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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 1, 2012 19:22:12 GMT -5
Tad takes your muttering positively somehow, and replies, "We'll the map shows the basics around the Traal homeland. I'd arrange for you to be teleported outside the edge of a Goblin tribes domain, and you would just have to cross that to get to the entrance to the Traal homeland. Once inside you just have to follow some trail markers, left at a tree that looks like a fist, left again through a double stone arch, and then enter the cave whose entrance is shaped like a heart." Tad falls quiet as a small group passes within earshot, "As for supplies, I'll arranged whatever weapons or armour you want. I suggest food, water and a light source. Lastly I would bring rope, never underestimate the value of rope."
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 1, 2012 19:39:10 GMT -5
"I don't really feel comfortable with weapons, and don't know how to use armor, but as long as there's plants around, I can find food. Don't really need to worry about poison now that I can heal myself.", Mortimer realizes, mildly amused by that thought. "Water and light are valid concerns, I'll find a way around those. I do have a water skin, so i should be okay."
The fact that he's planning a trip, much as he'd done earlier when he and Armod had escaped the village, suddenly strikes Mortimer and he has to take a deep breath to calm himself. "Look, this is all to much right now, I need to go rest.", he says, rising to his feet. If he isn't stopped, he proceeds to head back to his room, to look at the map Melody left for him and to crash before his fatigue-dispelling spell wears off.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 1, 2012 19:57:57 GMT -5
Tad watches you wander off silently for twenty feet or so before he calls out, "Sure thing Mortimer, just let me know." Other than that you are not impeded from reaching your room. Sitting on the edge of your bed you feel just how comfortable your bed is, ad almost lay down for a 'little nap' but you shake your head, and reach for the map instead. Looking at both maps together you realize that they both lead to the same location. This surprises you enough to wake you up long enough to compare the maps more closely. They do in fact lead to the same location, only your celestial map is far more detailed than Tads simple sketch. Tads map however comes with some scrawled notes on landmarks that he said to you earlier.
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 2, 2012 0:28:09 GMT -5
"... Got to be kidding me.", Mortimer groans, realizing the two maps lead to the same place. The implications of this are clear, and quite frankly frightening. The champion of the Light that fell - that was Ellsman? A local hero, someone an entire book had been written about.. and Melody appeared to be asking Mortimer to go finish what his ancestor had been unable to do. Somehow, it was appropriate, but if Ellsman had fallen, what chance did Mortimer have?
With a longing look toward the next book on his list - the one detailing Ellsman's life - Mortimer sighs and shakes his head. He'd spent the last twenty-four hours reading about the Exalted, and at this point was running on magic just to keep him awake. Gingerly setting the maps aside, he ensures that all of the Lightbringer's books are safely away from his bed, in case of bad dreams and thrashing, before getting out of his day clothes and crawling into bed. Releasing the spell holding back his weariness, Mortimer feels the full weight hit him at once, and allows himself to fall into it, drifting off to sleep almost immediately.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 2, 2012 22:47:44 GMT -5
You fall into sleep instantly, and deeply. When you awaken, you find yourself much more groggy than you would normally be after such a deep sleep. You also notice that you've slept past dawn, and you haven't done that since you took ill with that fever a few years back. Then it strikes you that you went to bed early, and slept in late. For a moment you're tempted to wipe the grogginess from your mind with that same spell, but stop yourself when you note how habit forming that could become.
After shaking your head clear of those thoughts, your dreams begin to surface. You had dozens of dreams, and they all started out as nightmares. Everybody at the Light Shrine turned into Zombies, except you. Being surrounded by Goblins intent on your blood. Backing up to a cliff edge while a massive Traal looms up before you. In each situation a glowing white woman would enter the frame, and the danger would pass. More dreams would replace those nightmares, but all of those were happy dreams of new friends, and old memories.
The last dream sticks in your head most of all. In this dream an angelic being stands over your bed here at the Light Shrine. A massive sword held in one hand, fire blazing down it's length slashing into shadowy forms that loom in from the corners of the room. Some of the shadows have fierce claws, and some of those claws manage to catch celestial flesh. In the end the sun rises and the shadows recede. The angel looks down at you wearing the face of Melanie, she smiles warmly before she fades away.
