Rise from the Ashes IC

[Krrth]

Hradani


Yes, well, we need to get moving. Move as fast as you can please.


The trip takes several days as promised. The Hradani scouts lope the entire way, only stopping to sleep and hunt. At then end of the journey is a fertile, green valley. As you approach, you feel eyes upon you....although you can't see the sentries, you know they are there.

You are taken through the valley into the hills. In a ruined temple, a large Hradani stands, his graying hair reveling his age. A massive two-handed sword is strapped to his back. When you are introduced, he looks at you for a moment and says:

So what's this about then? You want to trade? What can you offer, and what can we possibly have that interests you?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Hradani


Yes, well, we need to get moving. Move as fast as you can please.


The trip takes several days as promised. The Hradani scouts lope the entire way, only stopping to sleep and hunt. At then end of the journey is a fertile, green valley. As you approach, you feel eyes upon you....although you can't see the sentries, you know they are there.

You are taken through the valley into the hills. In a ruined temple, a large Hradani stands, his graying hair reveling his age. A massive two-handed sword is strapped to his back. When you are introduced, he looks at you for a moment and says:

So what's this about then? You want to trade? What can you offer, and what can we possibly have that interests you?

"We can offer secrets of the land that many have lost. How to plant and grow crops so there is always enough to eat. How to know what fruits of the land are safe and what are dangerous. How to tame the beasts of the land to raise for meat, milk and leather. We also offer spiritual peace, in the way of Barada and her people. As for what you have to offer in return, it matters not. We wish to help the peoples of this land, not take advantage of them.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Mountain Pass

The screams didn't stopped. And so the scouts decided to break the neutrality of their mission to investigate directly into the village.

Great Forest of Bevida

"-So be it, then. I shall transmit your answer to the Matriarch. Let all know that the Order of Narade and all people it cares for swear today eternal friendship to Barada and her disciples !!"

In the following years, travellers from tribes living into the lands of the Order came to Bevida. And even if trade was still fairly limited, well crafted items were exchanged with the Baradans for animal hides, wool or simply dairy products and seeds.

The interest for the latter grew in Suncliff and the lands around it, as the experiments to grow vegetables met increasing success. Some advices from the druids helped the Order to figure how to work the land effectively.

While they learned to work the land from the Baradans, the Naradians also taught their teachers how to work the wood, the stone, the bone, the leather and many other materials in ways the Baradans had never imagined.

The Baradans accept the knowledge the Naradians have provided, making much more protective clothing and armor and stronger, more permanent homes. They use their unique knowledge of the land to ensure that these new things do not encroach upon the sacred beauty of the land.

Spoiler

Show

Technology: Crafting (help from Johel)
give help to the Naradians for "Agriculture"

[LongVin]

Followers of the Father

Turn Orders:

Spoiler

Show

Battle: Heal
Craft: Necromancy
Technology: Seafaring(or in this case underwate lake faring)
Religion: Bolster
Expansion: Exploration of areas surrounding new outposts

[Smiley_]

<Hmm... Crude, stiff, but functional. I'll give you that much. In that case, what brings you here? Are you explorers, vassals to a master, or simply passing hunters? All of us here are hunters.>

The basket that the creature was holding shook before a tiny bald, bugeyed head peered over the rim.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The leader of the Baradan ambassadors goes over to where the two are talking.

"Who are these new guests, my friend?" she asks "the creature."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Black Bastion

The Council agreed to allow Sasha to leave for her homeland, and provided an escort for this purpose. They allowed her to pick those she wished to travel with her, as well as a fairly sized and mandatory armed guard. They asked whether or not she was comfortable with Undead traveling to her home, thinking it sensible to ask given her initial reaction to them.

Meanwhile, the blacksmiths and metallurgists of the Bastion had begun to refine the ore they received, relearning the old crafts of time gone by, they smelted the ores to create an alloy that was stronger, tougher, and more suitable for their purposes than the raw ore. They learned to craft Bronze.

