Chapter One, The Wave Rider

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darken	Chapter One, The Wave Rider	Lead	[-]
Posts: 7848 (12/08/03 15:48:54) Rules Lawyer, Esq. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None In about seven days, The Wave Rider will bring you to your destination, The Bright Coast. Gathered on the ship, you again open the scroll that contains the letters from Marya Jernal. *Quote:* Greetings Brave Adventurer, I beseech your aid in unravelling a strange mystery. Over a year ago the survivor of a shipwreck was brought to my temple. Driven mad by his ordeal on the Bright Coast his body nevertheless quickly returned to health. All my skills and magic however has been unable to save him from his madness. I recently resorted to using powerful magic to gain knowledge of how I may further aid this poor wretch. Such is the power of my patron, The Lady of the Waves, that I received an answer, but it was not the answer I had hoped to receive. All I received was the following verse of some old prophecy or poem: An eternal watch that must not fade, A bolt that must not be shattered. Absolute darkness creeps from the bright, A secret long-shrouded is returned to the light, Amid the faded glory of a forsaken empire, Among shattered hills, Within chocked valleys, Lurk the sins of ages past. No other magicks have been of use in determining what this could portent. Clues within the rhyme led me to a very old map of the region now known as the Bright Lands. My research has lead me to conclude that answers to my dilemma may be found in a tower that stands deep within the Bright Desert. I have enclosed a copy of this map so that you might investigate this tower. Please bring me any artifacts you might within the tower as these could hole the key to relieve the suffering of the poor soul brought to me so many moons ago. While traversing the desert be wary of the Traitor and his forces - he now claims the whole area - and no doubt will deal harshly with those on the side of good. I have placed at your disposal The Wave Rider that will convey you to your destination. Her captain, Llarenden Farland, is a stout captain and devote follower of my Lady worthy of your trust and respect. Once you have succeeded in your quest return to me in Killdeer so that I may heal my charge and thank you in person for undertaking such perilous risks for a man you do not know, Marya Jernal
Andorax	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#1	[-]
Posts: 7052 (12/09/03 15:44:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Mysteries," Corian thought to himself. He stood upon the starboard rail, looking out over the water. "So many mysteries here. Am I up to the task of solving them?" Corian thought back to two months ago, to that horrid day when he helped to investegate the chambers below the Monestary of the Risen Star in the Kron Hills. Just recently come from Hommlet, and still new in the Order, he was anxious to prove himself and lend aid to the goodly monks in their need. The undead terrors that walked below the halls chilled Corian to the bone, but it also filled him with a righteous wrath, an iron resolve to destroy any of these abominations. The battle against the vampire spawn that was once Brother Durham still haunts him, as does what he had to do that night. Melissa was a good friend, if only having been known briefly, and it pained him greatly to maul her corpse so...but better that, then to see her return as another of those...creatures. It took a while for Corian to come to trust his new friends...longer still for fear that one day they might suffer the same fate. And yet, here they were, on this ship, heading for this far coast. He didn't know what to expect, didn't know if his new companions would let him down...or he them. But of a certainty, he knew that the Light of Pelor would shine through him, and that if the walking dead stood in his way, they would most certainly fall!
Bahamut44	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#2	[-]
Posts: 3139 (12/10/03 13:26:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Era'when finds himself on deck at early dawn, watching the sunrise. Having already completed his studies, he is taking a few moments to enjoy the breeze, his tiny black pet cat perched carefully on one shoulder. He wonders: "So why me? Home is so far away from this place! What are we going to find?" He sighs aloud "Well...I suppose this is finally my shot at adventure...its taken long enough!" He glances about, long elf-locks whipping around in the sea air and notes Corian looking out over the waves. "Morning to you, Corian, how fare you this day? The sunrise is beautiful on the sea, ne?" despite Era'when's command of the common tounge, he ocassionally slips elvish into his sentences without realizing it. "I've never ridden a ship before, you know, nor have I seen the desert. I'd actually never before deigned to leave the Alithanor in the mountains. I must say that I miss those beautiful stone towers...but adventure calls...and here I am! What about you?"
