4837 - Shrsholn - Mon Feb 24, 2003 5:08pm

"I have one question for you." Dijani said, looking at the wizard and the Orc. "Do you think Trask will also enter?" Dijani asked, intent upon her goal.

The Orc looks on for a brief moment, then offers, "In my many travels I have seen a pair of mages cooperate in an especially arduous casting. Is that possible with the two of you?"

Bjolfe looks at Dijani and asks, "What do you say, old girl?"

4844 - ebony_of_nightshade - Wed Feb 26, 2003 1:24pm

4855 - Shrsholn - Wed Mar 19, 2003 10:50pm

In fact the two mages cooperate, and in so doing, more evenly tax their essence for the effect of creating simulacra...

The rainbowed light plays upon the blue-grey stone of the gate chamber.

The three copies seem identical in every way, and quickly stir to consciousness after the three of you have hidden away behind excavation debris.

Quickly the six out you hear the alarm as Gremlin troops engage with Trask, Dritauge, and their goons.

The unreal spell casters wage a phantasmal battle with the enemy troops while pressing ever nearer to the gate as it's clockwork nature begins to stir to life.

The magickal distortions that had devastated the group before entering Bjolfe's tower seem to have been harnesed in some fashion to fuel the gateway's operation.

As Trask and Dritauge close on the faux trio, a second and third element of Gremlins, some mounted on small lizards, begin a pincer movement preventing the enemy's retreat -- only the gateway offers egress.

"Now?!" the Orc asks impatiently.

[...]

5082 - tarandracon - Fri Jun 20, 2003 3:41pm

THREAD 6: Taran
Taran goes solo (and to Shrsholn-world)

From message 4836 (a post in "The Pirate Blade of Rahnian" adventure epilogue):

[[ooc]] Bela will offer to cast a Whammy on Taran's sword. If the GM of his next adventure allows the spell to remain on the blade until its first use, then it may help. If not, then Bela will give Taran 10GP and 50 SP to help with lodging on his journey.

[[Taran "Sniper-Orc" Dracon]]

Note: (Taran accepted the offer Bela generously made in post 4836 to cast a Whammy on Taran's broad sword, and Shrsholn agreed that it would last until the blade's next use.)

Bela Oxmyx, elf, wizard, co-adventurer and friend, declined to help Taran Dracon, orc mercenary, in his search for Cambrea, the she-elf whom Taran had rescued from enslavement, who had shown her gratitude rather unexpectedly, and who had left without a trace with the treasure spoils of Taran's adventure. The muddy green-skinned, tusk-faced crossbowman had all but written off any hope of finding Cambrea in the days since he'd last seen her. If she were intent on hiding from him, he had no doubt she would be successful, short of Taran enlisting the aid of some powerful wizard. Not quite feeling bold enough to walk to the front gates of the Death Goddess' fortress, and not knowing the current whereabouts of Arahk Gnahk, who might not help him anyway, Taran instead decided to seek out the sailing ship, The Night Gail, where he had left a backpack full of magic items and other belongings. He figured it would be a trivial quest that would serve to take his mind off his troubles, and of course get his stuff back. Going alone would allow him to concentrate on his own survival skills and learn more about his symbiont. At least, that was the plan.

When he could not find evidence of her having docked anywhere nearby, Taran told his father Oother of his plans, submitted a leave of absence from the warren, and deliberately did not tell Jax where he was going, for fear his brother would try to stop him. He suited up in his lamellar armor, strapped on his Uncle Dracon's broad sword, his Tally mercenary over-and-under crossbow, his Arahk Gnahk-enchanted quiver of crossbow bolts, grabbed a lantern from the warren, and set out. On a mostly empty stretch of shore along the Khazan coast, Taran summoned the power of his Talo Tattoo worm to open a portal into the belly of the Night Gail. [-3 Dex, -3 Int]

No incoming rush of water ensued, as Jax wisely pointed out might be the case if the ship had sunk, which was why Taran had chosen a spot of beach for the portal. He hadn't told Jax that he was actually going to do it, so Jax had no opportunity to try to stop him from his "fool's errand."

"Just give it up, brother!" Jax had spat, cursing, back in the bowels of Dracon Warren, when Taran brought up the possibility of the quest. Jax had made no secrets about how he despised the worm which had attached to Jax's own self, and had since been expelled by magic. "A few potions and a bag of trinkets isn't worth this fool's errand."