They soon began crafting bronze into weapons, armor, crafts, buildings, some coins. They also began to create huge suits of bronze armor that gripped halberds of pure bronze, with arcane symbols daubed, chiseled, and crafted onto them. They began to use the magic that had activated the stone golems, into making these new war-machines work. Though they were costly to make, and thus less common, they succeeded in bringing them to life.

In the Bastion itself, the gifted children had grown and learned, they had been taught the basics of education, arcana, and how to use weapons and armor. They were taught how to craft, how to be blacksmiths, and any number of tasks. In fields where they excelled, they were encouraged and specialists in the area were brought in to teach them. They were as symbols to the Black Bastion, of the rebirth of the Under Empire, and the blessings of Barin.

They also began to create a new home on the overworld, making a small outpost for any further business they might have there, working with those that came to them. It was, among other things, a trading post, and it was for this that it gained it's name: Farmadrborg.

Spoiler

Show

Battle: Heal
Religion: Bolster
Expansion: Begin to create Farmadrborg
Technology: Bronze Working
Creation: Bronze Golems

[Smiley_]

The leader of the Baradan ambassadors goes over to where the two are talking.

"Who are these new guests, my friend?" she asks "the creature."

I not sure, forest child. They came from far place, We can give rest and meal, yes. Not sure if with North Friend or not, but we still give.

The accipitron was once again speaking, as well as it could, at any rate, in common.

[Kaiser Omnik]

(OOC: Here is the long post you were waiting for. Not the turn ender, though.)

Lord_Asmodeus:

Spoiler

Show

The undead priest looked pensive.

"A shame. Gargax was said to be an exceptional spellcaster. However, our offer still stands. What do you say? Are you willing to engage in diplomatic relations and trade? We are not talking of a military alliance, yet..."

Longvin:

Spoiler

Show

The Meeting
The Ensi emissary bowed before Zelil.
"It is a honor and privilege to meet you, Zelil Lotti. I am Athanema, advisor to Lord Akpe, current warlord of the Crimson Claw and former champion of Sesketh. I have been sent here to conclude a new alliance. Our two people have been greatly affected by the cataclysm and my Lord believes that only by working together can we assure a restoration of the old world order. He believes that we have a common foe: Dynean, Queen to the North."

The Myconids
At first, the Myconids seemed distrustful of the newcomers. They remained at a safe distance. One of them, the bigger of the group, released a cloud of spores in the direction of his fellows and of the "village" farther back.

Johel:

Spoiler

Show

The Mountain Pass
The screams didn't stop. Here's what the scouts saw as they arrived on the site. Piles of bodies on the ground. Huts which were just set ablaze. And at the center of it all, a small group of six individuals wielding clubs and crude swords and holding torches. At first glance, they seemed to be hulky humans, but as the fire grew brighter, the Naradians could discern lupine features on their faces. Two of them were trying to bash the door of a house made of clay. A child was crying inside.

puppyavenger:

Spoiler

Show

Near the Heart
Grigal spoke again:
[B]"We do not know who or what the guardian is. If you want to learn more about our religion, you may come with us to an outpost not too far from here. We do not usually deal with outsiders, but you seem to have a...unique outlook on life. Come, and we will tell you about the Ensi Soul."

(OOC: By the way, are there any humans in the group, or only ensi?)

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Black Bastion

Spoiler

Show

Another voice echoed through the Meeting Hall. "He was... Diplomatic Relations would be more than welcome. If you wish, we could have a trading and diplomatic delegation be prepared as soon as this meeting is finished."

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Black Bastion

Spoiler

Show

The emissary nodded.
"So be it. Lord Akpe will be pleased."

[puppyavenger]

Near the Heart

ooc: only Ensi, the humans have mostly become farmers at this point, the adventurous ones are going towards the River.


Thank you, we would most grateful the expedition follows them.