olivar	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#3	[-]
Posts: 1334 (12/10/03 14:11:31) Wyrm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Just then, a reddish-brown hawk flies out of the doorway leading below decks and lands on a railing, eying the deck as if looking for something. The bird is followed by Ythan, who strides out onto the deck and looks back up at the wheel. Cupping both hands to his mouth, he yells, "Taya caught two more, Captian! Pretty soon you ship won't have a rat left." Griping his green cloak in one hand to hold it against the breeze, Ythan walks over to his new companions. "Morning," he says matter-of-factly.
darken	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#4	[-]
Posts: 7848 (12/10/03 14:30:35) Rules Lawyer, Esq. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Poking his head out from one of the windows, "Argh, don't be causing too much trouble now," Captain Farland grumbles, "keep that feathered thing close to you, this is my ship, and my rats are my problems. You just worry about your water supply and your field trip to the desert, eh? If not for the Lady I would never..." His "speech" is interrupted as his head ducks back into the control room. In a matter of seconds, he comes out of the room, holding a scroll of some sort. "If you want something to do, here it is, I measured everything up nicely for ya and checked with all the other documents, it can't be wrong; it wouldn't take a whole week, at most two or three days, we'll be there. I even marked down the easy walks for you." You open it up, and it's the map from Marya that you asked Captain Farland to verify the parameters for due to his expertise and experience on the sea around this part of the world. The map shows the coastlines of the Bright Coast, along with some hills blocking the tentative landing spot from the Bright Desert; although other locations would contain less geographical obstacles, this location is by far the safest due to other landing hazards as well as the forces of The Traitor. Several lines shows the deep gullies pierce through the hills, in particular three of them where circled with ink, nearest to the landing site. (OOC: feel free to converse with each other to get to know each other IC. The rest of the travel is uneventful, and the ship will arrive at the tentative landing spot in 1 day real time, ie Dec 11th 2pm Pacific time)
SuperJoshP	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#5	[-]
Posts: 4913 (12/10/03 15:23:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As Dawn draws near Taes Atwin sits at the bow of the boat the wind blowing his black cloak around him and pelting his face with foam. The gentel rise and fall of the prow reminding him of the cycle all life must follow from birth to the pinnacle being and then down the inevitable slope to death. From whence it starts again. As the sun crests the horizon Taes thinks to himself oO"I should get up and practice my katas." But despite that thought he stays in his seat, meditating on the rhythem of the ship, of the sea, of the desert. oO"Oh well, Zuoken likes a strong mind as much as a strong body." Taes decides as he falls back into meditation.
Andorax	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#6	[-]
Posts: 7052 (12/10/03 16:38:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Era'when," the name comes with with difficulty to Corian as he stumbles over the pronunciation, "I've not layed eyes upon the desert afore myself. The meadows and fields are more what I know...and the wood. Still, the light of Pelor shines in all places, and in the desert, perhaps, a bit moreso than elsewhere." Corian glances over his shoulder as first Ythan, then Captain Farland, approach. "Good morn' to you, Ythan. The Captain might not care for for such services, but I know I'm a bit happier for each rat off the ship." Corian looks down at the map recently delivered to them, holding it so that both Era'when and Ythan can see it as well. "It's going to be tough going, it looks like. We can't rely on any sort of local help, for the Traitor's forces could easily catch us. On the other hand, I'm leery of the prospects of living off the land. Ythan, you may be a fair hand at finding a brace of rabbits in a wood, but from all I've heard of desert, they're barren and inhospitable places. Pelor will grant us a daily ration of water, but I fear for the remainder of our provision. Unlike Taes down below, I can't live on air and meditation."
