Start of #Odal buffer: Wed Mar 11 22:09:36 2009 [17:34:14] * Paera (dlarmour@wnpgmb1308w-ad04-48-217.dynamic.mts.net) has joined #Odal [17:40:01] * When last we left our heroes, they had just found a group of gnolls inside a dockside tavern, consuming the remains of a recently-deceased dwarf. After a pitched battle, which ended in the death of the last gnoll at the hands of a unseen dwarf, they discovered that the were survivors. Our adventures resume. [17:40:05] [Session start] [17:41:03] * Eilenia looks around [17:41:20] * Eve_Kasnora climbs the stairs after hearing dwarven shouts. [17:41:37] "Hail!" [17:41:44] * Eilenia follows! [17:41:55] * Plow enters the tavern, brushing the dust from his chestplate. He examines the dead gnolls in passing, heading for the stairs. "Troublesome creatures." [17:44:37] * You hear an exchange in dwarven as you climb the stairs, and when you get to the top, there's nothing to be seen. This floor of the tavern is a corridor with doors lining both walls. It seems as though dust has recent been disturbed as it hangs lazily in the air [17:47:04] Survivors? Maybe this isn't as bad as it looks. [17:47:20] ... [17:47:28] * Eve_Kasnora sheaths her weapons slowly. [17:47:49] Hello? [17:49:09] * Eve_Kasnora speaks softly but loudly. "My name is being Eve Kasnora. I am hailing from Tsavarogorov, a former province belonging to Nerath. I am being here to look for aid for another remnant of Nerath being to the south of the Inland Sea." [17:49:50] "We are being enemies to enemies of Nerath and Harbek's Glory." [17:51:13] * One of the doors slowly opens, and a dwarf emerges, holding a knife cautiously, not ready to attack but certainly ready to defend himself. "Enemies to enemies?" He says, unsteadily. It sounds as if his common is very rusty. [17:52:11] * Eve_Kasnora stands with her hands open and palms out, clearly unthreatening. "The foul spawn of the Ruler of Ruin are ever being my enemies." [17:52:44] * Plow lingers in the stairwell. He gauges his options; not all mortals are as receptive to the sudden appearance of a metal man. [17:52:49] * The dwarf's appearance is grim, to be sure. His eyes are ringed with heavy lines, and his tattered clothing hangs on a gaunt frame. His gray beard hangs loose and is tangled, and his hair is matted down against his head. [17:54:12] "We were not knowing Horbek's Glory was being under siege. But I am pledging my blades to free it." [17:54:32] How long has this been going on? [17:56:59] The dwarf pauses, trying to find the right words in Common. "Ten over ten years, near, since Horbek's Glory fell." [17:57:50] ...you've been living like this the entire time? Gods... [17:57:56] * Eve_Kasnora blinks, stunned at first, but recovers fast. She smiles. "Horbek's Glory has not fallen while her citizens are still killing gnolls." [17:58:26] "You are still fighting. We are being here to help." [17:59:40] * He frowns, recalling more Common words. "There is no fight. Even now, orcs come. They drove us from Pelor's gift, so now we have to scratch like rats for our food." [18:00:02] "Pelor's Gift?" [18:00:08] * Plow scratches his chin with a metal fingertip. "Embroiled in yet another local struggle." [18:00:15] That's no good... [18:00:32] * Eve_Kasnora turns to the others. "Do we have extra rations?" [18:00:44] * Eilenia drags out a basket. [18:00:51] "I do not." [18:00:53] We do now... sort of. [18:01:04] * Plow would look smug, if he could. [18:01:45] "May I be seeing that basket?" [18:01:51] * Eilenia hands it over! :D [18:03:20] * Eve_Kasnora hands it to them. "You will be finding food for six dwarves in here." [18:03:39] * Eve_Kasnora moves slowly so as not to spook the dwarf. [18:04:05] * "The ancients- the ancestors- found it in the earth. It is a seed that grows for us, ever. It is one of the great prizes of the clan." [18:04:54] * The dwarf eyes the basket. "We could not accept the debt." [18:05:10] * Eve_Kasnora frowns. [18:05:29] "Were I am coming from, an offer of food is polite. Please." [18:05:46] "You would be in my debt if you did not take it." [18:07:10] Food is no problem for us, but food is a problem for you. It costs us little. [18:07:28] * The dwarf laughs, a sound that might have been great once, but now sounds more like a grinding, hacking cough. "Tsavarogorov? We are far from where you came from. Still, it is better that my clansmen live under a debt than die without it." He cautiously takes the basket. [18:07:50] * Eve_Kasnora smiles graciously. [18:08:46] "This Gift. It used to produce more food than you needed, yes? We had heard that Horbek's Glory would be having a surplus to trade with." [18:09:23] "It seems the information was dated." [18:09:39] What happened to it? [18:10:17] "The orcs took it." [18:10:47] * He nods, slowly. "Before Horbek's Glory fell, we made our ancestors proud with the amount of food we exported. Even afterwards, we were able to collapse the tunnels leading to it and live well enough among the fields." [18:12:27] * "Until the orcs came, of course." [18:12:36] "We would be returning the Gift to your peoples hands, then." [18:14:13] "Under your people's stewardship, you would begin exporting food again, and that is being good for us. No debts involved." [18:14:20] We've beaten