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D&D II Act One Scene II(b) - The Dread City

  • 27-04-2018 7:17am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭


    Sarric and Karinth journey across the desert for only an hour and a half, such is the massive speed of the Cargulok, the great worm, beneath the sands.

    Soon Sarric sees a city in the distance, rising out of the desert like a mountain, watched remotely by enhanced sentries.

    A smog covers its towers, steam from the Vivamantic vats mixing with emissions from the many factories, technology from another plane.

    "Behold Elf, my home....Othegregrad"

    G8PKMC.jpg


«13456710

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "Wow, impressive enough looking city. What form of government does Othegregrad use? Is there a tourist information center that I can go to first to get a map or guide book so that I don't miss a single museum. I'm giddy with excitement."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    sKeith wrote: »
    "Wow, impressive enough looking city. What form of government does Othegregrad use? Is there a tourist information center that I can go to first to get a map or guide book so that I don't miss a single museum. I'm giddy with excitement."
    Karinth looks at Sarric with a mix of confusion and a laugh.

    "Government? All are subservient to the will of the great One, the Progenetrix, a council rules in her stead when she is deep in research.

    He pauses, looking deflated.

    "Museums are in block 5B, tourist office on 4F"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "What's up?, had you got other plans? I would be glad of your company, and if you are not busy, maybe you could be my guide"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    sKeith wrote: »
    "What's up?, had you got other plans? I would be glad of your company, and if you are not busy, maybe you could be my guide"
    "No, I just fear what I might face on my return. I have been away a while and I stole some items I wasn't supposed to.

    However I believe the council will listen to my plans."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "I'm intrigued, any chance this is not too private a matter that i shouldn't tag along with you, i'd gladly aid you in whatever challenges the council put forward against you in retribution for your actions. If i'm not being too forward, I think we could be friends, that minister in zassan is a fool. If he just came to talk to you himself, instead of sending envoys of adventueres to assasinate you, he might learn a thing or two.

    If its a private matter, send me on my way, and i'll visit the art you spoke of, and hope to bump into you again soon."


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    sKeith wrote: »
    "I'm intrigued, any chance this is not too private a matter that i shouldn't tag along with you, i'd gladly aid you in whatever challenges the council put forward against you in retribution for your actions. If i'm not being too forward, I think we could be friends, that minister in zassan is a fool. If he just came to talk to you himself, instead of sending envoys of adventueres to assasinate you, he might learn a thing or two.
    "No, the matter is not too private. Perhaps an outsider like yourself can keep things objective.

    Karinth dismounts the worm and heads into the city's market district. From the worm, Sarric can see that the market forms a annulus around a massive wall. On top of that wall is another district, which again terminates in a wall. On so on for ten levels, until at the center is a massive tower reaching into the sky.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric thanks the worm whilst dismounting and quickly follows Karinth into the market district.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    The market district sells various desert animals, spiced, skewered, raw, cooked. About any way they can be served. A stall serves "Dwarf Flesh" at a discount rate, with an ethical notice that meat is mostly sourced from the cities flesh vats.

    Sarric and Karinth come to the first gate, leading to the next level.

    "The next few levels are mostly residential, it is the palace we seek"

    And so up and up they go, until they reach the palace gates. Three guards, four times the height of a man, and of trollish extraction by looks, though too articulate to be true trolls, stand in front of the entrance. One steps forward.

    "Karinth, you are on the council's blacklist, though they will see you. Who are you?" he says pointing at Sarric.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "I have come with Karinth to see he gets a fair hearing. I am of no threat, you can hold onto my longsword until i return if that makes you feel better." Sarric removes his longsword and offers it to the guards.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "No worries visitor, just to know."

    They open the gates and Karinth marches forward into the entry chamber. Sarric can see a twin set of golden stairs, lined with vats and tanks, between twin sets of pipes separately pumping organic tissue and magical energy.

    One of the guards turns to Sarric.

    "Know that if you enter, you cannot leave until granted permission by the council.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Fourier wrote: »

    One of the guards turns to Sarric.

    "Know that if you enter, you cannot leave until granted permission by the council.

    Sarric looks at the guard, "Be careful of making absolute statements like that, they may show you up to be a fool, if i was to leave and was not granted permission to do so by the council, and you'd be standing there trying to figure out how i done that, instead of just doing you job." Sarric bows to the guard, then proceeds into the entry chamber following Karinth.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    sKeith wrote: »
    Sarric looks at the guard, "Be careful of making absolute statements like that, they may show you up to be a fool, if i was to leave and was not granted permission to do so by the council, and you'd be standing there trying to figure out how i done that, instead of just doing you job." Sarric bows to the guard, then proceeds into the entry chamber following Karinth.
    The guard looks bewildered, to which another replies "I suppose logically he's right, it's highly unlikely he'd be able to leave might be better"

    Sarric enters the chamber, Karinth ascend the double stairs through a massive golden door.

