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[RPG] Sword & Sorcery 2

163 replies · 282,048 views · Started 19 January 2016

Sitting in a tavern--the Filthy Rabbit--whose primary theme is skimpily-dressed waitresses wearing bunny-ear headbands--you patiently await your DRINK and your ORDER as you review the victories of your last score. Maybe you're counting your money. Maybe you're looking over that mysterious trinket you found. I don't know, I'm not omniscient.
At the end of the bar lies a strange man dress completely in back with a wide brim hat, gloves, and BIRD MASK and red tinted glasses. He's been staring at a glass of water but hasn't taken a drank for the last half hour.
Alternatively In the corner is a mysteriously beautiful woman drawing attention from the MALE crowd with her figure. Although she seems to have her mind somewhere else.
Who are you, what brought you here, and most important of all what will you do?

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Goals:

In an effort to keep my creative writing skills sharp, scratch my itch to get a role-playing game started again, and generate activity for AGN, I am starting the second sword & sorcery game. Let's do this shit. As for CJC he's been MIA for 2 months.
As the thread title suggests this particular RPG will be fantasy themed.


Mechanics:

In short, there are none. The goal of the game is to tell a collective story and have fun. On each Tuesday and Friday, I'll post a scenario for you to react to and you'll post a response--in first person--explaining how your character reacts and what actions and reactions he or she takes and makes. When the next update rolls around, I'll post the results and a new scenario. Repeat ad infinitum.

Each update will be segmented into sections, with each section pertaining to one player. The player in question will be tagged by the forum, and the first paragraph of such a section will start with the name of that player's character. You will not be required to read the paragraphs of other players (Or even their replies to the thread). I will distill any important cross-character interaction into your next scenario. If you are joining late, links to each update can be found in the second post of this thread so that you can easily jump past the responses to the new scenario. They'll be listed in reverse chronological order and they will be numbered, dated, and collected by setting.

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Rule Clarifications:

General: Improvisation is a Staple
You are free and ENCOURAGED to ad-lib. If a fact hasn't been established, it's fair game. If you make too wild an assumption, I will gently reel you back into the narrative. Also, if there is a non-player character and I have not stated they are LOCKED, then they are fair game; you may make them do and say what you please. Other player characters are always LOCKED, you cannot control another player's character.

General: Summarized Conversations
When conducting conversation with an NPC or another player, do not feel that you have to write out the literal dialogue. Posting the gist of your conversational goals is sufficient.

General: The means through which new rules are dispensed
I'll introduce more rules as they become necessary. When rules are introduced, they'll appear at the top of the update. The game is free-form, though, so just have fun with it. For the most part, if you want to do something your character can do it. One warning, though; if you go Marty Stu expect consequences. Also, try not to get too vulgar, there are kids on the forum (This is not the Veldt). Also, if there's a lot of interest I may split the game (and thread) into two (or more) instances.

General: I played the other one, can I play my old character?
Sure, i don't mine.

Important: The Butterfly Effect
Sometimes you will be given a Butterfly Effect decision. If you make the right decision something good will happen later on. If you make the wrong one, well expect something bad to happen. The cause and effect do not cancel each other out, as a butterfly flapping it's wings can cause a hurricane to come.

Important: Dragons
Do to a flux of energy in this dimension dragons cannot exist. They die if they come to this dimension which is called Nosgoth! I can swear that is from somewhere. Fantasy Realm Generator. meh.

