[Game Thread] Chapter 1

[Demandred69]

picture was school project. Art wasn't mine, just a number of pics. and wallpapers edited by me and made into a poster for school. It is intended for visual aide purposes only. No profit! Panman Games is a FICTIONAL entity based off an old nickname.

Prologue

Two years after the Starwhisperer set off from Tharsis....

"We are near'n the mainland, Cap'n," grumbled the first mate, his eyes intent on a dark line in the horizon. The Captain casually wandered over to see for himself. He spat a wad of tobacco on the deck and grinned wickedly. Behind them, a second airship flew. It was a his former ship, now captained by his first mate. A third ship, one damaged from battling with their 'cargo', hovered behind that one.
"Set 'er down softly, lads. We be entering port upon water," the Captain ordered the crew. " When we gets our reward fer thems slaves, we be wealthy enough." The crew laughed and some ventured a quick glance toward where the holding cells were. The rooms that had previously been a surgeon's room and the previous crews barracks.

Down below in the holding cells the previous crew sat glumly.....

They had been ambushed three weeks ago by two Javesta pirate ships. They had prepared to fight to the end when Abel, an adventurer and one of their best fighters, had suggested they parlay with the pirates and hope to get out without a battle; they were down a third of their crew and were no match against the two ships, which had over forty pirates per ship. Their Captain, Thamuz, was a man of experience with pirates. He eyed the closing ships closely and in a serious tone, " These aren't regular pirates, tiefling. These are slavers. We have to escape, or fight them off! I'm not lett'n them take this ship, or Vessi." A drow female stood beside him and put her arm on his. She regarded the tiefling, Abel, with a tired look. " I won't parlay with slavers. We should kill them, or at least give them a beating. Besides...what if they get their grimy hands on William. He's just a kid," she nods toward the cabin boy that Thamuz had adopted.
"You're right. If we can't out run them, we should fight," Abel draws his sword and readies. On deck, the crew scrambles to battle stations. Human and Ka' shan take their places and wait for the inevitable.
Thamuz curses quietly. If the energy crystal hadn't been damaged, their ship would have easily outrun these slaver ships. "Where you want me, Captain?" William asks, standing next to his adoptive father with his hand boldly on his blade hilt. This caught Thamuz as rather touching. He padded the boy on the head and told him, "Stay behind me. If I should fall..." BOOM! A canon is fired and there is yelling. A warning shot. The slavers want them to pull up.
Two dark figures move from shadow to shadow upon the deck. The woman, Cadriana, keeps her hood over her head, covering most of her pale face. " Are you ok," someone asks her. She ignores the question and takes up a position where she feels she won't be a target for arrows. She chooses a spot between the rear mast and the deck cabin, where the guest quarters are. She notices a similarly black clad figure climbing to the roof of the cabin. The goblin-like dog creature they'd come to know as Frixx, was getting to a location to use his bow. Cadriana turned her attention to the slavers and readied her spells.
Thamuz ordered his crew to get cover and ready to fire. He watched as his companions Haru Haru, Mouse, Abel, Cadriana, Frixx, the oldman Wang, Wang's granddaughter Hashira, Tugo the gnome, Ferrez and his catfolk, the human sailors, and his beloved Vectissa prepared to fight for him and the very ship he had called home for over two years.
The battle didn't last long. The slavers out numbered them over four to one. And worse, they had a powerful witch on board. Thamuz, Cadriana, and their friends had lost half their number to a powerful sleep spell before the battle even started....


The slaver captain watched as the line in the horizon began to materialize. He was excited about this haul. His cargo had been a feisty lot. They had put up a good fight, and could have done more damage, had it not been for the witch's magic. " I detect a presence," the witch said from behind him. The Captain jumped at the sound of her voice. She had a way of just 'being there' that made him nervous. Damn witch, he thought. " What do you mean, presence?"
Just then shouts could be heard from the ship behind them. The Captain looked behind him only to see one of his ships, the one in the back, drop from the sky, in flames. Men pointed and shouted, "There's a ship! We're under attack!" They ran to and fro, preparing for battle. " That's no ship," the Captain said, half to himself.
Below, in the third ship: Thamuz, Cadriana, William, and a handful of sailors among other prisoners, could smell the ship carrying them burning. Suddenly, they were dropping out of the sky. They grabbed what they could and braced for impact. T H U D ! Ship hits water and everything goes black....cold water....deep water....

