Introduction The Silver Griffon - Page 3

abc123 · #31 05-28-2012, 01:23 PM

For the time being, the Captain remained in the downpour. He still had a lot of new information to process and, if he fully accepted it, it would upend all the hate that had been fueling him for all these long years. But, for now, even if he did not trust Abel, he had to play his game, for Abel was the only one he knew who knew the passageways back into Purgatory. As much as he had struggled there, he did still need to go back. He had left too many friends behind, with promises to return as soon as he could, and the Captain waas not one to break his promises so easily. Also, he looked forward to having a few words with the ruler of that kingdom. He had already killed one immortal ruler, what was another one.

Resolving himself to staying on this plane until he knew how to return to the other, and hopefully had amassed a small crew so he would not have to go it alone, he stood up, draining his pint as he walked inside. He dropped himself on the same stool again and, as it whined in protest to receiving his weight again, he tipped his empty pint glass towards the bartender. Still enough on my tab for a couple more of these, and a room tonight?

Eilaer · #32 05-28-2012, 03:37 PM

Mother digested the inately inadequate information and watched as the others slowly seemed to go back into the building and out of the rain. As much as the conclusion she came to was not one she cared for, it was resoundingly the best choice given the circumstances. She finally entered the tavern once more and made her way to the Captain after he had asked something about drinks and rooms.

"Captain, given what I know right now, I will have to decline assisting you under and hope you understand my reasoning being similar to if I had asked you to assist me in waging a war under the surface of the sea. The uncertainty surrounding how this Purgatory would affect me is great enough that risking it seems inadvisable. While cease of function is a primary concern, this area may also adversly affect my control over myself and I could pose a risk to you and any other that agrees to go with you. If you find in the future that this area will not affect me much differently than it does others, I will not hesitate to assist you."

She hoped that it was clear that she had no qualms about helping him, just that she was more than a little worried about how simply moving might cause death. Death itself was not so much her worry, but failing in her task. She wasn't all that up on the death part either though, but felt this was reasonable enough for her to decline the offer.

robotbear · #33 05-28-2012, 04:26 PM

After what had been a fair bit of commotion, the room began to settle in again though the whispers now more excited than they might have been otherwise. The bartender simply nodded to the orc and refilled his glass. He didn't like the idea of the man getting drunk and breaking a patron, but his gold was good and he was sure he needed it.
A shadow in the back of the room shuffled and moved himself along with the loaf of dry bread he had been breaking his teeth on all night and sat down at the bar, the seat right next to Goldtooth. His short stature and long, braided white beard poking out of a deep hood figured him for a dwarf. Without looking over, he simply acknowledged the man with a sightless nod. He spoke with every consonant very clearly."Captain."

abc123 · #34 05-28-2012, 10:38 PM

The Captain chuckled. His voice was a warm growl, appreciative of Mother's comments, and he talked slowly, but steadily. Do not worry yourself about these matters, my Warforged ally. I do not intend to head into those depths until I understand them further myself. Hopefully, by that point, I will have learned that they will not bring about your immediate destruction and, if I do learn this, I hope I can count on your support in that adventure. I will need a crew, and I'm sure your talents will be much appreciated on our endeavors.

It was at this point that the dwarf mumbled something on his other side, so he held up his hand to Mother, asking her silently if she would excuse him while he spoke with the old dwarf. With that, he turned on his stool and, after taking a long, deep drink, replied: Yes?

robotbear · #35 05-28-2012, 11:41 PM

The dwarf refused to turn, his eyes hidden beneath the cloak. He grabbed the old loaf and snapped it in his mouth. "Its been a long time since your name has come up. I feared your story had ended." His face made a jerk to his right, the glint of an wrinkled smile forming in the dim light. Nah, of course not. In fact, some say your story may have just begun. I'm sure those here agree. A good story is never measured in its characters success, but their triumphs." The old man drew a well polished stone from his pocket, a rune etched in its face and slid it toward the captain.
Shamus, who was attempting some math in his head (If each fill is 3 copper, and he gave me 3 gold for-), was glad to find the stone as a distraction and pointed up at the sign that said "no casting" and the dwarf just gave a single chuckle.