You go about your regular routine in the morning, but notice a few things amiss. First, the books you so carefully stacked away from your bed are laying scattered across the floor as if bumped in a scuffle. Second, in a couple places your bed sheets are torn in four parallel lines. Lastly, you notice three crimson stains. Just a droplet here, and there. You check yourself for a nocturnal nose bleed, or anything that could have caused such a stain, but find nothing.
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 3, 2012 16:31:39 GMT -5
Not only is Mortimer groggy, but his back aches from the sheer amount of time spent laying in bed, even with the tossing and turning. That's a small issue, however, compared to the state of his room. When he realizes his sheets are torn, and sees what appears to be blood on them, he freezes mid-stretch and feels as though all of his blood has turned to ice in his veins. Only through force of will does he manage to keep his stomach from rising into his mouth, as he extracts himself from the sheets and prepares for the day's worship.
As he gets himself properly cleaned up, Mortimer plans out his goals for the day. Foremost on his mind is speaking to the Lightbringer about his dreams and the state he'd woken up to in his room; he would need to know that something had happened. Also, Mortimer realizes, he now knows exactly when he'll be leaving - as soon as he can, regardless of how much he gets to read about Ellsman before he goes. To that end, he prepares himself to speak with Tad, to get that transport arranged, and anything else Tad happens to know about the area he's headed to. These thoughts in mind, he finishes cleaning up and getting dressed, and leaves his room to head toward the main temple.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 16, 2012 12:40:55 GMT -5
As you open the door of your room, you're startled by Tad standing there. He had one hand raised in a fist, knuckles forward as if to knock on your door. He has his head cocked to one side, with his attention following the sway of a robed woman walking down the hall. Just as the door opens his knuckles move forward, and he wraps soundly on your forehead a couple times before he realizes that your skull isn't the door to your room. Tad laughs at the situation, but he adds, "Sorry Mortimer! Are you alright?" After confirming that you're fine,you both chat on the way to service. Tad says that he will arrange transport for an hour after service ends, so that you have time to speak with the Lightbringer and gather your things.
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 18, 2012 11:10:57 GMT -5
If it weren't for the events of the previous night, Mortimer would have likely laughed at the situation, even teased Tad for being so easily distracted. Right at that moment, however, he has exactly one thing on his mind - letting the Lightbringer know what's happened, and that he would be leaving shortly. Aside from his rush to leave the shrine, he keeps his chat with Tad light, asking about the woman he'd been so taken with and letting him fill the silence. The day's sermon allows him to focus on something other than his troubles, and he considers casting his regenerative spell, but decides not to - if he were to try and suppress the visual component, it would make the spell too risky, and not doing so would be disrespectful to the others around him.
Once the sermon is over, Mortimer wastes no time in approaching the Lightbringer, making a blatantly transparent attempt at hiding his concern. Once he has the elder man's attention, he says simply but urgently, "I need to speak with you, I think something terrible's happened."
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 20, 2012 6:48:47 GMT -5
When you ask tad about the woman, he starts to ask something. Then he closes his mouth without speaking. you can see his brain working, as he thinks for a moment, and then he begins to talk about the attributes of the various women here at the shrine. He starts with the woman he was watching, but quickly runs the gambit of all the ladies he can name. Having never heard such candid talk, mostly centered around the curves of those women, you can feel the warmth of a full fledged blush coming on. The conversation does exactly what you needed it to do however, and the time before the sermon is filled with light hearted jokes, and descriptions that bring mental image to your mind when you later see those same women leaving the temple.
The Lightbringer responds quickly and simply, "My office." Before continuing to work through the crowd of people that gather aroun him after every sermon.
