Results 1 to 30 of 164
Thread: End of Ages
-
2008-09-05, 06:20 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
End of Ages
Ah, you wish to hear the story of the 6 great heroes that brought about the End of Ages? Well, long long ago, likely not very far from here, 5 brave adventurers were brutally destroyed by a gargantuan blue dragon (long pause) Oh, sorry, you wanted more? Well, they all went to the 9 hells, and over time became accustomed to their new plane, but as with any good hero story, this is just the beginning.
The scene changes to the streets of The Bronze Citadel, Avernus. Walking the streets is a halfling with tan skin, dark hair, and supple demon-leather armor. His arms and face are bare, with burns and scars from the ravaging heat. He watches the other denizens carefully, for this halfling is more than he appears.
Inside one of the magma-charred buildings, a group of devils gather around a table playing a game of chance. At the table with them, an elf sits, cards in hand, in the center of the table, 4 talismands used for holding souls (think wallets) lay. One by one the devils fold, the elf shows his hand, a pair of twos, as he takes each of the amulets, and deals the cards for another round. 'Tell us more about the Prime!" one of the devils squeeks.
In the center of the Citadel lies the Battle Arena. The best fighters and warriors spend eternity locked in combat here for the entertainment of anyone willing to pay the admission price. It is like the stories of Valhalla, but instead of your day ending in drunken delight, it is spent patching your wounds, and for some, praying for the end. Among the gladiators, one stands out. Tall, strong, covered in battle scars, Thonas has yet to lose a single battle, even if it meant him being reduced to nothing short of blood, bone, and steel. His eyes gleem from his fey origin, but his heart is far from the fragile nature of the wood. With a downward blow he "destroys" his enemy, and being showered with hot coals (hey, it seals the wounds at least), he is escorted out. His armor is soaked in blood, the sword covered in hair and chunks of his opponents. He is done for the day, one of the only left standing, but what does "done" mean when you have an eternity ahead of you?
Outside the city, in the molten barren wasteland stands a Tiefling with dark red skin, with armor and a weapon made of polished sand. He arrived here alone in the wilderness, and thus he has stayed. Nothing inside the city interests him, there are plenty of game to eat, and in a land with no night, who needs sleep? The time in hell has done nothing but harden Walker in the Waste's spirit. He was defeated, no matter how many hellhounds or displacer beasts he kills, nothing challenges him anymore.
A man dressed in shining white armor appears in front of you, "I see your heart, you seek revenge, and to prove yourself. I have a quest for you and your old party, find them in the city and bring them here. If anyone gets in your way, show them this. The man hands you a rusted symbol of the sun with the face of a lion in the center. My power can not manifest very strong here, so please hurry. The man disappears, but the spot he was standing on seems peaceful, pure, you feel all your energy return to you as you stand there, the city in the distance.Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 08:31 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Singapore
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Avit smiles as he remembers the good times, when he first received his quest prize.... 300gp and a ring, or was it his second....
<Oh well, who cares, now that I am in hell, I might as well tell these guys a bit about my family, but just in case..... I'll twist it a little.>
"So you guys want to know more about Prime? Well, very well, since you guys just lost to me, here is a little consolation prize. In Prime, we have many races! " (Pauses for awhile to see their faces), "Alright, okay just kidding in Prime, 5000 years before the ages of civilization, people lived in the AIR! If you want to know more, you guys have to win the next game, if you lose, I would like to have something in return"
[roll]1d20[/roll]
-
2008-09-05, 08:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Singapore
- Gender
-
2008-09-05, 08:46 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Oh yes, tell us more! The red imp says as he deals the cards. And if we lose, we have something special for you, we wanted to give it to you anyway, but let's make it a prize instead!
The devils all look anxiously at their cards, the young succubus (which ironicly looks more like a moogle than a pretty girl, whatever) looks confident, while the Lemmura is struggling not to eat his cards.
OOC: You chose if you win or them, i am out the door, i will tell you the prize when I get backFox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 10:09 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
Re: End of Ages
The dull-eyed Tiefling shuffled along one of the city's endless dingy, crowded alleys. Waves of heat pounded from the changeless dull-red sky, to be caught, amplified, and thrown back by the city's blackened stones and searing metal surfaces. Acrid smoke curled from the Tiefling's cracked hooves with each step, but she had long since ceased to notice.
