Tales of the Heroes

[Asinjin]

Haas part 7?!?

Kathow-tio-Horari long had a tradition of martial prowess, but it never had many shrines to Tyrogatore, nor any temples.  Haas wanted to change that.  His shipped docked at Red Island, at the town of Reb Beach, before starting the long walk up to the capital, Tas-tio-Horari.  His guide was a elf who had snake tattoos all over his body.  He wore a sleeveless fighting gye and was pleased to meet Haas.  Along with his retinue, they approached the cities of diamonds.  The wonder of the city was not lost on Haas, but he wasn't that interested in it.

He was taken not to the the center of the city, nor to any grand palace, but rather to a simple open air court garden.  He appreciated the time and effort that was put into maintaining the place, and he sensed that it was all done by mundanely.  In the garden was the high cleric of Quan Yin, Yukora.  She dismissed all of the others and for hours that went into days, and then weeks, the two discussed philosophy.  Haas would train and Yukora would prune.  The meals were attended by Haas retinue, who was being watched over by the elf, and Yukora children, nine of them.

At the end of the meeting, there was a feast and the queen made a brief appearance.  She thanked Haas for his visit and let him known that they would allow a temple to be constructed in the nation.  It must be dedicated to non lethal styles of combat and located outside of a city.  The queen would grant him the land and the cost of construction could be paid over a decade.  The queen left soon after and an advisor set about the task of finding a location for the new temple.  The process took Haas to several islands.  The off and on sailing was the worst part of the world tour he was on, and he looked forward to walking a long distance to forget this feeling.

It was 810 when Haas finally set sail away from Kathow-tio-Horari.  Although he wanted to continue the trip, he needed to stop in at Jaswap.  Magical communication was still at Iott's mercy and only the simplest messages dare be sent.  Making it back to Jaswap, Haas spent months being informed of what was happening in the world.  For Tyrogatore, things were fine.  Better than most other organizations, he guessed.  Two decades as high cleric, and things were quite well.

Haas awoke one day soon after returning to Jaswap to a commotion.  Clerics gathered at the temple.  They were irritated, he could tell that.  The steward came into the room and informed him that more than a dozen clerics were here to challenge him.  Haas was concerned until the elder clerics who predated him came to remind him that it was traditional for the high cleric to be challenged to maintain his rank.  Even to lose to Haas would be a great honor and there were many waiting.  Haas enjoyed the next several weeks, even if they were painful.  I the end, he was still high cleric.

[Asinjin]

Haas part 8

The next leg of Haas' journey should have taken him to Ekarude.  He wanted to visit Layraedia and this new Horarian tower which he had been told was home to practitioners of martial arts unknown elsewhere.  He wanted to visit Amatom, because few others did.  He wanted to see this islanders tribe that worshipped Tyrogatore and hope to meet the creator of Memtanjuan, Kahele Vaei, who had twice finished in the final four of the Graplore, whose star apprentice Tuhulo finished as the runner up a decade ago in the Graplore Haas hosted.

Being high cleric had many responsibilities.  The seeds he had planted for a decade were growing, but some needed watering, others had withered, some were being strangled by thorns.  He wrote letters, he spoke, he traveled to nearby lands.  The new king of Baenrl summoned Haas to make demands that Haas refused.  He wanted to crush the new king, who had slain the last king, the worshipper of Tyrgotore, in fair combat; but he now had to keep politics in mind.  This new king was beholden to Iott.  Such an act would bring about their wrath.  From what Haas new, Iott was again nearing the apex of its power.  The religion was coming to a place it had not been in many years.  He would not jeopardize that, yet.

Entreaties would arrive from Gneon to join the tinkers and his coalition.  Haas refused.  He would not trade tyrannical arcana for mad tinkering.  These problems were why Haas had always thought he did not want to be the leader.  Tyrogatore tests. 

Haas did not believe in luck, but in 814 something happened that caused him to reconsider.  With everything going the way of Iott.  With Haas having to consider joining forces with others against Lyla in a last attempt to stop their domination.  Kallark was destroyed.  Magic was again broken.  The reign of Iott seemed to finally be near an end.  Haas breathed a sigh of relief.  Now would be the time to fix things and bring calm.  Chaos would ensure as Iott's control began to wane.  A power vacuum would occur and warlords and maniacs would try to fill that void.  This was a delicate and dangerous time.

"Grand Father Haas, word has come, Valizar is marching his Lizardfolk host north into the forest.  The word is he wishes to slay Greenfellow."

Monk 2 / Cleric 19 / Blessed Fist 2

[Asinjin]

Just a reminder:

First- I’m sure Valizar will make a mess. Situationally and of some poor unfortunates.

