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2018-01-18, 06:22 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2009
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- US East
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
As Sidara listens to the necromancer's excuses, Gheerla's words begin to echo in her mind.
Kill her if you like... Kill her if you like... Kill her if you like... Kill her.
The echoes grow louder with every passing moment until Sidara can hear nothing else. Her heartbeat quickens, her anger stirs, and before the necromancer can finish speaking, Sidara tightens her grip around the necromancer's neck, squeezing her airway shut and choking her words in her throat. The necromancer struggles, clawing at Sidara's hand, but hers is a futile effort to overcome the Cyran warrior's inhuman strength.
Just when it seems that Sidara might strangle the life from her captive, or simply snap her neck like a twig, she opens her hand and lets the necromancer fall to the ground. As the elf struggles to catch her breath, Sidara struggles to remain standing. Whatever fire had ignited in her blood has burned itself out, and as she takes a single, listless step back, she nearly topples over. Taking hold of the skeletal altar to steady herself, she slowly makes her way to the wall of the cave.
"Do with her what you will," she says to Gheerla as much as to Jack, her voice now low and weary.
Spoiler: OOCSidara's rage ends, and she becomes fatigued. She was already fatigued due to the spell that was cast earlier, and as a result, is now exhausted.
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2018-01-24, 05:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
- Location
- Italy
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
All the present are disconcerted by Sidara stunt, but when the proud warrior let the necromancer fall, tensions are eased in the room.
The elven woman gasps for a while, than, after taking a long breath, answers Jack's indirect questions.
"What secret room? Ah, the passage... it is just a secondary corridor through the cave entrance. I tried to reach for it while in gaseous form. And I have nothing to do with your petty houses. I'm a Karrnathian patriot, and our land is more important than every arcane mark scribbled on skin."
Gheerla takes the tears and put them away in a bag, while looking at the now destroyed scroll "A pity, for such a powerful weapon..."
"Not so much," answers Mahk'r, approaching his sword, that now seems again dormant and fixed into the altar. The hobgoblin stops to look at it for a moment, pondering something, than calls out for Jack, asking his opinion.
"This sword is an ancient relic of our lost empires. When I received it years ago, I was told it was forged to destroy the horrendous spawn of Xoriat, and that effects of planar binding involving spirits from other planes powered it.
Thing is, in seven years of adventuring with it, I never seen it acting this strange. Do you have any opinion on it?"
Spoiler: Jack and the magical items
Jack can recognize some of the things he found: the scrying system, composed of a payr of stones, releases an illusion-like aura, and seems to resonate with dragonshards related power; if they are those commonly used by shadow marked elves, they are more useful then valuable.
The gloves are clearly meant to canalize the power of Fernia, both offensively and defensively. They look finely crafted and should have a high value in a specialized market.
The flask stores some kind of necromantic energy, but is unclear what type.
Reading the journal, Jack notices that the writings start as an orderly set of descriptions and notes on experiments conducted with the scroll; skimming through the pages, it is possible to see that the writing becomes less and less regular and the notes slowly give places to incoherent writing about "the endless forces in the abyss".Last edited by CozJa; 2018-01-24 at 05:48 AM.
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2018-01-26, 09:38 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"A Karrnathian patriot you say... and not a devout to the Blood of Vol, or sympathiser of the Order of the Emerald Claw, which your own monarchs branded as a terrorist organisation?" asks Jack, with a tone that transpires skepticism. "Whatever, it does not matter right now. You will be brought in for questioning, and you'd better behave if you want to have any chance to tell your side of the story. Bind her" Jack winches, ever so slightly, when he says those words, though it would be hard to notice "and gag her too, when she's had a moment to catch her breath." He says these last words with a little amusement instead, as if to cover his previous uneasiness.
He turns to Gheerla, admonishing her: "Not a pity, but a triumph, to rid the world of such an Evil thing. For even if it is true that it is the wielder's acts, not his weapon, that truly matter, this spell would have had no other purpose than to scotch the earth and bring forth pain and suffering upon its inhabitants. Such a thing should not be used, even in times of war, least all Khorvaire be turned into Mournland."
He appreciates Mahk'r agreeing on the subject. The Hobgoblin is not as bad his brethren usually are, it seems. He approaches him, looking at his sword. A powerful weapon, to be sure, though the lates display was something else entirely. He wonders if he's ever read or heard of something similar.
Spoiler: OOCI, as a player, do not know what to tell the hobgoblin. Perhaps Jack does? He had the chance to see it in action, and his knowledge is.... Planes - (1d20+19)[37], inspired.
