Damiar the Wolf
03-18-2005, 02:55 AM
Getting ready to game
So last night I had one of my infrequent meetings with my friends, which usually results in gaming. This time, however, nobody (myself included) wanted to continue with another installment of our normal games; we needed something fresh, and felt like a fantasy game. I'd been wanting to give Arcana Evolved a try since it's release, but didn't feel like playing a d20 game. So, as is the usual practice in my gaming group, we defaulted to my house system (going by "the usual" or "the d10 game"). Here's what we came up with:
At first it was my friends Peter and Reynario (We call him "conner," so I'll stick to that), as well as myself. Later on in the evening Patrick showed up, and I'll talk more about he and his character when I get to that point.
We decided to go with the TV series format, though we didn't lay down many other ground rules, such as episodes per season, just yet. Characters were roughly defined: I had them look through the class selection in AE to get an idea of what they wanted to play (they weren't restricted to the classes, though I strongly sugested they use them, or at least related concepts), and met with no difficulties; as they took a liking to the Mageblade and Unfettered classes almost immediately.
Peter went with the mageblade, and Conner (who usually plays rogue-types) suddenly decided he wanted a meat-and-potatoes warrior, choosing the Warmain class instead of the unfettered. Conner, like myself, always plays Humans; and this game was no exception. Peter looked through the choices, but decided he hadn't played a human in awhile, and so went with that. The resulting characters were:
Cail: A soldier in the service of the Giant lord Dal-Kalek, Cail ended up becoming a mageblade after a call for able-bodied warriors was sent out throughout the ranks of the lord's castle. Feeling a call to duty, but not wanting to abandon his magical studies entirely Cail, with the help of the castle's resident weaponmaster and archmage, devoted himself to the study of the castle's ancient texts on battle-wizardry. After many years in training, he has at last come to his own as a ful-fledged mageblade, and is numbered among the lord's elite warriors.
Cail is a kind-hearted man who always looks to the safety of his family and companions before rushing into battle. He has two younger sisters; Ashley, a freshly annointed magister, and Mary, a healer who tends to the welfare of the castle's warriors. Though we didn't touch a whole lot on their parents, it was mentioned that they too were magisters, and important envoys in the lord's service.
Peter didn't go into much detail about Cail's appearance or character just yet, but told me he was faster than he was strong, and that he had uncanny abilities of perception, as well as a knack for puzzles and languages. He wields an Athame, his personalized magic sword, a sign of his training as a mageblade, and the focus for his battle-magic. Paired with it he wears a shield if one is available to him.
A quick aside about Conner/Reynario: as a sort of in-joke, he always names the first character he plays in any given game Conner ;)
Conner: Another of the elite in the lord's service, Conner was raised by the Castle's Litorian (lion-person) weaponmaster Brutus, after he was found as a war-orphan. Unlike the rest of the Castle's residents, Conner has no knowledge of his true name, a fact that he first resented, but eventually took as a sort of badge of honor. In it's place, he holds loyalty to his lord and his friends above all else. Although something of a free-spirit, Conner takes battle very seriously, and in a mere twenty years, has already earned the status of Warmain (elite fighter).
Conner was explicit in detailing his character's appearance as a tall, lean and athletic man with shoulder-length hair and a tan complexion. He looks to Brutus as a father-figure, always hoping to earn a word of respect from the veteran warrior. He also harbors an attraction to both of Cail's sisters; a fact that has not helped him in wooing either one (or with getting help from Cail). Conner had no preference in weapon type or style (being skilled with the vast majority of them as part of his Warmain training), and though he mentioned he was capable of using two weapons at once, he said he reserved that skill for tight situations. His personal weapon was a prized longsword given to him by his lord upon acheiving the status of Warmain. Though he was careful not to lose the sword, he tended to change weapons a lot in battle; as you will see.
Patrick's character: Pat has a quirk of his own regarding characters: in any game where sample names are available, he inevitably uses one of the ones provided. As far as I can tell, this isn't because he lacks imagination, but simply because he enjoys it.
Tigarithon the Wanderer: A Sibeccai (Jackal-person) jack-of-all-trades, Tigarithon is an arrogant, aloof, and sarcastic warrior with a superiority complex (which he has developed in retaliation to his latent inferiority complex). He has travelled far and wide on a quest for fame and fortune, but his haugty demeanor always helps him get into more trouble than he can handle. Despite his fast-paced life, Tig is actually quite skilled with several weapons; including the battle-claw, nunchaku, and whip (which he enjoys for the show of it, if nothing else), as well as possessing a working knowlegde of several trades and a knack for acrobatics.
