Tales of the Heroes

[Hero]

Haas part 2

The event was heavily attended, but missing dignitaries one might expect.  Iott did not participate.

I’m sure the invitation just got lost in the mail. Check the Iottian capital mail room for a letter addressed to “that would be despotic c**t from Iott.”

Love that Haas turned his focus inward to strengthen the religion, rather than the outward conflict that has been the way for so long.

[whitesword]

I’m sure the invitation just got lost in the mail. Check the Iottian capital mail room for a letter addressed to “that would be despotic c**t from Iott.”

Bwahhhahhhhhh!!!!!!

[Malchia]

I’m sure the invitation just got lost in the mail. Check the Iottian capital mail room for a letter addressed to “that would be despotic c**t from Iott.”

Love that Haas turned his focus inward to strengthen the religion, rather than the outward conflict that has been the way for so long.

Don't worry, Valizar has your back when it comes to outward conflicts. 

[Zunder]

Don't worry, Valizar has your back when it comes to outward conflicts.

He's stuck in a force cage...

[Asinjin]

Haas part 3

Needed to consult with his allies in Nomagrok and having the opportunity to travel with those leaving the Graplore, Haas decided it was time to go to the String Mountains.  Leaving the high temple in capable hands, he went north with the Frost Giant Rimstad who once competed in the Graplore but now told stories of the battles; the gargoyle whose name translated to 'the clawed guardian' and that Haas referred to Stoneclaw who had compete and nearly won the event; and the barbarian Tolydyr Strongback who lived in the Frozensky forest and who also came close to winning.  Their entourage included two dozen.

They carved a path through the desert, stopping at shrines along the way.  At each one, Haas spoke of the path he expected the faithful to take.  He trained those capable in the ways of the Blessed Fist, a path he had by now perfected.  The elite combatants with him offered training as well.  When they left a shrine, those they left behind felt capable of taking on any opponent.  Haas had one in mind.

Reaching Amansky, Haas was angered by their refusal to let him enter the jungle.  They did not want what he was selling.  He demanded an audience with the shrine to Tyrogatore and was refused.  He visited anyway.  The trudge through the jungle was unpleasant.  Hindered and watched the whole way, the group which included many you did not know the jungle was angry and came close to stomping those that watched them several times.  The shrine visit lasted a long time, as Haas made a point to the powers of Amansky.  The Sakor'akai he left in charge promised to not be cowed by the leaders of the nation.

Around the plateau the group went, stopping at Palumbton and through the Rosetree forest, where the experience was not unlike the one they received in Amansky.  Tavis Strongbranch, who had competed in the Graplore but had returned home swiftly, warned Haas to leave the kingdom.  He challenged Haas to a fight, if Haas won, they could stay.  Without spells, the battle was even.  Tavis was a defender and able to stall and stalemate Haas, although he could not beat him.  After an hour, the fight was called and the king declared that since Haas had not won, he must leave.  Begrudging, he did, after a visit to the shrine in the forest.

From Northut they sailed to Port Springs.  The tour of the mountains was a great success. Everywhere they went, Haas and the group was welcome.  Nomagrok, the Kingdom of Frost, the Clandom.  He even found safe haven among several towns of the Dwarven Kingdom, those inhabited mainly by Granitebreaker clan dwarves.  The religion was strong on this continent.  Now he turned to a challenge again, the Badlands of the Vishtoo and the Grean Republic.

[Hero]

Haas part 3

Now he turned to a challenge again, the Badlands of the Vishtoo and the Grean Republic.

I really hope an encounter with Razilav is in Haas’ future.

[Asinjin]

Haas part 4

No high cleric to his knowledge had ever visited the lands of the Vishtoo.  Haas now traveled with a small retinue of clerics and faithful that started following him on their long journey.  He was surprised to find a town at the edge of the lands.  There, he was forced to fight the local cleric of Vishtoo to be allowed entry.  And that was the way.  In every town, he fought to be allowed to stay.  In every town, he won.  News of his coming preceded him.  Larger crowds gathered at each new stop.  He spoke of Tyrogatore, but was wise enough not to denigrate Vishtoo.  He found the Vishtoo, and the rare other races he saw in the villages, to be receptive and respectful, once he had defeated their champion.