worse. [18:19:06] "If it would allow us to see more of this land, then I am all for lending assistance." [18:19:48] * He shakes his head. "We could not begin exporting food for quite some time. When Horbek's Glory fell, so did his children. We barely had the ritualists and farmers to harvest enough to support our own." [18:22:22] * Eve_Kasnora blinks and looks to the others. [18:23:15] Where do these orcs come from? [18:23:59] * "Even if we retook the Gift, most of our crops would be stunted, and moulder on the vine, without hands to harvest them and trained priests to channel the Gift's energy." He sounds legitimate filled with sorrow at this fact, perhaps expecting that it could have lifted the burden of the rations-basket's debt from his clan. [18:25:32] * "The orcs claim to be from Nerath, and they wear its colors and speak as the manlings do. The picksman who met their envoy killed him." [18:25:42] * He pauses. "I feel he was right to do so." [18:27:04] They...what? [18:27:34] * Plow crosses his arms on his chest. He is re-engaged in the conversation. [18:27:37] That's strange. [18:30:10] "Wait." [18:30:33] "The orcs are claiming to be Nerathi. And were sending envoys?" [18:31:05] * He nods. "Orcs never acted this way in the old sagas, but I cannot help but feel that it's a ploy. The dwarf who met them claimed that the envoy they sent demanded we give our city to them, and serve them. Conquest and slavery are orcish enough in my mind." [18:31:20] * Plow strides up to Eve's side, "I would like very much to meet these so-called Nerathi." [18:31:51] * Eve_Kasnora nods. "It is being too clever for orcs, but conquest is not being above them." [18:35:48] * The dwarf nods. "I would show you to the citadel the orcs have occupied, but before that, I must return to my people. The clan starves, and I have to bring back what I can, as soon as I can." [18:36:47] "Please!" [18:36:56] * Eve_Kasnora makes an offering gesture. [18:39:56] * The dwarf nods, and fully emerges from the room. From behind him, a second dwarf emerges, a handsome younger female dwarf, carrying what looks like a leg snapped from a chair in one hand, and a heavy sack in the other. She hands the sack to the first dwarf, and then picks another up from inside the room. [18:41:32] "Is your clan being here? Or are you needing to go to another building?" [18:43:28] * "Our clan is inside the tunnels, under the citadel. It will be quite a journey." [18:44:05] "May we being accompanyment?" [18:45:08] "We would likely be of some assistance." [18:45:29] * Paera nods. "Any help we can be..." [18:45:34] I think we would likely be of great assistance. [18:47:00] * He nods. "It was a long trip here, and the barbarians may well know the route we took to reach here. Your assistance would be welcome." [18:51:09] * The dwarf pauses to relay some information in dwarven to his companion. When he finishes speaking, she presses her hand into her blonde hair in irritation, and responds. This goes back and forth for a few minutes until, finally, the first dwarf speaks with an authoritative tone to his voice, and she doesn't respond, only adjusting her grip on her sack [18:52:27] "Is there being a problem?" [18:54:17] * "She does not feel that I should bring outsiders to the clan's halls. I feel that, if you do betray us, having Horbek's children snuffed out by Nerathi traitors would be better than starving to death in a mining shaft, or being eaten by gnolls." [18:54:27] * "It is a risk I am willing to take." [18:54:55] * Paera winces. [18:56:38] * Eve_Kasnora grimances. [18:57:13] "I am not, and have never been being, a traitor. In Bahamut's name, I am speaking the truth." [18:57:26] * Plow remains silent. [18:58:54] * Eilenia just looks around, fascinated. [18:59:12] * He nods. "The paladins of Tsavarogorov are a just order. I simply prepare for the worst, as I must." [19:00:25] * Eve_Kasnora forces her mouth into a thin line and merely nods silently. [19:01:36] "If you have decided, then let us not debate further. If the journey is as dire as you say, we should set out soon." [19:03:15] * He leads the way out of the tavern, and down the dim street. Every so often, a magical lantern still functions, filling the avenue with shadowy light. Finally, after walking for nearly a half hour, you reach the cavern wall. A pair of enormous doors are carved from the living rock, decorated with a pair of dwarven runes. They are open wide enough for three men abreast to walk through, and the dwarf pauses briefly at them. [19:06:06] * "The first leg of our journey is over. We should rest, as it will take us longer to reach the citadel's tunnels." [19:08:21] * Eilenia nods. [19:08:26] * Eve_Kasnora nods and glances around. [19:08:27] Oh! I'm Eilenia, by the way. [19:08:41] "Is there being a defensible position nereby?" [19:10:31] * He heads through the gate, into the inner city. "I am Thorwal. It shames me that we could not have met in better times." As he leads the way into the gate, it's made clear that there are *many* defensible positions. The dwarves' history as escaped slaves and geurilla warriors hasn't escaped them even in their ascendance, as the inner city unfolds before you. [19:11:10] * Eve_Kasnora blinks. [19:14:52] * The cavern is lit by a citadel, looming