“It’s all true!” Raining day explains to the children, “I was an enemy to the Tris. I held on to the old ways. But my friends, our true allies of Lauresia, took me back in time when the Empire of the Tris once stood. And there I learnt a painful lesson – they had once saved our people, saved them all! And we were in debt to them, a debt which must not be forgotten!
The children cheer. He continues:
“However, they had forgotten. And they took us for granted. They treated us like slaves. This broke our people and theirs apart. This is what created the debt which cannot be forgiven.”
The children gasp. He continues:
“I went back, to destroy them. But I stopped once I learnt that what I thought could not be forgiven must not be forgotten!”
Silence. Oblivious to their confusion, he continues.
“But we made a mistake. Going back in time, we moved a noble cat. Time divided against itself, and a boy who was not hurt did not prevent his mother from speaking against a cruel law. Then, when the war that approaches overtook them, we fought by their side to our deaths! It was the death of our people. We returned to the present only to find there were no Beastmen, no Sultancy, no Light in Lauresia. Their city was dark, held prisoner by an almost irresistible force of evil, compelling all to join in the battle in the war that comes. We had to go back in time and make an enemy of an ally or all our people would perish!”
One child, overtaxed by the cognitive demands, bursts into tears. He continues:
“So we went back, back to the Tris I now love. And with all the respect and gratitude I could muster, laid the smack down on that helpful Tris senator. They voted down a kind law, and now I am confident that after the war that comes our people of the past will survive! And with the mightly Empire of the Tris as our allies in the war that comes, our people of the present will survive!!”
“But sir!” A child asks.
“Yes?” Raining day replies.
“What’s a Tris…?”
Friday, May 20, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Heart of Stone
The ritual is long, and complex. Hundreds of druids participate in the month long preparations as two life forms prepare to merge into one – the first, a human druid, the second, an aincient world tree with a living emerald at its heart. Even with both participants willing, it is a terribly dangerous operation.
At its culmination Oma takes on the living embodiment a plant, permanently transmorphed into a being of wood for flesh and sap for blood. The change in irreversible. At the same time, the World tree submits to have its emerald heart transplanted into living flesh. Then, the two must become one, a hundred druids chanting in rhythm, as Oma steps into the world tree. With great care and practiced precision, his most trusted assistant Lima then removes his wodden heart and replaces it with the living emerald. There is a brilliant flash of green light, and the tree closes around his body, crushing it, permanently making it a part of its own even as his spirit is merged forever with the Tree’s. For a moment, nothing happens. Everyone waits with bated breath for one minute, then two. Then fifteen.
“This isn’t going to happen till the next full moon people.” Lima explains.
Mumbles of disappointment and confusion ensue, and the witnesses depart, upset at the lack of fireworks.
Two days later the ritual naturally completes itself, as during the first full moon of it’s new life, the now Fey Lord Oma steps silently from the World Tree, finally perceiving itself as a living and moving humanoid, finally experiencing himself as the perfect union of sentient nature as the World Tree.
It is Oma – Fey Lord of the World Tree…
At its culmination Oma takes on the living embodiment a plant, permanently transmorphed into a being of wood for flesh and sap for blood. The change in irreversible. At the same time, the World tree submits to have its emerald heart transplanted into living flesh. Then, the two must become one, a hundred druids chanting in rhythm, as Oma steps into the world tree. With great care and practiced precision, his most trusted assistant Lima then removes his wodden heart and replaces it with the living emerald. There is a brilliant flash of green light, and the tree closes around his body, crushing it, permanently making it a part of its own even as his spirit is merged forever with the Tree’s. For a moment, nothing happens. Everyone waits with bated breath for one minute, then two. Then fifteen.
“This isn’t going to happen till the next full moon people.” Lima explains.
Mumbles of disappointment and confusion ensue, and the witnesses depart, upset at the lack of fireworks.
Two days later the ritual naturally completes itself, as during the first full moon of it’s new life, the now Fey Lord Oma steps silently from the World Tree, finally perceiving itself as a living and moving humanoid, finally experiencing himself as the perfect union of sentient nature as the World Tree.