The locals guided him to each next village and gave him an idea of what to expect.  Only a few did he avoid, realizing that there was nothing to be gained for visiting a place dedicated to Chaos or some other faith where the visit would end in death.  As he nearly the largest village, what he was told was more a city and the home to the Warlord of Vishtoo, he came to the town of S'z't.  Haas could not pronounce it, none of the sounds that emanated from the faces of the Vishtoo could be accurately made by mouthed races.  It meant that Haas always had to have a spell of communication active, which made things difficult in this time of changed magic.  In this town, he again faced a challenge in the form of Bezeded S'z't.  When the Vishtoo stepped into the arena, Haas furrowed his brow and his lips formed an unfamiliar twist of concern.  What was before him was no creature of flesh and blood.  To every estimation, it was living stone, not far off from a gargoyle.  But Haas could find no cheating, and so he readied to fight.   The Vishtoo took shot and shot from Haas and did not bend.  His return blows were profound.  He was faster than Haas, taller than Haas, and stronger than Haas.  Wisdom and toughness carried Haas far, but finally, realizing that to continue would lead to death and an end to his so far successfully quest, Haas conceded.  In doing so, he taught a lesson to those that watched.  Defeat not end in death.  Honor can be held still by the loser.  A feast was held, the first time such an event had occurred in the badlands for them.  It was strange.  There was no solid food.  Before leaving Haas and Bezeded exchanged tokens of respect.  Haas now had to leave the badlands and head to the Grean Republic.

Once out of sight of the badlands, he punished himself for losing.  Those that traveled with him could not bare to watch.

Haas' visit to the Grean Republic was interesting.  It...

~This section has been deemed inappropriate for the general populace.  By order of of the Tri Counsil, all information contained herein is stricken from all records.  Any mention that such a visit occurred is incorrect and such mentions will lead to the re-education of those involved.~

[Asinjin]

I really hope an encounter with Razilav is in Haas’ future.

You get a warrant, you get a warrant, you get a warrant...

[Malchia]

Haas' visit to the Grean Republic was interesting.  It...

~This section has been deemed inappropriate for the general populace.  By order of of the Tri Counsil, all information contained herein is stricken from all records.  Any mention that such a visit occurred is incorrect and such mentions will lead to the re-education of those involved.~

[Asinjin]

Haas part 5 (if I got paid to be off everyday, would every character have more parts to their story?)

Walking the path from the String Mountains to Icefia was an experience Haas did not expect to have.  He traveled with a giant named Grognoth, who was intriguing.  He was able to teach the giant a few maneuvers to add to his unarmed repertoire.  The trip was long, but they encountered no problems.  Now Haas was in Gnarland.  No living gnome could remember the high cleric of Tyrgatore visiting them.  As many of the nations Haas visited, this one was strange and different from anything he saw before.  There were shrines and a temple to Tyrogatore.  He was happy to spend months here, a place where the faith seemed unharmed by the events of the past few decades.  He even met some ice gnome females that lived up to the reputation that even he had heard.  Unsurpassed natural beauty.

The gnomes guided him to the lands of the chosen, which he felt obligated to visit since he knew there was at least one shrine.  With Haas at the lead, the group was not turned away.  Frostine and Tyrogatore were neither allies nor enemies.  The visit was formal and not lengthy.  The shrine was in good order.  The chosen lived a hard life, and for that they were worthy of respect.  Even here, threats from the outer world existing.  Iott had threatened them with untold fire if they did not agree to their rule.  The forces of a place called Greysnows had infected some with the vile ways of that place and taken control of some of their lands.  Haas offered his assistance, but they declined.

To the Kingdom of Icefia he went...

[Hero]

Haas part 5 (if I got paid to be off everyday, would every character have more parts to their story?)

I assumed the high number of stories was because Haas is a fan favorite.

[Asinjin]

Tchau Din’Tadeu (Master Po, various)

A rage that matched the fires of the elemental plane to which he was attuned burned inside Tchau after the stones were broken.  The others fighting to defend it fought gently, pushing and blowing their opponents.  Tchau alone was ready to unleash everything in his arsenal to stop the catastrophe.  Had they acted sooner, perhaps what had been wrought may not have happened.  Had Russell, Luigi and Cloud laid waste to their foes instead of stunning, knocking down and dismissing the temporarily, maybe more stones would be standing.  Fools all!  Now back in Iott, Lyla had called a meeting of the best of her agents, Tchau among them.

The masters of the four elements, including Tchau and Lucian.  The governors of all the nations, including Marcus from Yellowia and Brokus from the Orcish Empire.  The Magus and Magister were here.  The headmasters of almost all the colleges.  The high clerics of Lakius, Smofarf, and Kallark.  Arnold Blockard, defender of the island and Esyan Pacrosa, leader of the Wizard Brigade.  Iscariot, master of the Usurpers, whose job now of knowing what the divine casters were capable of was even more imperative.  Mikael Targarten, theurge of Iott was the last to arrive.

"The enemies have struck a heavy blow against the arcane, against Smofarf, and against Iott.  It is a dark day.  They think they now have the advantage.  They think it is the beginning of the end for me, for us.  It is not so!" Tchau felt the fire and rage rising in him, he could see it in the face of everyone else in the room.