SuperJoshP	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#7	[-]
Posts: 4913 (12/10/03 19:12:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Taes stays on the bow of the boat meditateing until he hears his name mentioned. His ears, paying attention to his surroundings even if his mind is not, bring him back to the present. As the bow falls to the trough of another wave Taes rolls backwards, one of his feet getting caught in his cloak. Not enough to cause him to trip, but enough that he notices it, Taes shakes his head as he rolls to his feat. oO"I need to get the hang of moving in this thing if I am going to wear it." He thinks. Moving to the aft of the boat he greets his companions. "Good morn to you. Discussing provisions I gather." turning to Corian he speaks up, "Do not worry, just because Al'Akbar has seen fit to free me from Oerthly needs does not mean I will not carry my share of rations."
olivar	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#8	[-]
Posts: 1334 (12/11/03 09:23:00) Wyrm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ythan shrugs at Corian's comment. "Birds have to eat." On the subject of rationing, Ythan speaks. "While the desert is inhospitable, truly rare is the place that is completely dead. There often are small vermin and insects, and plants that know how to keep water. But I won't know what life is there until I've had a look at it, so we should take as much dried meat as we can carry. Also, even though Pelor's blessing may be upon us, we should each carry two skins of water if it ever isn't, such as when Corian here is incapacitated."
Andorax	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#9	[-]
Posts: 7052 (12/11/03 09:58:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"I've one about me, already," Corian comments, "and could carry another as need presents. With the mundane concerns handled, then, I'd ask about another. The good lady Jernal has give us prescious little to go on here. Perchance, do any of you know more about the tower we seek, or of the lands ahead of us? Know you anything of the forces that Rary keeps, that we might better prepare? I, alas, know little of all of these self-same matters."
SuperJoshP	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#10	[-]
Posts: 4913 (12/11/03 11:22:06) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"I know little. That little was enough for me to give the Bright Dessert a wide birth on my travels. I know Rary is a mage of no mean power. That alone was enough to dissuade me from approaching his territory. " Taes says as stretches muscles that have been too long in one place. "I have heard rumors, but right now nothing comes to mind. I will think on it and if I remember more I will tell you."
olivar	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#11	[-]
Posts: 1334 (12/11/03 11:33:05) Wyrm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ythan shrugs. "I know only that it is a desert with a powerful mage in it. It is likely that, if he is powerful enough, we will not escape his attention as we wander through his lands. We just have to hope that we are not worth any effort to him."
SuperJoshP	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#12	[-]
Posts: 4913 (12/11/03 12:04:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Traveling by night and sleeping by day might make up more unobtrusive." Taes offers. "Besides it will be cooler to."
olivar	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#13	[-]
Posts: 1334 (12/11/03 12:47:51) Wyrm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"It will depend upon the availability of shade. If there is none to be had, it would be better to be moving than to sit and fry. I am told the desert can get quite cold at night. I hope everyone brought their cloaks and blankets."
Bahamut44	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#14	[-]
Posts: 3139 (12/11/03 12:50:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Era'when speaks up, "This...Rary? was never mentioned in my letter. You don't speak of the human mage whose spells have reached even my great city? Is he the one referred to as 'the Traitor'? What did he do to recieve such a name?" The elf looks about the group expectantly, his dark blue cloak not unwrapping from around his body, despite the winds, and his small cat still perched on his shoulder.
SuperJoshP	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#15	[-]
Posts: 4913 (12/11/03 13:24:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Indeed, that is the one we speak of." Taes confirms, standing still once more, "Rary the Traitor, once of the Circle of Eight. For years he was thought to be a wise man, that was before the war, and before he slew two of his brethern to flee south with his fellow conspirator... Lord Robilar, I believe his name was. I do not know the details, only that he was twisted with evil and none knew until it was too late."