Demons loitered and leered at the throngs of damned souls, or hurried past on errands for their infernal masters, lashing out at any lesser being that impeded their path. They ignored this one, though. She was not relevant. Perhaps they sensed that reminding her of this fact was the cruelest torment they could inflict.
Behind her faded gold eyes, the Tiefling's thoughts turned slowly. Her mind was damaged. She was always aware of that, except when she forgot. She had forgotten other things as well, but she knew she had meant to do something...
Ah, yes.
Abruptly, before she could forget her intention, she raised her left hand. Her fingers still knew the gestures, and her brain followed haltingly, old connections flickering back to life. A deep chill surged along the nerves of her arm, and a wave of frost swept from her talons in doomed defiance of the eternal heat. Demons turned to watch the madwoman, sadistically amused at what they knew would come next. And inevitably, the heat of this place tore back redoubled, cutting through the wave of frost as dragon's breath would vaporize a snowflake.
Cale's thoughts were clearer now, though, and her brain pivoted smoothly into a second spell even as the first one unraveled. Impossibly, a thin layer of ice flowed onto the stones around her feet. For an instant, silvery icicles hung before her eyes, suspended from her own horns. Then the ice hissed to steam and her horns cracked and smoldered as the infernal heat shredded this spell too. Cale's thoughts flowed like quicksilver now, and another spell had already taken hold. A slight smile played across her parched lips, even as Hell beat back her magic yet again. The important thing was not for the spells to last, but to study their flows, intuit their dynamics, learn the things she should have learned when it still mattered.
She had no real reason to think it ever would matter again...but eternity is long. In an infinite span of time, anything, however improbable, must necessarily happen. Her world might be ground to dust and forgotten before her moment arrived. With enough knowledge, though, perhaps time itself would pose no barrier. An improbable hope...but eternity is long. She would not be caught unprepared again.
The heat was crueler now, as if her impertinence had drawn the wrath of Avernus itself. Her own magic twisted to punish her; the icy winds she invoked pelted her face with sharp frozen crystals that burned with potent acid. No matter. Injury was never permanent in this place.
But neither was memory. As the last of Cale's magic faltered, she felt a numb, forgetful torpor pulling at her thoughts again. She had launched these futile displays of arcane rebellion ten thousand times or more, she now recalled, and the Hells had stolen back what she learned each time. But again, no matter. All she needed was to retain the tiniest, indivisible mote of knowledge from this battle. Multiplied by eternity, it would be enough. She would be ready.
And then that thought was forgotten too. Exhausted, scorched, and mockingly ignored by demonic onlookers, a dull-eyed Tiefling shuffled along one of the city's endless alleys.
But she had meant to do something...Last edited by disorder; 2008-09-05 at 10:13 AM.
-
2008-09-05, 10:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The tiefling gazes long at the item he had been given, then throws it down and scoops up some of the soil from where the being had stood. Letting it slip through his fingers, he felt - something familiar. Like the being who had saved him and given him his arms. Another chance... he hisses, almost silently, before taking the sun sigil into his pack and running off towards the city.
-
2008-09-05, 11:02 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Australia
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Thonas
Thonas Heads back into the holding cells, only to see his opponent already there, as if he had never fought at all.
"You learned some new tricks since last time, Gralexx." He pulls a spike of bone from his shoulder. "If you had kept that up, you might have gotten me." The spined devil smiled at the compliment. "Better luck next time." Clearly happy, the devil pointed to Thonas' face. "Uh, again?" He grabbed his nose and gave it a sharp crack, setting it back into place. "Lucky shot. Come on," he rises, stretching, "it's too good a day to be kept cooped up. Let's go have a drink."
Thonas' time in hell has been unusually kind. If one were to overlook the daily tests of strength and steel. Since championing the Colosseum, Thonas was given more rights than some of the other gladiators. He was free to come and go as he pleased, so long as he showed up whenever he was needed for a fight. There was always the option of freedom, but there wasn't really anywhere else for him to go.