"The cost they paid for this victory is high.  So high that they will regret having paid it.  The attacks around the world, admirably executed with timing and precision, have wiped out thousands of their agents.  Not fodder, but talented agents, ones capable of causing a distraction that would warrant out response.  That leaves them hollowed out in the middle, with fodder and leadership left.  It will take time for them to replenish and recruit.  It is time they believe they will have because we are in turmoil.  They are mistaken." Of course they were, Lyla always had a plan.

"We knew this was their best, only option.  I put safeguards in place and worked to prevent them form claiming the items that would allow them to cleave the stones.  They were successful, yes, but they used every trick, scheme and tool they could produce to claim this victory.  They have nothing left.  No more blood oaths, no more coordinated worldwide attacks, no more allies to conjure from a portal or summon from afar.  They will continue to attack because they have no other choice, and they will learn that this nation is far from defenseless, it is a fully functional battle isle." The words tickled Tchau and he could not wait for what came next.

"You each have a part to play in what comes next.  When the try to invade, we will be ready.  When they try to swing support in the nations, the governors will hold.  We will out study them to learn what has been done to magic and what can now be accomplished.  Their leaders will now be fair game.  If they did not like the way Iott reigned before, now that they have forced our hand, they will despise what comes next."  Yes, yes, yes, thought Tchau, such a glorious woman of action.

The meeting ended and each person present was given their role.  Tchau's would not be different.  He would be one of four casters sent into the world to cleanse it of dangerous individuals who posed a threat to the arcane order.  Tchau excepted this role.  He would burn their scourge of evil from Habololy and allow Iott to put the world back on track.
 

[Zunder]

down to Vor'Ruk and Ash.  Nether of who were guessed to be last.

[Asinjin]

Tchau part 2

Iott prepared, and Tchau did along with the nation.  His mind was a bit of a blur through the recent events.  The travel from a foreign world and the breaking of magic seemed to confuse him a bit, but things came together.  He had learned of another form of magical power in their strange world, and now he would bring that to good use.  Between that and his direct access to the plane of fire, Tchau learned over the next few months that he access magic that had been lost to most casters.

He was given a list of enemies of Iott and he went to work.  For years, he tracked a purged them.  Agents of Chaos, mad tinkers, traitorous wizards.  No corner of the world was safe.  He convinced the jungle elves to not get involved, and they hid in the lands.  He warned giants and chosen of the frozen lands to stay in line.  The other masters of the elements did the same work, but none matched Tchau's skill.  Amansky, the Great Plateau, Icefia, and Yellowia; all felt his fires burn at one time or another.

The years rolled on and Iott began to restore the order that had been snatched away when the stones broke.  Tchau became known throughout the world.  His fame suited him.  He rarely had to burn anyone anymore, but the dawn of the second decade of the 800's, whispering his name was enough to end some plots against Iott.

The death of the Nipit, his air counterpart, gave Tchau pause.  To this point, the four, as well as the other agents of Iott were undefeated.  Lyla's skill at picking agents and selecting missions had been perfect.  The Nipit had long been assigned the task of finding the stone breakers.  Tchau had been there, he should known them.  But Cloud's cursed storm had made the whole battlefield a mess and Tchau could remember little else.  The death gave Tchau pause, and for the first time in a long time, he began to think about what was happening in Iott.

[Asinjin]

Haas part 6

Travelling south along the Tamin river, Haas and his retinue came to Messada and Castle Gemblade.  Unsure of what sort of welcome he would receive, he had intended to go right to the great arena-temple in Messada, but as the Castle came into sight, he found a large pavilion tent flying the royal standard and the banner of the Church of Stasis.  Waiting to greet him were Buld Mountainmagic, the Herald of the Church, and Michael, the Steward (High Cleric) of Habololy.  With them was a Vishtoo, armed with Horarian swords and wearing leather gye and kilt, with a reddish tint, who, based on Haas’ recent experience, appeared to be nearing old age.  The clerics greeted Haas warmly and promised to show him the temples in Messada.   The Vishtoo, bowing deeply said to him:

“Greetings Father Haas, I am Eda’Kera.  I am sorry I was not in the Badlands during your time there, but many of the Waywatchers have been called here to fight Sutyr and Dresta.  The High King hopes you will dine with him and other guests in the Castle.”