"Maybe you're right, my ever stinking brother," Taran had replied sincerely. But Taran didn't heed Jax's wise (for an orc) brother's advice, deciding instead that he'd needed a change of pace from the life of a group mercenary, signing up for every adventure that arose. Taran set out on his own for the first time since Arahk Gnahk himself commissioned him on a quest to deliver a sealed message to Captain Stonenose Glump almost three years ago, a message he never was able to deliver.

Focusing his thoughts back to the present, and peering into the newly opened portal, Taran spied only darkness, expecting nothing different as his intended destination was the belly of the ship. With a lantern in hand oustretched in front of him, Taran boldly stepped through the portal.

5091 - Shrsholn - Tue Jun 24, 2003 5:13pm

Taran immediately realizes that the ground upon which he stands is not that of a ship's planking. The cold stone of the room suggests a large structure.

His Orcish red-eye-sight allows him to faintly see via a sliver of light and different temperatured air that trickles in from 'beyond' this room.

Fairly muffled sounds originating outside, prick-up his ears.

Nothing more can be said.

[[Okay give me you find doors roll, and, um...er...]]
-Shrsh'

5149 - ebony_of_nightshade - Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:23pm

The orc and the mage headed for Trask, intent upon his capture.

5152 - Shrsholn - Fri Jul 11, 2003 8:21pm

ORC: Fools!
-- The orc transforms into a dark skinned man in scarlet accented royal violet robes.

: "I shall take you two personally to kneel before our Empress, dogs."

---
Dijani and Bjolfe both recognize him as Khara Khang.
---

Dritauge begins to knock an arrow with blinding speed, but is calcified on the spot.

Trask makes way for the mouth of the gate...

5155 - ericeick - Mon Jul 14, 2003 1:24am

Game As A Non Player I Cannot Use Title Of In A Post - Comments

Taran: "Maybe you're right, my ever stinking brother," Taran had replied sincerely. But Taran didn't heed Jax's wise (for an orc) brother's advice, deciding instead that he'd needed a change of pace from the life of a group mercenary, signing up for every adventure that arose.

5158 - ebony_of_nightshade - Mon Jul 14, 2003 2:48pm

5170 - tarandracon - Sun Jul 20, 2003 3:57pm

"Mebbe Jax was right. He never cared one way or another for this magic worm, and is probably happier now that he's got rid of it. But here I am continually using it, getting myself into trouble." He muttered this to himself, then argued, "but I never thought I'd be a magic using orc, and here I am. Kinda groovy, if you ask me, which I guess I am, talking to myself and all, ugh."

5242 - Shrsholn - Tue Aug 12, 2003 4:34am

Dijani was determined not to lose her prey--not when she was this close. While in close pursuit, her magical essence diminished quite a bit, she yanks a dagger from one of her sheaths as best she can and throws it at Trask. "If he makes it to that blasted gate," she thinks to herself, "I will follow him!"

5243 - Shrsholn - Tue Aug 12, 2003 4:44am

[[I assume a find doors roll means a saving roll: 1,1,6,2 = 10, see e-mails from http://daggerford.com/dice/diceserver.asp to verify.]] While he searched, he unstrapped his broad sword, fearing he had just got himself into trouble... again.

Another, astonishing sight, is that of a very familiar looking orc, transform into a very familiar Khara Khang!

A dagger whirls past Khang, and a cloaked figure begins to run past him, as if in pursuit of a mutual enemy.

Gremlin, and human dead litter the mouth of this battle laden room.

5245 - ebony_of_nightshade - Thu Aug 14, 2003 8:44pm

(4+2) + 18 =24 < 30 DOH! No go.

IC: Seeing her dagger whizz by his head (whizzzzzzzzzz!) She aims another as rapidly as possible. ;)

5252 - tarandracon - Sun Aug 17, 2003 11:15pm

"Ah frak!" Taran interrupted himself aloud, forgoing a trip down memory lane and abandoning attempts to sort out what his eyes had just seen, to instead focus on the present. Quickly he peered down the hall toward the direction of the source of both the mid-air dagger and the cloaked person, and then down the other direction, presumably at the intended target of the thrown blade. Setting down his lantern just inside the dark room, he quickly unholstered his over and under crossbow, pulled back its strings with two bolts from his enchanted quiver, and jumped into the fray, ready at once to enter the battle on the side of the famed orc shaman.