It is Oma – Fey Lord of the World Tree…
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Shrine
We were those who died so that others might be free, we were those whose sacrifice you promised not forget. No greater love is there than this, than to die for those you love. This is our sacrifice, this is our legacy. Remember, Remember. Do not forget.
- Ikendri is now an epic level artifact (+3, superior cold 3d6, superior holy 3d6, cold iron intelligent greatsword with immunity to fire and the special mission of defeating evil outsiders, at another +3 and 3d6 superior bane ability. that's a +12 sword, by my calculations worth over 1 million GP. Yep.)
- You are all now level 17. You'll need to make a plan for where to go next. The enemy is approaching, and time is compressing. You had two years. You don't have that much time now. You don't know how much time there is left at all...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Quest of the Fey Queen (pre christmas special)
The emissary from the Sultancy is elated, “you did it! Not one of a dozen diplomatic missions to the Fey Queen was able to secure her allegiance in the upcoming war! They all returned insulted, defeated, or covered in confetti. But you! You are the true hero’s. You must tell me what happened?”
A thousand thoughts no doubt run though you mind. What do you tell him? About the finding of the needle in the haystack? About the Menagerie markets and their puzzle ridden store keep? Perhaps you can tell him about your heroic defeat of the dark wizard Grugamel, thus setting free the diminutive blue gnomes of the forest (even before he could say ‘hey, did someone just stab me in the back?”) Perhaps you can explain the particular qualities of the demiplane of levity, and how it almost trapped you there forever? (Scooby seemed lively today, didn’t he?) Perhaps you should tell him of your heroic defense of the toymaker, demigod of gifts, or of your brief but tasty stay in the paraelemental plane of candy? Perhaps you can tell him how you did all this just to acquire a hairpin from the Fey Queen, so that she can use the needle in the haystack: as a hairpin!
Was it really such a waste of time? Or was there some message in the adventure that will help you unravel the mystery of the Great Enemy?
Then again, perhaps it all seemed too unreal. Perhaps you should tell him it was just a dream…
A thousand thoughts no doubt run though you mind. What do you tell him? About the finding of the needle in the haystack? About the Menagerie markets and their puzzle ridden store keep? Perhaps you can tell him about your heroic defeat of the dark wizard Grugamel, thus setting free the diminutive blue gnomes of the forest (even before he could say ‘hey, did someone just stab me in the back?”) Perhaps you can explain the particular qualities of the demiplane of levity, and how it almost trapped you there forever? (Scooby seemed lively today, didn’t he?) Perhaps you should tell him of your heroic defense of the toymaker, demigod of gifts, or of your brief but tasty stay in the paraelemental plane of candy? Perhaps you can tell him how you did all this just to acquire a hairpin from the Fey Queen, so that she can use the needle in the haystack: as a hairpin!
Was it really such a waste of time? Or was there some message in the adventure that will help you unravel the mystery of the Great Enemy?
Then again, perhaps it all seemed too unreal. Perhaps you should tell him it was just a dream…
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Pirates, girlfriends, the the divinity sphere...
(the following was probably scried from Gerries spoon)
The pirates were on their second drink before the conversation became interesting.
“’ave ye ‘erd who the new Pirate Lady is?” Bootleg asked his companion, Ropelathe.
“Oo ‘asn’t!” He replied. “Everyone knows ‘bout that Ebon Lady! Comes out of nowhere and now she’s the first Lady since Wendelania! Apparently she’s with them heroes of Lauresnia, or something.”
“Yeah, so rumour has it. Strange bunch that lot. Eh! Heard what that Lady Gerry called her Bosun! Bobo! Musta hated him something right!”
“Yeah,” but Bootleg whisperers, “but heard what happens to him, I hear he tried to cross lady Gerry and he finds himself locked up in Cressellia’s cells. Reckon it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to poison him.”
“Man Luck too!” Ropelathe agrees. “You can bet if Great Lady Ebon’s with that Lauresia crew they won’t be missing him much. If not by their hand, by those that seek their favour.”
“Eye!” Bootleg agrees.
