Dark Clouds and Darker Plots

[mistral4543]

This is a new adventure for gamers who want to enjoy the experience of being told what they may or may not do within the realms created by a DM.

Gamers may take turns to be DMs for different adventures and areas with everyone's consent. Once the DMs are confirmed, all members will respect the DMs' final decision.

We will start off with a world created by Cyril. I will post his latest updates to Steeplewood Forest and Gloomwood here. He can add on, if he wishes

Without further ado, LET'S GO!!! [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

[mistral4543]

This set of character descriptions will be a bit different from the others as I am only writing the parts of npc’s and have no player character of my own presently in the thread.

I am presently DMing in the area that includes the city of Korup-shun and the two large forests near it, the Steeplewood and the Gloomwood. All NPC’s in this area are under my direction, the only exceptions being those being played by Mistral. As there are now three fairly low-level characters beginning to adventure here, this area is going to be set aside for primarily low-level adventures. Those characters of higher level currently present in this area will continue to be part of the story, but all other characters seeking to adventure in the city, the forests or the surrounding area will need to be of low level so that the feel of a lower level campaign setting can be maintained.

The major NPC’s presently active in this area are:

The Circle of the Steeplewood - A small group of very powerful druids who answer to no authority other than that of Iphigenia, their leader. They reject the idea that balance is the essence of the natural, devoting themselves instead to the passionate and beautiful aspects of the natural order. Nothing of any significance will take place within the Steeplewood without their knowing of it and the creatures of this forest are fiercely loyal to the Circle. The women are all shapeshifters, possessing an unusual form of lycanthropy by which they transform into gloamwolves, creatures which were introduced in the previous thread.

Ullalume - A member of the Circle who is neither a druid nor a lycanthrope, but is rather a cyveraen – a person gifted with the ability to control the movement of time.

Melpomene - A being that thrives on the energy released by artistic inspiration. Under the guise of ‘Cora’ she is a well-respected noblewoman with a large and beautiful estate in the Korup-shun area. She is a close friend and ally of the Circle and has apparently been the one who taught Ullalume to control her powers. She is a patron of the arts, currently allowing at least two to reside and work at her estate.

Constable Isaaks - Bluntly honest and fiercely devoted to his duty and his city, he is said to be far too honest a man to survive for long in his new post as Chief Constable of Korup-shun. He walks with a limp which he describes as the result of ‘an unfortunate misstep in the delicate dance of the city’s politics.’ He is popular among the commoners of the city.

Jasper, Sylvas and Belshon - Three sprites who are part of a larger community of sprites that inhabit an area near a spring in the Steeplewood Forest. Friendly and mischievous, they find great amusement in the adventurers who pass through the forest and seem to be well-liked by the members of the Circle.[/QB][/QUOTE]

[mistral4543]

]For Kira

The Gloomwood

Their footsteps are heavy and confident and there is a deep, almost snarling character to their voices. The sound of their passing heralds them by some distance, a band of nearly a dozen large humanoids. Even their laughter has a harsh and cruel tone about it and a scent vaguely like that of blood seems to move with them. The rattling of loot and weapons keeps time with their footsteps and the harsh delight ringing in their goblinoid voices. As they pass through a break in the trees an exposed broadsword catches a bit of sunlight and shines merrily. The sword is as harsh and cruel as the laughter, long and broad, its edges serrated like a woodcutter’s saw. The hobgoblins continue forward making no effort to remain unnoticed. The adrenalin of battle and the delight of victory are carried about them like the sacks of spoil slung over their shoulders.

[mistral4543]

For Addison and Ni Deng

The Steeplewood Forest

Upon your entry into the forest there is a slight stirring of the wind, a simple and ordinary movement that carries within it a strange beauty for those who know how to perceive such things. The motion of the air is itself a type of speech, speech which sings and whispers the arrival of visitors. This speaking is felt and heard by other breezes in various directions and soon a whispered song is passed along the autumn colored leaves of the forest. It is a most unusual enchantment this moving air that speaks, an enchantment layered with nuances and tones to be as beautiful in its speaking as the information it conveys is useful. Indeed, there is an artfulness about the enchantments of this wood every bit as striking as the visible beauty of the forest itself and one can almost feel the delight with which such spells were crafted.

There is more than merely enchantment nearby, however. There is also awareness. A small patch of mist near a pool of clear water seems to train an active and watchful gaze upon you. Within the mist are thoughts, cautious and clever but not hostile, and these thoughts bear within them the image of a silver wolf whose form might become like that of a mist.

