Dungeons & Dragons 2.0 (Active RP topic)

This change in events disappointed Garrel somewhat. He wanted to get rid of those annoying little bastards. Two whole days of being trailed through the forest and all for nothing. Well on a better note, those guys were finally off his tail and it would surely be a while before he was found again, and he would have a group of, um... comrades to assist him in a fight. Thinking up a quick plan, Garrel waited for one of the adventurers to reach for the rest of the platinum coins. When the soldiers were out of sight, Azul reached for the coins. As he was about to pick up the coins, Garrel threw one of his kunai at the coins. The kunai buried its point in the ground in front of the coins creating a small barrier between the coins and the adventurer. After throwing the kunai, Garrel jumped onto a tree and then catapulted himself onto the ground behind the small pile of coins. Looking as menacing as possible, Garrel said, "I believe i am entitled to one of those", and promptly picked one of the coins up and pocketed it along with his kunai.

Edit: Sorry for using our character Hawk but I knew you would be OK with it. It is a small usage anyway. Nothing to big.

@ Muffy: That was a one time thing. Won't happen again.

"I believe i am entitled to one of those." Some strange, shrouded guy, most likely the one that the troop had seen sprint across the path earlier was now standing in front of them claiming things. This could become interesting, Athuk though when he stood up and pulled his blade from its sheath, before stepping in a bit closer and pointing its tip at the newcomer. "Actually, I'm pretty sure that they belong to our group. They took the offer, made the deal and decided not to rat out a complete stranger for quite a large sum of money, instead sending them another way. Now it helps that those... whatever they were were in a hurry and possibly not the brightest humans on this planet, but the point still stands that that platinum is not yours." Athuk lowered his blade a bit, which would actually allow him to strike faster and harder if he needed to, but it also looked less threatening. "Now would you mind telling us who you are, who those people were and what's going on between you and them?"

(Loldialogue)

"Actually, I'm pretty sure that they belong to our group. They took the offer, made the deal and decided not to rat out a complete stranger for quite a large sum of money, instead sending them another way. Now it helps that those... whatever they were were in a hurry and possibly not the brightest humans on this planet, but the point still stands that that platinum is not yours.", said the weird looking dragon-like creature to Garrel. He assumed it was a Dragonborn. The Dragonborn then lowered the blade it was pointing at Garrel, a bad move in Garrel's opinion. "Now would you mind telling us who you are, who those people were and what's going on between you and them?", the Dragonborn said. "That my friend", Garrel said, "shall be disclosed at a later time. Your knowing would bring harm to me and you... but mostly me. Besides, I need to know if I can trust you. As for the platinum, seeing as I was keen on killing those men and taking what I could find, I believe I deserve something. Besides, that is only the latest group in a series of groups of soldiers trying to capture me. All prior attempts have failed miserably, except that one escapade in Beryllium but I still got away. Now, I believe this is the part where you introduce your selves and reveal your mission seeing as i am the guest here."

Shade's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, regardless.
"You have a point. I am Shade Rowlandson, the resident necromancer. I am trying to clear the name of necromancy by showing the world that this so-called "dark art" can be used for good, as well." Shade stood up and faced the hooded guest. "And while I am willing to extend hospitality to a stranger in need, I must be wary of a stranger who may bring the force of an entire country's army down upon my friends' and my own heads." Shade stepped forward and on to the platinum coins, effectively blocking them from being picked up by anyone. "Please explain yourself. And quickly, too; I do not know if those men will return."

As the rest of the party quizzed the latest arrival, Gurry scooped up one of the platinum coins and tucked it into his pouch. No sense in letting someone else take it - if they all wanted to argue, they could. Sitting down on a log, Gurry decided to wait and listen in - good help was hard to come by, and newcomers were usually welcome, but one being hunted by armed mercenaries was probably not the best kind to have around...