"Taran Dracon, once again at your service!" he shouted to Arahk/Khang.

5369 - Shrsholn - Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:45pm

More than a bit surprised to see Taran, here, his greeting is a bit awkward.

"This one here. Stop him!" he points to Trask.

The melee continues, and now, several of Trask's troops have flung themselves through the portal. Willim Dritauge has reached the edge, and is frantically calling to Spurlious.

* Crossbow SR: L2 to strike
* Melee: DX SR L0 to close on Trask and enter melee combat next Round.

-Shrsh'

5370 - Shrsholn - Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:49pm

Dijani/IC: Seeing her dagger whizz by his head (whizzzzzzzzzz!) She aims another as rapidly as possible. ;)

-Shrsh'

5376 - ebony_of_nightshade - Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:02pm

[rolls: 6. Is she close enough yet to drop to L2?]

5466 - tarandracon - Fri Jan 9, 2004 5:49pm

Editor's Note: This is in reference to the recent posts by some new group members who had wanted to join the game. Also, this summary does not include a summary of the ongoing Thorne/Rogan/Amos thread.

====

Here are the current characters:

• (PC) Dijani the elf Rogue
• (NPC) Bjolfe (60s old man) -- powerful wizard
• (NPC) Bjofle's gremlins
• (NPC) Spurilous Trask (wizard, young elf) -- MAIN BAD GUY
• (NPC) Willam Driturge (blindfolded archer, ally of Trask)
• (NPC) Trask's minions
• (NPC) Khara Khang (nee orc, in room with gate)
• (PC) Taran the orc warrior

Here is a recent events timeline:

0. A call is made by the Death Goddess for hunting down desecrators of her temple. New recruit Throst the dwarven wizard (player character) accepts the mission to go after Trask and the thieves. Elise the minotaur/elf (player character) accepts the mission, too. Throst is killed by some poison mist in an underground cave. Elise meets up with Dijani the rogue (player character), who was searching for Bjolfe, in the same cave tunnels, and they soon meet up with Trask, his henchman Dritauge, and Bjolfe the wizard. All the NPCs that had gone along with Throst and Elise have since been killed or disappeared, except for a lone and unnamed orc henchman.

1. Trask kills Elise in combat, after Elise tries to claim her bounty on him as the main object of the Hands of Thieves quest. Bjolfe captures Dijani and the orc in a force bubble.

2. Driturge wants Dijani for himself, while Bjolfe dismisses orc as not worthy of attention.

3. But Bjofle won't let Driturge have Dijani as she reminds him of his daughter. (Ooh the mystery!)

4. Bjofle brings the orc and Dijani inside a force bubble into a room with the Chiliad Arch, a magical gateway through time and space.

5. Trask casts spell and deactivates force bubble, throws a box at Bjofle.

6. Dijani casts force wall to protect her and orc and Bjolfe against box which explodes.

7. Bjolfe reveals to Dijani that his plan was to use the arch to find someone who had disappeared a long time ago, and says he only had Trask and Driturge along for help and to speed things along. He says they can either go through the gate and sabotage it to foil Trask, or try to capture Trask.

8. Bjofle and Dijani combine their essences to create simulacrum of the three of them (including the orc) to distract Trask so they can capture or kill him for the bounty.

9. Bjofle's gremlins attack Trask, Driturge and their goons. Trask and Driturge close in on the faux trio, and are surrounded by more gremlins riding lizards.

10. The real orc and Dijani sneak into the fray head to try to capture Trask.

11. Meanwhile, Taran Dracon the orc, having recently teleported through time, space and dimension, into a room near the action, steps into the hallway with the arch and the battle, whereupon he sees Arahk Gnahk the orc transform into Khara Khang the wizard, who orders him to stop Trask.

12. Driturge tries to load an arrow but Khara Khang "calcifies" him on the spot. Trask runs for the gate, through which some of his goons have already run.

