News:

- Chubby Dwarves are low fat.
- Pippen accused of getting drunk and feeling Merry
- Mexican Hobbit corrupted by One Ring. Known as Smiegel

Main Menu

Recent posts

#51
In Character Discussions / Gnarcheon's Festival at the Gr...
Last post by Johan - September 28, 2014, 01:24:20 PM
Dakhaire watched as a tiny sprite flitted up toward the front of Mahiya's fire to address the gathered brethren. His minute, spritely  stature was distractingly accentuated by his proximity to the giant centaur who had earlier admonished Dakhaire; the sprite barely stood as tall as the centaur's ankle.

Although Dakhaire had only seen Miriiam twice before tonight...at Dakhaire's previous visits to this festival...it always seemed to Dakhaire that Mirriam carried his own blueish glow about with him, much like the color of Akadi's fire. That glow played with the iridescent light strands that rained down to canvass the Grove of Needles as a result of the communal ritual that all present had cast. Even more: Mirriam's diaphanous wings caused the falling light to refract and eddy about his little person, making him seem so much more like a small air elemental.

Dakhaire was fortunate, in a sense, that Mirriam first spoke of the eastern-most part of the Great Forest, which was where Dakhaire spent most of the year. Mirriam picked up on Varshya's narration of Shadow Riders in the plains east of the Great Forest. They didn't stop there, he had said.

Mirriam was an orator at heart, and he had a powerful presence that lent emotion to his listeners, whether they wanted to listen or not. Shadow Riders, he said, along with their Shade Wolf mounts had come to their forest, and had even gained a foothold in the city of Kurr, just north of Lake Vallensun. This was Dakhaire's homeland, and the gravity in Mirriam's voice was easily internalized: the Great Forest was as war with Xankathos, even if she didn't know it yet.

This explained the strange things that Dakhaire himself had been hearing and seeing in his homeland: wolf conversations in the night there were NOT wolves...these voices carried through the night on a malevolent air, and made Dakhaire's spine crawl. Dakhaire had found huge, black, hooked claws at the scenes of numerous marauder attacks on caravans, travelers, and settlements. And the occasional dead outlander that no one seemed to be able to identify.

Mirriam went on to talk about war in the middle portion of the Great Forest too: Prince Ravenwood had declared war on the wildlander tribes there. Dire news, indeed. News that angered Dakhaire almost inexplicably. With Xanthakos pushing west, it would do no good to have the west at war with herself. Dakhaire wondered fleetingly whether the Rhohannus / Wildlander war wasn't part of Xanthakos' machinations.

But the Rhohannus / Wildlander war wasn't as black-and-white as it might be. It seemed that Rhohannus herself had split allegiances. Not all the barons of the city-state of Rhohannus were sympathetic to Prince Ravenwood's efforts to subjugate the wildlanders. The Barons Ashburn (of the Barony of Mharqual), and DeMorgyn (of the Barony of Naulgrath), along with the Baroness DeMorgynand (of the Barony of Verindoc) all aligned themselves with Prince Ravenwood. Meanwhile, the Barons Spearson (of the Barony of Spearson), Jalgraxa  (of the Barony of Travantias), and  the Baroness K'Aviak (of the Barony of Durthain) all had allied themselves with the Wildlanders. The two Wildlander nations – the Wildlanders and the Bavaan Scyth – were united due to this declaration of Prince Ravenwood's, but overall these were bleak happenings.

By the time that Mirriam had completed his speech, Dakhaire didn't know if he should be angry or sad...or both. He also wondered whether he was the only one to suspect that this Rhohannus / Wildlander war might be promulgated out of Xanthakos.
#52
General Info / Bones
Last post by Johan - September 26, 2014, 10:50:46 AM
Sooo...we get CANDY??
#53
General Info / Bones
Last post by Wildfire - September 23, 2014, 08:00:07 PM
Oh excellent! I was wondering how to do that... Thankies!
#54
General Info / Bones
Last post by Griznuq - September 23, 2014, 08:53:59 AM
Just so you're aware, if you take the part of the URL of a youtube video at the end, after the equal sign and then put it in the youtube tags, it will display the video right here...  For example, this one was 7OZQIAVKyXU

so

[youtube]7OZQIAVKyXU[/youtube]

Will give you

#56
In Character Discussions / Gnarcheon's Festival at the Gr...
Last post by Wildfire - September 11, 2014, 08:21:17 PM
Yarlia's attention keened to a sharp edge upon hearing Shankaria speak of recent changes. Her world was one of constant study and that study did not concern the world beyond the borders of Karyn'Zyth, the elven homeland. For her to take a journey beyond the borders was to open her mind to the outside world. It was often spoken that all of nature is one. What affects one thing affects all things. Suddenly Yarlia felt that the self imposed isolationism of her people could be their undoing. Their withdrawal was understandable but was hardly sustainable. Perhaps the Blood Tear that the gnome elder spoke of would also be a sign of a change in her kin.

