Actual Play

Since Fasticus is not so eager to go hunting goblins

after spending a day pedalling his brain out, Fasticus

opts to walk to the pool to replenish water supply and

then check the *irregular mound to the west near the

edge of the clearing* didn't you two see that?

that we thought we saw. Fasticus starts walking to the

pool, with or without accompanyment.

From your estimate the small pond was about an hour or so southwest from the edge of the clearing. There doesnt seem to be any path established that leads away from the clearing. Would you all like to pack up camp or leave someone there to guard it?

Fasticus is thinking so hard that his eyes begin to

strain. He looks towards his companions, who appear as

perplexed as him or that may be the mead. He mentions

that their group of three is rather small and

separation is probably not particularly wise. He also

says that their mode of transportation is useless and

probably is salvage. However, he is not sure how much

the group can carry on an excursion, and believes that

some items of value that are more heavy would not be

smart to leave behind if helped. He asks if it is

possible to take everything with?

You'll be able to take all of your gear (including personal equipment, tents, and stuff) but the airship doesn't have anything of use/value in it other than a few oil pots, which may be hard to carry.

Strangely, the whole group still feels an incredible calm. In the past when you had ever ventured very far into the forest from your village you always got a feeling of apprehension. You are not sure if it is a result of your new-found in independance or something about this area.

Then we all have decided to go together. To the

waterhole, tally-ho!

you adventurous three set out, in search of water!!! ~;)

the walk through the woods is quite pleasant, you see evidence of a rich animal life; birds everywhere, animal trails are abundant and you even see a half dozen deer who regard you docilely before running off through the foliage.

In about two hours you come across the watering hole. The water is clear, cold and clean and tastes wonderful. You all fill you wine/water skins im not sure you have any, but you will certainly need them. therefore you all now have skins, whether or not you had them before.

It is still before noon, and there is plenty of hours of daylight left

So after one final drink from the clear pool, you decide to return to the clearing. Once there you investigate the mound to the east. The mound is slightly overgrown with briar patch and thistle but with a few good whacks with your blades you manage to clear an opening. What you see surprises you. There is a small set of cobblestone stairs leading down into the mound. At the base of these stairs stands a massive pair of stone doors. The stone is evidently not from this area, perhaps it was brought here specifically for this purpose. The doors have a large relief of letters and runes upon them. They look familiar, slightly like the elvish texts you saw occasionally in Ezvek. When you touch the runes upon the door you feel a slight chill, that warm presence of the clearing diminishing slightly.

open sez me!!!

I'm guessing that none of us can read, so this may be

bad or good, who knows. I do know that we came for

adventure, so to heck with life.

ok, open sez me does nothing and im not sure what heather intends to do based on her email. it might be nice if you guys read your emails before you send them to make sure i can understand them...

are u trying to open it?, looking for a secret lever? please tell me what you are intending to do rather than what u feel like randomly writing ~;)

(bad form on my part!!! gah, if they wanna play an adventure with silly banter in it, then run with it)

i believe fasticus wants to go into this door despite any possible impending doom, so in order to get the ball rolling, i try to push the door open and upon finding that doesn't work (i assume it's not that easy), i look around for some sort of irregularity in the surroundings that might indicate a switch or lever that would open the door.

you are correct in assuming it doesnt budge. you all try to push together, combining your strength and still the heavy stone doors do not move.

all players have the option to search for secret doors. the success rate is one in six for normal characters and 2/6 for elves (dwarves are good at this too, but no one is a dwarf). to search for secret doors you must specifically state that you are doing so (i interpreted your message as such). You can say 'i am searching the room/area/whatever for secret doors or switches." you may only search in an area for secrets once. however, if you are specific as to where you are searching, eg i am searching the fireplace for secrets. then you may search a room more than once, but effectively only each small area once.

all three of you decide to look for how the doors could open. Krepta inspects the seal of the doors to the walls around it and checks the floor for a touch pad. He can see scrap marks from the door opening in an arc, but they look very old.

Fasticus looks around the frame through the bushes to see if there is a switch or lever. Neither he nor Krepta find anything.