in the distance, reaching from the bottom of the mountain-shaft thousands of feet below, to the top, what must be nearly a mile up, casting eerie looming shadows throughout the cavern.. Spokes project from the citadel every several hundred feet, supported by pillars carved from the stone itself, and broad discs form plazas above and below, which sit empty in the echoing space. [19:17:22] * The spokes were designed, it seems, to hold off an invasion, and even now, the skeletons of dead dwarves, their armor ravaged by time and their killers, lie behind waist-high barricades, which often seem to have doubled as statuary and planters, at checkpoints along the spokes. [19:18:32] In the support pillars, dark windows are carved, and buildings of wood and gray brick rest on the stone plazas, their walls falling apart after a century of barbarian invasion [19:19:50] * Ramps and a network of stairways link the levels of the caverns together, and in the distance, you can see gilded cages hanging from thick iron thread, spooled around complex mechanisms in the ceiling, though their purpose is obscure. [19:26:18] * Thorwal looks out across the expanse of the cavern, exhales deeply, and begins heading down one of the titanic flights of stairs. Several dozen feet wide, and what must be two hundred feet deep, it would dominate any normal environment, but stands only as a testament to the scale and fallen grandeur of Horbek's Glory [19:27:11] * Eilenia walks along, taking in the sights [19:30:20] * Eve_Kasnora mumbles to herself. "The glory..." [19:31:36] * Paera stares, eyes wide. [19:32:11] * Eilenia wonders how much better this would look in the Feywild. [19:34:32] * Plow appears unphased; it helps that his face doesn't move. [20:01:41] * You finally approach the bottom of the stairs, after what feels like far longer than it likely was spent climbing down. As you pause to catch your breath, you hear a crack against the wall behind you [20:02:10] What's that? [20:02:57] * Eve_Kasnora puts her hands on the hilts at her hips. [20:03:00] * Two more shots ring out, and then you see the culprits: A pair of kobolds, dressed in tattered rags, crouched behind the rune-inscribed barricades leading onto the spoke next to the stairs. [20:03:34] "Orcs and gnolls and kobolds. This is being intolerable." [20:04:25] * Next to their balcony, which bears the remains of ancient battle damage, are a pair of secondary, decorative overlooks, both with their own waist-height barricades. [20:05:18] * Plow grasps his hands behind his back and studies the situation intently. Then he looks to Eve, "This could be interesting." [20:05:42] "I am having had enough of interesting." [20:05:46] * Eve_Kasnora draws her blades. [20:09:05] * Paera sighs. "Never easy, is it." [20:09:16] Well, unless you light everyone on fire before the fight starts. [20:09:20] * Eilenia pulls out her orb and sword. [20:10:06] * Eve_Kasnora eyes Paera. [20:10:15] "Indeed. This may be the time to seek your lord's favor." [20:11:31] * Charles changes topic to '[Minion 6] 21 [Minion 5] 18 [Minion 3, Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minions 1,4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2, Minions 7, 8] 4 ' [20:13:10] * Paera looks back at Eve. "What? You can't deny, that fight went well." [20:14:00] Oh dear. Are they allies of the orcs? [20:14:46] * A group of kobolds vault the barriers and begin approaching the stairs, crude hand-weapons at the ready. Meanwhile, one of the slingers pops up, and fires off a shot at the female dwarf, who is caught in the head and staggers down to her knees [20:15:51] * Thorwol curses in dwarven. "Barbarians, in my city! Kill them!" He whips around as the female dwarf goes down, and begins hauling her over to lean against the wall [20:16:06] [Eilenia's turn] [20:21:20] [Plow's turn] [20:22:04] * Eilenia moves up the stairs, leaping and struggling to get over the wall, to unleash a thunderous burst of sound at the kobolds before her, bowling one over. She glances back at Eve.. [20:25:38] * Eve_Kasnora blinks as Elena moves past her. [20:25:44] "Why are you not waiting for me!" [20:29:24] * Plow moves quickly up the stairs. His armbow springs to readiness, and he takes careful aim at one of the kobolds. The bolt flies true, cutting the creature down. [20:31:54] * A slinger pops up from behind his barricade, and shoots off a bullet that appears to have been soaked in some kind of highly corrosive, sticky substance. It hits Elena and begins burning [20:31:59] [Eve's turn] [20:32:22] Aaaaaahh! [20:32:42] "Platinum Scales!" [20:32:51] * Eve_Kasnora runs to Elena. [20:33:31] * Eve_Kasnora (novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) [20:33:38] * Eve_Kasnora (novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [20:37:37] * Eve_Kasnora runs to Elena's side. "Paera! Over here!" [20:37:53] * Eve_Kasnora takes a quick assessment of the situation and charges the nearest kobold to Elena. [20:39:08] * Charles changes topic to '[Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minions 1,4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2, Minions 7, 8] 4 ' [20:39:14] [Paera's turn] [20:39:25] * Eve_Kasnora cuts off it's little head with both her swords in a scissor swipe. It's