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 24, 2012 23:42:14 GMT -5
Though Tad's speech makes him uncomfortable in several ways, Mortimer is thankful that he doesn't have to watch his words this time. When the sermon is done and he's directed to the Lightbringer's office, he wastes no time in heading directly there. When the Lightbringer arrives and closes the door behind him, Mortimer immediately launches into his explanation. "I was attacked last night somehow. I thought it was a dream, I saw shadowy creatures with claws in my room, fighting with Melody over my bed. When I woke up, my sheets were torn and had spots of blood on them. It's got me freaked out.". If he shows any interest in the rest of Mortimer's dreams, he'll go on to describe them, too.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 25, 2012 10:36:39 GMT -5
"Take a seat Mortimer, and take a long deep breath. We will get to the bottom of this. There is nothing to be freaked out about now." The Lightbringer walks around his desk to take a seat opposite you. "Now, tell me everything that you can recall." He listens carefully, only asking a question or two for clarification. He does get you to go through all of your dreams for the night, before leaning back in his chair. "It seems to me that you see Melody as a protector, and take comfort from that thought. Your subconscious is sorting through all of your recent experiences, and she did free you from your captivity so I suppose those thoughts are valid. Dreams are just that however. Nothing actually attacked you last night. We have alarms set throughout the shrine, and if a creature of the Shadow were to enter the area we would know about it." Foreseeing your response the Lightbringer adds, "As for the tears in your sheets, it's not uncommon for a fledgling spell caster to tug on the weave in their sleep. Did you recently learn a spell that could mend or tear clothing? Perhaps move objects, or soil or clean things? You may have cast that spell in your sleep which would also explain the red stains. That or you could have simply had a nose bleed in the night. It's not uncommon at this altitude."
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Post by DM Quietus on Dec 25, 2012 21:49:02 GMT -5
"I don't think that's it.", Mortimer says, after a moment's thought. "There's been too much lately. Everything that's happening can't be coincidence. I hope you're right, but I don't think I can take that chance. Tad thinks he's found Ellsman's final resting place, and I'm going to investigate that. If you're right, it'll give me a chance to clear my head, maybe do some good work.". Truth is, having his concerns brushed off leaves him torn - on the one hand, he hopes the Light bringer is right. On the other, recent experiences won't let him ignore the threat. In the back of his mind, he wonders if he should inform the Lightbringer of the real mission he's been assigned, but remembers Melody's warning. The choice is a hard one, but ultimately he puts his faith literally in the Light.
After a long pause, Mortimer continues, "You should also know, I'll be swearing my specific vows soon. I'm still unsure exactly what I'll be taking with me, but I'll be leaving my carpentry tools with the Shrine's workshop at the very least, as part of a vow of voluntary poverty. I'm also taking a vow of nonviolence, following Ellsman's example." What surprises Mortimer is how the words fall smoothly from his lips, despite expecting them to come awkwardly.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Dec 30, 2012 18:17:09 GMT -5
The Lightbringer at first seems surprised at your abrupt announcement, but quickly smiles his best fatherly smile, "You are welcome to swear your vows before the assemblage here, or if you want something a little less public you can swear them to me." He gestures up to a small stained glass window depicting a nude woman with wings. The woman is tastefully covered by a folded wingtip here, and her own long flowing hair there. A massive sword is held before her in both hands. The fire blazing down it's length doesn't seem to bother her in the least. This stained glass angel looks remarkably like the form that was standing over your bed in last nights dream. "As you can see the Light is always watching." As the Lightbringer says those words the sun begins to shine through the glass making it as hard to see as when the Angel first appeared to you in your cell.
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Post by DM Quietus on Jan 4, 2013 0:43:25 GMT -5
For Mortimer, the light shining through the stained glass is more persuasive than the Lightbringer himself. Given everything that had happened, it felt odd to swear his vows to anyone but Melody. The light on his face, however, makes him feel the Light's presence much more, and is oddly reassuring. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Mortimer understands that it could be just coincidence, but there had been too many of those lately for him to simply write them off.
When Mortimer is ready, he nods, taking a deep breath. His eyes occasionally move between the Lightbringer and the stained glass behind him, shifting away from the glass whenever the light grows too bright for his eyes. As he speaks, his voice remains steady, the formal words of the vows still fresh in his mind from his recent study.
"Before the Light, I vow to give freely of myself, to keep no more than what I need. I trust in the Light to see to my needs, that I may see to the needs of those less fortunate. Furthermore, I vow that I will never harm my fellow man, that I will find peaceful ways around hostilities, to never raise my hand with intent to kill. With these vows, I dedicate myself fully to the Light, that I might bring its radiance to all corners of the world."
