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Post by earthwizard on Apr 21, 2008 20:15:50 GMT -8
Not to be toyed with eh? Well we'll see about that. I wonder what it's for. Maybe the Vistani know something about it - that one lady seemed pretty into cards. Big hands, if I recall. I should ask the next time I see them. Maybe Droz knows something about it.
Droz certainly had a lot of stuff packed away in that box, good idea that. I wonder if he has my folding ship. Gods, that thing was awesome. I sure would like to sail out of here. Too much land though, not enough water. Too many orcs, too.
Well, we should go see the 'Lord' of these lands when we surface again. He should be able to get us out of here. I hope I'm not stuck here too long. Droz is the only other elf I've seen for as long as I remember, and I don't swing that way!
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Post by vinnytheelf on Apr 21, 2008 23:34:37 GMT -8
+50 exp.
Forget not, the warnings of Sur'Kil...
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Post by earthwizard on Apr 27, 2008 22:25:18 GMT -8
Sur'Kil . . . speak not of dragons . . . but they are here! It is inevitable . . .
Not to be toyed with . . .
Finnegan drew a card, curious to see what these cards are, curious to see what they do.
Fate.
"Be careful with those, Finnegan. They are very powerful." Droz advised.
A golden light showered Finnegan and the card disappeared from his hand. Filled with a sense of confidence and control, Finnegan took the advice of Droz and put the other cards in his pack. My folding ship was lost. I will take better care of these cards.
"Should any of you need these cards, let me know, but heed Droz's warning. We do not know the full potential of this deck." Finnegan told his companions.
They moved on through the complex, but found cave-ins blocking their way. This led to a separate area, inhabited by a beast able to turn creatures to stone with a mere gaze. Examining the statues, Finnegan found one of strange origin . . . a humanoid dragon. What have we gotten into? Sur'Kil, what do you know of these creatures? What have you not told us?
And later they discovered another who was turned to stone. Her beautiful elven face was frozen with a look of horror, staring at an unknown abomination from above. Finnegan realized she was an elf-maiden of some import, likely from Arenal, and perhaps of a rich or influential family. My lady, who are you and what are you doing here in this forsaken Barovia? If only you were flesh, you could tell us. I am sorry for you. May you rest with your ancestors.
Battle was again upon them and Finnegan quickly lent his blade to the cause, though it was of little effect. This creature, as well, had a gaze attack of some sort, and it fixed its eyes upon Finnegan.
Finnegan felt his soul being ripped from his body. He was suddenly floating and the world began to change. The colors began to change, and objects became translucent, as if made from foggy dragonshards, and the living were veins of blood lines running through the crystal.
No. I have not lived enough, yet. I have seen too few sunsets. I have sailed too few waters. I have not yet counted all the lights in the Ring of Siberys. Most importantly, I have loved too few and left no descendants to honor my memory. No, I am not yet ready to sail on to feast with the great Olladra. I will return to Eberron.
And Finnegan did, much to the surprise of his companions and the bodak creature.
The creature was destroyed.
A book was found, in which was a torn page from another's journal. Graaktor, the honorable half-orc, knew of the man, the high priest of Barovia, Donovich. For some reason, Donovich begrudged Finnegan and Droz. What have we done? We merely escaped with our lives from that wretched dream facility, and rescued many others in the process.
Graaktor seemed incensed, and Finnegan decided to back up the half-orc, who came to be known as honorable, despite his unsavory heritage.
They charged into the desecrated temple back in Barovia (the town was in a very different state than when they left). They leapt down into a basement, chasing after the priest. Donovich showed himself as a follower of the Blood of Vol, a cult obsessed with the undead. The antithesis of the Undying Court. While Finnegan did not worship the Undying Court (himself a worshiper of the Sovereign Host, in particular Olladra), he did have great respect for them, an understanding of their power.
Donovich was dangerous and unreasonable. He had to die. Finnegan drove his rapier deep into the man's heart and triggered the fiery explosion that killed the man, showering blood through the air.
But what of the other creatures? And who is this 'mistress' that was mentioned by the naga creature? Perhaps someone who knew more about religion, more about the cult could tell us who this 'mistress' is. Finnegan was sure Graaktor would want to find out. And for now, Finnegan would follow his companion - perhaps he will discover something more of the sinister plots afoot. And who was the elf maiden? Perhaps a representative from Arenal on behalf of the Undying Court to investigate the Blood of Vol cult here in Barovia? Who knows . . . at this point, Finnegan just thanks the luck of Olladra he pulled the card of fates.
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Post by vinnytheelf on Apr 28, 2008 23:04:34 GMT -8
+100 exp.
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Post by earthwizard on May 14, 2008 21:33:48 GMT -8
The girl . . . the forest. Graaktor said no one comes out of the forest. Don't go in the forest. We can't go into the forest. We must rescue the girl . . . wolves. Taken by wolves - Vistani wolves? The Vistani are shapechangers? I never noticed anything odd about them. You'd think I'd have noticed something like that. Well, Madame Eva - Eva? - their leader was kind of large, okay very large. But that doesn't mean she or anyone else is a shapechanger. You'd really think I might have picked up on that. The girl . . . we must help the girl. Duroz is flying above the forest. He sees nothing. What to do?
Finnegan suddenly became aware of the deck of cards in his pack.
The cards . . . they saved me in my time of need. Maybe they can help the girl as well.
Finnegan reached into his pack and withdrew the strange deck of cards.
Not to be toyed with . . . well I ain't jerkin around. What do you hold in store this time?
He withdrew a card from the center of the deck. It was decorated with wolves howling at the moon. The visage of a beautiful woman peered out of the card.
Wolves - yes! What luck, Olladra, what luck! We are searching for wolves. What is this? The Moon. Oh Gods the power! This is it - the solution. What luck! This deck of cards is amazing! But what do I say? The gods are tricky - they will twist and pervert any phrase I utter. I must choose my words carefully. The girl . . . gods, what was her name? I should pay attention more to these things . . . Bavona? Bavona. Now, how to phrase this . . .
"The girl Bavona is now here amongst us."
And she was.
Ha it worked! I brought her back! I could have said anything . . . oh wait I could have said anything. Ah but over-ambition could have ended up hurting me, my friends and the Barovians in the end. We still do not know all the events leading to the troubles in Barovia. But I could have chosen personal power! Oh, to be out at sea again and rid of this forsaken Barovia.
Ha, I put the girl first. She was my first and only thought. A complete stranger. Hahaha - and now my own challenges I must face as plain old me. Yes, that's the way I like it. Too much power scares me. This deck of cards frightens me. Duroz begins to frighten me - what is he turning himself into? I think I understand his motives, but when will his hunger for power end and will he be the same in the end? Will he still hold the same morals?
And Strahd . . . there is still so much we do not know. We must go and see him, for he is the connection between this world and the dream. We know now it was not a simple construct of the Dream Fuckers. It was real, but how? Zarovich must know.
You put the girl first, Finnegan. Remember that. That is who you are. Gods, what happened to the unfettered ship sailing out over the waves beneath the Sun, beneath the stars and the Ring of Siberys? Will I ever see the ocean again?
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Post by vinnytheelf on May 14, 2008 22:50:29 GMT -8
+250 exp
Well written and more of the Man...
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