He keeps his brown fur trimmed and expensive clothing clean whenever possible, his mind ever on the next chance for his to show off his prowess in battle, or the next big score. He has been many things, though never for long enough to call himself a master of any one of them. If he only applied himself, maybe he could be somebody...
Other characters:
Brutus: The afforementioned weaponmaster in service to Dal-Kalek, Brutus is a stern veteran of countless battles. He speaks little of his background, but has mentioned a few details to Conner over the course of their life together; such as the fact that he was once a slave and pit-fighter, and swore fealty to the lord in order to repay him for a debt of blood. Brutus sports a deep scar running along one eye, which now appears glazed over with cataracts, but any who call his abilities into question soon find themselves learning a painful lesson in combat. His younger sister, Kasha, also lived in the castle as a healer until she left on a quest for self-understanding some five years ago.
Ashley: The older of Cail's two sisters, Ashley is a highly intelligent and studious magister in the lord's service. Having only recently gained her proper title, she spends most of her time studying texts in the castle library with the colleagues, hoping for the day her magic can be of service to her lord. Thugh often serious, Ashley has a streak of humor to her which, coupled with an infectous laugh, often attracts the attention of those who would label her as "just another bookworm." Unlike her darker-haired siblings, Ashley is blond (she gets it from her father), a fact that she takes pride in. Though she dresses plainly, she spends a lot of time maintaining her hair.
Mary: The younger of Cail's two sister, Mary is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken young girl who harbors a desire to get out and see the world, even regretting she did not join Kasha on her journey some years ago. Her bright green eyes and warm smile can sooth even the most savage of beasts, and though she does not yet know it, she has the potential to become something greater. Only events will tell is she ever realizes her dreams.
Kasha: The younger sister of Brutus, Kasha left five years ago to find herself; since becoming an Oathsworn with the ideals of defending the weak and upholding justice. She reveres her brother for his strength of body and character, but lacks his worldliness; possessing instead a fiery and oft-times overzealous need to Do The Right Thing. Though well meaning, she can sometimes get on the less noble character's nerves. Kasha stands tall, like her brother, and like him possesses a golden-tan coat of fur.
Li-Kordas: Kordus, as he's often called, is a Giant duellist, and has been so since the day he was strong enough to wield a sword. Brought up by a resentful father after his mother died in childbirth, Kordus learned at an early age that only the strongest survive, and always by their own hand. He has travelled all about the lands of the Diamond Throne, making a name for himself, and often ending up on the wrong side of the law. His latest job is as a toll-collector for a group of brigands. He waits at a bride, allowing only those who pay him for passage - or those who can defeat him - to cross. His favored weapon is a huge two-handed sword, and though he relishes combat, he has a code of honor; and spares all but the basest of his opponents. Kordus is large even for a giant, with short, fair hair and a dismissive attitude towards any order beyond "might makes right," or the duellists' code.
Kalii: A once-human servant of the Dragon Fangtongue, Kalii's history was eradicated from her mind the day her master placed a vile and ancient curse upon her. Now she is literally a shadow of her former self, a dark an unearthly beautiful pretender; an expertly crafted tool with which to carry out her master's dark designs. In her (altered) true form, she is a slight young woman with short, unkempt black hair, cruel eyes, and a killer's smile. Somewhere in the back of her mind, the person she once was begs for escape, and may yet have her chance. More importantly to her master, her will grows ever stronger; and with it, an unnerving urge to kill...
Tiberius: A rare albino Litorian, Tiberius, as he now calls himself, is a power-hungry magister bent on avenging himself against his family, as well as the mystical order from which he was outcast. Always misunderstood, he has blinded himself with rage and dillusions of grandeur, bombarding himself with increasingly powerful and dangerous magics as the years have gone by, culminatig at last in a full-body runic design provided by his benefactor, Fangtongue. His alliance with the dragon is an uneasy one, but though treachery lurks within his heart, he is content for now to watch and wait. He does not trust Kalii, and tries to avoid working with her, always feeling as if Fangtongue is somehow watching him through her...In contempt for his tribe and family, Tiberius keep his mane shaven from his head, all but for a Lock of Vengeance, which hangs heavy with the fangs of defeated kinsmen from the base of his skull.