Yegarz · #36 05-28-2012, 11:45 PM

robotbear · #37 05-28-2012, 11:58 PM

abc123 · #38 05-29-2012, 09:39 AM

The Captain was about to respond, when the dwarf slid the stone across the table. He grunted, and picked it up, examining it closely, a look of recognition on his face. It took a few moments for him to respond, and when he did, the newfound suspicion was painfully evident. All his focus was now on the dwarf. You know, the last and only time I saw a stone like this, it was deep below the palace of the Lich King, guarded by gargoyles and stone golems and much worse. The last time I saw a stone like this, the Lich King was breathing almost down my neck and ready to tear my heart out through my throat, because I was about to destroy it. Because, you see, the last time I saw a stone like this, and it was similar, though the rune is a bit different, it contained the soul of the Lich King. Now, who are you, what power is contained within this stone, and why do you come here and find me out to show me it? His body was tense as he took another long draw from his pint, clinking it down upon the counter, his eyes on the stone, but his body ready to kill the dwarf in a second if he tried anything.

robotbear · #39 05-29-2012, 10:02 AM

The dwarf pulled his bread off the counter and into his lap where his hands began to fiddle with is with a slow method. "Aye, it is such. Though it is empty, as I'm sure you can feel. You seek the Gray, I am correct. Your story, your friend Zach as it were. Hah. Such a simple name for one so powerful. I don't think you considered the fact that he holds the power of a whole realm of souls, the space of Purgatory being a sort of fishing net into the Sea. It would be hard to kill the man- I never thought him a man, that demon. But it would be quite difficult to kill him while his soul remains in that place. And I don't suppose with all your lich and other undead hunting experience that you would know how to kill a demigod. That." He placed the bread back onto the counter, it having something etched in its surface. It appeared to glow a slight red. "That's not something I know how to do. I do, though, know how to trap their souls. The gods have long since given us the tools to protect ourselves from their rampaging children, although most have forgotten, or twisted their purpose. Now." The dwarf turned his head to the captain. "I want in on your little adventure, if you don't mind taking an old dwarf with you." He smiled again, the same wicked grin as before.

abc123 · #40 05-30-2012, 09:39 AM

The giant half-orc scoffed. Zach? Our Zach? He was nothing but a cabin boy aboard Desdemona. Sure, he steered us into Purgatory, but I do not blame him for it. He was young, foolish, and never should have been given the helm, especially in a storm as that. For that, I will blame Abel. But he is no demon nor demigod, my short friend. I toiled next to him in Purgatory, where I watched him become a man. He was one of the few I left behind there. No, I know not who the ruler is of the hole, but I know that you must be mistaken, if you speak of my Zach. He chuckled to himself again as he refilled his tobacco pipe, and relit it again with the strange device. Smoke poured out of his mouth as he continued. However, if you do know how to trap their souls, those of demigods and demons, within so small of a stone, you may join us, on two conditions. The first, I must know about you. I cannot bring someone who I do not trust watching my gold, let alone my back, on an adventure such as this. Tell me about yourself, who you are, where you come from, what is your purpose in this, and all that. Secondly, you must agree, before we even set out, that I will get the stone with the demon's soul after the ritual is complete. I fear that, in the wrong hands, it may be used to destroy our world some day, and I know exactly where to hide it. Do you agree to my terms?

robotbear · #41 05-30-2012, 10:50 AM

"Aye, I suppose its only natural." He grabbed that old loaf of bread, tapped the room twice with the remaining fingers of his right hand and was then holding a bowl of what may have been soup. It could have also just been boiled paper. "I was a cleric once. A real historian. A scholar. Turns out that the Stonehelms don't actually like anyone figuring out too much. Don't let their pristine societies fool you, for while they may look like the epitome of law and order, they're just as corrupt as anything else.
"But that is beyond the point of this conversation. Mostly. For I found the language of the gods." He tapped at the lifeless rune on the counter. "Words of creation. Words of destruction. Few realize the gods are so powerful that their words, just a few syllables of that powerful tongue, is what gives them their power. I've yet mastered but the most basic of their vocabulary.
"Another story, the next stanza, for it is related to the first. My wife, as embedded into the society I was banished from, came with me out of the stone halls of our birth. She didn't understand my work, but she believed in it, believed in me. Ah, she was fine woman my Molji. Unfortunately, the air around true runes of power grows thin, the boundaries grow thin between the worlds. We had seen some terrible things in our travels, as well as some of the most glorious visions. But the Gray...
"You know a displacer is going to try and eat you. That demons and devils simply want your faith. But the Gray... its almost as if there lacks any purpose to its bland madness. She... My Molji. We were trapped there during on of our excavations. I was much younger then, and we were the willing planeswalkers in our foolish youth. She was tricked, I know she was. I could see through the lies, but she believed them. She wanted to. Awpshqek that place. I'm sure the only way to save her is to return and kill the Gray. For the Gray is he, and he is it. Mind you, since my loss, I have been back a many times, each time a different spot, or one that just looks different. I have seen the Beast's palace, but alone amongst my most fearless, dead friends... I have done nothing alone. Its been a long time since I've awaited for the return of your story."