Also, I take it the ring is non-magical? How about the unused scroll?Last edited by iTookUrNick; 2018-01-27 at 11:58 AM.
My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
Homebrew|Avatar by Ceika
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2018-01-26, 11:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
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- US East
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sidara grimaces, her back pressed against the wall of the cave as she slowly lowers herself to the floor. Her breathing is labored, her arms hang heavy at her sides, her eyes seem somehow dimmer than they were before. She has no serious injuries to speak of, yet there isn't an inch of her body that doesn't hurt. Only moments ago, she was indomitable. Now, she seems, in a word, feeble. Listening to Gheerla and Jack, she keeps a wary eye on the necromancer. She knows little of ancient artifacts or forgotten magics, and she has little to add to their discussion beyond a tired sigh upon learning that the relic she struck with a sword possessed such ruinous power.
Last edited by rypt; 2018-01-26 at 11:07 PM.
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2018-01-28, 05:50 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
The woman looks at Jack with a angry expression "A patriot is still a patriot, even if his nation betrays what we belie...mmf" her words are stopped mid sentence as the younger Dark Lantern happily follows Jack's suggestion.
Alain Smythe joins the group, his expression burdened by the loss of one of their companions: “Covert operations or not, I have to admit that this was way out of our league. Good thing you were around, and our losses were minimal. Our chiefs will be really interested in interrogating that 'patriot' here.”
Gheerla ponders Jack words "I understand... still, a weapon like this could give a tremendous political power to its possessor, even more than its arcane might. Well, if you have nothing more to do here, I think it better to prepare for departure: the less you stay in our territory, the better for everyone involved."
Even the Deva, who can now walk freely in the room, seems to concur with the dirge singer.
"I'll stay by your side until you are back in the place you first summoned me. But I ask you to release me when we are there. The presence of such an ancient magic weapon is a worrying development, and my superiors on Shavarath must be informed that relics like this are around in Eberron!"
Spoiler: OOC
Jack knows that some ancient forging techniques of the Dhakaani empire involved binding demons to a blade, to improve its effectiveness. Maybe this is one of those blades, and that would explain why the deva perceived an evil aura around almost all of the group members.
Also, I'm pretty sure I forgot to mention the scroll your familiar took from the dead undead. it's a scroll of Cloudkill. Jack can recognize it with his super high checks.
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2018-01-29, 02:41 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2007
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Jack notices Alaine's euphemistic use of 'minimal' to refer to their dead brethren and he is reminded one more of wartime, where such choice of words was commonplace. He is also reminded of his previous mission, where losses were anything but minimal. He sighs inwardly at the thought. To the Lantern he says: "I agree. We will be interested in what she says, too. Our superiors seem to think this was more than an isolated unit. I hope you will keep us informed."
To Gheerla: "And who would you trust to keep such weapon at hand? I would trust Her Sterling Holiness with anything and everything, but I know for a fact that others would feel so threatened by such a thing as to strike 'prehemptively', with disastrous consequences for all... No, this was for the best, I assure you."
To the Deva: "Of course. I thank you for the assistance and protection you provide us. Indeed, we should tarry no longer: we all have places to be, people to meet and reports to give."
With that said, he motions for everyone to move out. He expect the Lanterns to carry their fallen comrade, and one of his companions to keep a strong grip on the prisoner.
He looks at Sidara and asks: "Are you fit for travelling?" He's feeling a little fatigue himself, but not at the level the woman is showing.
Spoiler: OocLooking around, Tail takes the scroll from the destroyed rests of the aberrant vampire; with a bit of attention, he notices a ring still attached to one of the now deader than dead claws.Last edited by iTookUrNick; 2018-01-29 at 02:44 AM.
My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
Homebrew|Avatar by Ceika
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2018-01-30, 03:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
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- US East
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"Finally." Sidara exhales her relief after Beren silences the necromancer. "Thanks for shutting her up."
Her voice takes on a decidedly somber tone as she addresses the Lantern commander. "We've still got another day at least in the company of one of Shavarath's shining swords. Wrogar's not lost to us yet."
At Jack's inquiry, she struggles to shift herself into a more upright position. "Give me an hour. No one wants to leave this place more than I do, but we're traveling with a prisoner, the body of one of our own, and some damned goblin relic. Banner or no banner, I need to be able to hold my own out there if things go south."Last edited by rypt; 2018-01-30 at 04:12 PM.
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2018-02-04, 08:06 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
All the group waits for Sidara to compose herself, while the Lanterns pack up any evidence they can find (aside from what Jack already seen), and Mahk'r sits on the ground to perform a quick meditation, before sheathing his sword again.
