Assault on Aldera Campaign

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smartalec
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by smartalec » Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:29 pm

Zau'lann took in the hovels of the Derro, the squat feel of Demberhold. He had to admit, Tian'ith had a point, this was desperate. The place was dying and the other creatures they travelled with now were a mix at best. And yet...

"They've got skills," he said. "There's something to this place. Maybe something we can use." He raised an eyebrow at Tian'ith. "Besides, you never like anything to begin with..."

***

Plans for the future, that's what they'd said. A distraction from study, all these politics. But when you were called to serve? Well, you had to step up, or how else to prove that you were worth to let keep studying? Not to mention the obvious downside of finding oneself suddenly dead... or worse.

Movement at the table. He was called; he knew what was expected. Stopping at the Matron's side, he had a quick look at those nearby before bowing his head - the stern looking other Matron, the other attendants keeping that careful stonefaced look... some of the other Matron's daughters? One clearly sizing up her next 'meal', one bored and fanning herself, one glaring holes in people... all as expected. He risked a sardonic eyebrow-raise at the frustrated, glaring one before putting on his best diplomatic mask of a smile, and shifted to the frame of dutiful ambassador for House Dar'ges.

One of the daughters was called forward.

Oh, no. The glaring one?

Really?

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Lazybones
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Lazybones » Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:47 pm

Session 4

Posting bonuses (with full-party bonus):
+150xp for Rogha, Ravillion, Zau'lann, and Tian'ith
+225xp for Darsin
+300xp for Miiq

Klasa
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Klasa » Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:27 pm

Ravillion was not pleased with how things were progressing. But then again, that's been her feelings since she took on this job. It was almost demeaning to one of her stature, but then she knew she had little choice in the matter. Given time though, that would change. And so for now, this pack of slaves and outcasts would suffice.

Normally such would be highly expendable, but judging from the quality of some of them... That woman was likely scraping from the bottom of the bottom. So there probably wouldn't be any replacements for any that fell, as there should be. More indignities she would have to suffer through. For their sakes they had better not be slow once they reach the elemental.

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Lazybones
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Lazybones » Fri Sep 14, 2018 11:10 pm

Generally we try to get IC posts in at least 24 hours prior to game time, but I'll give credit this time. I don't always have time to check the forums on Friday afternoon/evening.

Klasa
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Klasa » Fri Sep 21, 2018 3:45 am

They succeeded in getting the needed materials for their employers, although it was not as smoothly done as Ravillion would have liked. The large ryld in fact fell in battle, apparently due to its own fault according to what the others explained. She did not watch it happen herself as she left the minute their task was complete, just as she told the others to do. Some followed the moment she gave the order, others trickled along later. It was no surprise that the former were the ones in better shape.

What was a surprise though was how some decided to lug the red one's body along back to the settlement. Unbelievably they had the means to revive it from it's fatal state, and even more so was that they chose to use their rare materials to do it. Between it and the medical treatment they were wasting on the other ryld that fell to simple mushrooms a lot was being wasted that could be put to better use. But fine, if they wanted to waste what they had it was their choice. If anything, it better explained why they were in the situation they were now.

Ravillion frowned under her helm for a moment but quickly brushed it aside. The current circumstances aside, their next task would prove to be annoying. Especially considering the favoritism their host was showing to that woman, promising her a suit designed to aid in sneaking, despite the fact that she kept getting spotted by wildlife. The slime, the lizard, the koa-toa, heck there was no proof those disgusting dwarves didn't spot her too, but the running ryld with no sense just distracted them. Regardless, the group had decided on the path of stealth for the next job, so they'd better hope the Koa-Toa guards are more blind and deaf than their hunting parties.

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Mirgalen
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Mirgalen » Fri Sep 21, 2018 5:05 am

Crushed by a walking boulder.

Rogha and the others went to find a crystal, or a fragment of a crystal. Rogha wondered if such fragment may hold magical music properties.

The group killed some creatures and found an area up a hill with large rocks and there was the crystal.

They were trying to break it to get a fragment while a large walking boulder was chasing them. Rogha decided to hide and attend to the injured until someone got the fragment and ordered a retreat. At that point the witch was the furthest away from the slope and behind the boulder who was chasing the others. She moved towards the slope hoping to join the others undetected. At that point the large stone creature was almost blocking the slope. Rogha tried to move around it but got stuck between the walking rock and the slope. There was nobody nearby to distract the rock or perhaps they did not bother. The rock turned around and Rogha tried to slip through but the rock smashed her...

Topato
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Topato » Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:49 pm

//yay i am in tomorrow!

