The Wastelands

[Grape_Drink]

The wastelands were once a place of death and destruction. Its forests were haunted, mountains full of predators, and grassy plains teeming with old ruins and brigands. The church had sanctioned off the land, denying no one entry, but allowing only those officials of the church with documents to leave. Some forms of settlements existed, but a combination of the church sending their criminals to these lands, monsters that roamed the lands unabated, and the unspeakable horrors of its ruler, The Devil King, had left the majority of the land teeming with crime, tyranny, and death. As a joke the Dark Elves referred to the lands as Mesh'la, beautiful in common tongue, but they were anything but. The name however stuck as local cartographers loved the way it ran off the tongue. When the Devil King fell, his corruption seeped into the very ground from where he was slain, and he cursed the lands with his dieing breath. In a brilliant flash of light visible in countries far and wide, it is rumored that the Unnamed One's fist penetrated the barrier between the material realm and Ravage, taking the Devil King's corpse.

It has been three generations since The Devil King's demise, and while he may be gone, the depravity and monsters from his time on the material plane remain as a reminder of the evils he committed so long ago. The memory is still fresh in the minds of longer lived races alive to see his fall, but many have grown ignorant, seeing only the riches to be had. The church's innaction for the most part allowed ruins to crumble and abandoned villages to grow wild among the disasters that infect the land. Foliage covers much, desert sands even more, and only the Orcish clans are known to roam freely between the pockets of civilization that exist in these lands. Few wish to find out if they worship Rastan or the Fallen two. Having made a foothold in the gulf of falling stars, the Church has established themselves in one of the few civilized towns leading into the mainland, Mercenary Town. They have declared bounties for the lives of outlaws and monsters, and are hiring map makers to scour the largely unexplored lands. Even more tantalizing to those who have arrived are the various unexplored ruins and tombs that dot the landscape, some predating even the First Cataclysm...

Those who roam too far from civilization must be ever cautious though. Rumors are abound aboard your ship of women who have gone missing only to be spotted in the wilderness raising monstrous children, of men being engulfed by slime, of adventuring parties being found by hordes of Lemures and forced to participate in unspeakable acts until they are Irilin's breeding shells. Mesh'la... A Land of beauty, a land of wealth, a land of the wilds, and a land of debauchery. It is one of the last few bastions for true adventurers to roam, and you approach it, each with your own intentions at heart.

Sidra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 4
How long has it been... Your skin feels parched, dry. The sun bakes against your back as you let out a groan. As you open your eyes, you find yourself wrapped around a suit of armor on a horse. You try to remember what had happened, where you are... Wait a second. Armor, horses, those weapons bear the insignia of Rastan, and you were on a ship, not horseback! Panic begins to onset as you look around, the ship you had been on nowhere in sight as a voice calls out from nearby.

"Are you alright, Miss? That was a nasty ride you had back there... Not many people survive shipwrecks, fewer when that thing is involved with them."

The panic begins to subside as a part of your memory resurfaces. That's right... You can't remember exactly what happened, but these men and women saved you from starvation on a beach.

You look at your company; The man in front of you seems to be wearing Chainmail, saddlebags on either side of you likely filled with supplies for a few week's journey. A man and woman ride on either side of you without clothes on, bearing silver necklaces. These necklaces seem to be triangle outlines with a heart in the middle that has indentations near the center making it look like a woman... Oh my. You quickly deduce them as followers of Serenith as you notice a woman with beat up armor slumped against the Serenithian's back out cold. You find a female follower of Rastan riding in back and a man in splint mail with an almost enticing sword riding at the front of your small group. Your vision is still partially blurry as you realize that, to be honest, that was the best sleep you've had in weeks. You also notice to your dismay that your clothes aren't on...

"Don't worry, we were just drying them out" the woman behind you says as if reading your thoughts. "They should be wearable again by the time we get back to Mercenary town."

"Two adventurers in the same day... I swear we're going to be knee deep in them by the end of the week, ain't we, Ser Ethan?"

"We need every able body if we're to accomplish our mission."

Elspeth

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 8

You feel your head resting against something smooth but sturdy as you let out a small grunt, the jolts of the horse slowly awaking you as you wrap an arm around this comfy, squishy pillow. You remember an orcish voice calling out, telling you to submit or die, your weapon tossed to the side. You had killed a number of them, but there were far too many for one person... You grip the pillow a bit tighter as you remember the orc repeating itself before a man in heavy armor came charging towards them, sword in hand as everything seems to be a blur after that.

"Seems you're a bit frisky this morning!"

A hearty laugh emerges from the others around you as you regain consciousness. Your pillow suddenly feels very fleshy in your hands, and you quickly realize that you're riding horseback with a naked woman in front of you. Eep!

Whether or not you pull back your hands, you look around as you spot your travelling companions. What looks like a naked elf, a naked man on a horse further away... You squint, spotting a holy symbol of Serenith around his neck, deducing the woman in front of you to likely be a Serenithian as well. You look down at yourself, and find your clothes to still be on.

Looking about, you see three other travelers; two Rastanite soldiers, and at the front, a man in Splint mail who's sword has a symbol all too familiar to you from your home town, a follow of the Unnamed One's sword, and it seems to be enchanted as the enticing allure of it calls to you. This can't be right though, Rastanites hate them!