“So what you ‘ear about Ebon? She any good? Whose her bosun?”
“I know nothing” Bootleg protests. A single gold coin exchanges hands so quickly it cannot be seen.
“I ‘ear she’s pretty good,” Bootleg states, “there’s talk that she doesn’t have a bosun, runs it all herself. Say she’s quick, smart. Kinda pretty too, if humans are you style.”
They pause to look at each other.
“Naaa!” They both agree.
“So what ‘ave you ‘eard about them Lauresnian sorts?” Bootleg asks.
“I know nothing” Ropelathe argues.
Again the gold coin crosses the table.
“Everyone knows they’re trying to start a war.” Ropelathe begins,
“I ‘ear the wars going to start with or without us.” Bootleg argues, “there’s talk of some mad deity invading the sphere. They say not even the wizards can get out of the sphere any more. They say… not two years…”
“I ‘ear the same things.” Ropelathe agrees, and reluctantly slides the coin back. “Least it explains all the random aberrations turning up. Just last week uncle caught a pair of Gnarks sneaking around his deck. Now don’t go spreading rumours, but I reckon it’s those Laurensians who brought Enemy along with them. They say he’s after them, not us, but now we’re all caught up in it.”
“That’s good information….” Bootleg agrees. Ropelathe holds out his hand, and the coin moves back again. “Hey, wouldn’t it be weird if it was one of those temporial paladoxies, where they hadn’t turned up, there would be no enemy, but there’d be no us either!”
“Shut up!” Ropelathe scowls.
“Still,” Bootleg continues, “I hears those heroes’ of Lauresia were all over each others throats last week, that they found some sort of Divinity Sphere and went all nuts over it’s power. They say it almost turned violent.”
“Where you get your information!” Ropelathe scowls, “that’s rubbish.”
“Naw, way I reckons it, we pirates need to look after ourselves. And when that enemy comes, I’m running the other way.”
“And risk not fighting with Lady Ebon? I’d risk my mother for that chance. They say she’s rich…”
“Rich?”
“Rich, powerful.”
“How rich?”
“Why, her wealth would be… well, more wealth than you can imagine!” Rolling the coin along the table.
“I dunno,” Bootleg continues, watching its slow rolling, “I can imagine quite a …”
But his voice trailed off as a shadow crossed the tavern where they were drinking. A huge tower of stone, torn from the ground and held aloft by a sentient earthen crystal. While they were distracted, a small boy snatched up the coin before it could roll to its destination.
“I ‘ear he’s dating an abolyth.” Bootleg whispered.
“What!?” Ropelathe swore. “no ones going to take you seriously!”
“Just what I ‘eard.” Bootleg muttered. “Boats I get, but floating stone? That ain’t right.”
“Nothin’ right about all this. War. No one needs war...”
The pirates were on their second drink before the conversation became interesting.
“’ave ye ‘erd who the new Pirate Lady is?” Bootleg asked his companion, Ropelathe.
“Oo ‘asn’t!” He replied. “Everyone knows ‘bout that Ebon Lady! Comes out of nowhere and now she’s the first Lady since Wendelania! Apparently she’s with them heroes of Lauresnia, or something.”
“Yeah, so rumour has it. Strange bunch that lot. Eh! Heard what that Lady Gerry called her Bosun! Bobo! Musta hated him something right!”
“Yeah,” but Bootleg whisperers, “but heard what happens to him, I hear he tried to cross lady Gerry and he finds himself locked up in Cressellia’s cells. Reckon it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to poison him.”
“Man Luck too!” Ropelathe agrees. “You can bet if Great Lady Ebon’s with that Lauresia crew they won’t be missing him much. If not by their hand, by those that seek their favour.”
“Eye!” Bootleg agrees.
“So what you ‘ear about Ebon? She any good? Whose her bosun?”
“I know nothing” Bootleg protests. A single gold coin exchanges hands so quickly it cannot be seen.
“I ‘ear she’s pretty good,” Bootleg states, “there’s talk that she doesn’t have a bosun, runs it all herself. Say she’s quick, smart. Kinda pretty too, if humans are you style.”