    Looking around, Sarric can see three priceless jewels embedded in the golden door.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric hurrys along through the door, never letting it be seen that he had observed the jewels.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    Within the chamber, twelve beings, around seven foot tall sit at the top of pillars of various hues. They are of no obvious race, having subjected themselves to decades of vivimancy, they come in various forms, one is tree like, another having crustacean features. One, whose body appears as a liquid out of which his face has cohered, speaks.

    "Karinth, you have returned. Is this high elf meant to be your payment for what you stole? Their race is uncommon, but we have many tissue sample in the vats. Unless this one was born in the Feywilds? All we have are colonists, as you know, being born in our plane taints them somewhat."

    "No..." comes Karinth's reply "...this one is not a payment, he is a possible ally who wished to see our city."

    "Really? And what is you wish to see high elf?"

    Sarric can sense that their Ki is distorted, weak. Their fundamental life force corrupted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "I wish to see anything i have not seen before,
    I wish to see Karinth recieve a fair hearing from this council,
    I wish to see the artwork Karnith has told me that this city holds,"
    Sarric pauses,
    "and after being talked about, as if i'm some poscession to be bartered with, i'd especially wish to see my next birthday."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "Well, that is all reasonable I suppose..."

    "Enough" Karinth shouts, interrupting the figure "Where is Othegre, have her judge me"

    "She is off plane, dealing with Borys, a Lord of Athas. Their magic works differently, in a way we have been trying to replicate to no success...we are enough to deal with you...though this does suggest a possible resolution.

    We have many extraplanar issues undealt with. Would your companion here, be willing to assist us with them, as your aide? He will be paid, as a foreigner rendering service to us. You will be his underling, with no reward, as punishment for your crime.

    What say you High Elf, we have five such contracts outstanding, would you have any interest?"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric speaks to Karinth, "Is this a satisfactory outcome for you or would you prefer to wait for Othegre to pass judgement? If it is fine with you, its fine with me, but I will not go ahead if you think you are being treated unfairly."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    He leans into Sarric.

    "Truth be told, this is the better outcome, Othegre can be erratic and unpredictable."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Fourier wrote: »
    .

    What say you High Elf, we have five such contracts outstanding, would you have any interest?"


    "I'm interested and will comply."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,485 ✭✭✭✭Banjo


    Fourier wrote: »
    He leans into Sarric.

    "Truth be told, this is the better outcome, Othegre can be erratic and unpredictable."

    Ooc : SLANDER!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "Wonderful, as the tasks are of equal danger, as far as we can tell and you have expressed an interest in seeing things beyond your previous experience, we will tell you of the planes they lie on and a simple description.

    To Athas, to free an inhabitant of our city
    To Eberron, to meet with a fellow vampire in a tomb raid
    To the city of BlackMoor on the plane of Mystara, to find a sword of unusual properties
    To the demiplane of Revenloft, to retrieve a stolen tissue sample
    Or to the plane of Greyhawk for an assassination?"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric says "Oh, this is exciting,

    my order of preference from the little you describe of the adventures, Mystara, Atlas, Revenloft, Eberron and lastly Greyhawk."

    He turns to Karinth, " What do you think Karinth, any preferences?"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    sKeith wrote: »
    Sarric says "Oh, this is exciting,

    my order of preference from the little you describe of the adventures, Mystara, Atlas, Revenloft, Eberron and lastly Greyhawk."

    He turns to Karinth, " What do you think Karinth, any preferences?"
    "Mystara and Eberron are the safest options and Mystara tends to hold greater wonders, most of Eberron is inhabited and explored, but much of Mystara is unmapped."

    OOC: Typical interplanar stuff, rules will slightly change, play style may also change slightly (Blackmoor is more free form and less rolls based).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "okay, let go to mystera and find this mystical sword, then we can regroup and figure out what to do afterwards"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    The council figures glance at one another. The main figure then speaks.

    "Karinth, take him to the plaenshifting chambers"

    Karinth bows, heading out of the chamber via a bio-mechanical door.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "I dont thing i should take this art work planeshifting with me" says Sarric, showing Karinth the painting of old Elven queen Tholicra, "or this old bell, maybe there is some place I can put them until I return"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    Karinth turns to look at the artefacts.

    "Indeed, best to be unencumbered with them. The planeshifting chambers have storage units, you can leave them there"

    He leads Sarric into the chambers, a set of strange frog like creatures welded into the walls with various items in front of them. A sword, a staff, a rock. All objects from various planes to focus the shifting.

    Karinth picks up a large berry and places it in front of one of the frogs. A large gateway then opens up.

    "After you Sir"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric find the storage units that Karinth mentioned and stores his lngsword, the bell and the artwork in it.
    He then hops thru the gateway Karith opened up.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    Sarric and Karinth step out into a grassy plain, above them, on a hill is a small castle.

    YdEpCj.jpg

    "It doesn't look like much, but only a brave few will venture through the dungeons that lie beneath, which hold some of the greatest trasures in all the planes. Even Othegre herself could not make it to the lowest levels when she came here a century ago.

    Behold Castle Blackmoor."


