Poll

Valizar's crusade:

Doesn't actually happen
1 (14.3%)
Gets defeated in its first battle
1 (14.3%)
Wins a few and takes control of the southern forest
1 (14.3%)
Succeeds in wiping out opposition in the forest and kills Greenfellow
3 (42.9%)
Destroys the world
1 (14.3%)

Total Members Voted: 7

Author Topic: Tales of the Heroes  (Read 40427 times)

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #30 on: January 06, 2021, 10:16:20 AM »
For'Jeck Frozensky (Zunder, Port Springs)

The tales of the dwarves of the Frozensky clan often follow the same path.  Leaving the forest for adventure and to see the world, they are not impressed and return to the place from whence they came.  This is also true of For'Jeck.  Although he spent more time than some of his clanmates out in the world, he nonetheless returned to the forest to live there.  Avoiding the wars and problems the rest of the world had in the early 9th century, For'Jeck used his unique skills to keep the clan safe.

Fighter 5 / Psion 5
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:00:54 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #31 on: January 06, 2021, 10:40:44 AM »
Gneblin Gnearmetal (Windblade, Plateau)

When Gneon, Admiral of the Air Ship Fleet, arrived on the Plateau, thinks began to change for many of its inhabitants.  This accelerated in 791 as Iott began to take control of many parts of the world.  Tinkers, long the enemy of the wizards, where a target.  But Gneon offered protection.  Through his deft negotiation, he had managed to sign a treaty protecting all under his rule.  After the destruction of the Shelleshe fleet and later the burning of the Yellowian field and the melting of the Icefian Glacier, many rushed for protection.  The gnomes of the plateau were first in line.

Gneblin met with Gneon in 794, one of many to stand weeks in line to get an audience with the  Backer of Mighty Clickers.  In the time leading up to the war, Gneon was collecting the greatest inventions in hopes of combating Iott.  Gneblin made a pitch for his POUNCER 9000 V7.  Gneon was impressed and amused and brought Gneblin on board.  Giving me resources, he ordered five versions be made.  For years Gneblin toiled and constructed.  For a time, he traveled to the southern plateau and was able to perfect and improve his designs.

Returning home in 799, he was finally able to put on full display his accomplishments.  A small army of POUNCERS.  Now color coded for their specialty, they were handed out to all gnomish units, where there was one clicker specialist operating it.  The POUNCERS were specialized for terrain: forest, desert, aerial, mountain, and swamp.  Once in the field, they became quickly known by Iott and its allies.  For several years until the ascension of Kallark, the POUNCERS were often a means of victory a certainly a simple for the allies of Gneon to rally behind.

Gneblin was not done, and he continued to design for years.  By 810, he had plans for an even more spectacular clicker.  Rather than waste the broken POUNCERS that had been returned to him, he had begun forging them together into massive constructs.  Using the broken parts, he made a body and added to it a head where the controller could sit.  Not unlike Tinker Armor, but bigger, he imagined it would walk the sea floor and invade Iott. 

His design caught the attention of the Iottians and their allies.  Before he could complete the project, in 811, he was assassinated.  By the slag that was left thorugh his complex, all knew that Iott's deadliest hunter had done the deed.  Everything, despite its resistance to fire, had been turned to slag.  Designs burned, Gneblin nothing but ash, his spirit exiled to the plane of fire.

Fighter 2/ Tinker 13
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:02:19 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #32 on: January 06, 2021, 11:47:08 AM »
Khyron (SM, Plateau)

While he always seemed out of place on the Plateau, where tinkers were common and wizards not, he finally found his place after Iott rise to power.  Recruitment to the side of the arcane was not hard after spending more than a decade practicing magic while being mocked and browbeaten by his tinker neighbors.  Despite that, none considered him a threat and they had grown so used to him that by the reign of Iott, few took the time to consider Khyron.

He served as a mole, relaying information to Iott.  Finally given the respect he felt he deserved, the wizard grew confident and his power grew.  For nearly twenty years, he played his part.  When Kallark was destroyed, he finally decided the time to leave had arrived.  Collecting his belongings, now wealthy from years of service, he left the Plateau with plans to live in Iott.  He would not reach his destination, killed by tinkers who had figured out he was a spy and hunted him down.

