls, watching you without making a sound. All this is to say that you're almost shitting yourself in fear. But you remember the marks, and you know that if you come back like this whoever is sent here could very much be ambushed by whatever has decided to hole itself up in a damn graveyard of all places. There are perfectly normal caves to hide in close by, so what kind of beast would willingly come here and desecrate such a holy, if damn creepy, place.
This and more goes on in your mind, a tireless debate of questions and inquiries without answer regarding your latest prey. Because by now that is what has happened in you. An old balance, a traditional mentality. You have become the hunter of the malicious entity that came here to prey on your people's dead, and it has become the prey. So you stalk ever closer to the tree, until suddenly it moves.
You're literally at arm's length away from it, and you can touch it with your hand. And the tree has the fantastic idea to shape itself into chairs.
"Bloody ideal. It's inviting us in." Your friend stating the obvious, as usual.
"Creepy is what it is. At least if we die here it'll be easy to bury us, eh?"
"You can be sick sometimes. I wonder if you're just mad, you know?"
"Piss off sissy. Who goes first?"
...
"Why did I even ask? Since you've kissed a girl you've gone soft."
"Ladies first."
"Should we go call your mommy then?"
"She already refuses to go on adventures with us since that time we went swimming in the river."
"Don't remind me. They had to come get us on horses."
"You were rather green behind the gills, if I say so myself."
"Oi, will you let me climb these stairs in peace or what?"
"Ok, ok. Calm down, and let's keep quiet."
While you were talking with your friends, the both of you with eyes as wide as they can be, you slowly move towards the new set of stairs. They seem waiting, almost welcoming, and as you start to climb up you find your footing to be much better than the one you have on the ground. Odd. If the tree was cursed, shouldn't it make you slippery? Maybe it will at the worst possible moment, and that will throw you so out of balance that you'll fall right into the gaping mouth of whatever beastie is waiting for you.
So you climb, mind filled with visions of painful death and magical traps, until you reach the wall. You glance back, to find your friend with his bow trained close to you, probably ready to shoot something if it jumps your face. That's reassuring at least. He nods silently at you, and keeps a rigid posture of a warrior, rather than a hunter.
Huh. Where did he learn that, you wonder. You'll have to ask him later, it would seem. For now, you have to sneak into a cursed graveyard, find the beasts, bring back the information and save the day. So it is you climb over the wall, and land with both feet on solid stone. This is the first time you've actually been in a stone building, given that your whole burg is made of wood, so you have to regain your balance. It is harder than the floors you're used to, sturdier for sure. Also colder and much more slippery. Bloody perfect.
You look around, and you don't find anything. So you rise back from the parapet, and start furiously signaling to your companion to get the hell here right this instant, given it's all clear for now.
So he does, almost hurriedly, literally tripping over himself at one point. Thankfully the tree shaped itself on the fly to catch him. Because that wasn't creepy at all. He literally held his mouth shut, silencing a scream of terror in his gullet.
You go back to watching your surroundings. The only sound you can make out is the almost silent thumping of your friend's shoes, as they climb over the tree. Then he also gets on the parapet, but almost slips. Again. So you catch him, and once more as quietly as you can, gesture to him questioning what he wants to do. He believes the best way to find what you're searching is to go looking for it.
(1d20+6 = 12)
You think the fuck not, and tell him so. Already whatever it is will be on guard, because that's just your luck it would seem. Better to keep your distance and peek from the walls. He then asks you if you'll actually be able to make out whatever it was, but you just point to the gates. Whatever is big and strong enough to take that lug of metal off its hinges can't be hard to spot, is the unsaid message. Because as far as you developed your secret sign language, neither of the people behind it could foresee this kind of situation. He scratches his head for a few seconds, and then his eyes lose focus. He then moves his sight to you, smiles and nods. So you once more stride ahead, keeping your footsteps as light as you can manage while hugging the wall. You watch from up above into the stone buildings and tombs, looking for the tell tales signs of a beast you learned from your father. What you see freezes your blood. Some tombs are open, there are holes in the ground. Everywhere you look there are skeletons just laying in the open air.
(1d20+6 = 9)
(1d20 for your friend = 1)
You look to your friend, and he seems confused at first. Then you point to the damages done, and his eyes darken. He stops moving, and pats you on the shoulder, while pointing down. He seems to want to go down there and make it right. You bonk him on the head and tell him to come back to reality. He seems conflicted, but ultimately trusts you. If nothing else because he doesn't seem willing to go down there first. While this might make him see like a coward, and he kind of is, you both know either one of you would rather die with the other than come to bring the bad news back to your respective families. Another thing learned while living in the steppes. Better die together, than to live on with a specter on your shoulder.
So you keep stalking forward, and see how the number of graves opened and touched by sunlight for the first times in gods know how long keeps increasing. More and more are left unopened. As you go further along the wall, the little shrines grow taller, and the stone grows less and less grey, until it becomes as white as a bird's plumage. It means the people buried here were richer, you know this much.
And the more opulent the tomb, the more likely it has been desecrated. This isn't the work of an animal, you realize. Maybe grave robbers. You keep moving forward, until your keen ears pick up noise in the distance. Finally something to break the eery quiet of this place. You look back to your friend, but he seems to not have yet noticed, and he keeps looking around, guarding your back. You give him a little tap, and then touch your ears. Noise ahead. He trembles a little, but steels himself and nods at you again.
You hold his eyes for a few seconds, then nod back and turn to once more move. And you do. Hugging the wall, trying to move as fast as possible while making next to no noise. The sound grows string, and you can almost make out a pair of voices. It seems there is someone here.
As you reach closer and closer you can finally make out some words.
"-ut you said it should be here."
"Well, I just killed the guy. I don't know where they threw his damn books."
"Those weren't the pacts."
"Well, too bad for you. What can you do about it?"
"Oh, you'll see."
"Spare me the threats. We both know as long as you depend on me you can't disobey my will."
...
"Really?"
...
"Oh well. Then I'll just raise all the ones we unearthed and-"
"Stop, you idiot! The wards are already lashing out, and if you want us to survive you will not chant anything in this place! Now get back to shoveling."
"Oh, prince charming is once more talking to me. How happy I am to finally-"
"Stop. I sense something."
While they were arguing, you kept walking forward until you could finally see them. What you saw was a pretty small figure, holding a shovel and a lantern, someone you could have mistaken as a grave warden, but for a huge black figure looming over their back, seemingly attached to them at the hip. Whatever it is can talk, even if you don't understand how. After all, its body almost seems more like a black flame rather than anything living.
As it interrupts its... owner? It turns around, and looks at you straight in the eyes. You don't know how you know that, given it seemingly doesn't have any of his own, but you're sure it's sight is squarely on your head. You stand still, eyes open wide and breath hitching. Your heart hammers into your chest, your blood surges through your veins and your arms shake. Your legs tremble, and your head almost falls down, your neck almost unwilling to let you keep staring at whatever it is, and instinctively trying to move in any other direction. But you're too scared even for that. So you just stay there, looking right at it as it looks right at you. Until at last it turns back to look over its accomplice as they keep shoveling heart from yet another grave, and the moment of terror is gone.
"Hmmm. Must have been the wind. This damn place can't even stand still anymore. We're overstaying our welcome, I tell you."
"And I tell you that to find the damn books I need time."
"We both know..."
As they once more turn to talk amongst themselves, you swivel backwards, and with a crazed look in your eyes start gently shoving Tamuul, whose eyes are as barred as yours, back. You both retreat, and almost run back to the tree, but then you stop. Should you leave now? You could try and shoot at them with your bow. Or you could go back. The terrified stare of your friend tells you what he wants to do, and he's already trying to get over to where you found the tree.
[] Follow your friend and head back home.
[] Tap him on the shoulder. Some evils are in need of slaying. (Could lead to your death. Likely, even.)
[] Turn around alone. He can bring the news back home. He might follow you anyway, but then it'd be his own choice.
