Start of #Odal buffer: Mon Jun 23 22:04:53 2008 [17:31:27] * Now talking in #Odal [17:32:11] * Paera (a@wnpgmb0805w-ad05-96-183.dynamic.mts.net) has joined #Odal [17:39:43] * Xan (rustangel@ip-214-151.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [17:43:40] * A week ago, a notice had been posted outside the elder's house, an offer for anyone willing to brave the wilderness, and promising prestige and rewards to any villager who came to the the elder's house ready to make the journey. The week's passed, and the three of you are the only ones to have taken the offer. [17:46:15] * Xan looks to the others, having nothing better to do than aid the elders in this strange place in which he is the strange one. [17:47:36] * When you arrived, you were directed to a side chamber in the old stone building, standing out against the wooden thatched houses of the town. The defacto leadership if the town, consisting of Sevius Minch, the elder, Haswell Drumm, the militia leader, and Wosley Giswit, the tax collector, are all gathered around one side of the table. [17:47:40] [Session start] [17:49:51] * Xan nods to them quietly, tossing his hood back [17:50:05] * Eilenia is a young Eladrin maiden wearing blue robes. Her pale-gold hair is long, and her eyes are a pupil-less pearlescent sky blue. She looks around the room, fascinated. [17:52:12] * Darkheart (lol@67.233.161.25) has joined #Odal [17:52:48] * Haswell nods at the group. "Thank you all for coming." He checks briefly to make sure the door is closed, and continues. "Odal's Fen faces a serious problem. Between the kobold raids distracting the farmers, and the drought this summer, it seems as though our harvest won't be enough to last us through the winter." [17:55:54] That is...very concerning news. [17:57:07] * "Though we can't force anybody to leave the village, we're prepared to reward you, if you help us get through this. We need to get a message to Horbek's Glory, a month's journey away, and convince them to aid us, so we'll have enough food to last until spring." [17:58:00] What a pity... how much longer will your food stores last you as they are now? [17:58:48] Those of you who grew up in Odal's Fen know that Horbek's Glory is the nearest city. It was the provincal capitol before the fall of Nerath, and it's still seen as a bastion of civilization, even though contact's been broken for nearly a century. [17:59:27] * "After we bring in what we can, we'll have enough food for three months, enough to last until midwinter. Not nearly enough, sadly." [18:03:27] * Paera nods. "That's our time limit then." [18:03:48] * Drumm speaks up. "Unfortunately, it won't be an easy journey. Though the town's defensible, as best as we can tell, the swamps outside are infested by kobolds, and the old roads through are starting to deteriorate. While we can't ask you to clear out the swamps entirely, the quickest way to Horbek's Glory that doesn't involve wading through swamp-water is through an old highway checkpoint." [18:04:11] Very well. I shall do what I can. Master Anyss said this would be good experience for me... though I think this may be the longest I have spent in the World. This should be interesting. [18:06:49] The town needs us. I'll do what it takes to protect it. [18:07:30] * NovaSeaker (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [18:07:36] * Drumm smiles. "That's a good'un!" He turns and pulls a map from a case behind him. It's yellowed and he unrolls it gently, tracing a route with his finger. [18:07:41] * NovaSeaker is now known as Eve_Kasnora [18:09:06] * "Head out over the central bridge, and turn right. Follow the old high road as well as you can, and you should get to the checkpoint before nightfall. I'd stay there, if I were you. Never know what's lurking out there after dark." [18:11:06] * Giswit nods. "You're not the only ones we're sending out. Over the next few weeks, we're going to try and send emissaries to the towns along the way. So it'd be right swell of you if you could clear the way for them, get rid of anything that might eat them, or rob them. If the kobold brigands are