Episode 2

load previous
Feb 27, 2019 6:55 pm
Elam looks up and stands.

"Brother, don't do this. Stay with us."
Feb 27, 2019 7:13 pm
Namtur gives next to no pause before continuing.

"You think I am the foolish one, but in truth you are the one being reckless. You cannot control the edimmu. Any treasure you take from that Hel will haunt you for the rest of your days. That goes for all of you. You are fools if you would cling to the corrupt belongings of bygone madmen."

He makes a hand motion and scans the room, a gesture that he is expanding the audience for his words.

"The only reason to approach The Pit should be to cover it with the bronze door. Perhaps if that could be done, it should be. The Heshbaan people of Gelshemish do not deserve the danger that is coming to them. Someday soon, the seal will break."

He looks back to Elam. "As for us," he shifts his gaze to Iasu. "The Cursed ..." he lets the title sit for a few quiet moments. "We do best to accept that we will die here. In truth it is for the best. We destroy all around us, because of our unholy blood."

He stares out to all once more. And then turns to walk away, towards the opposite hallway, leading east and away from the direction of the Snake Door of Suter-Set's Pit.

"But as for me,"
the devil myrmidon says while walking, with his back to the crowd. "before I die, I will serve the Justice of the God of Dasnish. I will slay another one of Vine's sons for his wickedness."

He raises the war club Reave up in the air, high in a triumphant grip, when he passes Bull Maeriks. He nods to the bull, and then disappears down the hall.
Feb 27, 2019 7:22 pm
Iasu rises to his feet uncertainly. He looks from Elam to the departing Namtur. "Elam. We cannot let him go alone. He will surely die."
Feb 27, 2019 7:52 pm
Elam looks like he is close to losing his composure. Perhaps in anger, perhaps in sadness.

But the slip is brief. He shifts back to his default controlled stoicism. He stares at Namtur with intense focus, his brow tight.

Iasu's words seem to break the spell. Elam looks over to his other brother.

With a deep breath and taking a more relaxed composure, he walks purposefully over to stand with Iasu. "Do not worry, brother. Namtur is taking pride in this sort of dramatics. He will not say it to us, but he knows that he will not find Naram tonight."

Elam shakes his head and forces a smile. "Wait and see: he will wander the halls for a time and then join us later to give another sermon while we are breaching the Snake Door."

He turns to Iasu then with a bit more seriousness. "But we cannot afford to delay for stubborn antics right now. Suter-Set has begun a séance. If the twins were right, every moment counts. We must stop him before he brings forth something terrible that will destroy all of us."

He nods and changes back to a lighter tone. "And besides, even if Namtur does have the luck to catch Naram, Namtur will not be the one who should fear for his life. Our red-skinned brother has been in a 100 deadly battles and has never lost. You have not seen all his exploits, but as for myself, I think he cannot be killed. Not by man nor devil nor beast at least."

Elam puts a hand on Iasu's shoulder. "Stay with me, brother. Please. I cannot bear to go forward with none of my family at my side. We are so CLOSE! We can prevail if we stand together."
Feb 27, 2019 8:11 pm
DMJ says:
OOC:
Ez, Elam can definitely give a strong detailed layout, discuss very important features, provide assumptions and best predictions for what (he thinks) will likely be going on.
I would ideally like to build a graphic map and send it out ahead of time. Also there will be some typing to explain.
It will just take some time though. I think it is a great idea and worth the investment. Bear with me. May have to get it done in parts, over next few days juggling some other stuff going on in RL.
No problem, happy to wait for some intel. If it comes in parts, that works just fine; in fact, it'll also let us kick around strategy and tactics in chunks, which might serve us better as a progression of processing.
Feb 27, 2019 8:58 pm
The newcomer begins the least intrusive path towards the south corner, his arms still raised and hands open. He stops as soon as anyone looks his way.
Last edited February 27, 2019 9:10 pm
Feb 27, 2019 9:16 pm
Kray's loadout and stash. Weapons, light sources and looting tools.
[ +- ] Kray Mercon Character Sheet
Last edited February 27, 2019 9:29 pm
Feb 27, 2019 9:47 pm
As the newcomer moved through the room, Kray immediately took stock, mentally deconstructing the robed man.

Eyes fixed on the newcomer, Kray queried Elam and Iasu. "Tell me of this man."