"... ain't we, Ser Ethan?"

"We need every able body if we are to accomplish our mission."

Both of you

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Ser Ethan... Why does that name sound familiar...

((See attachment))

Ser Ethan. The name rings clearly as the two of you think on it for a minute. You had heard about him in your travels, a Rastanite who had lead many a soldier to his or her death against The Unnamed One's forces... When the church had originally designated Merc Town as their point of civilization to land forces at, they had had to clear out a demon worshipper's tower on an island south west of the settlement. He had willingly offered his services, claiming Rastan had sent him a vision. Many a Rastanite died in the battle, but in the end you recall that he had killed not one, but three high clergy of The Unnamed One in his conquest of the tower, and rounded up many a criminal in merc town afterwards. The sword was a trophy from his conquest, as a reminder of what the Three Chains had accomplished.

This man has blood on his hands, and lots of it. How much of it is innocent is anyone's guess as you continue on your way, Mercenary town in the distance. You'll likely arrive by sunset.

Acharnel, Rayle, and Dana

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Rolls; Luck- 2, 5, and 18 respectively.

Ocean... And more ocean... Oh look, a seagull. It's only a day's journey they said, you can hold as many people as you can fit on board they said...

The Church seemed to have fun shoving as many people as they could into the smallest boat possible, and you all felt like you were shoulder-to-shoulder inside the boat crammed full of mercenaries. It will be sunset before you arrived in the Mercenary Town Port. At least someone from the Triad house had been kind enough to set up a magical lens that let you all see whatever the telescope up above saw... Which happened to be focused on a certain Human Witch's bussom that looks all too familiar to Rayle. The mercenaries below let out a cheer and thanks to the person up top. Lovely... Nonetheless, you have a smidgen of room to move around as you listen to various people.

"Bestiary pamplet for sale, only five talons!"


"Did you hear about ol' Benny?"

"What, about how that hornet got frisky with him?"

"Aye! T'was hilarious, m'friend. They say he was shatting eggs for a week!"


"Hear the orcs are pushing closer to Merc town."

"Nah, they'd never make it past the mountain range or forest. We've got the Rastanites there protecting the pass."

"Word is they'll be moving into Drubkirk soon. Won't be protecting Mercenary Town."

"I think yer full of slime."


"So I wonder if I'll be able to afford that house if this map is real..."

"Shh, others could be listenin'! Put that thing away."

The shouts and murmurs continue for some time before going silent as you pass by a lonely island barren of trees. Something about this island seems... Off. A tower appears through the foggy overlay as the ship slows down, beginning to angle itself through narrow passes and rocks...

"I hear Ser Ethan killed three high priestesses of The Unnamed One up there..."

"I hear it was Five. And he did it with his bare hands."

"Doesn't matter. I feel sorry for the sods they're going to store there when the church finishes converting it into a prison."

"Rumor is there's spirits up in there... Spirits lookin' to kill a few folks before they return to the afterlife...

"Spirits are a load of hogwash. At least those kind are."

Dana

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You're free to move around the ship as you please, managing to slip inbetween the sweaty (and in some cases smelly) passengers with ease. You could potentially look into some of the things the passengers were talking about earlier.

Rayle and Acharnel

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

After the little display on the magical viewport, you found the two of you squished in together in one of the denser pockets of mercenaries. A dwarf in front of you (one of the few on-board the ship) seems to be trying to sell the two of you some sort of tea or another, claiming to have brought it from his homelands and that it has "magical contraceptive powers," though anything magical from a dwarf might as well be snake oil. Five talons a cup, he claims.

Acharnel specifically

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Perception- 18

GM Roll; Pickpocket- 11

You feel a hand plant firmly against your buttocks as a man with a feather cap puts on a look of shock.

"My apologies, madame! It is far too crowded in here..."

You notice as he turns that he has a small smirk. And that your steel knife is beginning to slide out of its sheath as his hand begins to snake away... It doesn't help that your notice his face looks all too familiar. Hadn't you seen him in one of the villages from...

[MiscChaos]

Boredom was not exactly how Nel envisioned the start to her journey starting off. Oh, she knew it may take some time to get to Merc Town from where they shoved off, but the lack of space, the amount of people, the lack of anything to do came as an unpleasant surprise. Well, at least this is a nicer surprise than the one the mistress of the bosom everyone saw thanks to the magic lens likely had. Still, rather than thinking over that, she has more interesting things to do. Like decide what to do with the information she's been hearing. Orcs near Merc Town isn't a problem for her at all. According to her parents, Dark Elves and Orcs have had a positive relationship for as long as anyone can remember, so even if they were to fall on the town, she'd be likely to escape unharmed. She's going to need a map or a guide or something though because she has no idea how far Drubkirk is from Merc Town and why that seems to be a more defensible place than it. She supposes it doesn't really matter, but after years of knowing exactly where everything is, she's come to expect it and feel incomplete without a working mental map. Well, she'll have time to fix it. Or she can see about "borrowing" the map from the mercenaries talking about a house. The house itself doesn't really interest her. After 25 years of living out of a tent, a house would be more space than she knew what to do with! But the map itself could be very useful.