[] Write-in
[X] Up tree climbing we go
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What all this says to you is that there's something really worth knowing about here. That tree clearly isn't there naturally. That means whatever made it knows someone is coming, and must be prepared to fight one way or another. You look to your friend, and he looks at you. There is fear in his eyes, mingling with trepidation and an almost literal thirst for adventure. He scratches his palms, even as they go for the hunting bow he had flung over his shoulders. It seems your pamls aren't the only ones hitching for a fight.
You both slowly make your way towards the tree. There is an eery silence, as if something was waiting for you to get within its reach to swallow you whole. The clouds ahead are gathering, and the few black birds that populate this place are perched on the burial ground's walls, watching you without making a sound. All this is to say that you're almost shitting yourself in fear. But you remember the marks, and you know that if you come back like this whoever is sent here could very much be ambushed by whatever has decided to hole itself up in a damn graveyard of all places. There are perfectly normal caves to hide in close by, so what kind of beast would willingly come here and desecrate such a holy, if damn creepy, place.
This and more goes on in your mind, a tireless debate of questions and inquiries without answer regarding your latest prey. Because by now that is what has happened in you. An old balance, a traditional mentality. You have become the hunter of the malicious entity that came here to prey on your people's dead, and it has become the prey. So you stalk ever closer to the tree, until suddenly it moves.
You're literally at arm's length away from it, and you can touch it with your hand. And the tree has the fantastic idea to shape itself into chairs.
"Bloody ideal. It's inviting us in." Your friend stating the obvious, as usual.
"Creepy is what it is. At least if we die here it'll be easy to bury us, eh?"
"You can be sick sometimes. I wonder if you're just mad, you know?"
"Piss off sissy. Who goes first?"
...
"Why did I even ask? Since you've kissed a girl you've gone soft."
"Ladies first."
"Should we go call your mommy then?"
"She already refuses to go on adventures with us since that time we went swimming in the river."
"Don't remind me. They had to come get us on horses."
"You were rather green behind the gills, if I say so myself."
"Oi, will you let me climb these stairs in peace or what?"
"Ok, ok. Calm down, and let's keep quiet."
While you were talking with your friends, the both of you with eyes as wide as they can be, you slowly move towards the new set of stairs. They seem waiting, almost welcoming, and as you start to climb up you find your footing to be much better than the one you have on the ground. Odd. If the tree was cursed, shouldn't it make you slippery? Maybe it will at the worst possible moment, and that will throw you so out of balance that you'll fall right into the gaping mouth of whatever beastie is waiting for you.
So you climb, mind filled with visions of painful death and magical traps, until you reach the wall. You glance back, to find your friend with his bow trained close to you, probably ready to shoot something if it jumps your face. That's reassuring at least. He nods silently at you, and keeps a rigid posture of a warrior, rather than a hunter.
Huh. Where did he learn that, you wonder. You'll have to ask him later, it would seem. For now, you have to sneak into a cursed graveyard, find the beasts, bring back the information and save the day. So it is you climb over the wall, and land with both feet on solid stone. This is the first time you've actually been in a stone building, given that your whole burg is made of wood, so you have to regain your balance. It is harder than the floors you're used to, sturdier for sure. Also colder and much more slippery. Bloody perfect.
You look around, and you don't find anything. So you rise back from the parapet, and start furiously signaling to your companion to get the hell here right this instant, given it's all clear for now.
So he does, almost hurriedly, literally tripping over himself at one point. Thankfully the tree shaped itself on the fly to catch him. Because that wasn't creepy at all. He literally held his mouth shut, silencing a scream of terror in his gullet.
You go back to watching your surroundings. The only sound you can make out is the almost silent thumping of your friend's shoes, as they climb over the tree. Then he also gets on the parapet, but almost slips. Again. So you catch him, and once more as quietly as you can, gesture to him questioning what he wants to do. He believes the best way to find what you're searching is to go looking for it.
(1d20+6 = 12)
You think the fuck not, and tell him so. Already whatever it is will be on guard, because that's just your luck it would seem. Better to keep your distance and peek from the walls. He then asks you if you'll actually be able to make out whatever it was, but you just point to the gates. Whatever is big and strong enough to take that lug of metal off its hinges can't be hard to spot, is the unsaid message. Because as far as you developed your secret sign language, neither of the people behind it could foresee this kind of situation. He scratches his head for a few seconds, and then his eyes lose focus. He then moves his sight to you, smiles and nods. So you once more stride ahead, keeping your footsteps as light as you can manage while hugging the wall. You watch from up above into the stone buildings and tombs, looking for the tell tales signs of a beast you learned from your father. What you see freezes your blood. Some tombs are open, there are holes in the ground. Everywhere you look there are skeletons just laying in the open air.
(1d20+6 = 9)
(1d20 for your friend = 1)
You look to your friend, and he seems confused at first. Then you point to the damages done, and his eyes darken. He stops moving, and pats you on the shoulder, while pointing down. He seems to want to go down there and make it right. You bonk him on the head and tell him to come back to reality. He seems conflicted, but ultimately trusts you. If nothing else because he doesn't seem willing to go down there first. While this might make him see like a coward, and he kind of is, you both know either one of you would rather die with the other than come to bring the bad news back to your respective families. Another thing learned while living in the steppes. Better die together, than to live on with a specter on your shoulder.
So you keep stalking forward, and see how the number of graves opened and touched by sunlight for the first times in gods know how long keeps increasing. More and more are left unopened. As you go further along the wall, the little shrines grow taller, and the stone grows less and less grey, until it becomes as white as a bird's plumage. It means the people buried here were richer, you know this much.
And the more opulent the tomb, the more likely it has been desecrated. This isn't the work of an animal, you realize. Maybe grave robbers. You keep moving forward, until your keen ears pick up noise in the distance. Finally something to break the eery quiet of this place. You look back to your friend, but he seems to not have yet noticed, and he keeps looking around, guarding your back. You give him a little tap, and then touch your ears. Noise ahead. He trembles a little, but steels himself and nods at you again.
You hold his eyes for a few seconds, then nod back and turn to once more move. And you do. Hugging the wall, trying to move as fast as possible while making next to no noise. The sound grows string, and you can almost make out a pair of voices. It seems there is someone here.
As you reach closer and closer you can finally make out some words.
"-ut you said it should be here."
"Well, I just killed the guy. I don't know where they threw his damn books."
"Those weren't the pacts."
"Well, too bad for you. What can you do about it?"
"Oh, you'll see."
"Spare me the threats. We both know as long as you depend on me you can't disobey my will."
...
"Really?"
...
"Oh well. Then I'll just raise all the ones we unearthed and-"
"Stop, you idiot! The wards are already lashing out, and if you want us to survive you will not chant anything in this place! Now get back to shoveling."
"Oh, prince charming is once more talking to me. How happy I am to finally-"
"Stop. I sense something."
While they were arguing, you kept walking forward until you could finally see them. What you saw was a pretty small figure, holding a shovel and a lantern, someone you could have mistaken as a grave warden, but for a huge black figure looming over their back, seemingly attached to them at the hip. Whatever it is can talk, even if you don't understand how. After all, its body almost seems more like a black flame rather than anything living.
As it interrupts its... owner? It turns around, and looks at you straight in the eyes. You don't know how you know that, given it seemingly doesn't have any of his own, but you're sure it's sight is squarely on your head. You stand still, eyes open wide and breath hitching. Your heart hammers into your chest, your blood surges through your veins and your arms shake. Your legs tremble, and your head almost falls down, your neck almost unwilling to let you keep staring at whatever it is, and instinctively trying to move in any other direction. But you're too scared even for that. So you just stay there, looking right at it as it looks right at you. Until at last it turns back to look over its accomplice as they keep shoveling heart from yet another grave, and the moment of terror is gone.
"Hmmm. Must have been the wind. This damn place can't even stand still anymore. We're overstaying our welcome, I tell you."
"And I tell you that to find the damn books I need time."
