D&D II Act Two Scene I - The Tower

Fourier

Citra flies out of the Shire over the enormous Blight mountains.



Flying out East over the mountains, they pass into the Wrecklands, where they see some of the fabled walking mountains.



The Wrecklands, once a place where the laws of nature were failing due to a cataclysmic magical war over a millenium ago are slowly healing. Anomalies such as the walking mountains still tesify that the world is not fully repaired here, as does the odd floating bolder.

Ursula's tower, once home to the most powerful magic user to ever live, lies a head of them.

Responding to Citra's presence, the tower shifts shape size and colour. The small buildings around it walking on legs and rearranging themselves before settling.



Citra lands with a thud near the entrance to the town beneath the tower.

"Here we are and all of you, take great care here"

Karinth dismounts.

"Thank you dragon, my destiny lies within this tower. I have known it for a long time, but never thought the day would come when I could enter"

He bows.

"Of course...construct" she replies.

Karinth winces, but feigns a smile and goes to look at the town from a distance.

"My son..." she assumes human shape after all dismount "...let us speak alone"

Necro

Vrakrash watches as the others dismount.

'Let's take a walk then, mother. The tower can wait a little while.'

He nods to Karinth.

'It would appear mine does too. I shall speak with you soon, Karinth.'

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Vrakrash watches as the others dismount.

'Let's take a walk then, mother. The tower can wait a little while.'

He nods to Karinth.

'It would appear mine does too. I shall speak with you soon, Karinth.'

Karinth gives Vrakrash a faint smile and turns toward the town.

Citra leads Vrakrash to a small grove nearby.

"Now my son, what do you wish to know exactly?"

Evade

Iuric gets his bearing in this odd place and observes the people (if any) for a while.

Banjo

Retula looks for a graveyard, tries to find funny headstones

Fourier

Evade wrote: »

Iuric gets his bearing in this odd place and observes the people (if any) for a while.

The inhabitants of the town are faceless grey humanoid figures with a weak magical armour over them. Their surface undulates slightly, as if made of a liquid. They look almost like mannequins or puppets.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

Karinth gives Vrakrash a faint smile and turns toward the town.

Citra leads Vrakrash to a small grove nearby.

"Now my son, what do you wish to know exactly?"

'I need to hear it from you, to know it is true. The identity of my... father.

I don't know if you've heard of Flagg, you have been gone a long time and I was a little... overcooked in hatching... but he tormented me for a decade, taunting me with answers, with fallacies and false truths.

He killed my entire surrogate family, mother - and when I tried to rise the slaves against him, he nearly killed me and squashed the rest of the rebellion flat!

He still hunts me to this day. I was hoping you would help me deal with him once and for all, truthfully... but it appears either through Retula and her (snarls) Raven Queen, or a geasa from a coward dwarf - you will be ripped away from me before I can exact my revenge on the bastard known as Flagg.

And... anyways... we have this tower to deal with first.'

Fourier

Banjo wrote: »

Retula looks for a graveyard, tries to find funny headstones

The town has a graveyard with only one gravestone.

On it is the name "Gondrimp"

Evade

Fourier wrote: »

The inhabitants of the town are faceless grey humanoid figures with a weak magical armour over them. Their surface undulates slightly, as if made of a liquid. They look almost like mannequins or puppets.

Iuric tries a divine sense

Banjo

Fourier wrote: »

The town has a graveyard with only one gravestone.

On it is the name "Gondrimp"

Kakraaaw!
"Don't write it off, maybe it's all about context?"





"No you're right."

Jack Moore

Ooc are we in a king novella ?
Inc I practise with my bow and am very happy with my decision

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

And... anyways... we have this tower to deal with first.'

"Flagg walks many planes my son, no doubt he enslaved you because you are my blood and my kind is very rare, absent in most planes. As I said to the knight I only know of here and his home plane having my kind. And I am the oldest, in this part of our world at any rate.

Your father was in fact the one who placed the curse on me, when he was mortal. After my death and his ascension...he petitioned for some time together from the higher gods, where we would both be mortal. So that he might explain himself...it was only a few days, but we were already close and the situation was emotionally wrought..."

She laughs nervously.

"...Vergadain permitted your existence. He accelerated your eggs development within me, before I was sent back, and I laid you here, in the shelter of this tower, these beings raised you for a while, though you will have no memory of it...though a demigod golden dragon was difficult for even Vergadain to develop correctly. An extremist from the past, who knew a lot about dwarven physiology assisted us"

She sits down.