When Mortimer had first read the book on the Exalted, he'd found that the phrasing of the vows had been very different from the prayer he'd spoken before Melody during that first meeting. He'd learned later that it was more the intent, sworn with conviction, that mattered, as opposed to the exact words. Here, however, in the Light Shrine, he had felt that it was only right to follow the more formal methods, particularly swearing his vows to the Lightbringer rather than explicitly to Melody.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jan 10, 2013 12:30:40 GMT -5
After you finish each of your vows, a whisp of cloud passes over the stained glass above. The way the light plays through the glass seems to make the angelic figure nod. After you finish your vows the light fades back to the muted overcast that it was before you began. The Lightbringer seems distracted by the changing light above, but manages to say formally, "With your vows spoken, so are they bound to your very soul." Focusing his eyes back on yours, the Lightbringer adds, "The Sacred Vows you've taken today bind you ever tighter. May that binding never chafe."
A soft wrap on the door triggers the Lightbringer to say, "Was there anything else Mortimer?"
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Post by DM Quietus on Jan 17, 2013 8:55:28 GMT -5
Though Mortimer hadn't been expecting any change upon swearing his vows, he feels a sense of calm and duty settle upon him as the light in the room returns to normal. thinking back to when he swore his first vow, he can't remember anything similar happening, but there had been a lot going on then. The Lightbringer's question brings him back to the present, and Mortimer shakes his head. "No, thank you for seeing me and witnessing my vows. I'll see you again when I return to the Shrine. I still have your books, I'll make sure that you get those back before I leave."
Saying his farewells, Mortimer heads back to his room to begin gathering everything he'll need, and sorting out what needs to be returned. The Lightbringer's books are foremost among that pile, as well as his carpentry tools - a moment passes where he allows their comfortable, familiar weight take him back to simpler times, but stops his thoughts from lingering long enough to hurt. They'll be safe in the Shrine, which is more than he could say for himself. Once everything is dropped off, and his pack is lightened, Mortimer heads toward the transportation room Tad had described previously.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jan 18, 2013 10:12:26 GMT -5
The Lightbringer smiles as he walks you toward the door, "It is my pleasure Mortimer. If there is anything that you need for your journey, just ask for it. You have my permission to request resources with my authority." When the Lightbringer opens the door, you see a familiar very short, very attractive young woman. This time her shoulder length fiery red hair is pulled back tightly, and wrapped into a bun. Since you're not distracted this time, and her hair is pulled back. You notice that she has the deepest sapphire eyes, they even sparkle like the gemstones whose colour they share. The acolyte robes she was wearing before are gone. They have instead been replaced with form fitting training gear that hugs the curves of her body. You swallow hard as thoughts of your conversation with Tad earlier cross your mind. You realize that Tad never mentioned this woman, and you thought that he was remarkably through with his list. The young woman looks up at you and smiles brilliantly. She steps forward, and places a hand on your chest, right over your heart. Leaving it there for a moment, all the while never breaking eye contact. Then she giggles, and deftly dodges past you, and the Lightbringer into his office. As the Lightbringer closes the door, you overhear the Lightbringer saying, "Aednet, you're early your training doesn't start for another-" The door closes, cutting off the rest of what the Lightbringer was saying. You bring your tools to the carpentry workshop and stare openly at the sheer quality and quantity of tools, and materials that line the walls. You see a dozen hammers of varying weights, dozens of saws, hand drills, chisels and measuring devices, clamps and vices. You see many tools whose use isn't readily identifiable. You are overwhelmed at the collection, and suddenly feel self-conscience about your own tools. Then you notice that one of your tools doesn't seem to be sitting out anywhere. You see several larger lathes, but nothing small for detail work. Pulling out your hand lathe, you smile. One of the woodworkers asks you about it, and you explain that you used it for creating wooden screws to hold caskets closed. Changing temperatures would often pop the nails of caskets stored in mausoleums, causing them to open. The screws held the wood together, regardless of temperature. The woodworker takes the hand lathe, and looks it over. You can see understanding dawning in the man's eyes, and he smiles patting you on the shoulder. After distributing your tools to their corresponding locations, you finally head off to the transportation room. The transportation room looks very much like the training room you were in before, only more fortified. It looks as if this place were set up to defend against attacks from the room itself. You realize that that is probably exactly the case. The magical defenses that prevent anyone from using transportation magic to enter the Light Shrine must be disabled within this room. You pass a squad of six armed and armoured guards who seem out of place within the Light Shrine. Tad and a woman you haven't met, but that Tad did describe earlier stand in the center of the room. Tad steps forward, double raising his eyebrows and shifting his eyes toward the woman behind him, "Are you ready to go Mortimer?"