General: RPG Communication Mediums
This is strictly a forum game. There will be no IRC or Skype component to this endeavor.
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Locked Characters

Here is a list of the currently locked characters and the players who have access to them:

[indent]
Players
Skie = [MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION] [Pronouns: Rogue]
Jade = [MENTION=40954]King Aquamentus[/MENTION] [Pronouns: Dragonkin]
Alty = [MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION] [Pronouns: Author]
Shirome (La Croix) Artiste = [MENTION=56506]Tamamo[/MENTION] [Pronouns: Revenant]

NPCs
Merlina = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Magician, Slave of Xen]
Nerinae = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Oracle, Slave of Xen]
Teras = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Shadow Druid]
Sophie = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Soldier, Author]
Lilith = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Demon Queen]
Xenovia = Current Game Master [Pronouns: Elder Evil, Main Antagonist]

Rocs
Roc Kings
Flamier
Volta
Articas
Raven King
[/indent]

Any remaining characters not listed (like the crossbow burglar) are free game for anybody to post, manipulate, and act on as they please. Even with all this, I am quite generous when it comes to NPCs, just don't go crazy.
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I'm going to try playing a female for a change, if that's allowed.

Character: Skie
Race: Human
Class: Rogue (calling her a thief is a deadly insult)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Appearance: Skie is slender but not skinny, not especially strong but wiry and quick. She wears a midnight blue tunic under studded leather dyed to match. A back sheath holds a short sword and she has twin daggers at her belt. (Nobody can see this, but she also conceals two throwing knives in the top of her boots). She wears an amulet with a blue stone in the center, thought whether it is magical or ornamental is not apparent. Her hair is auburn and her eyes are dark green. She has an odd star-shaped scar on her right temple. just above eye level.

Skie has been drinking some hard stuff for the past hour and is pretty well soused. She is on her fifth tankard and her last few coins. As she tips back her tankard, she notices the man in the bird mask--why is he staring at her? What's with this guy?

The man approaches you and orders you another tankard and a begins speaking. His voice is softer then you expect. You also note that that he smells of Lavender.

"You look like your the kind of gal who can disarm traps. Name is La Croix, I'm part of a mercenary group who recently lost two of our best units. One was a BARD the other a PALADIN. It's a darn shame, but we need to move on. Need to find replacement units before we can go on our expedition and get the treasure our employers ask for. And our boss pays us all very well, room and board included. What do you say. We got a deal?"

BUTTERFLY EFFECT
You notice the other woman has left the tavern yet you don't recall hearing the door open or close? Something is strange about her. The men would of been talking about her, as beautiful as she was. But they seem to have no recollection of her even being there and have gone back to drinking.

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everyone else can either wait until the next update on saturday or join in the bar and either choose to talk to Delilah (beautiful woman) or La Croix (plague doctor). Note that this is a butterfly decision one choice is good, the other is bad. Choose wisely.

I consider his offer and even through my liquor-induced haze something seems a little fishy. How would he know that I can disarm traps? Or that I am in need of money? I finish my tankard but do not take the one he ordered for me. I question him about his "employers" and the treasure he wants.

A femine voice emanates from behind behind the bar.
"Hmmhmm, your smarter then you look. That's enough La Croix."
A female mage appears from behind the counter and snaps her fingers, La Croix turns into a crow and flies to her shoulder.
"Name's Merlina, and you've passed the test. There was no employer, and no expedition. I'm actually looking for people with wits about them to not fall for shady guys and investigate the disappearances of men in a near bye village about 2 hours east of here near the coast."
The barkeeps face goes gloomy.
"I heard about that, all of sudden a woman starts singing at midnight and then by morning some of the men would of vanished."
A drunk old sailor spouts off.
"It's them mermaids I tell you!"
"Mermaids don't exist, you drunk."

Interesting this woman appears to not be hiding anything that was powerful Lycaon magic she used just now. She could prove to be a powerful ally. Also this old sailor might be on to something about the mermaids, perhaps he has more information if you lend him your ear.
What do you do?

Magic has always fascinated me. I have little talent for it beyond simple sleight-of-hand, but I liked seeing that. I'm interested in her offer, but I wonder if the sailor will tell me something more about the mermaids. I start to ask him. With a glint in his eye and a grin, he says he'll tell me all he knows for the price of a tankard. The lightness of my coin pouch prevents that, but I reach for the tankard La Croix bought for me and offer that to him instead.

Merlina joins you at the table and the old sailor takes a sip of the tankard.