Her musings about the seriousness of the spirits are interrupted by a rather bold mercenary copping a feel of her ass. Before her isolation, this would have warranted a swift counterattack against whoever was ballsy enough to pull this, but now, she decides to see if she can solve this without busting the man's head in. She's done enough killing for one lifetime, she doesn't need to do more unless absolutely necessary. So while he's trying to snake her knife out of its sheath, she gently grabs the man's hand and stares with half-lidded eyes into his.

"Honey, if you wanted a feel of the goods, all you had to do was ask." she says, voice dripping with desire. Gaining a firmer grip on his hand, she pulls him closer to her and whispers into his ear. "While I'm sure I wouldn't forget a stud such as yourself, you seem to look a little familiar to me. Refresh my memory and maybe we can put this hand somewhere a little more comfortable."

[Nobudi]

Sidra was not happy with her current company.
Well, she was grateful that they had managed to save her and all, but normally that came with a cost. And of top of that, she silently prayed to Myn that any outsider would not mistake her for a follower of this group.
Speaking of her company...
"I'd like my cloak back at least," she said quite bluntly. "I'll risk the dangers, to get away from this forsaken heat."
Then, she realized there was Ser Ethan. She had mixed feelings about him. As much as she thought it was senseless to send so many to their demise, she had to admit that so far, it had been effective.
"As for what happened earlier... how did we shipwreck?"

[Hazard1325]

Rayle had been trying to ignore the crowded boat looking out into the sea. Crowded places didn't bother her much, they were much like the noise she heard every second of every day and a few more voices didn't think much of it. She was leaning on the railing of the ship and slowly began to pick out the hoots or chuckles from her normal background noise and looked around to see what all the fuss was about. She glanced up at the lens and saw it was focused on her, or rather her breasts. "Hey!" Rayle screeched pulling her cloak around her tightly both to hide her large chest and her bright red face. She wasn't used to that kind of attention. She looked back out in time to see the tower and watch, she was more interested in the sea and its surroundings than in the men around her. Eventually she would let the cloak open enough to expose her chest again though she didn't realize it.

[Grape_Drink]

Current "map" of the area. Utilize as you see fit. Red is our land-travelers, Brown is the ship.

Current_Map.png (271.1 KiB) Viewed 4837 times

Sidra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 6+1=7

"You really don't remember anything, do you?"

You concentrate, trying to recall what happened to no avail. Flashes of a fire, a see-through monster slithering through the water, multiple tendrils bursting through the ship's underbelly... You're snapped out of it as a still mildly damp cloak (now with horse hair particles on it from drying along the side of the animal) is tossed to you. You look back and notice the rest of your clothes are almost dry as they lightly pat against the horse's side. The area around you is lush with life, a forest to your right and ocean to your left as you squint, seeing a small port town in the distance, and something tall and stone-like on an island even further away. Mountains stretch out in the distance, and seem to form a natural valley leading out to the gulf, likely the only thing protecting Mercenary Town from the mainland. The road is beaten and old, likely not having seen use in ages for one reason or another. The air is humid with the smell of the sea, and it's no wonder that the two Serenithians aren't bothering with clothes- it feels like a clear late-spring day.

"Bill almost got ahold of you. It's a miracle that he didn't, honestly. I swear we lose more women to-"

"That's enough," Ethan shouts sternly from the front. "We're not going to purge these lands if you keep scaring all the mercenaries into staying at mercenary town."

"Right, right... Well, we saw Bill out over the waters terrorizing a local vessel. Saw you on a small rowboat with some others making it to shore before it noticed you. When you got to shore you were absolutely soaked, and kept mumbling something about dragons and finding a ruin. We figured it was just random musings, didn't really worry about- Hold on..."

Hornet.jpg (11.13 KiB) Viewed 4837 times

A large hornet flies overhead. You've seen hornets before, but this thing is massive, it has to at least be the size of a small child! Seeming to make eye contact with you, it lets out a chittering sound, bee-lining towards you as-

SPLAT. An arrow fells the small beast from the Rastanite soldier behind you.

"Hornets. Best we pick up the pace before more of them show up when they smell the blood. Not like there's anything we could have done about it..."

"Well there is one thing we could do about it..." The follower of Serenith to your right smirks suggestively as he says this, the others simply shaking their heads as they pick up speed.

Acharnel

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 11
GM Roll; Listen- Natural 20

"Honey, if you wanted a feel of the goods, all you had to do was ask."

"She can't be the demon elf of frigid pass..." He mumbles something that you catch despite the noise, eyes staring into your own. Demon Elf... Now why did that name sound so familiar?

"While I'm sure I wouldn't forget a stud such as yourself, you seem to look a little familiar to me. Refresh my memory and maybe we can put this hand somewhere a little more comfortable."

His hand loses its grip, the knife sliding back into place as he seems to look you up and down, a look of confusion on his face.

"Linus... You may refer to me as Linus, madame. Perhaps you've been to Frigid Pass? The glaciers are beautiful in the winter months." His cheeks would be bright red as he speaks, seemingly not used to this kind of attention.

He wraps his free hand around your waist. The young man is a bit short to be an adventurer, a scrawny thing too. The name doesn't ring a bell, but at the second mention of Frigid Pass it begins to come back to you. There had been a family you suspected of dark magic down there, a child running to the village head's house after spotting you... They had shouted Demon Elf during your hasty leave. That face is all too similar to his own if not older now.