Alain reassures Jack that they will send a full report to their... employers, and asks the wizard if he wants to copy something from the necromancer's journal, since they'll have to keep it as evidence in the upcoming trial against her.
The group reaches outside the cave without problems, and a bright sun welcomes them back into the world of livings. The Deva basks with pleasure in the lightrays, while even the hobgoblins, as much as they are used to darkness, appreciate the change of scenery.
The group starts their march back to Sterngate, walking with ease considering their baggage: a tied necromancer, a wooden litter with a dead man on, and the knowledge that they did something important, but more events are waiting for them.
Spoiler
Oh yes, the ring, I'm going senile! Jack recognize that it is magical in nature, some kind of minor illusion effect, that seems to emit a faint shadow when looked at directly.
As for the rest, if you have some more questions to ask to the necromancer/hobgoblin/Dark Lanterns, you are free to do so, else your travel back to Sterngate will be without worries.
Last edited by CozJa; 2018-02-04 at 08:08 AM.
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2018-02-04, 09:16 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Jack is overall satisfied with the results o the operation. He's still hoping that the Deva will be able to resurrect the poor Lantern, bringing their total losses from 'minimal' to a much better sounding 'none'.
He will take the opportunity to copy the diary onto fresh parchment (magically, of course. Who has the time otherwise...). He has no questions left for the necromancer, and he believes that if anything were to come up they would not have too much trouble to arrange a meeting in prison. In his pockets there are a few new and interesting magical items; he wishes he could take the time to study them with care, as if it were a research project, but he knows he'll cast identify instead and cut to the chase. Again, who has the time these days?Not him, to be sure. There are a thousand and one other project that he's got on hold. Heck, he almost forgot he got a letter from Kaldor Ravalek himself before leaving, offering a meeting. He decides that should be one of his priorities when he gets back.
The only other business at hand is warning Mahk'r of what he suspect about his blade. jack knows that some ancient forging techniques of the Dhakaani empire involved binding demons to a blade, to improve its effectiveness. Maybe this is one of those blades, and that would explain why the deva perceived an evil aura around almost all of the group members. He says so to the hobgoblin. He does not think it should matter too much in everyday use, but then it would be best not to be blindsided like today in the future, and the only way to do so is to know your weapon.My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
Homebrew|Avatar by Ceika
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2018-02-09, 04:25 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
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- US East
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
As they make their way back through the mountain pass, Sidara cannot seem to shake the notion that something about this operation isn't adding up. A few hours into their march, she calls out to Jack, waving him to the back of their procession. She slows her pace to put some distance between the two of them and the rest of the party.
"Lemme ask you something. Is she what you expected to find in that cave? A witless necromancer experimenting with some ancient relic? You think she has even the faintest clue what the Claw are up to in Breland?"
Once she's heard the sergeant's answer, she walks up alongside Alain. "Can I take a look at the records you recovered from the cave?" She's not the fastest reader, but she's got time to spare.
Spoiler: OOCSidara wants to see if any of the papers they found match Eluvan's description -- documents detailing the Emerald Claw's operations in Breland.Last edited by rypt; 2018-02-09 at 04:27 PM.
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2018-02-10, 08:16 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Jack had indeed wondered about the significance of their finding. Being a strong believer in hierarchies, he had simply meant to see what their superiors had to say before remarking on it. However, being asked directly, he does speak his mind on the subject.
"A single, mind-addled necromancer can be a menace with enough time and resources, and it is a good thing that we managed to get her out of the way. However, as you correctly pointed out, it hardly connects to the series of arcane mysteries that were reported in Sharn. Furthermore, the whole affair is hardly consistent with the usual emerald claw modus operandi.
I do not think we have enough information to make deductions just yet, but my educated guess is that someone went to a lot of trouble and used a lot of powerful spells to acquire and deploy the scroll we destroyed. This someone, is well versed in mind control and has used this ability on other powerful spell casters to further his schemes from behind the scenes. As for who, or what, they are and what do they want... well, right now your guess is as good as mine."My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
Homebrew|Avatar by Ceika
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2018-02-11, 05:24 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Feb 2014
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
The group travels back to Sterngate without interruptions or problems of any sort. The necromancer stays quite and doesn't seem interested in trying to escape, sometimes looking even more puzzled than everybody else. Even the Bugbear tribe seems to be uninterested in them, with Gheerla explaining that they had probably kept an eye on the cave during the fight, and knewing who won was more than enough.
Mahk'r is surprised by Jack warning about his sword, since he was anaware that the binding techniques could be so advanced to trap even malevolent spirits in an item. He confirms his intention to guard the blade with even more attention from now on, and thanks the Flamist for his assistance in this matter of knowledge.