They pause to look at each other.
“Naaa!” They both agree.
“So what ‘ave you ‘eard about them Lauresnian sorts?” Bootleg asks.
“I know nothing” Ropelathe argues.
Again the gold coin crosses the table.
“Everyone knows they’re trying to start a war.” Ropelathe begins,
“I ‘ear the wars going to start with or without us.” Bootleg argues, “there’s talk of some mad deity invading the sphere. They say not even the wizards can get out of the sphere any more. They say… not two years…”
“I ‘ear the same things.” Ropelathe agrees, and reluctantly slides the coin back. “Least it explains all the random aberrations turning up. Just last week uncle caught a pair of Gnarks sneaking around his deck. Now don’t go spreading rumours, but I reckon it’s those Laurensians who brought Enemy along with them. They say he’s after them, not us, but now we’re all caught up in it.”
“That’s good information….” Bootleg agrees. Ropelathe holds out his hand, and the coin moves back again. “Hey, wouldn’t it be weird if it was one of those temporial paladoxies, where they hadn’t turned up, there would be no enemy, but there’d be no us either!”
“Shut up!” Ropelathe scowls.
“Still,” Bootleg continues, “I hears those heroes’ of Lauresia were all over each others throats last week, that they found some sort of Divinity Sphere and went all nuts over it’s power. They say it almost turned violent.”
“Where you get your information!” Ropelathe scowls, “that’s rubbish.”
“Naw, way I reckons it, we pirates need to look after ourselves. And when that enemy comes, I’m running the other way.”
“And risk not fighting with Lady Ebon? I’d risk my mother for that chance. They say she’s rich…”
“Rich?”
“Rich, powerful.”
“How rich?”
“Why, her wealth would be… well, more wealth than you can imagine!” Rolling the coin along the table.
“I dunno,” Bootleg continues, watching its slow rolling, “I can imagine quite a …”
But his voice trailed off as a shadow crossed the tavern where they were drinking. A huge tower of stone, torn from the ground and held aloft by a sentient earthen crystal. While they were distracted, a small boy snatched up the coin before it could roll to its destination.
“I ‘ear he’s dating an abolyth.” Bootleg whispered.
“What!?” Ropelathe swore. “no ones going to take you seriously!”
“Just what I ‘eard.” Bootleg muttered. “Boats I get, but floating stone? That ain’t right.”
“Nothin’ right about all this. War. No one needs war...”
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Oracle...
Again, an old wizard watches his scrying bowl.
“So! There really is an oracle in the Eversea! And what an informative and engaging experience it was to observe its liaison with Methos first hand. Excellent!” He admitted to the little fairy dragon that kept him company. “I must admit, I envy them. They have all surpassed me and my companions for power! And now they seek the weapons to slay a god? How brave they are, and how unaware of the dangers. Let me see if I’ve got this list correct.” He muttered to himself, ticking off items on his fingers.
1. First, they must find the Divinity sphere which has been hidden in this dimension from the prime material world of Jinix. It contains the essence of a deity that can be used to defeat the enemy. Sounds simple enough.
2. The next item must be forged in the sun pillar, and left for 1000 years. Gerry hopes to give Ikendri the power of an artefact this way, I hope it will suffice.
3. Lukat has been told she does not need to seek out her artefact, it will seek her out. however, I suspect some work will be required on her part.
4. Methos must seek the blessing of the six great tribes that inhabit this sphere in order to create a great staff of the Magi. That will do the trick!
5. What Oma wants is a bit of a mystery, but he may be seeking to merge with a powerful life form. The oracle told him his answers lie in the outer planar dimension of Elysium.
6. Their turned spy Ebon should be able to take on her former deity with the One Knife from the “hall of evil”. This may or may not be a good thing.
