This thread is for WPLs and Jenesis' character Zalara. Any others posting here shall be flayed alive by an army of new born kittens courtesy of clan Planar Chaos.
The East Road leading out of Estark towards Sursi was filled with all sorts of caravans leaving most of the gate guards occupied with documenting the comings and goings of the city's populace and new refugees...
Zalara struggles her way through the crowd and eventually reaches the gate. "I'm headed south to Erg Mirab," she says to a guard. "Have travelers reported anything unusual happening along that route recently?"
Truthfully, she anticipated a pleasant, uneventful walk until reaching the border of Kush, at least, but you never knew...
"My mistake," says Zalara, quickly rechecking the bounty parchment. "I'm on a commission. My destination is the border where the forests of Burbar meet the grasslands of Erg Mirab. I was told that the quickest way to get there is to take this road toward Sursi. Is there anything else I ought to know before leaving?"
She taps her foot a little, impatiently. Time is money, as Jack said...
OOC: Is there, in fact, a world map somewhere in the archives? I might have to pay a visit to Saffi and Hans after this...
There's a map in the very first post of the general discussion thread.
"Aye, this road will take you through the flat lands of Kush to the grasslands of Erg Mirab. There are a few paths branching off from the main road to the southern forests of Burbar." responded the soldier.
She walks swiftly, her bare feet warmed by the flat, sunlit road. Although the entrance to Estark is still crowded with caravans, it is a relief to be away from the constant bustle and the oppressively tall buildings of the city.
As she walks, she looks back and forth between her map and the sun's position, trying to determine how long it will be until she reaches the boundary of Kush.
There are plentiful rivers in the area. That should slow its progress into the forest, somewhat.
Zalara is fairly confident that she can reach the edge of Kush by morning. As it stood the late afternoon sun shone overhead as a few more refugees pushed past her heading into the city.
OOC: Do any of the refugees look like they're from the southern lands?
-If so, Zalara makes a few brief inquiries of them to see if they know anything about her target.
-If not, she continues walking along the road until either it's too dark to see or her feet are aching. Then she requests lodgings at an inn along the road, if there is one, or she searches for a reasonably sheltered area to make camp.
Zalara's scanning of the refugees yields only those from Sursi from the east. There was one group of refugees complaining about raging fires along the grasslands while they were escaping their homeland.
Hearing the group of refugees complain of grass fires spurs Zalara to redouble her speed. The sounds of the city fade behind her as she continues down the road.
The sun dips ever lower in the sky...
OOC: Does Zalara meet anyone or see anything unusual (other than smoke on the southeastern horizon, that much is expected) before the sun sets and she decides to stop to make camp?
The journey remains uneventful as Zalara travels down the eastern road. Just before twilight sets in she comes upon a small inn where she could rest for the night should she decide to stay. The other choice would be to travel until the sun has gone down completely and then camp under the stars on the hard ground...
Zalara decides she'd better get a good night's rest before the confrontation with the elemental. She enters the common room of the inn, casually observing of the various patrons, and flags down a serving girl. "Good evening, miss. How much for a decent supper? I would also like to speak with the innkeeper about a room for the night."
The serving girl flashes her a wide smile saying, "A good meal runs ya about 5 silvers and rooms tend to cost 10 silvers a night. Go ahead and have a seat anywhere you like."
The serving girl glances at a few drunkards and cautions, "Though I would avoid any of the drunk men as they tend to have wondering hands."
She looks to the kitchen and jumps into motion yelling, "Enjoy your stay!"
Don't worry silvers do not subtract from your gold at all. In the project we use the silvers as a way of 'paying' for mundane things.
Zalara looks around until she finds an empty table at least one table's length away from the larger crowds of drunken men. For a moment she almost wishes she had someone with her - her older brother, who frightened away all the young men of the village, or even Fumiko, the scarred warrior who inducted her into House Hammerheim. She would probably enjoy picking a fight with any common drunk foolish enough to approach her.
Zalara takes a seat to await her meal. She attempts to ignore the loud chatter of the drunks and listen in on some of the gossip of the more sober patrons.
Can players RP NPC actions outside of combat, or is it the general rule that the GM will describe everything that happens?
