Out of the Madlands (IC)

[Forrestfire]

OoC Thread

The world-buildy stuff is mostly in the google doc, but here's some of the stuff that matters presently:

The world as you know it is a dangerous, crazy place. You are natives to the Madlands, a region mildly touched by the Fracture, an incursion by Limbo into the material plane at the north pole. Most of you have lived your whole lives there, and as such have an extremely warped sense of "normal."

In any case, the lich lord Susurrus and his friend/colleague Mal'pharos (some sort of extremely powerful humanoid abomination) have called the four of you for a mission: you are to go to the "Civilized World," across the Great Desert and a mountain ridge on the other side. You have not been told the reason for this quest, other than "it is necessary."

And so, Ashe, the adopted daughter of the ancient lich, Caim, the plant-defiling "druid" are joined by Ashe's butler and a Limbo-infected giant who got press-ganged/mind-controlled/asked nicely to join the party. Together, they fight crime are doing what they're told.

The party journeyed from Caim's hometown (Haven) across the Madlands to a place called End Town at the edge of the desert. You no doubt annihilated many a poor monstrous scorpion as you walked across the desert, then climbed over the mountains (having undead pets that fly helped a lot there) and down into the hills in the Southeastern part of the Civilized Lands. All in all, you've been traveling as a group for almost a month now, since you left Haven.

You have a map given to you by Susurrus, which is fairly well-detailed on the Madlands side of the Great Desert, but blank on the side of the Civilized World. There is even a note about that, apologizing for not telling you anything.

In any case, you have not run into any new people since you left End Town. Whether this is odd to you is up to you.

Presently, your group is coming over a tall hill overlooking a valley with what appears appears to be a small village off in the distance. There's a river in-between the hill you're on and the next one, and a road that cuts through the valley and past the town. It's mid-morning, the sun is shining, and there's not a cloud in the sky.

So... now that that's out of the way... What do you do?

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe, dressed in her favored (if unwise, during the trip through the desert) attire of black, was sprawled across the manticore's broad skeletal back. Normally, she likened her appearance on the manticore's back to be impressive, that of a delicate flower with black petals upon the fearsome beast, but at this point...the metaphorical flower was a bit wilted and tired at this point. Sufficient pestering of Simeon and the evisceration of a spare outfit had created a tent of black cloth draped over Manty's wings, sheltering her from the sun. The manticore padded onwards with nary a sound, aside from its heavy footsteps. She was, at least, well-adjusted to her pet's gait after a month of non-stop travel. With her various limbs settled and secured to it like a three-legged starfish, she looked moderately ridiculous, but was comfortable.

Ashe was facing upwards, holding the map with her remaining arm and reading it. She stared accusingly at the empty space where the "Civilized World" should have been, in which Susurrus has written his note. What there was, besides an apology (an excuse!) for the lack of any other information, was a warning along the lines of something she had heard before.

"Father, what lies to the west of the Great Desert?"

"Nothing of value. Self-righteous champions of the light. Delusional, misguided. What they call civilization is nothing more than a prison of the mind."

Ashe gave the paper her best pout. "This doesn't tell me anything! You're just telling me what you told me before!" she told it sternly, giving it a shake.

She closed her eyes in frustration. Just packing me off with the vaguest of explanations...well, maybe it's because he can't tell me any more? ...hey, Ashe! Stop being reasonable! I want to be angry!

The girl sat up with a sigh, stowing the map back into a bag on the saddle, and looked around. She turned and pushed her upper body up onto Manty's head for a better view, and shaded her eyes with one hand (stupid sun! It's never this bright at home!). Her face lit up. Finally! Something else than endless mountains and sand!

"Oh! A town? Shall we...find out what this land is like?" Pushing herself into an upright position, she glanced at her other travel companions.

[Freudianship]

Caim adjusted his cloak. Even though he knew very well that his aberrant bloodline was not as noticeable as others, he had a vague feeling that the "Civilized" would not take very kindly to him. "Aberrandpa" did give some information once in a while about the strange lands and their customs. Apparently the other druids would not like him much since they loved plant life so much. Other druids must also love being bitten and digested by plants.

Bird scratched at the ground with his skeletal claw. Somehow he was looking at the sand shifting. Caim never questioned how. Bird was always like that even when he used to have meaty bits.

The mass of bones looked around until it seemed to have spotted town. Bird lifted its head and opened its beak, probably trying to trill without lungs. He promptly ran around in a circle around Caim. Caim held up his hand and Bird rubbed his smooth skull against it.

"Yes, but we should make sure we look like their version of normal...Or at least inconspicuous. A bit hard what with Manty and Bird."