Lynn starts brushing away at moss growing on stones nearby, finding more runes but none that seem to suggest a manner of opening the door.

After you are done searching you hear the light padding of footsteps, looking up and across the clearing you see a woman dressed in a simple white flowing garment walking towards you.

Fasticus approaches her with slowly, and asks who she

is and why she is here.

Walks up behind Facticus, looking over his shoulder at her.

"Ah yes, the centaurs. so proud and headstrong" She smiles knowingly. You can see her slightly pointed ears as the wind shifts her hair and also notice she has no shoes, no other possessions upon her other than the simple white dress bound at the waist.

"My name is Sharn. I have been watching you. This is my home, may I ask what you are doing here?"

Fasticus speaks, his ears burning from how rude he had

been. "We are sorry to intrude upon your home, dear

lady, but we were directed to this clearing to gather

an item to trade for knowledge. We wish to be

adventurers (Straightens up to look stronger), but

we're pretty knew at it." His shoulders drop slightly

as he looks to his friends for furthur words.

Lynn Shrugs, not knowing what to add, and looks to the ground, shuffling her feet.

"Do not worry, you are not intruding at all. It has been quite some time since I had visitors.

"I am guessing that you are from Ezvek, there are few other places where one can find such a diverse group of friends.

"Sir," she looks directly at Krepta "I can feel your shyness, do not be afraid. If you follow your heart, acting will only make you stronger.

"I am intrigued as to what item you could be looking for around here, come back to my home if you would like and we can discuss your adventures and perhaps i can help as well as answer any questions you may have."

Fasticus looks towards his companions to see if they

want to follow as well. "She seems kind, and unlike to

harm us." his body language says. Lynn nods. krepta said that he doesn't want to stay here so he is up to the trip.

Sharn begins to walk back towards the mighty oak. You all follow her. You notice she walks lightly, barely bending the grass as she steps upon it. There is a pleasant breeze that follows her as she passes by the trees, as if they were welcoming her presence. You are convinced that Sharn is a nature spirit of some sort, and was likely the source of the tranquility that you experience while in this place.

Upon reaching the mighty oak, she pats its giant roots gently and reaches within their contortions. She pulls out a platter of bark with a pile of berries and fruit on it and passes it to you. "Please, take my offering. As you might have guessed, I am a Dryad, this tree and I are one. The forest around you is my home, under my protection."

"Long ago there was a great battle here..." she looks down, as if troubled

"A force of great evil tried to establish itself here in the forest. The elves and my kin fought it bravely, I tried to protect as many as I could. Many died, both elves, tree and forest kin alike. Eventually we won, and forced the evil into a tomb where it lies today. But this evil is ageless, it will not die with time. The clearing you see today is all that is left of the great carnage that was that battle, the trees and I have left the space as a memorial... but that was many years ago"

"As adventurers I am sure it is within your wants to try to stay this evil forever. Perhaps it can be done, if you are pure of heart. I would love to hear the story that brought you here."

i assume someone relates the tale, starting with Kahl the mad, looking for crystals etc...

"Ah yes, Kahl and Shelali. The two most caring and creative humans in this area. Your intentions are noble, Kahl can only wish for these crystals to do good with them. But I am sure he knows at what price they must come. It would not be easy to collect them, they are witihin the confines of a cavern. The same cavern to which you see the entrance over there" She points to the mound with the stone doors.

"But as you have seen these doors are unopenable, they are locked by magic... only the keeper can open them..." She pauses

"If you can answer my riddle, I will send you to the elvish village in the trees near here. When they hear your story they will surely find you the keeper, and perhaps aid you in your quest. They would like to the evil contained within that cavern vanquished as well as I"

"So a riddle.....hmm" She giggles lightly

"I am the sort of things a duck and a dragon talk about over tea. I am like the wind but not a force of nature. I am movement, I am grace, What am I?"

We believe the answer to your riddle is flight."

speaks Fasticus, who reigns supreme over the paper cups?

"Oh," she smiles "you've gotten it in one..."