"We both know..."
As they once more turn to talk amongst themselves, you swivel backwards, and with a crazed look in your eyes start gently shoving Tamuul, whose eyes are as barred as yours, back. You both retreat, and almost run back to the tree, but then you stop. Should you leave now? You could try and shoot at them with your bow. Or you could go back. The terrified stare of your friend tells you what he wants to do, and he's already trying to get over to where you found the tree.
[] Follow your friend and head back home.
[] Tap him on the shoulder. Some evils are in need of slaying. (Could lead to your death. Likely, even.)
[] Turn around alone. He can bring the news back home. He might follow you anyway, but then it'd be his own choice.
[] Write-in
Last edited:
[X] Follow your friend and head back home.
- Pronouns
- you
The ending to the first adventure
Winning Vote:
[X] Follow your friend and head back home.
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You think about it for about half a second. Then you choose life. What you've done is already straight out of a fairy tale. Maybe not as the nig prince that comes sweeping in saving the day, but as the sentinel controlling when a problem pops up. While trying to fight whatever that was would make you a legend, it would also make your mama's hair turn gray, and make grandma's fall off completely.
In short, you jump over the wall after tracing your tracks back to the probably not so cursed tree. You land squarely in the middle of a step you're fairly sure wasn't there before, and climb down after Tamuul. Gods know you want to wash yourself in the river. All the dust has gotten everywhere, from your shoes to your bag. And the adrenaline hit is slowly tampering out, so you're slowly coming down from a combat high. But you don't know that last part. To you it just feels as if your whole body is relaxing all of a sudden, and almost fall face first into the ground. Your sore muscles are more than willing to begin the jog back home, but you stop and catch a breath. Do some light stretching to relax a little, while keeping your ears trained for any noise coming from behind.
"So, we made-"
"Don't finish that sentence until we're back home, or I swear on the gods I'll tell your new flame of how you almost pissed yourself."
"Please calm down. We're done it. Now we just have-"
"Tamuul, I love you like a brother, but if you don't shut up right this instant I will shoot you."
At that you both look tensely at each others for a few seconds, before you crack first. Your laughs are almost silent, but in the stillness of this place they might as well be thunder falling from the sky. You fall on one knee, and start clapping your hand against your thigh, while your friend comes over you and lets himself fall on your back, slapping your neck all the way.
You fall down, and you both make a soft thump when you touch the ground. You stare at the stars up above, and can't help but notice how their light seems dimmed. But that doesn't stop either you or your friend from laughing your asses off. Then a bird croaks in the distance, and you're both jumping to your feet, reaching for your bows.
You look at each others again. Standing one close to the other, you half kneeling and with bow trained, your friend with an arrow held as a knife, an expression fit for a funeral on his face.
"You fell for it, idiot!"
"No I didn't. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention."
"Sure. I'll tell that to your lover, aye?"
"Oi, piss off. What I will tell her of this adventure is none of your business. Understood?"
"Oh, how scary. You're making me tremble right in the knees! Why, I can almost feel myself fainting."
"That's right."
"I bet when you talk to her that way she gets w-"
"Gods above, would you please stop?"
"Bah. When I get one as well."
"You truly are the lowest of the low."
"Listen here you lucky-"
So chit chatting you slowly calm down again, this time with a much happier feeling in your gut than before. You slowly get your bow back behind you, and start walking away from this holy place. You think even if you don't visit it for a few years you'll be quite fine. You eventually start jogging, when you feel like your body can afford to run, and once more race your friend back home. You both jump above the line, now completely immersed in the dark and only visible thanks to the full moon's light, speeding back home.
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You arrive to the burg's border early in the morning, and you feel like your feet are going to fall off of your legs. Your head hurts, your knees ache, your belly is criminally empty and generally you would be grimacing in pain, if it was any other moment. But now, coming back after your first grand adventure... Your face is split by a huge grin, and you can't suppress a belly laugh as you see off your friend, undoubtedly about to receive the tongue lashing of a century. Not like you are in a different situation, really. But you both knew that, and were more than willing to risk it. And boy was it worth it.
You slowly walk towards your homestead. The tall wooden building does nothing to stave off the image of your angry parents you have pinned in your face. You stand there for some long minutes, just looking up at your own house, feeling at least as bad about it as matching gazes with that demonic looking thing back at the burial ground. Eventually you knock, and find the door slightly ajar.
You enter on wobbly steps, navigating the halls of your home and eventually coming into the dining room where find the unhappy visage of your mother staring you down. She is sitting down at the table, on the side closer to the wall and far from the door. Right behind her, arms crossed and leaning on the wall, staring you down without letting anything out. Needless to say, you are chewed out for quite a while by your mother. Your father is immediately much less angry when you tell them you weren't alone. He gets right back to furious when you tell them where you went, and does another switch when you tell them of what you found.
They exchange worried glances, but they go straight above your head. Literally. By now you've crawled under the table, and reached both of them, and you're now sitting in your mother's lap.
"Listen here son, what you've done was stupidly dangerous and dangerously stupid both. You should have run back the moment you saw the claw marks, or at least have been deterred by the gate being destroyed."
"Yes, mama."
"And next time you have some such brilliant idea, the least you can do is call me as well."
"What!"
"Yes, papa."
"Now, promise us both you won't be doing anything like this again."
"Yes… Love you..."
And by then the tiredness, and everything else, overpower the little will to stay conscious you have, as the warm embrace of your family tears down what resistance remains, and you do something between passing out and falling asleep.
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When you come to you're staring with sleepy eyes at the ceiling of your room. You turn around in your bed, and try to fall asleep again.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!"
One of your sisters, Nergui, barges into your rooms and jumps on your bed. Where you are laying. Ouch.
"Get off!"
"Ahahah! You're in sooo much trouble! Dad has gone to the Bolormaas, and he's yet to come back, while mom has sent all the others to gather the whole family!"
"All the family?"
"All of it!"
"Damn."
"Yes!"
"Didn't pa always say it's been-"
" 'It's been centuries since out whole family has gathered in this house' yes yes."
"...You could be a little less sassy for once, you know?"
"Piss off, you lazybones."
"Oi!"
"Worm eater."
"Dust bandit."
"Motherfucker."
"Where did you hear that from?!"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"If mom hears you saying bad words..."
"And who's going to tell her, hm? The little snitch that's still sleeping at this hour?!"
And then she jumps over you again.
"That's it! You little girl, get down!"
"I'm not little! Catch me if you can!"
And so you fly out of your cover, looking for a nice little serving of revenge between siblings. But you underestimated her, and the moment you stepped out of your room she launched something at you. You tried to catch it, but found yourself completely covered in water, dripping wet.
"How did you even get it here?! You couldn't even lift it last time!"
"Yes I could! I always could!"
Shouting might not have been the smartest idea. You come to this realization as your mother's overly sweet voice calls from the biggest living chambers.
"Is that so? Then you'll help next time we need water, right?"
"Uh oh."
"She got you there, sis."
"And you, young man, will not leave this house for the next month!"
"What!"
"Ah! That's what you get, lazybones!"
"Now go clean the mess you made, the both of you!"
"Yes, mom."
"But she was the one-"
"I think I might have heard you talking back. But I was surely mistaken. It was clearly some disgusting beast coming from the forest at the day's first light, no?"
"...Yes, mom."
"There, much better. When you're done come back here. We need to Talk."
Damn.
Your sister is snickering at you. Damn her.
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When you're done you make your way down to the same room you were welcomed yesterday, and find your mom in the exact same position chatting with a cousin. She quickly waves off the other woman, which just sends an icy look your way.
It was still worth it.
Your mother beckons you over, and so you go sit in front of her.
"Was what you said yesterday just an excuse?"
"No, it wasn't."
She just looks you in the eyes for a long time. What she finds there you don't know, but apparently it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"Damn it. I was hoping you were making stuff up."
"IS there going to be some kind of… I don't know… Monster coming from there or something?"