It was long and dark red, with great bat-like wings. Smoke bellowed from its nostrils as it spiraled about the two remaining ships. The dragon surveyed each as it passed, taking in every detail at a glance. It's wings created whirlwinds that caused the ships to be blown well off course.
"Damn! If we could go faster." the Captain ground his fingers into the palm of his hand. It could not be helped. The crystal powering his new ship had been damaged. They could only hope to repel the monster, or hope it was merciful.
As it was, the dragon only struck once more, taking three sailors from the second ship. A snack. Captain Hagis Borrello watched the beast fly away. His eyes lit up once more as they headed for shore once again. The witch, Gruda, spoke" I summoned spirits to lead the beast away." Borrello gave her a look suggesting he didn't believe her, and ordered," Get the slaves out here. We have business to do here." Business, indeed! The tieflng should fetch a good price for the arena. And the drow female, as tempted as he was to keep her for himself, would fetch a fortune from The Lady herself. She'll make an excellent plaything.


Cadriana looked about for other survivors. She found Thamuz. He was holding onto a barrow. He noticed her and paddled over. "Uh..ha..hav you seen William?" Cadriana began to shake her head, but noticed a head bobbing in the water. There was no mistaking the curly blond hair. William was dog-paddling. Thamuz let go of his floating device and swam to William. "I got ya'."
Cadriana searched for other survivors and thought she saw someone in the distance, but it didn't matter. The waves spread everyone out. Anyone still alive was left adrift, and on their own. Soon she was alone, the large piece of wood she was on, barely keeping her above water.
Thamuz and William found the ships main mast floating in the water and the two grabbed a hold of it.

Eventually, a boat fishing boat pulled up Cadriana, taking her back to Niias, where she'd spend the next few months. And Thamuz and William found themselves shored up on a small island. They spent a couple months there, but food was sparse. So they built a small raft and headed out, hoping to find inhabited land. Weeks later, they found Niias. William, near starved to death, was taken to a physician where he would be staying (for a couple weeks). Thamuz, hard for money and driven by passion and pride, goes looking for a job...and a lead.

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Chapter One

You find yourself led down a long hallway. At the end are two menservants standing before a pair of large doors. Above the doors is a mantle wherein gothic-style cupids run with what look like wolves with fire coming from their mouths. The owner of this manor has a strange taste in art. Infact, all of her art and architecture has something to do with sensuality, abstracts, or morbid fantasies.
The gaunt gentleman leading you motions with his hand and the two doormen open the doors, revealing a large red room with a large black marble table with eight chairs at it, plus one at the head of the table. Large platters loaded with food lay upon the center of the table in a row: A platter of tropical fruits, a platter of steamed crab with butter to dip, a platter of what look like steaks (probably fancy mutton), a platter of sushi rice balls, a platter of dumplings and rolls, and a platter with a chocolate glazed cake. As well, there are pitchers of water, mint tea, coconut juice, frostberry wine, and fine mead. At each spot at the table there is a plate an silverware.
You survey the room and find it's about 40 feet across and fifty feet long. Tapestries and paintings hang from each of the walls. All the artwork depicts thing of 'morbid' beauty. In each corner of the room is a stone statue of a gargoyle. Each gargoyle is grotesquely different. There is a window behind the head chair. Outside is a beautiful courtyard with a waterfall, vines with lush flowers, mango trees, various tropical birds, a woman with red hair in a white gown walking two cheetahs, and various stone gargoyles, one of which is 'peeing' out a stream of water that goes into a small pond.

(You must enter the room, describe your characters, and then are free to interact with anyone in the room- if other players are present. You may further look around the room or out the window as well.)

And so you await your hostess and possible employer, the mysterious and wealthy Lady Gray...

[HaplessWithDice]

Jason enters the hall his silver toed boots click on the floor. His stern gaze falls upon the room with disquieting examination. Upon his brow a wide brimmed hat and a at his hip a well made longsword. His features are stark and piercing a face that is jaded by hate. He wears a plane black suite of clothes with a white shirt under it. Judging by the wear on the suit it is obvious that he has, and does wear often a suit of metal armor over it.

His hair is cut to just above the nape of the neck, the back tied into a dove tail, a shining silver gey betraying his distant angelic heritage it goes well with the falcon eyes he posses. He turns that gaze to Aikaterine, and with no small amount of the calm guidance often reserved for teachers about strike a student with a ruler he addresses her. "Just remember you're hear to learn to control your temper. There is a time to smite and a time to wait."

.....