Noncombat npc control to a degree is ok so long as it's not an active NPC being used in a quest. Outside of quests, like in house threads, NPC control is left entirely with the WPLs.
The serving lady from before quickly came by with a pleasant smelling chicken soup with a large loaf of bread. Having set the meal down she asked, "Drink?"
"Just a cup of hot water," says Zalara, handing over a fistful of silvers. She has barely finished her sentence before she begins slurping up her soup. The chicken is tender and the broth steaming hot, just as she likes it.
As the serving girl leaves, Zalara begins to tear at the bread, dipping large pieces into the soup before stuffing them into her mouth. She again turns a listening ear to the tavern gossip.
Nothing much piques Zalara's interest except for the floating jellyfish, but it sounds as though they are far east of where she is traveling. After finishing her meal, she approaches the tavern-keeper and repeats her request for a room.
"You charge ten silvers for an overnight stay, correct?" She holds out the coins.
She smiles back accepting the coins and producing a key from a pocket in her apron saying, "That's correct. Here's the key to your room on the second floor, third one on the right."
Zalara thanks the innkeeper and heads up the stairs quietly, not wishing to disturb the other patrons.
Upon entering the room, she shuts and locks the door, then deposits her few possessions on the small table beside the bed, except for her wooden staff and spell satchel. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she holds the mana-infused gems in one hand while tracing a symbolic circle around her with the staff's tip, then begins to chant in a low monotone:
"Spirits of the world, I thank you for your aid thus far accompanying me on this journey. One of your wayward brothers is who I seek. I ask your aid in this quest to return him to his rightful home in the mountains, so that men and elementals may continue to live in harmony. By this hand, guiding, aiding, strengthening your primal will, I renew our pact."
Zalara closes her satchel, lightly grips her staff in both hands, and meditates on the shape of a flame for a few minutes. When she is finished her rituals, she lays on her bed and goes to sleep. She expects to rise at dawn and continue moving down the eastern road.
A peaceful sleep washes over Zalara as soon as she closes her eyes. Her dreams are filled with visions of the elemental she sought and the destruction being wrought by it's passage. The dream focused upon the elemental resting in a forest's grove charred and glowing softly in the night. Her vision then backed away from the elemental, as though she were looking through the eyes of a bird. Her gaze swept north revealing a path of charred grass and trees. Suddenly there was fast paced motion as she traveled along this path of destruction, banking west when she reached the main road. She continued speeding forward approaching a distant building, her inn. Her sight continued into the building until she was floating above her own peaceful sleeping face...
Zalara awoke to the loud crow of a rooster near the inn and the pleasant smell of meats being cooked for breakfast.
Zalara relaxed when she realized it was just the morning meal being cooked. As she came down the stairs, the images of the dream lingered in her mind. It seemed...almost tranquil. But if I do not stop it soon, it will only continue to lay waste to the land.
She arrived in the common room and approached one of the serving girls, a fistful of coins outstretched. "A light meal, please, and make haste with it. If your kitchens have a stock of dried meat, I would like to purchase traveling rations as well."
The girl bobbed in a curtsy accepting the coins and fetching a plate with a small portion of cooked rice and a single pouched egg. After laying down the plate she returned with an apple to finish off the breakfast meal and a small cloth bundle containing some jerky. "Anything else milady?"
"No thanks, miss," says Zalara, already digging into her rice. "Please tell the innkeeper that her accommodations were...restful. And return this room key to her. I regret that I cannot stay longer, but I really must be going."
She hastily finishes her egg, then hands the girl the room key and empty plate. After putting the bundle of jerky into one of her traveling bags, she leaves the tavern and heads toward the rising sun, ingesting chunks of apple as she walks.
By midday Zalara has reached what can only be assumed as the eastern border of Kush. The smooth terrain and hills of Kush were giving way to flat grasslands. From here she could see the horizon painted with stacks of black smoke from active wildfires.
The East Road leading out of Estark towards Sursi was filled with all sorts of caravans leaving most of the gate guards occupied with documenting the comings and goings of the city's populace and new refugees...