Fangtongue: An ancient and decrepit old dragon, Fangtongue has returned from across the seas in an effort to prolong his already incredibly long lifetime. A selfish and arrogant monster, he feels nothing for the "lesser races," seeing them merely as ants to be crushed underfoot, or at best as pawns to be used in fulfilling his ends. But for all his power and knowledge, Fangtongue fears death, and his fear grows ever more acute with each passing day. Many times he has sought a chance to rejuvenate himself, and always has he met with failure. But this time, he has come of a devilish new plan...one that may even rid him of a few old enemies in the process...
Actual Play
The POW camp [Music: The Island of Time - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]
The first episode begins with Conner and Cail jailed in an enemy camp. The castle had been lain siege to a week ago, and three days ago their unit was devastated by a surprise attack from an unseen spellcaster. The walls would hold, but for how long? The pair were desperate to get back and aid their allies, to guarantee the safety of their friends and family. Looking around, they saw that others of the unit had survived the attack, though each of them was fatigued. It seemed there was no escape...
Time passes, and as Conner drifted in and out of consciousness, he glimped a shadow for a moment. Someone had entered the tent. In another moment, he and the others were freed by the stranger, given instructions to head back for the castle as quickly as possible, and warned that their skils were gravely needed. The stranger said only that he was an agent of Dal-Karek before disappearing into the camp to cause a distraction. he left Conner with a sword, and Cail, an expertly curved dagger.
The pair led the way through the camp, motioning the others to follow only after they had cleared a path. Seeing that the gate around the camp was barred, they decided to raid the armory tent for supplies. A few tense moments followed in which they were barely able to keep their enemies from crying out as they were struck from the darkness. In a hurry to retrieve their equipment, they did not take care in hiding the corpses, and soon an alrm was sounded.
Cutting their way out of the armory tent, the unit headed for the stable, seeing that a few of the barracks tents were already set ablaze (the diversion?). In the end, they were too slow to get through the gates, and decided to hold their attackers off in order to buy time for members of the unit to kill the guards, and re-open the gates.
Storming the gates [Music: Ship under attack - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]
This was a straight-up fight scene. We cut back and forth between the two heroes as they dismountedtheir enemies, cut swathes thrugh their foes, and mounted their horses to ride among their ranks, attacking as many as they could at once. Conner got into the thick of things, disarming one guard of his sword and then pairing it with his own to fight from horseback. Cail threw spears and shot with a bow while trying to keep the cart they had stolen from getting torched. After a bloddy few minutes, the crowd cleared aside as a captain stepped up to the plate. Without any real planning on any of the players' parts (myself included), Conner turned this into his scene: He went head to head while Cail kept mooks from joining in or approaching the cart.
The two warriors matched blades from horseback, the captain launching a flying tackle after being disarmed of his sword. A tense back-and-forth began as the two of them rolled in the dirt, each grasping for a sword, a dagger; anything they could use to defeat the other. at last they kicked apart, springing to their feet, Conner with sword in hand. The captain grabbed a dagger from the ground and shouted for a sword from his men. Everyone seemed to forget what they were doing, stopping to watch the two expert warriors cross swords. just as it looked like the captain was going to strike the killing blow, Conner switched places with him, throwing him to the ground and stabbing him through the heart. The ates opened, and Cail puled his ally up onto a horse as he rode the cart through. The members of the unit leapt aboard from their positions on the gate.
Return to the castle [Music: none of note]
Our heroes did their best to tend their wounds with supplies they stole from the tents, and made a bee-line back to their home. A short montage played out as they dodged enemy trackers and moved through rough terrain. At last they came to a hiltop, overlooking the battle at the castle's front gate. They needed to find another way in...and it was just then that their mysterious ally reappeared, offering them advice on a route through the nearby hills, where a watchtower stood. The agent also gave them a pouch containing a stone, an artifact he claimed would help the lord to defend the castle.They took it gladly, thanking their benefactor before he rode off once again.
The watchtower [Music: Military theme - Vandal Hearts]
After travelling through the hills and being chased by a small band of enemies, our heroes crossed the bridge over the river and met with their allies at the watchtower. Much to Conner's relief, Brutus was there to meet them; congradulating them on their safe return, and talking with them of their experiences as he rushed them to the tunnels leading beneath the castle.
The castle halls [Music: Guild - Fable]
Having returned home at last, The pair met with Ashley and Mary, who tended to their wounds, and were glad to see them back. Conner bungled his way through a half-assed pickup attempt on the both of them (well, sort of one after the other), and soon they were on their way to meet their lord Dal-Karek.