Wizard 9
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:02:40 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #33 on: January 06, 2021, 11:54:58 AM »
Marhand Frozensky (WM, String Mountain)

Another in a long list of dwarves of the forest that adventured and then settled down.  A warrior from the eastern forest and militia veteran, he fought in the Seige of Dramman and many other battles with and against the Frost Giants.  After those battles, he started a family.  But his military experience was invaluable and he was pressed into service again to watch the giants.  Iott's efforts to spark wars between the giant factions was successful.  No war among the giants can help but spill over and Marhand was tasked with keeping it out of the forest.

The Frozensky's fought several battles at the edge of the mountains as the giants tried to use the forest to maneuver.  Demanding they stay neutral, the dwarves refused access.  None of the battles are named or well known, but they were hard fought with Marhand often at the head.  The giants never were able to use the forest as a path and the Frozensky were never dragged further into the war.

Marhand retired in 815 and went to be thane of a village.

Fighter 14
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:03:15 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #34 on: January 06, 2021, 12:06:41 PM »
Hardrada (SM, String Mountain)

Barbarian warrior who survived the battles against giants and the cults of cold, he never again achieved the greatness he found in those battles.  But he ego aged well and he told the stories again and again, luckily having proof of his accomplishments.  He ignored the war and events of the world, focusing on his tales and his wealth, which was substantial for a barbarian.  He died happily in his sleep of self induced but natural causes sometime in 814.

Fighter 12
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:03:37 PM by Asinjin »
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Offline Hero

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #35 on: January 06, 2021, 03:01:37 PM »
His design caught the attention of the Iottians and their allies.  Before he could complete the project, in 811, he was assassinated.  By the slag that was left thorugh his complex, all knew that Iott's deadliest hunter had done the deed.  Everything, despite its resistance to fire, had been turned to slag.  Designs burned, Gneblin nothing but ash, his spirit exiled to the plane of fire.
Tchau?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #36 on: January 06, 2021, 08:07:02 PM »
Gnickel Ferrite (Hero, Plateau)

Many who worked for Gneon, Benefactor of the Great Tinkers, went on to fame, fortune, and greatest.  Some did not have that luxury, and such was the tale of Gnickel after the rise of Iott.  Unlike many of Gneon's other agents and employees, Gnickel was holed up in a secret lab.  Fearing that he would either betray them for the Iottians because of his arcane ties, or afraid that the Iottians would kill him because of his inside knowledge of blending the two, Gneon felt that he could best be used as a researcher.

Since saying no to Gneon meant saying no to his protection and bank roll, Gnickel decided to rely on a long life and temporary security and went along with the plan.  He was allowed to bring a family into the secret lab and his days were filled with good food and plenty of tools.  His research into how the new magical ways interacted with clickers was helpful.  His inventions were also put to good use.

The world into which Gnickel emerged was quite different from the one he left.  Knowing that Iott had fallen, he was allowed to return to Grimhold and live a normal life again, now with a family.  Sadly, Gnimhold was not quite how he remembered it.

Tinker 2 / Wizard 5 / Marcanist 2
« Last Edit: March 10, 2022, 09:49:23 AM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #37 on: January 06, 2021, 08:20:26 PM »
Isaac (Terrorshard, Icefia)

The Icefian trained bard spent a great deal of time in Port Phiam, earning his keep and perfecting his craft.  With visits to the Bardic College from time to time.  He only narrowly missed being there when the dragons attacked.  Later, in Phiam, he only narrowly missed being dragged into the sea.  It seemed whenever he made a move in Icefia, danger lurked right near him.  After years of this, he got fed up and looked for better luck.

Paying for a cruise, he sailed south, only to end up on a Corsair ship after the ship he had paid to sail on was attacked by pirates and then rescued.  The Corsair ship carried him until he was able to reach another port, this time Magenthia.  Once there, he was able to make a living until Sutyr left the Counsil.  Strife erupted in the city, and again, Isaac fled his bad luck.  To the Great Forest he went, where halflings always love a good song.

Again, his time was fruitful.  But the plagues came, and no where was it worse than the forest, where the gnolls, seemingly immune to every one of the plagues, began to take over.  South he would go next, to Hertoplowis.  The dour citizens wanted different songs, so the Maestro changed his tune.  Bad luck came knocking again in the form of an Iottian attack the leveled his arena.  Knowing where to get out of the way was an art for Isaac now, and he fled on ship east to Undrile.

Few cities had the reputation of the lawless tropical port.  Even the Iottians had decided to not lay claim to it.  Singing bawdy ballads now, the bard proved his versatility.  Again, he was thwarted as the city was evangelized by Quan Yin and the brothels were there first target.  Isaac was out of there in no time.  Now traveling by foot, he wandered for a year before ending up another tropical port city.

