| Chapter 1: Greenest in Flames | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 29 2016, 02:32 PM (488 Views) | |
| DungeonMaster | Feb 29 2016, 02:32 PM Post #1 |
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The road to Greenest has been light, but scenic, as you slowly make your way through the countryside of the Kingdom of Valeria, formerly known as the Burning Coast. You have each taken different paths to get to this point, but each path was as uneventful as the other. The lush plains of the coast don't allow for many hiding places for bandits or ambushes, and even so, adventurers such as yourselves don't typically have much difficulty with the random brigands and thieves that find themselves lurking in the shadows, waiting for unsuspecting prey. Upon approaching the city, however, you immediately sense that something is wrong as the sun dips down towards the horizon. The normal sounds of summer suddenly draw quiet, instead replaced by screams and what sounds like the crackling of flames. You hear a cacophonous explosion, shaking the ground at your feet, even as far away from the town as you are, and your pace immediately quickens. As you crest the top of the hill that looks down into the valley where Greenest lies, you see a city in flames. From your distance, you can make out humanoid creatures frantically running around, causing chaos and attempting to strike down any villagers that come their way and, amongst all of the chaos down in the city streets, you hear an enormous "whoosh" as a blue dragon flaps its wings, soaring over your head and dipping down towards the town before letting off a blast of lightning that hits something, causing a massive explosion in the center of town. Your pace quickens and each of you passes through the gates into the town at different times, all ending up in the town square at roughly the same time, each on different sides of the square, looking and surveying the damage done to the city. Before you can react to anything, however, you notice three kobolds and what appears to be some sort of dragon-like creature anarchically destroying the town square. They are all too preoccupied with their current task to take notice of any of you. What would you like to do? As far as who is who, Jareth is the top left token, Soliel is the top right and Oakenheel is the bottom left. Also, click on the spoiler to see an explanation of the map. Spoiler: click to toggle ![]() Edited by DungeonMaster, Feb 29 2016, 02:36 PM.
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| Jareth | Mar 1 2016, 10:59 PM Post #41 |
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Jareth grabs the gold pieces from Soleil and shakes it in his hand thoughtfully. "Twenty-one huh? I think I earned the bulk of it doing all the heavy lifting." Jareth glances at the Ulric and his torn armor and grumbles something to himself then he tosses seven gold pieces to Ulric. "Here big whiff, get that thing repaired." Then he turns to Soleil and hands seven gold pieces to her. "And you didn't do to bad yourself." |
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| DungeonMaster | Mar 1 2016, 11:03 PM Post #42 |
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As you gather yourselves from the battle, you suddenly hear the increasing chaos of what sounds like a sword fight closing in on your location. Perception Rolls Spoiler: click to toggle As Jareth searches for the source of the chaotic noise, Soleil and Sir Ulric turn to see a stocky looking dwarf with bright ginger hair and a thick ginger beard, followed closely by a small female gnome with platinum blonde hair, wearing plate mail, holding off a couple of raiders as about eight townsfolk, including a family of four, rush into the town square behind them. Before any assistance can be given, however, the dwarf disarms one of the raiders with one blow before cleaving his head clean off, and the gnome runs her sword through the torso of the other raider. Both drop to the ground as the two continue ushering the family into the square before they turn and find themselves face-to-face with you. The dwarf looks around at the bodies scattered about the town square, then at each of you in turn. "I don't know who you folk are, but we're in dire need of help escorting these people to the keep." He breaks down into a coughing fit and you can see a crimson stain spreading across his midsection. The gnome steps forward, clasping the holy symbol that hangs from her neck and a pale blue glow of divine energy emanates from her hand and, through the tear in his armor, you see the wound mend itself. "Are you able to fight?" the dwarf asks, righting himself. "Pike, here, can provide you with healing if you need it, but I need able bodies to help me get these people to safety." |
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| Jareth | Mar 1 2016, 11:09 PM Post #43 |
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Jareth surveys the dwarf and gnome and then reaches down to touch the hilt of his obsidian sword on his right hip, making sure it can clear the scabbard easily. With his other hand he rubs his chin and answers. "What's in it for us?" |
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| DungeonMaster | Mar 2 2016, 12:19 AM Post #44 |