They passed through the sacred Hall of Battle, coming at last to the lord's warroom, where they were informed of the castle's situation: their forces werebeing overwhelmed, and the lord planned a retreat through the tunnels to his brother's neighboring domain.
Unfortunately, the lord would not be joining them, for as Conner handed him the stone the agent had given him, there was a sudden explosion: the stone sprouted thick tendrils of vine which quickly began to coil about Dal-Karek, constricting him even as they flayed him with razor-sharp thorns. The battlemasters and guards all flew to his aid, but to no avail. Conner tried the hardest, his hands being torn and scarred as he tried desperately to free his master. When it was over, he could only stare speechlessly at his bloodied palms and the cocoon which now entombed his lord. He felt it his own fault that the lord had perished.
Holding the wall [Music: March of Mephisto - Kamelot]
Recovering themselves from the loss of their lord, the battlemasters, now led by Brutus, were ordered to enact the escape plan. The heroes joined the rest of the soldiers upon the battlements, as the outerwall fell beforethe oncoming horde. A long moment of silence passed as both sides readied their weapons. The enemy battlemaster draw his ancient blade and cast it into the sky above him, to be caught by lieutenant leading a charge of drake-beasts down on the defenders of the wall. A furious and chaotic battle began, with the heroes being seperated from one another, each to fight his own series of small battles.
At last, the lieutenant charged his drake at Conner, who met steel with ringing steel; even as the "agent" scaled the wall to confront Cail, revealing herself as a woman, and as the assassin Kalii. the camera went back and forth between the two battes, The lieutenant calling for bloody revenge against Conner for slaying his brother, the captain, in the camp. Cail matched blades and wit against the Kalii, who proved to have the upper hand. She could not beat back Cail's defenses enoughto strike the killing blow, however, and withdrew with a snide remark after the wall was broken.
Having held as long as they could, the defenders rushed back into the castle to make a fighting retreat back into the tunnels, the civilians having long since headed inside themselves. As they retreated, the heroes saw a seven-headed hydra being pulled to the battlefield, a heavily-shroudedmagister using his magic to keep itin check.
Escape through the tunnels [Music: none of note]
Cail and Conner backed through the halls, shouldering the wounded as they retreated back. They realized they had to choose between heading back into the thick of things to aid the men still in the front lines, or to retreat, perhaps to offer aid to the escaping citizen. They chose the latter, and fled.
As they passed the library, they saw that Ashley and a few of the acolytes were still present, trying to collect important tomes and scriptures. After a few minutes' arguent, they helped out and then headed on toward the exit.
The last line of defense [Music: Heaven's not enough - Wolf's Rain]
At last they found themselves under the castle, at the gate thatbarredentry to the tunnels. As ashley and the acolytes rushed through, shouldering the wounded, Brutus stopped and turned, knowing this was the last, best place to hold off the enemies that were sure to be close behind. Conner decided to stay, saying a goodbye to Ashley and forcng Cail to go with her, shouting several reason why he should (you need to protect the civilians and your sisters, help the wounded, you're hurt yourself). Cail reluctantly agreed to go, and the last remaining able soldier barred the gate behind them.
Five men, Brutus and Conner included, made the final stand. They had a moment to reflect, to pray. And then it was on them. The screaming, hissing seven-headed hydra bore it's way through the halls, smashing the ancient architecture asunder with it's girth. It bore down on them, randing them with it's fangs. They fught bravely, butone by one the soldiers fell. Brutus took the brunt of the wounds, cleaving many a head, only to see the beast regenerate another soon after. Conner rushed for a torch, desperately trying to burn it, stop it from regenerating. Stell met scales and blod covered the floor, Brutus at last falling with a howl.
As the beast reeled, Conner cradled his fallen master, who lived long enough to command him slay the beasts with the last of his strength, and to wish him and honorable death.
Again Conner leapt into the fray, stabbing and slashing for the beast's heart, even as it bit and toreat him. With a scream of rage, he sank his blade up to the hilt in the beats's chest, felling it forever. But his victory came with a terrible price: the snake had torn his throat with the last of it's strength. There was little chance he would survive.
Pulling his blade free of the carcass, Conner fell to one knee, clutching his throat and coughing. Soon, a band of enemy soldiers washed into the room, Kalii at the forefront. Conner tried to stand to meet them, but even as he gained his footing, Kalii plunged a sword through his heart. At last surrendering to death, Conner fell, easing gently into the darkness...