in the checkpoint, flush them out, make it safe for travel again, right?" [18:15:12] Hm? Of course. [18:16:26] * Paera smiles. "This is what we are called to do, after all." [18:19:50] * "Terrific. We'd offer to arm you, but honestly, there's not much to give that the militia's not using, or that we won't need for the winter. I promise you'll be richly rewarded when you return, though! And you won't need to participate in the harvest, for that matter." [18:20:50] * Paera brightens slightly at that. [18:20:58] "I feel no obligation to do so regardless, my being an outsider to these matters. Know however that I will be glad to aid your peoples in their plight." [18:24:02] * The elder nods, and stands uneasily. "Thank you, sir. And thank you all, so very much. You'll be known as heroes before the winter comes, I assure you." [18:26:47] * Drumm puts his map away. "Are there any questions before we send you on your way?" [18:27:23] "What sorts of troubles can we expect along the way?" [18:29:24] * "I can't say what you'll encounter outside the valley, but the biggest problem around here is the damn kobolds. Used to be, there'd only be a few sneak-thieves a couple times a year, but the last few years, they've got more vicious. More organized." [18:31:19] "There's swamp drakes, too, but they'll usually keep away from you unless you rile them up. Aside from that, just make sure you keep away from the water if you're wounded. Until recently, we lost more good soldiers to getting sick than we did from the raiders."" [18:31:39] Hmmm.... can we get anything from you before we leave to help us on our way? [18:33:04] * "We don't have all that much we can give. What do you want?" [18:34:39] Nothing right now, but I may think of something. When do we leave? [18:35:17] "The sooner the better. You don't want to get caught out in the open when night falls." [18:35:26] "A cart perhaps?" [18:35:42] Maybe horses. [18:35:59] Unless the terrain is ill-suited for them. [18:36:32] * "Well, the old highway shouldn't be too torn-up. We'll see what we can do." [18:36:48] * Eilenia smiles. Horsies! She doesn't say that out loud. [18:38:38] (If nobody has any other questions, I'm going to skip ahead to when you guys leave.) [18:39:00] ((sure thing)) [18:39:16] (works for me) [18:40:35] * Xan His attire seems off as well, clad in hide armor and low cowl that seems to consist of the fur of some beast that can't quite decide what it is. The patterns and colors of the armor change in slow scintillation, and would serve a hunter well if they were to bend to his will, but these apparently do not. [18:40:47] * Xan This armor is cut off at the arms by what seems to be a set of shoulder-length gauntlets that join at his back. They appear to be made of some opaque, naturally-occurring mineral in a hue that can't decide whether it is deep crimson or blue, giving off an overall impression of purple as an end result. [18:40:59] * Xan One arm of the gauntlets bladed from elbow to wrist with a curved blade that seems to follow the natural contours of the wearer's arm, jutting out in a slender spike at the elbow. The other is hard, solid, and blocky, as if the hand were made from stone that still flexes and moves normally. [18:41:09] * Xan The appearance of these gauntlets changes from rigid and hostile like arms of spiked plate mail to smooth and naturalistic, engraved with runes like those of a lovingly crafted construct made by a master artificer. Both arms seem to have pools of molten silver rippling in their palms. [18:42:31] * An hour and a half later, you find yourself at the gates of the town, being sent off by everyone who isn't working in the fields currently. The town council managed to convince some of the farmers to donate a pair of old drays, and a cart for them to pull. The horses are old, but stolid, and ready to work, as they haven't since planting season. [18:45:33] * You're sent off by the cheers of the townsfolk, Odal's Fen's first emissaries to the outside world since the Nerathi bureaucrats left during the Fall, and you begin your journey. [18:46:24] * Xan finds it odd