The Gladiator and his devil companion roamed the streets, looking for an adequate establishment. While searching, he saw a strange tiefling in the middle of the street, slowly covering herself in ice. Something twinged in the back of his mind. A memory... something... What was it? The ice? He hadn't seen ice since his trip to Stygia, to take place in the Grand Championship.
No, there was something else, maybe it was the girl. He was certain he had never seen her before, but she appeared as every tiefling in these parts. Maybe...
He is suddenly snapped from his reverie as Gralexx beats his spiny wings, impaling several spines into Thonas' leg. "Watch it with those things, you don't want our masters to think we've been fighting out of the ring, do you?"
The tiefling suddenly forgotten, the two continue their search.
-
2008-09-05, 12:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Singapore
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
"Very well then," Avit says, " I concede defeat" as he shows his hands, revealing a losing hand of 3 kings (I'm assuming its blackjack), " I will tell you of the story of how Magic came to Prime! It was a few millenniums before any of you were born, a magic rock came from each of the other planes, no one knows how these rocks fell into Prime's sky, but not only did the rocks fall onto the sky of the World, they collided with each other before they can reach the ground, the temperatures soared till even YOU cannot withstand, and yet in other places temperatures fell unlike anything you can feel in Hell, with a flash of light, some people discovered that they have gained power! Others, have learned how to study the patterns of the world and alter it according to their will..... " Avit smiles as he sees the faces of the demons, most of them were in awe-struck, others knew his game but decided to play along, and yet another group try to figure out the truth among his lies.
"Oh but there is another thing I must tell you all," Avit says as an after thought, "Never assume that any creature in Prime is what they seem, you may actually find yourself in a state worse than me, though at the same time, you may receive something that you never knew existed."
-
2008-09-05, 02:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
- NY
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Lotho walks through the city, silent as a ghost. The halfling's dark eyes scan about him as he passes through bronze alleyways, running a hand briefly across the searing hot metal before withdrawing it. Pain is one of the few reminders that he is alive, if that is truly what one could call this.
He turns a corner and pulls out a cracked, blackened pocket mirror. After a good look at himself, dirty, burned and scarred, he shudders. "How long has it been?" he asks out loud. "What has happened to me?" There seems to be no one to hear him, and he doesn't expect an answer. He slumps back against a wall, letting his suit of armor absorb the heat.
He lets his mind wander back, but only senses purposeless, fiery rage. He cannot remember why, but clenches his fists involuntarily. The eternally tormented and their tormentors provide little entertainment for him.
-
2008-09-05, 05:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The imp and "succubus" (again, looks like a moogle, i mean honestly did you think they are born with double Ds and perfect skin?) look at Thonas knowingly, but still the imp screeches tell us more, more! glancing over at the lemura who is clapping his "hands" together in excitement. The lemura then stops, looking afraid for a moment, and points at Thonas' chest. The "succubus" asks give us one moment to talk privately, be right back! The 3 devils walk into the next room dragging a terrified looking lemura. Looking down at his chest, Thonas sees nothing, but does feel like the room is slightly brighter.
Cale is ignored by ALMOST everyone, until a devil nearly twice her height in a heavy cloak lays a blue hand on her, feeling a chill run through her body, she hears it command directly to her telepathicly "Try it again!" His handprint leaves a wound of frozen flesh, and as he walks away she gets a glint of
his face, antlike with a dull stare.
As Walker enters the city he becomes the center of attention. Everyone, even the highest of devils looks at his armor and the sigil with rage. None of them directly oppose him yet, but there is much whispering, the most he can catch is "aren't they forbidden inside the city?"
The bartender pours the spike devil some red thick liquid and Thonas a dirty ale made from any grass that manages to survive in this terrain, it tastes horrible, but after so long of it being the best one can get, you get used to it. After a few seconds of banter, The bartender looks at you awkwardly and points at your chest, backing away.
