[Game Thread] Ch 1: Introductions and a standard Dungeon Crawl

[Suicidolt]

Casino Jack's Intro
A man was wandering aimlessly in the mountains near Tershland. He'd found them peaceful in recent months. The other people were too terrified of the dragons that were surely far away from such a large town. It was always quiet this close to Tershland. He could stay about a day away from the city without incident and head back if his food started to wear thin for an odd job and some equipment fixes. The only strange thing was the surprising lack of game in the area he was investigating today. If things kept going this way, he might have to head back early from this trip. Besides, it was starting to rain. For a normal man, this would have been enough to push him back home early, but this was no normal man. This was a man with pointy ears. This was an exile, who'd been told by two different worlds that he didn't fit at the same time. This was an elf.

The rain, however, was getting a bit rough. Even an elf so hardened as this one would need some shelter for the storm. There were choices, but they were thinning quickly. The sprinkle quickly became a shower which quickly became a storm. The winds were too rough for ny sort of improvised shelter. He'd need to use his surroundings to his advantage.

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Rekal's Intro
Waiting for wagon trains was beautifully boring process. They were always full of rich imbeciles who wouldn't know a snake if it bit them. They would pay their guard entourages to do their thinking while they talked the pretty talk and worked their servants to death. The young lady had found a particularly comfortable place to wait today. There was a bit of cover near a rocky outcropping in the Icerim Mountains. It provided shelter from the impending rain for a time, but the wind was picking up and it was soaking her leather armor in a manner that would leave it useless in a day or two if she didn't find more effective shelter or a way clean it.
((Nothing in your background explained how you could've learned Elven, change it, or empty the slot until you can learn it))

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RossWilliam's Intro
There were men of honor, men of anger, men of failure, and men of success. And then there were teachers. This man was the latter. Teaching his message often required the use of his blade, but the "point" got across. Still, his travels at the moment were more of a reprieve from teaching. He had been teaching in the remote coastal town in the middle of the Icerim Mountains. The name of the town he hadn't quite caught, but it wasn't important to him. Today, though, he was headed home. With any luck, he'd reach it by daybreak tomorrow. Well, that was his original hope. He'd been traveling for weeks through well known dragon territory, and even a teacher as confident as he had darted into the shadows when he thought he heard the swish of a wing. Unfortunately, though, it seemed the weather did not wish to let him travel through the night. It wasn't just raining anymore, this was a heavy storm, and the weight of his armor was the only thing making it easy for him to stand upright in the winds. Shelter was an immediate priority.
((no languages listed. Might want to fix that))

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grinningdemonMBC's Intro
The gnome life was always fun and games. But this gnome was smart enough to know the reason behind that. There were times when a little direction went a long way. This was one of those times. The wind and rain was nearly enough to pick the little guy up off his feet and toss him about. Perhaps some sort of protection from the elements would allow him to continue to entertain himself. Besides, it was getting boring without any halflings to play the theft game. Maybe there'd be an entertaining find if he explored a cave or two. Besides, his dogs were getting antsy, something unusual for war dogs.

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paiute' Intro
A man like t his knew his way around this area, but a story was born in his community of these dragon beasts. It was said that they were vicious enough to kill the most powerful spellcasters in the blink of an eye. While most would take that information as a word of warning, this man took it as an opportunity for study. He'd never been much for locking himself in towns anyway. He was wandering the Icerim mountains for days without any sight of dragons. It was unfortunate he wouldn't be able to sleep under the stars tonight. It was going to be a rough storm...none of his basic shelter ideas were going to hold up. He definitely needed something already in place for protection.
((Camel & Dwarven for languages? No common for you! One chance to fix.))

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davkmk's Intro
The journey to Tershland was long and dull. There had been wagon trains headed that way, but this young lady preferred to keep her identity under wraps. People like her were treated different for some reason. It was best if she just huffed it. Besides, if there were rumors of dragons killing whole caravans in these mountains, surely they were untrue. After all, no one had lived to tell the tale, as the rumors explained. The thought was almost enough to distract her from the boring walk. It was most unfortunate it had turned cold, wet, and windy so very quickly. She needed somewhere to rest for the night.
((Nothing in your background explained how you could've learned Elven, change it, or empty the slot until you can learn it))

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Gen Kumon's Intro
A man in armor with a sword and shield. He blended into the world around him with ease in nearly every city. It was a comforting thought sometimes. Unfortunately, out here, he didn't blend. These mountains made his shiny armor stand out quite well. It meant it was easy for predators to spot him. Fortunately, he hadn't spotted any predators recently. Heck, he hadn't spotted any game at all. It was almost as disconcerting as the rain that was now tinging on his armor. If he didn't find cover fast, his equipment would surely be ruined.