almost effortless. Like she's had practice doing this to kobolds for several years living in the swamp outside of Odal's Fen. [20:40:56] * Paera runs after Eve and Eilenia. [20:48:47] * Several more kobolds duck out from behind the barriers [20:50:16] * The rightmost slinger pops up and fires off another shot, which skips off the rocks [20:50:29] * Eilenia's turn [20:52:25] * Eilenia raises her orb and brings down another crack of thunder, knocking down one of the kobolds near Eve [20:53:01] [Plow's turn] [20:57:47] * Plow strides forward further, not flinching as the kobolds spill onto the field. Another bolt is discharged towards the furthest group of kobolds, slaying the leading lizard. [21:02:35] * A slinger fires off a shot which clips Eve's ear [21:04:51] * Eve_Kasnora grunts as she slices the head off the kobold next to her. She glares at the slinger and rushes toward it, slicing down with her newer blade in her off-hand. [21:06:59] * Charles changes topic to '[Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minion 4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2] 4 ' [21:08:13] One of the minions turns and begins to run away [21:08:21] [Paera's turn] [21:12:21] * The other minion begins running as fast as it can [21:13:05] * Paera drops down over the railing and continues after Eve. She comes to a stop and begins to pray. A burning light from above strikes it, and Eve feels a bit stronger. [21:14:24] * The piker tries to make a swing at Eve with his sharpened stick and fails [21:14:47] * And a sling bullet bounces off the rocks near Plow [21:14:52] [Eilenia's turn] [21:15:00] "Elena! Can you be catching those fleeing kobolds!?" [21:16:04] Hm? [21:16:07] Oh, yes. [21:19:04] * Eilenia starts heading after them. She can't quite reach them, but fires off another spell at some closer kobolds in the meantime [21:19:35] "Do not worry, Eve, Eilenia. They will not be troubling us for much longer." [21:22:38] [Plow's turn] [21:25:22] * Plow continues to pursue the group of kobold minions. A bolt streaks from his crossbow, impaling another. "One left. Do not worry, I won't miss." [21:27:04] * The slinger hops back, fires off a bullet at Eve, and hops back a second time [21:27:24] [Eve's turn] [21:32:26] * The kobold minion runs even faster as he sees his companion fall [21:33:43] * Eve_Kasnora vaults over the barrier, straight through the cloud of daggers and jumping over the piker's clumsy thrust, chasing the slinger. "YOU WILL FACE ME OR FEEL THE WRATH OF BAHAMUT!" [21:33:49] [Paer [21:33:54] a's turn] [21:40:01] * Paera pulls herself up the ledge to get a clearer shot at the kobolds, continuing to pray for Erathis' power. Another bolt of light strikes the same kobold. [21:42:57] * The kobold slinger and piker on the other side notice their compatriots being hacked apart and try to make a run for it, leaping the gap in the crumbling spoke. Unfortunately, in their rush to be the first across and their fear, they push each other, stumble, and tumble over the edge down into the depths of the city below. [21:43:55] [Eilenia's turn] [21:46:12] * Eilenia completely forgets about where she was going, then moves closer to Eve, launching another wing of fey daggers at the sling-weilding kobold next to the paladin. [21:47:06] * Paera blinks as she watches the kobolds dissappear. "Um." [21:47:28] [Plow's turn] [21:48:11] [Eve's turn] [21:48:22] * Eve_Kasnora has a great view of the kobolds leaping straight down the hole and wonders if there's a lower level to the bridge. [21:48:50] * Plow casually flicks his arm. The last fleeing kobold collapses, a bolt protruding from the back of its skull. With that, Plow rejoins his comrades. "It is done." [21:49:58] * Eve_Kasnora decides to check that out later and turns on the piker. Her swords glow as she slices outward. [21:50:05] [Paera's turn] [21:52:01] I...almost feel like a bully, doing this. [21:52:24] * Paera chants a prayer, but her heart's not in it and the beam of light fizzles harmlessly. [21:52:32] We can apologize to themin the interrogation. [21:53:46] "If there are any left to interrogate." [21:53:53] "Interrogate? Okay." [21:55:14] * The goblin twists in pain under Eve's blow, but keeps running all the faster [21:55:19] [Eilenia's turn] [21:55:48] * Eve_Kasnora bats the kobold in the back of the head with the flat of her blade. [21:57:16] * MattyQ (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) has joined #Odal [21:58:34] * Plow (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [21:58:43] * MattyQ is now known as Plow [21:58:50] * Eilenia pursues a fleeing kobold [21:59:21] [Plow's turn] [22:04:11] * Plow rejoins the party just in time. He raises his armbow, and sights on the fleeing reptile. It is over in the blink of an eye, piercing neatly through the chest and out the other side. Plow lowers his arm, folds the wings of the crossbow back and flexes his hand. [22:04:18] "There." [22:07:55] * With the fight over, and the kobolds dead or subdued, our heroes recollect their bearings [22:07:59] [Session end] End of #Odal buffer Wed Mar 11 22:09:36 2009 Start of #Odal buffer: Wed Mar 11 22:16:41 2009 [17:34:14] * Paera (dlarmour@wnpgmb1308w-ad04-48-217.dynamic.mts.net) has joined #Odal [17:40:01] * When last we left