And that's just the first half! I'll post the rest tomorrow, along with some log from the scond game that should be happening then. :D
So last night I had one of my infrequent meetings with my friends, which usually results in gaming. This time, however, nobody (myself included) wanted to continue with another installment of our normal games; we needed something fresh, and felt like a fantasy game. I'd been wanting to give Arcana Evolved a try since it's release, but didn't feel like playing a d20 game. So, as is the usual practice in my gaming group, we defaulted to my house system (going by "the usual" or "the d10 game"). Here's what we came up with:
At first it was my friends Peter and Reynario (We call him "conner," so I'll stick to that), as well as myself. Later on in the evening Patrick showed up, and I'll talk more about he and his character when I get to that point.
We decided to go with the TV series format, though we didn't lay down many other ground rules, such as episodes per season, just yet. Characters were roughly defined: I had them look through the class selection in AE to get an idea of what they wanted to play (they weren't restricted to the classes, though I strongly sugested they use them, or at least related concepts), and met with no difficulties; as they took a liking to the Mageblade and Unfettered classes almost immediately.
Peter went with the mageblade, and Conner (who usually plays rogue-types) suddenly decided he wanted a meat-and-potatoes warrior, choosing the Warmain class instead of the unfettered. Conner, like myself, always plays Humans; and this game was no exception. Peter looked through the choices, but decided he hadn't played a human in awhile, and so went with that. The resulting characters were:
Cail: A soldier in the service of the Giant lord Dal-Kalek, Cail ended up becoming a mageblade after a call for able-bodied warriors was sent out throughout the ranks of the lord's castle. Feeling a call to duty, but not wanting to abandon his magical studies entirely Cail, with the help of the castle's resident weaponmaster and archmage, devoted himself to the study of the castle's ancient texts on battle-wizardry. After many years in training, he has at last come to his own as a ful-fledged mageblade, and is numbered among the lord's elite warriors.
Cail is a kind-hearted man who always looks to the safety of his family and companions before rushing into battle. He has two younger sisters; Ashley, a freshly annointed magister, and Mary, a healer who tends to the welfare of the castle's warriors. Though we didn't touch a whole lot on their parents, it was mentioned that they too were magisters, and important envoys in the lord's service.
Peter didn't go into much detail about Cail's appearance or character just yet, but told me he was faster than he was strong, and that he had uncanny abilities of perception, as well as a knack for puzzles and languages. He wields an Athame, his personalized magic sword, a sign of his training as a mageblade, and the focus for his battle-magic. Paired with it he wears a shield if one is available to him.
A quick aside about Conner/Reynario: as a sort of in-joke, he always names the first character he plays in any given game Conner ;)
Conner: Another of the elite in the lord's service, Conner was raised by the Castle's Litorian (lion-person) weaponmaster Brutus, after he was found as a war-orphan. Unlike the rest of the Castle's residents, Conner has no knowledge of his true name, a fact that he first resented, but eventually took as a sort of badge of honor. In it's place, he holds loyalty to his lord and his friends above all else. Although something of a free-spirit, Conner takes battle very seriously, and in a mere twenty years, has already earned the status of Warmain (elite fighter).
Conner was explicit in detailing his character's appearance as a tall, lean and athletic man with shoulder-length hair and a tan complexion. He looks to Brutus as a father-figure, always hoping to earn a word of respect from the veteran warrior. He also harbors an attraction to both of Cail's sisters; a fact that has not helped him in wooing either one (or with getting help from Cail). Conner had no preference in weapon type or style (being skilled with the vast majority of them as part of his Warmain training), and though he mentioned he was capable of using two weapons at once, he said he reserved that skill for tight situations. His personal weapon was a prized longsword given to him by his lord upon acheiving the status of Warmain. Though he was careful not to lose the sword, he tended to change weapons a lot in battle; as you will see.
Patrick's character: Pat has a quirk of his own regarding characters: in any game where sample names are available, he inevitably uses one of the ones provided. As far as I can tell, this isn't because he lacks imagination, but simply because he enjoys it.
Tigarithon the Wanderer: A Sibeccai (Jackal-person) jack-of-all-trades, Tigarithon is an arrogant, aloof, and sarcastic warrior with a superiority complex (which he has developed in retaliation to his latent inferiority complex). He has travelled far and wide on a quest for fame and fortune, but his haugty demeanor always helps him get into more trouble than he can handle. Despite his fast-paced life, Tig is actually quite skilled with several weapons; including the battle-claw, nunchaku, and whip (which he enjoys for the show of it, if nothing else), as well as possessing a working knowlegde of several trades and a knack for acrobatics.