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Post by DM Quietus on Jan 19, 2013 22:45:52 GMT -5
At this moment, Mortimer only has time to be plainly shocked, this being the second time he's run into this girl. The hand she places over his heart leaves him struck, confused and speechless. Later, once his mind isn't rushing over recent events (again), his memory of that moment would come back to him, and he would have time to wonder about the mystery this girl presents. For now, however, he fails to put together even a single question before Aednet is running off once more.
In the carpentry workshop, Mortimer is struck by the variety of tools present. "When I get back, I'll have to spend some time here.", he thinks to himself, breathing in the familiar scent of sawdust. He might be self-conscious about his own tools, but he's just as much in awe of the well-stocked space. And when he's able to provide one of the workers with a new tool and ways to use it, Mortimer feels the pleasant rush of sharing one's knowledge. Before he leaves, he promises to come back and talk more, when he has the opportunity.
After all of that, walking into the transportation room is a sobering experience. In it, he has a flash of memory, thinking back to the training the Lightbringer had provided him two days prior - the thought of zombies makes Mortimer shudder, but he shakes it off. Tracing one finger alone the details of his holy symbol, he finds strength in its familiar form, but is surprised to find it warm to the touch. Writing that off as simply having had it laying against his body for the longest time, he gives a polite nod to the guards - becoming acutely aware of his own lack of armor in the process - and offers Tad a brief, nervous smile. "Much as I can be. I've got a few more questions for you, actually, but they'll wait until I get back.", he answers truthfully. "Any last minute advice?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jan 20, 2013 14:10:07 GMT -5
Tad nods, oddly not even looking curious at your request for answers. The woman with Tad smiles, and begins to speak in an almost musical sing-song voice, "I have a bit of advice regarding the Goblins. They inhabit the pass you will have to walk through to reach your destination. They respond well to shows of force, or threats there-of. For the most part they're cowardly creatures." She takes a breath, before continuing, "As for the Traal, only travel within their territory during the day. Never at night. Not ever." The way she breaks up each sentence, and stresses the importance of each word seems out of place with her musical tones. "As for getting back, I will return to where I drop you off every day at noon for a ten-day. Will that be enough time to finish what you need to do there?" Tad pats you on the shoulder as he heads out of the transportation room, "Be safe Mortimer!" He calls back over his shoulder.
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Post by DM Quietus on Jan 20, 2013 21:52:35 GMT -5
A slight frown appears at the corners of Mortimer's mouth at the mention of force. After just having formally sworn a vow of nonviolence, the thought of using even the threat of it doesn't sit well with him. Still, the advice regarding the Traal helps, even if it only serves to underline the unknown threat they present. "I can't be sure, but I think a tenday will be enough. I'll try and let you know what's happening if it takes longer than that. Thank you." In the back of his mind, Mortimer is recognizing the musical tone of her voice; he'd thought Tad had exaggerated it, but her words really were quite beautiful to listen to.
As Tad leaves, Mortimer takes the chance to thank him again for the help, and promises to see him again. Then, taking a couple minutes, he recites prayers to the Light, asking for guidance and the wisdom to make the right choices on the journey ahead. His first attempt at the spell actually fails, just barely, misjudging the positioning of his hand and causing the casting to fall apart. His second attempt is successful, however, and once the bands of magic settle into his body, he turns to the woman with the beautiful voice, saying, "Alright, I'm ready."
((Casting Heal seed : regeneration 1, duration 1 hour, casting time 1 minute, personal range. DC 13, failed first attempt with total 11, passed second with total 16.))
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jan 23, 2013 22:44:02 GMT -5
With your spell cast and your good-byes made you step up beside the woman with the beautiful voice, and she begins to sing. You only realize that her song is in fact a spell when the magical energy begins to spin and swirl around her in an incredibly intricate pattern. Her spell goes on for a full minute, and you pick out a couple bits and peices of her spell. Most of her spell is gibberish, but you do note that she is extending the range of the spell considerably. Apparently where you are being transported to is not that close to the Light Shrine.