[Krrth]

Hradani
"We can offer secrets of the land that many have lost. How to plant and grow crops so there is always enough to eat. How to know what fruits of the land are safe and what are dangerous. How to tame the beasts of the land to raise for meat, milk and leather. We also offer spiritual peace, in the way of Barada and her people. As for what you have to offer in return, it matters not. We wish to help the peoples of this land, not take advantage of them.


*Looking offended*

Let me be getting this straight then...you'd be wanting us to accept charity then? I think not. Trade is all well and good, but do we look like we be old, sick, or injured? No. We be standing on our own two feet.

*A women steps forward from behind him and whispers in his ear. He closes his eyes for a moment and visibly calms himself.*

As me wife is reminding me, I've been less than welcoming. Please, wander around the camp and see what we have. We'll not take something for nothing, but we will exchange. Now, I'll need to be calming down lest I lose control to the Rage.

[Johel]

Sasha's return

Sister Sasha thanked the Council for its approval and help.

The undeads, as she had neither witnessed nor heard of dark ceremonies, weren't much of a problem for her. After all these years, she had come herself to see them as either mere tools (for the soulless) or as really old dvegars for the others. To have some as part of her escort would be seen by the Order as a gesture of honesty from the Black Bastion, something like a message which says "-we've nothing to hide".

The question of how the soulless undeads were animated remained unclear for her but she supposed it was the same process as the one animating golems. She had asked many about it but the few necromancers were secretive people. And she couldn't trust those who did answer. The case would need a untainted soul, a Sister maybe, to actually study necromancy to be able to judge it for what it was. But Sasha was too old for this and as the Black Bastion and the dvegars themselves weren't evil, she decided to be an ambassador rather than an inquisitor. Zombis were flesh golems, weaker and less durable than other golems but much easier to animate. That's what she would say to the Matriarch.

Just before leaving, she handed over her charge as Elder Sister of the Black Bastion to one of her adepts, a young she-dvegar of great skill at Spell Song.

Spoiler

Show

If you want Black Bastion's ambassadors to travel with Sasha, I'll let you take over the thing, with the Sister coming back to Suncliff and being welcomed warmly. I don't plan for her to be of any importance anymore.

Narade's cult inside the Black Bastion is led by dvegars only now.
Their faith is stable, with few conversions but nearly no abjurations.

The mountain pass

The scouts, armed with short spears and clubs, could do nothing but advance further. Quickly, the leader muttered instructions and most of the patrol spread, searching for survivors. Meanwhile, with two of his strongest men, the leader called for the strangers.

"-Hey !! You !! What's happening here ?!!"

Even if it was clear, he had to ask. Maybe were these men just trying to rescue the child from the flames ? But still, what was it with the bodies ? They were probably bandits of some kind. Using sheer number and surprise, the leader was confident he could take them. However, they wielded strange weapons. Was it stone ?

"-We mean no harm !!"

Spoiler

Show

There are 10 scouts, 3 of them facing the strangers, 7 searching for survivors while surrounding the place.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Near the Heart

The group arrived at a stone building half-buried in the sand. They came in just as a storm was rising. The outpost wasn't too comfy and it was even a bit crowded. Grigal sat at a table and offered some nuts, dates and figs to the Ensi.

"You are right in that we used to worship Sesketh. I must admit that I am a bit surprised that you don't know him better. He is the father of our race. He taught us everything. Now Sesketh is gone, like all the old gods. However, as the caretakers of his fortress, Basalt Keep, we have been able to preserve much from that era. We may share some of our discoveries with you if you decide to become our trade partner.

But there is something I am willing to tell you regardless of what you decide, as it relates to our entire race. We, the last of the Simetian Ensi, the modern Crimson Claw, have come to believe that Sesketh didn't so much create us as give us these physical bodies. Don't misunderstand me. We still hold Sesketh in great esteem. However, we think that our Father simply took the wandering spirits of the Ensi and put them here, on this world. You see...our race may be relatively young, but our spirits are not. We believe in a transcendental nature. We believe in something we call the Ensi Soul, a force to which we are all connected. And today, we aspire to become as close as possible to this force. Our destiny is extraordinary. We are unlike any other people."