He keeps his brown fur trimmed and expensive clothing clean whenever possible, his mind ever on the next chance for his to show off his prowess in battle, or the next big score. He has been many things, though never for long enough to call himself a master of any one of them. If he only applied himself, maybe he could be somebody...
Other characters:
Brutus: The afforementioned weaponmaster in service to Dal-Kalek, Brutus is a stern veteran of countless battles. He speaks little of his background, but has mentioned a few details to Conner over the course of their life together; such as the fact that he was once a slave and pit-fighter, and swore fealty to the lord in order to repay him for a debt of blood. Brutus sports a deep scar running along one eye, which now appears glazed over with cataracts, but any who call his abilities into question soon find themselves learning a painful lesson in combat. His younger sister, Kasha, also lived in the castle as a healer until she left on a quest for self-understanding some five years ago.
Ashley: The older of Cail's two sisters, Ashley is a highly intelligent and studious magister in the lord's service. Having only recently gained her proper title, she spends most of her time studying texts in the castle library with the colleagues, hoping for the day her magic can be of service to her lord. Thugh often serious, Ashley has a streak of humor to her which, coupled with an infectous laugh, often attracts the attention of those who would label her as "just another bookworm." Unlike her darker-haired siblings, Ashley is blond (she gets it from her father), a fact that she takes pride in. Though she dresses plainly, she spends a lot of time maintaining her hair.
Mary: The younger of Cail's two sister, Mary is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken young girl who harbors a desire to get out and see the world, even regretting she did not join Kasha on her journey some years ago. Her bright green eyes and warm smile can sooth even the most savage of beasts, and though she does not yet know it, she has the potential to become something greater. Only events will tell is she ever realizes her dreams.
Kasha: The younger sister of Brutus, Kasha left five years ago to find herself; since becoming an Oathsworn with the ideals of defending the weak and upholding justice. She reveres her brother for his strength of body and character, but lacks his worldliness; possessing instead a fiery and oft-times overzealous need to Do The Right Thing. Though well meaning, she can sometimes get on the less noble character's nerves. Kasha stands tall, like her brother, and like him possesses a golden-tan coat of fur.
Li-Kordas: Kordus, as he's often called, is a Giant duellist, and has been so since the day he was strong enough to wield a sword. Brought up by a resentful father after his mother died in childbirth, Kordus learned at an early age that only the strongest survive, and always by their own hand. He has travelled all about the lands of the Diamond Throne, making a name for himself, and often ending up on the wrong side of the law. His latest job is as a toll-collector for a group of brigands. He waits at a bride, allowing only those who pay him for passage - or those who can defeat him - to cross. His favored weapon is a huge two-handed sword, and though he relishes combat, he has a code of honor; and spares all but the basest of his opponents. Kordus is large even for a giant, with short, fair hair and a dismissive attitude towards any order beyond "might makes right," or the duellists' code.
Kalii: A once-human servant of the Dragon Fangtongue, Kalii's history was eradicated from her mind the day her master placed a vile and ancient curse upon her. Now she is literally a shadow of her former self, a dark an unearthly beautiful pretender; an expertly crafted tool with which to carry out her master's dark designs. In her (altered) true form, she is a slight young woman with short, unkempt black hair, cruel eyes, and a killer's smile. Somewhere in the back of her mind, the person she once was begs for escape, and may yet have her chance. More importantly to her master, her will grows ever stronger; and with it, an unnerving urge to kill...
Tiberius: A rare albino Litorian, Tiberius, as he now calls himself, is a power-hungry magister bent on avenging himself against his family, as well as the mystical order from which he was outcast. Always misunderstood, he has blinded himself with rage and dillusions of grandeur, bombarding himself with increasingly powerful and dangerous magics as the years have gone by, culminatig at last in a full-body runic design provided by his benefactor, Fangtongue. His alliance with the dragon is an uneasy one, but though treachery lurks within his heart, he is content for now to watch and wait. He does not trust Kalii, and tries to avoid working with her, always feeling as if Fangtongue is somehow watching him through her...In contempt for his tribe and family, Tiberius keep his mane shaven from his head, all but for a Lock of Vengeance, which hangs heavy with the fangs of defeated kinsmen from the base of his skull.