During the day, the Deva tries twice to bring back the deceased wizard, but is always unable to do it. "Now that we are away from that accursed cave, I suspect that the effect doesn't work since the recipient is unwilling." then he adds another consideration "Since I'm away from my plane, it may be possible that not all my abilities can work fully, for what I remember, you need some physical implementations to complete many incantations, while I do not, that may be a difference that is more important in this world than we first thought, I never had to use my restorative power to such an extent." Alain takes the news without showing too much emotion, and commenting that if the afterlife is not as bad as it's described, maybe the poor sod found something better to do than to hang around with war scarred veterans.
Spoiler: JackJack, instead, expends part of his time in looking at the glove and at the ring, using his divine powers to get a better idea on what they are: once for day, he drinks an infusion of his prepation, entering a trance-like state, where he is free to roam into the Great Library of Flamekeep, all written words and descriptions showing up in his mind as spiritual images. In that way, he recognize the two objects:
-The gloves are called Gauntlets of Heartfelt Blows, and the first pair of them was found on a dead Drow in Xen'drik. A gnome artificer was able to reverse-engineer their project, and now more copies of them can be found in the world, especially used by Zil strike forces (not that the good and gentle gnomes of Zilargo would ever use strike forces, they are kept around "just in case").
-The ring is an object called "Ring of the Darkhidden" specifically, the name is already branded and copyrighted according to the international Korth-Sivis Property Laws. It was created in 789 YK by Raknal Doldarun, a Mror Holds forger, who wanted to create an item capable of helping his clan in escaping the attention of the horrendous monsters stalking Khyber, during a time when the dwarves considered to start more expeditions in search of lost relics of their subterranean ancestors. Unfortunately, the ring proved to be equally successful in hiding the wearer from view of the Daelkyrs and the other dwarves in every group, provoking a lot of occupational accidents.
Raknal was able to avert bankrupt by selling his last stock of rings to House Phiarlan, who was interested in its uses for "more spectacular performances in Shadow shows around the nation".
Spoiler: Sidara Readings
Sidara reads through the journal, especially in the saner parts of it, and finds that there are indeed some generic informations on the Emerald Claw: every group works privately, and it is rare that they share informations with each other, but for what she can collect from the wizard writings, some of the group have been dispatched in search for different relics of ancient Karrnath (and the scroll destroyed by the group clearly was way more ancient than Karrnath) that are supposed to help in cleansing the group reputation in their home nation. curiously, a couple of places in the Eldeen Reaches and one in Q'barra are mentioned, but nothing regarding Breland, or another of the major nations.
As the group approaches Sterngate, the Deva reminds to Jack his demand for release, stating that he really doesn't want to prolong the stay on Eberron.Last edited by CozJa; 2018-02-11 at 05:28 AM.
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2018-02-11, 10:16 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2007
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Against all odds, the way back is uneventful. Jack uses divine inspiration, opportunely channeled, to shed some light on what items they found in the cave. He resolve to find a buyer for them at the next opportunity and share the proceeds.
The only negative note of the whole thing is their inability to restore their companion to life. As the group approaches Sterngate and the Deva demands her release, Jack cannot do anything but comply. He bows to her and speaks formally: "Of course. I undestand you have urgent business of your own, and I thank you for the assistance and protection you provided us with . May your arm be ever strong and your wits sharp as you wage war for the Good of the Multiverse. May the soul of the faithful of good conscience join you in victory. I deem your service here completed." The last words are the one that unseal the way for the celestial to return to her own affairs.My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
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2018-02-11, 10:32 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2010
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- Canada
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Thy Brother’s Keeper
Blue stalks across the frozen, twilit landscape, to kill a brother.
It is not as easy as it might appear to an onlooker, although he is sure aside from his support team scrying on him back in Sterngate, there is nobody else around for miles. Tattered banners fly in a non-existent breeze, tents and munitions of soldiers who will no longer need them. A distant watchtower creaks suddenly, as though to collapse from its foundations and tumble into the crevasse near its feet. All around him, the shattered plateau waits to exhale, but Blue is unconcerned about the possibility of that ever happening.
After all, the Mournland has been holding its breath for a long time.
The Field of Ruins is aptly named, it seems. The bodies of the dead are preserved perfectly here, many thousands on the eve of battle. Blue takes the time to look at the face of each one that he passes, thoughts of prayers to different powers in different languages running through his mind. The Sovereign Host. The Silver Flame. Even the Blood of Vol. He does not speak them, for risk of offending the dead.