"...your father learned that Flagg desired my power through you and your siblings, so he pursued across the plains. He found him on Athas, where Flagg fled across the desert and your father followed...unfortunately your father's time under mortal incarnation ended just before he caught him...I'm sorry"

Fourier

Evade wrote: »

Iuric tries a divine sense

He senses nothing from the beings, except an odd calm.

Fourier

Jack Moore wrote: »

Ooc are we in a king novella ?
Inc I practise with my bow and am very happy with my decision

OOC: To answer this, the tower is more from Jack Vance, although you might mean Necro's post

sKeith

Sarric asks the hobbit who has been speaking for his party, "Whats your name by the way, you introduced Gholz and Mizzy here, but I think you refained from giving your own name."

Banjo

Retula kicks the gravestone.
"Nah, it doesn't work, I can't hear her, just vague impressions of what he thinks about what she's saying. Even there, there's nothing we can use. I told you we should have eavesdropped"

Prrrrk prrrrk!

"Haha! No he'll know it's you. Hey, Patinkin, can you do voices? On the count of three, think 'holy **** my mom is hot!' at me as hard as you can. 1....2...."
**

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

Sarric asks the hobbit who has been speaking for his party, "Whats your name by the way, you introduced Gholz and Mizzy here, but I think you refained from giving your own name."

"Kazin Sir, Mister High Elf Sir" he salutes.

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"Flagg walks many planes my son, no doubt he enslaved you because you are my blood and my kind is very rare, absent in most planes. As I said to the knight I only know of here and his home plane having my kind. And I am the oldest, in this part of our world at any rate.

Your father was in fact the one who placed the curse on me, when he was mortal. After my death and his ascension...he petitioned for some time together from the higher gods, where we would both be mortal. So that he might explain himself...it was only a few days, but we were already close and the situation was emotionally wrought..."

She laughs nervously.

"...Vergadain permitted your existence. He accelerated your eggs development within me, before I was sent back, and I laid you here, in the shelter of this tower, these beings raised you for a while, though you will have no memory of it...though a demigod golden dragon was difficult for even Vergadain to develop correctly. An extremist from the past, who knew a lot about dwarven physiology assisted us"

She sits down.

"...your father learned that Flagg desired my power through you and your siblings, so he pursued across the plains. He found him on Athas, where Flagg fled across the desert and your father followed...unfortunately your father's time under mortal incarnation ended just before he caught him...I'm sorry"

Vrakrash sits down beside Citra.

'So you mean... you - and him... Bandylegs? Mother... this is a lot to take in. And that is why he pursues me... truth be told I did never understand why he didn't just kill me.

This makes sense though. He kept me under lock and key, by his side, trying to harness my..your..his... power. If it wasn't to be before now, it shall be done.

Flagg will die screaming by my hand... or burning alive by my breath. I swear it to you mother.'

Vrakrash looks at the tower.

'What is so important within this place? As I travelled the planes, fleeing from Flagg, this tower has always come up in conversation... some find it a holy place, others a place of dread and death... Retula might actually like it I suppose, ha!'

sKeith

"Well met, Kazin, what dangers have you heard of this place, its not exactly the welcome party I was hoping for so far, maybe they are waiting for us inside."

Evade

Iuric leans against a wall looking up at the tower trying to imagine what's to come. After a moment he looks around at the people and thinks about the walking mountains and realises his imagination is almost certainly lacking.

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

"Well met, Kazin, what dangers have you heard of this place, its not exactly the welcome party I was hoping for so far, maybe they are waiting for us inside."

"Anybody who enters is never seen again. Even some of the Shire's greatest heroes have entered and never returned. Not just that, but also elven heroes like yourself.

They say when Ursula locked the place up, she intended for none to reach the higher floors. It's real name is 'The Ninth Seclusium'. Says it on the door apparently"

sKeith

Fourier wrote: »

"Anybody who enters is never seen again. Even some of the Shire's greatest heroes have entered and never returned. Not just that, but also elven heroes like yourself.

They say when Ursula locked the place up, she intended for none to reach the higher floors. It's real name is 'The Ninth Seclusium'. Says it on the door apparently"

"None to reach the higher floors... I wonder if anybody has tried coming in from the roof, and not bother having to climb all the other floors but entering the highest floor first."

Fourier

Necrominus wrote: »

Flagg will die screaming by my hand... or burning alive by my breath. I swear it to you mother.'

"I hope he perishes my son, for your sake. Know that if he threatens you and I am still here, he will feel my full wrath"

Necrominus wrote: »

Vrakrash looks at the tower.

'What is so important within this place? As I travelled the planes, fleeing from Flagg, this tower has always come up in conversation... some find it a holy place, others a place of dread and death... Retula might actually like it I suppose, ha!'

