Topic: The Rynwold Pantheon (D&D 4e) (Read 95122 times)

Stush · « **Reply #1320 on:** August 13, 2012, 09:34:57 PM »

Francisca nods at the newcomer, letting go of Briar.

"Hello there, I'm Francisca B. Winterbottom, you might have read some of my books?" She would wait for a reply, but she's fairly used to not getting one by now. "Anyway, I'm not really a big fan of slavery, so you're free to do what you like", She points to briar. "This is briar" Turning a quick glance towards the orcs. "My wife, and generally great person and warrior." Moving to Pitamaha next "This is Pitamaha, one of the wisest and strongest old guys i've ever met." and finally, she points to Vivi. "And This is Vivi, don't worry, she doesn't bite, I think.." pointing up a little more "And this is ruddiger, he probably bites, but by rothdar, he's fuzzy." Reaching out to pat ruddiger on the head, unable to resist.

Bongo Bill · « **Reply #1321 on:** August 14, 2012, 12:39:26 AM »

"Salutations, Master Verle," said Pitamaha. "Be thou assured we are no keepers of chattel, but some matter of our own, whence we shall not be dissuaded, did lead us to these ruins. Ere thy release is achieved, we must continue to allow our hosts to believe thee in our bondage. Prithee cooperate with this design, and be heartened, for if all goeth well, thou shalt have thy investigation as well."

(Yes, he always talks like that.)

Beat Bandit · « **Reply #1322 on:** August 14, 2012, 04:06:45 PM »

Ampersand slowly stumbles up behind the group as they all pass along introductions. Yawning loudly and scratching the side of his head, his other hand pulls what's left of a very dirty and completely torn robe off a body it was clearly never intended to attempt covering. Had Ampersand known that was a large cause in the rapid degradation of what had been a lovely gift hand crafted by the aunt of a young halfing scholar, he still would not have cared.

"Oh good, you've all made it."

JDigital · « **Reply #1323 on:** August 14, 2012, 04:59:28 PM »

The orc warriors ride on to the encampment around the Ruins of Nythertan. The leader grunts at the guards at the gate. They in turn grunt at someone on the ground and the gates open from the inside.

Inside, the encampment is a dense, sprawling town of green-skinned orcs. Crumbling towers of white stone stand out among the animal hide tents and mud huts. Weak, emaciated kobolds, goblins and other races carry loads through the stinking streets between huts. The white tower stands tall in the middle, surrounded by winding wooden platforms.

All eyes turn to you as you enter. The orc warrior immediately calls out to all present. He shouts out in Orcish, then points to the group behind you, then thumps his fist on his chest angrily.

(Who speaks Orc?)

R^2 · « **Reply #1324 on:** August 14, 2012, 06:52:15 PM »

(Orc isn't listed as a language in the PHB -- it says there that orcs speak Giant. It looks like a lot of languages got folded together, since you don't get a couple for free for having high INT anymore.)

(Gus does speak Giant.)

JDigital · « **Reply #1325 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:43:50 PM »

Then you understand the orc:

"I am Kazrac, a warlord of the Urk'Ril, and these travellers are my guests! Any orc who harms them will answer to me!"

Büge · « **Reply #1326 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:53:37 PM »

(So does Briar.)

"He said his name's Kazrac of the Urk'Ril, and we're his guests," she translates for the others. "Under his protection. So don't show any weakness or it'll make him look bad, okay?"

JDigital · « **Reply #1327 on:** August 14, 2012, 08:21:48 PM »

Kazrac leads you through the shanty town streets to a huge rectangular tent made of animal hides. Muscular orcs glare with a hand on their weapons, and a goblin dressed in dirty rags follows you suspiciously before darting off.

"Kazrac's home," says Kazrac.

A smell of smoke fills the room. In the middle, a kobold stirs a cauldron with a fire lit beneath it, and smoke billows out a flap cut in the roof. The room is decorated with skulls of different races, weapons of different sorts, and valuables no doubt looted from an unfortunate trade caravan.

Stush · « **Reply #1328 on:** August 14, 2012, 11:28:18 PM »

Francisca has her notepad out, and is jotting notes down rapidly, She's a little upset at the prevalence of slavery, but fascinated by her first time in this kind of village.

She looks over the skulls, then turns to the weapons. "Can you use all of these weapons?", she asks kazrac.