"It shouldn't be a problem, depending on who answers our call for help."
"What do you mean?"
"We sent someone to the capital. It really depends on who is there at the moment."
"What is going to happen?"
"They will send someone down here to take care of the problem."
"Oh."
She just looks a little dejected.
"Look. What you did was so incredibly stupid."
She leans over the table, and kisses your forehead.
"And also incredibly brave. Don't do it again, ever, ok?"
"…Moooom. You know I want to be a hunter."
"You're still too young for any of that."
"But still-"
"No buts here. Apart from you. Now tell me you won't do anything like that without permission, or your father."
"Ok, mom."
She looks a little sad, and resigned.
"You really are your father's son. Now go, off to fill that belly of yours with whatever you can find. Sometimes I think you would eat rocks if you could."
So you do. You settle for fishing calmly on the river bank. You have had enough action for a while. That is, until you spot a rather familiar shape making its way towards you. In fact, you spent the most amazing day of your life to date with this guy. You don't turn to look at him, and instead just watch the sky laying down, while your cane is next to you. He comes to sit down and silently lays on your side, just as calmly staring up at the clouds.
You break the silence after a while.
"How bad was it?"
"Really bad."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
"What did they say?"
"My mother slapped me."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
…
"That's it?"
"Boloorma slapped me as well."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
…
…
"Are you still…?"
"After that she hugged me."
"Daaamn."
"Yes."
…
"I think I've had enough adventures for a while."
"I would concur."
So you stay like that, looking up at the slowly moving clouds, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying the tranquility of the forest and the background noises that wasn't in that place. You've never been so happy to hear birds singing as you have today.
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Meanwhile, at the capital.
A lonely courier descends from the sky. It elegantly flutter its wings, as he sheds its avian form, in favour of a bipedal one. Light and hurried steps fill the stone chambers of the royal residence, as he hurries to deliver the message. The fate of his own city depends on this, after all. He enters the throne room, bows once and awaits for permission.
When he receives it, he once again swiftly strides towards the throne itself, to then be stopped by a pair of armed guards. The envelope leaves his hands, still marked by the grip of his talons, and finds its way to the one sitting on the throne. It is calmly opened, read, and closed again. The ruler nods to the poor man, and orders the guards to guide him where he may rest.
(How high up does your all call reach? 99+8 = 107)
He speaks once more, this time to his aide.
"Isn't that one where he is buried?"
"Indeed it is, Great Khan."
A beat of silence passes, as he ponders, and slowly blinks the tiredness out of his eyes. And then they snap open, he jumps out of his seat with the clanking of metal boots on stone and the clinking of armour, his booming voice thundering through the whole castle.
"Summon my heir! No one shall desecrate our family's tombs and live! Death and torture is my judgment!"
"Aye! Your will be done, Great Khan!"
Guards scatter, birds fly, horses gallop in all directions. An army is rallying, and its general is not happy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By surviving your first adventure and effectively completing the tutorial, you get one reward! Choose from the following:
[] +1 STR
[] +1 MAG
[] +1 KNO
[] +1 DIP
[] Gain Athletic Proficiency Rank 0
A day has passed. You have an action to spend however you might wish. Here's a few examples.
[] Read a random book.
[] Run around, to improve your Athletics.
[] Go explore the forest. Adventure time.
[] Spend time with your father, going hunting.
[] Write-in
The roll:
View: https://imgur.com/a/0ZJ3hbb
[X] Follow your friend and head back home.
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You think about it for about half a second. Then you choose life. What you've done is already straight out of a fairy tale. Maybe not as the nig prince that comes sweeping in saving the day, but as the sentinel controlling when a problem pops up. While trying to fight whatever that was would make you a legend, it would also make your mama's hair turn gray, and make grandma's fall off completely.
In short, you jump over the wall after tracing your tracks back to the probably not so cursed tree. You land squarely in the middle of a step you're fairly sure wasn't there before, and climb down after Tamuul. Gods know you want to wash yourself in the river. All the dust has gotten everywhere, from your shoes to your bag. And the adrenaline hit is slowly tampering out, so you're slowly coming down from a combat high. But you don't know that last part. To you it just feels as if your whole body is relaxing all of a sudden, and almost fall face first into the ground. Your sore muscles are more than willing to begin the jog back home, but you stop and catch a breath. Do some light stretching to relax a little, while keeping your ears trained for any noise coming from behind.
"So, we made-"
"Don't finish that sentence until we're back home, or I swear on the gods I'll tell your new flame of how you almost pissed yourself."
"Please calm down. We're done it. Now we just have-"
"Tamuul, I love you like a brother, but if you don't shut up right this instant I will shoot you."
At that you both look tensely at each others for a few seconds, before you crack first. Your laughs are almost silent, but in the stillness of this place they might as well be thunder falling from the sky. You fall on one knee, and start clapping your hand against your thigh, while your friend comes over you and lets himself fall on your back, slapping your neck all the way.
You fall down, and you both make a soft thump when you touch the ground. You stare at the stars up above, and can't help but notice how their light seems dimmed. But that doesn't stop either you or your friend from laughing your asses off. Then a bird croaks in the distance, and you're both jumping to your feet, reaching for your bows.
You look at each others again. Standing one close to the other, you half kneeling and with bow trained, your friend with an arrow held as a knife, an expression fit for a funeral on his face.
"You fell for it, idiot!"
"No I didn't. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention."
"Sure. I'll tell that to your lover, aye?"
"Oi, piss off. What I will tell her of this adventure is none of your business. Understood?"
"Oh, how scary. You're making me tremble right in the knees! Why, I can almost feel myself fainting."
"That's right."
"I bet when you talk to her that way she gets w-"
"Gods above, would you please stop?"
"Bah. When I get one as well."
"You truly are the lowest of the low."
"Listen here you lucky-"
So chit chatting you slowly calm down again, this time with a much happier feeling in your gut than before. You slowly get your bow back behind you, and start walking away from this holy place. You think even if you don't visit it for a few years you'll be quite fine. You eventually start jogging, when you feel like your body can afford to run, and once more race your friend back home. You both jump above the line, now completely immersed in the dark and only visible thanks to the full moon's light, speeding back home.
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You arrive to the burg's border early in the morning, and you feel like your feet are going to fall off of your legs. Your head hurts, your knees ache, your belly is criminally empty and generally you would be grimacing in pain, if it was any other moment. But now, coming back after your first grand adventure... Your face is split by a huge grin, and you can't suppress a belly laugh as you see off your friend, undoubtedly about to receive the tongue lashing of a century. Not like you are in a different situation, really. But you both knew that, and were more than willing to risk it. And boy was it worth it.
You slowly walk towards your homestead. The tall wooden building does nothing to stave off the image of your angry parents you have pinned in your face. You stand there for some long minutes, just looking up at your own house, feeling at least as bad about it as matching gazes with that demonic looking thing back at the burial ground. Eventually you knock, and find the door slightly ajar.
You enter on wobbly steps, navigating the halls of your home and eventually coming into the dining room where find the unhappy visage of your mother staring you down. She is sitting down at the table, on the side closer to the wall and far from the door. Right behind her, arms crossed and leaning on the wall, staring you down without letting anything out. Needless to say, you are chewed out for quite a while by your mother. Your father is immediately much less angry when you tell them you weren't alone. He gets right back to furious when you tell them where you went, and does another switch when you tell them of what you found.
They exchange worried glances, but they go straight above your head. Literally. By now you've crawled under the table, and reached both of them, and you're now sitting in your mother's lap.
"Listen here son, what you've done was stupidly dangerous and dangerously stupid both. You should have run back the moment you saw the claw marks, or at least have been deterred by the gate being destroyed."
"Yes, mama."
"And next time you have some such brilliant idea, the least you can do is call me as well."
"What!"
"Yes, papa."
"Now, promise us both you won't be doing anything like this again."
"Yes… Love you..."