our heroes, they had just found a group of gnolls inside a dockside tavern, consuming the remains of a recently-deceased dwarf. After a pitched battle, which ended in the death of the last gnoll at the hands of a unseen dwarf, they discovered that the were survivors. Our adventures resume. [17:40:05] [Session start] [17:41:03] * Eilenia looks around [17:41:20] * Eve_Kasnora climbs the stairs after hearing dwarven shouts. [17:41:37] "Hail!" [17:41:44] * Eilenia follows! [17:41:55] * Plow enters the tavern, brushing the dust from his chestplate. He examines the dead gnolls in passing, heading for the stairs. "Troublesome creatures." [17:44:37] * You hear an exchange in dwarven as you climb the stairs, and when you get to the top, there's nothing to be seen. This floor of the tavern is a corridor with doors lining both walls. It seems as though dust has recent been disturbed as it hangs lazily in the air [17:47:04] Survivors? Maybe this isn't as bad as it looks. [17:47:20] ... [17:47:28] * Eve_Kasnora sheaths her weapons slowly. [17:47:49] Hello? [17:49:09] * Eve_Kasnora speaks softly but loudly. "My name is being Eve Kasnora. I am hailing from Tsavarogorov, a former province belonging to Nerath. I am being here to look for aid for another remnant of Nerath being to the south of the Inland Sea." [17:49:50] "We are being enemies to enemies of Nerath and Harbek's Glory." [17:51:13] * One of the doors slowly opens, and a dwarf emerges, holding a knife cautiously, not ready to attack but certainly ready to defend himself. "Enemies to enemies?" He says, unsteadily. It sounds as if his common is very rusty. [17:52:11] * Eve_Kasnora stands with her hands open and palms out, clearly unthreatening. "The foul spawn of the Ruler of Ruin are ever being my enemies." [17:52:44] * Plow lingers in the stairwell. He gauges his options; not all mortals are as receptive to the sudden appearance of a metal man. [17:52:49] * The dwarf's appearance is grim, to be sure. His eyes are ringed with heavy lines, and his tattered clothing hangs on a gaunt frame. His gray beard hangs loose and is tangled, and his hair is matted down against his head. [17:54:12] "We were not knowing Horbek's Glory was being under siege. But I am pledging my blades to free it." [17:54:32] How long has this been going on? [17:56:59] The dwarf pauses, trying to find the right words in Common. "Ten over ten years, near, since Horbek's Glory fell." [17:57:50] ...you've been living like this the entire time? Gods... [17:57:56] * Eve_Kasnora blinks, stunned at first, but recovers fast. She smiles. "Horbek's Glory has not fallen while her citizens are still killing gnolls." [17:58:26] "You are still fighting. We are being here to help." [17:59:40] * He frowns, recalling more Common words. "There is no fight. Even now, orcs come. They drove us from Pelor's gift, so now we have to scratch like rats for our food." [18:00:02] "Pelor's Gift?" [18:00:08] * Plow scratches his chin with a metal fingertip. "Embroiled in yet another local struggle." [18:00:15] That's no good... [18:00:32] * Eve_Kasnora turns to the others. "Do we have extra rations?" [18:00:44] * Eilenia drags out a basket. [18:00:51] "I do not." [18:00:53] We do now... sort of. [18:01:04] * Plow would look smug, if he could. [18:01:45] "May I be seeing that basket?" [18:01:51] * Eilenia hands it over! :D [18:03:20] * Eve_Kasnora hands it to them. "You will be finding food for six dwarves in here." [18:03:39] * Eve_Kasnora moves slowly so as not to spook the dwarf. [18:04:05] * "The ancients- the ancestors- found it in the earth. It is a seed that grows for us, ever. It is one of the great prizes of the clan." [18:04:54] * The dwarf eyes the basket. "We could not accept the debt." [18:05:10] * Eve_Kasnora frowns. [18:05:29] "Were I am coming from, an offer of food is polite. Please." [18:05:46] "You would be in my debt if you did not take it." [18:07:10] Food is no problem for us, but food is a problem for you. It costs us little. [18:07:28] * The dwarf laughs, a sound that might have been great once, but now sounds more like a grinding, hacking cough. "Tsavarogorov? We are far from where you came from. Still, it is better that my clansmen live under a debt than die without it." He cautiously takes the basket. [18:07:50] * Eve_Kasnora smiles graciously. [18:08:46] "This Gift. It used to produce more food than you needed, yes? We had heard that Horbek's Glory would be having a surplus to trade with." [18:09:23] "It seems the information was dated." [18:09:39] What happened to it? [18:10:17] "The orcs took it." [18:10:47] * He nods, slowly. "Before Horbek's Glory fell, we made our ancestors proud with the amount of food we exported. Even afterwards, we were able to collapse the tunnels leading to it and live well enough among the fields." [18:12:27] * "Until the orcs came, of course." [18:12:36] "We would be returning the Gift to your peoples hands, then." [18:14:13] "Under your people's stewardship, you would begin exporting food again, and that is being good for us. No debts involved." [18:14:20] We've beaten worse. [18:19:06] "If it would allow us to see more of this land, then I am all for lending assistance." [18:19:48] * He shakes his head. "We could not begin exporting food for