The shade stood up and bowed deeply to Garrel and said, "You have a point. I am Shade Rowlandson, the resident necromancer. I am trying to clear the name of necromancy by showing the world that this so-called "dark art" can be used for good, as well." "So, his name is Shade. Unoriginal and apparently, a straight fellow.", thought Garrel. "And while I am willing to extend hospitality to a stranger in need, I must be wary of a stranger who may bring the force of an entire country's army down upon my friends' and my own heads." "My, this fellow knows so little. That is expected though and quite the interrogator too. Wants to know everything now.", thought Garrel and as the necromancer spoke, he kept his body language at a neutral uninterested. "Please explain yourself. And quickly, too; I do not know if those men will return.", said the shade as he finished. "At last you have finished.", Garrel stated. "Now then, I can not divulge certain things as that would endanger all of you and me. But mostly me. I have said this already. I can tell you two things. First, those guys are fools and idiots. They won't return. Second, I am being chased by a powerful man, not a country. He has limits and with those guys gone and us moving, we can avoid contact with him and his men by at least 3 months.". "Now who are you?", Garrel said as he pointed to the weird man in the blue cloak with the mask. "You and him," Garrel said as he pointed to Gurry, "are the only people I believe I can trust."

Edit: Sorry 'bout that Tuba

((By the way: Shade is a human. ;P ))




"'Chased by a powerful man,'" Shade echoed. "That sounds even better." Though he was hopeful that he was making progress in his quest; the man seemed to trust him, despite being a practitioner of the dead arts. The necromancer turned to the group. "Well? Should we travel with this ... man (I think) or leave him be?"

Azul nearly screeched when the blade landed near his piece of platinum. The cloaked man then emerged from the woods, taking Azul's coin and claiming it as his own. The conjurer wanted to hug Staffy and cry over the loss of such money, but contented himself by grabbing one of the left over coins. The new arrival began to explain his situation. Apparently he was being chased by some individual who wanted him bad enough to pay a group of hunters very handsomely to chase him. The man then asked Azul to introduce himself.

The conjurer bowed clumsily, his mask nearly hitting the ground. "The name's Azul stranger, conjurer of many beasts, and one of the members of this fine group. I'm on a grand and daring quest to make enough so I can buy my own island and live there happily ever after. A grand dream, I know."

Azul's eyes then narrowed as he leaned on his staff and studied the thief. "Now, I do believe that you owe us a bit more explanation than what you're offering. We saved your ass, allowed you a piece of platinum, and you persist in the idea that you don't have to tell us where you came from or who you are. Ordinarily I would say we should just leave you behind, but I'm curious enough to want to know more about what your story is."

Azul waved to the rest of the group. "C'mon, let's get going. Only a matter of time before the hunters return. And you good sir can explain to us why we shouldn't sell your slimy face back to the man chasing you. He does pay rather handsomely based on that platinum."

"The name's Azul stranger, conjurer of many beasts, and one of the members of this fine group. I'm on a grand and daring quest to make enough so I can buy my own island and live there happily ever after. A grand dream, I know.", said the strange conjurer. "I knew I could trust that guy.", Garrel thought. "Now, I do believe that you owe us a bit more explanation than what you're offering. We saved your ass, allowed you a piece of platinum, and you persist in the idea that you don't have to tell us where you came from or who you are. Ordinarily I would say we should just leave you behind, but I'm curious enough to want to know more about what your story is. C'mon, let's get going.", Azul said to the others. "Only a matter of time before the hunters return. And you good sir can explain to us why we shouldn't sell your slimy face back to the man chasing you. He does pay rather handsomely based on that platinum.". This statement annoyed Garrel. "For the third time, I am telling you those guys will not come back. They are complete idiots and won't come back. If we get moving, then they definitely won't be able to find me or you guys. As for my story, well... I guess I will tell you since it appears to be the only way to get us moving. I am a soldier for hire, or was. My last employer hired me and is now chasing me because because I did not complete my assigned mission of slaying innocent people. I gave back the money I was paid but he was not satisfied. He put me in his dungeon and I slipped out the same night. The guards are complete idiots. I have no idea why he chases me. I have done nothing wrong. I have been on the run for months now. He won't stop until he has me in his hands. There you have my story. Now can we get moving?" "Well hopefully they buy that lie." Garrel thought. "That hopefully will get us moving and out of the range of those idiots."

Seeing the rest of the coins disappear into Azul's pocket didn't bother Sandor in the least. His only preferred method of obtaining money was to escort travelers through the forest, providing they promised not to harm the plants and wildlife around them. "I am Sandor Hosok. I am a ranger who admires the wonders of nature and almost nothing else. I was told to find this lot of "heroes" in a vision and have joined them on their current quest," said the elf as he took off his hat and bowed in a very formal manner, "I admire your valiant code of ethics, good sir. Killing the innocent, whether animal or being, is one atrocity to which I will not stoop. What was your employer's conflict with these people you were to kill, anyway?"

