Out of Character General Chat

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Nov 5, 2023 5:10 am
Being called to join forces at the Archmage's behest sounds like a good start. We can work out introductions in the opening posts too.
Nov 5, 2023 11:36 am
The good news is that I chose both the elf queen and the high druid.
Nov 5, 2023 6:25 pm
So who all do we have?

A demigod whose dad is the god of war (Human Barbarian)
A paladin who fled the afterlife to find her missing kids (Human Paladin)
A wood elf who emerged fully formed from a tree (Elf Wizard)
Elf Rogue(?)
Elf Ranger (?)

My paladin could have conceivably been traveling with anyone else; she's very much a knight errant, taking on odd jobs as long as she can look for her kids. (But "you all met when the Archmage summoned you" works in a pinch of folks aren't interested in linking up recent backstories.)
Nov 5, 2023 6:59 pm
We have:
A high elf rogue who used to be a dwarf assassin for the crusader
A high elf wizard who is unmistakably magical at a mere glance who has a very conflicted past with the archmage
A human paladin who found a way out of the afterlife with a conflicted relationship with both the lich king and great gold wyrm
A human barbarian who is the son of a war god with a surprisingly positive relationship with the priestess
A wood elf ranger who is literally made of wood and sounds to have relationships with the elf queen and high druid (types to be seen)
Nov 6, 2023 3:10 am
Alright, character sheet submitted. I decided to go Cleric at the last minute. My relationships are 2 positive with the High Druid and 1 conflicted with the Elf Queen.
Nov 6, 2023 4:22 am
LOL. "An elf who used to be a dwarf."

Sounds like a good party. Looking forward to "meeting" everyone.
Last edited November 6, 2023 4:23 am
Nov 6, 2023 4:35 am
Go ahead and talk amongst yourselves as to why you're all on this quest together
Nov 6, 2023 7:12 am
Ambient Music

The Corpse fixed Hrafe with its one eye. The brilliance of the eye could not be described, outside the very real feeling of disintegration that it pelted Hrafe with, in an instant it extinguished the petty insignificant consciousness that called itself Hrafe. What remained cackled in absolute bliss at the release. It could hear in the silence the sounds of lights inexorable conquest. The harmony of Unity had intensified, deepened, it had become more full. It sang so artfully describing what must come to pass. Assuring him his role to come, absolute dominion and authority was his. All that must be done, the death of the Ego, permanently.

Another came, Old One Eye, it placed a chessboard and waving its hand set the board. The white pieces had been set on the board. But Canny The Rising Serpent espied treachery. "I know that trick wanderer. This match is mine." It hissed triumphantly at the greybeard's eyeless socket. The board reset and immediately the serpent attacked with a queen's opening.

In the temple, Hrafe's possession brought him to ecstatic laughter as the flesh rejoiced at the divine communion occurring within it as the vessel. Though the laughter came in three distinct voices, and sounded far more bestial than human. It was on its knees holding within its palms the sacred light. Its laughter was occassionally interrupted by it speaking in tongues.

Old One Eye and Hrafe stood upon the precipice. One of the Raven's of the aged wanderer leapt down and dove into something in the mists below. It cawed up as if mocking Hrafe's courage. But he knew what must be done and fell from the cliff's edge.

He landed immediately as if taking a step down a winding path that twisted, it was a bog, and around Hrafe were statues of himself, twisted in horrific agony. He also saw the Grey Wanderer, making swift ahead of him. "You must move with a steady beat, or you will be lead astray. You must keep to your feet if you want to walk this way." He said to the Rising Serpent. It followed as best it could. Seeing the statues had been turned to stone by what they had seen it focused solely on its stride.

The path ended, upon a windswept hill, upon which an enormous ash shifted in the wind. With blood red leaves, that smelled of incense. The tree was covered in bodies, impaled to it with spears. Each body, alive, entranced, each one of the bodies was Hrafe. The Rising Serpent watched its alter-ego for many days. All but one died. Hoisting itself off its spear it looked up at itself, and began The Knowing. Just then, a second sun rose and melted all illusions.

The bell rang one peal, rousing the serpent from its slumber. Hrafe growled in furious rage as he flooded into the empty spaces, breaking through the interstice between the living realm, and the next. Frenzied eyes locked on the vestige of the light deep within him. Three distinct voices rose from the bowels of the warrior who struggled to carry on the ecstasy of his trance.

A second ring of the bell caused Hrafe to overcome the serpent, a guttural sound emanated from the bowels of the warrior, three distinct voices rose with it. "You have interrupted the sacred." Ritual ablutions, the psychoactive ingredients left the savage Hrafe to stare, eyes rolled in the back of his head. They stared emptily at the interloper. Involuntary spasm, and Hrafe lifted his hands in supplication to an invisible power. A sole shaft of light clasped between his palms. The ecstasy of the light caused an involuntary growl to raise again from his bowels. "Flee this place or you will be made sacrifice. The Beast, it is within me." The third peal roused him fully and immediately he felt her Overwhelming Peace crush all vestiges of peace. Her Holiness arrested his dreams and brought him fully to alertness.