Just as the light from her spell begins to hurt your eyes, she reaches out an grabs your shoulder. The moment she makes contact your whole world lurches. You feel nothing against your skin to say that you are moving at all, but your stomach flips as if you misjudged the last step of a staircase. As abruptly as it began it ends. You appear standing at the base of the Heaven's Spire, not thirty feet from the small cave you slept in before your ascent. The raccoon that you shared a ration with peeks out of the cave to see what's just arrived. The woman says, "Twice more and we will arrive. It was too far to take the journey in one shot." She begins to cast again, this time she casts in about six seconds instead of a full minute.
On your next arrival, the Heaven's Spire is many miles to the east, and somewhat more south than it was just moments before. You suspect that it would have taken you more then two days to walk this far on foot. The woman begins casting once more, and you can tell right away that the spell will be another minute long cast. Maybe height plays a part in casting time?
Your final arrival is just as disorienting as the first, and you find yourself standing in a mountain pass. The pass splits here, with two paths forking off what appears to be the main path. One path continues farther up the mountain, and you can see dozens of switchbacks along that route. The other path seems much more level, and slopes upward along the curve of the mountain side. The entrance to this second path is guarded by two piles of stones, one on each side of the path. Sticking up from each pile of stones is a broken spear thrust through a humanoid skull. The woman points between these macrabra totems, "Cross this Goblin tribes territory, then turn right into the territory of the Traal. I will return daily over the next ten days. Be careful Mortimer."
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Post by DM Quietus on Jan 24, 2013 21:25:54 GMT -5
To his credit, Mortimer holds on to the contents of his stomach, though the sudden brutal movement of the world leaves him a bit queasy. The sight of the familiar raccoon brings a brief smile to his lips, however, despite the incredibly rapidly receding Heaven's Spire - his mind boggles at the massive power that the musical woman is demonstrating. He'd had the very basics of magic described to him, but to see it in action.. he thinks back to the destructive magics the Lightbringer described, and considers how terrible they might be applied in this way, shuddering at the thought.
Once they've arrived, Mortimer observes the impaled skulls, and for a moment considers the wisdom in crossing the Goblin territory. This is the route to his mission, however, and so he steels himself for the journey. "Thank you, I'll try and be as fast as I can. May the Light watch over you.", he says, his fingers brushing across his holy symbol unconsciously. Once the musical woman has set off on her return journey, Mortimer turns to face the skulls, offering a brief prayer that their souls find peace as he passes into their territory. As fearsome a front as they offer, he's committed to this path, and moves forward with all the courage he can muster.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Feb 6, 2013 10:21:35 GMT -5
"And over you as well." She answers automatically, but earnestly. She then begins to cast another spell, presumably to take her back toward the Light Shrine.
With your choice made, you cross between the stacked stones with spiked skulls protruding from them. The way is level, and the path here is nowhere near as difficult as the other path with all the switchbacks looked to be. Your chosen route ascends the mountainside, and you find yourself huffing and puffing from the steepness of the grade. You seem to be making excellent time, and the view from here back toward the valley is magnificent. The view is especially fantastic ahead where the path seems to open up and the pass becomes more of an open faced cliff side. To your right you can see the mountain extending far above you, and to your left you can see the quick route down, a four hundred foot drop to the stone below. Ahead on the right you notice markings on the rock face.
You also notice that the rock face has the silhouettes of several small figures. Moving a little closer you notice that the figures are just drawings on the side of the mountain. A small overhang protecting the drawings from the elements. Several large boulders are laid out in a semi-circle facing the carvings, and you notice that the boulders have been carved into the likeness of chairs. The chairs have etchings of dragons upon them.
You also notice a couple of small figures on a ledge above the drawings, they are hunkered down to avoid notice, but you managed to catch sight of them by the sun reflecting off of something shiny. The path here is about ten feet wide, and the ledge the figures are huddled upon is about ten feet off the ground.