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((Search checks all around for shelter. You will all be meeting in the next post.))

[Casino Jack]

Red looks up at the sky, letting the cold drops hit his dirt smudged face. Wet, he hated wetness in all its forms. It rusted his armor and made his worn clothes sticky and cold. On a list of things he despised with every fiber of his own being, wet was in the top three, right under starvation and…rats.

He needed top get out of the rain, before those foul droplets from hell filled him with little spirits that would cause fever. Too dangerous to be sick up here, far, too dangerous. He begins to search the surrounding area, looking for a cave or hollow he could hide in until the devil storm left to torment some one else. Perhaps he would find Mother Bear and her cubs nestled deep within the roots of a tree and settle down in their warm soft fur.

”Unlikely!" he says to himself, as these dark times has revealed that the only person who could talk to him kindly was he,most of the time anyway.
”Mother Bear does not share very well, and has grown particularly hungry for my flesh since the last time we met.”

[Rosswilliam]

The teacher shuddered in the cold. Thunder and rain were just as much a gift from the heavens as sun, but today was not a pleasant day. He tried to remind himself that some droughted farm was probably being blessed by this downfall...no. It didn't work. He prayed for the storm to break as he felt the wind pushing against his body. Shelter was essential. His eyes darted around as he pushed forward. There had to be a cave or something, somewhere...If his prayers for sunlight were to be ignored, hopefully his prayers for shelter would be answered. He feared serious injury or worse would be the consequence of any more travel in this deluge.

[Gen Kumon]

Green eyes peered out from under shoulder-length black hair, plastered to the head of the heavily armored man. Silently cursing his luck once again for getting caught out in this storm, he shifted his pack on his back as he continued looking for any sort of shelter to keep him dry...he wasn't overly picky, and would be perfectly happy with even a large fallen tree or something.

All in all, he wasn't very happy...he'd much rather be in a proper inn or even some farmer's barn. As it was, he'd be lucky not to catch pneumonia at this rate.

[davkrnk]

Anliyoa, commonly known as Freckles, had been walking down the road when the rain started to pour. She grumbled under her breath as she dragged her mule along behind her carrying her stuff. The mule 'hee-hawed' every so often, also upset for being in the rain, as it matted its fur and become uncomfortable. Freckles' hair had become stringy and untamed, and her robe had begun to stick to her body. She flailed her legs as she walked each step, trying to ensure that they would not be too burdensome. She had been glancing around looking for a place to settle down for the night, so she could dry off and warm up.

[Rekal]

The young woman in leather sighed heavily as she realized the storm would be getting much worse before any caravan she could see would arrive. They've probably already stopped to prepare for the storm. She thought as she pulled her cloak tighter and hunkered down a little in response to a gust.

After another long sigh, the woman pushed off the rock outcropping she was pressed against and took a few steps out into the weather. Lifting the hood off her blond hair, she tilted her head back to stare up into the rain. Second thoughts? She made a face at her own wayward thought. "Not a chance." She replied out loud.

The sound of her own voice seemed to have broken the spell. The woman pushed her hood back into place and a girlish giggle escaped her as she walked back to her previous perch to retrieve her long spear and pack.

Hefting the almost familiar weight against one shoulder, she set out in search of better shelter.

 

OOC Search Check: 20 I've updated the language choice, and I'll add a detailed physical description to the notes section soon.

[Suicidolt]

grinningdemonMBC & paiute, I am aware that you may not have been prepared for the start of the game. Because of this, I am giving you 1 more day to post without any negative consequences. Otherwise, I'll be rolling your character's actions and playing them as NPCs so long as you're not around.

The young lady and her mule were the first to find shelter. At first it just appeared like a boulder had rolled down the hillside, but the shape of the mountain hinted at something more. It was surprisingly easy for the girl to roll the large boulder out of the way and reveal the cave behind.

 

Forgot to ask for strength checks. Rolled for you, Nat 20.

She ducked in quickly to get out of the rain, only to stand in shock for a brief moment at what she saw.

Another girl followed quickly, having caught sight of the movement and hoping for a business venture to combine with shelter, she slid into the opening where it was surprisingly easier to breathe without water in her face. She quickly realized the other girl was distracted, and saw why, it was enough to keep them both distracted while other travelers made their way in.

