It was a simple idea. The city of Guallidurth was a political and religious mess of infighting and vicious declarations of heresy from the most powerful houses... so less influential houses like Neldrin and Dar'ges had to watch out for themselves, even co-operate in the shadows... work towards a time when they could wrest the reins of power out of the hands of the violent, even. Dar'ges had connections, but was unwilling to act on their own on the political stage. Neldrin... what they lacked in political capital, they made up for in boldness. A partnership had potential.
Hence, these little rendezvous. Set up a series of meetings rotating through little back rooms and likely inns, in which a courier from one house - a magically inclined one, in this case - could deliver verbal intelligence on the workings of other Houses to a ranking member of the other, and she in turn could carry it back to her people. The groundwork was laid for deeper plans in the future, the promise of great things. It made sense.
All except the choice of woman to receive the intelligence, as for some reason, House Neldrin had chosen to send the least patient, least politically aware daughter in all the Underdark. It had seemed a joke, at first. But Zau'lann had pondered the attitude and bearing of Tian'ith of House Neldrin in his idle, waiting moments, and there'd been enough of those. Maybe there was a point to it - to her. She was clearly a younger sister of the House, spending time playing out military fantasies instead of looking to the priesthood, perhaps trying to steer clear of whatever else was going on amongst her elder sisters... as bizarre as it seemed, maybe someone who just didn't care for scheming was the only kind of daughter you could trust to report truthfully in these shadowy games.
It was a ridiculous paradox, but Zau'lann was satisfied with it. It made Tian'ith a rare bird in Guallidurth - maybe she'd grow out of it in time, but for now, it was curious to witness the behaviour of a woman who seemed to act and speak in a way that matched exactly how she felt. And usually, that was petulant and irritated, and making a grand show of it. This was an interruption in whatever honest business she had, naturally. Of course, this was every bit the tiresome interruption for him, but a woman's time was more valuable... probably. If nothing else, the wait gave him time to catch up on some theory...
And at last, she came marching up the stairs, bursting into the room , pouting as usual... exactly like the previous four times. He had to stop himself from smiling at her entrance. No, that would never do. Studied indifference, that was the way. No need to play along. He waited a good few moments, turning a page, before she threw her cloak into a corner of the room and sat down huffily, demanding his attention. He slowly closed the book and looked up, giving her a look that contained the hint of a raised eyebrow.
"Jabress," he said, presenting the facade of eternal patience. "The news today concerns House Vil'raith..."
Assault on Aldera Campaign
Moderator:Lazybones
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Session 8
Ayram will be joining us tomorrow, so please send him or post the connection information for the server, Vanya Mia.
In character posting bonus (I gave the full-party bonus since Ayram hasn't formally joined yet):
+300xp to Ravillion, Rogha, Zau'lann, and Tian'ith
+450xp to Darson
+600xp to Miiq
Ayram will be joining us tomorrow, so please send him or post the connection information for the server, Vanya Mia.
In character posting bonus (I gave the full-party bonus since Ayram hasn't formally joined yet):
+300xp to Ravillion, Rogha, Zau'lann, and Tian'ith
+450xp to Darson
+600xp to Miiq
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
The hak list is on page 3 of this thread, including links.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
The henchman thing was a simple tag error so it should work moving forward. I'll make a few other fixes (that stupid AT next to the derro town has to die!) and upload a fixed version later this weekend.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
BACK HOME... ALMOST.
The team was ready for a trip to the surface. The others did not have a clue what topside was like and were asking silly questions.
Rogha did not have time for silly question as she had greater questions in mind. How many moons did she missed? Where were the constellations now? Was the tip of The Sword touching The Shield? Was The Dragon visible on the horizon just before dawn?
She did not have time to further her study related to the prophecy, so if the Blood Moon had already happened, would the people below know of the turmoils taking place topside? Would the news travel fast all the way down to the temples of the Spider Queen and other temples down below? If the uprising was on the way, who was leading the humanoids against the Humans and their allies? And if the Blood Moon had yet to occur, who was the chosen one? A half Orc from the frozen plains? A Blue ogre from the East with potent magic?
