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Author Topic: {D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]  (Read 4148 times)

Werekoala

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« on: August 05, 2008, 09:25:52 PM »
The dawn breaks, cool and clear, above the town of Darlington. Over the course of the last few weeks, the Mayor and a handful of local businessmen have quietly questioned passing caravans and wandering travelers, judging them and weighing their character over a few pints of ale, and quietly offering those they deem worthy a small reward for a simple, but vital, task.

In hushed tones, they imparted the story of the Petty Tyrants, a line of evil men and their marauding minions who have choked trade and terrorized Darlington and the outlying villages and farms for decades - centuries, in fact.

Darlington, isn't exactly a metropolis (many blame the stunted nature of the community on the Tyrants, among other things), so there has never been more than a passing interest from far-flung authorities in working to quell the Tyrants; requests for help invariable result in responses that the trouble is a "local matter", and the forces of distant city-states are needed elsewhere.

So, the people live and struggle and knuckle under to the Tyrants - or they have, until recently.

The raids, bi-monthly affairs for as long as anyone can remember, have stopped. The last one was over two months ago, and the incredulous townsfolk are daring to begin to hope that things might have changed - while others fear that something worse is inevitable.

Answers to what happened, and what it means, are hoped to be coming forth shortly - provided by the brave group of hand-picked adventurers arrayed before their light horses as the sun creeps over the distant Eastern mountains. Eager but concerned townsfolk gather nearby, not wanting to disturb the members of the expedition, but not wanting to miss their departure. A basket of fresh bread is meekly provided by a local farmer's wife, while a brace of wineskins are handed over by the tavern owner.

The Lair of the Petty Tyrant lies three days travel to the north, at the base of the Groaning Mountains - easy travel over paths worn by thousands of bandit feet and orcish wardogs over the years.

Good luck, adventurers.


(Please provide a marching order in OOC, and if you wish to do anything in town or ask any questions before leaving, let me know. We'll assume two chances for encounters per day, and one per night, until you reach the Lair - I will begin those checks once everyone has chimed in and the band is on the road.)
« Last Edit: August 07, 2008, 12:08:09 AM by Werekoala »
Lan Astaslem


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DeadUematsu

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2008, 12:57:45 AM »
Alvin inquires, looking with contempt at the light horse troddled before him, "Say, could we perhaps get a wagon? I am not much of a horseman."
 

Engine

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2008, 08:41:02 AM »
Caernas laughs, the sound ringing through the clear morning air louder than he had intended. His voice says, "Sorry," though his face says otherwise. "You just sounded like my sister a bit there, is all." He chuckles to himself; he is a fair rider, probably among the best of them, and as he leaps astride the pony, he wonders if it might not be a good idea to spread his skills around a bit to those around him.

The thought is fleeting, as most of his are, and he quickly puts the sun to his left. His pony - privately he calls the filly Aelwyn, but never would do so aloud - prances lightly, as if reading his anxiousness: Caernas never quite enjoys any moment so much as this one, when what is known is left behind, and what is unknown lies before him.
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One Horse Town

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2008, 08:53:04 AM »
"Thank you for the refreshments," Tench says softly. "Hopefully we'll bring back good news."

He eyes his mount warily before placing his sandled foot gingerly into the stirrups and climbing aboard. The horse skitters briefly beneath his unsure hand, but a brief pat and some murmured platitudes quiet the beast.

He looks to his companions, "Shall we?"

Venosha

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2008, 11:17:49 AM »
Rowen bows her head in thanks for the bread and wine, and turns towards the horses.  She gently walks over to the steed, with her hand opened wide as an offering of friendship.  The horse calmly sniffs Rowen hand, and then allows further connection.  Rowen takes her hand and pets the horses tenderly on the side towards the saddle. Grabbing the reigns, she pulls her self upon the horse, and looks over towards Tench.  “Ready”.
1,150 things Mr. Welch can no longer do during an RPG

390. My character's background must be more indepth than a montage of Queen lyrics.

629. Just because they are all into rock, metal and axes, dwarves are not all headbangers.

702. The Banana of Disarming is not a real magic item.

1059. Even if the villain is Lawful Evil, slapping a cease and desist order on him isn’t going to work

DeadUematsu

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2008, 12:31:46 PM »
Alvin raises an eyebrow at Caernas but does nothing more, assured that the fool will become indebted to him sooner or later. Deciding that perhaps it is best to be off immediately then waste time haggling with some two-bit merchant, he mounts his horse and says, "Let's go."
 

Werekoala

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2008, 12:07:31 AM »
The first day of travel, as might be expected, goes swiftly and uneventfully. By noon, the farmlands are giving way to more isolated farmsteads. By 3 pm, the only signs of civilization are the occasional remains of an abandoned, overgrown farm or weathered and crumbling stone fences. And by dusk, the party has found a suitable wide spot in their trail to call camp for the night.

Setting camp is the work of only a half-hour or so, with plentiful broken wood nearby for a fire. The morning's bread is still fresh and the wine good and sweet, a popular local vintage that would likely have been unavailable had the Tyrant's men still been on the rampage.