Doom · « **Reply #1329 on:** August 15, 2012, 04:04:01 AM »

Dismounting from Grandpa's Piggy Back Ride, Vivi passes Rudiger, a small black cat, to Gus. She keeps glaring at him even as she speaks in regular tones. "... I'm Vivi, a mushroom-picker. But I'm still Big Sis's sister! I'll beat you up if you pick on Lil Sis too... that's my job." She thrusts her head up to his as best she can given her height. She'd bonk him in the face with the antlers she usually wears but she's hiding them since they're in Orcburg. "You can be Bro. OK, now, uhm..." GLARE. "Slave, pet Rudiger until we get something to eat." Vivi pulls back and folds her arms, walking with the rest into town.

JDigital · « **Reply #1330 on:** August 15, 2012, 03:20:15 PM »

Kazrac throws his saddle in the corner and heads out the door.

"I have to speak with the Chieftain. Have some soup while I am gone. But don't spoil your appetite for the great feast we hold tonight."

He gazes at Francisca with a grin before leaving.

The kobold stirs the pot alone while glancing up at Gus' spell component pouch.

R^2 · « **Reply #1331 on:** August 15, 2012, 03:48:28 PM »

Gus, dutifully cradling a cat in one hand and scratching behind its ears with another, asks the kobold in Draconic "I'm Gus, a slave like you are, yes? Is there something I can do to help you?"

JDigital · « **Reply #1332 on:** August 15, 2012, 04:17:55 PM »

"Kazrac will be upset if he thinks I was talking to his guests," the kobold whispers back in Draconic.

"It's just that I used to own a spell component pouch very like that one. I was a spellcaster, once. That was before the Urk-Ril raided my village. They killed most of us and took the rest into slavery. Then they burned all of my books..."

"Ah, I'm sorry. Please don't tell anyone. I'm much safer here as Kazrac's personal chef than I would be in the wild, anyway."

Stush · « **Reply #1333 on:** August 15, 2012, 08:27:33 PM »

Francisca smiles back at Kazrac as he grins, leaning against a shelf as he walks out. "Oh my, i'm in trouble, aren't I?"

Francisca watches the kobold for a bit, getting visibly more and more frustrated, then walks forwards, putting her notepad away, grabbing the stirrer off of the kobold and stirring the pot. "Go rest for a bit, Don't worry, I can handle Kazrac." She says in common, unsure if he'll understand, smiling down at him.

R^2 · « **Reply #1334 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:44:17 AM »

<"I won't tell anybody. It's disgusting, but you're probably right... it takes a damn clever kobold to survive on their own out there, and you don't look like you're in very good shape. I'd hate to set you free and see you become a snack for the first bear or giant spider to come across you.">

The remainder of his clan -- and probably other clans -- are also slaves here. Freeing them all may be a more viable plan.

Büge · « **Reply #1335 on:** August 16, 2012, 08:55:57 AM »

"What are you guys talking about?" Briar asks Gus suspiciously.

R^2 · « **Reply #1336 on:** August 16, 2012, 11:41:42 AM »

Gus is nonchalant. "The burdensome life of being a slave, of course. It's all we have in common, after all."

JDigital · « **Reply #1337 on:** August 16, 2012, 03:25:05 PM »

The kobold takes a lie down.

"It wasn't always like this," says the kobold, "The former chieftain, Gralluk, detested slavery - Vaur'cha considers it a sin to capture your enemies. But one day, he left to climb Mount Gugoron, and never returned. He left his sons in charge, but another orc killed them and seized power. This all happened even before I was born, and I know of it only through stories."

"The current chieftain is a shaman named Kalor, with a bodyguard the orcs call a 'great spirit'. The chieftain lives inside the great white tower and spends much time in seclusion, but nobody doubts his power."

"Once, I snuck inside the tower. I heard strange words, metal striking metal, and the rattle of chains." He rattles the chains that bind his legs.

"I don't know what's in the white tower, but it's a dangerous secret."

Beat Bandit · « **Reply #1338 on:** August 16, 2012, 04:21:33 PM »

Ampersand goes to prod the Kobold with his sword before remembering the guards were at least on top of things enough to disarm him. Instead he goes for the soup.

"Say what you will of slavery. Your other option at the foot of an Orc may not be as laborious, but it doesn't leave you fit to feel dreary of your lot, either." He takes a gulp of whatever was being stirred before going on, "And at least they feed you here."

He takes another long gulp scooped up in a bowl. "Say, where do Orcs keep their weapons?"

JDigital · « **Reply #1339 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:49:41 PM »

The soup has a strongly meaty texture. It tastes like there's some alcohol in it, too.

"If you're missing any weapons, they should be around here somewhere," says the kobold.

"I'd better get back to the pot before Kazrac notices. Thank you for your kindness, tall people."

He scrambles to his feet and resumes stirring the pot.

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Author Topic: The Rynwold Pantheon (D&D 4e) (Read 95122 times)