The elf had seen hints of it from a distance, but needed to get closer to be sure. Strangely, though, when he rounded the curve of an outcropping, the stone which he suspected protected a cave entrance had been moved. It looked like there may be shelter behind it and people, outlined in light from the cave entrance. While he wasn't much for interaction, a tree branch snapped in the wind nearby, which was enough to tell him shelter was more important than comfortable surroundings at the moment.

The heavily armored man caught sight of the light from behind some trees. That meant people and shelter. It was surely his best bet for safety. He booked it to the cave entrance and ducked inside to see two dumbfounded girls pointing at something and an elf...or something with bigger ears than an elf...looking at them, clearly as lost as he was.

The teacher was the last to find the place, at least for the moment. It was pure luck that he found it. He nearly wandered inside between sleets of rain by accident. He couldn't see with all the water in his eyes. It was once he wiped his eyes dry and looked up that he realized how well lit this room was, and the other people in it. Everyone seemed to be staring at two young girls who were in turn pointing and muttering to each other.

The unwary group had found shelter that would surely last the night, assuming they could move that boulder back for protection from the rain that still pounded against their backs. The problem was, this cave was hewn, if only a little, and the room they stood in was lit by two torches in sconces. Thunder and lightning crashed behind the group almost in unison with the discovery, as they peered into the bad lighting to see that each torch was hung next to a door...a wooden door...in a cave. Good news?

((If you decide on listen/spot checks, remember to roll. And roll a strength check if you wish to seal the cave))

[Casino Jack]

Red, whose hand never left the hilt of a sword that dangled from his belt, glanced at the others, eyeing them as a dog does to an intruder. His ragged black hair was soaked, droplets sliding down the locks and splashing against a finely crafted shirt of scale mail, which seemed a little worn for wear. His face was gaunt with dark bags encircling his eyes; perhaps he had gone hungry for a long time, as his skull seems to stretch his cheeks taunt. His startling green eyes and long ears, which protruded from the tangled mass of hair, told the group that he was an elf, a rare sight for travelers.

”Vat is all thees, eh? Stvrange place to be having a social get together, noh?” He says, his strange dialect accentuating his common.

”And even stvranger party guests! Let us see…warriors, bandits, and leetle girls too? I suppose that any company is better then niode.” The elf seems friendly enough, but one couldn’t help and notice the way he stares, far off, beyond the thing he’s looking at. It doesn’t help that he’s pulled out the blade slightly from its scabbard, letting the glinting steel catch the light from the torches.

[Rekal]

One of the girls already in the cave pushes the hood of her cloak back to reveal a mass of blond hair piled high on her head. Turning away from the odd sight of wooden doors in a cave, she looks to the other woman. Doesn't look like she's returning home here...

"Do you think we should knock?" She asks in a quiet voice with a grin tugging at her mouth and curiosity glinting in her emerald eyes. Looking back at the entrance, she blinks in surprise as several others begin to arrive.

"Come in out of that rain or you'll catch something fierce." She calls to those still in the weather. The young woman backs up a step, then turns and moves to the corner between the doors.

She leans the long spear she is carrying in the corner as she begins shaking water off of her large gray wool cloak and brushing it off of her studded vest as best she can. A cream colored short-sleeved blouse can be seen under the dark leather vest, and a morningstar hangs from her hip. A number of points can be seen on her thigh just below the skirt of her armor.

Looking at the gathering faces, the woman purses her lips in thought. Guess I might as well introduce myself...Try a little honey. "So...I'm Stephany." She pauses as some looks turn to her and smiles shly. "Does anyone live here? I wouldn't want to intrude on someone's home."

Those ears are... Her eyes go wide as she realizes one of the individuals gathered is an elf.

[Rosswilliam]

The teacher could barely believe it. Had he finally succumbed to the elements? Was this a dream, some hallucination? No, it felt very much real. He rubbed the last remaining raindrops out of his still stinging eyes, and looked from one person to the other. The two women, the other man, and an elf. This was all too bizarre.

"Surely this is the work of some higher power, that the five of us stumbled upon this curious shelter, at this moment when we need it so much. This gathering must be fate. I suggest we seal the cave, and make it a night. But since this seems to be somebody's home, somebody civilized enough to use proper doors and torches, I suggest we offer whoever they might be as much respect as possible. We don't want to make enemies. My name is Whullas, by the way"

The man went to the boulder, and threw his shoulders and back into it, bending his legs. He was a teacher, true, but he was strong and his body was well-trained, and he believed he was strong enough to move the massive stone on his own.

[Gen Kumon]

The large, armored figure calmly glanced about as he entered the cave, paying special attention to the other figures...especially the elf. He had seen one of his kind from a distance before, but had never spoken to one...and they said strange things about his kind. Still, the armored man was never one to let prejudices control him.