"Ursula kept all her secrets here. Very few Mages of her power in any plane. She even rivals the famed Mordenkainen"

Fourier

sKeith wrote: »

"None to reach the higher floors... I wonder if anybody has tried coming in from the roof, and not bother having to climb all the other floors but entering the highest floor first."

"I've a feeling it wouldn't work, from the stories I've heard. One of our heroes rode a Griffin, he also perished, perhaps by trying that first"

Necro

Fourier wrote: »

"I hope he perishes my son, for your sake. Know that if he threatens you and I am still here, he will feel my full wrath"

'Let us hope that you are then.'

Fourier wrote: »

"Ursula kept all her secrets here. Very few Mages of her power in any plane. She even rivals the famed Mordenkainen"

Vrakrash stands.

'Best we head inside and get this started with then, eh? No point us jabbering away like fools here with the others waiting for us.'

OldGoat

While waiting for the party go gather it's thoughts, rest up, renew their adventuring spirits and resolve their inner conflicts Mags, using Magehand, goes hunting rabbits to roast for lunch.

Fourier

OldGoat wrote: »

While waiting for the party go gather it's thoughts, rest up, renew their adventuring spirits and resolve their inner conflicts Mags, using Magehand, goes hunting rabbits to roast for lunch.

Mags gathers a good few rabbits. Too little for Citra, who flies off to hunt for deer and larger beasts. Ser Boros however thanks Mags for the meal and tucks in.

OldGoat

Mags takes the opportunity to embrace his new found belief in gods, the gods of music in particular. Having dismissed their existence for many years as fables used to control the gullible he finds that actually meeting with a god and receiving a gift from them he now has to admit that they really exist. He tries praying as that is what he sees others doing.
"Hey, gods. Ermmmm. Thanks for lunch. Errrr. May you be ever shiny or something. Amen!"

To anyone within hearing he asks,
"Anyone know if there is a portal nearby? I'd just like to know where the nearest emergency exit lies."

Fourier

OldGoat wrote: »

To anyone within hearing he asks,
"Anyone know if there is a portal nearby? I'd just like to know where the nearest emergency exit lies."

Citra returns after catching her lunch and overhears Mags.

"None out here, I scoped the general area. There might be some in the Tower, though I don't know of anybody who escaped via one"

OldGoat

Fourier wrote: »

"... though I don't know of anybody who escaped via one"

"And just WHY are we going into the place where no intruder has ever before survived?"

Fourier

OldGoat wrote: »

"And just WHY are we going into the place where no intruder has ever before survived?"

"Oh some have survived...mostly intact...physically. There is something of value here for myself, my son, the psychopomp and Karinth as you call him.

It's not the same thing for each of us, but nevertheless here they all lie.

For the others great riches, for you, if not the riches, then Bardic knowledge available nowhere else"

Banjo

Retula munches on some berries she scavenged (OOC : Outlander background).
Kakraaaaaw!

"**** 'em, they know where I am if they want some. So, what's the plan?"

Cawlup!

"Ha! Don't pretend I'm in charge. You dance to her tune and I dance to yours. You see any vampires queuing up to talk to me in cryptic mumbles? Even the others see that now, it was only a matter of time before I-"

Ku-uk-kuk

"Oh spare me! Look, the way I see it we don't have to go in there. We just make sure she doesn't come out."

Caaaw! Caaaaaaw!

"um…. To be honest, not a lot. I can poke her in the eye with a stick? Size of that peeper, it's not like I could miss. And then she either torches me to a crisp or you-know-who sticks a negative energy plane where my mouth should be and I swallow her up or… whatever? I mean, I think she's called our bluff on the big V getting involved, that horse is burgermeat and the barn burned down. She knows we can't stop her now - and before you say it, no, she was definitely full strength, that naked dude was collateral un-damage and he took a full force blast to the face, there's no way she was weakened then either. She's been full strength since the second she opened her eyes. So doesn't it make more sense to let the tower wreck her and the other guy, and we just mop up? I don't have the power to stand toe to toe with her."

Prrrrrk!

"Bag your beak! All I've ever done is my best and that's all I ever said I'd do. Don't put this on me - don't you dare! You know who put this on us. You know who dragged us here. You know who keeps dragging me everywhere. And as for what we do? Well what can we do? I can't depend on her - Half the powers I've got don't work like the small print said they would or straight up do nothing. I mean I know it's not like there are many other options to have decades of training poured into your head at short notice and maybe I did squander my extended youth a little but like, dude! She is not holding up her end at all. She can't ask me to die for this, not like this."

Ank-up!