"Aye, that is good ale. The story your gonna hear is not a work of fiction. Everyone else here will tell you it's the result from the trauma of losing my ship and crew but i saw what I saw. 30 some years ago i fell in love with a mermaid. A few years later I would meet my wife and break things off with the mermaid. That was my mistake. You see mermaids are possessive creatures. Very Possessive, and they consider mates their property. It's her I bet you, she's back for revenge. And she doesn't care if she destroys the entire village in the progress."

Merlina's familiar shakes his head side to side almost if he understands the conversation.
Merlina turns towards you. "We need to head to that village right away I have a bad feeling about this. Also I hope your not afraid of heights"

"Heights are of no concern to me. I've climbed up to third-story windows without a rope. If there's coin to be earned, you can count on me. But let me make one thing clear. I am no thief--I might not have much money, but every coin I do have was earned. So now that we have that out of the way, we can leave whenever you're ready." I am still drunk, but my highly-trained senses have not completely left me.

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Update
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Skie [MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Merlina leads you outside and her crow hops off her shoulder and grows into a gigantic bird. A roc with red goggles.

L: "Surprised human? This is my true form. All aboard and hold on tight, it's gonna be one long ride to the village."

Merlina climbs aboard the rocs back and wraps her arms around it's neck.

M: "Hold on tight."

You follow suit and after an hour make it to the village around noon. Merlina snaps her fingers and La Croix assumes his humanoid form with his glasses in the shadows.
There are several women around but no men. Perhaps you should ask around for more information.
You also can see the docks in the distance, empty of ships.

What do you do?

((Let's say the flight to the village gave Skie time to sober up))

I remember Merlina saying that men were disappearing, but have they ALL gone from this village? Or are they just afraid to come out of their homes for fear they will be next? I adopt my most charismatic and charming manner and ask one of the older women for some general information about this village. I explain that I am stranger to this area (and indeed I have never been to this village).

Read 1-25-16 -T

The woman appears to be disguised as a gypsy and gives you a mischievous smile.

"Oh don't worry, men aren't the only ones disappearing here. You ladies are in just much danger as they are. Good luck getting sleep now."
With a evil laugh she twirls into an alley. And you could swear if Merlina wasn't holding Lacroix's arm he would of jumped at her.

M: "Interesting, she mentioned us getting sleep as if she expected us to say, we best not sleep in the town. We leave before nightfall and camp on the outskirts."
L: "My feathers our warm, don't worry, I make a good blanket. This entire thing smells fishy and I don't like it Merlina. Especially that gypsy. She reeks of fish. I hate fish."

Do you follow the gypsy or do you continue searching for more information? Or perhaps explore the village a bit. There's always the docs.

((I never intended for Skie to mention the disappearances but OK))

"you catch on quick, something must be odd about her!" -T

My growling stomach suggests that we find a market and some food. I'm low on coin but perhaps I can find a bargain. I keep my eyes open for anything suspicious as I make my way through the village.

Read: 1-26-16 -T

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Some ships start to pull into the docks, the appear to be fishing ships. You decide to head there and bargain for a fresh catch. The first thing you noticed that all of the men appear to be armed with small weapons, harpoons, crossbows, and spears. You notice the Gypsy is here as well and she looks angry. The men begin shouting at her. Wait they're blaming her for the disappearances! She turns to leave before she notices you and begins running away with her tambourine in tow. La Croix chases after her.

One of the crew climbs down onto the docks and approches you and Merlina.
"Sorry about that, she is not welcomed here. We wish she would just leave this town. It's her fault this is happening and she knows it. May'be those sea wenches would leave us men alone if we banished her. But her father refuses to oblige. He ain't even here most the time always at the Filthy Rabbit Tavern getting drunk. Care for a fish, freshly caught. Don't worry about the money. We got a good haul today. If you wish to pay, we'll just consider it a donation."

Merlina chimes in for a second.
"Hold on, her father? We've met him. I take it his wife lives in this town?"