It is the living that he is here for. The attacks on Sterngate's perimeter were very telling. A merc rush north to cover flanking maneuvers with explosive payloads from the east and west: only Rook would use sappers in that kind of style. The fortress withstood the attack, of course, but then again Rook had never meant it as anything serious.
It had been a calling card. A summons. And now he's here to answer it.
Standing at the edge of the Field, Blue follows the tracks laid by the retreating mercenaries. His massive adamantine frame makes the ground shudder at his feet. There will be no stealth here, no sneaking in. Rook knows that he's coming, and he knows that Rook knows this. No sense in delaying the inevitable.
"Rook!", the warforged paladin cries out. "Come on out! I know you're here somewhere! I don't know what it is you're planning, but I'm here, just like you wanted."
Sterngate
The sun is high in the sky by the time the group returns to Sterngate. Blue watches the column come up the road, noting the absence of the angelic being and one the soldiers in the squad's make up. Casualties of war; to be expected, of course. The battle the others were sent into was hardly a sure thing, he remembers from the operation, so he is not surprised at the outcome. Perhaps if he had been there, things might have turned out differently.
The warforged stands at the edge of the fort's walls, looking down on the other Elites as they make their way into the courtyard. His adamantine plating is actually damaged, here and there, a bit corroded and scorched in places. He too has 'seen blood' in the past few days, although his conflict was of a different nature.
Descending to meet them, Blue slows his pace down to stop a few feet away. He has learned that smaller people do not often appreciate being placed in his shadow. This is a strangeness, as it is often one of the safest places to be.
"Your mission was a success, then?" he asks Jack and Sidara without any preamble. "I... have been told to apologize for my absence. I was handling a different matter. You captured someone?"Last edited by 3SecondCultist; 2018-02-11 at 11:05 AM.
Spoiler: Stuff I'm Working OnSmall Justice
An ongoing web serial about politics, vengeance, and miniature lizards. Go check it out!
"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat."
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2018-02-11, 10:35 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2014
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- Italy
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Thy Brother's Keeper
Blue metallic voice echoes in the Mournland, as his words resonate on the icy rocks, where everything seems eager to shatter, but nothing ever changes.
Then an answer, a howl in the wind, "You are so predictable... I knew you would come, I knew you would recognize my hand. Come to me 'brother'"
the mist slowly fades as a point of sarcasm embellish Rook's words, something unexpected from a construct, living or not.
"But before this, wouldn't you like to see how good of a leader I've become? My 'new' mercenaries are absolutely loyal... even beyond death..."
Suddenly, the whispers of despair Blue imagined take form, as the air grows colder, and hoar frost coalesces into dark waves of cold air, seemingly entering the lungs of the long dead.
After what looks like an endless amount of time, but is nothing more than the blink of a human eye, a dozen of soldiers is standing, their uniforms showing the sings of battle, but looking as they were freshly tailored; they advance toward Blue from all sides, bracing their weapons with clumsy movements and void eyes.
They are nothing for the powerful warforged, nothing but a test.
Sterngate Outskirts
"Thank you, honorable warrior" the Deva speaks with a... relieved tone, as if the unbounding of his contract freed something more of him. "You acted rashly in calling me, but with respect; may the Flame always whisper true into your heart and know that if the very fires of Khyber would rise up to devour you, the might of Shavarath will be at your side." As the Deva disappears, Jack feels a strange sensation in his stomach, and for a brief moment he find it difficult to breath. He doesn't know why, but realizes that if he'd find himself and his friend in mortal trouble, maybe the Deva could come back to aid him. Maybe.Last edited by CozJa; 2018-02-11 at 11:02 AM.
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2018-02-12, 08:57 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2007
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate
"It is good to see you as well, armored friend. No need to apologise, but it is good that you did anyway. I am certain you had good reason to leave when you did. " says Jack to Blue without any note of sarcasm. He's gotten to know a few warforged during but especially after the war, and he knows that patience is a virtue when dealing with them, even more than usual.
"As for our mission, well... We did manage to clear out an Emeral Claw hideout and capture this necromancer. If this constitutes or not a success is yet to be determined."My day job is killing me. But I will rise again, more powerful than ever!
PbP: Sky Captain (IC|OOC) - The Warlock of Monte Cristo (IC|OOC)
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2018-02-12, 12:28 PM (ISO 8601)
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Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate Station
Belter was at odds. Which seemed to be his new status quo, as if his personal tectonic plates had shifted into a natural state of change. It felt odd, wrong, and his stomach tied itself into knots like a snake gone mad. The taste of honor, and respect still faint on the tip of his tongue from talking to Collas, he frowned thinking about, it was odd. He was proud, this was an honor, yet the empty feeling that he had, carried with him, and grew as he moved through the shadow marches. It reeked of something else, he was never one to self loathe, one did not have time for such an indulgence, it was the sin, and pain of the civilized man, not an ash bound druid.