And by then the tiredness, and everything else, overpower the little will to stay conscious you have, as the warm embrace of your family tears down what resistance remains, and you do something between passing out and falling asleep.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you come to you're staring with sleepy eyes at the ceiling of your room. You turn around in your bed, and try to fall asleep again.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!"
One of your sisters, Nergui, barges into your rooms and jumps on your bed. Where you are laying. Ouch.
"Get off!"
"Ahahah! You're in sooo much trouble! Dad has gone to the Bolormaas, and he's yet to come back, while mom has sent all the others to gather the whole family!"
"All the family?"
"All of it!"
"Damn."
"Yes!"
"Didn't pa always say it's been-"
" 'It's been centuries since out whole family has gathered in this house' yes yes."
"...You could be a little less sassy for once, you know?"
"Piss off, you lazybones."
"Oi!"
"Worm eater."
"Dust bandit."
"Motherfucker."
"Where did you hear that from?!"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"If mom hears you saying bad words..."
"And who's going to tell her, hm? The little snitch that's still sleeping at this hour?!"
And then she jumps over you again.
"That's it! You little girl, get down!"
"I'm not little! Catch me if you can!"
And so you fly out of your cover, looking for a nice little serving of revenge between siblings. But you underestimated her, and the moment you stepped out of your room she launched something at you. You tried to catch it, but found yourself completely covered in water, dripping wet.
"How did you even get it here?! You couldn't even lift it last time!"
"Yes I could! I always could!"
Shouting might not have been the smartest idea. You come to this realization as your mother's overly sweet voice calls from the biggest living chambers.
"Is that so? Then you'll help next time we need water, right?"
"Uh oh."
"She got you there, sis."
"And you, young man, will not leave this house for the next month!"
"What!"
"Ah! That's what you get, lazybones!"
"Now go clean the mess you made, the both of you!"
"Yes, mom."
"But she was the one-"
"I think I might have heard you talking back. But I was surely mistaken. It was clearly some disgusting beast coming from the forest at the day's first light, no?"
"...Yes, mom."
"There, much better. When you're done come back here. We need to Talk."
Damn.
Your sister is snickering at you. Damn her.
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When you're done you make your way down to the same room you were welcomed yesterday, and find your mom in the exact same position chatting with a cousin. She quickly waves off the other woman, which just sends an icy look your way.
It was still worth it.
Your mother beckons you over, and so you go sit in front of her.
"Was what you said yesterday just an excuse?"
"No, it wasn't."
She just looks you in the eyes for a long time. What she finds there you don't know, but apparently it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"Damn it. I was hoping you were making stuff up."
"IS there going to be some kind of… I don't know… Monster coming from there or something?"
"It shouldn't be a problem, depending on who answers our call for help."
"What do you mean?"
"We sent someone to the capital. It really depends on who is there at the moment."
"What is going to happen?"
"They will send someone down here to take care of the problem."
"Oh."
She just looks a little dejected.
"Look. What you did was so incredibly stupid."
She leans over the table, and kisses your forehead.
"And also incredibly brave. Don't do it again, ever, ok?"
"…Moooom. You know I want to be a hunter."
"You're still too young for any of that."
"But still-"
"No buts here. Apart from you. Now tell me you won't do anything like that without permission, or your father."
"Ok, mom."
She looks a little sad, and resigned.
"You really are your father's son. Now go, off to fill that belly of yours with whatever you can find. Sometimes I think you would eat rocks if you could."
So you do. You settle for fishing calmly on the river bank. You have had enough action for a while. That is, until you spot a rather familiar shape making its way towards you. In fact, you spent the most amazing day of your life to date with this guy. You don't turn to look at him, and instead just watch the sky laying down, while your cane is next to you. He comes to sit down and silently lays on your side, just as calmly staring up at the clouds.
You break the silence after a while.
"How bad was it?"
"Really bad."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
"What did they say?"
"My mother slapped me."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
…
"That's it?"
"Boloorma slapped me as well."
"Damn."
"Yes."
…
…
…
"Are you still…?"
"After that she hugged me."
"Daaamn."
"Yes."
…
"I think I've had enough adventures for a while."
"I would concur."
So you stay like that, looking up at the slowly moving clouds, talking about everything and nothing, enjoying the tranquility of the forest and the background noises that wasn't in that place. You've never been so happy to hear birds singing as you have today.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, at the capital.
A lonely courier descends from the sky. It elegantly flutter its wings, as he sheds its avian form, in favour of a bipedal one. Light and hurried steps fill the stone chambers of the royal residence, as he hurries to deliver the message. The fate of his own city depends on this, after all. He enters the throne room, bows once and awaits for permission.
When he receives it, he once again swiftly strides towards the throne itself, to then be stopped by a pair of armed guards. The envelope leaves his hands, still marked by the grip of his talons, and finds its way to the one sitting on the throne. It is calmly opened, read, and closed again. The ruler nods to the poor man, and orders the guards to guide him where he may rest.
(How high up does your all call reach? 99+8 = 107)
He speaks once more, this time to his aide.
"Isn't that one where he is buried?"
"Indeed it is, Great Khan."
A beat of silence passes, as he ponders, and slowly blinks the tiredness out of his eyes. And then they snap open, he jumps out of his seat with the clanking of metal boots on stone and the clinking of armour, his booming voice thundering through the whole castle.
"Summon my heir! No one shall desecrate our family's tombs and live! Death and torture is my judgment!"
"Aye! Your will be done, Great Khan!"
Guards scatter, birds fly, horses gallop in all directions. An army is rallying, and its general is not happy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By surviving your first adventure and effectively completing the tutorial, you get one reward! Choose from the following:
[] +1 STR
[] +1 MAG
[] +1 KNO
[] +1 DIP
[] Gain Athletic Proficiency Rank 0
A day has passed. You have an action to spend however you might wish. Here's a few examples.
[] Read a random book.
[] Run around, to improve your Athletics.
[] Go explore the forest. Adventure time.
[] Spend time with your father, going hunting.
[] Write-in
The roll:
View: https://imgur.com/a/0ZJ3hbb
Last edited:
[X] +1 DIP
[X] Spend time with your father, going hunting.
Our diplomacy is pretty terrible, we need to fix it so that it doesn't bite us in the future.
Hunting with my father will give us the opportunity to develop combat skills that will help as long as we do not have necromancy.
Of course, I considered reading a random book, but if there is no necronomicon in the attic of our house, or at least a book of teaching magic, then it does not seem too useful.
[X] Spend time with your father, going hunting.
Our diplomacy is pretty terrible, we need to fix it so that it doesn't bite us in the future.
Hunting with my father will give us the opportunity to develop combat skills that will help as long as we do not have necromancy.
Of course, I considered reading a random book, but if there is no necronomicon in the attic of our house, or at least a book of teaching magic, then it does not seem too useful.
Thank you. Done.
- Pronouns
- you
[X] +1 MAG
[X] Read a random book.
We are still grounded, so inside activities it is!
And MAG because everything else can probably be trained through actions, no need to spend a reward. Plus, we are aiming to be a necromncer....
[X] Read a random book.
We are still grounded, so inside activities it is!
And MAG because everything else can probably be trained through actions, no need to spend a reward. Plus, we are aiming to be a necromncer....
The voting is devided, and it doesn't seem like new ones will be coming in. As such I cast my own personal vore:
[X] Read a random Book
While I'll leave the reward alone because two people voted for MAG.
This is mostly to avoid getting in trouble right after making a promise like that. You'll have lots of time to explore around, after all.
[X] Read a random Book
While I'll leave the reward alone because two people voted for MAG.
This is mostly to avoid getting in trouble right after making a promise like that. You'll have lots of time to explore around, after all.
The Ground Quaking
Winning Vote:
+1 MAG!
[X] Read a random Book.