"I am Sandor Hosok. I am a ranger who admires the wonders of nature and almost nothing else. I was told to find this lot of "heroes" in a vision and have joined them on their current quest. I admire your valiant code of ethics, good sir. Killing the innocent, whether animal or being, is one atrocity to which I will not stoop. What was your employer's conflict with these people you were to kill, anyway?" "And another sucker falls for the Garrel Lie Spinner. I am very good at my job. Now, to spin another lie.", Garrel thought. "Well. I never did know the problem my employer had with the innocent people. All I was told was to eliminate those people. When I saw them they were peasants. Poor as dirt. I approached one of them and asked them if they knew my employer. They knew of him, but had done nothing that would upset anyone. There I said I could not kill them, told the villagers of my task, and returned, blade dry. One conversation later and I am being taken to the dungeon. I believe he is a puppet for some evil ruler or something."

Having lived in the presence of nature most of his life, Sandor was a tad naive, but not stupid. He eyed the new arrival with scrutiny after stepping back with the rest of the group. His greeting had been naught but a ruse to draw some more dialog from the assassin's mouth. There was something not quite right with this figure. The elf decided he would watch the man in the hood closely, lest he lead the party into some sort of trap.

Azul wrapped his arm around the thief while they walked. The thief was then made aware of just how tall the lanky Azul was, and standing side by side made it so that he had to look up to see the conjurer's face. "Look, I honestly couldn't care less about your personal story. I'm sure its all very sad and dreary and possibly made up, but honestly I don't care in the slightest. What I do care about is the fact that you dodged my question."

Azul's eyes seemed intent on watching Garrel's face. "When I ask why I shouldn't sell you back to the man chasing you, I don't want an answer about how you were wrongly imprisoned. Not my problem, life's hard, blah blah blah. Let me make a few things clear to you boy. We have recently taken in a few new members, and that means that meals and payments will have to be even further divided. At the same time, why should we trust you? You spin a good yarn, but I can tell when something important isn't being told. Such as the name of the man chasing you, important details like that."

"Now, those hunters seemed very eager to get you by any means necessary, and we've already gotten five platinum to help them find you. What if we tied you up and gave you to them? I bet there's more money where that came from. In the adventuring business, you take money when you can get it, and you're not worth more than what they're offering for your head. Not yet at least."

Azul pointed off into the distance and took his arm off of Garrel's shoulder. "Now, you best hope you can kill enough Kobolds to impress me. You're going in first."

The weird conjurer wrapped his arm around Garrel. This worried Garrel. His mind screamed, "DANGER! This guy might not be as trustworthy as I thought. Crap, I must be getting rusty." "Look", Azul said. "I honestly couldn't care less about your personal story. I'm sure its all very sad and dreary and possibly made up, but honestly I don't care in the slightest. What I do care about is the fact that you dodged my question." As Azul spoke, he stared intensely into Garrel's face. Looking for a hint of doubt, lying, or dread. "When I ask why I shouldn't sell you back to the man chasing you, I don't want an answer about how you were wrongly imprisoned. Not my problem, life's hard, blah blah blah. Let me make a few things clear to you boy. We have recently taken in a few new members, and that means that meals and payments will have to be even further divided. At the same time, why should we trust you? You spin a good yarn, but I can tell when something important isn't being told. Such as the name of the man chasing you, important details like that. Now, those hunters seemed very eager to get you by any means necessary, and we've already gotten five platinum to help them find you. What if we tied you up and gave you to them? I bet there's more money where that came from. In the adventuring business, you take money when you can get it, and you're not worth more than what they're offering for your head. Not yet at least. Now, you best hope you can kill enough Kobolds to impress me. You're going in first." "So. You are one Nagging Nelly.", said Garrel. "Well. The name of my employer was the rich knight, Sir John of the Sword. His full name I do not know. Rarely did I ask questions back then. And if you did have the audacity and skill to tie me up and hand me over to those men, you would get no money. They would fight you, beat you, and take me while leaving your beaten and bruised bodies to die or, they would kill you on the spot. Besides, all of Sir John's hunting parties are given 5 platinum for pay off money. Poor people, like you," Garrel pointed to Azul while saying this, "never know who they are betraying and take the 5 platinum. I am worth more than 250 platinum to Sir John. By now, probably 500. Besides...". Garrel jumped in front of Azul, stopping him in his tracks and whispered, "I could kill you on this spot you little son of a bitch.". As Garrel said this, he scratched Azul under the chin. Like the way one does to a puppy. After a short scratch, Garrel deployed his hidden blade located in his gauntlet. All Azul knew was that something sharp was poking the fleshy area under his jaw. Everyone else knew nothing either. They thought Azul and the new stranger were whispering. Then, Garrel moved the blade slowly, down to the middle of Azul's neck, right over the Adam's Apple while keeping it concealed from everyone... including Azul. Garrel then with lighting fast speed, moved his arm deep into his large sleeve, concealing the blade from sight. Then Garrel moved over to a tree and punched it. This pushed the blade back into the gauntlet, concealing it for good. "Oh. I almost forgot.", Garrel said, with a lighter and friendlier air in his voice. "I have yet to tell you all my name. I am Garrelgamesh. Garrel in short." Garrel bowed in the formal style of the Eastern cultures (what we know as Asian). "And yes good conjurer. I would be happen to show you my skills against the kobolds. May I ask, why am I sent to slay them?".