Truthfully, she anticipated a pleasant, uneventful walk until reaching the border of Kush, at least, but you never knew...
OOC: Yayes! I wuff kittens!
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Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
She taps her foot a little, impatiently. Time is money, as Jack said...
OOC: Is there, in fact, a world map somewhere in the archives? I might have to pay a visit to Saffi and Hans after this...
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
"Aye, this road will take you through the flat lands of Kush to the grasslands of Erg Mirab. There are a few paths branching off from the main road to the southern forests of Burbar." responded the soldier.
She walks swiftly, her bare feet warmed by the flat, sunlit road. Although the entrance to Estark is still crowded with caravans, it is a relief to be away from the constant bustle and the oppressively tall buildings of the city.
As she walks, she looks back and forth between her map and the sun's position, trying to determine how long it will be until she reaches the boundary of Kush.
There are plentiful rivers in the area. That should slow its progress into the forest, somewhat.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
-If so, Zalara makes a few brief inquiries of them to see if they know anything about her target.
-If not, she continues walking along the road until either it's too dark to see or her feet are aching. Then she requests lodgings at an inn along the road, if there is one, or she searches for a reasonably sheltered area to make camp.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
The sun dips ever lower in the sky...
OOC: Does Zalara meet anyone or see anything unusual (other than smoke on the southeastern horizon, that much is expected) before the sun sets and she decides to stop to make camp?
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
The serving girl glances at a few drunkards and cautions, "Though I would avoid any of the drunk men as they tend to have wondering hands."
She looks to the kitchen and jumps into motion yelling, "Enjoy your stay!"
Zalara takes a seat to await her meal. She attempts to ignore the loud chatter of the drunks and listen in on some of the gossip of the more sober patrons.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
The serving lady from before quickly came by with a pleasant smelling chicken soup with a large loaf of bread. Having set the meal down she asked, "Drink?"
As the serving girl leaves, Zalara begins to tear at the bread, dipping large pieces into the soup before stuffing them into her mouth. She again turns a listening ear to the tavern gossip.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
"Green like a sick moss-"
"-they're really a disgusting brown and black-"
"Beautiful! They fight in such a pure form-"
"Seen some strange floating jellyfish further east. They've been causing havoc for the smaller towns"
"They wouldn't been a problem if the goblins weren't pushing Sursi so hard right now!"
"That's all gossip and nonsense!"
"It's true! Haven't you ever seen the terrors summoned by mages!"
"Woman! More ale!"
The number of conversations made for a jumbled mess making a peaceful dinner a difficult matter to acquire...
"You charge ten silvers for an overnight stay, correct?" She holds out the coins.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Upon entering the room, she shuts and locks the door, then deposits her few possessions on the small table beside the bed, except for her wooden staff and spell satchel. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she holds the mana-infused gems in one hand while tracing a symbolic circle around her with the staff's tip, then begins to chant in a low monotone:
"Spirits of the world, I thank you for your aid thus far accompanying me on this journey. One of your wayward brothers is who I seek. I ask your aid in this quest to return him to his rightful home in the mountains, so that men and elementals may continue to live in harmony. By this hand, guiding, aiding, strengthening your primal will, I renew our pact."
Zalara closes her satchel, lightly grips her staff in both hands, and meditates on the shape of a flame for a few minutes. When she is finished her rituals, she lays on her bed and goes to sleep. She expects to rise at dawn and continue moving down the eastern road.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Zalara awoke to the loud crow of a rooster near the inn and the pleasant smell of meats being cooked for breakfast.
Zalara relaxed when she realized it was just the morning meal being cooked. As she came down the stairs, the images of the dream lingered in her mind. It seemed...almost tranquil. But if I do not stop it soon, it will only continue to lay waste to the land.
She arrived in the common room and approached one of the serving girls, a fistful of coins outstretched. "A light meal, please, and make haste with it. If your kitchens have a stock of dried meat, I would like to purchase traveling rations as well."
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
She hastily finishes her egg, then hands the girl the room key and empty plate. After putting the bundle of jerky into one of her traveling bags, she leaves the tavern and heads toward the rising sun, ingesting chunks of apple as she walks.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!