"It took me quite a while to think of that one, none of my kin could ever guess it. I suppose I'll have to think of a harder one for next time.

she pauses, obviously thinking

"There is a wood elf village not far from here, if you continue travelling SW past the waterhole they will find you. It is these wood elves who are responsible for keeping the cavern sealed, you must have their permission. They will know someone who can open the great stone doors. Merely explain you're intent and tell them that I have sent you and they should be able to lead you to that one."

its late afternoon, based upon the directions she gave you think you could make it to their territory soon after nightfall.

Well people, we best set off then, if we plan on getting there before we collapse on our feet.

Lead the way, Oh Elven One.

Krepta stands there and wonders why we aren't moving.

Sharn waves at you smilingly as you leave the clearing. She has given you a little more indepth directions than before.

You walk first to the waterhole and pause briefly for a meal and a drink, then return to walking. As teh twilight deepens you can hear the woods become dangerously silent. No more hooting of owls, scurrying of small animals at your approach; the woods have seem to have become dead except for the whispers of the leaves.

"Stop" Appearing from seemingly nowhere a figure stands in the dark ahead.

You can make out that he is definately elven, clad in loosely hung leathers and a cape made of leaves. "You are in the territory of the Ylar clan. This is our forest that none may traverse without our permission. I will take you to see the council to be judged, do not speak or we will kill you without warning."

Rustles in the brush around you betray the sounds of other elves emerging. You find it unwise to resist and soon you are being led by the group of eight elves (you cannot tell if there may be more still concealed within the dark bush about you) who carry your weapons and belongings. They are being quite hospitable if still dominating, you were simply asked for your belongings and have not been bound nor pushed.

Within the hour by your estimates you can see the plumes of smoke rising above the canopy and see the flicker of a fire through the branches. The place they must be leading you to must be at higher elevation than your current path, the lights from the fire are reflected from the leaves, casting a strange, warm greenish-amber glow to the forest that increases as you continue.

As you are very close to the fires by your reckoning you can tell that they are indeed higher than your path, but not as you expected. The tall trees of the area are interlaced with a spiderweb of rope bridges and decks, many torches are positioned to light these aerial ways. You can pick out what must be buildings, huts perched somewhat precariously in the treetops, that are swaying slightly with the wind. As your eyes adapt to the lights, you can see the silhouettes of figures leaping about these platforms and in the branches. Faint sounds of merry music filters to the ground.

The elves lead you to a small grassed clearing and whistle thrice. A platform is lowered and you
are ushered to enter it. Surprisingly it holds all of your weight and you are raised to the tree tops, slowly, swinging on the ropes.

The platform stops and you are then directed to follow the first elf who found you. He leads you to a large platform on which a small tree is growing and a large fire is nearby, so large that it lights the forest top well and you can feel the heat from nearly 15ft from it. This fire is somehow on a wooden deck, which have been the composition of all the platforms you've walked over from this point, and does not wilt the tree.

You can see a group of three old elves, sitting cross legged under the tree who look intently at you. The one that confronted you leads you towards them and has you kneel.

The old one in the center speaks, his beard white and fine. "I apologize for the treatment you have been given. It is not customary to have kind visitors past twilight and all precautions are taken. We would like to hear the story of what brought you hear. We assist you, we may send you on your way, we may do otherwise if necessary. You," he points at Lynn "tell us why you are here."

We wish to gain access to the cave in the clearing of the great oak in order to retrieve the mystical crystals which we must bring to Shelali the healer.

"We have no means to open that cave, nor would we want to" The elder elf says grimly

would you mind telling us how it was sealed then perhaps? or what is contained?

"You are yet young and unwise in tactful questioning, I will give you one more chance to state your case because your blood is elvin. If I find the final explanation inadequate, you will not remain here."

note, this is not me being mean, but think of his characters position, a strange group of travellers show late in the evening, in the middle of nowhere, with inadequate explanation of why they are here or why they are looking for something, and then begin to ask about something that could be construed as suspicious. I advise you to read over the past emails and respond carefully and fully.

edit bad form! i am a pretentious fuck, heh. however it may be good to note the type of tone with which the characters interact with some NPCs. e.g. ask formally, plainly, etc. /edit

I apologize sir, i was being presumptuous. Leaving our village home, we sought adventure, and having heard of an ancient shrine in the area, we went to kahl the mad to consult with him, being that he was the only person in the area with knowledge of this shrine. He agreed to share with us what he knew, but only if we completed a task for him. This task was to retrieve the mystical crystals from the cave in the valley of the great oak. He lent us his airship, and after a battle with some oars while we were on our way, we arrived in the valley. Upon finding that the doors of the cave would not buge, we came across Sharn the Dryad. She fed us, and asked our intentions. After telling her, she told u that only the keeper could open the cave. We solved a riddle she presented to us, in order to vbe given direction to you, and were sent on our way, bringing us to here and now.