But then the words of Gharull echoed around his skull like an empty cave. His words rang true, perhaps more so than Collas'. Though Bel knew Gharull for what he was, and if it was not for the markings and his own obvious lineage, he would be a contender to him. But, instead, he is to be his ultimate tool.
Perhaps not? Perhaps he could find a middle road between the two venerated leaders?
Bel Chuckled out loud, such thinking was funny to him, he had accepted his lot a long time ago, this was just another cairn-stone along the path of his lifecycle, may it be long and uneventful. His smile faded as he thought of the last words, this was going to be far from uneventful.
He had arrived swiftly at the location indicated, and found a nice tree to cozy up to while he waited, calling some shrubbery to grow around him, causing him to vanish from view. He needed some time to fully think about everything, how would he behave? He was not allowed to destroy those things he found as abominations, it would be the biggest task he had ever under taken, and the majority of his willpower to do so.
Meeting the halfling's, he nodded in thanks as he accepted the reigns to his glidewing hesitantly, the creature was...different than he had encountered. This was his first lesson, and he had to take it head on, stomaching the protests, he stepped up and sat down on the strange animal, it seemed to be....waiting...as if it knew...as if it knew what to do. It's wild instincts gone, replaced with the sharp rap of the training stick, it made Bel sick, but he swallowed his pride, he had to do this.
During the flight, he ended up talking to the domesticated glidewing, it was...enlightening, and only increased Bel's fervor and hatred towards the domestication of animals. The creatures soul was...lessened, he yearned to let it free, to teach it the ways of the wind, to fly with it, to let it loos upon the currents, and show it the way of it's ancestors. He could have even kept up with a spell or two, the thought made him smile, even if for a moment.
They flew long and hard, and eventually, the landscape changed, Bel saw something that raised an eyebrow, and he realized, that sitting on a domesticated glidewing would be one of the easier things to do today. The strange landmark stretched across the land, he had no idea, but he saw a large house moving along it with speed, how strange.
They landed, and he made special note of the trees here, in case he needed to withdraw to a safe place. Turning, he nodded in thanks to the animal handlers, and whispered a small prayer for the estranged animals as they took off, lingering upon them a little too long. He was here for a reason, he had been instructed to look for a warforged. He had only met a few of them in his life, strange beings of wood and metal, the Ashbound were split in their think about them, but no one spoke up too much, they took all who shunned the licentious civilized people.
Scanning the area, he trudged along looking around for a warforged, hoping to all hope that he would not have to approach more than one.Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
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2018-02-12, 01:13 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Zvyce bent himself to the job at hand. This is about as close as he'd come to feeling peaceful since he left Baron Esravash d'Lyrandar's presence days ago.
With his orders left open aside from 'wait for another new agent', Zvyce has been administering much needed maintenance to this railway station. The stairs have been cleaned, repaired and reinforced. The landing as well. Native vines that had caused structural damage to the small building were moved and pruned; the now covered two walls, giving coolness in the summer while gaining better access to the sun and proper support for future growth.
The iron and steel detritus is no longer hampering the health of the local trees. It has been reworked into a water pump powering windmill. The old hand pump now pours clean water into a small pond.
His current task is a simple one, and continues to adjust the bricks he is fashioning into seating area as he hails what can only be the other new agent.
"HELLO! Welcome to Sterngate Station!"Spoiler: My 'Brews
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2018-02-12, 01:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- ಠ_ಠ
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate Station
Bel graimces as he witness the only other being in the location, actively building things. His stomach tightened.
You said yourself, more trials were to come. He thought reminding himself of the coming times, and the bigger trials...like that strange moving house he had seen from above, he was hoping, again, that he would not be forced to ride it.
Bel stepped forward, acknowledging the welcome with a wave of his hand, moving closer he gives his best smile, canines protruding from his lips as he did so. "You must be the warforged?" he asks in earnest, all manner of appropriate comments flooded away in a torrent of thoughts and emotions, so that was all he was getting at the current moment in time.Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
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2018-02-12, 01:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"Indeed I must. And that makes you the druid, yes?"
Zvyce sets aside the bricks and steps into the grass, "Please come rest. I'm sure you are tired from your travels. As such I have prepared several locations you might find to your liking."
Sure enough, two trees have had their surroundings tidied up and the pond has some grass and shrubbery lined shores.