I walk into the room and survey it. My face moving over the details. My every instinct as an Inquisitor telling me something isn't right here. My attention turns to the food. Probably not poisoned if they want us to work for them. First we find out what the job is then we figure out what that is we can evaluate everything else. I turn back to the Paladin I am to watch and teach how to control her temper. Looking at her face requires almost straining my neck. Given her temper's reputation I dare not do anything other than make perfect eye contact.
"Remember it is often good to watch and wait, before acting so as to know the weight and measure of your actions. Haste causes grave errors that will weigh on the soul for great durations."

[Dalvar]

Aikaterine Godhert follows closely behind the Inquisitor. Although she wears chainmail and not formal clothes, it has been carefully polished and her red and gold tabard, emblazoned with the holy symbol of Nathanial the Red, has been freshly cleaned and pressed. Even though her armor is much heaver than normal clothes, she wears it with an ease that comes only from long familiarity. Her elbow is bent slightly and her hand rests near the hilt of her longsword as if ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Dark bangs top a stern face with watchful green eyes and a long braid hangs down to her waist. Already a good deal taller than most other humans, she carries herself in such a way as to make her seem of even greater height.

~~~

I look around the room for danger with narrowed eyes, glad to note that mister Hale seems to be doing the same. What I see does not make my heart rest easily; clearly our hostess has a fondness for the macabre. Before I can mention my feeling of disquiet to the Inquisitor, I notice that he is speaking to (no, lecturing at) me. I turn my attention to him, looking down.

"Yes, mister Hale" I say after he has finished, "As you instruct."

[masternate]

A young Dwarf follows Aikaterine and Jason into the room, obviously at a greater distance due to his shorter legs. As he reaches the door he looks down at his dirty feet then up at the elegance of the room. In between puffs of air he ponders his next movement. With a sigh he tries his best to clean off his feet of any mud and dirt before walking in.

The Dwarf approaches the two people deep in conversation. Ahem. He interrupts. Am I te 'sume dat de two ov's youse are heres for de job? He asks them in a thick Dwarven accents. As he awaits a response the Dwarf grabs a lock of hair that was falling down his face and pulls it behind his ear.

If'n so, den I's reckin's I bees heres for de sames reasun. He raises a rather dirty hand to shake, the pair notice however that his hands and arms are covered in tribal tattoo's. De nam's Draim. Pleasan te bees metan youse.

It was plain to see that Draim was no ordinary Dwarf. While yes he was short and stocky and he had a beard, that was about as far as the similarities went. The Dwarf did not favour the heavy metals that many other Dwarves did, instead he wore a leather armor that was brown and dark green in color, with a knee length kilt in the same hues as the armor. His hair is messy and seemingly unkempt, but it only falls to his shoulders, and his beard only falls to his upper chest, but both show signs of graying already.

On his back there is a finely crafted Waraxe, and on his hip sits a Scimitar.

It should be noted that even for all his apparent untidiness and dirtiness that Draim does smell rather pleasant as if he does actually take pride in his hygiene.

 

This is incase anyone is having trouble understanding what I am saying, and or have had dealings with Dwarves in the past (May be able to understand him easier)

First thing: Am I to assume that the two of you are here for the job?
Second thing: If so, then I reckon I am here for the same reason.
Third thing: The name is Draim, pleasure to meet you.

[SniperWolf]

Cadriana is next to enter the room after the Dwarf, as she makes her way inside she pulls her hood back to reveal her face. She softly walks to the side of the Dwarf and looks over the room taking note of the food offered to them and of course the strange decor all around her, as she walks to inspect one of the stone gargoyles the light clanking sound of her bastard sword on her left and the small rattling of the chain shirt can be heard. Under the chain armor you can see she is wearing a dark black longsleeved shirt with a grey colored outline as she moves her hand across the statue.

Her long black hair sways to the side as she leans to her right seemingly facinated by the statue, suddenly remembering her manners she turns to the small group and smiles slightly as she gives a small wave. "Name is Cadriana, nice to meet you." As she greets the group her slightly pale skin a very light blue eyes become apparent a bit more now as she looks straight at you.

[Dalvar]

Aikaterine wasn't quite sure what the strange dwarf was saying, but she got the basic idea. Stooping slightly, she shook the dwarf's hand, her grasp perhaps a little too tight. "It is a pleasure to meet you, mister Draim," she said stiffly, staring him straight in the eyes, "I am Aikaterine Godhert, paladin of Nathanial the Red."