Alysa walked over to Sandor while watching the newcomer.

"Was this man really worth the five platinum?" She asked him in a low voice.

"That is yet to be decided," Shade responded, in the same hushed tone of Alysa. To Garrelgamesh, Shade said, slightly louder: "These particular kobolds have been interfering with the trade of towns outside the forest. We were dispatched, as a group of adventurers-for-hire, to take care of these little monsters. And if you want to join our group," Shade extended his hand, palm up, peacfeully, "and be rewarded as we will, then you will prove your worth to us by assisting us in this endeavor. And since you are new to us, and we do not know if we may trust you at our backs, we would like for you to go into the kobold's lair first."


((See? I can read the first post!))

Sssschlick. Ssshlick. Sssshlick.

Gurry ran the whetstone down the length of his shortsword again, taking a little longer than he needed to. "Aye, tha's right. We'll be right behind you. Jus' in case yer not as friendly or co-operative as y' say y'are." The dwarf tested the blade, pressing his finger lightly to the edge. "O' course, if ye happen t' meet an unfortunate end, y' wouldn't mind if we turned yer body over to those men, would ye?"

"These particular kobolds have been interfering with the trade of towns outside the forest. We were dispatched, as a group of adventurers-for-hire, to take care of these little monsters. And if you want to join our group," Shade extended his hand, palm up, "and be rewarded as we will, then you will prove your worth to us by assisting us in this endeavor. And since you are new to us, and we do not know if we may trust you at our backs, we would like for you to go into the kobold's lair first." This worried Garrel. This harsh method of 'trust building' was not the intended method Garrel wanted to befriend these adventurers. "This is bad.", Garrel thought. "I came on too strong. I have revealed too much of my pompous side. Need to cool it down and need to show them I 'trust' them." Then Garrel heard the dwarf sharpening his sword and then spoke after a drawn out run with his whetstone. "Aye, tha's right. We'll be right behind you. Jus' in case yer not as friendly or co-operative as y' say y'are." The dwarf tested the blade, pressing his finger lightly to the edge. "O' course, if ye happen t' meet an unfortunate end, y' wouldn't mind if we turned yer body over to those men, would ye?" "Actually," Garrel said, "I would rather have my body burned at the same place my father was cremated. Concerning the kobolds. I am not afraid of them, no. I just wish to know their skills and numbers. I am not immortal after all and I have noticed my skills have been slipping lately. It must be all the running I have done. No combat recently.". Garrel lowered and shook his head as he explained his slipping.

"I'm starting to ask myself that as well," Sandor mentioned to his fellow ranger, "For the first wrong step he takes, I'll be up in the forest canopy training an arrow at his throat." Sandor walked side by side with Alysa behind the hooded figure quietly discussing this new turn of events. In his mind he began to play a pointless little game where he aimed an imaginary arrow at the stranger's head. This amused the elf and even brought a rare, but apparent smile to his face.