Haas spent two days as an honored guest in the Castle and was shown many works of art depicting the Graplores held in Icefia, the great competitors and even Stasis’ defeat as runner-up to Vrokikke the Doomed.  He was gratified to see the royal family continued to follow Stasis’ example and taught their sons wrestling.  After he departed, as promised, Michael and Eda’Kera, showed him all of the great temples of Messada.  Haas was pleased to find that Stasis’ paladin school, the military academy and the constables academy all had small shrines to Tyrogatore within their unarmed training gyms.  He was introduced to the chief instructors, from the constables a bespectacled man named Robert and from the legions an Intorian woman named Miaj.  The arena-temple of Tyrogatore was an impressive sight, one of only a few to host multiple Graplores.  Its high cleric, Cole Breakneck, an aging half-Orc, was moved to tears at Haas’ arrival and introduced him to his best students.

As he crisscrossed the country, Haas observed that the Kingdom was almost the opposite of what he had found in Yellowia and the Empire.  Despite Iott’s ascension and the plagues, he found a united nation, given purpose by the challenging times.  Still, there was a wariness and he quickly realized Michael and Eda’kera were not merely hosts but bodyguards.  Haas and his company bid Michael farewell after visiting Phiam and Colonye.  Eda’kera continued with them and Haas was aware that they were being shadowed by clerics and knights on the road.  As this annoyed Haas, Eda’kera explained to him:

“You have no power over the undead and the Empty Men seem to fear only holy and radiant energy.  It is unlikely that they could overcome you, but it would be a great humiliation for the Kingdom if there was an attempt on your life here.”

The company spent two days at Oneash, where Haas received a welcome intended to outdo any had previously experienced.  There were contests of strength and the high cleric of the city, Lorc, asked Haas to consecrate their temple that had recently been elevated from a shrine.  They continued on, stopping to rest at Eda’Kera’s ancestral estate, Battlestone.   Ingeniously concealed in a deep forest ravine, the buildings were carved into the cliffsides.   They spent one night there with Ukko, Eda’kera’s son, the head of the high noble family.  The journey to Cape Tolya took weeks and as they traveled, they saw more signs of plague and war.  More than once they came upon an abandoned village, or one cordoned off by the clerics of Stasis or Hemator.  They also encountered the legions, on the march north to fight.  Still, there was no sign of Iott and the journey was pleasant.

Cape Tolya was far different from the cities of the east.  The plagues had struck hard and repeatedly in the great city.  The subjects of the city made their way home before dark and knights and soldiers patrolled the streets with the constables.  Here the battle against Sutyr and Dresta was being fought every night.  Despite this, it was still more orderly than Undrile or Magenthia.  The company made its way through the great city to their destination, the ancient temple of their lord.  The second temple to host a Graplore off the Main Continent, the temple of Cape Tolya was a reminder of the time when the city had been the wealthiest in the world.   It was fitting that its master was also seemingly from another age: Aavass Vassenture, the ancient Vass Jaagenklar was the only known Master of the Art in the history of Icefia.   He had been high cleric of Cape Tolya for nearly 70 years.  He greeted Haas warmly and escorted him inside.  Awaiting them, filling the floor of the arena, was a host of warriors, constables, faithful of Tyrogatore and Guardians.  First to greet Haas, in hearty, but respectful, dwarven fashion, was Boram Firepeak, the Guardians’ chief unarmed combat instructor.  Easily the largest dwarf Haas had ever met, Boram had fought in the last three Graplores, 800 most likely his last.   Aavass had arranged a week-long tournament in Haas’ honor.  Fought day and night in Graplore style, it stopped only for prayer and feasting.  For the final matches Aavass and Haas were joined by Escalon and Adux Steelsun, the Equinal of the Guardians.  Adux had long wanted to meet Haas and thanked him for all he had done to thwart the plot against Stasis and Tyrogatore.  Their attendance was not only to pay respect to Haas; by the third day of the competition, it was clear that Boram’s disciple, Sundral the Battle Shard, a tall bugbear Feyali, would most likely prevail. As they watched, Haas heard of the struggles in the Protectorate, the horror of the Day of Dust, and that his old friend Roland had left the Kingdom to hunt those responsible.  At the end of the tournament, Sundral prevailed, and all assembled, faithful of Tyrogatore and not, saluted Haas.

Though there were only shrines to Tyrogatore in Fortress Whiteknight and Portet, Haas and company took their leave and journeyed west.  Here they found a nation truly at war.  One in three villages were abandoned, animal life was sparse, and as they drew near Portet a company of wraiths and wights set upon them.  Though none of the company was killed, it was eye opening to the danger of daily life in the west.  Once in the city, Haas was moved to find that before Roland had departed, he had founded an orphanage, watched over by his wife and servants of the goodly churches.  Haas preached for a week in the city, exhorting the residents to stay fit and disciplined against the forces that surrounded them.

From there, Haas begrudgingly boarded a ship and headed to Kathow-tio-Horari, where a meeting with the high cleric of Quan Yin would prove most interesting.