In the distance, you hear someone calling out that they have a map of Mercenary town and Drubkirk on sale for a few talons each.

Rayle

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The Dwarf snickers at your reaction, looking up at you. The Dark Elf next to you seems to have pulled a scrawny-looking adventurer near her as you catch bits and pieces of their conversation.

"So what'll it be, Lass. I ain't got all day! I've got this 'ere bestiary pamphlet fer five talons, straight from one of 'em followers of Irilin. Contraceptive tea too, likely going t'need it in a place like this, heh. Ten talons an' both can be yers! Won't find a better deal this side o' the wastes!" The Dwarf looks at you expectantly.

Ten talons is a bit expensive, but Dwarves were never known to be generous when it came to their merchants.

Alaric, Darius, Kylie

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Drinking- 20, 3, and 15 respectively.
GM Roll; Awkward- 13

That previous early morning on the ship seems to be a blur as the three of you awake in the lower decks of the ship, using buckets as chairs. A few partially smashed (and empty) bottles of "Crux's finest wine" lie on the ground next to the three of you. You remember another person being with you, a younger human lass with red hair, but she seems to be nowhere to be found. Whether you were coerced into it or willing drank the powerful alcohol is anyone's guess, but what's done is done, and you don't seem to have done anything -too- bad in your drunken states (at least, unless you wanted to).

Alaric

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You awaken feeling better than ever, remembering bits and pieces of the amusing night; A game of strip poker that you won here, a topless Elf and naked Redheaded woman there, songs, dancing... There was even a small brawl between you and stumpy, though where that dwarf with the bestiary pamphlets is, is anyone's guess. You remember in one of the card games managing to earn an additional fifty six silver. Not bad.

To top if off, your senses begin to return to you as you look down, that elf having been slumbering peacefully in your lap, hands curled against your chest and top undone. She appears to be beginning to wake up as she stretches. Between just waking up and the movement in your lap, you feel simple biology taking effect, probably only making matters worse. You don't necessarily feel any urges to mate, having satiating those needs prior to boarding the ship.

Kylie

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You stretch as you begin to wake up in the cramped quarters, your top feeling looser than... Whatever the last time you checked was. Bits and pieces of the previous night begin to return to you. It had been a fun enough night though perhaps you got a bit more tipsy than you should have. It doesn't seem to be that bad though- you're in one piece and you have all your gear and dignity still. You even managed to earn twenty seven silver! Overall, you have to admit to yourself that you had a bit of fun even if you ended up topless and passed out on an orc's lap.

Oh right...

To make things things worse you seem to be lifting up a bit.

Darius

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Ugh... How much did you drink last night? Your mind whirls as a mild hangover meets your temple. You can't remember much, but you do notice that you seem to be missing about three talons in silver, and...

Why are your robes tossed on the ground?

You go to lift yourself up, only for your head to meet the wooden panel above you as you decide that perhaps this isn't the best place to stand upright. In front of you, a topless elven woman seems to be stretching in a (thankfully clothed) Orc's lap, your vision a bit blurry at the moment.

[Nobudi]

Sidra idly patted away the horse dander from her cloak as she took in the surroundings.
Donning it, she almost sighed aloud in relief as she was granted respite from the harsh sun. Flipping her hood up, she hoped that it would help so that none would fully remember her features.
Her clothes were drying quite well, and she'd probably be able to don it before heading into town... but then she frowned.
"Bill... whatever attacked the ship has a name?" she asked with a hint of incredibility.
Sidra was momentarily distracted by a massive hornet, and she didn't miss the meaning of the Serenithian as they rode on.
"Has anyone seen my blasted crossbow and bolts?" she asked as she looked around.
It couldn't be too difficult to find, as its length was from the ground up to her breasts.
She paused for a second, remembering something... 'A ruin? Where have I heard about a ruin...?'

[Zender_Solarheart]

(Dat posting speed...oh well. At least I got one in...)

Now that she's on this ship, Dana can't help but be surprised by the vast number of people who would dare to brave the Wastelands, treasures or otherwise. Perhaps the majority of them may be mercenaries like herself, seeking the bounties placed upon the heads of beasts and bandits? A merc's gotta work, after all, and for an appropriately-skilled fighter, this sort of thing can be a gold mine of opportunity. Doesn't make it any less dangerous, though...

On the subject of danger, she's overheard a number of rumors about that which the Wastelands pose, and none too pleasant. The one that hits closest to her is about the women who were abducted - and presumably raped - by monsters, then later found with a litter of beastly offspring. Calmly approaching one of the people who spoke of said rumor, she nudges him/her with her shoulder to get his/her attention, then quietly asks: "So, about those abductions you mentioned. What sorts of places were the victims found? We ladies may want to steer clear of those areas." A wise man once wrote a book named "The Art of War" - though Dana can't remember for the life of her what his name was - and he really seemed to stress the idea of being well-informed before any sort of confrontation. She's simply taking a hint from the masters on this one.