A soft hand placed upon his brow brought immediate peace and clarity to the holy warrior. Pressing his forehead to the palm a warm smile stretched across his face. "Oh, your Eminence, how may your sword serve?"

With a whispered word Hrafe bowed his head in supplication. "I had the same dream. The Hanged God came to me, piercing my abdomen with his spear he made me a sacrifice unto myself. And as I died upon his spear I listened to him. He bid that I lend my sword to the archmage. But if it is your will, I will stay by your side. Basking in your magnificent light."

She whispered again bringing a gasp from Hrafe. "Your will be done your Magnificence." Standing unsteadily Hrafe bowed. "I will avail myself to The Archmage. In your most holy name." Hrafe kissed the Priestess' fingers. Lifting his veil he looked upon her with a smile. Bowing he departed and made to his chambers where he collected his sword, shield, and trappings.

A long journey, alone and on foot brought him to the tower. Resting in the preday glow, Hrafe marked his face with the rune of the day. Ochre and Black hallucinogenic paints. A sacred prayer to the sun as it rose. As he came from his prayers the forms of several others silohuettes in the distance. Hrafe beckoned raising a pewter cup of water. He was.jut starting to fry a pork belly. "It is Divine timing, that we should all meet here, and now. On this auspicious day. Why, it is the Blue Moon tonight, and here we are on the way to see The Archmage."
Last edited November 6, 2023 8:50 am
Nov 6, 2023 9:03 am
What day of the week did we meet?

I like the idea of it being under the blue moon.

Signs and portents are always a good tool to use to enhance fiction. Why dont we all add one heavenly sign for this most auspicous occassion?
Nov 6, 2023 11:07 am
Since we're only adventurer tier characters, I think it's more likely that some low-ranking delegate of the Archmage reaches out to us than the big man himself, and even that's probably considered an honor to the general populace.

Raphel will think it's simply him getting what's due him, of course. In my mind, he's just been kicked out the door by another angry master mage and is now looking for some new means of funding for his own self-interested studies.
Nov 6, 2023 12:43 pm
Each of you is contacted by a representative of the Arch mage. Until you reach epic tears you likely won't interact with the icons themselves very much at all. At this level, most of you are considered a random person that has potential but nothing much more. You are asked to meet at a certain location and then from there after meeting each other you will be told the location of the tower and you will go there together
Nov 6, 2023 2:17 pm
I'm happy with the idea of a blue moon.

Makasi likely had a dream about one or two of you. That has compelled her to take to the road with you for a while. Could be Raphel if that makes sense, or anyone else. She comes from a dreaming people more than a stargazing people.
Nov 6, 2023 2:45 pm
Maybe we can go back to why the Archmage's subordinate asked us to meet? We could have passed some sort of test meant to filter out the less worthy.
Nov 6, 2023 2:57 pm
I have started the chapter. Please take your time deciding anything necessary for you like why you are here on this quest before posting. If I see you have not posted there but are active here, I will be fine with that. I hope we can finish introductions and have you all on the road by the end of the week.

Big note: I will be on vacation Thusday afternoon (my time zone is Eastern Time Zone, if anyone else is different) and won't return until Sunday afternoon. Feel free to roleplay within the chapter until then, but I can't promise how active I'll be during vacation as I'll be focused on my family. If anything, I may be able to make some posts before I go to bed, but I won't be bringing my laptop with me.
Nov 6, 2023 8:44 pm
Thanks, Ironmonger. Enjoy your vacation!
Nov 6, 2023 9:38 pm
Feel free to arrive at the fort in groups or as one big group if you decide some or all of you know each other ahead of time. Try to find reasons that you all would become a group or already be a group.
Nov 6, 2023 10:01 pm
My idea was that our individual actions may have brought notice to us by someone we are affiliated with and that they recommended us for the job when they were approached. Perhaps not all in good faith either.

For example, members of my Druid enclave might have found a way to recommend me as someone who seems well accomplished to the Archmage's people but really meant me as a spy. I'm not so well known that my previous actions would disqualify me so that's one reason I was chosen.

I definitely think that your character passing some sort of test fits the bill and is consistent with the feel of your character. @testlum.
Nov 6, 2023 10:02 pm
Let me ask this too, what is our power level supposed to feel like right now?
Nov 6, 2023 10:08 pm
You are level 1, and as such you are noteworthy people to those you know you but still very new at what you do. I'd imagine you would be the power level of an above average new soldier, skilled and trained, but mostly still just a solder who is in the upper percentile at best.
Nov 6, 2023 10:31 pm
As such, we likely all know each others reputations. Upon meeting such a large group of notorious warriors and mystics, Hrafe somewhere in between both would be delighted and act as confessor, serving as a confidant and offering benediction.

He is also, as a temple acolyte a gifted chef, as every temple knows the benefit of preparing delicious food as a strategy to foster trust and forge bonds of familiarity. Would we have held the ceremony of the "family dinner" yet?
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