Adventurers in this tale: All of RTU! (well a lot of them!) Sin War VonViggio VellaTrix PublicStorage Abidos Mike Taylor Thomas of dC Atiki of dC Krux - The Red Mage of Few Words Spethas Rising, (who shed his young status to join us!) Prozac X of the House of Oor'Tael! DestructionWizz - Hurler of Blade(s)pirits To all adventurers - if you did not receive your due payment of 2 platinum, please contact Jupiter. The warriors of RTU collectively declined to receive payment, but I will see to it that their bravery and companionship on this journey are rewarded somehow! ===================================================================================================================== Jupiter and Borin encounter Mike Taylors again in Occlo. Mike was wearing grey robes, which needed a little bit of An Corp. Upon restoring him to the world of 32-bit color, Jupiter finds out Mike Taylors had just engaged some brigand in great battle. Weary from the battle Mike was about to toss in his hat for the night. But upon learning that Jupiter needed assistance to light a beacon in Shame, he called in all of the Returners to Ultima (no literally, I think he called forth all of them!) The group gathered even more forces down at the Occlo docks, hiring Baldwin and other NPC's who would give their life to light the beacon. As our numbers grew, our procession gained a lot of attention and onlookers such as Krux and DestructionWizz could not help but join the ranks! With he full might of the Returners, the feeble cane of Jupiter, the strong arm of Felshurnrerneruer, and the well versed Borin Drake, they departed into shame to light the beacon! The trip went quite swimmingly until the nefarious band of murderers sprang upon us in the heart of the Blood Elemental grounds. We strove to light the beacon before the murderous marauders could assemble their full force.
*I've been meaning to finish and post an attachment to this adventure for some time but work and family must come first. The Village of Paws and the other interacting communities are a wonderful collection of people and stories and I look forward to working with them again.* Respectfully, Gerhard and company ------------------ In the early hours when most sensible people were sleeping, a figure emerged from the glowing sphere of light. Glancing around at the gold-colored runed rocky forms that surrounded the sphere then at the landscape with buildings to the west, he was relieved to see that he was in the right place. “So that was moo’gate travel...won’t be the last time I do that,” Spethas thought to himself as he made swift strides into Ocllo. “I wonder if Gerhard is awake.” Friar Jocham awoke from his borrowed bed at the Ocllo Healer house instinctively reaching for his medicine bag- late night disturbances due to trauma were all too common. Fear gripped him as he saw it was Hansel. Taking in his disheveled form, Gerhard began the ritual of healing but stopped when Hansel placed his hand on Gerhard’s arm. “I’m alright Friar,” Spethas said, “But I have to tell you what happened.” Gesturing to the chair at the far end of the room, Gerhard asked the lad to take a seat. “So Hansel Helmuthead, what has happened to bring you here at this late hour?” Gerhard casually asked while making a mental inventory of what he saw. Hansel had been exploring the countryside for several days- learning both the ways of the wilds and how to protect himself from it. Hansel’s normal clothing was replaced by a brown robe, no armor or shield in hand, and his usual bag of bandages was replaced by a larger backpack filled with heavy metallic items. Looking closer Gerhard could distinguish several pieces of plate armor inside. His musings was interrupted by a near-growl from Hansel. “Hansel isn’t my name anymore- you know that!” Spethas said while rising to confront the Friar. “Yes, yes…Spethas,” Jocham replied soothingly while steering the youth back to the seat, “Pardon an old man for his memory. I’ve known your family for years and it will take a while before I get used to your name-choice…Spethas Rising. Anyway, I’m eager to hear what happened.” “I was exploring the miner’s cave like you suggested Friar,” Spethas began, “clearing it of vermin to make it easier on Da when he gathers the things Ma needs. I went to the guarded storehouse after clearing the cave to put away several items…when I was interrupted by a man wanting to know if I wanted to go on an adventure.” “A man you say?” Gerhard interrupted, “Describe him!” “I was getting to that, Friar,” Spethas