13. Dijani throws a dagger at Trask, which misses him, and chases after him, throwing another dagger en route.

====

One note: in post 5152, it says Dritauge is calcified, presumably frozen by Khara Khang, and Trask runs for the gate. In post 5369, it says Dritauge is at the gate, calling for Trask to follow. Obviously Dritauge somehow became unfrozen and beat Trask to the gate. Or they got mixed up in the confusion. In either case, this is not critical to rectify this questionable change of positiosn, but just an explanation for the gentle reader. We're going with the latest positions according to Shrsholn.

====

Here are the latest posts for the Player Characters:

====
Editor's Note: Reposts of 5369 (for Taran, by Shrsholn) and 5376 (for Dijani, by Dijani) not repeated in this archive.
====

To do:

Taran: Needs to decide what to do and roll the relevant SR.

Dijani: Nothing.

Shrsholn: Answer Dijani's question about whether she's close enough to go from level 3 to level 2 SR, to determine if her dagger hits or not. Pending Taran's action (below!) continue on with the show.

====

Therefore, here I go with my end of the to-do's!

====

[[Khara Khang]] "This one here. Stop him!" he points to Trask.

The melee continues, and now, several of Trask's troops have flung themselves through the portal. Willim Dritauge has reached the edge, and is frantically calling to Spurlious.

* Crossbow SR: L2 to strike
* Melee: DX SR L0 to close on Trask and enter melee combat next Round.

Now orcs aren't exactly known for their reasoning capabilities, but Taran reasons that a crossbow bolt in the back would stop someone just fine, and if it killed him in the process, well, he'd sort out the details later. He fires the upper bolt, aiming for the back of fleeing person whom Khara Khang had pointed out.

[[Taran rolls: 2D6 [5 1] = 6. Note the original "L2 to strike" might not apply if Taran's enchanted crossbow bolts are working in this dimension. The enchantment on them is: "L0SR vs. Dex to auto-hit. As long as Taran draws from the quiver, it will never become empty, however if someone else takes the last bolt, the enchantment is broken. Enchanted by Arahk Gnahk." If the enchantment works, then this SR is successful: 6 + Dex(11) = 17 > 15 (L0SR).

Regardless of the first bolt's aim, he fires the lower bolt as soon as he can, this time aiming for the legs, counting on the magic of the bolts to do its job and hit right on target.

[[Taran rolls: 2D6 [1 1 3 3 1 2 ] = 11. Zing!]]

Nervously, remembering other shots from his crossbow gone horribly wrong in the presence of other magic, he runs off after his target.

[[Given any more time for action, Taran will draw his broadsword and fight his way to his prey.]]

====

And now, I hand the reins of this adventure back over to ye almighty GM, the one, the only, the mighty Shrsholn.

5621 - Shrsholn - Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:52 am

As the daggers thrown strike home. The foeman, Dritauge, burst into howling ebon flames. His incalcuably evil soul bound for some netherhall to await final, abyssal judgement.

"Quickly! After Trask!" The Orc, Khara Kang, shouted.

D'janni and Taran snapped to attention, and without much thought but not displeasing the Empress' lover, they jumped through the Chiliad Arch.

Cold, dry, thin air assailed their lungs. Their diaphragms seemed to ache at the hollowness suffered at breathing the thin medium.

The day-lit sky was indigo at the halfway mark, but very few stars could be seen. In their steadf were rainbowed motes of dust, twinkling not far from the world. Shooting stars could be seen at almost every glance.

Taking in their surroundings just a moment longer, the red, rocky surface of the place they found themselves now...It was almost too much.

Trask, sipping in short, shallow breaths, began to dash away.

On the horizon, some hours walk away, a huge city sprawled near an ocean. Flying craft buzzed near-silently around it, and a few massive airships droned overhead. One coming from, the other departing the megatropolis.

Panting and wheezing, the unlikely pair of deputized agents pressed on after their quarry.

---

Okay, folks, Willim Dritauge, the Rogue Khazani Internal Intelligence Legionaire, is dead-dead-dead.

The two characters mentioned are on an other world entirely. Not Trollworld, not Shrsholn's Trollworld. Things work differently here...

If this is something that folks want me to run, those who have read the TROK issue last put out and read the description of Aqmlk/Blood, let me know. If not, then the hero and heroine are off on their own great adventure.

Sorry for the massive dead-air season that became 'Hands of Thieves'. I have gone through A LOT since beginning that tale.

Best to you all, -Shrsholn aka Kyrinn

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