[Argonaut]

Finally waking up, Elspeth pulled her hands away from the naked woman, perhaps a bit more slowly than she'd wanted. Followers of Serenith and Rastan went hand in hand, and it had been so long since Elspeth had even seen another being that didn't want to kill, rob or rape her. She had wandered the Wastes for months, hoping to simply get as much distance between herself and her hometown, trying to forget the pain and betrayal she felt as she stared down the hydra. Along her neck, her Hydra tooth necklace bounced and jingled along with the horse's strides, forcing the memory into her mind again.

Looking around to try and distract herself, Elspeth couldn't help but notice/admire the two Serenith Followers in their convoy. While Elspeth was still a virgin, it wasn't due to a lack of trying. Her eyes moving away before she could get any ideas, she noticed the other two Rastan warriors. It made sense now, Serenithians traveling with the other two soldiers. Then, she noticed Ser Ethan. Elspeth had heard the stories, and couldn't be more proud of him. Ser Ethan was a Rastan true and true, and Elspeth always defended him when others talked of his questionable tactics. Staying silent now, Elspeth made a mental note to ask him about the battle of Merc Town.

For the time being, she watched a giant hornet lazily follow the group. That was, until an arrow fixed the problem. Elspeth looked back at the Rastanite who shot the arrow and gave him a small nod of approval. While she was unfamiliar with a bow, she understood the skill it required to wield one and appreciated the marksmanship. Settling into her seat on the horse, she instinctive held onto the hips of the woman in front of her. Three proper soldiers, two sex toys, some random asking for her robes, and Ser Ethan. Elspeth liked their odds already.

[[Brand_Name]]

There's a mage casting firebolt spells inside my head, Kylie thought to herself as she woke up. She turned to her side to find the belly of an orc staring back at her face. She sincerely hoped that she hadn't slept with one of his kind. She looked around for both her own possessions and anything to steal without anyone noticing. Her top was not critical, at the moment. In fact, this freedom seemed pretty nice. That damned thing was made for a girl with b cups, and she was a c cup, if not more.

[Hazard1325]

Rayle listens to the dwarf and thinks for a moment. While it was a lot of money to throw out she might be able to figure out what was in the tea and produce her own with her knowledge of alchemy, as for the pamphlets it might be a good idea to get familiar with what she might face in the wastes. Then again this was a Dwarven salesmen, which probably wasn't the most reliable sort to deal with. "How do I know the information is right? Or that the tea even works..." She asked skeptical of their value without some proof.

[Reaver]

Darius groans as his head begins to beat its inner drums. He knew a drinking game was bad news, even if it had been premium Crux wine. This hangover was going to be killer until he found some herbs that could soothe it. He rubbed his head again regretting most of the night as he grabbed his robes and found a spot where he could stand and get dressed. At least he remembered the pretty elf and orc from last night, especially the elf. He even remembered debating whether to take her and dedicate the act to Irilian before recalling he was still on a pure pledge to Myn and wouldn't even send a prayer to Irilian until it was over, which was in two days.

Nevertheless he watched her as he slowly got dressed. "It might have been a crazy night but I don't think you gotta worry about orc babies or mine. Darius, Arch-Mage of the Romundia Province. Pleased to met your acquaintance and be your drinking buddy last night. If you got a headache just as bad as mine then perhaps you'll stick around. I plan on calling my familiar once I get topside and send him to pick up some herbs to soothe the migraine, depending on how close we are to the coast."

He snapped the last buckle on his clothes with a sense of accomplishment, glad that he still had his motor skills after last night. His pockets felt a little lighter but that'd be a problem he'd resolve later. He picked up his staff in one hand and grabbed his backpack of supplies with the other. "Also If you're going to head into The Wastelands maybe you'll want someone to have your back. Just an idea...."

[LoneWolf]

Alaric stretched as he woke, then stopped as he felt a weight on his lap. The sight of the room brought back a series of images - flashes of last night's entertainment. That was a good night. Wine, women and song, and he'd made a profit - and he hadn't even arrived in the Wasteland yet. That was definitely a good omen.

Movement brought his attention back to the elf in his lap. She seemed to be stirring - and she wasn't the only thing. Of course, given that she was half-naked and lying in his lap, she probably should be more insulted if she didn't get a reaction... but people aren't always rational about that kind of thing. Deciding that he'd much rather not spoil things when they'd been going so well, Alaric reached down to carefully lift her to her feet.

He turned to look at the mage as the man introduced himself - and mentioned a headache. He seemed to be talking more to the elf than to Alaric, but Alaric decided to ignore that. "You're a brave man to try to out-drink an orc and a dwarf." He grinned, showing a quick flash of pointed teeth. "Foolish, but brave. I suggest you pick your battles more carefully in the Wasteland." He turned back slightly to address Kylie as well. "Alaric, warrior of the Black Hills."

[Grape_Drink]

Current Map. Ground Travellers are red, ship travellers are brown.

Current_Map2.png (208.13 KiB) Viewed 4773 times

//You guys are always welcome to RP amongst yourselves by the way, no need to wait on me unless you're taking an action that would need DM oversight such as attacking or changing areas. Just for future reference.\\

Elspeth

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 12

The woman in front of you sighs softly as you slowly pull your hands away, almost pouting. The fight with the hydra still fresh in your mind... It had been a battle of whits, really. A demon of that size... It was a miracle that you managed to kill it. If you had tried to rush it head on, you would have surely perished to its whims... With the help of a still functioning ballista and fishermen's nets from the harbor though, you were able to corner it, trap it long enough to give you a fighting chance. The battle was... Breathtaking, an amazing turn of events as the powers that be (and perhaps the tiniest bit of luck) gave you the power to defeat the massive beast.