"Yeah? Well I have people who believe in me too you know. Who worship me. And she's making me treat them just as ****ty as she's treating us! And I didn't have to buy them! I earned…. Ok, I sorta won them in a raffle but that's beside the point. They deserve better than this. Than me. And maybe I deserve better than her.

Syrith! What's in these berries? I'm getting all maudlin… So, whaddyathink? Big village, only the one grave, I mean he can't be one of theirs. So…. He's one of hers?"

She points up at the tower. The Raven flaps it's wings uncomfortably.

"What? I'm not gonna do that! Check it - Skull face, bone arms, big ol' book full of damned souls - I'm supposed to guide them to their rest, not wake the bastards up."
She pauses, then points at the Manticore.
"He's gonnna do it. Get stuck in, fresh meat. Let me know if you find anything. H - see what happens if you start flying up toward the tower. Ah ah ahhh! I'm not asking. I command you. Relax. You're immortal! Or very easily replaced. I mean the end result is the same for me either way, and that's what's important… isn't it?"

OOC : TL;DR : Retula argues with herself, achieves little more than a reason to return to the group, has her familiar dig a grave up with his paws. I'm assuming he has paws. Typing makes me look busy at work.

She wanders back to see what the group is doing.

OldGoat wrote: »

"And just WHY are we going into the place where no intruder has ever before survived?"

"'Cause a couple of those intruders need to be unsurvived generally and insist on death by gigantic oppressive tower instead of a humane ceremony where I drain their blood into bath, wallow in it and sing them a lullaby. Can't imagine why. I mean it doesn't sound like she's pulling a fast one at allllll."

OldGoat

Banjo wrote: »

"'Cause a couple of those intruders need to be unsurvived generally and insist on death by gigantic oppressive tower instead of a humane ceremony where I drain their blood into bath, wallow in it and sing them a lullaby. Can't imagine why. I mean it doesn't sound like she's pulling a fast one at allllll."

"You sing in the bath?"

Mags contemplates the prospect of new bardic skills, a very tempting lure.

As he wonders who he'll side with- if anyone - he transcribes the spell "Healing Word" and signs it 'On behalf of the Gods of Music and stuff'. He takes the paper, wraps it up and places it into a crevice in a nearby treestump.
"Someone's gotta leave treasures for other newbies to find."

Necro

Vrakrash hunts around for any remaining rabbit, assuming Ser Boros hasn't eaten it all. He lazes in the grass and looks up at Mags and Retula.

'So this tower, it appears I have the only key. Weird too - it was in some case in some weird writing that I just knew what it said...'"The case will open for those whom it should" - and it just opened for me! Perhaps it is because I was hatched here... I dunno. Just thought I'd mention it.'

Banjo

"We get it, Golden Boy. You're special. Everyone is looking at you in awe, the god's smile on your every step blah blah blah...

Nice armour. I'll bet you could oppress the crap out of a downtrodden village in a suit like that."

Necro

Banjo wrote: »

"We get it, Golden Boy. You're special. Everyone is looking at you in awe, the god's smile on your every step blah blah blah...

Nice armour. I'll bet you could oppress the crap out of a downtrodden village in a suit like that."

'You sound jealous... I didn't know god's in their own right got jealous.... should I address you with a big 'G' or a small one? Hmmm...'

He munches on a rabbit leg.

'So what is your own religion all about Rettie? Death and destruction? Taking mothers from their sons? Or just the God of witty remarks?'

He smiles up at Retula sweetly.

Evade

Iuric rejoins the group, sits down, and sharpens Durandal. "If none have returned from this tower before, best to be prepared."

sKeith

"What makes you believe that is the only key? I bet everybody who enters thinks they have the only key, but if that was true, then if nobody ever escapes from in there, how the hells is the key getting back out again so that another has the only key.
Nah, there probably 1000's of those keys , scattered far and wide."

Banjo

Necrominus wrote: »

'You sound jealous... I didn't know god's in their own right got jealous.... should I address you with a big 'G' or a small one? Hmmm...'

He munches on a rabbit leg.

'So what is your own religion all about Rettie? Death and destruction? Taking mothers from their sons? Or just the God of witty remarks?'

He smiles up at Retula sweetly.

"Dude, I've been in the gig for like 3 days. It doesn't come with a manual, and thanks to you bozos and your bull**** portals I'm a long way from the office where I already had a mountain of **** to work through. So if you *must* address me, trying doing it with a great big capital S for 'sorry'? Thanks for making time in your busy schedule ****ing up the order of the multiverse to chat though."