these new townsfolk are so happy to deem his companions heroes before the road ahead has tested thei rmettle. [18:46:48] * Eilenia waves off to the townspeople, including the other apprentices if they show up. They probably do. [18:48:31] * Paera smiles, looking off in the direction of the temple. [18:49:50] * The acolytes are here, along with the apprentices from the Tower on the Border of Night and Day. Their cheers rise as you leave the town's gated palisade, and cross the bridge, and are hardly diminished by the closing of the gate. [18:52:51] * Eilenia looks around after they leave. [18:52:56] The sky in the World is so dull. [18:54:58] * After a few hours travel, you reach a point where the highway's started to crumble, leaving fourty-five degree slopes into the bog. In the middle of the road, a tree's broken through the stones, but has since been cut down, leaving only a stump at waist height. [18:56:26] Where are the colors? [18:57:03] Did the Fomorians here steal them? [18:58:02] * Paera raises an eyebrow. "Is it really so bad?" [19:00:58] "You should see the sky of the Astral Plane. This, to me, is dull as well, but dull isn't necessarily bad." [19:02:09] Of course it is bad. If the Fomorians have stolen your color, they should be punished. [19:02:59] "I have color enough." [19:03:30] I really don't think they stole anything here. [19:06:44] * As you cross the bridge, you hear quick footsteps behind you. [19:07:00] * Paera turns to look. "Who's there?" [19:08:32] * Xan turns as well. [19:09:34] * A pair of kobolds are dripping with water, having climbed the ridge out of the swamp. One has a pack over his shoulder and carries a spear, while the other has a sling and a heavy satchel. The kobold with a spear yells in a hoarse, reedy voice. "Give us what y' got an' we won't hurt you so bad!" [19:09:42] Hm... ? [19:11:20] "Surely at this point you can easily surmise that you're outmatched, can't you?" [19:11:37] * You hear rustling behind you. [19:13:08] We're not about to listen to your kind. [19:13:17] Is this a kobold? [19:15:54] * Three more kobolds have stepped out from behind the tree stump, each holding a small wooden cake holding several writing drakes. [19:16:35] * "Damn right, girl! And if we can't have your stuff, we're gonne take it! Git'em, boys!" [19:16:55] * The kobolds throw open the cages and the drakes, freed, begin to flock together [19:17:36] (Roll init!) [19:26:01] * The writhing mass of cat-sized dragonets surge forward and tries to pull Eilenia down under their weight [19:27:44] * She's brought down, and the drakes begin clawing at her, a writhing carpet of teeth. [19:29:40] * The kobold slinger tries to loose a bullet at Xan, but goes wide. [19:29:48] [Eilenia's turn!] [19:31:09] * Eilenia suddenly vanishes in a flash of vibrant bright multicolored light [19:31:43] * Eilenia reappears in another burst of color near the kobolds that were attacking Xan [19:35:50] * Eilenia raises her orb with one hand and points at the swarm. Suddenly, the area there is filled wtih a cloud of rainbow-colored shifting daggers trying to stab them. [19:39:34] * Eilenia then turns her attention behind her. Her orb flashes, and the area around the kobolds suddenly freezes and turns to slippery ice [19:43:56] * The skirmisher pushes himself off the ground and skids off the ice. He holds his spear at the ready. [19:45:36] * One of the northern kobolds throws its javelin at Xan and lands a solid shot [19:46:57] * A second follows suit, landing a blow. [19:47:13] [Xan's turn] [19:48:42] * Xan hops down from the wagon, water-risen kobold and ignoring the swarm of drakes for now, ill equipped to handle them. He lands instead before the readied skirmisher, stepping close past the legnth of the kobold's spear, the blade on one arm suddenly springing out from his elbow, slashing out and downwards its torso, his other, heavier fist following up, swinging with a warhammer's force for its face. [19:50:22] * The kobold recoils in pain, his bravado clearly breaking [19:51:16] * The third minion throws for Xan, but goes wide. [19:51:40] [Paera] [19:53:45] * Paera