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You spend a lazy day with your friend, messing around and generally getting back on your feet after the scare of your life. Life seems like it's gone back to normal, and just one year ago you'd not have noticed anything different. But now you're fifteen, and you can catch on more of what is happening. People around the burg look at you with something in their eyes. Some with respect, others with pity, and a few with envy, but everyone has an opinion. It seems as if you have become the talk of the town.
Tamuul already was, mostly because he was dating a member of an important family. Well, not like you'd care. Your mother stares daggers at your back every time you go out, and sometimes even asked around to make sure you hadn't run off. Such a worrywant. But it makes you feel food a little as well. Meanwhile, your father is nowhere to be seen for the whole day. Who knows what's happening. Maybe he's just gone on another long hunting trip?
Well, what you know is that you've had enough movement for the week. Time to take it slow and use your mind. After all, a hunter's body must be as might as the beasts he hunts, but to prevail he must be more cunning than them. So it is you ask around the family for something to read. It gets a few raised eyebrows, and a particularly bothersome little sister keeps poking you to 'make sure you're still the same person' or whatever, but you eventually do find something.
So you search around the house, looking for someone that could have something interesting to read. Then you remember Gori. He isn't the sharpest, brightest or particularly liked by your parents, but he always pats your head and pinches your cheeks, so he's alright in your books. Mostly because sometimes he'd help you sneak out of the house or give useful advice for aiming bows when father isn't around.
He had a passing interest for travelling some time ago, and travelled around. As such, he has a lot of knick knacks to give out. Usually he's pretty much ignored by the children, because he never gives out anything to eat on holidays and fairs, instead opting to trying to unload the trinkets. But on this day, that's exactly what you need.
"Oh! Hello there, little one. I didn't hear you coming." He is sitting at a table, reading something. His big belly and the shadow of a white bear on his chin always makes you think of dad, in a 'look what happens if you don't exercise and sit in wagons all day' kind of way.
"Hello Gori. What are you reading?"
"Oh, just a little thing from that time I went in the Empire. Did I ever tell you of how to reach it I crossed a holy wellspring of water, but at the time a group of adventurers had almost hunted the local grizzly bears to extinction, meaning all the injured ones were-"
"Listen. While I'd love to know more about that, I really want to read something."
"...Really? You of all people?"
"Yes."
A beat of silence passes, as he looks own at you, astonished.
After the quick talk, and a confirmation that yes, you of all people want one of his books, he is overcome with joy and envelops you in a huge bear hug. He gives you a little book, almost a vademecum really, about rocks of all things. So you escape his grip, and reach the safety of a tree close to to the river.
It always struck you as strange how strong he is, considering how he looks fat enough to break most chairs. So you get reading, and immediately you have a problem. It's a book about rocks.
Rocks.
Thankfully at least it has little drawings, with colours and uses for them.
Well, better than nothing. If nothing else because weapons are made of rocks at least for half, right? Must be pretty cool, if even arrows are partially made of rocks. Or so he says. You already knew of a few useful types, like the ones used to light a fire or make rudimentary knives, so knowing something more about stones can't hurt. Mama always says that knowledge is power, after all.
And as she sees you coming back home with a book in hand she tells you as much, eyes filled with joy and already blabbering on about one kind of rock or another. In the privacy of your mind you doubt how such things will help you hunt, but even you don't dare to voice your opinion where she can hear you.
Much to her mirth you once again retreat back to your room, and sleep soundly. By now it has been two days since you've returned from your trip. Who knows when something will be done about it?
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Reading a book:
6d10 = 27
Gain:
Vademecum about Rocks.
(27/50)
Once completed will give:
+50 Survival Roll
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Today you awaken at dawn, much like the rest of the burg, probably. The ground is shaking, after all. You quickly get out of bed, grab your bow and some arrows, along with your little book, and run out. You sleep wearing your normal gear exactly for this. Look at them now, your sisters and brothers, hurriedly putting on pants and shirts, while you and run around and... do something.
Your father is still away, and the rest of the family is just waking up. Your mother barges out of her room, and sees you going for the door. She looks at you, and then around at the house, where everything is trembling more and more as time goes on.
"Go and see what's happening. I'll get everyone out in case this is an earthquake."
You stop in your tracks, and look at her in surprise. You would have thought she'd have ordered you to stay right by her side.
"I have felt the earth rumbling before, and it wasn't like this. If anyone is going to find out what is making this, it's going to be you. Now go, before I change my mind. I'll keep everyone calm."
You rush to her, and hug her a little. She laughs, and taps your head.
"Seriously, go. I can already hear someone crying. Go to the main plaza of the burg. Everyone should gather there during emergencies. You better come back and tell me what's going, you hear?"
But you've already left her, and are running towards the town's center. Time to see what's going on.
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+1 MAG!
[X] Read a random Book.
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You spend a lazy day with your friend, messing around and generally getting back on your feet after the scare of your life. Life seems like it's gone back to normal, and just one year ago you'd not have noticed anything different. But now you're fifteen, and you can catch on more of what is happening. People around the burg look at you with something in their eyes. Some with respect, others with pity, and a few with envy, but everyone has an opinion. It seems as if you have become the talk of the town.
Tamuul already was, mostly because he was dating a member of an important family. Well, not like you'd care. Your mother stares daggers at your back every time you go out, and sometimes even asked around to make sure you hadn't run off. Such a worrywant. But it makes you feel food a little as well. Meanwhile, your father is nowhere to be seen for the whole day. Who knows what's happening. Maybe he's just gone on another long hunting trip?
Well, what you know is that you've had enough movement for the week. Time to take it slow and use your mind. After all, a hunter's body must be as might as the beasts he hunts, but to prevail he must be more cunning than them. So it is you ask around the family for something to read. It gets a few raised eyebrows, and a particularly bothersome little sister keeps poking you to 'make sure you're still the same person' or whatever, but you eventually do find something.
So you search around the house, looking for someone that could have something interesting to read. Then you remember Gori. He isn't the sharpest, brightest or particularly liked by your parents, but he always pats your head and pinches your cheeks, so he's alright in your books. Mostly because sometimes he'd help you sneak out of the house or give useful advice for aiming bows when father isn't around.
He had a passing interest for travelling some time ago, and travelled around. As such, he has a lot of knick knacks to give out. Usually he's pretty much ignored by the children, because he never gives out anything to eat on holidays and fairs, instead opting to trying to unload the trinkets. But on this day, that's exactly what you need.
"Oh! Hello there, little one. I didn't hear you coming." He is sitting at a table, reading something. His big belly and the shadow of a white bear on his chin always makes you think of dad, in a 'look what happens if you don't exercise and sit in wagons all day' kind of way.
"Hello Gori. What are you reading?"
"Oh, just a little thing from that time I went in the Empire. Did I ever tell you of how to reach it I crossed a holy wellspring of water, but at the time a group of adventurers had almost hunted the local grizzly bears to extinction, meaning all the injured ones were-"
"Listen. While I'd love to know more about that, I really want to read something."
"...Really? You of all people?"
"Yes."
A beat of silence passes, as he looks own at you, astonished.
After the quick talk, and a confirmation that yes, you of all people want one of his books, he is overcome with joy and envelops you in a huge bear hug. He gives you a little book, almost a vademecum really, about rocks of all things. So you escape his grip, and reach the safety of a tree close to to the river.
It always struck you as strange how strong he is, considering how he looks fat enough to break most chairs. So you get reading, and immediately you have a problem. It's a book about rocks.
Rocks.
Thankfully at least it has little drawings, with colours and uses for them.
Well, better than nothing. If nothing else because weapons are made of rocks at least for half, right? Must be pretty cool, if even arrows are partially made of rocks. Or so he says. You already knew of a few useful types, like the ones used to light a fire or make rudimentary knives, so knowing something more about stones can't hurt. Mama always says that knowledge is power, after all.
And as she sees you coming back home with a book in hand she tells you as much, eyes filled with joy and already blabbering on about one kind of rock or another. In the privacy of your mind you doubt how such things will help you hunt, but even you don't dare to voice your opinion where she can hear you.