"So, M'lady. What possesses someone to take on an orcish encampment singlehandedly? A bold if not clumsy move."

You think back as Ser Ethan speaks up- it had been a clumsy move, and not one made on purpose. Being a native to the far eastern wastes, you were no stranger to Orcs and other creatures. A duo of trolls had forced you to take another route through the plains. You had taken up residence in a cave to avoid the Lemures that roamed the plains at night, and when you awoke you had found that you were far closer to an Orcish settlement than you thought you were. It was an accident truly, but an accident that had nearly cost you your life, or, judging by the Orc's tone when he had told you to submit, perhaps other things should you have agreed to save your own life... Life in a village in the wastes was hard enough, but the added distance from the village, travelling alone... You considered yourself very, very lucky to not uncover some of the greater horrors that roamed about. Despite your success with the hydra, there had been plenty of instances where you couldn't overcome the cursed beasts that roamed the lands- hornet swarms, giant toads, the ever-infamous eyestalks... You were glad more than ever for the armor you wore, as it had kept your honor intact and the beasts from enjoying themselves as they would grow frustrated and move on. Even if you had been bested occasionally, you were never defiled like those in the stories your village had told you growing up. As much as you might have hated that village, you had to admit that if it weren't for their tales and knowledge, you would likely have never made it as far as you did...

Your armor however bares the mark of use to it, dented, scraped... More than a few scratches in certain areas from monsters trying (to no avail) to break through its metal barrier.

"M'lady? Pardon my curiosity. It's just unusual to find one of our order so far out here without the help of their fellows."

How did he- Of course... You feel as natural around these folk as they must have felt around you when they found you, and Ser Ethan is a knight commander after all, it's not too much of a surprise that he was able to deduce your affiliations (and perhaps any symbols on your being helped him in such matters, seeing as you were passed out).

Meanwhile, the woman in front of you seems to shift her weight, leaning her lower half into you as you ride along. It's really not helping with your current grip as you feel as if you might just slide off the horse. Perhaps you should voice your concerns or get a better grip?

((I'll send you a PM with basic information she'd have on beasts she'd encounter around town.))

Sidra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Memory- 19.
GM Roll; Will Save- 3 +1 (Connection to the Feywild)

The cloak's slight dampness is cool on your bare skin, seeming to pull the heat out of the sun burns that had begun to form on your back after being exposed for... You're not even sure how long. The followers of Serenith seem to be unfazed by the sun; perhaps their amulets had mild enchantments on them to protect them from such. The soldier you're holding onto speaks, though he doesn't turn around.

"Bill... whatever attacked the ship has a name?"

"A devil if there ever was one... It goes back about as far as our records of the Devil King's presence. No clue what it wants, but it doesn't seem to be nearly as intelligent as its older brother. It hasn't touched any ships blessed by the church or three chains as of yet, and since it keeps... Things on the island and most sea men away, we haven't had much reason to go after it."

"Has anyone seen my blasted crossbow and bolts?"

As you ask about your crossbow, you note that the Serenithian man to your right seems to have it facing away from you. Ethan calls out once more- gruffly and to the point.

"We'll return everything we found on you when we get a bit closer to town... Nothing against you, but I've had enough young maidens try to put a bolt through my head in my days to know better than to hand a stranger a weapon out here in the wastes."

He taps the patch over his eye as he looks forward once more, keeping an eye out for any desperate thugs hoping to make some profit on the outskirts of town as he speaks to the other mysterious woman.

Hmm... You think you're beginning to form a picture of what happened. Your head is still swimming with fuzzy information, but you remember hearing about... Something here in the wastes that might provide you with more information about the dragons... Why couldn't you remember this? This information seemed crucial to you at the time... Then there was the ship. You'd been unlucky enough to not arrive in time for the last ship departing for the wastes over the next three weeks... How had you missed that opportunity!? Luckily a private company was willing to take mercenaries just like you for a small fee. It wasn't too much, and you remember your ship taking off at breakneck speeds.

tentacles.jpg (119.46 KiB) Viewed 4774 times

Then that... Thing... Bill attacked. You remember black tendrils breaking through the ship's hull with ease, water spouting within as you made your way topside. They were lowering life rafts, more of the tendrils bursting through wood, grabbing hold of people. You expected them to be torn to pieces or perhaps thrown, but instead the beast seemed to be having fun with them, its thick, translucent, slimy tendrils... The way they pulsed, pistoned...

No. That's no good, these thoughts in this company, and about a devilspawn at that!

Still, when you jumped onto that life raft with the others and began making your way to the shore, watching the beast swim closer and closer underneath the water, your boat shattering, that slimy tendril moving over your shoulders, you mouth, your back, your chest, further down... You did the only thing you could at the time and played dead. You aren't sure if it knew or not, but after probing you for a few moments it had gone back to the others who were thrashing about, allowing you to drift into shallower waters without it noticing and allowing you to get ashore. Perhaps most disturbing was as you watched from afar, it seemed to resort back to its bestial nature after it was done with them, the water turning red. Why were your thoughts so focused on this devil of all things? A horrible beast that did unspeakable things to its prey before killing them, yet it still haunted your mind. You figure the rest of the information such as the ruins and reasoning will come back in time, memories had a way of doing that, but that still didn't ease the idea from your mind nor your body.