On the other hand, she had seen the destruction of many elven villages and even the now decrepit remnants of Crusindiar, once a city for all to meet and trade in peace. The overgrown and burned out shells of buildings and halls she saw was a nauseating reminder of the raw carnage that could be inflicted upon a community. It was difficult to shake those images from her memory. The hope and promise that was there and the laughter that no doubt echoed off of those stone walls haunted her. Yet it was those promises of hope that allowed her to believe that things could be different...that her mentor and, for all intents and purposes, her second mother, Varshya, could bury the searing animosity for outside races- specifically humans.

Yarlia intently watched Varshya enter the center fire circle where all of the high ranking druids convened and the others gathered around. She was once again dressed in her green and gold ceremonial robes that had been shed at the beginning of her song. The young apprentice witnessed Varshya scan the crowd until her eyes came upon the one elder human among the many gathered here. She knew her master well enough to know that when she twitched her eyebrow that it was an unfavorable judgment that she had cast upon the elder human. It did not seem to matter to Varshya that he was standing with all of the others. He was a human and that was enough.

In Varshya's address to the crowd she spoke of The Shadow Riders (the unofficial agents of Xanthakos) being seen more frequently in the open plains between the city states, Xanthakos, and north of Kaaryn'Zyth. It was a lonely stretch of land that was claimed by nothing except the stench of war.

She also spoke of gargan (a general term used for common humanoid and giant enemies) attacks increasing in the elven forest homeland. This was quite an unusual turn of events since most of the gargan had been routed from the forest centuries ago. It was enough of a concern to worry Varshya which meant to Yarlia that it must be more significant than she ever would have guessed.

Yarlia heard concerned whispering from her elven kin behind her. One newly inducted disciple, Jerril, tapped Yarlia on the shoulder and she asked, "Yarlia, do you know of anything about this? How come we have not heard anything until now?" Yarlia wanted the question to wait until Varshya was finished with her telling but she needed to prevent a possible panic among the others. "The situation is being dealt with by those that deal with it. Rest assured that if it's a concern to Varshya that many are out keeping ours safe."

Jerril wasn't entirely satisfied with Yarlia's response. Not being told that her home was in danger seemed too secretive in her mind. It was her home after all so why shouldn't she be told? Jerril leaned back toward Yarlia's ear and pressed the point, "It seems wrong to keep that threat a secret. Wouldn't you agree?"

Yarlia was quickly getting infuriated. She wanted to hear Varshya speak. "Do you think it wise that all tender information be known by everyone? I'm sure that would swiftly compromise the security of homeland. Do you think it wise that our folk needlessly panic? Have you ever known our kin to not take precautions to securing our forest? Someday you may be a keeper of secrets and know that not all information is for everyone. Some information is veiled for a reason. Now pay attention to Mistress Varshya."

Varshya also spoke of a meeting that an elven scouting team had with a band of adventurers and a pack of Shadow Riders simultaneously. Each group had members of the Nightstar family-presumably brothers. The adventurers, who called themselves the Shadow Hunters, were quite clearly fighting the Shadow Riders. They were fighting over the sacred Elemental Eyes which is what initially drew the scouting team to the adventurers. The elven scouts aided the Shadow Hunters in beating back the Riders. It was apparently a fortuitous decision to help them because the Shadow Hunters were sent by Zebulon (whispers murmured through the crowd upon hearing the name) and not the petty fortune seekers they were thought to be.

Varshya finished her part in the address, "The ancient Nightstar Family still rules Xanthakos. They've sent one of their own to lead a campaign it would seem. I do not expect that they'll abandon it so easily."

Varshya's words hit Yarlia like a hammer. Change was upon them indeed.
#57
In Character Discussions / Darkening Shadows
Last post by Griznuq - September 01, 2014, 07:09:17 PM
Laren groaned at the thought. "Great. I love the idea of paying through the nose for information I have to decode and will likely misunderstand."