Letting go of his hand as the next person came into the room, she looked her over with a frown. She nodded once to the woman and introduced herself once again in the same stiff way.

(Oh, and using her evildar. But I know that none of the PCs are evil...)

[HaplessWithDice]

I clasp the dwarfs hand next noting the feel of the calluses on it. A warriors hands well aquatinted with weapons. the general nature of his cleanliness does not cause me discomfort as he is a warrior he probably was on the road as I and my trustee just were. "Reverend Jason Hale, also of the church of Nathanial the Red.". My response should appease the dwarfs curiosity. "Yes we are here about the job, sir."

I then turned my attention to the dark clad woman who entered as she examined the gargoyle I studied her. This is the south I was cooking in this suit. That was why I had left my armor back at the Inn. When woman's fashion allowed for much less heat retaining colors and fabric cuts that allowed her skin to perspire and be cooled by the draft and breeze; why would any woman put on something that uncomfortable under her armor which would already make her hot and uncomfortable?
"Nice to make your acquaintance Miss Cadrianna.". I try to keep my tone friendly and my suspicion of otherworldly heritage out of my voice for now. after all if she were a well disguised tiefling I would not want to blow her cover after all it is up to the hybrid child and the latter generations on how they act not the blood in their veins.

[Naresh]

Paror enters the room, his brown hair tussled slightly by the wind, and a smug, self satisfied smile sits happily above his two day stubbled chin. He stands in the entrance and adjusts the sleeves of his purple suit before winking and performing an elaborate bow, followed by the tip of the hat (which is odd... as he isn't wearing one) before rising and casually walking over and leans on the wall "My grace behold these finely fettled figures of the swathing swarming sea! I am Paror, and by your grace... welcome to these halls"

[Dalvar]

Aikaterine clamps her hand down hard on Jason's shoulder and squeezes, her jaw tightening. "Sir." She says sharply, her eyes narrowing in Cadrianna's direction. Her other hand goes to the hilt of her sword, but she does not draw it. She was here to learn discretion, after all.

[HaplessWithDice]

My eyes go to the paladin. "What is wrong? Do you sense something about that one?". I speak in a rewarding tone. Very good first step assess guilt or innocence. Next step was by degree, then by crime, lastly by punishment. Helaces a resolution, he looked tired. Straining his neck to meet her face.

[SniperWolf]

Cadriana faces at the newcomer in the purple suit, her face turns into one ofconfusion at his strange behavior but forces a uncomfortable smile anyways to greet the overfriendly person. "Uh hello there mr. Paror was it? Nice to meet you, my name is Cadriana." As before she gives a slight wave to the person she is greeting, not too anxious to try and shake hands at the moment.

[Naresh]

"With passing glances we have ambivalence..." Paror gives Cadriana a slight icy look "These halls are embossed with more than golden filligree, but also poetic servitude"

He stands and walks towards the window, looking out "In time the lord and all will come and kneeling hands shall bow"

[masternate]

Nethan'l de Rad ya say? Spose dis isn' de time for a god oof na tis it? 'Specially if'n wees bees lookan te work tagethers. The pair couldn't tell if Draim was smiling or not underneath his beard, but he was nodding enthusiastically at their responses. Youse and I bees havan words later, if'n youse dun mind.

When Cadriana pulls up next to Draim he takes a look at her. His eyes run from the top of her head down to her feet, he obviously didn't care if she noticed. As Draim opened his mouth to saying something to her he was stopped short by the odd figure at the door. Draim turns around to take in the new person, probably something he was hoping for. Good grif man, spak praply wills ya? He turns his head to Jason and Aikaterine. He's ain't mak'n a bit ov since, if'n youse ask me.

 

Nathanial the Red you say? I suppose this isn't the time for a god off now is it? Especially if we are looking at working together.
You and I are going to have words later, if you don't mind.

Good grief man, speak properly will you.
He isn't making a bit of sense, if you ask me.

[HaplessWithDice]

"YourDraim it isn't after all I think the more important issue here is less conversion and more a display of the power of faith threw our deeds." We can always save the 'my god is better' conversation for when we are done with the job." I keep my tone conversational. My eyes still on the woman that my companion suspects. Paladin senses for evil were legandary. I will catch her if she is and deal with her in stride.

[Dalvar]

"Yes, sir." Aikaterine wonders what good an Inquisitor was if he could not tell that himself. "It is... Faint, however" Slowly she takes her hand off his shoulder and lets go of the hilt of her sword, her eyes never leaving Cadriana.

Without looking at him, she responds to the dwarf, "I'm not one for words," She says, "but perhaps you can have them with the newest guest. He seems to have so many that they get in the way of each other."