Redfang recovered from his brief illness, which he susspected might be an attempt to poison him by some coward. They would need to do better than that to overcome an orcish constitution. By the time he was fully back to himself, the rest of the warband were gone on another mission, so he spent some time training with the derro guards, teaching and practicing. Staying sharp.

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Karvon
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Karvon » Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:58 pm

Darsin hadn't been impressed by the way the group fought. It was very disorganized and no real plans were made. Everyone seemed to be on their own page. However, they managed to get the material wanted, though the witch died and he got laid low by the shambling creature of stone as well. Hopefully, things would improve.

smartalec
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by smartalec » Fri Sep 21, 2018 3:32 pm

"The others are confused, even scornful," Zau'lann said, in that familiar under-his-breath way they'd spoken all these years. "Bringing back the red one. Rogha. We can't have them looking down on us.* He looked at Tian'ith, who was listening- but spending her time giving the others sharp glances, as was her custom. Hmh. At least look at me. He added a shade more emphasis on his words. "Though I know - it's what you're used to."

***

The time had long been past, and he didn't know quite why he was still here. Well, he knew - because failure was a painful unthinkability, of course, but never had he felt so much like the world had gone mad. Liase with their House, they'd said. Ensure our words are carried. The other Houses ought not to know. We have plans...

And yet he'd been 'liasing' with a pouting matron's daughter who thought like a soldier, not a diplomat, or a schemer. She was a soldier, from what he understood - most likely, she was out scouting with the rangers of her House, and choosing to remain out there for longer than she ought. It was why she was thought of as strange by her people, he knew. It irritated him unspeakably.

... or dead. The thought struck him suddenly, and chilled him unexpectedly. That... could also be.

Finally. The sound of scraping leather boots, the jingle of chianmail. He knew she could move quietly when she wanted to. This was defiance, defiance of the arrangemenet, of having to bow to another's wish. It... was almost admirable if only it wasn't so inconvenient. He had to say something... but there was a feeling in his chest. Fear? As she stomped into the room and sat down without sparing him a glance, he swallowed his sudden nerves and spoke.

"Forgive me, malla jabress," he said, the polite words coming too easily to his tongue. It frustrated him, suddenly. "But if I can be permitted a comment, there seems little point to a secret rendezvous if we do not actually rendezvous in secret." His eyebrow raised sardonically.

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Vanya Mia
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Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign

Post by Vanya Mia » Fri Sep 21, 2018 3:34 pm

There took so long to train effectively and there were so few of them, and Dantrag was one of the best. He was also Baltana's favoured jaluk, but that was not the point and nor could it prevent what needed to be done. This was her decision. Entirely within the domain of her leadership and, in fact, a better fate that would be afforded him if she did not take the step. That she knew, and so would he. Still, she paused for a moment. It had been easier before her sister died and before this diplomatic 'necessity' came into play. It would be expected of her and there was no avoiding it now.

Tian'ith sucked her teeth in irritation and looked once more at the small group of males standing around the body of the young priestess. All of them looking nervous, though they tried to hide it. The priestess had been stupidly arrogant, and had refused to listen, instead applying her own decisions. That was in truth why she was dead, there was no doubt in Tian'ith's mind, but that did not matter. Finally she transferred her attention to Dantrag. To his credit he did not flinch under her gaze enough for the others to see, but she caught the tightening of the jaw. He knew what the judgement would be.

"I have heard their report, do you have anything to add?" The male opened his mouth to speak and she tilted her head just a little in tacit communication. "Retain what pride you have left to you.". Any intended words froze in Dantrag's mouth. Lifting his chin he swallowed and then shook his head. "No Jabress."

He made no effort at defense, not that it would have aided him. Tian'ith stepped forward and in one lithe move of almost balletic grace drew her blade and slit his throat. Dantrag fell to the floor, bleeding his life out onto the dirt in moments. She stood looking down at his body for what seemed an eternity to those around her, tense and obviously angry, before kneeling and reaching to close his eyes.

"Break camp, we are delayed long enough." Tian'ith hissed angrily as she stood and gestured towards two of her cohort who hastened to her side. " Bring her with us. Bury him here," she ordered, and added under her breath. "At least that way he will remain free."

***

That was then and this was now, and in the now things were different but some overarching necessities remained. Tian'th tutted irritably at the comment.

"If she continues to be a liability, I will kill her myself," she responded in equally hushed tones, "If they are not able to see the greater situation then it does not matter what they think." Tian'ith turned her head to look at Zau'lann directly. Perhaps her gaze softened a little, but if so none but he would have noticed. "The only thing that matters now is our need."

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