J, I'd like to know AC and HP relative to Kray's current HP (77) and Kray's natural AC (18). Running Know Your Enemy on Ryhim
Last edited February 27, 2019 9:48 pm

DMJ

Feb 28, 2019 10:25 am
Kray has higher HP and AC.
Feb 28, 2019 10:42 am
"I do not know him. He must be one of the captives from the Sar's Gala." Elam says to Kray, with Bryn translating to be sure.

Keeping his eyes on the stranger, Elam calls out to him, speaking Heshbaan. "There is water there at the well. Take what you will. Say your name again. Are you Sarceran or Bishtu?"
Feb 28, 2019 10:51 am
OOC:
Just a heads up in case it changes anything, Ryhim would of stopped when he saw Kray observing him, says know your enemy takes a minute of observing. He is being extremely cautious in this room of bloodied, beefy men that haven't said a word to him so I figure he'd spot Kray sometime during the minute.

DMJ

Feb 28, 2019 11:04 am
OOC:
Sure. I read the 1 minute requirement. Thought about stalling before giving stats, but went ahead and pressed on. Maybe that was a mistake.
Ryhim Dashes away!
If so, then Ez, Kray won’t know that comparison.
Feb 28, 2019 12:47 pm
Ryhim stops and stands as he spots the man with the wicked blade observing him. He bows his head and empty hands slightly as Elam addresses him. "An offer most appreciated." The man bows a little lower "Ryhim Cospar, at your service."

Ryhim rights himself, a smile expresses his mood "A proud Sarceran." he finishes making his way to the well and fills a horn up with water. He raises the horn to his shoulder and holds it there for a moment before chugging it down.

Ryhim turns back to Elam and Kray "I do hate to impose but perhaps you can spare some food as well? Food was non-existent during my stay here and we are feeling a bit peckish."
OOC:
He definitely wouldn't of ran, he is limiting his quick movements for good and obvious reasons. He's a goldfish swimming in a shark tank pretty much.
Last edited February 28, 2019 5:25 pm
Feb 28, 2019 6:58 pm
Kray cracked wise, an effort to bring a little levity to the room.
"At your service, eh Sarceran? Then your timing is truly extraordinary." Memories of the Black Ziggurat's throne room flashed through his mind. That moment when time seemed to come to a standstill. He could never explain it, or wrap his mind around the strangeness of it all, despite his becoming accustomed to it over the last two years.

There was something related to that moment in the Black Ziggurat that occasionally pecked at the corners of his mind; the feeling that something beyond his understanding was bringing them together, although he couldn't be sure for what purpose.

You've seen too much strangeness, Lukrayides.

Or, it could all be coincidence. Either way, Ryhim's arrival was an opportunity. Reinforcements.

Kray continued, his voice still casual, despite the gravity of the situation. "Perhaps the Fates brought us together."

Perhaps the Fates are bullshit. Kray could never decide, likely because it didn't matter, ultimately. If the Fates were real, they were haggard bitches.

"Regardless, Sarceran, you've caught me in a charitable mood. Feel free to help yourself to some food." He motioned toward his stowed gear and supplies. "There's enough suffering in this hell-hole. No need for a man to go hungry on top of it all."

Kray's mind had been planning the sales pitch from the moment he saw Ryhim. At the same time, surprisingly, the Cursed Palace had evoked some empathy for suffering out of the cold-hearted former warlord.

You're getting soft, Lukrayides.

It was his Uncle Rison's voice, echoing from the past. Kray's true mentor. The coldest, most calculating man he had ever known. The man who had also pulled Kray out of the brothels and drug dens, bringing Kray's downward spiral to an end after the death of Kray's daughter, wife and brother in Mozamyah.

Kray continued, his voice deadly sincere as a symptom of the group's plight. "Take the food, Sarceran, but I too, will ask a favor. We too, are in need, albeit differently."

His voice now expressed give a damn. Some might even say compassion. "The men you see around you...Some need a curse broken, in search of freedom. The rest here are bleeding and dying in this wretched place, in search of wealth. Perhaps motives have become intertwined as well. Regardless, the direction of the whole is unified, by necessity."

The punchline was direct. Kray knew what he asked of the Sarceran, but would not paint an illusion in the man's mind to bring him into the fold. "I would ask that you risk your life for the men you see here. To liberate those trapped..."