Looking over at the girl, he grunted. "Aye, I suspect we've stumbled upon someone's hide-away. Torches don't light themselves. Hopefully, whoever has claim on this cave will not mind travelers in a storm taking refuge..." he trailed off, listening to the man who identified himself as Whullas.

"Mayhaps." he responded, "But I find that the gods rarely intervene in the lives of men. Rather, we make our own luck and our own fate. I am called Heinrich, who serves the Order of the White Raven." he declared proudly, tapping his armored fist against the white bird embossed on the chest of his armor, it's larger twin adorning his shield.

OOC: The Order is a small group of holy men and men-at-arms who attempt to protect the innocent in times of war. Well liked by the people, disliked by many leaders, and not all the well known. Your characters would only have heard of them in they're very well traveled.

[Casino Jack]

The elf snaps his fingers as the warrior mentions of what clan he belongs to.

”Ah! I haff battled alongside one ov’ your friends, near the coast I believe. He fought with Skiledia, but fell vhen a knight brained him with a mace. Oh, and I am Red, mercenary Red!” The elf said cheerfully, taking a small bow.

”It is nice change of pace, when people who meet in dan forest greet each other varmly…instead of commencing with many attempted blows and the occasional cuss word. Very rude of them, no? I think I prefer it this vay.” as Red blathers on, he slides the sword back into its home, and assumes a more friendly stance. These people were nice, not at all like those who lived in the towns and around the cities when they met him. If he had not attached himself to a company or intimidating group, he would often have been discouraged from entering by many zooming rocks that they threw.

[davkrnk]

As Freckles had moved into the cave, the echoing from the rain had prevented her from hearing the approach of any other people. In fact, she had not noticed any of the people until they were all gathered.

When she turned around she jumped out of surprise, wondering how they had arrived without a sound. She looked over the group quickly, judging 'friend or foe' to each of them. She did not seem to see anyone overtly willing to attack, but she did wonder who all was traveling together and who wasn't. She then glanched back at the doors and wondered if anyone had lived here. What if they are a group of bandits and I have stumbled upon their hideout!? No, that cannot be. They seem to be eyeing each other wearily as well... And look! An elf! I have never seen one of those before! Oo joy.

She waited quietly, listening to everyone introduce themselves. She added in, slightly after the elf had spoken her two cents. "I am Anlioya. I take it this is no one's abode? I do not mean to trespass if I am." she said, towards the majority of the group. She eyed back to the girl who was sitting in the corner now as she spoke to make sure she heard as well. Freckles continued on, "Is anyone here well versed in the ways of this place? Or did everyone also just want to get out of the rain?"

After speaking she wrung out her hair and pulled a mirror out from her bag on her back. As she pulled it out, a reflection could be seen from something else metallic inside the bag. She used the mirror to adjust herself accordingly and then preplaced it. She glanced at the man heaving the boulder, to try to close the cave off. She spoke up once more saying, "Do you need help with that? I pushed it aside only but a few moments ago, before I entered. If you are having troubles, that must mean I got very lucky. She smiled a genuine smile.

[Rekal]

Stephany watches the others as they introduce themselves, and unconsciously puts a lock of her blond hair that had fallen loose into her mouth in what appeared to be an old habit. When the man who named himself Whullas went back to close the entrance, her brow furrowed in thought. Why is he so quick to close in five apparent strangers? She glanced back at the woman named Anlioya and shrugged mentally. I hope no one tries to get too 'friendly'.

The young woman recites the names in her head to memorize them as she casually moves to each door in turn to see if they are locked. With her curiosity satisfied for the moment, she turns her attention back to the others and settles down with her back against the corner.

"I came to find a place out of the rain myself. I'm heading to Tershland and the caravan I intended to join," She gestures at the opening, "must have been delayed by the same weather."

Pausing a moment to glance at each of the others, she turns and speaks the elves' name tentatively. "Red...You said warriors, little girls...and bandits." She tilts her head slightly and raises an eyebrow. "Would you mind elaborating?"

[Casino Jack]

Red smiles, not a very pleasant smile, but a smile none the less.

”Silly girl, haff you not guessed the nature ov’ our most gracious hosts? A hermit might live in dan caverns, but would not be so civilized as to use doors. I suspect ve may haff come across a bandit hide away, or some other kind of black heart ilk.” He suddenly looks very bemused, glancing at the two doors.

”But…it appears that they haff forgotten what date their party was? How very depressing, I vas looking forward to the refreshments.”