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The dwarf looks at Jareth, the annoyance obvious on his face. "The gratitude of the master of the keep would be a start," he grumbles. "But I'm sure the governor would be more than happy to speak to you about that once we get into the keep. Beyond that, I'm sure there's something in the ashes of the town that we could wrangle up." |
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| Sir Ulric | Mar 2 2016, 10:47 AM Post #45 |
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Ulric steps forward, offering a hand of introduction to the dwarf. "You'll have to forgive Jareth here for his behavior. He appears to still be bathing in the after-battle bloodlust. Sir Ulric Oakenheel. I will be fit to fight as soon as I can repair the damage I suffered. I cannot speak to the rest of those in the square here." |
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| DungeonMaster | Mar 2 2016, 11:25 AM Post #46 |
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The dwarf takes Ulric's hand, shaking it for a moment. "Castellan Escobert. I'm the Master of the Keep here in Greenest. This is Pike Trickfoot, one of my most trusted friends." He looks at Pike and nods in your direction. "Pike...If you don't mind." Pike steps forward, clasping her holy symbol once more, and another glow of bluish divine energy emanates from her clasped hand and you notice your wounds slowly start to mend. As the energy dies down, you feel refreshed and reinvigorated. "That should be sufficient," she says, smiling kindly at the three of you. "Very good," Castellan says. "Now, please...While we have a moment. Who are you people and what happened here? Did you see any other townsfolk in the square? Anyone else we can get to the keep?" |
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| Soleil Moonshadow | Mar 2 2016, 12:00 PM Post #47 |
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Soleil nods her head in acknowledgement to Pike and Castellan, not quite deigning to shake their hands just yet. "Well, you've met Sir Ulric and Jareth. I am Soleil Moonshadow and if you haven't figured it out yet, we just saved your town from that. (pointing at the carcass of the drake) Don't be mistaken and assume we came as a group, although it looks like Fate is turning us into one. Now as for your question, no I didn't see any other townsfolk, but forgive me but I was slightly distracted, you know, trying not to get eaten and all." She adjusts her longbow over her shoulder and wipes the dirt off of her crimson leather armor and cocks her head to the side curiously. "What has my curiosity piqued is IF you're master of the keep, how did you not know what beset your town? And I saw the way you handled the raiders, so why ask for our help?" |
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| DungeonMaster | Mar 2 2016, 12:18 PM Post #48 |
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As Soleil speaks, an enormous blue dragon streaks overhead before diving down, laying waste to another section of the town. "Does that answer your question?" Castellan says. "There have been rumors of a cult working along the coast. One intent on bringing back a new age of the dragons. From what I understand, they've been collecting these masks that could bring back the Queen of the dragons from the hell to which she was banished. I'd not seen them before today, however. As to what they're doing in Greenest? Your guess is as good as mine." The roar of the dragon is heard again, along with a cacophonous crash of a building collapsing. "I suggest that we talk while we move, though. There's no telling where that damned thing will strike next. |
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| Soleil Moonshadow | Mar 2 2016, 12:34 PM Post #49 |
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At the mention of a dragon cult, Soleil's eyes flare in anger. With her jaw set tight, she begins to usher the group to safety, along with Jareth and Sir Ulric. She watches the blue beast wing away and cuts a sharp look to Castellan. "A cult? That wouldn't be the Cult of Winged Fury, would it?" |
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| DungeonMaster | Mar 2 2016, 12:47 PM Post #50 |
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"They go by a lot of names in a lot of different places. We call them the Cult of the Dragon, but the Cult of Winged Fury is what your people refer to them as, yes." Castellan's eyes dart around the rooftops of the city, his axe at the ready as Pike keeps the townsfolk and the family close by. "Everything I've heard has just been rumor, though. If this is the doing of the cult, this is the first we've seen of it in Greenest." Another roar is heard and Castellan quickly ushers you down a covered, side alley. "Quickly. In here." You wait quietly and tensely for any sounds of attack on your district, but hear only the heavy pounding of the dragon's wings as it flies overhead. "Look. I don't know what the governor has planned, but I can tell that the three of you can handle yourselves pretty well. Most of my troops were cut down in the ambush, and what few I have left are defending the keep, keeping the raiders at bay. Once we get these people to the keep, come with me to see the governor. If nothing else, I promise you'll have access to whatever the quartermaster has available for your help." |
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6:48 PM Jul 10