[Kaiser Omnik]

The Mountain Pass

One of the Lupines turned around and let out a sort of growl. He took a fighting stance and replied with a strong commanding voice. Strangely, the Naradians understood every word perfectly.

"- You are bringers of doom, too! If you do not serve the Enemy, you are their tools! If you come close, you will burn like the sick men here!"

[puppyavenger]

Near the heart

That..makes sense. It certainly explains how we've manage to gain the understanding we have. Also explains why the storm shapers are all ensi.

Our understanding of the old gods is beneficent, but to be honest, we didn't know of them at all until our leaders found a cache of Sesketh's texts.

Do you have any idea where the ensi-spirit came from?

[Kaiser Omnik]

Near the Heart

"Unfortunately, I do not. Some believe that the paradise on the other side of the portal is actually where we came from, but some of our most eminent priests think this is not the case. If our spirits do go there after death...or undeath, in my case, then they only remain there for a time before passing on and joining the Ensi Soul. We would like to one day conquer the stars...maybe then we will be able to find our answers. In the meantime, we must rely on sacred texts and divination. Me? I simply try to do what I can to further our cause. We are a proud and powerful race; fighting is part of our being. So that is what I do.

[puppyavenger]

Near the Heart

the expedition head looks confused Who do you fight? the only creatures we have found outside of ourselves and you are mindless beasts.

Also, as it is the main purpose of our journey, I was wondering if it would be possible for us to gain access to a full text of Sesketh's teaching, as well as that of your own priests.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Near the Heart

"You are right, there isn't much to fight in this region of the desert, although there are occasionally dangerous aberrations roaming here. We have to send patrols here sometimes. This outpost is rarely inhabited. Elsewhere, we have many enemies. Other, less enthusiastic ensi tribes, the remains of Aresk Moonfell's legions, flameborn savages...that kind of thing.

As for your request, it will depend on how much you are willing to pay. Unless you wish to join us and become part of the Crimson Claw, but I don't think that is what you are asking. We have treaties on blade magic that might interest you. There is some information on ancient ensi culture on those scrolls. We also have old tablets of laws to which we might give you access."

[puppyavenger]

Near the Heart

Yes the treatise on ensi culture and the tablets of laws are what we are looking for.

What would you like in return for the bald magic? Also, would it be acceptable if some of my companions come back fro our land and set up a trading outpost here t a later date?

[Kaiser Omnik]

Near the Heart

"Tell me what you have and I will consider it. We are interested in all sort of resources and trade goods. If you have knowledge that could be of use to us, that would also be accepted.

Hmm...come back with more people and build a outpost. We should have men in the region at the time. Show them what you have and they will contact me if they think it is worth my time. Then I will bring what you seek; sacred scrolls and more."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Hradani
"We can offer secrets of the land that many have lost. How to plant and grow crops so there is always enough to eat. How to know what fruits of the land are safe and what are dangerous. How to tame the beasts of the land to raise for meat, milk and leather. We also offer spiritual peace, in the way of Barada and her people. As for what you have to offer in return, it matters not. We wish to help the peoples of this land, not take advantage of them.


*Looking offended*

Let me be getting this straight then...you'd be wanting us to accept charity then? I think not. Trade is all well and good, but do we look like we be old, sick, or injured? No. We be standing on our own two feet.

*A women steps forward from behind him and whispers in his ear. He closes his eyes for a moment and visibly calms himself.*

As me wife is reminding me, I've been less than welcoming. Please, wander around the camp and see what we have. We'll not take something for nothing, but we will exchange. Now, I'll need to be calming down lest I lose control to the Rage.

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to offend you. It's just that we don't know what you have to offer in exchange. It is difficult to make a deal if you don't know what the other person is offering. Thank you for your hospitality."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

I not sure, forest child. They came from far place, We can give rest and meal, yes. Not sure if with North Friend or not, but we still give.

The accipitron was once again speaking, as well as it could, at any rate, in common.

"That's a good idea. Perhaps they too are allies of the Lady Dynean."