[Eurus]

In his proper positioning a few steps behind and to the side of Ashe, Simeon looked like he'd never known a moment of discomfort in his life. His sharp black suit was as pristine as ever, his posture unflinchingly straight. A wide parasol of lacy black fabric hovers at his side at Dudley's direction, providing a slight measure of shade to himself and Ashe, while Simeon's own hands are focused on slowly stitching together some sort of tiny grey fez, smaller than most teacups.

When they crest the hill and find a town in the distance, the butler delicately stows his sewing and reaches up to take hold of the parasol from Dudley. He nods at Caim's warning, his movements always as slow, precise, and dry as his voice.

"Propriety is always important, particularly on first impressions. Dudley?"

Jerking to attention, the tiny monkey in the tiny, dapper suit -- grey and black in contrast to Simeon's formal black and white -- chatters in Ashe's direction, magically cleaning the dust of the road from her and her clothes. It extends the same courtesy to everyone else, cooling, refreshing, cleaning, and even polishing bones to an ivory shine.

"Much better."

[Forrestfire]

More description: The road comes close to the bottom of the hill you're at, and there are some fields surrounding the village that look like farmland. The village is composed of small buildings (most likely made of wood, but you can't tell from here). You also note that there's a tower on one side of the town, overlooking the road.

As you come down the hill, the more perceptive of you can see some people working in the fields surrounding the village. There are a few people on the road should you take it, but they panic and sprint off the road and towards the town when you get close to them.

[Freudianship]

"Appreciate it, Simeon."

Caim glances back at the road, frowning.

"Ah. Panic running. That's not going to be good for us."

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe flashed a smile at the monkey and patted it on the head as it cleaned away the evidence of their long journey. Upon being told of the 'panic running', though, she frowned, tapping her lip with one hand. She looked thoughtfully at the so-far silent final member of their group.

"Um...maybe he's too tall? He does kind of...loom."

Ashe honestly seems like she can't think of anything else that might be off with their group. She looks a bit puzzled, running her hands idly across Manty's now-shiny skull. Is there anything wrong with how I look?

[Arkhaic]

Ildkimetkimtasranechpolsayskeltherworinau hung near the back of the group, his armored scales gleaming in the harsh sunlight. He rode on the infested, Swarmling perched on his own shoulder.


"Obviously they have mistaken us for a band of adventurers. From what I've gathered, those tend to arrive during times of revolutions or invasions by monsters. Allowing them into my swarm would surely allow them to understand that we are not adventurers in any way, shape or form."

[Forrestfire]

Assuming you're just walking, it takes about an hour to get from the entrance of the valley to the village, about three and a half miles by your count.

Soon, there's no one on the road at all, having presumably run towards the town with the rest of the terrified peasants. As the road bends around another hill, you see that it leads into the town, which is conspicuously empty for the time of day. You now see that the buildings are mostly made of wood, if it matters.

In the middle of the road, a bit away from the closest building (the aforementioned tower), sits a man in a chair, who eyes you intently from a distance. You can tell he's wearing armor, as the light reflects off his breastplate, but at this distance other features are dulled.

[Arkhaic]

Ildki's swarmling flies over to the man. It stands slightly taller than him.

"Good afternoon!" the Swarmling rasps with as much of a smile its reptilian face can manage.

[Forrestfire]

The man looks at the lizard with an expression somewhere between bemusement and apprehension, but lets out a sigh of relief.

"Thank the gods, you're the type that talks first."

He continues to sit as long as the lizard stays put, although he beckons to the rest of the group to come closer.

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe tilts her head in puzzlement. "The type that talks first...?"

I don't remember any stories of stuff from our side crossing over the desert...

She slumped a little. Well, I guess that just means they never came back, doesn't it.

She waved at the man in armor from atop Manty, as she urged him closer. At a more comfortable speaking distance, she said, "Do you usually have some sort of trouble with visitors?"

[Forrestfire]

Now that you're closer, you can tell a bit more about the man. He looks older, probably something like his late 40s at first glance. He has short, graying hair, and several scars on his face. His clothing are simple, but obviously well-made, and he wears a breastplate that is polished almost to the point of being mirrored, as well as a pair of similarly polished gauntlets (one of which has a red tinge around the edges of the plates, and the other blue). He carries no other gear that you can see.

The man regards the girl and her skeletal manticore carefully, then responds in a gruff voice and measured words,

"I don't know what game you're playing here, but I don't have the time for it right now. I appreciate the fact that you're willing to at least talk, but I want you... people... to leave. If you're here to raze our town, be warned that you will find a difficult battle here. If not, then I bear you no ill will, but your kind is dangerous, and not welcome."