7. Finally, the last artefact is in the hands of the “God who remained”. They must divine further answers from this.”
Again the wizard smiled. “That’s quite a list. I hope they’re up to it.” The he laughed, “Well, they defeated the Nightmare of the Leviathan, and an aspect of its dreams. They chased off a flock of abyssal dolphins, and prevented defeat from a narwhale. They are doing so very well, perhaps they are up to this as well? And what about the wish sword! What an amazing work! pity none can wield it yet, perhaps when they are of sufficient power? well, the oracle might not have answered many of their questions, but she has told them a lot about how to defeat a God...”
“Less than two years now. Two years, after 10,000 years of running. And yet it seems so little time…”
“So! There really is an oracle in the Eversea! And what an informative and engaging experience it was to observe its liaison with Methos first hand. Excellent!” He admitted to the little fairy dragon that kept him company. “I must admit, I envy them. They have all surpassed me and my companions for power! And now they seek the weapons to slay a god? How brave they are, and how unaware of the dangers. Let me see if I’ve got this list correct.” He muttered to himself, ticking off items on his fingers.
1. First, they must find the Divinity sphere which has been hidden in this dimension from the prime material world of Jinix. It contains the essence of a deity that can be used to defeat the enemy. Sounds simple enough.
2. The next item must be forged in the sun pillar, and left for 1000 years. Gerry hopes to give Ikendri the power of an artefact this way, I hope it will suffice.
3. Lukat has been told she does not need to seek out her artefact, it will seek her out. however, I suspect some work will be required on her part.
4. Methos must seek the blessing of the six great tribes that inhabit this sphere in order to create a great staff of the Magi. That will do the trick!
5. What Oma wants is a bit of a mystery, but he may be seeking to merge with a powerful life form. The oracle told him his answers lie in the outer planar dimension of Elysium.
6. Their turned spy Ebon should be able to take on her former deity with the One Knife from the “hall of evil”. This may or may not be a good thing.
7. Finally, the last artefact is in the hands of the “God who remained”. They must divine further answers from this.”
Again the wizard smiled. “That’s quite a list. I hope they’re up to it.” The he laughed, “Well, they defeated the Nightmare of the Leviathan, and an aspect of its dreams. They chased off a flock of abyssal dolphins, and prevented defeat from a narwhale. They are doing so very well, perhaps they are up to this as well? And what about the wish sword! What an amazing work! pity none can wield it yet, perhaps when they are of sufficient power? well, the oracle might not have answered many of their questions, but she has told them a lot about how to defeat a God...”
“Less than two years now. Two years, after 10,000 years of running. And yet it seems so little time…”
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Submerging boats and a pirate lord
(written with the help of Imogen - enjoy!)
Bobo looks at you seriously, concern written all over his face.
“Of course I understand, my Dread Lady Gerry, but the cause of the Pirates must take precedence! Many are dying under this great civil war, and unless you take a strong stand…”
Gerry nodded thoughtfully and stared up at the low wooden beams of the ceiling. “Were you always a bloodthirsty pirate Bobo? No! Many years ago you probably had a childhood, a mother perhaps, and I'm sure you dreamed of being a fireman or a physician. You know I dreamed of being a cake decorator once. And for a short while, a fungi farmer. Well, there are sweet little children all over the Eversea who dream of being something when they grow up Bobo, but there won't be a future for them if we don't defeat the Enemy! And that means a trip to that nub-bitten Oracle ” Gerry said resolutely.
“Of course! But… well... this oracle isn’t going anywhere in a while is she? Surely you can delay your visit for at least a year till that Leviathan thing is asleep again? Or if not, the combined resources of the Pirate nation will surely allow you to travel unimpeded through this dark water?"
Gerry glared at him, thinking darkly about his probable illiterical upbringing, his fondness for strong ale and bouts of senseless brawling, and struggling not to point out to Bobo how all three combined did no favours for the working of his brain.
“At least this truce with Man Luck has bought us some time, and the war is somewhat abated." he continued nervously. "My Dread Lady, please, go to Cressellia, put an end to this insult. You must realize… there is talk among the crews…if you do not put on a show of force within the day they may begin to question your leadership.”
“None of them are sober enough to remember my name anyway” Gerry muttered. "But you speak truly Bobo! I need to stir them up. Need to whip those pink-bellied wusses into a respectable fighting force. No time for fancy cheeses and hardcover books! We need to be ready for war Bobo, but with the Enemy, not Man Luck. He will just have to wait."