(Dat posting speed...oh well. At least I got one in...)

//Don't worry too much about posting speed. The only time posting speed will be important is combat to keep it from getting too bogged down if everyone's waiting on one or two people (and even then combat speed will be dependent on the first person in your party to make a battle emote). With "adventure progression" I try to keep things fluid dynamically, so someone might get three posts in before you get one in, and by that nature they might get some more RP, but I won't progress the story until everyone has a chance to put in their input and figure out what they want to do, hence folks still being on the boat .\\


Dana

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Diplomacy- 15 + 3(Mostly clear weather) =18
On a hunch you look over the crowd... Sure there's plenty of folks that you imagine are mercenary material, but to your surprise (and perhaps dismay), a large number of people on this boat appear to be poorly equipped (and likely poorly trained) commoners who were able to get ahold of some supplies. These people are likely going to meet their doom, but given the amount of money that was being offered per corpse, it's not too much of a surprise...

"So, about those abductions you mentioned. What sorts of places were the victims found? We ladies may want to steer clear of those areas."

The merc doesn't seem to be interested in talking, but as he looks you over he shrugs. He appears to be a man in his late forties, a bandanna tied around his head and a number of tattoos across his arms and legs.

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"Well, wouldn't want a lady getting hurt by those things... Look, I don't know much, only heard what I've heard, but I do know enough to know that any rivers you find'll be swarming with critters. Especially slimes. Best to stay away from 'em, and try not to go too deep into the forests if you don't have a partner or you'll end up like Benny. Remember with hornets- If its yellow, just stay calm and mellow, but if it's brown, shoot that fecker down... And fer Loranna's sake, make sure to never be out at night. Especially if yer on the plains! I don't even want to get started on that mess..."

He pauses, looking you over again as his eyes trail over your features, biting his lower lip.

"Say... I might have something useful for yeh. Got one of 'em maps of these 'ere wastes... It's yers fer ten talons, though perhaps we could work out a trade and halve the price."

Rayle

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

"How do I know the information is right? Or that the tea even works..."

"What? Do yeh think I'd try t'con people on a church-blessed vessel!? ... Wait don't answer that. Yeh really think I wouldn't have proof?"

He unfolds and refolds the pamphlet, Irilin's symbol now resting on the front, it feels as if it wants to draw you in as he repeats his little trick and the symbol disappears, revealing what looks like a normal bestiary pamphlet again.

"Got it down in one of 'ere dens a few years back. It's real alright."

He snickers, giving you a dubious look as if you walked into something.

"Obviously I can't prove the tea works here, but there's probably a shed er something at the port if yeh don't believe me and need a trial!"

He lets out a deep chuckle, wiping a tear from his eye as he calms down.

"Yeh don't have t'believe me if yeh don't want to... Won't find an offer like this anywhere else, and it won't hurt m'feelin's none when I see yeh carryin' one of 'em critters in yer arms."

Kylie

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Perception- 7

Most of the things laying around on the table are mundane, maybe a copper or two. There are a couple people passed out in the room, likely from too much wine as the ship rocks ever so slightly with its turns and the waves. The feeling underneath you becomes a bit more prominent as the Orc lifts you up and off of him, breasts bouncing lightly. A nice spring breeze passes along the ship and down through the cracks in front of you. It's a nice feeling, not too warm, not too cold, though your usually covered skin seems to suggest otherwise, seeming to think it may just be a bit chilly.

You notice that your top is sitting on top of some passed out drunkard's face a little ways away. Stealing things might not be the best idea unless these two adventurers don't really care, seeing as their attention seems to be on you at the moment.

Darius

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Perception- Natural 20

You watch as the orc lifts the elf off of him and places her down with a small bounce. The elf's eyes seeming to scan around the room, passing over the copper coins on the table before moving on to the rest of the room. Her top sits on some drunkard's face, but you aren't necessarily sure that it's what she's looking for... You also have to wonder where the wine came from. That quality of wine isn't exactly cheap, and you should have had at least some memory of what happened... Someone drugged you, though why seems to be unknown seeing as everything seems to be in order minus a few talons... Shifting your weight, perhaps by sheer luck, you catch the glint of something tucked into a corner. A symbol of Serenith... You think as hard as you can on the previous activities, noting that you believe the Red Head was wearing it, though she's nowhere to be found. Judging by the shuffling of feet overhead, you deduce that there will be quite the competition about town and in the nearby surrounding wilderness unless you explore further out. It will probably get dangerous if you want to earn a real profit out there...

Alaric

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

GM Roll; Perception- 16 -1 = 15

You watch as the elf seems to be oblivious of her top on the drunken man's face as her eyes dart around the small area you're in.

