Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 23, 2006 12:48:15 GMT -5
(This is a Non-GM mission)
A team of ten Knights and eleven Archers head atop Mount Kraken.Lead by Magician Kravis. Their objective is 'Peaceful Exploration'.
Before they embarked on this journey.Kravis had asked all his fellow heros to accompany him on this journey.Many accepted.
But taking so many Heros and Troops for 'Peaceful Exploration' seemed foolish.THe heros doubted the main objective of this journey. But pressed on as the King supported Kravis' ideas.
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 23, 2006 14:10:53 GMT -5
"This is a treacherous mountain, Kravis. Not to mention that it is infested with frost trolls and Saber Toothed Tigers."
The voice was Aten's. The man rode upon his white horse. He had learnt to ride horses to a limited extent.
"The path will only go so far. We will have to climb through some VERY steep terrain. At some point, the horses will also become useless. What will we do then? Nobody has ever reached the top you know, who knows whats up there."
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 24, 2006 4:14:33 GMT -5
"Aten, do you know why no one has reached the top?"
Kravis stopped and looked at this soldier.
"Its fear, Aten - It's fear that discourages a man to go on. Fear is a state of mind.The only way to conquer it is to face it."
Kravis continues to walk through the path as he speaks.
"You are very welcome to leave, Aten. But a path is made when men tread upon a piece of land. We are here to make that path. These men behind you have made their allegiance to me.They will be killed if they abandon me in this frozen wasteland.Not by me, no, I am no slayer of men. But, they will lose their Honor. Decide now , Aten, will you ally with me, or will you run away and hide?Will you fear and cower from that what you do not understand?"
Kravis quickened his pace as though he knew the answer.
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 24, 2006 5:01:07 GMT -5
"You talk like you know ANYTHING of these parts. I have battled innumerable frost trolls on this very mountain. I am no coward. You know that. How many of the men who travel with you know how to scale steep cliffs? or even climb trees? Many famous mountain climbers have lost their lives to this mountain. I think this fear you speak of is quite well founded. "
Aten snorted and an akward silence followed.
"But anyway, since I made the foolish decision to follow you up here, I might as well help."
Aten pointed out a handful of men from the band of knights trailing them.
"Those are your best climbers. Both of us have reasonable experience in mountain climbing. Once the mountain gets too steep for the horses to move, we will have to leave the rest behind." Aten looked back again. He saw the huge sacs of food items that some of the soldiers were carrying. They had the food and clothing to last a month. Something that previous climbers did not have. Not to mention that trolls werent such a great danger with so many men under their command. Aten suddenly had a thought.
"Why cant you just use your portals to get to the top of the mountain? Or does it not work that way?"
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 24, 2006 12:12:51 GMT -5
Kravis realised that Aten had no wisdom in Portal thaumaturgy.
"Well, it does not work that way. Portal Magic is severly interconnected with the mind. Infact some people say that Zero Space is the mind. The fastest force or entity is not light. No, it's the mind. It can project you across vast distances in the blink of an eye. It's Portal thaumaturgy, it takes years of training. Your mind must have enough capacity to bear to open portals.Not many of us thaumaturges survive. This is because time has a rule. You cannot just keep opening portals and travelling everywhere. Your mind pays for it. But that is not the matter here. I can't travel to a place where I have not been before."
Kravis felt colder.He tightened his grip on his cloak. It started snowing. There was a sudden drop of trees in the mountain. The path was getting thinner.
"Set Camp here, rest here till the snow stops."
Kravis moved on to scout a little around the area. When he returned he saw his tent had been laid out.He went inside. He saw Aten waiting inside.
"So? How did you land up here?"
(Just thinking.Could you make this camp an area?)