steps back, holding up her holy symbol. "Erathis, aid us." she murmurs. A wave of light blasts past Xan and over the drakes. [19:58:32] * Paera then breathes a quiet prayer, light washing over Eilenia. [19:59:03] * Many of the drakes are overwhelmed by the combination of the daggers and the holy blast. Nonetheless, they charge forward, trying to pull Xan down under their weight. [20:00:22] Thank you. [20:01:07] * Eilenia looks revitalized. Those stings don't hurt so bad any more [20:03:18] * The slinger reaches into his satchel and puts an odd ball into his sling. He tries to launch it at Eilenia, but it goes wide and hits the tree instead, starting a small fire. [20:03:31] [Eilenia's turn] [20:03:34] * Paera nods quickly. "Be careful." [20:05:21] * Eilenia points at the swarm. The technicolor knifecoat fades out and reappears around them [20:05:51] * Eilenia takes a step back form the battle juuuust to be sure. [20:07:55] * A minion charges forward and lobs a javelin at Paera, sticking her, while the skirmisher grins viciously and tries to stab Xan, but doesn't manage to get through his armor. [20:09:44] * Eilenia also lets the ice fade away [20:10:41] * Charles changes topic to 'Drake swarm [27] Slinger [22] Elienia [19] Minion/Skirmisher [14] Minion [9] Xan [8] Minion [5] Eve [4] Paera [2]' [20:14:18] * Xan grunts, growling through the pain as a surge of adrenaline numbs his grevous, numerous wounds, rolling to a rise with an upward slashing elbow, spinning into a backfist directed at the skirmisher who hasn't done him much harm on his own, but is now the easiest to harm. [20:14:47] * The kobold goes down, coughing up blood and wishing it had run away when it had the chance. [20:15:00] * Xan , on his last blow, leaves a solid, permanent indentation in the kobold's chest, inverting its ribcage as if it were wind blowing in the bend of a parasol. [20:15:48] * THe kobold stops wishing quickly, as well as ceasing everything else living things do [20:17:43] * Another minion sprits up, loosing a javeling into Xan [20:18:02] [Eve's turn] [20:18:15] "I would profess that the lot of you will regret throwing those. [20:19:48] * A figure strides into battle, obscured head-to-toe in a heavy leather cloak. The sound of metal cascading on metal rings as the figure approaches, hinting at armor beneath the cloak. Holding a four-foot long broadsword in one gauntlet-clad hand and a short sword in the other, the stranger wades into battle, single-mindedly bearing down on the kobold before it. [20:20:48] * The figure's cloak flares out wide as her blades vivisect the kobold, slicing it in half. [20:21:11] [Paera's turn, unless Eve is doing something aside from the charge] [20:21:20] *The tall, blond human warrior continues her stride, coming around the tree trunk and heading directly for the drake swarm [20:21:31] * Eve_Kasnora levels her broad sword at it. [20:21:45] "You filthy vermin shall not dishonor dragonkind any more!" [20:23:49] * Paera blinks in surprise, then smiles. "The odds are improving." She murmurs under her breath, gesturing at the swarm and Xan in turn. A bolt of light flares from the sky, striking into the midst of the swarm. [20:23:53] "But first." [20:24:13] * Eve_Kasnora looks the other way, spearing the other kobold with her gave before suddenly striking out at it. [20:27:52] [Suddenly falls through the bridge before she gets there.] [20:27:52] * As Eve strides away from the first kobold, the ground underneath her gives out, dumping her into a ten foot deep pit that was covered with leaves, sod, and a fine net. [20:32:40] * The last remaining drakes make an attempt to knock Xan down atack, but with most of their number dead, they can't manage it. Their bites fail to push through his armor [20:34:07] * Paera stares in the direction of the unfortunate stranger, momentarily distracted. [20:34:54] * The slinger begins to make a break for it, seeing the odds turn. It pauses and turns to put another odd ball in its sling and fire at Xan. He finds himself glued to the spot as it bursts against him [20:35:27] [Elienia's turn] [20:38:52] * Eilenia