He rolled his eyes and looked down into the amber liquid Gibble had poured. Laren never did have a taste for whiskey, but he didn't want to be impolite.

It burned his throat and made his eyes water. It was all he could do not to spit the stuff out. "Smooth," he said straining to keep it down.
#58
In Character Discussions / Morning in the Woods
Last post by Griznuq - September 01, 2014, 06:50:25 PM
OOC: So is Charon ready for his talk yet, or what?
#59
In Character Discussions / Gnarcheon's Festival at the Gr...
Last post by Johan - August 31, 2014, 12:16:33 AM
As she-gnome elder spoke to Bareglar it was hard for the half-orc to not scrutinize the colorful filaments of light that in the wake of the ritual drone continuously rained down in the Grove of Needles. It was like standing amidst a shower of streamers of cloth that fell to the earth, but of light instead of cloth. Vibrantly colored light that continued to pulse in time to the rhythm that had carried the drone.

But the little gnome was speaking to Bareglar, and he did his best to attend her. He did not know her...he did not know anyone at the grove this night...but she had a remarkable presence that compelled Bareglar such that he could not pull his attention from her bright green eyes that seemed to look directly into him.

After the roll call of those who had returned to the Great Cycle, she allowed a few score of heartbeats to pass before she continued. Enough for anyone present to offer silent respects to the newly dead, should they need.

"Many of you have seen," she started again at last, "the Blood Tear." As she uttered these words, the raining lights swirled and coalesced, highlighting a portion of the night sky, low on the eastern horizon. Bareglar's eyes followed the lightshow and landed – as intended, no doubt – on a comet of sorts that was so small that it might be completely missed by anyone who was not a stargazer. Although many of those collected nodded gravely and agreed that they had seen this heavenly body, at least some had not seen it. Bareglar was comforted to know that he was not alone in his ignorance.

"The Blood Tear", the elder continued, "in many parts of Elsenban is regarded as a symbol of doom. Of destruction. And it is feared as such. But we are aware that it is not a sign of fate, evil, death, or doom. Rather, it is a sign of change. Great change that is coming to the lands and her people. And we Children of Mahiya know that change is wrought often with pain."

"There are tumultuous times ahead." She said with conviction. "There will be change. There will be pain. There will be blood. Her face was serious now, as a parent that is delivering an important message. "There will be a return to the Great Cycle, possibly for many of us here in the grove this night."

"Bear in mind that with the Blood Tear evident, the change has already begun. But by the same token, the Tear is yet low on the horizon, which tells that the change is still in its infancy. There is a long road of change ahead."

"Let us first talk of the significant changes that have come upon us this cycle past."
#60
In Character Discussions / Gnarcheon's Festival at the Gr...
Last post by Wildfire - August 25, 2014, 08:48:29 PM
Ashe looked out at the faces that were gathered at the symbolic fires and entwined circles. Many of the young faces were filled with hope and innocent wonder at what they had just witnessed. He imagined that he would have to now include himself in that list. While he was by no means young (he was man quite beyond his years) he felt like a child at seeing the dazzling display. It brought to him a warm kindredness in spirit with the others that were witness to and partook of the spectacular ceremony. He was reminded that it was so easy for one to get lost in the day to day business that the slog of melancholy can deafen them to true music of their soul. The recent events certainly focused his purpose but it was this ceremony that made him appreciate why.

The brush wardens gathered to the central fire as Shankaria spoke the names of those that had passed to the next cycle. Ashe knew some of the names- a hierophant of his stature would. He had made numerous contacts through his years just by who he was and the reputation he had gotten during that time. He was not sad to hear of their deaths. He had known quite well that their voices would be mingled and joined as one and heard through the Vallenwood's everlasting melody. His voice, as would the voices of everyone here, one day would be part of that sacred song. He smiled thinking not of their absence but of their presence and the life they had. So often it was that grief, and occasionally deep despair, would take the ones who's lives were touched by the one that died. It was a hard emotion to overcome. Ashe often thought that it was the naked realization that a piece of themselves had died that made the death of a loved one so difficult. He knew that if one allowed that seemingly insurmountable gloom to pass that it would ultimately lead to celebrating the life that was being mourned. If one could embrace the epiphany that a piece of that person, in fact, lives through them, they would feel a freedom like no other.

He knew it, but couldn't always feel it.

The shadow hanging over his thoughts quickly left. This night was far too precious to him to yield to the past. He was in the present and what a blessed, shining gift that was!