A kobold-dragon? A fire giant King? Questions, questions, questions that would give the witch a headache...
The team was ready for a trip to the surface. The others did not have a clue what topside was like and were asking silly questions.
Rogha did not have time for silly question as she had greater questions in mind. How many moons did she missed? Where were the constellations now? Was the tip of The Sword touching The Shield? Was The Dragon visible on the horizon just before dawn?
She did not have time to further her study related to the prophecy, so if the Blood Moon had already happened, would the people below know of the turmoils taking place topside? Would the news travel fast all the way down to the temples of the Spider Queen and other temples down below? If the uprising was on the way, who was leading the humanoids against the Humans and their allies? And if the Blood Moon had yet to occur, who was the chosen one? A half Orc from the frozen plains? A Blue ogre from the East with potent magic?
A kobold-dragon? A fire giant King? Questions, questions, questions that would give the witch a headache...
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Darsin sat by the fire in the cave and gazed into the flames, basking in the warmth. They were to spy out the land of the surface and bring back a report. Emphasis was placed on doing so undetected. He wondered, given the nature of the group, if that was a realistic expectation. A new sellsword had joined them for the mission. He wasn't sure what to make of him yet. He seemed confident and competent enough, but time would tell if he really had what it took to survive in this kind of life.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
The surface. It was as strange as it had been described, although that 'sunlight' seemed as if she could maybe grow used to it, given enough time... But even if so she could never show it. Ravillion knew well enough how horrible the surface light should be to her /kind/. And so she will not allow herself to grow accustomed to something her true form could not.
Aside from that though, it seems the island was inhabited by dwarves, and not humans as was expected. However, that was inconsequential compared to the true problem facing them. The red ryld's inability to follow orders. For whatever reason, that big, red creature fancied itself able to move along the shadows like she could. It even thought its floating eye could, but they obviously couldn't. Added that it continued to ignore them telling it of that fact, and either refusing to listen from lacking of understanding or a sense of pride and defiance, and Ravillion was beginning to view it as more liability than just lacking much use now.
And Ravillion was not about to tolerate anything risking her chances at getting what she wanted.
Aside from that though, it seems the island was inhabited by dwarves, and not humans as was expected. However, that was inconsequential compared to the true problem facing them. The red ryld's inability to follow orders. For whatever reason, that big, red creature fancied itself able to move along the shadows like she could. It even thought its floating eye could, but they obviously couldn't. Added that it continued to ignore them telling it of that fact, and either refusing to listen from lacking of understanding or a sense of pride and defiance, and Ravillion was beginning to view it as more liability than just lacking much use now.
And Ravillion was not about to tolerate anything risking her chances at getting what she wanted.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Miiq did not trust the sky.
It would be wrong to say that he was afraid, of course. No, this tremble in his claw, this unsteadiness in his knees, the lingering uncertainty his voice - these were surely not signs of fear. Dragons did not fear.
No, it was merely caution that caused him to retreat back into the cavern a while. Why remain outside, after all, while the scouts were still about? Yes. It was safer to remain here, in the dark. No, not safer - not merely safer, at least! - but wiser. Smarter.
There was a squeak. Shortly thereafter, it was followed by a second squeak - this one from Miiq, as he was quite alarmed. He looked about the cavern, and spotted there, flapping about in the moonlight, a lone bat.
Miiq only barely managed to keep himself from breathing fire in its general direction. When he came to his senses, he realised that the bat's presence here was... strange. It was all alone, with no others of its kind to be seen. If these were its customary hunting grounds, then there should be dozens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of bats.
Surely, then, it was far from home. Alone. Lost. Forgotten, perhaps, or merely tossed aside. Surviving, for now, in spite of the challenges it had faced. In other words, it was just like Miiq. Who had ever heard of a lone kobold, venturing where no sane kobold dared travel?
It was then that he made up his mind.
"Obey me, and together, we shall journey to many places." These were dragon-words that Miiq spoke. There was power in them, as there is in all things dragon. "Obey me, and together, we shall grow strong."