[mistral4543]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Addison stands in the middle of the clearing, feeling - and listening - to the breeze. The words are faint, so faint as to barely be heard - not unlike hearing a conversation in a far-away room at the end of a long corridor. If he listens closely, he can almost make out the words being said, but then they flit on by as a leaf on a summer breeze. The aura of magic in the air is almost palpable, and he feels the hairs rise on the back of his neck and arms - not in alarm, but rather excitement. Magic has always excited him, from his earliest days as a youth. He would marvel at spellcasters, how their hands and arms weaved an intricate dance in the air, seeming to grasp arcane energy out of the very air, and then shape and mold it to their will. After leaving the monastary to begin his tutelage in the arts, he learned that mages didn't "grasp" arcane energy so much as they "gathered and guided" it. As the magical breeze teased through his hair, he cast a spell of his own...a more powerful version of the standard spell used to Detect Magic by all mages. Whereas the normal spell merely showed the presence of magic, his spell would actually reveal the nature of the magic. When the spell was complete, Addison was mesmerized by what he saw. Multi-hued ribbons of arcane energy flowed seamlessly through the forest. The various ribbons would merge, intertwine, weave together, then separate and go in their own directions once again. The whispered words became clearer now. They spoke from one forest inhabitant to another of the arrival of the two strangers. The messages were merely informative, not threatening in the least. As he watched the ribbons of energy, he noticed how they flowed effortlessly on the wind through the forest - permeating it without despoiling it. Nothing was disturbed by its passing, but EVERYTHING was observed by the mysterious wind. Addison suddenly realized he was smiling like a small school boy. There was nothing he loved more than studying magic, and here was a type he had never seen before. Oh yes, he would definitely enjoy his stay in these woods. Carrick could also sense Addison's exhiliration and decided to use that to his advantage. "Indeed, it IS beautiful, is it not. Look at the effortless strength it carries...yet it does no harm to those that it touches. This is a rare find, my friend. This is druidic magic of the highest order. Note how it is in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature. I truly doubt there is another place of such power and stunning beauty in all of the Realms. What a perfect opportunity you have to study this magic, learn how it works, and perhaps even learn how to tap into it yourself. Think of the good we could do with this type of power. Addison is so enraptured by the flowing magic, that he doesn't even recognize the hidden purpose behind Carrick's proposal. "Yes, yes....I COULD study it....and perhaps come to understand it enough to wield it in some minor way. Oh, this IS a great day, Carrick, and a greater find." Addison then becomes aware of the mist over a nearby pool of water. There is a sentience there, watching their movements. He reaches out with his ESP spell and touches the creatures mind - very gently, so as not to disturb him. He needn't bother. While his spell determines that there IS a sentience within the mist, it cannot penetrate the mist that surrounds the creatures thoghts. Very well, Addison projects his own thoughts instead. "Greetings guardian. I come seeking a friend and mean you no harm. You may have seen the one I seek. She has a natural affinity with nature in general, and wolves in particular. Do you know of her location?"

[TAOWolf]

OOC: this was my last post

IC:
STEEPLEWOOD FOREST

She looks at each Druidess in turn, and looks to the ground....

She looks up as silver tears fall from her eyes, and begins...

"I'm sure you know part or all of the "Myth" I seem to have become...
but it is NOT myth I assure you...."

She smiles softly at the wolves, and wipes away the tears, whispering

"My true name is Kaylisa GreyWolf, sister of the wolfpack Siruis, and a Druid to the foundation of the citadel of the Kingdom of Ariandor Army. I was once an excellent ranger and swordswoman, instilled with the magic of my ancestors, strong magic. Then one day, I killed a child, that was by all rights evil.........."

The tears softly fall again, and she goes on,

"But I forgot my most sacred oath, to my kin, my druid family........ so now I am cursed to walk this forsaken time ~it has been over 200 years for her now" "So I am cursed to walk the earth, to be avenger, trial, judge.......with no remorse, no feelings,........ ~here she hesitates, because she has had feelings and remorse ~ "But humans have brought out what the fates said would never be brought out again....the compassionate side.........the side of me that I thought was given up.......... 'spioradail de madadh' (spirit of wolf) that is me."

She stops and sips of her wine, then continues…….

"It begins on the day it was found that I am more than just a shapeshifting Druid. The wolf is not only my familiar, but also a part of me, going back in my family for centuries. When this was recognized, it was also found that I could wield weapons of metal, and use my powers together. This is very rare among Druids. I was not recognized as human any longer, but something else, something.."

She hesitates here, for good reason, because she cannot tell them the name that was bestowed upon her. If only they had known what this naming would cause and the curse it would invoke.

“I was struck with the vision of a silver wolf dying not too long ago. That wolf was like a mother to me. She had been near me for 150 years, not a normal wolf. The smoke and fire I have seen in visions sent to me I now know was my home. It has been destroyed. Something has set the Dragons loose again. The curse. The bloody curse...."

She shakes her head, and sighs.