quite some time. When Horbek's Glory fell, so did his children. We barely had the ritualists and farmers to harvest enough to support our own." [18:22:22] * Eve_Kasnora blinks and looks to the others. [18:23:15] Where do these orcs come from? [18:23:59] * "Even if we retook the Gift, most of our crops would be stunted, and moulder on the vine, without hands to harvest them and trained priests to channel the Gift's energy." He sounds legitimate filled with sorrow at this fact, perhaps expecting that it could have lifted the burden of the rations-basket's debt from his clan. [18:25:32] * "The orcs claim to be from Nerath, and they wear its colors and speak as the manlings do. The picksman who met their envoy killed him." [18:25:42] * He pauses. "I feel he was right to do so." [18:27:04] They...what? [18:27:34] * Plow crosses his arms on his chest. He is re-engaged in the conversation. [18:27:37] That's strange. [18:30:10] "Wait." [18:30:33] "The orcs are claiming to be Nerathi. And were sending envoys?" [18:31:05] * He nods. "Orcs never acted this way in the old sagas, but I cannot help but feel that it's a ploy. The dwarf who met them claimed that the envoy they sent demanded we give our city to them, and serve them. Conquest and slavery are orcish enough in my mind." [18:31:20] * Plow strides up to Eve's side, "I would like very much to meet these so-called Nerathi." [18:31:51] * Eve_Kasnora nods. "It is being too clever for orcs, but conquest is not being above them." [18:35:48] * The dwarf nods. "I would show you to the citadel the orcs have occupied, but before that, I must return to my people. The clan starves, and I have to bring back what I can, as soon as I can." [18:36:47] "Please!" [18:36:56] * Eve_Kasnora makes an offering gesture. [18:39:56] * The dwarf nods, and fully emerges from the room. From behind him, a second dwarf emerges, a handsome younger female dwarf, carrying what looks like a leg snapped from a chair in one hand, and a heavy sack in the other. She hands the sack to the first dwarf, and then picks another up from inside the room. [18:41:32] "Is your clan being here? Or are you needing to go to another building?" [18:43:28] * "Our clan is inside the tunnels, under the citadel. It will be quite a journey." [18:44:05] "May we being accompanyment?" [18:45:08] "We would likely be of some assistance." [18:45:29] * Paera nods. "Any help we can be..." [18:45:34] I think we would likely be of great assistance. [18:47:00] * He nods. "It was a long trip here, and the barbarians may well know the route we took to reach here. Your assistance would be welcome." [18:51:09] * The dwarf pauses to relay some information in dwarven to his companion. When he finishes speaking, she presses her hand into her blonde hair in irritation, and responds. This goes back and forth for a few minutes until, finally, the first dwarf speaks with an authoritative tone to his voice, and she doesn't respond, only adjusting her grip on her sack [18:52:27] "Is there being a problem?" [18:54:17] * "She does not feel that I should bring outsiders to the clan's halls. I feel that, if you do betray us, having Horbek's children snuffed out by Nerathi traitors would be better than starving to death in a mining shaft, or being eaten by gnolls." [18:54:27] * "It is a risk I am willing to take." [18:54:55] * Paera winces. [18:56:38] * Eve_Kasnora grimances. [18:57:13] "I am not, and have never been being, a traitor. In Bahamut's name, I am speaking the truth." [18:57:26] * Plow remains silent. [18:58:54] * Eilenia just looks around, fascinated. [18:59:12] * He nods. "The paladins of Tsavarogorov are a just order. I simply prepare for the worst, as I must." [19:00:25] * Eve_Kasnora forces her mouth into a thin line and merely nods silently. [19:01:36] "If you have decided, then let us not debate further. If the journey is as dire as you say, we should set out soon." [19:03:15] * He leads the way out of the tavern, and down the dim street. Every so often, a magical lantern still functions, filling the avenue with shadowy light. Finally, after walking for nearly a half hour, you reach the cavern wall. A pair of enormous doors are carved from the living rock, decorated with a pair of dwarven runes. They are open wide enough for three men abreast to walk through, and the dwarf pauses briefly at them. [19:06:06] * "The first leg of our journey is over. We should rest, as it will take us longer to reach the citadel's tunnels." [19:08:21] * Eilenia nods. [19:08:26] * Eve_Kasnora nods and glances around. [19:08:27] Oh! I'm Eilenia, by the way. [19:08:41] "Is there being a defensible position nereby?" [19:10:31] * He heads through the gate, into the inner city. "I am Thorwal. It shames me that we could not have met in better times." As he leads the way into the gate, it's made clear that there are *many* defensible positions. The dwarves' history as escaped slaves and geurilla warriors hasn't escaped them even in their ascendance, as the inner city unfolds before you. [19:11:10] * Eve_Kasnora blinks. [19:14:52] * The cavern is lit by a citadel, looming in the distance, reaching from the bottom of the mountain-shaft thousands of feet below, to the top, what must be nearly a mile up, casting eerie looming shadows