Fangtongue: An ancient and decrepit old dragon, Fangtongue has returned from across the seas in an effort to prolong his already incredibly long lifetime. A selfish and arrogant monster, he feels nothing for the "lesser races," seeing them merely as ants to be crushed underfoot, or at best as pawns to be used in fulfilling his ends. But for all his power and knowledge, Fangtongue fears death, and his fear grows ever more acute with each passing day. Many times he has sought a chance to rejuvenate himself, and always has he met with failure. But this time, he has come of a devilish new plan...one that may even rid him of a few old enemies in the process...
Actual Play
The POW camp [Music: The Island of Time - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]
The first episode begins with Conner and Cail jailed in an enemy camp. The castle had been lain siege to a week ago, and three days ago their unit was devastated by a surprise attack from an unseen spellcaster. The walls would hold, but for how long? The pair were desperate to get back and aid their allies, to guarantee the safety of their friends and family. Looking around, they saw that others of the unit had survived the attack, though each of them was fatigued. It seemed there was no escape...
Time passes, and as Conner drifted in and out of consciousness, he glimped a shadow for a moment. Someone had entered the tent. In another moment, he and the others were freed by the stranger, given instructions to head back for the castle as quickly as possible, and warned that their skils were gravely needed. The stranger said only that he was an agent of Dal-Karek before disappearing into the camp to cause a distraction. he left Conner with a sword, and Cail, an expertly curved dagger.
The pair led the way through the camp, motioning the others to follow only after they had cleared a path. Seeing that the gate around the camp was barred, they decided to raid the armory tent for supplies. A few tense moments followed in which they were barely able to keep their enemies from crying out as they were struck from the darkness. In a hurry to retrieve their equipment, they did not take care in hiding the corpses, and soon an alrm was sounded.
Cutting their way out of the armory tent, the unit headed for the stable, seeing that a few of the barracks tents were already set ablaze (the diversion?). In the end, they were too slow to get through the gates, and decided to hold their attackers off in order to buy time for members of the unit to kill the guards, and re-open the gates.
Storming the gates [Music: Ship under attack - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within]
This was a straight-up fight scene. We cut back and forth between the two heroes as they dismountedtheir enemies, cut swathes thrugh their foes, and mounted their horses to ride among their ranks, attacking as many as they could at once. Conner got into the thick of things, disarming one guard of his sword and then pairing it with his own to fight from horseback. Cail threw spears and shot with a bow while trying to keep the cart they had stolen from getting torched. After a bloddy few minutes, the crowd cleared aside as a captain stepped up to the plate. Without any real planning on any of the players' parts (myself included), Conner turned this into his scene: He went head to head while Cail kept mooks from joining in or approaching the cart.
The two warriors matched blades from horseback, the captain launching a flying tackle after being disarmed of his sword. A tense back-and-forth began as the two of them rolled in the dirt, each grasping for a sword, a dagger; anything they could use to defeat the other. at last they kicked apart, springing to their feet, Conner with sword in hand. The captain grabbed a dagger from the ground and shouted for a sword from his men. Everyone seemed to forget what they were doing, stopping to watch the two expert warriors cross swords. just as it looked like the captain was going to strike the killing blow, Conner switched places with him, throwing him to the ground and stabbing him through the heart. The ates opened, and Cail puled his ally up onto a horse as he rode the cart through. The members of the unit leapt aboard from their positions on the gate.
Return to the castle [Music: none of note]
Our heroes did their best to tend their wounds with supplies they stole from the tents, and made a bee-line back to their home. A short montage played out as they dodged enemy trackers and moved through rough terrain. At last they came to a hiltop, overlooking the battle at the castle's front gate. They needed to find another way in...and it was just then that their mysterious ally reappeared, offering them advice on a route through the nearby hills, where a watchtower stood. The agent also gave them a pouch containing a stone, an artifact he claimed would help the lord to defend the castle.They took it gladly, thanking their benefactor before he rode off once again.
The watchtower [Music: Military theme - Vandal Hearts]
After travelling through the hills and being chased by a small band of enemies, our heroes crossed the bridge over the river and met with their allies at the watchtower. Much to Conner's relief, Brutus was there to meet them; congradulating them on their safe return, and talking with them of their experiences as he rushed them to the tunnels leading beneath the castle.
The castle halls [Music: Guild - Fable]
Having returned home at last, The pair met with Ashley and Mary, who tended to their wounds, and were glad to see them back. Conner bungled his way through a half-assed pickup attempt on the both of them (well, sort of one after the other), and soon they were on their way to meet their lord Dal-Karek.