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 25, 2006 0:58:50 GMT -5
"I am here to see something that has not been seen for thousands of years. I have heard legends of this creature. An ancient dragon form that can release an icy blast of wind from is throat and nostrils. It is huge! From what I have heard, it is three times the size of a Wyvern. It feeds on ice! Furthermore, it resides on the top of this mountain. A remnant of a bygone era. I have heard that it is as old as the sky." Aten pushes a peice of paper with an intricate painting on it towards Kravis:- "The locals call it... the frost wyrm." ((I intended the Forst Wyrm to be less dragon-like, but I guess this will do. This is the best I could find on google.))
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 25, 2006 2:08:19 GMT -5
"Why Aten? Why must you bring these legends and myths to our explorations?Why do you still remain in your mind?! I told you. These are myths made by the human mind. These are ethnological fears made real.I forbid you to seek any 'Frost Wyrms'." Kravis picks up the peice of paper. Stares at the painting of this beast.A kinght enters into the tent. "Sir..." Kravis raises his hand in indication tof silence. Kravis' hands light up. He passes that hand over the paper and the paper turns to dust. He clenches his hand and drops the dust that remains. "Aten, do not speak of this beast again. You are dissmissed." Aten is about to leave when the Knight speaks without permission. "Sir, i apologise but there is a lizard, it flies. It's circling the campsite - " ((Dude,i am not trying to ditch all your ideas , just trying to add some drama. i'll let your imagination go crazy with this flying lizard ))
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 25, 2006 2:34:11 GMT -5
Aten and Kravis stare at each other's faces. Aten's eyes were screaming out four words: 'I told you so!'
The two quickly walk out of their tent to see this flying lizard. It was much to far to pose any threat. Anyway, Aten was fairly certain that the animal was a docile creature. Aten started making a mental comparison between a Wyvern and the Frost Wyrm. Wyverns were used as vehicles of war by necromancers. Their call was an ugly sqwak.
The Wyrm on the other hand, was far more graceful. It was also much, much larger. It had a bluish hue. Aten didnt expect seeing one at such a low altitude. Maybye it had come down to see what all the noise was. It made a strange wail. Almost like that of a whale. Only a little later did it disappear into the clouds. The soldiers were stunned by what they had just seen. It filled them with a sense of adventure.
Maybye the world wasnt so small after all.
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 25, 2006 3:26:06 GMT -5
"Archers!-"
Followed by the yell was a attention march of the archers. A cruel yell of a leader - Kravis
"Fire at will next time you see that beast!"
"Sir,Yes, Sir!" Kravis entered his tent. Aten followed.
"Aten, do you know how to bring this beast down?"
Kravis puts his hand inside his cloak and thaks out the same piece of paper which was given to his to view by Aten.The sketch of a beautiful beast.
"Yes, I didn't destroy the sketch.I want this beast slain! I have traveled so far for its heart!"
Kravis head deep inside the tent and takes out his trunk. He digs inside and brings out a book.
"Here, page twenty four....twenty five , here we go, The Heart of a Wyrm. Its beauty is limited to its glow."
Kravis looked like he was crazy.Well was that new?
"I have fought this beast before. Not here, no. I fought it and i lost.This will be my freedom.Father died because of these beasts. I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE"
Kravis looked like a Red-skinned human.He dropped his cloak as in he felt hot! At the top of the mountain -HOT!
"Aten,your eagles. They will be major advantage for us. I want your eagles to accompany us."
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 25, 2006 3:34:22 GMT -5
Aten began yelling incoherently.
"What!? You have seen them before? You FOUGHT them? Them? There is only one! Where did you get that book? That thing wont be hurt by arrows! Wait.. was this the aim of this entire exploration? No wonder we were os well armed! Were you going to reveal it to us once somebody got killed so that your men would support you?"
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 25, 2006 3:51:23 GMT -5
"Don't you dare raise your voice at a superior! You know the repercussions of insubordination!"
Kravis walks around the the tent looks outside and then says
"Yes there are many of these creatures. THe live in insurmountable areas.Volcanoes ,mountain tops etc. The creature in the painting is old and dying. The beast we just saw is young and looking for a mate.It's now that they are the weakest!"
Kravis laughs like he has never before.A evil laugh that sent chills down the spine of Aten.