"You may call me Zvyce, if you don't mind. How shall I call you?"Spoiler: My 'Brews
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2018-02-12, 01:58 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- ಠ_ಠ
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate Station
Belter grimaced as the pleasant warforged directed him to a 'nicer' place for him. It reeked of civilization, he reeked of it, it stank, and he felt himself becoming queesy. But no, he could not, would not, he was soulless, and he had a job to do.
Frowning slightly, he nodded in thanks, but did not move closer, "I...am thankful for the thought Swiss" he said, simply standing where he was, happy to be able to stretch his legs, for he did yearn to fly the breeze, lope through the woods, and learn it's secrets, standing would have to do. "I am, Belter, you can call me Bel."
He looked around, and wandered, not for the last time, how they were going to be traveling to Sterngate.
"Do you know how we are to travel the rest of the way?", you can tell he is uncomfortable, as if his own skin crawled, there was something else going on behind those eyes of his, but what, you have no clue.Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
-
2018-02-12, 02:21 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"I believe that from here we walk." Zvyce turns to look at the fort less than a mile away. His hand reaches into his haversack as he says, "We can move out at your convenience."
Last edited by LairdMaon; 2018-02-12 at 02:21 PM.
Spoiler: My 'Brews
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2018-02-12, 02:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- ಠ_ಠ
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate Station
Looking at the same thing, Bel saw the fort.
oh no
He suddenly became anxious, nervous, he would have to go into that thing.
He nodded numbly, "Sure, let's go then." he mumbled.Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
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2018-02-12, 02:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"As you say, my new friend." the metal man begins walking. As he does he pulls his left hand out of the haversack and holds his right arm out ahead of himself. A small hatch opens in his forearm and he places a small object, about half the size of a dagger's handle, inside.
"May I suggest we engage in some small talk? My experience has taught me that your kind takes well to such things. You are a druid. I have spent time with druids. What order do you come from?"Spoiler: My 'Brews
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2018-02-12, 02:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- ಠ_ಠ
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sterngate Station to Sterngate
Bel regards the mechanical not-man as he places something from his magical bag into his arm.
It was bewildering to him, how these people so used magic in a fashion that showed such lack of respect, and demonstrated how cavalier they were all at once. He couldn't hide his disgust, but he thought the warforged wouldn't care, or know either way.
Listening, he frowned, he hadn't thought about this, well, he was technically a warden of the forrest, not a lie, but a twist, the same, but wrong.
"Would you know if I told you?" he answered as they walked along, towards the thing very thing he was dreading.Last edited by BelGareth; 2018-02-12 at 02:46 PM.
Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
-
2018-02-12, 02:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- US East
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Sidara hands the journal back to Alain once she's finished reading it. With a rumbling sight, she relays to Jack her conclusion that it's a dud. "Seems someone's feeding Eluvan spotty intel. They were right about the cave, but there's not a word in here about the Claw's operations in Breland."
At camp, she does a poor job of hiding her anxiety over Wrogar's resurrection. Whether a fair assessment or not, she believes herself to be responsible for the wizard's death, both in allowing the Brelish contingent along in the first place, and for leaving their arcanist so exposed during the battle. Had she charged the mind flayer instead of the skeletons, might she have saved him? Would she have doomed others in the process?
Pacing, hand-wringing and frequent glances in the Deva's direction are book-ended by her being the first to rise each morning and the last to sleep each night. When the Deva finally declares his inability to return Wrogar to life, Sidara mutters angrily in orcish before walking off into the night. Anyone making an effort to follow her is soon reminded of her speed.
She returns to camp nearly 2 hours later having found some measure of peace in the wizard's willful refusal of the Deva's magic. She cannot entirely shake the notion that death is so terrible an experience that he cannot bear to suffer it again, but in reflecting on how many friends and loved-ones she's lost over the years, she wonders, given the chance to see them again, would she wish to leave? Having devoted herself to the Kalok Shash, she knows that this won't be the case, but she cannot deny the fantasy's appeal.
She has little to say during the remainder of their journey back to the fortress. Any inquiry about her brief excursion the night before is dismissed with a glare. When it comes time for Jack to release the Deva, she addresses the angel in the celestial tongue, expressing gratitude for for its assistance during the battle, and for its diligent effort in reviving Wrogar.
Upon their return to Sterngate, Sidara is mindful of how the other soldiers will react to the loss of one of their own. She watches Alain and Beren carry their fallen comrade further into the yard before walking over to Blue. She does not hesitate to close the distance that the warforged will not. "I wouldn't go that far," she says lowly to his first question. "We did," she answers the second, "but I don't expect to learn much from her." She glances passed him for a moment, before remarking, distantly, "we could have used you out there."
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2018-02-12, 02:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
"l might. But then, I might not.