While sitting quietly around the fire, chatting and sharing wine with the others, Alvin's gaze is attracted to the higher branches of a nearby tree. In the haze of twilight, he can't be certain, but it sure looks like there is something entangled in the upper branches; several somethings, in fact. Rather solid... about the size of a torso maybe?
Lan Astaslem


"It's rpg.net The population there would call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ a hate crime." - thedungeondelver

DeadUematsu

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2008, 12:38:40 PM »
Alvin, upon noticing something odd, says, "Look, there's something... in the branches!"
 

Engine

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2008, 01:08:24 PM »
Caernas, never one for deep understand of others' behavior, hasn't known these fellows long enough to know if the urgency in Alvin's voice is a warning of danger or simply an observation. Companionship, somewhat alien to him, has left him strangely complacent, so he simply looks upward, straining his eyes in the dim light; still, has hand strays to his bow, never far from him, without conscious thought.
When you're a bankrupt ideology pursuing a bankrupt strategy, the only move you've got is the dick one.

Werekoala

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2008, 01:34:40 PM »
Yes, indeed, there are three torso-shaped objects in the tangled upper branches... and is that bone? Hard to tell from down here, in the failing light...
Lan Astaslem


"It's rpg.net The population there would call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ a hate crime." - thedungeondelver

Venosha

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2008, 04:50:33 PM »
Noticing Caernas reaction to Alvin’s words, Rowen quietly stands up from her seat at the fire. Rowen is looking at the object that has caught Alvin’s attention, and decides she needs a better view away from the fire.  She silently moves towards the nearest tree away from the flickering lights and let’s her eyes adjust to the on coming darkness.  Curious as to what might be hanging in the tree, she stands still and listen to see if anything might be rustling about, and keeps her attention to the other’s reactions as well.
1,150 things Mr. Welch can no longer do during an RPG

390. My character's background must be more indepth than a montage of Queen lyrics.

629. Just because they are all into rock, metal and axes, dwarves are not all headbangers.

702. The Banana of Disarming is not a real magic item.

1059. Even if the villain is Lawful Evil, slapping a cease and desist order on him isn’t going to work

DeadUematsu

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2008, 06:17:43 PM »
Alvin, not having a clear look but possessed of a fierce imagination, grimaces at the sight and says, "...We should relocate to someplace safer." He lights one of his torches with the campfire and hands it to a braver person wanting to continue the investigation before quietly packing up his bedroll and rations.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2008, 06:24:39 PM by DeadUematsu »
 

One Horse Town

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2008, 05:26:40 AM »
Tench finally follows the gaze of his companions to the tree and its mysterious contents. Standing fluidly, he shuffles to the trunk, sparing a brief look at Rowen, "Perhaps i should shimmy up here and take a closer look?"

Engine

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2008, 08:25:01 AM »
Caernas smiled a little smile. Tench was the only person he'd ever met who could climb as well as he; the first time he'd seen the quiet man scramble up a rock wall, Caernas had simply hung, climb forgotten and mouth agape, finally having some referent for how the villagers of home had viewed him. So he had no concern for the man's safety in the climb, but they'd all learned solitude could be dangerous in the field.

"Not alone," he said, sticking his head and one arm through his bow, delicate sting across his chest where it could be shielded from the clutching embrace of branches. He looked at Rowen; she was astonishingly capable with her swords, but the more corpulent Alvin could scarcely hold his own with arms, and Caernas had little faith in the man's magic, having not yet seen the extent of his powers. Nodding his head toward the enchanter, his eyes locked with the Ranger's, Caernas said, "You'll be well?"

Characteristically, he didn't bother waiting for a response; she'd stop him if she felt she needed to, he thought. Instead, he nodded to Tench, who was already eying the tree with his skilled gaze, and waited for the better climber to begin his ascent.
When you're a bankrupt ideology pursuing a bankrupt strategy, the only move you've got is the dick one.

Venosha

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{D&D 3.0} - Lair of the Petty Tyrant [IC]
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2008, 12:56:19 PM »
Listening closely to the sounds around the mysterious baggage, Rowen hears the scraping of branches across something metal like.  She also hears similar noises near the ground level.  She brings up her hand in a quieting gesture and looks a Tench and Caernas.  Rowen whispers “The tree branches are scraping across some sort of metal above us, but I heard a similar sound on the ground as well.  Take heed.”   Not sure if Alvin overheard the whisper, Rowen motions to her ear and the ground alerting Alvin to the presence of the noise around them.  Allowing the others to climb the top of the tree, Rowen places her hand upon the hilt of her long sword, and looks intently for where the noise is coming from.
1,150 things Mr. Welch can no longer do during an RPG

390. My character's background must be more indepth than a montage of Queen lyrics.

629. Just because they are all into rock, metal and axes, dwarves are not all headbangers.

702. The Banana of Disarming is not a real magic item.

1059. Even if the villain is Lawful Evil, slapping a cease and desist order on him isn’t going to work