replied petulantly, “But you keep interrupting me…” Gerhard sighed, “Sorry, sorry…I’ll try to restrain myself.” “Anyway,” Spethas began again, “The man seemed almost unprepared for anything I would have thought was needed on an adventure. More clothing than armor and his only weapon was some large wavy-looking knife. He had the markings of someone from the village you described- the one you wanted all of us to keep watch for because of that encounter Da had with that man a few weeks ago…Paws. Because of that, I jumped at the chance to adventure with him- to see what he was like.” Gerhard nodded while making notes. “Did the man give you his name?” “Erm…I don’t think so,” Spethas replied flushing, “Sorry, I forgot to ask…though I heard someone use it in conversation…long name starting with ‘S’…I think. He told me to meet him and his party at the docks right away. I gathered what I thought I needed and hurried to meet him there. There was a big crowd of people from many areas at the docks led by a mage called Jupiter. He told us to hire mercenaries for protection and then magiced us to a place I’ve never seen before. It had a sparkling shrine with a large stone tower next to it. Jupiter told us that we were needed to help build some big bonfire or something in a deep cave called Shame. I can’t recall everything…I was too excited to pay attention.” “It is alright Spethas,” Gerhard replied calmly, “You are doing fine…continue…wait, you went into the Dungeon of Shame last night?” Gerhard asked with alarm growing in his voice, “You weren’t ready for that and, oh no, you didn’t bring your ostard with you? The one that was a coming-of-age gift from Eva?” “No Gerhard,” Spethas replied quickly, “I was smart and stabled her before leaving.” “Good,” breathed Gerhard, “While Eva has the name-choice of ‘Threefriends’ she will show a temper when she thinks an animal has been mistreated. You wouldn’t want to face that Spethas.” “We were magiced to that Shame cave,” Spethas continued, “and fought our way to the bottom where the…bonfire…was going to be built. I tried, all through the journey, to guard the person we were told to protect. Unfortunately when we got there we were attacked by murderers and other scoundrels. I tried to fight back, and I think I managed to hit one or two of them, but we were overwhelmed and the materials scattered and lost. Adventuring was everything you said it would be Friar- fire, blood, confusion, pain, and loss.” Spethas leveled a challenging stare at Gerhard. “And I can’t wait to do it again…and next time I will be better prepared. Those that adventured with me were kind enough afterward to give me a few things so, in the end, nothing important was lost and so much more was gained. Some know my name now.” “It sounds like you did well Spethas and I think you will be true to your name-choice,” Gerhard smiled while placing a hand on the youth’s shoulder, “Now, try to get some rest if you can…it sounds like we will have some busy days ahead of us. When you wake up, I would like for you to write down everything that happened and give the scroll to me- do it just the way I taught you. I will want to review it before talking with the others about what happened…and what may yet be. Come, I will walk with you to the inn where the others are resting.” As Friar Jocham walked east with Spethas toward the inn he glanced again at the heavy backpack the youth was carrying. “That armor is far too heavy for you right now Spethas, your frame cannot yet support full plate.” “I know Friar,” Spethas replied, “I have extras for the leather armor I have lost and will continue training until I can wear this metal.” Afterward, Friar Gerhard Jocham made a few swift notes before returning to bed back in the healing house. “Too soon,” he muttered sleepily while pulling the bedcovers to his shoulders. “It can’t be helped,” Gerhard thought as he drifted back to sleep, “we are almost ready…I hope they like it…” To do: - Talk with Inga and assure her that her son is ready - Talk with the others to get their opinions on the village of Paws and of Stormhold - Perform an inventory and collect any remaining materials needed for the settlement - Have the others begin training in the basic magical arts - Set up a meeting with the Paws community regarding a nearby settlement…if the others approve
THIS IS MIND BLOWING!!!!! This is beyond epic. This. Made. My. Day!!! Thanks Friar, Thanks Spethas Rising! what a brilliant back story, what brilliant writing! I willingly put myself to shame!