Much to her mirth you once again retreat back to your room, and sleep soundly. By now it has been two days since you've returned from your trip. Who knows when something will be done about it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading a book:
6d10 = 27
Gain:
Vademecum about Rocks.
(27/50)
Once completed will give:
+50 Survival Roll
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Today you awaken at dawn, much like the rest of the burg, probably. The ground is shaking, after all. You quickly get out of bed, grab your bow and some arrows, along with your little book, and run out. You sleep wearing your normal gear exactly for this. Look at them now, your sisters and brothers, hurriedly putting on pants and shirts, while you and run around and... do something.
Your father is still away, and the rest of the family is just waking up. Your mother barges out of her room, and sees you going for the door. She looks at you, and then around at the house, where everything is trembling more and more as time goes on.
"Go and see what's happening. I'll get everyone out in case this is an earthquake."
You stop in your tracks, and look at her in surprise. You would have thought she'd have ordered you to stay right by her side.
"I have felt the earth rumbling before, and it wasn't like this. If anyone is going to find out what is making this, it's going to be you. Now go, before I change my mind. I'll keep everyone calm."
You rush to her, and hug her a little. She laughs, and taps your head.
"Seriously, go. I can already hear someone crying. Go to the main plaza of the burg. Everyone should gather there during emergencies. You better come back and tell me what's going, you hear?"
But you've already left her, and are running towards the town's center. Time to see what's going on.
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An Army on the March
You run towards the burg's main plaza. Hurriedly, step after step, you make your way ever closer. The ground is shaking enough to almost make you lose your footing, but you manage to stay upright. When you reach it, you find some of the city's elders, and some women and children, huddling together, furiously discussing something. As you get even closer, you manage to make out that they seem to be talking about the current problem, and don't seem to know much more than you. You stay in the plaza, checking who's there and who isn't. Most every family has sent someone, and they all say that the shaking isn't strong enough to bring down their own house, at least for now. Hopefully you're far from the focus of whatever is happening.
You don't wait there. You help around, carrying the infirm and elderly, or helping people get their things out of their own abode. You seem to be one of the few people armed, and those you know to possess a weapon aren't here. You are close enough to hear one old grandpa whisper that his son, the one charged with the burg's defense, has called for all abled men and women willing to fight, and left the town a couple of days ago, refusing to elaborate or explain.
A slow crescendo of noises comes from one of the two roads to the burg. These noises are an animal's. Something big enough to cause all of this. Fear courses through your veins once more. Your friend, mother, or anyone you actually know is anywhere to be seen. You're afraid and alone, but you have your bow and some arrows you always carry with you, and you really feel like knowing what is going on. So you run towards the noise, intent on getting a look of what is causing all this fuss.
Once you reach the edge of the town and look down the coming road, what you see is a sea of living metal, glistening under the morning sun's light. Beasts like you've never seen before with just as fearsome and armoured riders. Warriors too many to count, marching in locked step. What you believed to be clouds are instead fleets of flying monsters, roaring in the air. And at the head of this veritable army, straight out of a fairy tale, is a small group of familiar faces. You can't really distinguish them just yet, but you're pretty sure they are from the city.
For some reason you're both more afraid and less. Such huge animals evoke a primal fear in you, especially when you remember the unhinged gates of the graveyard, but on the other hand, they seem tamed enough to not pose a real threat.
You don't know who these people are. They don't look like your kind, and the banners they fly aren't any you recognize from your mother's lectures. There must be hundreds of banners fluttering in the wind, held up by what seem like distinguished soldiers. The armours they wear are nothing like the city's few warriors, and what they're riding doesn't even look similar to horses. In fact, you don't have a shred of an idea regarding what they might even be.
As they get closer, you can make out more details. They have a snout, more like a lizard's than a horse's, their bodies are covered in red or blue scales, and they stand on two bird-like legs. Odd creatures, and quite aggressive from what you can make out. Why else would you need so much metal around their mouth, if not to keep the beast from biting? Whatever the case, you wave, and some even wave back at you after a few seconds.
The shaking has gotten much worse, and the shrieking from the skies is honestly horrible. You feel your hear tin up your throat, and are sweating quite a lot. Eventually they get close enough for you to make out a few more detailed shapes, like the fact that a lone knight is riding a giant lizard of some kind in the front. Well, it would be on its lonesome, if not for your people strolling languidly at its sides.
If nothing else that reassures you of the safety of the beast, and the intensions of the rider. The only real problem left is that the banner this particular hunk of metal is carrying is that of a rather famous empire.
– – – – –
When they reach you, they keep talking and ignore you, going straight to the burg. Rude. The only exception is the foreign knight, whose beast seems to sill, and sniff in your direction. It almost seemed like it started salivating, but that's clearly a product of your imagination, right?
Either way it goes right back to striding proudly forward, but it still glances at you from time to time. The knight instead just slightly lowers their head at you. You're pretty sure they're a guy, mostly because of the low voice you faintly hear, but you'd not want to assume, and can't really tell because off all the metal.
The soldiers behind are another story. They seem rather belligerant, while also loudly complain and moan about something. You assume. Bitching about something seems to be rather recognizable, even if you don't know their language. Still, you keep your distance from both group, and instead try to reach what you now recognize as the people absent from the burg.
Wouldn't do for them to catch you unaware, after all. You start to keep up the pace, while trying to take it all in. While the knight's banner seems even softer than your own bed, the others are much more sterile, less decorated and generally of lower quality. You're no expert, but it is apparent when they're so close to each others. Also, the knight's is of what you feel like is purple. You've never seen that colour before. The warriors' weapons change every twenty men or so. Some groups have swords and square shields, while some have round shields and spikes. Some have a bladed stick of some fashion, while what you now realize are half naked men have twin pairs of axes. Those are not wood axes, you realize, and they are a lot more rowdy and loud than the others. The axes are even on their emblem.
You turn behind you, and see that the sea of glistening metal goes on for a long while yet. There must be more than two thousands warriors here. Finally your each close enough to your people to talk with them in your own language.
"What's going on?"
It's hard to talk over the sound of all these people marching at once, not to mention the odd roar of the warbeasts.
"It seems like the grave robber you spotted didn't start with our tombs."
"Oh."
"They already sent word to the Great Khan. If they're to be believed."
"What van we even do if they're lying?"
"Let as many of ours as we can escape in the steppes. They can't afford to run after everyone."
"That's so grim!"
"Just look at them. We're too few and too little armed to even defend ourselves."
And while this guy is rather cynical and depressing, he's right. Still, that is nor eason to just kneel over and die, should this warriors try to attack you.
"They're just here for the magical grave robber, no?"
"They say so."
"How did they even know he was close by?"
"This knight, Sir Fjord, says their own magicians could just point them in a direction, and when we approached them they asked us about it."
"Did you tell them we know where he is?"
"Yes."
So you keep chatting, slowly moving further and further into the town. Thankfully it seems almost nothing has toppled over because of all the shaking, but still. That was a scare. You're much less afraid now, all things considered.
After that things go by rather quickly. The army buys every single piece of food and water the town is willing to sell, and pay handsomely for anyone willing to host them for the day. They say that after resting today they'll march on to the graveyard tomorrow, and ask fot the ones that have seen the criminal to accompany them. Also because the magical wards would be hostile to them as well, should they come without someone with family buried within.
Obviously the town council is summoned, and it is quickly agreed that you and Tamuul will accompany these guys. Your father still is nowhere to be seen, even if he was part of the group that met these guys originally. It seems he and a few others pushed further into the steppes, to see if anyone else was coming. They know another army, much bigger, is approaching, thanks to a message they received during the night, and they want to meet them as soon as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your family has one of the biggest houses further from the city, and as such the opportunity has come to lend out your bed for someone else. You'd have to sleep somewhere else, unless you find someone willing to share. It would not even be that hard, considering they have been apparently marching for days without rest, and are just about ready to fall over.
[] Put your room for sale.