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Post by DM Quietus on Feb 8, 2013 22:49:15 GMT -5
For a moment, Mortimer looks down the four hundred foot drop, his fingers subconsciously playing along invisible threads of magic - not enough to cast a spell, but certainly considering it. The memory of dropping off the cliff leading to the Light Shrine wins out, however, and he continues to push forward. The drawings catch his interest, and he spends a brief moment examining them as he forges onward, keeping the figures huddled above in his peripheral vision. If they seem uncomfortable at all with Mortimer examining the stone chairs or the etchings, he'll move onward, not wanting to provoke anything unintentionally. Satisfying his curiosity is in no way worth instigating anything, particularly with the warnings he's already been given.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Feb 11, 2013 19:05:17 GMT -5
The drawings are crude, but in their simplicity there is a form of art. They show dozens of small humanoid figures dancing around a much larger creature.Since you make no real effort to conceal yourself, you note when the creatures above notice your presence. They abruptly jerk upright, and then hunker down taking cover behind the edge of the ledge. Seconds later a piercing whistle fills the air, and a flocks of birds that was heading toward the ledges above scatter away from the mountain once more. The creatures above remain hidden behind the edge of the ledge. Nothing around you moves, except the slowing circling birds above. What would you like to do now?
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Post by DM Quietus on Feb 15, 2013 22:51:42 GMT -5
Whatever the image depicts, Mortimer feels a vague sense of unease looking at it. Zombies and creatures of the shadow had turned out to be real. Were these depictions something to do with Goblin religion, or was this some other kind of creature that he hadn't yet heard of? Abruptly feeling woefully underprepared, he pushes onward, hoping for the best but keeping his eyes peeled.
When the creatures - goblins, Mortimer assumes - notice him and run off, he calls out loudly, "Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you! I'm just passing through!", belatedly realizing that they probably can't understand him. Raising his hands to show that they're empty, in case there are more hidden out of sight, he continues forward, but keeps on his toes now. The birds circling overhead remind him of old tales hunters used to tell, and they had never been a good omen.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Feb 18, 2013 8:17:18 GMT -5
You round the next turn, following the natural curve of the mountain. Ahead you see a three foot tall stack of assorted rocks and boulders blocking the path from rock face to cliff face. Two of the creatures that you assume are Goblins stand behind the barricade, using the pile to help them aim crossbows at you. A third Goblin stands on top of the barricade. This Goblin holds a length of wood that is nearly three times his height, and topped with gleaming metal. Along the rock face side behind the barricade you can see other Goblins poking their heads out of small caves, some carry weapons, while others seem to be non combatants.
When you get to about thirty feet away the long spear wielding Goblin shouts, "Halt!"
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Post by DM Quietus on Feb 25, 2013 20:42:52 GMT -5
The goblin's small statures are an oddity to Mortimer, but he takes it in stride, even bowing to their demands. Stopping in place when it's demanded, he raises both hands, continuing to display himself as a non-threat.
"I'm here as a servant of the Light, just want to pass through. I don't want any trouble.", he says, surprised with how calm his voice is. Consciously, he's aware he must cut an odd figure - the simple but elegant robes of a worshiper of the Light, with a well-worn backpack and shovel strapped to his back. Certainly not intimidating, though he hopes that works in his favor. It was the Traal he'd been warned about, moreso than the goblins, and privately he hoped that meant the goblins were more show than action.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Mar 7, 2013 10:48:13 GMT -5
The lead Goblin raises the side of his mouth, revealing a row of jagged teeth. Whether that was meant to be a comforting smile, or an intimidating grimace you can't be sure. It matters not, as the Goblin exclaims, "No! You no Goblin! You no help Goblin! You no pass!" At each exclamation the Goblin raises his spear, and all the Goblins cheer. The number of voices you hear, seem more than the number of Goblins you can see.
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Post by DM Quietus on Mar 13, 2013 21:55:49 GMT -5
"Well, no, I haven't helped any goblins before - this is the first time we've met. I would be happy to help you if I can, but I do need to come past here. Maybe we could make a deal?", Mortimer suggests, trying not to let on how nervous the goblin's expression makes him. He briefly considers making a break for it and simply running past them all, but even with his healing magic, he doesn't think he could make it past all the armed goblins and out the other side. The thought of failure, of coming this far from Urutah just to be cut down while trying to run past these goblins, sends a chill down his spine, but does give him an idea.
"If you happen to have any sick, or wounded, I could take a look at them. I'm a healer, where I come from, and I might be able to help. Then, I would have helped you, and I could pass through your lands. What do you think?" This offer, he speaks loudly enough that even those in nearby caves would be able to hear him, though he has no idea if they would understand. Truthfully, he would heal anyone he could if they were brought to him anyway, but it would also be a way to gain safe passage without having to defend himself.
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