abc123 · #42 05-31-2012, 09:58 AM

His pint having been refilled by the weary barkeep, the Captain took another long drink before continuing. Yes, the Gray. I believe I've heard whispers of that, in some of my furthest travels, when I have reached some of the strangest places. It is never good that I hear from it, but neither is it always bad. All I hear about it is that it is pure nothingness, utter, overwhelming nothingness. It seeps into your mind, and destroys you from within. But those were all old wives' tales, told to scare their children into not venturing alone into the deep dark woods or the like. I never really thought there was a link between the Gray and Purgatory.

He paused as he thought, returning to his still smoking pipe. Smoke billowed in an almost continuous stream from his nostrils, evoking the image of a dragon. It was a few minutes before he spoke again. Sorceror, for that is what I will call you until you give me your true name, you have my word. We will, if we are able, save you Molji from this Gray, defeat the Gray itself or trap it in a stone, and do the same with this Beast, the ruler of Purgatory. We will also rescue my comrades who still find themselves trapped in that hellhole. But, I still do not trust you yet, Sorceror, so you must promise me this. Upon any soul being trapped within a stone, the stone shall immediately go to me, so that I may hide it, so the world will never see them again. Do you agree, Sorceror?

robotbear · #43 05-31-2012, 12:59 PM

"Of course. I have no need for souls, and this is your tale, not mine. You shall do as you wish with the power you find. I do warn you though, the very possession of such powerful aether may disrupt your purpose... And I think you've mistaken me. Your "Beast," your king, the sovereign of Purgatory. Whatever he may have been, he now is of the Gray. Have you, I wonder, ever killed an idea? Killed a purpose? Its not as easy as killing a man, I assure you." The old dwarf gave out a short laugh, then drew his finger through the sludge of his bowl. When he was done, he flicked the warm brown substance off the tip and turn the bowl upside down. When he removed it, there was not the mess you would have expected by the look in the bartender's eyes, but three silver pieces.
Shamus nodded, took the join and the dwarf stood up from his stool. He took a moment and looked back at the captain. "If you must call me anything, it should be Rahjuv. Goodnight captain."

abc123 · #44 05-31-2012, 10:46 PM

The Captain merely nodded, and tipped his glass in the dwarf's direction. Goodnight, Rahjuv. As the dwarf walked away, he sighed into his glass, before downing it again, and setting it down on the bar for a refill. It had been a very long, very interesting night. He wasn't sure whether he was regretful or grateful that he had chosen this bar, of all the bars in town, but it had completely flipped his complete worldly perspective in the matter of an hour or so. He looked up at the barkeep, as Shamus placed another full pint in front of him. Are nights usually this mad here?

robotbear · #45 06-03-2012, 02:43 PM

"Not always, no. But, its what you get when ya got cheap booze in a city that connects to'very where. Once 'ad a wizard who was talkin' smack to this brute of a fellow. The way the story ends was they end off goin' on a strange adventure for loot an' glory. Never saw em again. But it was why I put up de sign, why I go de glue gun. Stopped a few mights an' brawls, yeh know." Shamus poured himself a glass. The night was winding down, and he'd know he wouldn't sleep easy without the comfort. "Jus' lemme ask you this. You finish with this quest of yours, and you all come back and tell an old man what happened. Those other fellers never came back, and I don't know whether or not they be rich or dead. Lest you not come back I'll know how de story ends, yeah?"