smiles and her orb flashes momentarily. The fading daggers around the swarm suddenly return to their full strength. She points at the kobold minion, and a second swarm of daggers appears around it [20:38:57] Goodbye. [20:39:04] You are small and strange creatures. [20:40:32] * Eilenia steps closer to Xan. "I'm hungry now. [20:41:01] * The kobold minion breaks for it, running away to the north [20:41:29] * Another minion tries to run, but is cut to ribbons before he can take his first step [20:42:16] * Charles changes topic to 'Drake swarm [27] Slinger [22] Elienia [19]Minion 14 Xan [8] Eve [4] Paera [2]' [20:42:24] [Xan's turn] [20:42:27] * Xan looks to the slinger, not needing to be able to move to harm it. He holds his palms out, one towards the Slinger, the other towards the minion making a break for it. Suddenly, the pools of liquid silver in his palms ripple, shooting out two sleek, arrowlike shafts of silver that solidifies as soon as it leaves his palms, the projectiles whistling through the air as they streak towards their respective targets. [20:46:56] [A series of feminine grunting emits from the pit.] [20:47:02] [The bolts pierce both kobolds, the first one streaking into and through the kobold's skull through his eye socket so quickly that not only does he make the motions of another attack, but doesn't realize he's been both blinded and slain until he draws back his sling, crumpling to the ground. The other hits the runner in the back of the head at the same time, the silver fizzling back into liquid after impacts [20:47:09] ( after impacts) [20:47:22] ((just the ] then)) [20:47:50] * Eilenia walks over to the hole and reaches for her backpack. She dangles down a rope. [20:48:38] Hello! [20:49:13] * Xan walks over to the edge as well, nodding to the one that offered the group aid. "I appreciate your assistance in finding that trap for us." [20:49:45] "Glad to be of help. Not the way I was intending to though..." [20:49:56] * Eve_Kasnora takes the rope and nods up at Eili. [20:50:23] * Paera approaches the hole as well. "Are you injured?" [20:50:31] "Barely a scratch." [20:50:33] * Eilenia starts pulling on the rope. She's not very strong. [20:51:03] "Unfortunately, I am." [20:51:54] We should rest. [20:52:11] We have food. I'm Eilenia! [20:52:26] "Hello Eilenia. My name is Eve." [20:52:48] "Could you get some help with this rope, I don't want to pull you in here with me." [20:53:11] * Eilenia tugs on the rope a little. She's still not very strong. [20:53:21] Xan, can you help? [20:53:34] * Xan attempts to help as well. [20:53:40] * Paera attempts to hel Eili, but isn't any stronger. [20:54:08] * Eilenia hands Xan the rope and sits back on the side to watch [20:55:42] [Eventually climbs out of the pit with Xan's help.] [20:55:45] Phew! [20:55:56] Thanks. That was mildly embarrassing. [20:56:14] * Eilenia applauds [20:57:12] * Eve_Kasnora cleans herself off. She seems to be dressed in several layers, with fur-lined shirt and pants underneath a heavily reinforced armored coat, metal scales cascading down the interior, and then another warm coat and cowel over the armored one. [20:58:20] What brings you here? [20:59:50] "Well, you, in a way." [21:00:11] * Paera raises an eyebrow. "Howso?" [21:00:12] "I've been living close by, and I've never seen anyone leave those gates before." [21:00:32] "And then I saw you being attacked, so I had to come and help." [21:01:17] * Xan looks to Eve. Your accompaniement was most welcome. We are making our way to Horbek's Glory." [21:02:16] "What's that? A temple of some sort?" [21:02:29] You're welcome to come with us. We are trying to make sure there is enough food for this winter by visiting a dwarven fortress. And maybe fix the world's COlor. [21:02:43] ...color? [21:03:10] We could definitely use the help. Four is better than three, certainly, and you've quite the sword arm, [21:03:29] "Ah yes, I am no stranger to harsh winters." [21:03:36] Oh yes. The color of the World is washed out. [21:03:42] "From what little you saw of it!" [21:03:52] "Blasted kobolds and their pit traps." [21:04:38] * Eve_Kasnora looks at Eili and smiles. "That's just because of the changing season." [21:04:39] * Paera hides a smile behind one hand. [21:05:14] Ah, the chanigng season... I had not considered that. [21:05:32] "Though this swamp isn't the most cheerful of places..." [21:06:24] "Well, I shall not delay you any further." *She looks back at the cart.