[Asinjin]

Ash (Terrorshard, various)

For five years after the treaty that ended the Great Forest War, Ash remained in the forest.  Hunting, scouting, watching; he was unmatched in his set of skills.  Not because he was the best at hiding, or that he was the best archer (although he probably was), or that could spot a small bird on a branch one hundred yards away; but because he was willing to act without hesitation.  When a fey trickster went to freeze the house of a halfling elder, which could have caused his death; Ash did not play a game, he killed the fey.  When Fironi rebels sought to provoke an altercation with the wugs and try to restart hostilities; Ash did not look for their leader and collect intel, he dragged their corpses back to their town with a warning note pinned to them.  When gnolls raided a halfling town, he told Warlord Akrak what had happened and left a bag of gnolls paws.

With a purpose, and enjoying what he did, these years what good ones for Ash.  His notoriety preceded him, but he was not widely famous.  Those in the know knew who and what he was, but the general populace did not.  He was able to travel and enjoy life a bit in the forest.  Iott never cam knocking at his door, and he didn't care to go find them.  But when the call came to help break the circle, he did answer.  At some point Iott's tyranny would come for him.  Ash thought he would likely be dead before that, but owing Haas and not wanting to take the chance, he helped the effort.  What he saw in the battle was annoying.  Get the job done, don't pussyfoot around with half measures.  Many on his side, and thankfully the other, held back.  Had they not, all of the stones could have been broken.  How much easier would life have been would that have happened?

The stonebreakers won.  Ash waited to see what would happen next.  Some advocated patience, others yelled for war.  Ash was in the camp of the latter, but the form of that war was not what he would have suggested.  The marshaled their forces to march on Iott.  Valizar and his horde would join them.  Akrak and Garlaccal would not be far behind.  It might work, they might overcome Iott's defenses.  Ash decided to travel along with them.  Lagging behind, he watched.  It was a dull and slow trip.  When the battle starter, Ash watched from above at a great distance.  It did not go well.  The orcs were defeated.  Realizing in the defeat that Iott would not go quietly, Ash had two revelations.  First, he would retire and take Alwidst up on his offer.  Go to southern Yellowia and act as an advisor.  Second, he would bring Dedestroyt's justice to those who deserved it.  Camping the first night after the battle in Iott, he took out a piece of paper and wrote a note; the name of the first person on a kill list.

Ranger 6 / Huntsman 10 / Marksman 10

[Valdis]

[Asinjin]

Ash's List:

Lana Swiftbreeze

[Asinjin]

Malchia & Valdis

Disoriented by the trip, Valdis and Malchia staggered around for moments.  Whatever magic had moved them had also caused a great deal of stress.  For Valdis, master of movement, it was a strange feeling, but he focused and came out of it faster than his foe.  He only need to be faster by a moments.  He slammed the sword into the Nipits head, knocking him back.  He raised his sword to finish the task, but Lewis alerted him to he paused.  Looking around, Valdis realized he had no idea where they were, floating in darkness.  He may need to communicate with his foe before killing him.

Another several quick strikes, probably more than were needed, knocked out the Nipit.  Thankfully, the Guardian didn't explode or fall.  Looking around, Valdis went gently to the edge and looked down.  Water, glorious water.  He had feared only air.  He would survive the fall, but the Guardian may not.  Was there land nearby?  Yes, he could see lights in the distance.  Now to get there.  First, he stripped the Nipit of anything dangerous.  He had Lewis make sure the giant bat was indeed dead and scorched its body will all manner of things he found to make sure the infernal beast would not return.  Fire, acid, electricity, holy water, piss.  In the armory, he grabbed the shackles that would prevent the Nipit from doing anything magical.

Realizing his exhaustion, he rested, leaving Lewis to watch and setting the defenses of the Guardian to protect them.  The shackled Nipit went into the brig.  The lowered the anchor and hoped for the best overnight.  It was not a peaceful sleep.  Throwing food to the Nipit, Valdis asked him questions which were not answered.  Well enough, time would soon come when he would have all the answers he needed.  Based on Lewis' information and Valdis limited knowledge of the stars and charts, he was still able to determine that they were outside of the city of Undrile.  How and why he did not know.  He needed to contact the crew, Nathan, Rin, someone.  If only this were the days of old, when magic worked better.  The ship had ways of communicating that he would have been able to use.

Undrile was a big enough city, someone there would be able to help him, even if for a fee.  Leaving Lewis to watch the ship and prisoner, Valdis went ashore.  It took him most of the day, Undrile was a chaotic city.  But he found a cleric and arranged to have the spell sent.  He would have preferred a different deity, Lakius or Tyrogaotre, but Lavash'Ki would have to do.  He could not defend the ship alone, and the Nipit might have allies looking for him.  Valdis made it back to the Guardian and waiting.