The crew man eyes narrow.
"You misunderstand. Yes his wife lives in this town. But she's missing, but she is not her mother. That's all the information I'm telling you. Now take your fish and Get!"

Forced to leave with a decent supply of fish in a basket. You notice Merlina looks around and calls out for La Croix.
The sky goes dark and thunder starts to rumble after flashes of lightning in the sky. And rain? It was a clear sky a moment ago.

M: "Shit, he went after her dumb bird!"

What do you do?

P.S. Check the first post for a link to La Croix's portrait, he's badass looking.

I suggest we head for shelter. No time to go looking for La Croix. Besides, from what I've seen, he can handle himself. I gave the fisherman one gold piece for the fish, since I don't take charity. I am down to my last two gold pieces now but this basket of fish should last me a few days. I'm not going to be able to afford much else, anyway.

Read 1-28-16 -T

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Merlina agrees and the two of you find a inn. The night is long but quiet, but La Croix does not return to his master. Strange, familiars tend to follow their masters where ever they go.
After a nights rest your awaken by screams from the village. The Gypsy rushes into the room and slams the door and locks it. She's covered from head to tow in blood and breathing hysterically, also missing an ear.
Merlina pulls out a knife, and askes where La Croix is.
"I didn't have a choice! That bird attacked me I am half mermaid for crying out loud! What where you thinking bringing a Roc to a fishing village you idiot!"
Merlina shouts the same question and begins approaching her drawing the back the knife preparing for a stab.
"He's dead! I'm sorry! I didn't mean too! I lost control!"
She charges at the girl with the knife you have a split second to intervene.

What do you do?!

This is a serious butterfly decision. None of these decisions are bad however.

I step forward and grab Merlina's knife hand. "Wait! Let's hear what she has to say first. If you're not satisfied with her explanation, then you can kill her."
((What Merlina does is up to you))

Read 1-29-16 -T

Merlina exales. "Find, I always had a short temper. Let's hear what you have to say girl."

The gypsy sits on the bed and stares at her legs they begin morphing into a fish tail. She wasn't kidding. She is a mermaids daughter. She begins speaking.
"My mother was a mermaid who died 2 monthes ago when the disappearances starting happening. However, she's explains that she was tricked by a woman claiming to be a doctor when her mother was sick and she became an undead. And now is under control by a necromancer. She pleads for your assistance in helping here.

Butterfly Effect 1:
La Croix is PRESUMED dead.

Butterfly Effect 2:
You are so very lucky you grabbed her knife hand, if you hadn't it would of wound up inside her own gut. She trusts you more now, since she believes you made the right decision.

Jade was sailing through the air, unaware of the goings-on below. She was a curvy plasma dragonkin of about 225 lbs, and for once was not in any kind of trouble. It was admittedly quite a relief, but she expected trouble to find her again soon...

What she did not expect was to have a Roc burst out of the clouds and smack her in the face, sending her plummeting below...

forgive terrible scrappy MSpaintish image, but google cannot find me this so I must draw it.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/17i0179cbhulv3b/SandS.png?dl=0

[MENTION=40954]King Aquamentus[/MENTION]
Last thing you remember was flying through a wyrmhole into this dimension and right into a giant seagull. You crash into a tree and fall unconscious, When you come to you look around and find that you've injured your WING and it's raining real hard. there's a old mansion near bye. Looks spooky, but it looks the best shelter you've got. You see a sign that points towards a village in the distance which appears a couple hours a way. You can head to the village but a lot can happen on the road, you look up at the mansion and swear you see a 12 year old girl mouthing the words come on in. She must live alone.

What do you do?