The elder listens intently to your tale and at the mention of Sharn you can see a faint smile momentarily flash across his face.

"I am glad to hear such an adventurous tale. There are so few youths now that would consider venturing out into the wild with nothing to depend upon but their wits. It seems you have had quite the adventure already, and I am sure it has barely begun. Kahl is a good soul, he has aided our clan in the past and we owe him many returns. He would not lightly dispense the knowledge of the legendary shrine. It is in fact a possession of our clan, I did no wish to divulge this before I was certain of your intentions. But those people who you have met and the results of these encounters is proof enough to me of noble ideals.

The Shrine is in fact a magical tomb, long ago there was a battle between the citizens of the forest and a great evil. Unstoppable, relentless evil. It started as a withering of our precious forests, a disease that would make all things ill that it touched. Then, as more things died, they began to become animated and rise against the living. We fought long and hard to vanquish it. As our warriors fell, they stood back up as legions of the Undead and fought against us. Eventually we determined that they were being controlled by an evil sorcerer who hid within our midst that had secretly sold his soul to an evil lord for power and was slowly turning into one of the creatures that his power was to create and control.

"We flushed him out, and only by great magics we sealed him in the Shrine, which was then intended to be a great underground palace of the forest kin. The crystals which you mentioned are indeed within, they are quite powerful and it is part of their power that keeps that sorcerer sealed in his undying form deep beneath the forest. We would gladly give you permission to enter this shrine. But be warned, by doing so you may face him and his minions. We do not know if he has grown weak with age, but we speculate that he is as eternal as Death itself.

"We have a warrior amongst us, one skilled in dealing with the horrors of the Undead. He has become like a brother to our clan. His original clan was becoming decimated by hordes of orcs and their battle came near our forests. Unable to let good people die needlessly we helped to drive off the orc army and rescue all survivors. He helped to heal all the wounded and remained with us still as the others gradually went on their ways.

"The cave can only be opened by the Keeper indeed. But she is a tricky one, not easily won over. You have in fact, met her already. Sharn sent you here to fetch our approval and to be supplied. She would like to see that Shrine cleansed as much as we, and felt it in your best interest to come to us.

"But do not worry of such things now. Come, by the fire, drink, be merry. Tonight we shall have a celebration in your honour.

"To these fine adventurers who seek to do noble deeds!" The elders stand their eyes aglow with happiness. The emerging crowds of elves hurrah.

"To these fine adventurers!"

The rest of the evening is spent partying with the elves and meeting Kuracisto av Proelium, the warrior who the elder had spoken of. As you all settle down into prepared beds of soft, silky leaves of which kind you have never felt before, the trees rock you to sleep and you feel confident in facing the great dangers ahead.

"Greetings fellow adventures. My name is Kuracisto av Proelium, though to most I am simply know as Kura." says the tall, slim human male dressed in drab trousers and tunic. "The elder has told me that you plan to enter the Shrine, but that you have no experience against the undead. I would be willing to lend my assistance to you in cleansing the unholy from the Shrine if you so wish. Also life here has become stale and I would like to adventure some more before I return to my homeland."

Yes, yes. Let's all be merry and destory the

undead!!!!

Hey, Let's get this moving slightly, maybe..

Quick recap....

The rest of the evening is spent partying with the

elves and meeting Kuracisto av Proelium, the warrior

who the elder had spoken of. As you all settle down

into prepared beds of soft, silky leaves of which kind

you have never felt before, the trees rock you to

sleep and you feel confident in facing the great

dangers ahead.