On watch, securely placed, with Lewis lurking, he just needed to survive a few hours at most, or so he hoped.  One day turned into three.  There was plenty of food.  Numerous other ships had stopped by and asked if they could 'help'.  One time Valdis had to fight off a boarding party.  It was annoying, but even the dozen pirates were no match for him.  A mist rolled in and Valdis grew suspicious.  A small boat pulled up and hailed him.  Taking no chances, Valdis raised his defenses.  They talked for minutes, and Valdis was confident the men in the boat were no threat.  They offered to bring out food, and keep him company for a small fee.  Valdis declined and watched them go.  Sure they were gone and no other boats were near, he turned to check on the Nipit.  A moment later, Valdis was dead on the deck.

Free from his Shackles, thanking his rescuer, Malchia took no time to mourn.  He set about the task of getting the ship to the collector.  Minutes later, in a flash, it was gone.  The Collector be praised, the ship would be renamed Malchia's Bounty, Ark of Collection.  It would sail the world as a symbol of the Collector's magnificence.  From now on, Malchia would be known as the greatest Herald of the Collector.  He would be given the task of Collection that so many had failed before but that he could succeed at, the assembly of the daggers of Dedestroyt.

Nathan arrived just too late.  No one knew where Rin was. The ship was gone.  Valdis body was recovered and a ceremony was held when the surviving crew could attend.  They commissioned a new ship and set a new course.  Finding the Guardian of the Tides.

[Asinjin]

Ash's List:

Lana Swiftbreeze

Half breed bastard orc that captured Malchia

[Windblade]

Malchia & Valdis

For Valdis, master of movement, it was a strange feeling, but he focused and came out of it faster than his foe.  He only need to be faster by a moments.  He slammed the sword into the Nipits head, knocking him back.  He raised his sword to finish the task, but Lewis alerted him to he paused.  Looking around, Valdis realized he had no idea where they were, floating in darkness.  He may need to communicate with his foe before killing him.

I think Valdis would have killed him when he had the chance and not taken him prisoner.  Such an experienced sailor would know better.

[Malchia]

Ash's List:
Half breed bastard orc that captured Malchia

Thanks Ash...Malchia owes you one.  I'll talk to the big guy about getting you an epic item that'll still work in this messed up broken magic world. 

[Asinjin]

The Company of Long Odds, Part 2 - broaching Thom

"I know magic, I should make the list." - Montaron

"Magic got us into this mess, we don't need any more if it!" - Reik

"Zo many things, all magical, all useful, how many we buy?" - Razk

"Why can't we just go to the guardians to get them?" - Dovin

"Iott is watching, but Thom's shop is hidden from their view, at least, that's what I was told." - Claude

"And who told you that?" - Acyll

"Same person that tells him everything, Tfop." - Daane

"Good to know the deities are on our side, this should be no problem." - Rubius

"And these broaches you mention, they will make sure if we die, we don't remain trapped on the plane?" - Keldan

"Yes, and from experience, I can tell you they work." - Ari

"I am not sure whether to like that you have experience and know this or not." - Grant

Along with many other items of value and use, the group was able to purchase the broaches they needed (guardian ones or knock offs) for their journey.  Thom, to his credit, did not pry nor reveal what he suspected they were up to, which only meant that in some way, they quest was to his advantage.

[Malchia]

Nathan arrived just too late.  No one knew where Rin was. The ship was gone.  Valdis body was recovered and a ceremony was held when the surviving crew could attend.  They commissioned a new ship and set a new course.  Finding the Guardian of the Tides.

When word reaches Chase about this incident, he renames his ship "Gaurdian's Pride" in honor of the Gaurdian of the Tides.

[Asinjin]

Ash's List:

Lana Swiftbreeze

Half breed bastard orc that captured Malchia

Douche clowns that killed Ty

[Asinjin]

Ash part 2

After the failed crusade, Ash went to southern Yellowia to take up the role on King Alwidst's royal staff.  As trusted advisory, master of the hunt, and several other titles, Ash was allowed free reign of the land.  He trained archers and hunters, he picked out a home for himself and was given choice of wives to take.  Life was good.

Alwidst was a ally of Gneon, and his men had taken part in the distraction during the Day Magic Broke.  At first, this was not an issue, as Iott ignored the smaller kingdom.  Ash was given the task of making sure the neighboring lands new where the Kingdom of Southern Yellowia stood.  He visited the jungles, Northern Yellowia, the hill giant and barbarian tribes and several other places with the king, and then without.

When Iott began to reclaim its power, problems began to arise for the kingdom.  Iott never took to the field of battle in mass if it could be avoided.  Ash admired their tactics, the same he would use.  A village would have its ability to sustain itself removed.  A caster would be demagicked.  A noble would be captured.  Several times, Ash feared for himself, but chance kept him off of Iott's list and for at least the moment, Ash did not target Iottian's on his list.   

[Asinjin]

Ash's List:

Lana Swiftbreeze

Half breed bastard orc that captured Malchia

Douche clowns that killed Ty

Trix Topshot