Lotho, while resting on the side of the building, a childlike devil walks up to you and screams, holding out an amulet and chanting.Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 05:28 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Walker looks around until he sees the biggest, meanest-looking devil he can see, and addresses it loudly. You! There are mortals in this city. You will tell me where four of them are: a horned witch, two warriors from the land of fae, each of different race, and a tiny man who tries to look pretty. He whips his blade from his back and brandishes it at the beast's neck. If you do not, you will perish where you stand.
Intimidate - (1d20+11)[24]
(Also, marking the thing with Divine Challenge)
-
2008-09-05, 05:40 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Before you stands A 12 foot tall solid black devil with tusks and long horns. His eyes are like beads as his wings expand out and cover a 20 foot range. A circle of devils surround you and he as in his hand a black trident appears.
MORTAL, YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME, YOU PUT THE SEAL OF KORD UPON MY BROW, SO BE IT, IN FACT, I TOO WILL MARK YOU
Walker sees the War Devil make a gesture with his hand, nothing happens...
frustrated WHAT MAGIC IS THIS? I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!
(He spent his turn summoning his weapon and trying to Besiege Foe)Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 06:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Die, then. Walker in the Wastes quickly assesses the beast before him and calls upon the power that was vested in him to make a devastating blow to the war devil.
(Hunter's Quarry the thing, Channel Divinity for Divine Strength, then Martyr's Retribution)
Attack - (1d20+9)[21]
Damage if hit - (4d10+6)[27]+Hunter's Quarry - (1d6)[3]
Damage if miss - (2d10+3)[17]
Initiative - (1d20+4)[14]
-
2008-09-05, 06:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Striking you with his Trident, a brilliant light comes from the amulet, the symbol of Pelor and Kord appear on his chest and burn viciously. both of you are knocked to the ground, you revelling from being pierced through and he from pain from the symbols.
Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 06:38 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The tiefling rises to his feet and, drawing upon all the rage and hatred in the Hells, turns a horrifying blow on his opponent as blood mixes with the sand in his armor.
-
2008-09-05, 06:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Striking into the fiend, the symbol around Walker's neck glows brilliantly and the scars of pelor and kord burn deeper into the devil's flesh. The devil's hide begins to peel back as the symbols grow, providing two large open places where no armor is present. The devil, writing in pain, is unable to act
Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 06:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Light sears across the mortal's vision as the massive devil is racked by divine agony, and he suddenly knows what he must do. Taking the barest step back, he takes ahold of the symbol at his neck and brandishes it wildly, screaming The light shines through you! Burn bright, beast, and know: I am the Walker in the Wastes! I am mighty! And when your ashes blow in the storm clouds, tell the Creature there that I shall surpass it! And with his words, a glowing beam strikes out and into the hole in the devil's armor, and with a flash the flesh is gone, leaving only a burnt-out husk...
-
2008-09-05, 07:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
the light travels to each of the other devils watching, each reduced to husks as well. The "symbol" appears to drink their souls, letting out a prismatic mist before calming at your neck.
The only thing salvagable from the wreckage of the attack is a 14 foot long onyx Halberd.
EVERYONE on the streets is terrified of you now, leaving you a wide open path as hundreds of eyes watch you from windows, terrified, being the first time many have seen true death in thousands of years.Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 07:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
He sheathes his blade on his back and picks up the halberd, swinging it one-handed to point towards one of the devils that still remains alive. Tell me where those I seek are. Now.
Intimidate - (1d20+11)[30]
-
2008-09-05, 07:21 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The Long Onyx Halberd cries out when you touch it, it's cries are heard across the city, cries of defeat. From all the windows you hear devils screaming "We don't know" and "don't hurt my baby!".
Slight whispers enter your head and are silenced. The blade turns from onyx to white
I serve you for now,
though i do it not of my own will,
you have bested my owner,
Thus my rage must be still
The blade is a +2 Halberd, no holy powers can be channeled through it. Once a day the blade will attempt to dominate the owner unless the owner has killed with the blade that day. The blade is neutral, but crafted in the pits of Avernus, thus considered unholy. It is said the blade is seeking someone as bloodthirsty as it is, then it will reveal it's true power.Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 07:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The tiefling hears the voices, both inside his head and out, and growls angrily. These creatures are worthless and weak; not worth his time. Taking the halberd in hand, he forces its will beneath his own and commands it: <If you know where I can find those I seek, speak true.> After he hears the weapon's answer, he strides down the street, still seeking his old companions.