They passed through the sacred Hall of Battle, coming at last to the lord's warroom, where they were informed of the castle's situation: their forces werebeing overwhelmed, and the lord planned a retreat through the tunnels to his brother's neighboring domain.
Unfortunately, the lord would not be joining them, for as Conner handed him the stone the agent had given him, there was a sudden explosion: the stone sprouted thick tendrils of vine which quickly began to coil about Dal-Karek, constricting him even as they flayed him with razor-sharp thorns. The battlemasters and guards all flew to his aid, but to no avail. Conner tried the hardest, his hands being torn and scarred as he tried desperately to free his master. When it was over, he could only stare speechlessly at his bloodied palms and the cocoon which now entombed his lord. He felt it his own fault that the lord had perished.
Holding the wall [Music: March of Mephisto - Kamelot]
Recovering themselves from the loss of their lord, the battlemasters, now led by Brutus, were ordered to enact the escape plan. The heroes joined the rest of the soldiers upon the battlements, as the outerwall fell beforethe oncoming horde. A long moment of silence passed as both sides readied their weapons. The enemy battlemaster draw his ancient blade and cast it into the sky above him, to be caught by lieutenant leading a charge of drake-beasts down on the defenders of the wall. A furious and chaotic battle began, with the heroes being seperated from one another, each to fight his own series of small battles.
At last, the lieutenant charged his drake at Conner, who met steel with ringing steel; even as the "agent" scaled the wall to confront Cail, revealing herself as a woman, and as the assassin Kalii. the camera went back and forth between the two battes, The lieutenant calling for bloody revenge against Conner for slaying his brother, the captain, in the camp. Cail matched blades and wit against the Kalii, who proved to have the upper hand. She could not beat back Cail's defenses enoughto strike the killing blow, however, and withdrew with a snide remark after the wall was broken.
Having held as long as they could, the defenders rushed back into the castle to make a fighting retreat back into the tunnels, the civilians having long since headed inside themselves. As they retreated, the heroes saw a seven-headed hydra being pulled to the battlefield, a heavily-shroudedmagister using his magic to keep itin check.
Escape through the tunnels [Music: none of note]
Cail and Conner backed through the halls, shouldering the wounded as they retreated back. They realized they had to choose between heading back into the thick of things to aid the men still in the front lines, or to retreat, perhaps to offer aid to the escaping citizen. They chose the latter, and fled.
As they passed the library, they saw that Ashley and a few of the acolytes were still present, trying to collect important tomes and scriptures. After a few minutes' arguent, they helped out and then headed on toward the exit.
The last line of defense [Music: Heaven's not enough - Wolf's Rain]
At last they found themselves under the castle, at the gate thatbarredentry to the tunnels. As ashley and the acolytes rushed through, shouldering the wounded, Brutus stopped and turned, knowing this was the last, best place to hold off the enemies that were sure to be close behind. Conner decided to stay, saying a goodbye to Ashley and forcng Cail to go with her, shouting several reason why he should (you need to protect the civilians and your sisters, help the wounded, you're hurt yourself). Cail reluctantly agreed to go, and the last remaining able soldier barred the gate behind them.
Five men, Brutus and Conner included, made the final stand. They had a moment to reflect, to pray. And then it was on them. The screaming, hissing seven-headed hydra bore it's way through the halls, smashing the ancient architecture asunder with it's girth. It bore down on them, randing them with it's fangs. They fught bravely, butone by one the soldiers fell. Brutus took the brunt of the wounds, cleaving many a head, only to see the beast regenerate another soon after. Conner rushed for a torch, desperately trying to burn it, stop it from regenerating. Stell met scales and blod covered the floor, Brutus at last falling with a howl.
As the beast reeled, Conner cradled his fallen master, who lived long enough to command him slay the beasts with the last of his strength, and to wish him and honorable death.
Again Conner leapt into the fray, stabbing and slashing for the beast's heart, even as it bit and toreat him. With a scream of rage, he sank his blade up to the hilt in the beats's chest, felling it forever. But his victory came with a terrible price: the snake had torn his throat with the last of it's strength. There was little chance he would survive.
Pulling his blade free of the carcass, Conner fell to one knee, clutching his throat and coughing. Soon, a band of enemy soldiers washed into the room, Kalii at the forefront. Conner tried to stand to meet them, but even as he gained his footing, Kalii plunged a sword through his heart. At last surrendering to death, Conner fell, easing gently into the darkness...
And that's just the first half! I'll post the rest tomorrow, along with some log from the scond game that should be happening then. :D