darken	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#16	[-]
Posts: 7848 (12/11/03 14:41:26) Rules Lawyer, Esq. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	After two and a half days of travel, supplies are organized, and the ship finally arrives at the Bright Coast. Dropping anchor scant 200 yards away from the Bright Coast, one of the ship's boat is dropped into the clear blue waters of the Gearnat with a splash. You and your gears are quickly loaded and then deposited on the shore. As their boat is raised back onto the Wave Rider, Captain Farland's words ring in your mind: "I will return at daybreak, everyday, for one week, and stay for but one hour; I certainly can't stay here for long and risk the lives of my crewmen. If you do not return in that time I will persume you have been slain by the denizens of this accursed land." The sun beats down upon you and you quickly begin to perspire. A slight breeze blows in from the Gearnat making the temperature almost bearable. *The temperatures away from the coast however must be excruciatingly hot*; wearing any kind of metal armor or indeed heavy clothing seems like sheer folly. Ahead of you a series of low, but steep hills blocks your advance. Consulting your map you see that you have to traverse these hills to get to the desert beyond. Several days travel out into the desert lies the tower that is your ultimate destination, and it's marked on the map, crude even after the expert remarking of Captain Farland. Of course the farther you travel into the desert the deeper you will be travelling into the so-called Empire of the Bright Lands ruled over by the infamous Rary, a powerful wizard and former member of the CIrcle of Eight, with unsurpassed magical might. As you survey the hills ahead of you, you fervently hope that his gaze and the attention of his minions are focused far away from here. Ahead of you a low range of hills bars your progress into the interior. Shouldering your packs and taking a long swig from your water flash you wearily take the first step in what promises to be a very long and very arduous trek. Several deep gullies pierce the hills in front of you, and Captain Farland has marked the three most efficient ways for you on the map: One to the left, one to the right, and one in the middle. From the look on the map, other than their location and the seemly random passage trends, they are for the most part very similar to each other.
Andorax	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#17	[-]
Posts: 7052 (12/11/03 15:19:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Corian steps a bit away from the remainder of the group. Drawing out his amulet, he raises it upwards towards the brilliant sun, the light shining upon the gleaming gold. "Lord Pelor, in this land before us, where your ever-watchfull gaze lies heavily upon the earth...stand with us in the paths before us. Grant strength and comfort to our task, and wisdom to see through the darkness of confusion and mystery. We go forth, a light in this land of shadow, and we shall prevail!" His prayer done, Corian shrugs off his chain shirt and stows it in his pack. He readjusts his white tunic, checks to see his mace and crossbow are close at hand, and glances to the others. "Well then, any suggestions for which path we should take?"
olivar	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#18	[-]
Posts: 1334 (12/11/03 15:41:55) Wyrm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Eyeing the surrounding landscape, Ythan notices how the color differs from his green cloak, which appears to be made of some kind of muslin. With a shrug, he takes it off and proceeds to rub the outside of it in the dirt. When it has changed color to his satisfaction, he then dons it, covering his face in shadow. Looking at Corian, he says, "You do realize that with that white shirt you can be seen for quite a ways in this environment." Without waiting for an answer, Ythan will go see if he can determine the amount of tracks on each path, and what may have caused them [Survival +8].
darken	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#19	[-]
Posts: 7848 (12/11/03 15:56:18) Rules Lawyer, Esq. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ythan notices a few minor foot prints made by some sort of hoof, but no obvious tracks of any kind in any direction, as the movement of the sand's movement is rapid around this area; a whirlpool-like wind, although minor, moves continously around this area due to its geographical shape quickly buries the Ythan's latest discovery with more sand.
Andorax	Re: Chapter One, The Wave Rider	#20	[-]
Posts: 7052 (12/11/03 15:57:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Corian thinks for a moment, then replies to Ythan, cupping his hands to be heard as the ranger moves away. "I've no gift for stealth, friend...tunic or armor, arms or emblems, I've as likely a chance of hiding here as an Ogre in a Halfling's village." As he puts his hands down, a broad grin lies across his face.

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Chapter One, The Wave Rider

Chapter One, The Wave Rider

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