He pauses and thinks for a bit, then continues: "The town priests wanted to fight you off as a matter of principle, but I think it is in both our best interests if we don't."

Spoiler

Show

Make some sense motive checks?

[Eurus]

Simeon is notably not the type that talks first, when he can help it. He would prefer to be the type who never talked at all, save to a very select group of people, but is frequently required by duty or practicality to do so. For now, though, remains in his position by Ashe, still holding the parasol, shrouded in the faint mist that surrounds him wherever he goes, and coolly appraises the man while Dudley keenly surveys the town. Internally, he ponders what the proper etiquette for this situation is, since tensions are clearly high. It's a little outside his normal comfort range, but perhaps the old standbys are the best.

Seeming to come to a conclusion, Simeon wordlessly dismounts from his unimpressive steed and flips open his saddlebag. He peers inside for a moment, lips pursed slightly in calculation or contemplation, then nods briskly. A moment later, a rectangular piece of wood floats out of the bag. Followed by another. And another.

The long train of wooden pieces of various shapes and sizes promptly assembles itself into a trio of chairs and a small table, which Simeon tops with a plain white tablecloth and the parasol. Next comes a delicate-looking teapot, which Dudley chatters at until it steams pleasingly, and four delicate china cups. The entire arrangement carefully slides across the ground to position itself in front of the seated man, and Simeon reaches up to offer to help Ashe dismount.

"...Such a discussion should be made properly, over tea."

[Forrestfire]

The man eyes you coldly, then nods.

"I cannot share your tea, but given the situation, peaceful discussion is likely to be best course of action. The beasts stay back, however."

He continues watching the group carefully.

Spoiler

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Perception checks as well.

Spoiler: If you hit a DC 20

Show

You notice that the tower next to the road is occupied and likely to have enemies in it should this turn into a fight.

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe gave the man an even look as he spoke, irritation slowly building behind her eyes. Simeon, in his...usual fashion broke the tension. Or, perhaps, changed the manner in which the tension was directed. She smiled for just a moment at that.

Her expression shifted into a haughty frown and she flounced off of Manty with Simeon's assistance. She waved the manticore back after giving it a gentle pat on the head and a whisper. "Sh. It'll be alright. Go wait back there."

She took a seat carefully as the manticore shuffled back a few steps. "We know little of this land, and it would be in your best interests to educate us."

Ashe continued, "Ignorance is a danger greater than any blade or spell, after all," enunciating in such a way that there was no indication of just who was ignorant in this case. "I cannot abide such foolishness."

Spoiler

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I truly have a 0% chance of noticing that.

[Freudianship]

Spoiler

Show

Sense Motive:(1d20)[7] +4
Perception (1d20)[12] +10

Caim kept his expression passive. Before Ashe dismounts off of Manty he whispers to their intrepid group.

"People in the tower. Maybe archers. This man's rather...unfriendly towards our kind, but it may be best to indulge him for a little while."

Bird drooped his head, possibly understanding from Manty's parting with Ashe what was to come next. Caim patted him.

"It will be alright."

The skeleton procrastinated in joining Manty elsewhere. He shuffled almost comically over towards the other intimidating creature.

Caim seated himself next to Ashe.

[Forrestfire]

Whether the man sees you whisper or somehow hears you, you can't tell, but he doesn't comment on it.

"Indeed. Ignorance can be deadly, especially around here. You say you do not know this land... Where are you from, and why have you come here?"

There is definitely an implied threat in his words that even the ditziest of people would catch. Or not, depending on your interpretation

Spoiler: Simeon's Sense Motive Check

Show

You can tell the man is extremely guarded because of your appearance, and given your age, you most likely know that it's because you're using Evil magic all over the place.

You also infer from the way he worded his introductory warning that there is likely to be something else pressuring his actions and his desire for the group to just clear out.

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe takes a sip of her tea, and winces. She waves at Simeon. "Some sugar, please."

She turns her attention back to the armored man and considers her answer out loud. "Where are we from...? Um...from across the desert."

The girl covered her mouth, wishing she could grab those words and stuff them back in. "...in any case, I'm not asking much from you. If we are not welcome here, then at the very least let us have a lay of the land. I'm not interested in a fight."

[Arkhaic]

The Swarmling jumps down and sits on the chair, while Ildki and his Infected ride off to where the other mounts are.

"I believe we should start with introductions," the Swarmling says. "You may call me Metkim (met keem)."