* "I assume there is room for me or you would not have invited me? I'd hate to slow you down by walking beside your carriage on foot." [21:09:36] * Eilenia pokes around the kobolds to see what she can learn about these weird little creatures [21:11:21] "Yes, we have room for you." [21:12:09] * Eve_Kasnora nods. [21:12:24] "I shall accompany you then. Sounds like your town is in need of aid." [21:12:39] Let's get moving. I don't want to be here when night falls. [21:13:27] * Eve_Kasnora nods. [21:13:30] "Good call." [21:13:34] * Xan motions the cart around the dangers and proceeds. [21:13:43] "I'm sorry dear, I didn't catch your name." [21:13:57] * Eve_Kasnora hops onto the cart after Paera. [21:15:03] You can call me Paera. [21:15:35] * Eilenia pulls a bag away from the skirmisher and takes a peek inside. [21:15:57] "Paera it is." [21:17:30] I am Eilenia Amastacia. Of the House Amastacia. [21:18:27] "I am Eve Kasnora, granddaughter of Ivan Kasnora. A Knight in service to the Platinum Dragon." [21:19:05] * Eilenia loads up anything form the kobolds that might look useful into the cart, and resumes looking at the bag. She pulls out about ten gold pieces and a crystal container of a faintly glowing liquid [21:21:08] * Eilenia examines the jar more closely. It's perfectly octagonal save for rounded edges, and the wax seal on top is imprinted with a gear [21:23:13] "Xan." [21:23:33] Oh, fascinating. A potion of healing. [21:24:46] "Oh yes, forgive me, I heard Eilenia calling you by name earlier." [21:26:33] A Knight? How fascinating. What do you do? [21:28:12] "Well, not much of anything these days... I live alone in the swamp. I've had a lot of time to contemplate the nature of honor..." [21:28:45] * Eilenia nods. [21:29:37] * Paera looks Eve over. "How do you keep your equipment in such good condition, living in such a place?" [21:29:50] I am new to the World. I live in the Feywild, and my master told me that I could learn well here for a time. [21:32:53] "Maintenance is an important part of my morning rites." [21:33:21] "Besides, my equipment is all I have left of home..." [21:33:28] "I have to treat it well!" [21:33:32] * Eve_Kasnora smiles. [21:34:08] Home? [21:35:03] "Tsavarogorod." [21:35:31] What is that like? [21:36:29] "They are a bit... misguided. For too long they have trusted in the letter of the law, and I think they have become deaf to Bahamut's true words." [21:36:48] "I was exiled for trying to talk sense into them." [21:41:24] * Paera winces. [21:42:51] That is a pity. [21:43:51] * Eve_Kasnora nods. "They did what they thought was right. But I know that just because they believe I am honorless does not make it true. Bahamut guides my blades." [21:43:57] "Just not my feet." [21:44:18] * Eve_Kasnora mutters something about kobolds. [21:45:50] Careful. There are doubtless more about. [21:46:00] It seems they like traps. [21:46:37] I just...that followers of Bahamut would do something like that. [21:47:54] "I am to be thinking that many of Tsavarogorod's leaders have lost the faith with Nerath." [21:48:27] "They are to be following the rules as written without the faith to be making choices for themselves." [21:50:21] "Your society is odd in a sense that there are so many gods to follow. So many cities." [22:22:57] [Session End] End of #Odal buffer Mon Jun 23 22:04:53 2008 Current quests: Convince Horbek's Glory to send food for the winter (Level unknown, reward: Substantial XP), scout out the old checkpoint, and make sure it's safe for future emissaries. Gained: 10 gp, 1 Potion of Healing, 1 pouch, 3 javelins that are still good, a sling with a pouch of bullets, a spear, 3 light shields, 4 hide armor, 1 leather armor. The encounter was worth 500 XP total. Eilenia, Eve, Xan, and Paera each gain 125 XP.