That signature smile crept onto Kray's face again. "And, of course, earn an even share of the vast fortune that awaits those who still draw breath"

Kray would, of course, elaborate on the threat with Ryhim, inviting him into the conversation and strategy sesh with the rest, as appropriate if Ryhim expresses interest.
Last edited February 28, 2019 7:03 pm
Feb 28, 2019 8:43 pm
Ryhim lowers his head in a quick bow at the offer of food and makes his way over to the bag motioned by Kray. He opens the bag, quickly taking his hands off it as soon as it is opened, and then looks in it for a moment. He quickly reaches in and pulls out the rations, giving no extra time with his hands inside the bag. He does not begin eating immediately though, instead allowing Kray to finish.

After he finishes, Ryhim smiles and nods "It is not a risk, if Ryhim would not have it otherwise, Jenaab. Without the horned one, Ryhim would still be chained to a floor. Without you, Jenaab, Ryhim would go hungry. And what was Ryhim's crime to land him in chains? Ryhim does not know, so the punishment to follow would not have ended favorably for me. Ryhim is as trapped as all of you."

Ryhim approaches Kray, standing a comfortable width away, and offers one hand of mixed rations, holding the rest under his upper arm, and offers his other to shake "If you do right by Ryhim, Ryhim will do right by you, Jenaab." Getting a closer look, his completely black eyes are a tad disconcerting, yet completely juxtaposed by his welcoming expression. He stands waiting; one arm offering rations, the other a handshake.
Mar 1, 2019 3:23 am
Kray shook Ryhim's hand with a singular, firm shake. "I believe I understand your predicament. The Sar's palace and its denizens seems... corrupted, somehow. I myself have witnessed strange events, to be sure. It would seem fortuitousthat we have met."

Kray savored the social moment, a brief respite from the norm in the Cursed Palace. Typically he reserved social graces for a purpose; this, however, was an extraordinary circumstance. He shook his head. "I do not eat before battle and bloodletting; I prefer an empty stomach." Curious, and always eager to learn of new cultures, Kray posed a question, his eyes giving away his genuine interest. "I do not believe I have heard this word, Jenaab, before. Tell me, how does it translate in Yuoric?"
Mar 1, 2019 3:26 am
HypCo says:
OOC:
Just a heads up in case it changes anything, Ryhim would of stopped when he saw Kray observing him, says know your enemy takes a minute of observing. He is being extremely cautious in this room of bloodied, beefy men that haven't said a word to him so I figure he'd spot Kray sometime during the minute.
Trying to discern how Ryhim might work out in battle, tactical considerations, etc.
Mar 1, 2019 4:26 am
Ryhim follows suit, a singular firm shake, although a lot gentler comparative to Kray's. He places the hand of mixed rations in a pocket "Then Ryhim will save and offer again after the battle and bloodletting. Until then, my stomach is past empty." He takes the ration pouch from under his arm and fills his hand with another small mix, raises it in a cheer, briefly raises it to his shoulder then shovels it down.

Ryhim nods in response to Kray's question, pointing to his mouth that he is still chewing, he smiles. Finishing the food, he taps his chin in thought "Jenaab is from my native tongue of Zutaran. In Yuoric..."
[ +- ] Yuoric
He nods respectfully before continuing in Heshbaan "Now, Ryhim does hate to impose again but Ryhim is bare. While there is no risk for my life, that does not mean Ryhim should foolishly throw it away; an alliance works best if both parties are alive. If you are taking a rest, perhaps my items can be found during this period?"
OOC:
Since we rubbed epidermises and everything, Ryhim is kinda trash at a front liner, sitting at 46 hp. The only reason I don't label him a complete trash front liner, with armor and a shield his AC is decent (18 I believe). That said, he can be one in a dire pinch but is much better "off cam", unbeknownst to the enemies. That is with items though, all he has now are his common clothes, no shoes you would notice, and some partially eaten rations courtesy of Kray.
Mar 3, 2019 5:29 am
Kray paused, considering Ryhim's request. "Time is of the essence. However, perhaps we can accommodate you." He turned toward Elam. "Where could we find his equipment?"

I get it on the front line concept, Hyp. Guessing theres some rogue mixed in, at least. Looks like we'll be looking for sneak attack damage from the perimeter.
Last edited March 3, 2019 5:31 am
Mar 3, 2019 5:54 pm
Iasu peers at the Sarceran, and addresses him in the Desert Tongue.
[ +- ] Zutaran
load next

Thread locked