I step forward, my hand on the hilt of my shortsword. "Not so fast. What about LaCroix? Tell s what happened to him." I put enough tone into my voice to make it clear that if I don't like what I hear, things are about to get worse for than they already are.

read 1-29-16 -T

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
"I didn't want to show you the truth, but you've forced my hand it seems."
The mermaid exales and grabs a pitcher of water and poors it into a basin. The scenery changes to an alley at night Lacroix and the Gypsy Girl are facing one another. All of sudden he charges at her morphing into roc form and attacks shouting Kill! And is struck by lightning and a burst of feathers and blood covers the Gypsy. She screams and takes off running towards the inn.
The vision ends and you see the mermaid crying. Merlina is in shock but all of suddenly starts laughing.
"You've got to be kidding! The old bastard gets hit by lightning and rolled over my ass"
The mermaid looks at her puzzled.
"La Croix is a crow, that makes him an agent of death himself. He can't die that easily girl"
"So um, are you two gonna help me then."
"Hmm what do you think Skie, do we believe her story."

What do you do?

Butterfly Effect:
Ask and you shall receive. LaCroix is definitely alive. The question is, where did he go? :shadowblazer:

Jade looks at the mansion with the girl, then at the sign. AT the girl. At the sign. She nods and heads for the village: definitely the safer alternative.

[MENTION=40954]King Aquamentus[/MENTION]
Half way to you find a diary with the name Megan written on the cover. Must belong to the girl at the old mansion. Hmm...
You make it to the village safe and sound and check in at the end. Your awaken by screams and shouting from the room next to yours. Something about a murder, what do you do?

"I'm not sure if I believe everything, but at least we know he's alive. Ah, what the hell, let's help her if we can. Might be something in it for us."

[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
Since last time
You all arrived at the town and discovered a little about the gypsy girl, such as that she is a mermaid and doesn't claim to be responsible for the disappearances But knows who is responsible and wants to fix it.

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Update
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Everyone
You noticed a wrecked boat near bye. "if you decide to join this can be yours if you wish [MENTION=38704]mrz84[/MENTION]"
The four of you make your way to the docks and find a boat with some oars in it and row out to a cave on top of small island. The mermaid begins speaking. Merlina conjures up a glowing ball of light and sends it into the cave. "Let's Go" She says, looks safe for now, but we might have company by the looks of that wrecked vessel. You come to a branching path, Merlina sends a flare down each path and one comes to a turn and the other a chest above the water.

JADE
You notice something staring at you from the water.
What do you do.

SKIE
Your observant nature notices something odd about this chest, What do you do?

Jade peers over the side of the boat. Something is smiling back at her...

"um... guys..."

read 2-1-16
Actually it's an octopus, it looks curious about you.

I decide I want to take a closer look at the chest. First I check for traps nearby it, and disarm them if I can.

[MENTION=40954]King Aquamentus[/MENTION]
The octopus swims away after losing interest.
Awe, there goes your sushi.
[MENTION=60919]TheDarkOne[/MENTION]
It was trapped, and you managed to disarmed them.
You fine... A harpoon!

@Everyone
You continue through the cave and come to a room with a bed a bookshelf a mirror and a trunk and a bathtub. The mermaid hops in it and changes forms.
"awe, nothing like nice salt water on my skin. What we need to reach the mermaid city is in the trunk. It's the large pearl it'll allow you 3 to breath underwater like me."

Merlina opens the trunk pockets something while she isn't looking and grabs the pearl. "This big thing.?"

"Yup, let's go, she grabs a sceptre along the walla nd holds it infront of the mirror and begins speaking in Aquan, and then the room morphs. Before you know it and you're beneath the waves in the mermaid kingdom infront of mermaid statue and the place reeks of death. Mermaids are collapsed on the ground and the castle is surround in black fog? Why is there fog underwater.

"She's back, I think is time I pay my mother a visit and put a stop to this."

NOTE: Getting to the palace is your job, there are a infinite amount of possibilities. Have fun! And try not to attract any unwanted attention teehee. You can also communicate at anytime remember that!

"guys, guys!!" Jade pipes up, "I saw a thing in the water!! It was like a ball with hair on the bottom!! and eyes!!" However, it was gone by the time anyone went to take a look. "...i-it was here I swear!! Mr. Ball!! come back!!"

read [2-3-16] -T