throughout the cavern.. Spokes project from the citadel every several hundred feet, supported by pillars carved from the stone itself, and broad discs form plazas above and below, which sit empty in the echoing space. [19:17:22] * The spokes were designed, it seems, to hold off an invasion, and even now, the skeletons of dead dwarves, their armor ravaged by time and their killers, lie behind waist-high barricades, which often seem to have doubled as statuary and planters, at checkpoints along the spokes. [19:18:32] In the support pillars, dark windows are carved, and buildings of wood and gray brick rest on the stone plazas, their walls falling apart after a century of barbarian invasion [19:19:50] * Ramps and a network of stairways link the levels of the caverns together, and in the distance, you can see gilded cages hanging from thick iron thread, spooled around complex mechanisms in the ceiling, though their purpose is obscure. [19:26:18] * Thorwal looks out across the expanse of the cavern, exhales deeply, and begins heading down one of the titanic flights of stairs. Several dozen feet wide, and what must be two hundred feet deep, it would dominate any normal environment, but stands only as a testament to the scale and fallen grandeur of Horbek's Glory [19:27:11] * Eilenia walks along, taking in the sights [19:30:20] * Eve_Kasnora mumbles to herself. "The glory..." [19:31:36] * Paera stares, eyes wide. [19:32:11] * Eilenia wonders how much better this would look in the Feywild. [19:34:32] * Plow appears unphased; it helps that his face doesn't move. [20:01:41] * You finally approach the bottom of the stairs, after what feels like far longer than it likely was spent climbing down. As you pause to catch your breath, you hear a crack against the wall behind you [20:02:10] What's that? [20:02:57] * Eve_Kasnora puts her hands on the hilts at her hips. [20:03:00] * Two more shots ring out, and then you see the culprits: A pair of kobolds, dressed in tattered rags, crouched behind the rune-inscribed barricades leading onto the spoke next to the stairs. [20:03:34] "Orcs and gnolls and kobolds. This is being intolerable." [20:04:25] * Next to their balcony, which bears the remains of ancient battle damage, are a pair of secondary, decorative overlooks, both with their own waist-height barricades. [20:05:18] * Plow grasps his hands behind his back and studies the situation intently. Then he looks to Eve, "This could be interesting." [20:05:42] "I am having had enough of interesting." [20:05:46] * Eve_Kasnora draws her blades. [20:09:05] * Paera sighs. "Never easy, is it." [20:09:16] Well, unless you light everyone on fire before the fight starts. [20:09:20] * Eilenia pulls out her orb and sword. [20:10:06] * Eve_Kasnora eyes Paera. [20:10:15] "Indeed. This may be the time to seek your lord's favor." [20:11:31] * Charles changes topic to '[Minion 6] 21 [Minion 5] 18 [Minion 3, Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minions 1,4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2, Minions 7, 8] 4 ' [20:13:10] * Paera looks back at Eve. "What? You can't deny, that fight went well." [20:14:00] Oh dear. Are they allies of the orcs? [20:14:46] * A group of kobolds vault the barriers and begin approaching the stairs, crude hand-weapons at the ready. Meanwhile, one of the slingers pops up, and fires off a shot at the female dwarf, who is caught in the head and staggers down to her knees [20:15:51] * Thorwol curses in dwarven. "Barbarians, in my city! Kill them!" He whips around as the female dwarf goes down, and begins hauling her over to lean against the wall [20:16:06] [Eilenia's turn] [20:21:20] [Plow's turn] [20:22:04] * Eilenia moves up the stairs, leaping and struggling to get over the wall, to unleash a thunderous burst of sound at the kobolds before her, bowling one over. She glances back at Eve.. [20:25:38] * Eve_Kasnora blinks as Elena moves past her. [20:25:44] "Why are you not waiting for me!" [20:29:24] * Plow moves quickly up the stairs. His armbow springs to readiness, and he takes careful aim at one of the kobolds. The bolt flies true, cutting the creature down. [20:31:54] * A slinger pops up from behind his barricade, and shoots off a bullet that appears to have been soaked in some kind of highly corrosive, sticky substance. It hits Elena and begins burning [20:31:59] [Eve's turn] [20:32:22] Aaaaaahh! [20:32:42] "Platinum Scales!" [20:32:51] * Eve_Kasnora runs to Elena. [20:33:31] * Eve_Kasnora (novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) [20:33:38] * Eve_Kasnora (novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [20:37:37] * Eve_Kasnora runs to Elena's side. "Paera! Over here!" [20:37:53] * Eve_Kasnora takes a quick assessment of the situation and charges the nearest kobold to Elena. [20:39:08] * Charles changes topic to '[Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minions 1,4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2, Minions 7, 8] 4 ' [20:39:14] [Paera's turn] [20:39:25] * Eve_Kasnora cuts off it's little head with both her swords in a scissor swipe. It's almost effortless. Like she's had practice doing this to kobolds for several years living in the swamp outside of Odal's Fen. [20:40:56] * Paera runs after Eve and