"The heart of these beasts is very expensive. Mix its hearst juices with water and some alchemic herbs and you get the potion of immortality!"
Kravis opened the book again. He stared at it . Smiled and spoke again.
"You heard of Lady Kunalee? She was immortal! But not invincible. A wyrm killed her.After she tried to make the potion for her dying son"
Kravis again went outside. He Yelled :
"THIS BEAST SHOULD BE KILLED! IT'S A EVIL BEAST OUT TO KILL US! KILL OR BE KILLED!"
Kravis entred the tent. Aten still standing inside.
"I expect you to support us.Either that ot you travel down the mountain for three days as the eagle flies without food or shelter"
Kravis summons a knight inside the tent.
"Kill any deserters. Understand?"
The Knight bowed and left.
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hotsmoke
Level 45
Samurai Knight
Posts: 203
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Post by hotsmoke on Jul 25, 2006 4:51:43 GMT -5
A man in black hooded cloak walks in without any permission. Kravis is taken back by the nerve of this man just to barge into his private tent just like that.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! BARGING INTO MY TENT LIKE THIS!!"
The cloaked figure snorts and replies:
"Ah Kravis, still the hot headed magician, i see? And what was that about who i am don't you remmember me Kravis? Wait maybe this will refresh you memory."
He pulls his hood down.
Kravis is taken a back and is a bit embarrased having spoken to the great warrior in such a way. Xan smiles.
" So Kravis hunting down Frost Wyrms now are we? Well i have no interest in your childish mortality gambles. However, i will accompany you on this hunt for the sheer adventure and thrill of fighting another Frost Wyrm. Oh, and a little peice of advice cool down abit? Your getting more and more stubborn and hot headed the more you grow." He smiles.
He turns to Aten : "Ahh greetings my friend Aten! How be you ?! Hah, its good to be back."
( I hope you lot are not angry about me busting in.)
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 25, 2006 5:05:43 GMT -5
Aten was only mildly surprised. Xan was known for his theatrical entrances.
"Is it just me? Or has everybody in this tent fought Frost Wyrms before? How come you never told me?"
Aten grabbed the open book that lay on the table.
"I will accompany you on this trip. I dont beleive in this whole immortality nonsense but once the animal is dead, that is, if we kill it, you must let me inspect the body."
Aten slowly opened the book.
"Where did you get this book anyway?
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Kravis
Level 45
Portal Magician
Posts: 244
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Post by Kravis on Jul 25, 2006 11:01:14 GMT -5
"Xan! Welcome. Revege makes me like this. Ofcourse you are aquainted with the Wyrms and their history? Also with my history with them?" Kravis bows down. A great warrior "Aten, I shall answer your questions. Xan is the first person I befriended after the execution atop Volcano Susnan. The first person who saw the future like me. The person who helped me get that book." Kravis smiles at Xan. Xans escapades with Kravis were well known. Infact without Xan, it was impossible to go where Kravis had gone. "I think Xan will fill in the parts of the Book. That was quite difficult to get" A knight enters into the room. He bows . With the approval of Kravis the Knight speaks. "We are ready to leave. The Snow has stopped." Kravis nods. "Ah, perhaps this is meant to be a story of another time." ((No ones angry that you have returned Xan ))
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Post by Arvind Pillai on Jul 25, 2006 12:38:58 GMT -5
The soldiers begin packing up the tents and gathering their weapons. A few soldiers stay behind, just in case the exploration party is forced to retreat.
The snow had not stopped, but it had certainly lessened. Aten loved the cold. He felt refreshed when took a dip in cold lakes. What he did not like, was the drop in oxygen.
Oxygen is present in far greater concentration in the atmosphere of Rythanis than that of earth. As a result, climbers could traverse high mountains without oxygen cylinders. There was still a drop in Oxygen, but it was tolerable.
The heroes gather their belongings and walk out of the tent. Idle chit-chat between the soldiers and the leaders breaks the silent quality of the cold air.
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