Evade

sKeith wrote: »

"What makes you believe that is the only key? I bet everybody who enters thinks they have the only key, but if that was true, then if nobody ever escapes from in there, how the hells is the key getting back out again so that another has the only key.
Nah, there probably 1000's of those keys , scattered far and wide."

"Or Perhaps the key itself teleports once it has been used?"

Necro

sKeith wrote: »

"What makes you believe that is the only key? I bet everybody who enters thinks they have the only key, but if that was true, then if nobody ever escapes from in there, how the hells is the key getting back out again so that another has the only key.
Nah, there probably 1000's of those keys , scattered far and wide."

'Why would it be locked inside a case with that note then? You could be right, but...'

Banjo wrote: »

"Dude, I've been in the gig for like 3 days. It doesn't come with a manual, and thanks to you bozos and your bull**** portals I'm a long way from the office where I already had a mountain of **** to work through. So if you *must* address me, trying doing it with a great big capital S for 'sorry'? Thanks for making time in your busy schedule ****ing up the order of the multiverse to chat though."

'Rettie... are you having... woman.. problems? Or is there a stick firmly lodged in your hind quarters. I was only asking as I don't currently have a big 'G' to follow - I mean, TECHNICALLY I should worship my father but the nudity, the endless rampant sex-crazed stuff... not really my thing, you know? But if you're not interested in worshippers, I'll find someone else, I guess...

Iuric, who's the guy you used to follow again? Maybe he's looking for a new recruit?'

sKeith

Sarric wanders into the town.

Banjo

Necrominus wrote: »

'Rettie... are you having... woman.. problems? Or is there a stick firmly lodged in your hind quarters. I was only asking as I don't currently have a big 'G' to follow - I mean, TECHNICALLY I should worship my father but the nudity, the endless rampant sex-crazed stuff... not really my thing, you know? But if you're not interested in worshippers, I'll find someone else, I guess...

Iuric, who's the guy you used to follow again? Maybe he's looking for a new recruit?'

"That is so like you, to assume my followers aren't sex-crazed pervs just 'cause none of them are ****ing you! My followers get plenty. If you want in, read the book. Naked dude has it. But it's not something to enter into lightly, because you know what your first tribute's going to have to be.

And yeah. I'm having women problems. I'm surrounded by men, and they're all psychopaths and mommas boys. "

Necro

Banjo wrote: »

"That is so like you, to assume my followers aren't sex-crazed pervs just 'cause none of them are ****ing you! My followers get plenty. If you want in, read the book. Naked dude has it. But it's not something to enter into lightly, because you know what your first tribute's going to have to be.

And yeah. I'm having women problems. I'm surrounded by men, and they're all psychopaths and mommas boys. "

Vrakrash laughs.

'Ok, ok - I get the hint. No worshipping the teenage southern God of death, that's cool.'

He rolls over and goes to sleep.

Evade

Necrominus wrote: »

Iuric, who's the guy you used to follow again? Maybe he's looking for a new recruit?'

Iuric goes very pale "M... Mesharum." he looks around cautiously.

Banjo

OOC : Minor illusion - the unmistakable sound of wheel hitting moistened skin, over and over, just behind Iuric's left shoulder.

Evade

"That sound" Iuric has a very unpleasant flashback of Jeremy one second looking like this l the next like this Y. He keels over into the fetal position muttering "He's alive... Karinth has him... I didn't kill him... Did I?" over and over.


<SNIP - OOC Chat moved to OT Thread>

OldGoat

sKeith wrote: »

Sarric wanders into the town.

"Ho, Sarric, wait up. I'll accompany you if I may. Have I ever told you the story of the imp and the ogre? Well..."
Mags rambles into a lurid tale of daring do and doing dares as they walk to the building ahead.

sKeith

Sarric pauses for Mags to catch up.

OldGoat

Fourier wrote: »

The inhabitants of the town are faceless grey humanoid figures with a weak magical armour over them. Their surface undulates slightly, as if made of a liquid. They look almost like mannequins or puppets.

Mags seeks out and cautiously approaches one (isolated) townie. If perceiving that all is well engages in conversation.
"Hi there. I'm looking for an inn or a tavern, somewhere a weary traveller and a master entertainer might refresh, seek news, meet interesting people. Could you point me in the right direction please.
That tower over there is magnificent, can you tell me anything about it perchance?"

Necro

Evade wrote: »

Iuric goes very pale "M... Mesharum." he looks around cautiously.

'Yeah, that's the chap. How would you get in contact with a fella like that - give Rettie's wanting sacrifices in return for devotion to her... typical Gods, take take take, never any giving. Anyways, I suppose we should think about heading for the tower.'

Vrakrash starts up the path towards the tower, taking out the key and examining it closely on the way.