Eilenia. [20:48:47] * Several more kobolds duck out from behind the barriers [20:50:16] * The rightmost slinger pops up and fires off another shot, which skips off the rocks [20:50:29] * Eilenia's turn [20:52:25] * Eilenia raises her orb and brings down another crack of thunder, knocking down one of the kobolds near Eve [20:53:01] [Plow's turn] [20:57:47] * Plow strides forward further, not flinching as the kobolds spill onto the field. Another bolt is discharged towards the furthest group of kobolds, slaying the leading lizard. [21:02:35] * A slinger fires off a shot which clips Eve's ear [21:04:51] * Eve_Kasnora grunts as she slices the head off the kobold next to her. She glares at the slinger and rushes toward it, slicing down with her newer blade in her off-hand. [21:06:59] * Charles changes topic to '[Slinger 2] 17 [Eilenia] 14 [Plow] 13 [Slinger 1] 12 [Eve] 10 [Minion 4] 8 [Paera, Minion 2] 7 [Piker 1] 6 [Piker 2] 4 ' [21:08:13] One of the minions turns and begins to run away [21:08:21] [Paera's turn] [21:12:21] * The other minion begins running as fast as it can [21:13:05] * Paera drops down over the railing and continues after Eve. She comes to a stop and begins to pray. A burning light from above strikes it, and Eve feels a bit stronger. [21:14:24] * The piker tries to make a swing at Eve with his sharpened stick and fails [21:14:47] * And a sling bullet bounces off the rocks near Plow [21:14:52] [Eilenia's turn] [21:15:00] "Elena! Can you be catching those fleeing kobolds!?" [21:16:04] Hm? [21:16:07] Oh, yes. [21:19:04] * Eilenia starts heading after them. She can't quite reach them, but fires off another spell at some closer kobolds in the meantime [21:19:35] "Do not worry, Eve, Eilenia. They will not be troubling us for much longer." [21:22:38] [Plow's turn] [21:25:22] * Plow continues to pursue the group of kobold minions. A bolt streaks from his crossbow, impaling another. "One left. Do not worry, I won't miss." [21:27:04] * The slinger hops back, fires off a bullet at Eve, and hops back a second time [21:27:24] [Eve's turn] [21:32:26] * The kobold minion runs even faster as he sees his companion fall [21:33:43] * Eve_Kasnora vaults over the barrier, straight through the cloud of daggers and jumping over the piker's clumsy thrust, chasing the slinger. "YOU WILL FACE ME OR FEEL THE WRATH OF BAHAMUT!" [21:33:49] [Paer [21:33:54] a's turn] [21:40:01] * Paera pulls herself up the ledge to get a clearer shot at the kobolds, continuing to pray for Erathis' power. Another bolt of light strikes the same kobold. [21:42:57] * The kobold slinger and piker on the other side notice their compatriots being hacked apart and try to make a run for it, leaping the gap in the crumbling spoke. Unfortunately, in their rush to be the first across and their fear, they push each other, stumble, and tumble over the edge down into the depths of the city below. [21:43:55] [Eilenia's turn] [21:46:12] * Eilenia completely forgets about where she was going, then moves closer to Eve, launching another wing of fey daggers at the sling-weilding kobold next to the paladin. [21:47:06] * Paera blinks as she watches the kobolds dissappear. "Um." [21:47:28] [Plow's turn] [21:48:11] [Eve's turn] [21:48:22] * Eve_Kasnora has a great view of the kobolds leaping straight down the hole and wonders if there's a lower level to the bridge. [21:48:50] * Plow casually flicks his arm. The last fleeing kobold collapses, a bolt protruding from the back of its skull. With that, Plow rejoins his comrades. "It is done." [21:49:58] * Eve_Kasnora decides to check that out later and turns on the piker. Her swords glow as she slices outward. [21:50:05] [Paera's turn] [21:52:01] I...almost feel like a bully, doing this. [21:52:24] * Paera chants a prayer, but her heart's not in it and the beam of light fizzles harmlessly. [21:52:32] We can apologize to themin the interrogation. [21:53:46] "If there are any left to interrogate." [21:53:53] "Interrogate? Okay." [21:55:14] * The goblin twists in pain under Eve's blow, but keeps running all the faster [21:55:19] [Eilenia's turn] [21:55:48] * Eve_Kasnora bats the kobold in the back of the head with the flat of her blade. [21:57:16] * MattyQ (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) has joined #Odal [21:58:34] * Plow (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [21:58:43] * MattyQ is now known as Plow [21:58:50] * Eilenia pursues a fleeing kobold [21:59:21] [Plow's turn] [22:04:11] * Plow rejoins the party just in time. He raises his armbow, and sights on the fleeing reptile. It is over in the blink of an eye, piercing neatly through the chest and out the other side. Plow lowers his arm, folds the wings of the crossbow back and flexes his hand. [22:04:18] "There." [22:07:55] * With the fight over, and the kobolds dead or subdued, our heroes recollect their bearings [22:07:59] [Session end] [22:14:29] * Plow (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Quit: Client Exited) [22:14:45] The group gets 700 for the kobolds, and 175 as a minor reward for convincing the dwarves to go with you [22:15:21] * Paera (dlarmour@wnpgmb1308w-ad04-48-217.dynamic.mts.net) has left #Odal [22:16:22] And a stink pot and a firepot End of #Odal buffer Wed Mar 11 22:16:41 2009