-
2008-09-05, 07:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
One you seek lies cloistered in a game of chance
Another drinks away his heavy load
A third in an ally, avoiding children's glance
And the final, in the middle of the road
Now I ask of you a favor, you are a follower of Kord, renounce the man in white and destroy that symbol! I can give you unlimited power and together we can destroy everything!
Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 07:36 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
<I serve no one, and I care not for unlimited power. The white one has given me a second chance to prove myself greater than the one you claim I serve; that is all that matters.>
Last edited by NecroRebel; 2008-09-05 at 07:51 PM.
-
2008-09-05, 07:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Hearing the explosion outside, the cries of the weapon, and the wails of their neighbors, the 4 devils come back to Avit. Visibly shaken, the imp begins dealing again.
'So you are going back soon, to the Prime...we can tell. We have something for you, but please be careful with them"
The "succubus" hands Avit 4 sheets of paper, at the bottoms there is the signature of each one of them in blood, and blank lines on the other side.
We want to see your world, like you have gotten to visit ours, so these are contracts, all you have to do is find someone fun to hang out with like you and give them one, we will give them some of our powers and they will let us see the world through their eyes.
The imp looks concerned, "Err...I wouldn't personally do it, i mean, you are a great guy and all, and Sarah isn't telling you everything...."
The mood calms though as you continue to play cards until Lemmings chimes up "HoW..aM..I..sErVE..MaStEr..If...DEATHBRINGER...Ea T..ME?"
The three devils sit quietly attempting to get off topic
"So, please...tell us more!"Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 07:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Walker first searches the city for the one the halberd claims is drowning his sorrows, largely by finding someone who hadn't seen his earlier battle and demanding to know where he can wet his throat. For once, the Walker in the Wastes chooses not to hurt those who don't answer or who insult him; he is in a hurry, after all, and beating fools takes time.
If he sees any of his other ex-companions, he'll stop and talk to them instead of continuing his search, and he will remain vigilant for them, including looking down alleys and side streets.
Perception - (1d20+9)[22]
-
2008-09-05, 09:25 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Singapore
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Avit continued telling them stories, this time, he notices the difference in atmosphere, not too sure what is really happening, he tries to casually add in a question or two to see if he can get more information out, at the same time, wondering if his old teammates were facing a similar experience. He hears some hysteria in the streets, but feels that he at least owes these demons one last game before he enters Prime, be it for good or bad.......
-
2008-09-05, 09:25 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
From one of the doors, Walker hears a familiar voice.
Last edited by ixious; 2008-09-05 at 09:34 PM.
Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 10:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Hearing his old ally's voice catches the Walker's finely-tuned senses as he enters the gambling den. Smiling somewhat unpleasantly, he approaches the Elf's table, quickly eyeing and dismissing the other inhabitants. Avit.
-
2008-09-05, 10:09 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Alabama
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
The devils flee the second they see the sword, giving Avit a look of longing before running a few houses down, the only devil left is the Lemura, who seems a bit confused on what to do before sliding into the kitchen and putting a pot over his head "YoU wOnT CuT mY heAD, nOO--Noo!"
Fox
25 years of tabletops and cheetos
Avid Roleplayer/Loquacious Dungeonmaster
-
2008-09-05, 10:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Singapore
- Gender
Re: End of Ages
Though glad to see Walker again, Avit was slightly annoyed by the discomfort the paladins less than graceful arrival. He waves goodbye to the demons, sad that they couldn't part in nicer conditions, lifting up the pot, he smiles as nicely as he can and putting a hand up to tell the paladin to do nothing, Avit points the way out for the demon, and then making sure that Lemmings was as calm as possible and out of harm's way, he turns to the paladin, saying 'Well, I see you have not changed much have you? Its good to see you again Walker, have you been doing ANYTHING other than fighting?", Avit could not help but show a hint of annoyance on what Walker was doing, intentionally or not to these demons who were at the least in a somewhat mutual friendship with him.