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "any idea where we can find the sword, and please don't say in the lowest level of the dungeon."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    Karinth laughs.

    "No indeed not. We would need an army for that, or demigods....no, we need only pass through four floors of the dungeon to claim the sword."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "Well that doesn't sound too bad. Do you need to do anything else in Mystara first or shall we get to it."


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "I think it is best if we get started right away. The castle inhabitants can equip us."

    Karinth walks to the main door and knocks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    OOC: choosing monastic tradition, Way of the Open Hand.
    Whenever you hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your Flurry of Blows, you can impose one of the following effects on that target:
    • It must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
    • It must make a Strength saving throw. If it fails, you can push it up to 15 feet away from you
    • It can't take reactions until the end of your next turn


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    The gate opens. A wizard of very advanced years gazes at Karinth and then Sarric.

    "Food, to speak to the king, or the dungeon?"

    "The dungeon" Karinth replies.

    "Then you wish to die like so many fools, fine, to the King, fast."

    He opens the door.

    Inside Sarric sees a feast hall with wizards, tatooed with multiple charms and with trinkets around their necks. All are either men or elves. Several fighting-men abound throughout the hall as well, of all races and religous men, gathered from many faiths tend to a set of fifteen shrines to various gods. There are only three exits. The door they came in and a set of stairs going up. These are normal looking.

    The third exit is a gigantic set of iron double doors, with various seals and wards placed on it. Next to this set and elf of a subspecies not to be found in Sarric's world sits reading a tome.

    "I'll be talking to the King, see you soon" Karinth says before heading up the set of stairs.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric looks at the assembled collection of men and elves and says, "We are going into the dungeon, we are on a mission to retrieve one item, so that will not be split, but all other treasure is game, anybody want to accompany us?"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    A dwarf with an itchy axe finger perks up.

    "Sounds good lass, iffin ye get permission, I've had me eye on something on the third level fer two years. Three parties I've been with went down, we nary made it passed the second. I was the only survivor each time."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "Well, the other lad has gone to speak to the king about that, if permission granted, then we will be heading down to the fourth level, an experience dwarf like yourself would be great."

    Sarric turns to the rest, "Is only one dwarf brave enough to join us down to the fourth level? What have you done with your sense of adventuring? The more we have, the safer if'll be for us, it'll be the dungeons turn to be afraid!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    A man in knightly armour steps forth.

    "I'll come too, seeing as you are so confident. I have to slay a beast of great power and bring its head to the keep of my uncle, so that he sees I am a man of vigour and strength and names me as heir."

    Karinth returns and holds the King's seal up high.

    "We have permission!"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Fourier wrote: »

    "We have permission!"
    Sarric cheers! "We have two to accompaniy us, do you think we should recruit a few more or will the 4 of us be enough?"


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    Karinth places a heavy bag of coin on the table.

    "Two more and you get half each"

    A young women in leather armour steps forth, as does an Elven man with a bow.

    "I've always been uncertain to enter, but the coin swings it" the young woman says, the elf does not speak.

    Karinth nods and approached the elf by the double doors.

    "The seal" he places it in front of him.

    The elf places his hand on it and the seal glows green.

    "It is valid, the gates shall be opened, prepare."

    He walks to the gates and places a small cube of metal in a receptacle in the door.

    Twenty mages surround them and the door. Some fighters move forward as well.

    "No idea what will try to escape when we open this. Ready?"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric says "Ready as i'll ever be!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    The gate opens and several skulls pour out, from a stack a couple of hundred skulls high. In this central corridor there are twelve such stacks. The elf with the key cube speaks.

    "The dungeon beasts gather the skulls of adventurers here. They've a truce, they don't fight each other in this corridor and the first room down the stairs. That's where the rain pours through the castles bricks and pools as drinking water. They probably won't attack you either.

    Let's get something clear. When you come back, knock fast thrice, slow thrice and very fast thrice. Then stand in the blue circle a few feet down that corridor and hold up the seal. Then we will activate the spell contained in that circle, an incredibly powerful and focused form of the Clerical ability to turn the dead. Only if no beasts then remain will we open the gate for you to come back out.

    Understood?"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    "Its not exactly clear yet, so, I knock 9 time in total, thrice at a normal pace, then thrice slower than first, then thrice faster than first?"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "Exactly, anything else and we don't open. You must all be aware of this, for many groups have only one survivor"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Fourier wrote: »
    "Exactly, anything else and we don't open. You must all be aware of this, for many groups have only one survivor"
    "Understood!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    "Then enter...and may your gods have mercy on you all"


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric proceeds throught the gates.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,558 ✭✭✭✭Fourier


    As Sarric and the group enter, the gates close behind him with an echoing clang. The elf takes out a staff and a blue light appears from it. The corridor ahead of them has the skulls they saw before, as well as the blue circle containing the powerful anti-necromantic spell.

    Beyond that, the set of stairs leading to the first level.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    Sarric carefully uses the stairs (ooc:up down, dunno)


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