Azul chuckled. "Please sir, don't be so modest. I know that you're just doing your best not to embarrass us with your mad skills, but I insist that you show us what a fighter like you can do. You must be really strong with a group like the hunters following you, and I want to see what such a man like you can do."

As Azul got closer to his face got close enough to Garrel that only he could hear his whispers. "If you ever threaten me again, I will summon a horde of snakes to clean that disgusting skin off its bones."

Azul's voice rose once more. "To answer your question, Kobolds have no particular skills, but they do enjoy poking things with sharp sticks. But they should be no trouble for a man like you." Azul have him a seemingly hearty slap on the back that stung Garrel hard. "Now, go on. Me and Staffy shall be ready if you start screaming in agony. That means its time for us to tactically retreat."

As the party ventures through the forest with the man known as Garrel, discussing their plan of attack upon discovery of the kobold lair, the path they travel on begins to widen. The path no longer includes simple dirt but now incorporates wide patches of dead, heavily trampled grass as well. A few feet ahead, the path ends and opens into an open, grassy clearing. As the party nears this clearing, they spot a large cave entrance on the opposite side, with thick foliage growing around the stone.

The air is still and the party enters the clearing, keeping their distance from the cave but doing their best to examine it from where they stand. Dwellervorn indicates that this is the lair of the kobolds, as far as he knows. Sandor the ranger senses that they are not alone.

Azul scared Garrel. He know Azul could back up what he said. Only those who can back up their power whisper threats. Garrel no longer trusted him. "He is a real threat to my existence.", Garrel though. "I can tell we will never be friends. Maybe we can reach a level of understanding and indifference. At least for now, he doesn't want to kill me. I would most likely be injured. Death is a possibility to." As the party approached the lair of the kobolds, Garrel took via context, they lived in the cave. Garrel knew two things. First, beings that can make weapons are smart. Second, rarely is a home left unguarded. There are hidden guards here. Turning towards Azul, Garrel pretended to look at Azul while he really studied the treeline on forest. Slowly, turning to the rest of the group, Garrel looked at the trees and forest on the other side of the street. "Well, ", Garrel said, "The kobolds are OBVIOUSLY in that cave. Does anyone have lamp oil. If I cover it in oil and Azul lights it on fire, I can throw it in the cave and bring light to that dark situation." As Garrel spoke, his stressing of the word 'obviously' indicated he believed the cave was a distraction. Looking at Sandor, Garrel pointed at a tree and said, "Sandor. You are a person of the woods. What can you tell me about that tree? I am especially interested in the leaves. Could you shoot one of the 'leaves' off so I can get a better look at it?". To better clarify, Garrel walked up to Sandor and pointed at the tree's foliage. Whispering to Sandor, Garrel said, "Kobold. Left side. Upper foilage."

"Right," said Sandor with naught but a blank expression about him. Not wasting any time, the ranger quickly drew his bow and lined up the shot. "You mean this leaf, Sir Garrel?" he asked as he fired off into the canopy.

"Well I dont know Sandor? Mayhaps there is another more 'suitable' leaf that STICKS OUT to you. After all, you do have better eyes and knowledge.", said Garrel. Whispering to Sandor again, Garrel said, "I have a guess as to something is up. Most likely ambush. They are somewhere. Find one."

"Does anyone have lamp oil. If I cover it in oil and Azul lights it on fire, I can throw it in the cave and bring light to that dark situation."

"We have no need for 'lamp oil' newcomer." Athuk growled as he snapped his fingers and a small, but bright, blue flame appeared in the center of his left hand (his blade-hand). He then closed his fist and the flame disappeared again. "It will provide us with enough light. Now let's go before we fall victim to another ambush of those foul creatures, the caves will inhibit their javelin tossing greatly." With that said, Athuk, hand firmly placed on his blade's hilt, moved forward and into the cave's entry, being sure to watch out for trip-wires and pressure plates as he stepped carefully from the mushy forest floor onto the cave-entry's stone underground. Inside the cave's mouth, he snapped his fingers again, this time accompanied by a few ancient Dragonborn words to conjure forth a larger, strong, blue flame to guide the group. "And don't bother trying to shoot imaginary kobolds out of the trees, if they want us, they'll come after us and here... well here they can't surround or surprise us, if we keep our eyes open anyway."