It was a good omen, a very good omen, but something feels... Off. As if while you remember the evening's events, you weren't fully there, at least not mentally. Drugs perhaps? Thoughts of the Red Head pass through your mind, though she seems to be long gone... Come to think of it you remember her being passed out next to you as well. You weren't nearly as out of it as the others- you would have noticed if she just got up and left, or at least, you think you would have... Perhaps it does, perhaps it doesn't matter. You can hear shuffling up on deck. Mercenaries peddling cheap trinkets to other mercenaries, hints and such being given... It seems you'll be approaching the port soon.

Triana

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Things have been rather uneventful as the wind spirits seem to whisper to you, warning you of great hornets and birds as large as a person... The corruption the Devil King left seems to have spread even into the average monsters, and in some cases, animals that roam about. You appear to be nearing the port though.

//Wrap-up time! After the next set of actions (or two if needed) I'll be trying to bring us to Mercenary Town itself.\\

[[Brand_Name]]

Kylie sighed a bit at being unable to find anything of value; at least she'd gained some money last night. She reached out her arm to the two men beside her and greeted them, "pleasure to meet you. I'm Kylie Argos." She strolled casually over to the dwarf on the ground to retrieve her top, as it was indeed beginning to get chilly. "Any of you two seen a rat around here? Big, chunky fellow... Goes by the name Porkchop...?"

[Reaver]

Darius ignored the Kylie's handshake, distracted by all the pieces falling together. Letting his backpack fall out of his hand, he picked up the Serenithian symbol. "My ability to handle drinks had nothing to do with last night, orc. We were drugged, probably by the red-head from last night. For what reason, I don't know. I still have most of my money so maybe we already have enemies. I would exercise caution, Ms. Argos and warrior Alaric. The Wastelands are ripe for the pickings and if a few people can be knocked out before shares have to be split then.... You get the point."

He tucked the symbol into his backpack, eager to get off the ship before more foul play surfaced. "We're going to be landing soon. it might be safer if we stick together during our stay in Merc Town. Afterwards we can go our separate ways. Just remember we were all targeted." Darius was pretty sure he hadn't been the direct target. Most of his money was still on him and his throat wasn't slit. He couldn't vouch for the elf and the orc so the idea that one of them had been the intended target made more sense. Either way he was going to get to the bottom of this. He began to walk up the stairs towards topside. Getting off the boat was first priority then he'd call Krafla.

[Hazard1325]

Rayle watches him fiddle around with the pamphlet and sees the symbol. Its not one she's very fond of. Of course this is a church boat, and the church isn't very fond of contraband from that particular sect. "How about a new deal. You give me a free dose of the tea that may or may not work and I won't tell the church your running around with contraband." She countered, it might not be enough to get him into any serious trouble but she didn't doubt the questioning and possible search would slow him down once they got to port. Of course she didn't want to be any closer to the church than she had to be these days, if he didn't like her offer at least he would leave her alone.

[redkeri13]

Not wishing to seem impolite, Triana listened as attentively as she could to the wind spirit's warnings of giant hornets and birds as large as a grown man. "I am grateful for your words of warning, O Guardians of the Skies. I Thank You. But please, rest now; you are drunk.". As a sign of farewell she brushed her hands gently over the forms of the spirits, invisible to all save for those connected to the spirit world like herself, then moved forward to the bow of the ship to gaze across the ocean waves towards the approaching port town, her mind on the tasks ahead she would have to face. Including the problem of accommodation, as it seemed the wilds here were too dangerous to sleep in if what the spirits said was true.

She was glad to have made it onto the deck of the ship at least; below-deck was a claustrophobic chaos of noisy would-be adventurers, all seemingly competing with each other to be the loudest and most drunken on the ship. At least up here it was quieter, making it easier for her to hear the voices of the spirits of the wind and waves. She leaned on the ship's rail, watching the ship's crew as they got ready to enter port, and the other passengers on-deck.

[Nobudi]

Sidra metaphorically shook her head, to rid herself of such vile thoughts.
It had been a long, lonely thirty years since her home was burned to the ground, but she couldn't afford to stop, not here.
"Has there been any news of Dragons as of late?" she asked.

[LoneWolf]

Alaric shook Kylie's hand. "No, I haven't seen your rat."

Then his eyes narrowed and he grunted as Darius' words confirm what he was just starting to suspect himself. "Drugged wine. Yeah, you're probably right, but I don't think that red-head did it. Drugs or alcohol, I wasn't hit like you were, and I remember seeing her passed out with us here." His eyes scanned over the entirely red-head-free room. "Now we're fine, and she's gone. Looks to me like she was the target."

He collected his pack and straped his sword across his back, then turned to follow Darius.

[Reaver]

"Perhaps, but falling into a false sense of security could be the worst thing we can do before arriving in the Mesh'la. Having people watching your back is going to become pretty important, pretty fast. I already have a people working on the discovery of the locations of several highly reputable ruins. I just need a few days to confirm the results. Then I'll get ready to clear them before purifying them. It'll be a hassle to clear them by myself, maybe you two wanna help? We can split everything 33% with the last point going towards whoever kills the most. Think about it as we dock, Alaric. Kylie. Not many people are coming here with a solid plan like me." Darius' work would certainly be accomplished faster if he had back-up. Besides they didn't look like they followed Myn so the chances of then stealing her favor from him were slim. Dedicating the cleansing of several ruins to his mistress of the wild would bring him far. Then he could begin to worry about appeasing his other mistress.