Employed at the Low Bar, he sang songs for everyone and had become quite popular.  So it was disappointing one night when the storm was so strong that even his music could not overcome the thunder and rain.

Bard 6 / Maestro 2
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:05:17 PM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #38 on: January 06, 2021, 08:39:02 PM »
Brack Sizzlestone Lighteningrock (Windblade, String Mountain)

A leader of the Blitzcaster guild, Brack was quick to denounce Iott's efforts.  He had never been a fan of Kallark and found his and Iott's alliance disturbing.  While some Blitzcasters spoke of neutrality or even alliance with Iott, Brack was settled against it.

Renowned for the skill, the Blitzcasters were granted a rare treat.  The Marshall herself, Lyla, came to visit them and parley with them.  Hopeful they would see the light, she spent days among them, talking and convincing.  Hour by hour, she convinced member after member to at least not side against Iott.  But Brack would not bend.  Finally, she challenged Brack to a duel.  Not to the death.  If she won, the Blitzcasters would back Iott, if Brack won, she would end her efforts to bring the Dwarven kingdom under Iott's protection.

Brack had little choice, and little interest in not accepting the duel.  To not do so would have diminished his standing to the point where his brothers may not have listened to him anyway.  He agreed and set the stage.  The arena of the Blitzcasters was made ready and a hundred wizards of power along with clerics of Kallark and Smofarf watched.

Few have witnessed a duel the likes of was seen that day.  Brack unleashed a torrent of spells that could level a city or mountain, that could wipe out 20,000 soldiers, that could have killed any being on the planet.  Only vast protective spells shielded the audience from death.  Gems of Viewing showed other mages around the world the battle.  The sky lit up for those two mountains away to see.

But it was not enough.  Lyla was beyond the ability of mortal magic to harm.  Even though she was scorched, chilled, bludgeoned, shaken, and cut; she stood tall.  Accepting every spell Brack dealt out, she withstood the barrage and finally responded.  She retort was precise and accurate.  Brack's defenses held for the moment and he rushed in with his staff.  Unprepared for the attack, Lyla for a moment reeled as the weapon glowed and sang.  But again, it was not quite enough.  Her spells tore at his strength, slowed his mind, and sapped in energy.  Brack was beaten.

The crowd applauded at the effort, while their reactions to the consequences were quite mixed.  Brack was taken to Iott and locked away, never to be seen again.

Wizard 5 / Blitzcaster 10
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:06:03 PM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #39 on: January 06, 2021, 10:33:44 PM »
Saren Thatcher (Valdis, Pacyr)

The paladin of the old way travels the world with a large list of wrongs to right.  Moving back and forth between Pacyr and the Great Plateau, he constantly fights the undead evils hoping to annihilate them completely before a new power arises.  When Iott comes to power, he fights them as well.  When the plagues sweep the world, he aids the sick.  Tirelessly, he becomes known for his heroism.

The Knight of the Forest's Edge Road is the moniker given to him, as in two decades he travels it more often than anyone else.  Being the road that leads most directly from the plateau to Pacyr.  In that time, he fights against gnoll raiders spreading the plague.  He frees villages from the magical control of Iott, and he smashes the undead of the plateau.

Despite those efforts, and the notoriety it brought him, he thought nothing would top the Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar in 815.  The last stand of Sutyr's faith brought in warriors from all over the world, and Saren was one of them.  He would tell the story as one of the few survivors.  But the battle shook him, and he wished to retire, but one final task called to him.  He would head to the Great Plateau again, inspired by the powers, the be there on a day when the sky turned fiery red...

Paladin 11 / Red Guard 10
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:07:14 PM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #40 on: January 06, 2021, 11:16:58 PM »
Olokas (WM, Pacyr)

Ranger of Stasis, the orcish holy warrior found himself as the leader of a growing contingent of celestials after the Day of the Scorpion.  Already accompanied by a Hound Archon named Aker, he was joined by a Deva immediately after the Day of the Scorpion.  Word spread to celestials trapped on Habololy that there was a haven with this holy warrior.  As they followed him, they began to take on his personality and mission, drawing strength from him as they would have from their home plane.