At first surprised, Bobo then calmed down. “Of course, as my dread lady wishes. So much has changed, in such a short time, and with this enemy bearing down on us, if it is true and I have no doubt it is because you’ve told us, than perhaps that really should be our priority. Very well then, we will keep them waiting – who is Man Luck to summon you at his whim? None can hurry the decisions of the most honored pirate Lord in a thousand years! I mean, just look at what you’ve achieved! You slew a lich and took his secrets of the boat that can fly underwater, and none before you could do this. You added the Ming Wun Fu banner to your own, now you almost equal Man Lucks incredible success. What you lack in fortresses, you make up for in space – none control more of the Eversea than you now! Anyone can see that!”
He smiled, but he could not hide the concern in his eyes.
“Oh, and another thing, not that I would complain my dread lady, but the code name you’ve given me, Bobo… some of the men find it a bit… demeaning to be following a leader named after a childs’ toy. Not me, of course! I quite like it! But for the morale of the troops…”
"How about B... Wet Bobo? Bobo the Heartless? El Grande Bobo? Mr Bobo?"
Bobo looks at you seriously, concern written all over his face.
“Of course I understand, my Dread Lady Gerry, but the cause of the Pirates must take precedence! Many are dying under this great civil war, and unless you take a strong stand…”
Gerry nodded thoughtfully and stared up at the low wooden beams of the ceiling. “Were you always a bloodthirsty pirate Bobo? No! Many years ago you probably had a childhood, a mother perhaps, and I'm sure you dreamed of being a fireman or a physician. You know I dreamed of being a cake decorator once. And for a short while, a fungi farmer. Well, there are sweet little children all over the Eversea who dream of being something when they grow up Bobo, but there won't be a future for them if we don't defeat the Enemy! And that means a trip to that nub-bitten Oracle ” Gerry said resolutely.
“Of course! But… well... this oracle isn’t going anywhere in a while is she? Surely you can delay your visit for at least a year till that Leviathan thing is asleep again? Or if not, the combined resources of the Pirate nation will surely allow you to travel unimpeded through this dark water?"
Gerry glared at him, thinking darkly about his probable illiterical upbringing, his fondness for strong ale and bouts of senseless brawling, and struggling not to point out to Bobo how all three combined did no favours for the working of his brain.
“At least this truce with Man Luck has bought us some time, and the war is somewhat abated." he continued nervously. "My Dread Lady, please, go to Cressellia, put an end to this insult. You must realize… there is talk among the crews…if you do not put on a show of force within the day they may begin to question your leadership.”
“None of them are sober enough to remember my name anyway” Gerry muttered. "But you speak truly Bobo! I need to stir them up. Need to whip those pink-bellied wusses into a respectable fighting force. No time for fancy cheeses and hardcover books! We need to be ready for war Bobo, but with the Enemy, not Man Luck. He will just have to wait."
At first surprised, Bobo then calmed down. “Of course, as my dread lady wishes. So much has changed, in such a short time, and with this enemy bearing down on us, if it is true and I have no doubt it is because you’ve told us, than perhaps that really should be our priority. Very well then, we will keep them waiting – who is Man Luck to summon you at his whim? None can hurry the decisions of the most honored pirate Lord in a thousand years! I mean, just look at what you’ve achieved! You slew a lich and took his secrets of the boat that can fly underwater, and none before you could do this. You added the Ming Wun Fu banner to your own, now you almost equal Man Lucks incredible success. What you lack in fortresses, you make up for in space – none control more of the Eversea than you now! Anyone can see that!”
He smiled, but he could not hide the concern in his eyes.
“Oh, and another thing, not that I would complain my dread lady, but the code name you’ve given me, Bobo… some of the men find it a bit… demeaning to be following a leader named after a childs’ toy. Not me, of course! I quite like it! But for the morale of the troops…”
"How about B... Wet Bobo? Bobo the Heartless? El Grande Bobo? Mr Bobo?"
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