[] Don't
While that was rather exciting, the day is far from over. You still have to spend it somehow.
[] Snooze around the soldiers, and see if you met anyone interesting.
[] Try and befriend one of the beasts.
[] Explore the forest.
[] Find out where the flying beasts will stay, and then poke them.
[] Keep reading your book. Who cares about these semlly guys anyway.
[] Write-in
Will you actually go tomorrow, or would you rather stay safe back at home?
[] Go
[] Don't
You don't wait there. You help around, carrying the infirm and elderly, or helping people get their things out of their own abode. You seem to be one of the few people armed, and those you know to possess a weapon aren't here. You are close enough to hear one old grandpa whisper that his son, the one charged with the burg's defense, has called for all abled men and women willing to fight, and left the town a couple of days ago, refusing to elaborate or explain.
A slow crescendo of noises comes from one of the two roads to the burg. These noises are an animal's. Something big enough to cause all of this. Fear courses through your veins once more. Your friend, mother, or anyone you actually know is anywhere to be seen. You're afraid and alone, but you have your bow and some arrows you always carry with you, and you really feel like knowing what is going on. So you run towards the noise, intent on getting a look of what is causing all this fuss.
Once you reach the edge of the town and look down the coming road, what you see is a sea of living metal, glistening under the morning sun's light. Beasts like you've never seen before with just as fearsome and armoured riders. Warriors too many to count, marching in locked step. What you believed to be clouds are instead fleets of flying monsters, roaring in the air. And at the head of this veritable army, straight out of a fairy tale, is a small group of familiar faces. You can't really distinguish them just yet, but you're pretty sure they are from the city.
For some reason you're both more afraid and less. Such huge animals evoke a primal fear in you, especially when you remember the unhinged gates of the graveyard, but on the other hand, they seem tamed enough to not pose a real threat.
You don't know who these people are. They don't look like your kind, and the banners they fly aren't any you recognize from your mother's lectures. There must be hundreds of banners fluttering in the wind, held up by what seem like distinguished soldiers. The armours they wear are nothing like the city's few warriors, and what they're riding doesn't even look similar to horses. In fact, you don't have a shred of an idea regarding what they might even be.
As they get closer, you can make out more details. They have a snout, more like a lizard's than a horse's, their bodies are covered in red or blue scales, and they stand on two bird-like legs. Odd creatures, and quite aggressive from what you can make out. Why else would you need so much metal around their mouth, if not to keep the beast from biting? Whatever the case, you wave, and some even wave back at you after a few seconds.
The shaking has gotten much worse, and the shrieking from the skies is honestly horrible. You feel your hear tin up your throat, and are sweating quite a lot. Eventually they get close enough for you to make out a few more detailed shapes, like the fact that a lone knight is riding a giant lizard of some kind in the front. Well, it would be on its lonesome, if not for your people strolling languidly at its sides.
If nothing else that reassures you of the safety of the beast, and the intensions of the rider. The only real problem left is that the banner this particular hunk of metal is carrying is that of a rather famous empire.
– – – – –
When they reach you, they keep talking and ignore you, going straight to the burg. Rude. The only exception is the foreign knight, whose beast seems to sill, and sniff in your direction. It almost seemed like it started salivating, but that's clearly a product of your imagination, right?
Either way it goes right back to striding proudly forward, but it still glances at you from time to time. The knight instead just slightly lowers their head at you. You're pretty sure they're a guy, mostly because of the low voice you faintly hear, but you'd not want to assume, and can't really tell because off all the metal.
The soldiers behind are another story. They seem rather belligerant, while also loudly complain and moan about something. You assume. Bitching about something seems to be rather recognizable, even if you don't know their language. Still, you keep your distance from both group, and instead try to reach what you now recognize as the people absent from the burg.
Wouldn't do for them to catch you unaware, after all. You start to keep up the pace, while trying to take it all in. While the knight's banner seems even softer than your own bed, the others are much more sterile, less decorated and generally of lower quality. You're no expert, but it is apparent when they're so close to each others. Also, the knight's is of what you feel like is purple. You've never seen that colour before. The warriors' weapons change every twenty men or so. Some groups have swords and square shields, while some have round shields and spikes. Some have a bladed stick of some fashion, while what you now realize are half naked men have twin pairs of axes. Those are not wood axes, you realize, and they are a lot more rowdy and loud than the others. The axes are even on their emblem.
You turn behind you, and see that the sea of glistening metal goes on for a long while yet. There must be more than two thousands warriors here. Finally your each close enough to your people to talk with them in your own language.
"What's going on?"
It's hard to talk over the sound of all these people marching at once, not to mention the odd roar of the warbeasts.
"It seems like the grave robber you spotted didn't start with our tombs."
"Oh."
"They already sent word to the Great Khan. If they're to be believed."
"What van we even do if they're lying?"
"Let as many of ours as we can escape in the steppes. They can't afford to run after everyone."
"That's so grim!"
"Just look at them. We're too few and too little armed to even defend ourselves."
And while this guy is rather cynical and depressing, he's right. Still, that is nor eason to just kneel over and die, should this warriors try to attack you.
"They're just here for the magical grave robber, no?"
"They say so."
"How did they even know he was close by?"
"This knight, Sir Fjord, says their own magicians could just point them in a direction, and when we approached them they asked us about it."
"Did you tell them we know where he is?"
"Yes."
So you keep chatting, slowly moving further and further into the town. Thankfully it seems almost nothing has toppled over because of all the shaking, but still. That was a scare. You're much less afraid now, all things considered.
After that things go by rather quickly. The army buys every single piece of food and water the town is willing to sell, and pay handsomely for anyone willing to host them for the day. They say that after resting today they'll march on to the graveyard tomorrow, and ask fot the ones that have seen the criminal to accompany them. Also because the magical wards would be hostile to them as well, should they come without someone with family buried within.
Obviously the town council is summoned, and it is quickly agreed that you and Tamuul will accompany these guys. Your father still is nowhere to be seen, even if he was part of the group that met these guys originally. It seems he and a few others pushed further into the steppes, to see if anyone else was coming. They know another army, much bigger, is approaching, thanks to a message they received during the night, and they want to meet them as soon as possible.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your family has one of the biggest houses further from the city, and as such the opportunity has come to lend out your bed for someone else. You'd have to sleep somewhere else, unless you find someone willing to share. It would not even be that hard, considering they have been apparently marching for days without rest, and are just about ready to fall over.
[] Put your room for sale.
[] Don't
While that was rather exciting, the day is far from over. You still have to spend it somehow.
[] Snooze around the soldiers, and see if you met anyone interesting.
[] Try and befriend one of the beasts.
[] Explore the forest.
[] Find out where the flying beasts will stay, and then poke them.
[] Keep reading your book. Who cares about these semlly guys anyway.
[] Write-in
Will you actually go tomorrow, or would you rather stay safe back at home?
[] Go
[] Don't
- Pronouns
- you
[X] Put your room for sale.
While that was rather exciting, the day is far from over. You still have to spend it somehow.
[X] Try to find some of those magicians that can apparently track the grave-robber. Sounds like an useful skill for a hunter, maybe you can convince them to show you?
Will you actually go tomorrow, or would you rather stay safe back at home?
[X] Go
While that was rather exciting, the day is far from over. You still have to spend it somehow.
[X] Try to find some of those magicians that can apparently track the grave-robber. Sounds like an useful skill for a hunter, maybe you can convince them to show you?
Will you actually go tomorrow, or would you rather stay safe back at home?
[X] Go
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]Put your room for sale
[X] Try to find some of those magicians that can apparently track the grave-robber. Sounds like an useful skill for a hunter, maybe you can convince them to show you?
[X] Go
Getting friendly to the soldiers is a good move and I like the write in.
[X] Try to find some of those magicians that can apparently track the grave-robber. Sounds like an useful skill for a hunter, maybe you can convince them to show you?
[X] Go
Getting friendly to the soldiers is a good move and I like the write in.