Is there harm in telling me? We are working for the same organization, you need not worry that I well bloody you if I don't like your answer."Spoiler: My 'Brews
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2018-02-12, 04:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- ಠ_ಠ
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
In route to Sterngate
With that, Bel lets out a mighty laugh, looks to the warforged and grins, fangs pointing out all the way, such was the mirth of his smile. "Ahaha, you make me laugh man-not-man-but-machine. You do not think I can handle myself?" he shrugs as if the answer was self evident "you know little about druids I can tell, one thing about druids, we like our secrets, maybe I will tell you another time." he pauses, then looks back to the warforged "the second thing, you must never underestimate a druid for how they look." he winks with one eye "we always have tricks up our sleeves." and claps the mechanoid on the back, with more strength than you thought him capable.
For a moment, Bel had forgotten.
"Tell me, what of you, where do you come from?"Last edited by BelGareth; 2018-02-12 at 04:08 PM.
Spoiler
Bel's Compendium
Homebrew sig
Epic items of interest
Sir cowabunga of clubs
ENTJ-A
“Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows!” -Shakespeare
“Gnyðja mundu nú grísir, ef þeir vissi, hvat inn gamli þyldi” -Ragnar Lodbrok
"I have a high art; I hurt with cruelty those who would damage me." -Archilochus
Discord -Now with a recruitment bot!
-
2018-02-12, 04:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2014
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Zvyce stumbles a step at that clap on his back, but rights himself fast enough.
"Tricks up your sleeve? Wonderful!
I've been counting on that, Bel! Although... I feel like you may have misunderstood my intentions. I in no way meant to imply that I might defeat you in any way, merely I meant to say that our allegiances to different druidic orders was no reason to bare arms against each other." He once more reaches into his haversack, this time pulling out an arrow carved from a straight piece of
ash and fletched with feathers from a preda-
tory bird. Its head is curved at the tip, like a
raptors beak.
"It is in an effort to foster opened and camaraderie that I will tell you the the druids of Sela's Path have embraced me. With Arawai's blessing I am nearly considered one of them. I do hope you and I might come to an understanding." Zvyce bites the head off the plainly magical arrow, grinds it between what pass for teeth, and swallows.Last edited by LairdMaon; 2018-02-12 at 04:40 PM.
Spoiler: My 'Brews
-
2018-02-12, 04:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Canada
- Gender
Re: Dragonmarks Elite: Golden Stream of Silver (IC)
Thy Brother's Keeper
I'm not the only one who's predictable. Cutting through the swath of onrushing soldiers, Blue does not even sustain a scratch on his plates. His outer shell remains unblemished as he raises the massive porphyry-blue crystal blade and brings it down on the last of the risen dead. Blue knows better than to waste any of his energy reserves fighting these particular abominations. Rook knows his capabilities well enough to be aware of his invulnerability. The other warforged can't have even hoped these undead would leave a scratch on him.
And yet, I still must waste my time fighting them. There is his problem, summed up in a single thought. Blue couldn't leave these poor souls alone even if he tried. No matter who they fought for, they are soldiers, fallen in the line of duty. It is up to him to make sure their bodies are put to rest.
As the last one collapses at his feet, the warforged stands tall over the field of battle and begins to advance on the source of the voice. "Am I supposed to be impressed? That's not loyalty, Rook. You should've stayed scarce. It was a mistake to call me out here."
With a flash, Blue steps out onto a rocky outcropping, approximately 45 feet to the northeast. The jump was more or less instantaneous, and he can already feel his crystal core recharging the first half of his concentration matrix. "I have the high ground! It's only a matter of time before I get a lock on your signature, and then it's all over. Come out and save us both the time."
Sterngate
Blue nods his head slightly, a grinding noise emanating from somewhere beneath his neck plates as he completes the movement. "It is good, at least. Mission objectives were met. That is satisfying." It's a simple truth, but one no less profound for it. Obeying orders, fulfilling the commands of his superiors has ever been the end of the warforged people. Blue knows that Aaren wanted more for him, more for his kindred. Project Cobalt was supposed to herald a generation of warforged that had the right to choose.
And after all that, he's still chosen to serve. How is that any different than the alternative?
"I imagine so, yes," the paladin gravels to Sidara's last remark as he watches the two Dark Lanterns carry their companion back into Sterngate proper. The bright lights behind his visor narrow, as though the warforged were focusing on something just beyond his line of sight. "Less losses, I expect. But we do not give up, when we lose people. To do that is to dishonor their memory."Spoiler: Stuff I'm Working OnSmall Justice
An ongoing web serial about politics, vengeance, and miniature lizards. Go check it out!
"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat."