Up The Carrion Stair

[Lord Kaitan de Storms]

Many are the legends spoken by the old men with white beards. But perhaps none more so than those of the wizard Sala-Grimna. A powerful sorcerer of long ago, he was said to have mastered the secrets of life itself, granting animation to inanimate lumps of metal. Within a short time he had built up on army of walking metal men, a legion of golems known as the Iron Imperium that swallowed the continent in bloodshed and conquest… But though Sala-Grimna had mastered life, he had not mastered death. He passed through the veil into the shadowed beyond, the passing of millennia erasing all reminders of his empire. His armies vanished into shadow, his fortresses crumbled to dust, even his history became mere mythology. Until roughly two weeks ago. For it was then that the Great Citadel of Sala-Grimna was discovered. A ruin, lying in volcanic wastes, it nevertheless drew attention from all around. The walls were breached and adventurers began drawing out trinkets and baubles from the outer limits. But the real prize was the High Tower in the exact heart of the Citadel. There appeared to be no way to climb the Tower other than ascending the skeletal carcass of a dragon, its bones locked into the masonry. So far attempts to reach the Tower have been greeting with warnings from a trio of enigmatic witches, warnings which turn out prophetic as the expeditions meet with disaster. The remains of the Iron Imperium still haunt the ruins, proving a difficult obstacle for forays to the Tower to overcome. But surely that means that Sala-Grimna's most potent secrets must still remain in the Tower…Do you dare brave the inner limits of the Citadel? Do you dare to try and discover what lies… Up the Carrion Stairs!In BriefYou are in a land of fantasy, a world of swords and sorcery. Centuries ago there was an evil wizard who tried to rule the world, but he is now dead, and you are an explorer looting the ruins of his fortress. There are many locations available if you wish to hunt through them looking for your heart's desire, but exploration is highly encouraged. The ruins are a huge place with plenty of space for new locations. All you need do is look.LayoutFirst Level:- The highest tier of the Citadel, lying on ground level. It is surrounded by a tumbledown wall that no longer keeps people out. The structures get more thickly packed and labyrinthine as you head inwards, and have so far blocked attempts to head directly to the Tower

• [*]Circle of Smog: The outer limits of the first level, this area is mainly old foundries and armouries. The air still hangs thick with cloying smoke from when these factories of war were active. The large buildings are fairly spaced apart, allowing more movement than the as-yet unexplored inner zone[*]Refectory: An old mess hall for the armies of Sala-Grimna, cleared out by adventurers to be used as a base camp and place of rest. Here you can barter with other adventurers, scout for assistance or just recuperate from your wounds[*]High Tower: A monumental obelisk in the dead centre of the Citadel, pointing skywards like an attempt to harpoon the gods themselves. This is Sala-Grimna's personal residence, and no doubt where his treasures and secrets now rest. Its defences prevent easy approach, such as flight or magical transportation. Explorers have found this out the hard way[*]Carrion Stairs: Around the High Tower are wrapped the remains of a great dragon, its body decayed and worm-ridden. Its head rests by a balcony protruding from the Tower, while its tail and wings trail amongst the ground. This seems to be the only way of getting into the Tower

Second Level:- Multiple ventures into the cellars in the Circle of Smog led to a whole lower tier being excavated. There must have been water-eroded caverns here, which were converted to suit Sala-Grimna's dire purposes

• [*]Dungeons: The natural caves made a marvellous environment to convert into a network of prisons to detain Sala-Grimna's many, many, many enemies. The conditions are dank and dismal, and the whole place is crawling with undead.[*]Treasure Vault: This room is either a sadistic joke or a cunning attempt at deceiving treasure-seeking spells. Larger than any banqueting hall, the ceiling is riddled with holes that liberally pour out coins, jewels and gold pieces. There are mountains of money and stacks of silver just lying around. The cruel twist? It fades away and vanishes should it be touched.[*]Great Cistern: A solidly-built construction designed to store water. Over the years it has been filled to the brim with rain-water, and is overflowing. The room storing it is constantly moist and infested with moulds. You could catch your death simply by breathing in this room too long, and the vast water reserve doesn't look too good for your health either

Third Layer:- Having discovered the second level, explorers were confident of uncovering a third by following the Great Cisterns pipes, and they were proved accurate.

• [*]Sluice Tunnels: A web of mildew-stained tunnels leading off from the Great Cistern and designed to deliver water all through the Citadel. Sometimes lined with the remains of metal piping, but more or less in a state of disrepair and disuse[*]Sala-Grimna's Garden: Part greenhouse, part alchemy lab, this is where the sorcerer grew the exotic plantlife he needed for use in elaborate potions. A lot of these plant are dangerous in their own right, and some have been altered by time and magic to even more lethal states. This area is usually free of enemies, probably because of the inherent danger[*]Forgotten Catacombs: A series of tunnels and caves left unused by Sala-Grimna. They have nevertheless been explored and scouted out. They are wild and untamed, and there is no real way of keeping them clear of enemies. Expect danger if you dare the Catacombs

Fourth Layer:- Only recently discovered, little is known about this lowest layer of the Citadel. The lack of knowledge and abundance of natural hazards mean that only the boldest dare to tread in this dark and silent abyss

• [*]Lower Catacombs: A section of the Catacombs above that have either collapsed or simply veer downwards. These lower tunnels are much more claustrophobic, with less space and less light. They have at least been partially explored though, unlike...[*]Hive of Shadows: No-one has yet ventured here, preferring to spend their time penetrating the First Level. Will you be the first?

EnemiesDuergar: Small in stature and puny in both mental and physical strength, the Duergar are the natural residents of the caves where Sala-Grimna built his Citadel. Their flesh is pale and loose and their eyes are completely white, a result of years underground. They clad themselves in boiled leather armour to protect their skin and goggles to aid their sight, though they are capable of hunting by sound or smell. They mainly wield small pickaxes or hammers, mining tools they have converted, and fight in numbers to swarm an enemy.Puca: Another species of natural cave dwellers, Sala-Grimna encountered them in his campaigns, and after finding them useless in his armies exported the entire population back to his citadel. The Puca are just as small and weak as the Duergar, though have a few more advantages. Their sallow skin is tougher, their sight is better, but their true strength is their ability to use magic. They seem to have learnt the skills of a Bard, and can weave their own laughter or the screams of the dying into spellsUndead: In the days of old the vast majority of Sala-Grimna's conquering horde would have been comprised of undead warriors. Be they skeletal warriors or lurching meatshields they are always tough and formidable foes, hard to defeat and only truly defeated through complete immolation. They have a wide variety of skills in battle often depending on who they were before death, some favouring heavy weapons while some favour archery. Some bear marks of Sala-Grimna's experimentation, hideous deformities or weaponry fused to their limbs. But whatever they look like, whatever they wield, their eyes all burn with the same hate and bloodlust,Salas-Jimm: In his early conquering days, Sala-Grimna used his magic to impress a primitive race of serpentmen, who now bear a mutilated form of his name, into worshipping him. They dedicated their entire civilization to him, and were lost without him; most of them died. The last remnant of their race now occupies this citadel, their holy city. In form, they resemble serpents of an average of three metres long, with another two metres of length in upward-held height. Their faces are half serpentine and half human, and they have humanoid arms, although no legs.Iron Golems: To this day no-one knows what sorcery animates these huge metal juggernauts. In their prime they would have been terrifying shock troopers, ten feet tall and gleaming black. Less so these days. They are stained orange and brown with rust, and appear mangled and lopsided after years of repairing themselves with only the Duergar for help. But while their appearance has become less intimidating their skill has not. If you are alone and encounter one of these, you're only real hope is to run. They will not tire, they will not give up, they will pay no heed to damage. There have been a few encounters with these metal monsters, and on only one occasion was the Golem destroyedClassesFighter: Members of this class are generalists, using a wide variety of skills to aid them in combat. They can be fast or strong, play it defensive or go on the assault. They usually know some small magics to aid them, perhaps a charm or two on their weapon.Mage: Powerhouses of sorcery and enchantment, mages are experts at magic and witchcraft. Their attacks tend to be bombastic and low on subtlety, but are fast and effective. Explosive fireballs and destructive whirlwinds are a mage's style. However their extensive studies in ancient lore have left them less physically able than the other classes.Bard: Do not be fooled by the ways of the Bard, they may wax lyrical and carry instruments but they are just as lethal as any mage. Their magic depends on extensive poetic spells, and is channelled through instruments or their own voices. Their magic is quieter than a mage's, tending towards psychic abilities, illusion, shapeshifting or healing.Champion: Fierce warriors of martial might, the champions specialise in physical combat. They're usually bulked up with muscle and bedecked in armour, ready to charge into the fray like a cleaver into meat.Royal: Growing up in privilege and luxury has left the royals with very little in the way of skills. They might dabble in magic a little, they might have some training in combat. But their real threat is in their entourage. A Royal has an entourage of five others following in their footsteps to assist them in their quest.Profiles:Player Profile:Username:Name:Age (if your race ages slower/faster than humans do, give both their age in years and then their biological age in humans terms):Race:Class:Gender:Equipment:Appearance:Personality:Alignment:Bio (Short history of your character, explaining their motivations and reasons for adventuring, etc.):Race Profile:Race:Physical Description:Traits:Homeland:Rules:All BZPower rules apply, be they overall, COT, etc. This especially goes for no spamming, flaming, trolling, and the like, as well as the fact that you MUST keep everything PG-13 as the absolute maximum, and when at all possible keep it PG or less.Don't OOC too much; the odd necessary OOC post is fine, but if a conversation starts, please take it to PM.Please either use OOC: or triple parantheses ((())) to indentify when you are posting out-of-character; and if you have an OOC section to your post, please put IC: at the beginning of your in-character part.DO NOT godmod; that is, you cannot take control of another player's character without their explicit permission. Also, you are NOT all-powerful, nor invulnerable, and certainly not invincible. You won't win every fight, or land every blow, or dodge every blow. You WILL be injured sometimes, and those injuries DO hurt, long-term.You may not kill another character without that players' explicit permission.No autohitting; you must give players a chance to dodge or counteract you blow.All players get a maximum of three characters.In order to create a standardized (and thus fairer) method of reward and punishment, I have developed a model based off of BZP's proto system:All players (excepting staff) star with 0 points when they join. They can recieve points for particularly good pieces of roleplaying, being particularly helpful to new players or the staff, etc. They lose points for breaking the rules.Players can get a maximum of 3 points, or go down as low as -3 points.How the point levels work:-3 points: Oh dear. One of you characters will suffer an unpleasant death (how will be decided on a case-by-case basis), and you will not get that slot back until you work your way back up to 0 points. Also, your remaining characters will suffer an in-game detriment and you will be given a 48-hour ban to think about what you've done. If you break any more rules while at this level you will be permanently banned from the game.-2 points: Naughty, naughty. One of your characters will suffer in-game (how will be decided on a case-by-case basis).-1 points: A warning not to do it again.0 points: The default. You get three slots for three normal characters.1 point: A pat on the back and encouragement to keep up the good work!2 points: One of your characters will recieve a reward, to be decided on a case-by-case basis.3 points: All of your characters will recieve an in-game reward and you will get a fourth character slot, which can be kept so long as you stay above 0 points. Also, any future staff members will be chosen from the ranks of these players.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Lord Kaitan de Storms

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

Profiles:Name: Blodwyn the Bear-SarkAge: 28Race: HumanGender: FemaleClass: ChampionEquipment: Warhammer, bear-fur lined armourAppearance: Really tall, standing near 7 feet. Skin is pale, hair is long and russet-brown. Her armour surprisingly shows a lot of skin in between the metal and bearskinPersonality: A thoroughly exuberant person, quick to be cheered by rousing friendship. Spend any time with her and it dispels the cliche of the 'lone wolf' barbarian. On the other hand she is also quick to anger, and will fly into rages that cause her eyes to go bloodshot and her mouth to froth. In this state she is nigh-on unstoppable in a fightAlignment: Lawful GoodBio: A warrior from the lands to the north, where dwells a proud race said to be born from the snow itself. They never aligned themselves with Sala-Grimna, but were protected from any real invasion or conquest by the harsh climes they called home. That did not stop the dark sorcerer sending raiding parties though, and these could often destroy whole communities. Blodwyn has journeyed south to make sure the source of Sala-Grimna's power is destroyed, and cannot fall into anyone's hands to create another such tyrantUsername: Lord Kaitan de StormsName: Aidan TrevorssonAge: 18Race: HumanClass: FighterGender: MaleEquipment: A cuirass over a chainmail hauberk for armour, along with basic cloth breeches, leather boots, and a stained cloak. His weapon is a hand-and-a-half sword slung over his back; however, it lacks a full sheath. He also has a battered kiteshield which hangs by his sword. He carries a satchel to hold various supplies; right now, all it contains is a rope, tinerbox, and two torches. He is out of food.Appearance: Tall but thin from lack of food. His brown-blonde hair has grown long and messy. His skin would be pale, but dust and the sun have browned it. His eyes are blue. He has a long scar running across his forehead.Personality: He is somewhat distant and haunted, and quicker to pity than laughter. He has a quiet power and fierceness to him, and there is something that drives him.Alignment: Neutral GoodBio: His hometown was destroyed three years ago by a band of mercenaries who had once worked for one of Sala-Grimna's would-be successors. It had never been part of Sala-Grimna's empire, but was not far from the border. He had been a farmboy living a quiet life and wondering what his father, killed defending the village before Aidan was born, looked like. The armour and weapons he possesses were his father's. Since the destruction of his hometown and the death of his family, he has become a wanderer, defending villages from bandits and monsters in exchange for food. His arrival at Sala-Grimna's citadel was prompted by an accident, after he got lost while wandering.BrithlinRochere MagnaGauvik LorwrunLady Elisia GreycliffeAthiah BrentonKrigaer RunwedFelador MarachiasLord Tral KetarnBirodor TrouclimarAltar al' MagrehnNeroRaces:DorGreater WerewolvesKruewnLiechElvesDwarvesDjinnAnubites Edited November 22, 2011 by The Power that Is

[Toa of Dancing]

Sounds like a dungeon crawler, only TBRPG. Perfect. Question: Can I use my default Username, which I generally revert to?Username: Toa of DancingName: Brithlin CardekAge: 47 (about 70's worth in human age)Race: DorGender: MaleClass: BardEquipment: Violin; three daggers; an excellent baritone voiceAppearance: Burnt sienna in skin and fur color, with deep green markings; about a meter tall. He is, as the Dor generally are, rather muscular, though less so than most of his brethren. His fur markings are those of three small lines down his upper back. These three lines are filled with different musical notes. His eyes are a shining brown, accented by the laugh lines seen on the areas without fur around his eyes and mouth.Personality: Very friendly, the veteran of many short expeditions. Loves his music, and he is very adept at playing or singing. Fights exceedingly well in groups, giving strength and healing to others with his verse and music. Can also fight alone, using a style that involves shrouding himself with invisibility and targeting pinpoint areas of an enemy with sharp poems or refrains. Has a slightly insane side to his personality, though this is only seen when he is drunk, angry, or excited.Alignment: Neutral-GoodBio: Brithlin has been musically gifted since he was born, being adept at playing a violin before he could talk. Since then, he has learned to play practically any instrument and can pick up on how to play any new one very quickly; still, he prefers his first. He grew up loved as an entertainer in Doriah. When a young teen he looked into enchanting his music to use to magically relax, excite or otherwise change his audience. When he was old enough to fight, he also branched into using his music for physical purposes such as healing. He set out with a group of his fellow Dor to the Citadel years ago, and has been exploring it with various teams since.Race: DorPhysical Description: Creatures generally a meter in height, four limbs (two legs and two arms), with fur coming in many colors. Rarely, however, is a white, black, or gray Dor to be seen. All Dor having markings of differently colored fur; these prophesy what a Dor is to become. These markings can located at any point on the body. Generally rather limber in appearance. Their skin, always the color of their main fur, is generally tough, though can't stop a sharp blade. Keep their slow-growing nails closely trimmed on their nimble hands.Traits: Relatively amiable, though get easily angry if they or a loved one are threatened. Interests range as much as their fur and markings. Need sleep only on occasion, though prefer to sleep very often. Specialize almost solely in their given profession, often being rather inept at anything that isn't their specialty or a necessity. Age roughly half again the rate of humans. Thus a twenty year old would practically be thirty.Homeland: Doriah; located roughly three hundred kilometers to the north-northeast. A land of both volcanoes and snow, very fertile fields lie between the volcanoes. The inhabitants have learned to use the constantly falling and melting snow to produce great crops. They also are well-known for their masters of forging, and many have come to learn the Dor's secrets.

Edited November 3, 2011 by Toa of Dischordant Dancing

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

Gah, the profiles lack a class section. I assume he's a bard, ToD?

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: That he is. Should I throw that under alignment?Also, threw in a few more details on the Dor.

[Toast of Awesomeness]

OOC:Username: ToAName: Rochere (Ro-KAIR) MagnaAge: True age- 175. Human age- 34Race: Greater WerewolfGender: MaleClass: Fighter. Rochere excels in combat, but he knows a bit of magic, and is adept at using his knowledge to benefit him.Equipment: Claws, a long sword and a dagger, armor. His sword is enchanted to be unbreakable and always sharp, while his armor allows great mobility with good protection.Appearance: Rochere is a tall man with shoulder-length black hair and glowing yellow eyes. His front canines are quite sharp, and he has short claws for fingernails. He wears black leather clothing with a cloak, with his black armor underneath. Three long, jagged scars run across his chest.Personality: Rochere is in it for himself. His years of experience have taught him to always look out for number one, and while he may form small alliances, he'll never stay put for long.Alignment: Chaotic NeutralBio: Rochere was once an accomplished soldier, fighting many battles and becoming very high ranking. However, one night while he was out alone on the night of a full moon, he was attacked by some kind of monster, leaving the scars that extend across his chest. He fought valiently, and wounded the creature, though it escaped. His wounds were treated, and closed up, though it seemed they healed almost too quickly. On the night of the next full moon, a month later, Rochere's body twisted and contorted itself, becoming the very monster he had driven off. The enraged werewolf sacked the military camp, killing over 30 soldiers before escaping into the woods. Rochere woke up covered in blood, nearly naked, and with sharp claws and fangs.He went to an old fortune teller in the next village, who explained what he had become and warned him of the danger. Rochere then left, and became a wandering mercenary, though every full moon he would become the werewolf again. Though his condition at first horrified him, Rochere has accepted it, and sees it as part of his life. He has decided to use his talents to attempt to climb the carrion stair, desiring the riches that lie within.Race: Greater WerewolfPhysical Description: The werewolf condition can be spread to many species, though humans are the most commonly affected. It is spread by a bite from a werewolf while in their changed form.[/color][/color]A person bitten by a werewolf first notices that any wounds they get heal faster than they should. For about a month, this is all that happens. On the next full moon, when the moon is high and the sky dark, the person will change into a werewolf- a large, hairy monster covered in gray fur with reflective yellow eyes. They have razor sharp claws capable of slicing through flesh with ease, and some of the keenest senses in the world. Their fangs are sharp enough to bite through some armor, and werewolves are up to 5x stronger, faster, and more agile than a human. However, they are incapable of advanced thought and are driven only by a bloodlust and hunger for flesh. They are mindless and uncontrollable.The next day, the afflicted will awake covered in blood from their rampage, and have large canines. Their fingernails will be longer than usual, a dull gray, and quite sharp. They will find themselves faster and stronger than a human, with much better senses, and will heal from any injury more quickly. They will be more powerful at night, their power waxing and waning with the moon. However, a new moon, having no light of its own, reduces them to little more than human, offering a prime time to kill a werewolf.Traits: Sharp teeth and claws, spread curse through bites. In human form, have an accelerated healing factor enabling them to recover easily from minor wounds and much more quickly than a human from any injury. They are about twice as physically able than a human, with keen, animalistic senses. (These traits all wax and wane with the moon) Their bones have a much higher calcium content than a humans, making them very hard to break.On the night of a full moon, they transform into fur-covered monsters, with elongated claws and mouths full of razor sharp teeth. They appear about halfway between human and wolf, and have pointed ears. They are up to 5x more physically powerful than a human, with an even greater healing factor and senses. Though they can be killed, it requires a lot of magic or manpower, and people are going to die when you take one on. In this form, they are mindless, rampaging madly across the countryside. However, someone with a strong emotional connection to a werewolf may be able to calm them down if nothing is further done to enrage them.Angered werewolves have an advanced adrenaline which causes a slight change towards the wolfish, and enhances their abilities, while lowering higher mental functions like reason and complex thought. This can be activated unconsciously if a werewolf is injured or angered enough.Werewolves are not immortal, but age extremely slowly. In the 150 years since becoming a werewolf, Rochere has aged around 10.Homeland: Anywhere in the world

Edited November 5, 2011 by Toast of Awesomeness

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

Alignment: (I couldn't find this?)

OOC: ToA, in this case alignment basically refers to where your character would lie on a morality axis (it originated in Dungeons & Dragons, and is pretty common for tabletop roleplaying). The two important qualifies are Good, Neutral, Evil (should be obvious), and Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic (how the character acts in regard to laws and regulations). This page ought to give you a good idea on how to determine your character's alignment.Now, here's my characters for now. I have a few idea for a third, but I'll save that for later.Username: Chronicler of Ko-KoroName: Gauvik LorwrunAge: 34Race: KruewnGender: MaleClass: ChampionEquipment: Two-handed axe, heavy iron armorAppearance: Pale skin, eerie, almost glowing blue eyes, shaggy silver-white hair and beard, rather tall and muscular. His armor is heavy and battle-scarred, it’s blue enamel mostly worn away. When out of his armor, tends to wear only a leather vest and pants, finding it best to deal with the warmer climate. Personality: Stoic and silent, but calculating underneath his battle-hardened exterior. Doesn’t like to get attached to others, but will defend a fellow warrior to the death should he feel they’ve proven themselves worthy.Alignment: Chaotic GoodBio: Once a humble blacksmith, Gauvik joined the Kruewn armies in defense of his land when civil war broke out. Despite little training, his knowledge of weapons made him a formidable warrior, winning many battles against the rebel forces. However, after many years of grueling warfare, the rebel forces gained the upper hand, and laid seige to the capital city. Hearing legends of the power of Sala-Grimna, Gauvik undertook a dangerous quest across mountains, deserts, and sea to reach his Citadel. He now journeys into its depths, hoping even some fraction of the power waiting within could be enough to restore peace in his war-torn kingdom once more.Username: Chronicler of Ko-KoroName: "Lady" Elisia GreycliffeAge: 29Race: HumanGender: FemaleClass: FighterEquipment: Rapier, two concealed daggers.Appearance: Long brown hair, bright green eyes. Wears a regal-blue overcoat with gold-tinged epaulettes, over a white undershirt and trousers with brown leather boots. Clothing gives the appearance of expense and excess, but upon closer inspection is shown made from inexpensive materials.Personality: Loud and boisterous, generally enjoys the company of others. Generally acts in such a manner to imply high status or power (despite lacking both), but rarely acts believing herself to be better than any compatriot.Alignment: Chaotic NeutralBio: Descended from a line of feudal noblemen, Elisia Greycliffe found herself oprhened at a young age and the sole heir to her family’s lands. Despite being trained to rule since birth, Greycliffe found the occupation ungodly dull and developed a hatred of the phony faces and smiles of those she dealt with in the political arena. One night, particularly incensed by a false-speaking lord, she snuck into his estate alone, evaded his guards and traps, and fled into the night carrying sparkling jewels and treasured heirlooms.From there, thievery replaced fencing and archery as Lady Greycliffe’s preferred hobby. She wasn’t concerned with wealth - her family had left her enough - but was instead in it for the thrill; leaping across rooftops in the dead of night, harrowing duels with armed guards, and most importantly, making those hated nobles look like fools in the process. Her midnight heists grew bolder and larger, brazenly absconding with priceless items just to see how much could get away with.Unfortunately, she could not get away with it forever, and was caught and captured by an irate duke. She managed to escape his dungeons and brawl her way out of her own execution, but the duke had already seized Greycliffe Estate, her lands, and all her stolen wealth. Greycliffe fled into exile, lending her services to adventuring parties raiding temples and dungeons. Thievery was now a necessity rather than sport for “Lady” Greycliffe - who insisted upon keeping all her former titles, despite having been stripped of them officially - but she was still in it for the thrill. And now, she’s set her sights upon the Citadel of Sala-Grimna and the untold treasures surely awaiting within. Whether she finds them or not, Lady Greycliffe intends to make this an adventure told in songs and stories for years to come.And the race information for Gauvik:Race: KruewnPhysical Description: Traits: Height ranges anywhere from 6 to 8 feet, generally bulky and muscular. Their skin is almost abnormally pale, their hair ranges from white to grey, and their eyes reflect even the faintest light, appearing to glow an icy blue. Kruewn in general are strong and rugged, a necessity to survive their harsh mountain environment. In general they’re adapted to surviving harsh cold and have excellent night vision, but rarely fare as well in warmer climates. In terms of aging, they are fairly close to humans in terms of lifespan.Homeland: Kruenbaulc, a far-flung kingdom across the seas, with massive cities carved from the living rock of a harsh and foreboding mountain range. Once, the Kruewn struggled together to make the best of the harsh strip of land they called home, inventing brilliant new devices to ensure safer mountain travel Currently, however, that ingenuity has turned towards the building of war engines as a brutal civil war rages in Kruenbaulc,the armies of two brothers battling across the barren slopes for the right to declare themselves the true heir to the throne.[For Science!] Edited November 3, 2011 by Chronicler of Ko-Koro

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: JSYK, I decided to make him neutral-good instead of chaotic-good.

Brithlin/Refectory\IC:

A full tankard of drink was only a portion of the last haul they had obtained. Oh sure, the royal leading the expedition was a wimp, and he ordered them out as soon as they obtained a few sacks of treasure. But nevertheless, it was some good treasure. Oh yes, thought Brithlin, very, very nice treasure indeed. Not as great as what will be in the tower, of course...Ah, how great it would be to join the first expedition to reach the Carrion Stair! He had been the last of the members of a group before this one, only feet from the end of the tail. Then, of course, two - not only one, two! - Iron Golems. Well, he then had to beat a hasty retreat and follow his previously laid lyrical trails back to where his group had started. Of course the witches had prophesied that only one who survive to see the tail. They had also mentioned that two massive obstacles would stand in the way. Right again, right again..."Well, I'll have to find a worthwile group to be part of this time..." he muttered. Brithlin finished his tankard, slapped down his payment on the makeshift counter, and walked toward the pedestal that royals used to gain a following. Maybe one would actually be worth his gold rings this time, and some other exceptional warriors would see that... "Oh, hey Blodwyn. No luck on the expedition you went on, either?"OOC:Username: Toa of DancingName: Athiah BrentonAge: 26Race: HumanGender: FemaleClass: RoyalEquipment: She carries a short-sword and wears a buckler; her entourage of five NPCs:Her friend and brother-figure Rowun Frashir, a kruewn greater werewolf Champion; uses a mace and a claymore; almost nine feet in height, with pale white skin and massive, rippling muscles, and eyes red like fireTwin elves Wyne and Glyne Ravenshield, the former a Bard and the latter a Mage; Wyne carries a flute while Glyne carries a massive staff carved from stone; they are both slender and tall, with long, black hair and orange eyesGar Toothbreaker the human Fighter; who carries twin short-swords; rather shifty in appearance, wears a black cloak with a hood, under which is contained greasy black hair, brown eyes, and a scarred faceLiech Champion Runar Wegour; wields of dual hammers and his own natural bone; like most liech in appearance, if more muscledAppearance: Tall, slim, graceful, and generally beautiful. Athiah has creamy white skin and long, blonde hair that she keeps in multiple braids. Her eyes are a cool, friendly blue. She wears a comfortable, form-fitting - but not tight enough to inhibit movement - blue and white dress with different gems embedded on the shoulders, neckline, and hips.Personality: Kind, caring, but slightly greedy. A very good leader, able to keep the peace of her entourages. She can fight, if not as good as your average explorer, and knows minor spells of healing and freezing.Alignment: Lawful-goodBio: Athiah was born to a noble, just, and kind ruling family in a kingdom far to the east. From there, she learned to be a gentle leader. As is custom for her kingdom, she set out upon a journey at twenty-five years of age to find and obtain a hoard of treasure to finance her upcoming reign. Hearing of the citadel, she immediately was drawn to it, and set out upon the month-long journey there. Ever since, she has been swiftly learning the secrets of the citadel with her groups.

Edited November 5, 2011 by Toa of Dischordant Dancing

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

OOC: I'd like some mention of who/what Athiah has in her entourage if you don't mind ToD :)IC: "Nay my hairy fellow," Blodwyn replied, between bites of what could have been a chicken leg if it wasn't about thrice the size, "We tried seeking a path through the Dungeons, but couldn't battle through the undead swarming us."Throwing the rest of the poultry leg over her shoulder, she held up a cluster of finger and toe bones, claimed from her foes in the dungeon "I was thinking of making them into a necklace. Or perhaps an armband."

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: I assumed that Royals were pretty much the expedition leaders for PCs. If that is wrong, then can it partly consist of PCs?

Brithlin/RefectoryIC:

"I see... I'd say it would look fine as an anklet, the perfect amount for you," replied Brithlin. He was composing a new song of physical enhancement in his mind, something that would let members of a party double their strength and speed for a short period, for fighting or making a quick escape. "Tell me how this makes you feel," he said as he played a few notes on his violin and then continued in verse:"Through fights difficultOr retreats truly boldLet our arms hold weightAnd our legs stand greatAs we use our skills to hold."He ended with a few more strokes upon his instrument. "Feel any stronger?"

Edited November 3, 2011 by Toa of Dischordant Dancing

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

OOC: Royals get five NPCs to follow them around, making up for their own lack of skills and experience. On their own, a Royal is a cut-price Fighter, but when you've got five mates of theirs to worry about as well...You can have some of them be PCs if you want to recruitIC: "In truth, a little," the barbarian replied, flexing an arm, taut muscles tightening under her skin. She grabbed a knife from a nearby diner and brought it down on the table. It stuck fast there, handle gently quivering, "Yes, a little stronger."

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: In that case, I'll probably have one NPC, with four PCs. XP

Brithlin and Ariah/RefectoryIC:

"Hmm... Then again, I can't really tell with you. You're always ready for a fight with a bear. ...Well, well, beautiful Ariah's back," he said, looking toward the Royal that had walked up to the pedestal, a massive kreuwn Champion beside her.Her best friend from their childhood, rumored to be a greater werewolf that only she could calm on the full moon. There he stood, as he had many times before, by her side. His claymore hung on his back, while he held his mace ready by his side. With a smile of brotherly love, he stood by her side. She - slim, graceful, and indeed beautiful - smiled also and spoke, "Fellow explorers. I am yet again gathering a group to lead deeper into the Citadel. I implore you, four more of the greatest warriors here, to join me. We shall split any findings equally between us all."Beside her, Rowun grunted, "And if you value your life, keep any ideas of taking advantage of Ariah's femininity out of your disgusting brains. Otherwise, I will see that the fleshy pink lumps end up splattered on the wall."

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:The doors to the Refectory hall swung open, and a slim figure sauntered in. A brilliant blue coat was draped across her shoulders, contrasting magnificently with grungy browns and grays of the ruins outside, and a shining steel rapier hung from her belt. Everything about her entrance was one meant to catch the eye of every adventurer in the hall... which was why Lady Greycliffe was most bothered to find all eyes had already turned to some bloody royal making a big stink over something.Finding it hard to care what some overblown noble was blathering on about, Greycliffe marched indignantly across the hall. Procuring a tall tankard of ale - the adventurer it had previously belonged to having had far too many tonight to notice one gone missing - and dropped herself down at a table near a Dorish bard and a human barbarian. She gave the noble a glance that shot daggers - not literally, of course, she saved her true daggers for special occasions - then turned her attention to her drink.---Gauvik sat close to a broken window in a far corner of the Refectory, letting the occasional cool breeze calm him down. These blasted humans, they couldn't make anything a home without a roaring fire, could they? The heat was enough to drive him mad, so he spend most of his time as far from the other adventurers as possible... not that he'd felt much need to associate with the lot anyway. He sat hunched over a stool, sharpening the blade of his axe with a rough stone.A commotion seemed to be going on elsewhere, just important enough to carch Gauvik's eye for a few moments. Some human noblewoman was making a proclamation that Gauvik paid little heed to, because he was far more intrigued by her companion. It was rare for him to see a fellow kruewn this far from home, and any news from home - good or unthinkable - was welcomed. Slinging his axe across his shoulder, he marched across the hall towards them."Hail, fellow brother!" he said, placing a fist across his chest as a sign of camaraderie. "What news do you bring from the Kruenbaulc?"[For Science!]

Edited November 3, 2011 by Chronicler of Ko-Koro

[Toa of Dancing]

Athiah (by extension Rowun)/RefectoryIC:

Athiah continued her speech, which was as moving as ever. Rowun, hearing the accent of a fellow Kreuwn turned to Gauvik and replied, "Good day, sir. My name is Rowun, and I apologize, but I have not seen our homelands since I was the age of eight. My family left to find a home that was safer, and we traveled half the way across the world to find the kingdom of Rhithianworn. Ever since, I have been raised like a son by the royal family there, and dear Athiah beside me has been as a sister."

Brithlin/RefectoryIC:

"Eh, sounds fun as usual, and she's better than any of the other stuck up pigs around here," Brithlin muttered as he played a few notes to part the crowd. The dor walked to the front and, as was custom, signed his name on a sheet Athiah had beside her. Of course, Rowun's name was brazenly scrawled across the top.

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:"I'm afraid circumstances have grown worse since you last set foot in the mountain lands. The Twin Princes battle in the highlands for the right to the throne, villages lie burning, and the stone cities are either overrun or beseiged," Gauvik said sadly. "I'm afraid I cannot say much more than that; news from the Kruenbaulc can take months to reach these far lands, what little news does reach here, of course. Still, a familiar face in these lands is some comfort, however small."Athiah's words, which Gauvik had paid little heed to until now, slowly started to register. He turned his attention away from Rowun, turning his gaze downwards towards the slim noblewoman."Miss, I'd be happy to lend my axe towards your expedition," he said. "Any excuse to further explore the secrets of this citadel."---"Pah, let me tell you, my friend, the ones who aren't stuck up are just the ones with something to hide," Greycliffe muttered, in theory towards the bard but in practice towards no one in particular, seeing as he'd already left the table.With a shrug, Elisia returned to her drink. An expedition further into the citadel might be intriguing, but she wasn't particular about doing so in the service of some smooth royal. Of course, she wasn't seeing many other groups itching to leave anytime soon.[For Science!]

[Toa of Dancing]

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

Athiah had just finished speaking as Gauvik addressed her. With a smile, she held out her hand, slender yet strong, towards the kreuwn. "Good to meet you. My name is Athiah Brenton. I'm glad you'll join us. All you need to do is simply sign your name - first is fine - on the sheet beside me, as good Brithlin has just done.'

Edited November 3, 2011 by Toa of Dischordant Dancing

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Gauvik took Athiah's hand into a firm strong grip, even tried to force a bit of a smile. He'd always considered formalities something of.... well, a formality. He'd gone from a blacksmith to a soldier; neither profession was a particularly social one. Still, humans in particular seemed to place a lot of emphasis on social etiquette, so it seemed best to at least try."Name's Gauvik Lorwrun, miss, of the Kruenbaulc High Guard," he introduced himself. "I'll just head over to sign myself up, I suppose. If either you or you associate could inform me when you're ready to depart, is most appreciate it."With that, he excused himself and moved over to sign the sheet. Picking up a who, he quickly scrawled his name on the paper, with just enough care to ensure it was legible, however slightly.[For Science!]

[Toa of Dancing]

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

"Assuming that two more of these valiant explorers have signed up by then, tomorrow morning at nine I shall lead us forward. Expectations for equipment are everything you will need to fight of hordes of undead and other beings, water, food, and equipment for temporary campsites in safe areas. Sound acceptable?"

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Eh... sounds fine by me. Gives me time to ensure my equipment's still in top condition," Gauvik said with a shrug. "In that case... see you folks tomorrow then?"[For Science!]

[Toa of Dancing]

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

"Indeed. Tomorrow, then. Let me know if you require funding for materials," said Athiah. With a final nod, she then turned to see if any more had signed up for the expedition.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Toa of Dischordant Dancing

[Toast of Awesomeness]

Username: ToAName: Krigaer Runwed (Kree-GAIR ROON-vet)Age: 44- true age. Biological age- 22.Race: LiechGender: MaleEquipment: Carries a Blutklinge, a liech weapon consisting of a two foot blade attached to a two foot handle. The "scabbard" is hollow Eisenhelz, like the handle, and both are thus incredibly hard. The scabbard is a little over two feet long, and can be attached to the handle to create a polearm. Liech are trained to use this weapon quite effectively. Besides this, he wears light armor made of Eisenhelz, as well as black leather clothing.Class: FighterAppearance: Dark, charcoal grey skin with pointed ears. Eyes have creamy white irises and pupils, which are barely differentiated. Short black hair, and knobs of bone on his shoulders, as well as along his knuckles, among other places.Personality: Cold, calculating, but not evil. Kaer has trained for years to be the best fighter possible, and his military training is reflected in his personality.Alignment: True NeutralBio: Kaer is the son of a liech "nobleman" though in recent times that title has lost most of its meaning. While what remains of the lich government considers it a long shot, Kaer, who has been trained in the best Liech combat techniques, as well as the art of thievery, deception, among other skills, has been sent to Salas-Grimm's fortress. He is to acquire the treasure at any cost, no matter who gets in his way, and bring it back to the Liechlant, in the hopes that it will be enough to restore his people.Race: Liech in their own tongue, while most humans confuse them with the undead creatures known as LichPhysical Description: Stand around 6 feet tall, normal human height. Liech have creamy white irises and pupils which are barely differentiated, resulting in what appear to be dead, lifeless eyes. Their hair ranges from black to white, and their skin is a deep charcoal gray. Their ears are slightly pointed, and their faces gaunt, showing the outline of their skulls. Short bone spikes extend from the elbows and back of the shoulders, with three smaller hooked spikes off the forearm. Their hands have no fingernails-their fingers terminate in claw-like pieces of bone. They have an extra set of ribs, resulting in a thicker chest.Liech possess a number of traits that make them different from any race. For one, they are able to manipulate their skeletal structure. A liech is able to grow his spikes larger when he wishes, heal his broken bones, and fire long, sharp bone spikes from his wrists. Liech possess unique skeletal and muscular structures- They can move their ribs by flexing their chests, and use this to form a solid bone shield over their vital organs. Their forearms contain ten extra long, sharp bones which can be fired through the skin by a pair of muscles that snap forward with great velocity, giving the shards killing power. Though this hurts, liech have learned to ignore the pain. Their skin, while not as durable as human skin and more easily damaged, is very regenerative- gashes from growing their spikes or removing bones will knit themselves very quickly, and their skin tightens around bone that is grown through the skin, sealing the blood in. They are able to survive quite a lot of blood loss as their many bones are constantly pumping new blood out through the marrow. Liech also possess a unique nervous system, which allows them to shut off sensory input from a certain locality, meaning that they can keep fighting through the pain- this nervous system also makes them immune to most psionic magic. Liech are quick healers, and are able to regrow their limbs. Their jaws can be unhinged, revealing powerful fanged mouths.While Liech can eat through their mouths, they are naturally decomposers. From slits in a Liech's belly can extend four purplish tentacles which are capable of absorbing the nutrients out of a dead body- including the calcium from their bones. They can also absorb needed materials from the earth- though this takes a longer amount of time. They also use these tentacles to drink.One drawback to being a Liech- the constant production of bone and blood drains their calcium reserves. They are constantly looking for new sources of nutrients, and many Lich will actually "eat" their fallen foes. An angered Liech, with skull showing through his skin and spikes protruding out of his body, ready to feast on your corpse, is a fearsome sight indeed.Liech have poor eyesight, but use magic to make up for this, resulting in an almost 360 degree range of "sight" around them. However, Liech magic has been fading recently, and they believe that soon even this shall be lost to them.Traits: Bone manipulation, healing factor, unique nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems, gray skin, whitish eyes, 360 degree field of vision.Homeland: The Liechlant is located in the north of the land, in large, jagged mountains. Little light shines here- the mountains block out most of it. Here lies the Liech homeland. In the mountains is a forest of black trees, Eisenhelz. The wood of these trees is almost as strong as iron, and makes some of the best bows in the land. These trees have no leaves, and are pure black to absorb as much light as possible. The food they create is stored in their roots, like a potato.Beneath this forest is a network of caverns that is all that remains of the Liechlant. Liech are naturally cavern dwellers, and initally served as decomposers, much like fungus, for the cave creatures. They would absorb whatever died, and store the calcium and nutrients. However, they formed a government, and expanded above the ground. Despite their fearsome appearance, they were a peaceful race, spreading beyond their mountain homes and beginning trade with nearby races.However, then Salas-Grimm's empire came about. The Liech, like all other races, were subject to him. When the old wizard died, and the new nations came about, the people saw the Lich, with their natural magic of necromancy, as undead, just like Salas-Grimm's servants. A war came about, which the Lich know as Grostruregkit, or, the Great Sadness. The Liech were driven back beneath the surface, their cities burned and destroyed. The black forest was all that remained of their land, they beneath it. They were seen as monsters, to be killed, and after a while simply stopped coming up.With lack of food below the surface, the Liech numbers have dwindled. Many of them stand rooted to the ground, in a deep slumber as their tentacles search for food, a way to survive. The living have been forced to feed off the dead- but they know not, their minds only half-conscious, shrouded in hunger and confusion. They have become mere shadows of themselves. Worse, for the few Liech which remain with their minds unclouded, magical aptitude, formerly one of the Liech's greatest strengths, has been decreasing. Few Liech have enough magic to be useful, and the only thing that can regularly be relied on is the field of vision. The surviving leaders of the Liech have seen their extinction coming, and have sent out Krigaer, in hopes that, with the treasure, the Liech will somehow be able to buy off their neighbors, and save their dying race, as well as discover the source of their lost magic.IC: A tall man entered the refectory, his face obscured by a black cloak. All that could be seen beneath were two eyes, burning golden from under the hood. A long sword hung at his side, and he walked with a confident stride, one used to getting his way. He heard the offer of employment, but that was not what interested him- the man at the royal's side, almost as tall as he was. His scent wasn't normal- it was wild, powerful, natural. His eyes confirmed Rochare's suspicions. He walked over to Rowun, throwing back his hood, revealing a face framed by thick black hair and marked by a scar down one eye. His eyes glowed with a fierce light. He took off his glove, revealing a powerful hand with long, sharp nails the color of iron."You are marked by the moon," said Rochare to Rowun. It was not a question, but a simple statement of fact.

Edited November 5, 2011 by Toast of Awesomeness

[Lord Kaitan de Storms]

(((My apologies for my disappearence. I have been having internet problems.Username: Lord Kaitan de StormsName: Aidan TrevorssonAge: 18Race: HumanClass: FighterGender: MaleEquipment: A cuirass over a chainmail hauberk for armour, along with basic cloth breeches, leather boots, and a stained cloak. His weapon is a hand-and-a-half sword slung over his back; however, it lacks a full sheath. He also has a battered kiteshield which hangs by his sword. He carries a satchel to hold various supplies; right now, all it contains is a rope, tinerbox, and two torches. He is out of food.Appearance: Tall but thin from lack of food. His brown-blonde hair has grown long and messy. His skin would be pale, but dust and the sun have browned it. His eyes are blue. He has a long scar running across his forehead.Personality: He is somewhat distant and haunted, and quicker to pity than laughter. He has a quiet power and fierceness to him, and there is something that drives him.Alignment: Neutral GoodBio: His hometown was destroyed three years ago by a band of mercenaries who had once worked for one of Sala-Grimna's would-be successors. It had never been part of Sala-Grimna's empire, but was not far from the border. He had been a farmboy living a quiet life and wondering what his father, killed defending the village before Aidan was born, looked like. The armour and weapons he possesses were his father's. Since the destruction of his hometown and the death of his family, he has become a wanderer, defending villages from bandits and monsters in exchange for food. His arrival at Sala-Grimna's citadel was prompted by an accident, after he got lost while wandering. Username: Lord Kaitan de StormsName: Felador MarachiasAge: 101 (21)Race: ElfClass: RoyalGender: MaleEquipment: A brigandine tunic, breaches, and fine cloak for his garb (along with leather boots and gauntlets), a longsword and a bow with a quiver of 30 arrows for weapons. He does not need to carry anything else because of his servants.Appearance: A tall, lithe elf with pale skin and long, fine golden hair. His eyes are a bright platinum colour.Personality: He is haughty and arrogant, but he does care about others. He a shrewd negotiator when he has to be, but he prefers to be commanding. In battle he is bold and fell.Alignment: Lawful GoodBio: A member of a minor elven noble family from a kingdom which somehow managed to, at great cost, resist the invasion of Sala-Grimna, he has always had a sense of adventure and traveled to the citadel out of curiosity. His entourage consists of his bodyguards, the knights Malore Garan and Liu Barask and the rangers Cuin Pelir and Paladorin Baer, and his chancellor is the mage Carn Maerius, who uses magic primarily to carry extra gear without weighing him down and for research, but he is able enough in battle as well. Felador himself has dabbled in magic and is trained in combat, but is not a specialist or a veteran.Race: ElfPhysical Description: A head taller than humans on average, often with paler skin but not always; their hair comes in pretty much any colour, as do their eyes. They are of a slighter build than humans and never grow facial hair.Traits: They are an agile and tough race, and have a natural knack for magic. They aren't always physically as strong as humans, but some have exceeded any human in strength; it's a matter of natural start versus potential. Their senses are very sharp, but this is at times a weakness. They are second only to human in terms of how widespread and diverse they are.Homeland: Their homeland is the vales of an isolated and mountainous land, but they have spread almost as far as humans.ToA: We would like to keep any race generally seen as undead open for our use. Can you try a different name?)))

[Toast of Awesomeness]

OOC: Any suggestions? You could always just use "Undead Skeletons" for true Lich.

[Lord Kaitan de Storms]

OOC: Well, if you just stick to Liech, or perhaps use something similar, that will probably work.

[Toast of Awesomeness]

OOC: Sounds fine to me.

[Lord Kaitan de Storms]

OOC: With that taken into account, Krigaer Runwed approved.

[Toast of Awesomeness]

OOC: Haha sweet!So I'm considering a royal- how much characterization can I give his entourage?IC: The Liech was bent over with his age, his skin tight around his bones. His spikes grew long- what had once been a status symbol, now a means of storing as much calcium as possible. He turned his weary eyes on the younger Liech in front of him- while he could see him no matter the direction he faced, it was Liech custom to face the one you were addressing. He began to speak, drawing his tattered cloak around himself."You, Krigaer, are our last hope. We have no food, our enemies close us in. Our people starve to death in these caverns. They have become little more than plants- not the proud race we once were."He shook his head in disgust. "How ironic, the home of the sorcerer who caused our downfall may enable us to return to the world above."Krigaer's white eyes were filled with curiosity, his black leather hood thrown back over his head. Small spikes extended from his shoulders and elbows, the leather tight around them. His forearms were bare, but in the dimly lit cave room, his charcoal grey skin looked black as night."How can the house of Salas-Grimm save us? And why me?"The old Liech raised a gnarled hand, his claws curved with age."In the heart of the house rests a great treasure- of untold value. As Salas-Grimm was a wizard, I would imagine objects of power are included in that. The money could get us the food and weapons we need, and the magic could give us the strength to destroy the humans which surround us."Krigaer's eyes widened. "Lord Magistrate, you're talking of war!"The old Liech's eyes flashed with anger."What choice is left to us?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the confined stone spaces of the cavern. "To rot in these caves as the humans take the world for themselves? To lie down and die?"He stuck his face close to Krigaer, his skull showing through in gaps where his skin had peeled back with age."I say no. I say we have a chance to rise again, and its in that house. If we could feed our soldiers' hunger, just to stave it off, and restore our magic, the humans would not be able to stop us."Krigaer's eyes stares unblinking back at Hun."Why me?" he asked again."Your are our last hope. You're the last soldier in any condition to fight, and if we were to wait longer, you would be no longer. I've trained you for something like this your whole life, hoping someday we'd have a chance at salvation. Today is that day."The magistrate pulled a long package wrapped in cloth from under his cloak. He unrolled it, revealing a sheathed , and handed it to Krigaer."You know how to use this," said the old man."You're our last hope. Don't fail us."That was four days ago.Krigaer had left as soon as they were done, taking back roads through the mountains until he left the human territory. He had his first real meal in years in the mountains- a bear he killed while walking. He wondered why the Liech hadn't sent out hunting parties before, but he realized the answer when he had to hide in the woods from a human hunting party. If he could barely not be caught, a group of Liech would be slaughtered.He left the human territory after two days of fast flight. In one of the outer villages, he purchased a horse with what little money the Magistrat had to give him, and made quick progress from there. Following the trail of prospective treasure hunters, he finally made his way to Salas-Grimm's fortress.He walked his horse into the refectory, having dismounted earlier in the day- the beast was exhausted from its ride. He was sure he didn't really cut an impressive figure- a cloaked, hooded human sized figure with a short sword at his.However, as the other treasure seekers would soon learn, appearances can be quite deceiving.

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: Upon further consideration, I decided that If I can have five NPCs, I may as well have them. XD PCs are still welcome to come aboard the group though, Editing Athiah's profile has been edited with the four new NPCs.

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

Athiah saw four more adventururers at the sheet, each taking their turn in signing up themselves. There appeared to be two elves, a human, and a liech. Interesting... a liech? Must be from somewhere besides the main gathering of the beings. How many more might join her expedition?

[Toast of Awesomeness]

OOC: No reply to Rochare, Dancing?

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Bored with stolen ale, Greycliffe leaned back and gave another disinterested glance about the hall. There were a few new faces moving about the hall, but none enough for her to take an interest in. She gave another look towards the royal as Gauvik departed, and sauntered up from the table towards her. Depending on her mood, Elisia figured she might choose to accompany this expedition, at least for the excitement... and if not, at least she could bother a member of the social elite for a while, which was always fun."Well, good evening, milady!" Lady Greycliffe said, with a voice cautiously tuned to leave one confused as to whether or not they were being mocked. She cast a skeptical gaze towards the nobelwoman's jewel-embroidered dress. "So, have you done much adventuring in... erm... that fancy getup?"[For Science!]

Edited November 5, 2011 by Chronicler of Ko-Koro

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: Whoops, forgot about that. XP

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

Having experience with good and bad nobles, Athiah had a feeling about Greycliffe. Whether it was the way she simply carried herself or the way she spoke in the nonchalant, near-offensive tone, she seemed rather cocky. Nevertheless, Athiah stayed calm and replied, "Indeed, I have. It was a present from my father before I left, enchanted to act as if it were light armor. Very useful. Now then, how may I help you, miss?"Rowun, looking down upon Rochere, replied, "If what you say means that I have been bitten by a greater werewolf such as yourself, then yes. I'm not ashamed of this fact, despite what others say. It gives me strength, and good Athiah is able to keep me from madness."

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Well, Elisia had to give the royal credit; at the very least, she seemed a touch more prepared for danger than her appearances suggested. Still, she wasn't truly impressed yet. Any spoiled princess could get Daddy to put a few enchantments on a gown so she could go off and play adventurer. By the gods of the West, Elisia knew you needed to have a few hobbies in that life, lest you go mad. But she needed to know a little more about this Athiah before she could make her judgement."Oh, just a matter of simple curiosity, Your Ladyship. As you can probably imagine, I see all types come through this hall," Lady Greycliffe explained, circling about Athiah, sizing her up. It was like those dances she'd attended long ago, her movements just predatory enough to put the royal at unease, but not enough for her to think she was about to pull a knife. "Now you, you seem different from the rest; better groomed, more teeth, for one thing. People usually come here for wealth or power, but I imagine you're no stranger to either. So, why are you here? Do you just want more?"[For Science!]

Edited November 5, 2011 by Chronicler of Ko-Koro

[Toast of Awesomeness]

IC: Rochare grinned, showing his fangs. "Good. Never be ashamed of who you are. So, how long have you been of our kind?"IC: Kriegaer tied up his horse to a post. He'd consider selling it later- he doubted he'd need it.He made his way over to the group of adventurers, hood down, covering his face. His shoulder and elbow spikes were not long or obtrusive, meaning one could take them as ornamental armor, not the living bone they were.Suddenly, the grey skin of one adventurer caught his eyes. He stared straight at the other Liech, eyes filled with shock and confusion. He did not expect to find another Liech here- but if such an able Liech warrior existed, why did he let his people suffer so as he served some human?There were questions to be answered.

[Lord Kaitan de Storms]

As the adventurers within spoke, a sudden squall came over the fortress. The golems ignored it, the Salas-Jimm slipped away for shelter, and in the outer regions explorers in the Refectory were safe from it, although those who were outside quickly ran in, amongst them a band of finely dressed elves. Such squalls were not uncommon events during the short monsoon season, coming over suddenly and raining hard for fifteen or twenty minutes, dropping some lightning and hail, and then disappearing. However, they were an irritation to those who were not used to them.As the rain beat down on the Refectory's roof and the wind howled outside there was a crack of thunder, and then the creaking of one of the Refectory's doors as a tired and tattered adventure cam trudging into the Refectory, soaking wet and exhausted. He closed the door behind him and them trudged up to the bar."I've no gold. You take honourable promises?"The bartender, a bard, stared at the newcomer for a long moment, using quiet magic to sense his motivations. "Yes." The bartender finally said, handing over a tankard of cheap ale and couple of slices of bread and cheese. "That'll be two gold coins of promises."The newcomer nodded, and took the ale and food eagerly, wolfing it down before he even reached a table. However, he soon found himself sitting across of a varied group, which appeared to contain a mixture of nobles, werewolves, barbarians, and the like. So a typical adventuring mix.

[Toa of Dancing]

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

Instead of nervously shifting, Athiah stood tall and turned with Lady Greycliffe. "No need for formalities. We're all equal here. I just have a purse to get the following, a commanding personality, and a good friend to protect me from ravenous men. Anyways, I am here due to the tradition of the Kingdom of Rhithianworn. At the age of twenty-five, the heir to the throne sets out to finance his or her future reign. It gives us experience in hunting, fighting, and shows us what the world is like outside of our joyous kingdom. The wealth gained from our ventures keeps taxes to a minimum, letting the peasantry keep most of their profits. We use the treasure to buy grain from the peasantry instead of demanding for it to be given. Of course, we spend a small portion upon luxuries, but only about a tenth can be allotted to our personal desires, as the laws of the kingdom portend.Rowun chuckled and said, "Apparently a hunting party of dwarves had the luck to be found by one of us. They were all bit, and two of them survived. These two happened to come to our kingdom for treatment, but the next full moon came before the could get any treatment. They slaughtered or infected half of the night staff and all the patients in their room. They moved to the next room, and I got bit while defending the princess, who was sick at the time. I was able to subdue them, however, before it took effect. Athiah was at my side during the whole process, despite the danger, and she was able to control the madness. That was six years ago, and I still feel the same twenty years of age."Runar's interest was peaked, for he felt the presence of another liech. Did others still exist within this world? He thought they were all dead after the small village of liech of which he was part had been destroyed. Thus, he walked to the entrance of the Refectory and greeted his fellow kin.OOC: To save others the trouble of writing it down:Race: DwarfPhysical Description: Short, stocky, with generally dark skin. Dwarves love to grow massively long beards, many growing them past their own height. These beards, usually black or brown like their hair, area symbol of maturity for both male and female. They are, for their size, very muscular, with skin far tougher than the average human.Traits: Dwarves love the earth and all things of the earth. Whether they create beautiful jewelry, mine precious gems, forge astounding weaponry or armor, or do anything else, it has to do with the earth. They are especially attracted to gems, jewels, and gold, even going so far as to betray their brethren if they were to gain more for themselves. Believe that something dwarvish made should stay in the hands of dwarves; if a different race were to buy an object, the dwarves consider it to be loaned, and when the owner dies, it should be returned to the dwarves. Besides their greed, dwarves are jolly folk, easy to get along with if you know them. In addition, they rarely use magic for their purposes, being relatively inept at it. However, some dwarves can use magic related to the earth.Homeland: Mountains ranging across the world, each with its own spectacular kingdom carved from the stone. No one, not even the dwarves themselves, know exactly where they originated; most legends say that they were born from the earth of the Mountains of Gruthendor far to the south.

[Toast of Awesomeness]

IC: "Ah, you're but a child!" chuckled Rochare darkly. "I've been like this since before your father was born- likely your grandfather as well. Such a mundane existence, being a human- Why, I don't miss it at all! Let me tell you boy, this is the life- top of the world. Just you wait, you've got quite an adventure ahead of you!"IC: Krigaer curtly greeted Runar in the Liech tongue. "Grueze. Wanrum bidest dun haiyer?"("Hello. Why are you here?")OOC: In case you didn't notice, I'm just mangling German to write in Liech. So, for a Royal's entourage, I'd like to be able to flesh them out some, but I'm not sure at what point they'd count as new characters. I'm also considering whether to go with Greek/Roman or Egyptian/Arabic mythology for my inspiration with him.

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Greycliffe stopped her pacing, emotions hidden behind an impassive face but wheels clearly still spinning behind her eyes. Finally, after the longest stare, a wide grin broke across her face."Excellent! Straight to the point, I like that! Dear gods, you have no idea just how tiring it gets trying to talk to a noble whose lying through his teeth; they're never good at it, yet they insist upon fancying themselves actors regardless," she said with a hearty chuckle. "In my experience, they're all either sycophants, backstabbers, lunatics, or.. well, me. You just might be something else, I suppose only time can tell!"Trying to speak to her as an equal was probably a wise move on Athiah's part; attempting to pull rank in some dingy hall out the wilderness wouldn't have earned her many points in Elisia's book. Lady Greycliffe extended a hand towards the royal."Introductions might be in order, I suppose. Lady Elisia Greycliffe, last of that noble line and true heir to the seat of the Greymoores," she continued. "A pleasure to meet you! In time, I may grow to like you as well, but please don't hold that against me if I don't!"[For Science!]

Edited November 5, 2011 by Chronicler of Ko-Koro

[Toa of Dancing]

OOC: I'm trying to decide if I should just make Rowun a character, as he's talked more than Athiah at this point. XD

Athiah/RefectoryIC:

A smile an a handshake, then Athiah said, "Princess Athiah Brenton of the Kingdom of Rhithianworn, far to the east of here. A pleasure to meet you, Lady Elisia." Part of being a good ruler was not to call people hypocrites and other names; still, she was struggling very hard not to do so at the moment."Well, I am not a human in any case, dear sir, and I would have been quite fine back in the kingdom which I was raised - not born, mind you. But in any case, I can fight well and defend Athiah on her quest for finance," replied Rowun.Runar replied, also in the liech tongue, "I am Runar Wegour, the last of the village Frynshet. Before today, I have never met another living liech after the rest died. Where are you from?"

[Toast of Awesomeness]

IC: "Ah, I see. What were you then, before you joined the great hunt?" inquired Rochare, curious.IC: "I am Krigaer Runwet, last soldier of the Liechlant.I know not where Frynshet lies, but I must ask you why you have not come to us? Do you not know that our people lie starving, driven beneath the surface by the humans? I am the last able-bodied Liech from our homeland, and until today I believed I was the last with any measure of strength. Why do you stay here, aiding this human girl when your people die in their caves?" replied Krigaer, also in Liech. Emotion crept into his voice, anger, hurt, and accusation. His eyes remained hard focused on the other Liech, never wavering.

[Chronicler of Ko-Koro]

IC:Elisia mentally fought down the urge to wince. Just like that, it was back to the upper class formalities, with all their curt smiles and titles larger than the lands they ruled. Her introductions were her own little idea of a joke - she'd be hard pressed to find a title of hers that still held any weight - but introduce yourself to a royal that way and of course they'd respond in kind. Elisia supposed adventurers introduced themselves the same way, but at least their boasts tended to involve the biggest thing they'd killed recently. Still, Athiah could have easily dismissed her as an unruly peasant but chose not to, so Elisia figured sheought to at least give her a chance."Rhithianworn, huh? Can't say I've ever been there, but I'm sure it's lovely country and more sure I'd be a terrible guest, so perhaps that's for the best," Greycliffe said, trying to force a more casual turn to the conversation. She glanced towards Athiah's sheet of hired adventurers. "So... You said you were hunting for treasure, then?"[For Science!]