The little bat perched on Miiq's shoulder. It squeaked.
It would be wrong to say that he was afraid, of course. No, this tremble in his claw, this unsteadiness in his knees, the lingering uncertainty his voice - these were surely not signs of fear. Dragons did not fear.
No, it was merely caution that caused him to retreat back into the cavern a while. Why remain outside, after all, while the scouts were still about? Yes. It was safer to remain here, in the dark. No, not safer - not merely safer, at least! - but wiser. Smarter.
There was a squeak. Shortly thereafter, it was followed by a second squeak - this one from Miiq, as he was quite alarmed. He looked about the cavern, and spotted there, flapping about in the moonlight, a lone bat.
Miiq only barely managed to keep himself from breathing fire in its general direction. When he came to his senses, he realised that the bat's presence here was... strange. It was all alone, with no others of its kind to be seen. If these were its customary hunting grounds, then there should be dozens, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of bats.
Surely, then, it was far from home. Alone. Lost. Forgotten, perhaps, or merely tossed aside. Surviving, for now, in spite of the challenges it had faced. In other words, it was just like Miiq. Who had ever heard of a lone kobold, venturing where no sane kobold dared travel?
It was then that he made up his mind.
"Obey me, and together, we shall journey to many places." These were dragon-words that Miiq spoke. There was power in them, as there is in all things dragon. "Obey me, and together, we shall grow strong."
The little bat perched on Miiq's shoulder. It squeaked.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
"We should simply kill her."
~~~
The annoying little priestess stood before her pouting like the petulant idiot she was, already full of the self-importance that a cleric of the Spider Queen inevitably possessed. Plus a complete lack of acceptance of her own limitations. Tian'ith stood, arms folded, returning the gaze with obvious irritation fueled by what she knew would be the inevitable outcome.
"You will not be able to match the skill needed to lead the patrol," she told the young Drow firmly, "you will put them yourself in danger. Any wise war leader pays attention to the views of their men." She gestured towards the jaluk standing to one side, wearing a carefully neutral expression as Tian'ith instructed the priestess. "Listen to Dantrag and follow his lead. Learn which of your skills are most effective and where, and when to use them to preserve the soldiers and bring us victory. When you have more experience you may assume your rightful position."
~~~
Tian'ith remembered how she had dismissed the priestess and turned away, returning to her scrutiny of the maps and transposition of the scouting data onto them for later distribution. Had she paid more attention perhaps she'd have seen the petulance for what it was, recognised the perils of the over-confidence and arrogance the young priestess had displayed. Had she done so she could have, would have, acted. Things would have been different. Very different.
"Her over-confidence, lack of thought and failure to act with the team will be the death of one or more of us. We will be fortunate if it is just herself," she looked over at Rogha, and murmured once more.
"We should simply kill her."
~~~
The annoying little priestess stood before her pouting like the petulant idiot she was, already full of the self-importance that a cleric of the Spider Queen inevitably possessed. Plus a complete lack of acceptance of her own limitations. Tian'ith stood, arms folded, returning the gaze with obvious irritation fueled by what she knew would be the inevitable outcome.
"You will not be able to match the skill needed to lead the patrol," she told the young Drow firmly, "you will put them yourself in danger. Any wise war leader pays attention to the views of their men." She gestured towards the jaluk standing to one side, wearing a carefully neutral expression as Tian'ith instructed the priestess. "Listen to Dantrag and follow his lead. Learn which of your skills are most effective and where, and when to use them to preserve the soldiers and bring us victory. When you have more experience you may assume your rightful position."
~~~
Tian'ith remembered how she had dismissed the priestess and turned away, returning to her scrutiny of the maps and transposition of the scouting data onto them for later distribution. Had she paid more attention perhaps she'd have seen the petulance for what it was, recognised the perils of the over-confidence and arrogance the young priestess had displayed. Had she done so she could have, would have, acted. Things would have been different. Very different.
"Her over-confidence, lack of thought and failure to act with the team will be the death of one or more of us. We will be fortunate if it is just herself," she looked over at Rogha, and murmured once more.
"We should simply kill her."