[Forrestfire]

The man gives the swarmling a look as it somehow manages to sit down, but he had assumed it was the Controller, so to speak, so it goes without a comment.

Ashe's words, on the other hand, break his composure.

"You came from across the desert... That means you're from The Madlands! What are you doing here?"

He then stops and collects himself.

"In any case, we don't want a fight either. We're busy enough as it is. Go back across the desert, your kind will find no friends here."

[Arkhaic]

Metkim's inhuman facial features give no trace of emotion, though his tone of voice reveals slight interest as he allows the man to continue speaking. "Busy?"

[Happy Gravity]

The man's reaction, and following remarks made her purse her lips. Why indeed. Huh...? "Busy"...

"Yeah, that is a weird thing to say", Ashe said, tilting her head in curiosity. "Is there something else going on?"

[Forrestfire]

"I... Well... Er..."

He then falls silent, with an expression somewhere between mild fear and deep thought.

[Freudianship]

"Busy with what farming? I could understand if you were fighting for survival against man eating crops, but I hardly believe we're threatening your farming. " Caim says quite exasperated.

[Eurus]

Simeon nods at Ashe's request, and retrieves a tiny bowl of sugar and a dainty silver sugar spoon to place carefully on the table by her. The man's incredulous response finally prompts Simeon to speak up with a soft sigh.

"If I may, lady..." he nods to Ashe as he straightens up again before turning to give the armored man a dignified, subtly reproachful look, "...while I understand you may have a dim view of our particular magics and methods, it behooves a man of your stature and authority not to disparage our home in such a way. We have no intention of behaving discourteously toward you or your kind. In fact, I imagine all of us would be glad to assist you with any troubles, as a show of faith."

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe, not missing a beat, takes the bowl, removes the lid and spoon, and dumps the contents into the tea, then swirls it around with the spoon. Once done, she removes it delicately and waves it in the man's general direction.

"We aren't asking for much. We'll give our assistance for yours, if you are stingy enough to demand it in exchange."

[Forrestfire]

The man thinks for a second, then another second, and some more. Finally, he speaks again, with an exasperated (but relieved) sigh.

"... You're not going to leave without this, are you... Fine. A show of faith. That works. I can work with that. We can definitely work with that."

He makes a hand signal towards the tower, then says to Ashe, "In the opinion of many, you actually are asking much, but that makes little difference."

... before continuing to the group as a whole

"We have had an understandably terrible first impression. If you truly wish no violence or... discourtesy, then a show of faith is entirely what is in order."

A terrified-looking younger man comes out, this one dressed in tailored clothes and carrier a small sheaf of papers.

"If fact, if you're willing to lend your... abilities to our cause, I have a job offer for you. This area is currently having issues with dwarven raiders out of the mountains. Three villages near here have been hit and burned to the ground... Many lost..." he frowns with a sorrowful look, then continues grimly, "... And we don't want to be the next on that list."

He is now arranging the papers neatly his side of the table. One of these is a map of what looks like the local area. There are several overlapping circles drawn on it, along with some markings and writing that you can't read from across the table. Before continuing, he murmurs to the younger man "Get the Templar out of here please, she's not going to like this. Pull rank if you have to. I'll deal with it later."

The younger man nods and walks back to the tower, and anyone watching will see that he walks with what looks like an angry-looking woman in plate mail back into the town.

"We were planning on ambushing the dwarves next time they showed. We have an idea of where their hold is located, in the mountains to the northeast of here, but we don't have the manpower to launch a strike of our own."

"Given that one of you a necromancer able to animate a manticore of all things into something that still looks like it can function, I think that if your group attacks them, you will at the very least damage them beyond the ability to keep up their destruction of the countryside. That's what we're busy with, and that's something you can help with."

He pauses to see what affect, if any, his description of this had on the group.

"Oh, and since we're trying to be courteous, I may as well introduce myself. My name is Durnure, and I'm the mayor of this town. If you're going to still try to enter unwelcome, then you'll have to go through me."

[Eurus]

Simeon bows politely, utterly unfazed. The situation sounded odd, but one had to go quite a bit farther than "odd" to surprise him.

"Well met, lord mayor. I am Simeon, guard and servant of lady Ashe."

With that, he steps back, allowing Ashe to make the final judgment about whether to accept the offer or not.

[Happy Gravity]

Ashe sipped the tea thoughtfully, finally putting down the cup and smiling at Durnure from across the table. "Hello, Durnure. I'm Ashe. I hope we can be friends."

After another sip, she continued. "After we help with your problem, of course. I'm fine with it, if everyone doesn't mind...?" She glanced back at the others. Not too sure about Ildkimet...