Their mission, destroy the undead.  Devoted to this goal, he sought out entities looking to claim the mantle of deity of the undead.  His band thwarted those beings just as they began, making sure none could get far into that plan.  His travels attracted others, and in that time he was aided by his friend Saren Thatcher and others.  But one who traveled with him for years was a mind flayer named Ri, a former companion that now was allied with Solaris.  When Solaris heard of the mission, wanting to help but not able to leave Pacyr, he released Ri to help in his place.

Strangely, but not surprisingly, Olokas' band grew as he sired half celestials with the Deva and the Aker found a mate and a pack of Hound Archons was the result.  Ri became the godfather to them all, instilling them with psionic talents that made this growing pack formidable.

They traveled the entire main continent trying to achieve their mission.  It was the Holy Pack that defeated the greatest threat to claiming the undead mantle.  Powered by disease and leading a horde of undead created from the plagues, a gnoll named Merid devoted to the worship of a planar deity of undeath and disease.  For several years, he roamed and collected.  Sadly, some places paid him to take the dead away from fear they could still infect the living, which sometimes turned out to be true.

When the pack finally found Merid and his horde, they heading into the jungle, ready to spread their pestilence into the Destroytian Peninsula...

Ranger 17
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:08:28 PM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #41 on: January 06, 2021, 11:25:07 PM »
Ri (Windblade, Pacyr)

The enlightened mind flayer held closely to Solaris after his death experience.  His story was the same as Solaris' until word came of the Holy Pack of Olokas and their quest to rid the world of undead.  Solaris saw an opportunity and sent Ri to aid their former companion.  Ri joined the pack and went out to destroy those that sought the power of undeath.

The mind flayer grew fond of the pack and drew strength from the celestials that made it.  His spirit lifted and his mission in focus, he trained the young pack members and was later made part of the family, godfather to hound archons and half celestial orcs alike.  It was his psionic powers that allowed the pack to find the tomb of the mummy and burn it before it arose again in undeath.

He and the pack found their greatest challenge in the jungle, as they confronted the vile gnoll who sought to be the deity of disease and undeath, Marin.  Sensing what the were up against, Ri called out to allies, hoping that some could arrive in time to aid them...

Mind Flayer 3/ Soulknife 5/ Prestige 8
« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 11:09:29 PM by Asinjin »
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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #42 on: January 06, 2021, 11:31:30 PM »
32 done, about 25% of the way there...seesh

Let me know your favorites so far.  Also enjoy the speculation posts and Easter Egg catches.
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Offline whitesword

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #43 on: January 06, 2021, 11:44:57 PM »
I’m going to have to take notes on all the events. The Kovar v Wilhelm story is the highlight so far.

Offline Valdis

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Re: Tales of the Heroes
« Reply #44 on: January 07, 2021, 08:21:29 AM »
Isaac

The Icefian trained bard spent a great deal of time in Port Phiam, earning his keep and perfecting his craft.  With visits to the Bardic College from time to time.  He only narrowly missed being there when the dragons attacked.  Later, in Phiam, he only narrowly missed being dragged into the sea.  It seemed whenever he made a move in Icefia, danger lurked right near him.  After years of this, he got fed up and looked for better luck.

Paying for a cruise, he sailed south, only to end up on a Corsair ship after the ship he had paid to sail on was attacked by pirates and then rescued.  The Corsair ship carried him until he was able to reach another port, this time Magenthia.  Once there, he was able to make a living until Sutyr left the Counsil.  Strife erupted in the city, and again, Isaac fled his bad luck.  To the Great Forest he went, where halflings always love a good song.

Again, his time was fruitful.  But the plagues came, and no where was it worse than the forest, where the gnolls, seemingly immune to every one of the plagues, began to take over.  South he would go next, to Hertoplowis.  The dour citizens wanted different songs, so the Maestro changed his tune.  Bad luck came knocking again in the form of an Iottian attack the leveled his arena.  Knowing where to get out of the way was an art for Isaac now, and he fled on ship east to Undrile.

Few cities had the reputation of the lawless tropical port.  Even the Iottians had decided to not lay claim to it.  Singing bawdy ballads now, the bard proved his versatility.  Again, he was thwarted as the city was evangelized by Quan Yin and the brothels were there first target.  Isaac was out of there in no time.  Now traveling by foot, he wandered for a year before ending up another tropical port city.

Employed at the Low Bar, he sang songs for everyone and had become quite popular.  So it was disappointing one night when the storm was so strong that even his music could not overcome the thunder and rain.

That's some real final destination stuff right there...