Spoiler

Show

I deliberately said this to set off the Danoi misogyny.

[Johel]

The Mountain Pass

One of the Lupines turned around and let out a sort of growl. He took a fighting stance and replied with a strong commanding voice. Strangely, the Naradians understood every word perfectly.

"- You are bringers of doom, too! If you do not serve the Enemy, you are their tools! If you come close, you will burn like the sick men here!"

"-Bringers of... That's none sense !!"
Gripping his spear, the leader of the scouts looked discretly around. Shadows passing from one burning hutt to another... His men would soon have been cleared the village.

"-We... We don't know this Enemy you're speaking of."
And the child who kept screaming... This was too much for the man, who forgot all caution. Better die saving a innocent than live and let evil triumph. As he walked slowly toward the hut, he just hoped at least one of the scouts would make it back home...to tell the Order about these...things ?

"-Listen, I'm going to save that child from the flames, with or without your approval !! What's next is up to you !!"

Following their leader, the two other scouts walked too, spears pointed toward the lupines, ready to block their eventual charge.

[Raz_Fox]

Midground

Trem'jel tried to speak with the bird-creature, wishing to have the two families of Danaoi come and camp among these people. He tried to communicate with sign language and scraps of the bird language.

Meanwhile, Elt'jel came and stood by the over-large men. "Lady Dynean? Forest child? <We are Danaoi. Speak with me, that I may learn your tongue.>"

[puppyavenger]

Near the heart


We have plenty of extra food and other basic materials, as well as a few baubles made form magic.

Besides that, We might bring a small container of the Pools of Memory, it has all the knowledge of our people on any subject you may wish to know.

I hope you do not mind us explaining to anyone curios our philosophy and how our magic works?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Midground

Trem'jel tried to speak with the bird-creature, wishing to have the two families of Danaoi come and camp among these people. He tried to communicate with sign language and scraps of the bird language.

Meanwhile, Elt'jel came and stood by the over-large men. "Lady Dynean? Forest child? <We are Danaoi. Speak with me, that I may learn your tongue.>"

The ambassador looks puzzled and then speaks in his own tongue (I'm assuming it's Common.)

"We are the Baradans, the ones our Accipitron friends call the forest children. We follow the teachings of Barada the Bountiful, living in harmony with nature and enjoying the many gifts it showers us with in return. Both the Accipitrons and we Baradans are allies of the Lady Dynean, who holds many secrets from the distant past that she has generously shared with us. We, the Accipitrons and Dynean's other allies, such as the Order of Narade, work together to restore prosperity to the world."

[Krrth]

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to offend you. It's just that we don't know what you have to offer in exchange. It is difficult to make a deal if you don't know what the other person is offering. Thank you for your hospitality."

*A young women comes up to you and beckons you out of the room. Once you are out of earshot of the chief, she speaks.*

I'm sorry about that. Father is under a bit of strain, what with our scouts going missing.

*pause*

I'm guessing no one warned you, but you need to know: Be *very* polite to any of the menfolk. The curse still runs strong and being on edge makes it that much harder to control.

*Glancing around*

You really need to be talking to us, anyways. So....what things are you looking for? We have a few things we can trade: Crafted weapons and hides, tents, smoked meats. We also have that:

*She points at a lamp attached to the wall: Unlike the torches most people use, this seems to be burning some kind of liquid*.

We can also provide protection in your travels, if you don't mind having berserker rage prone warriors around you. They're usually pretty safe, but sometimes they lose control, especially in combat.

[LongVin]

Followers of the Dark Father


Ensi:

Many of the council members visibly cringe at the name of Dynead. "yes, the banisher of our Dark Father is truly an enemy to us all. We would be more than willing to join in an alliance with your forces against her so called coalition."


Myconids:

The younger members of the expedition were shaken by the emergence of the spores from the great mushroom man. The leader, Fanar an elder of the race from before the time of troubles steadies them with a hand. He knows this is how the strange creatures communicate and breaths deeply in of the spores.