"I told you my true name. GreyWolf (liath madadh-allaidh), but that is not what they named me that day. I was out with my wolf-pack, Siruis, doing some Ranger work on the outskirts of a village near the Capital of Ariandor. There in the forest I came upon a group of "people", around a fire. I stood silently, waving the wolves down, watching carefully. They were trying to raise the Goddess Fay're. What I did not realize at that time, was they had a child, a girl-child, who could channel. Channel the evil side of the "ONE". I thought they were to sacrifice the child. So I waited until they slept, and snuck in, wrapping the child in a blanket, and hurrying back to the Citadel quarters of the Druid Foundation. The wolves tried to warn me, I know that now, but I refused to believe a child would be so evil. I took her into the garden, (one of many) and called to my brothers and sisters to come.......... thats when everything went wrong, and my life changed forever........"

Here she stops for a moment, the tears brimming her eyes, intensifying the amber/silver glow. She reaches up with a hand, but stops...instead letting the tears flow, letting the hurt out, and ridding herself of the last vestige of fear and madness. Letting the tears carry it away into the wind, leaving behind the strong resolve of her spirit and hope, She continues slowly.....

”My first clue something was wrong was the child. She sat up from where I had laid her, and reached back without looking. She gave me a smile so evil, the wolves who were sending me messages at the time, howled in pain, fleeing my mind quickly. Reaching back she touched the "nan tursachan" behind her. The sign carved into it glowed, and one of the "a' treigsinn" started to appear slowly directly behind her, and merged with her, the only sign it had happened was her eyes..........oh her eyes, blood-red as the rest of her face disappeared, becoming smooth. She stood, now 7 feet tall, truly one of the "a' treigsinn". I knew I had no weapons upon myself to fight such an evil being, and fled to the next garden, where the "nan tursachan" for the mighty wizard "Glandish" stood.

Among our people this stone was NEVER to be touched, it was a symbol of what can happen if you try to control the power instead of letting it flow thru you, and allowing it to help you. Of what would happen, if you got greedy, and tried to draw too much, for the wrong reasons. So I did the one thing that would set me on my path and what would get myself cursed, not realizing that at the time, only concerned with the fact I had invited "a' treigsinn" into a haven, a safe place, and if it ever left the garden, such destruction to all the innocents would be my fault...."

She pauses again, looking at them from the corner of her eye, trying to judge their reaction to this.......She sighs, and continues once again........

"I reached up, and touched the sign for the wizard, the one cursed to become this stone, the one who had gotten too greedy, thinking himself mightier than the gods.........." "As I touched the sign, the rock began to vibrate, the ground shaking, knocking me to my knees as if in obeyance to the stone. I looked up and the rock slowly fell apart, revealing the wizard, frozen, holding an ancient sword. One of the soul-reavers, the "aignean a' chlaidheimh" of legend, the "SpiritSword". Without thinking of myself, only for the others inside the walls of the Foundation, I reached up and took hold of the sword. Immediately the ground quit shaking, and for one brief second, the wizards eyes flared, and a message burned into my brain, knocking me to my knees again, the sword clutched in both hands, my hands on fire. The Wizard stated the following to me.......... “

"This omen I give you, this sword is now yours to use, and cure.. The marks now put on your hands are weapons, 22 more marks will you gain thru time. Your eyes will now betray you to friends and enemy alike. They will glow and change color."

” This is when I felt something snap around my neck.”

"This bracer you shall wear forever. Forever immortal to walk the earth, to gather souls for this sword. But beware, beware the Fey're who would free these souls, and bring about the last battle, the end of the Age...... you are now cursed to this task. Omens you will find along the way and this prophecy...

"Where two were born of wind,
so shall two be born of fire.
Where two are scarred and sorrowed,
so shall two unite in fire....fire....
fire and wind, storm and lightning,
so the prophecies say, and tell.
So shall it be, so shall it come forward.
Two shall be united, two shall love,
where heartbreak and curses roam...
so shall two break free...."
Until you fulfill this prophecy, you are doomed. Doomed to walk the earth."

“And so..............I will not tell you what has happened since then. I slew the "a' tregsinn", who instantly turned back to the child. My brethern appeared only at the moment after the forsaken fled the child, leaving me standing there, SpiritSword in hand, runes burned into my hands, a platinum amulet bracer around my neck, the Wizard's stone broken, and an innocent looking child, lying murdered on the ground...............I was cursed to walk the land, fighting for Chaotic Neutral, but with a cruel twist...."

She looks them straight in the eyes, hers showing no fear, no sorrow anymore, only fate, hope, and a strange kind of vengence. She waits for them to speak, slowly sipping at the wine....

[Cerek the Barbaric]

As Addison soaks in the joy of examining this new magic. He feels as if he could literally bathe in it for days. But, he realizes how unwise that would be.

Magic can be very draining, and studying a new form of magic even more so. He must be disciplined and limit himself to short examinations....at first anyway.

He closes his eyes and reluctantly pulls himself away from the flowing aura of magic. As he reflects on the events of the past few days, a chilling realization jumps to the forefront of his thoughts - SKYE! Nobody went back to retrieve Skye after the encounter with the dragon. How could he have been so dumb! He had let his emotions get the best of him and completely forgot about their "lost" companion.

He reaches into his sack and pulls out a small mirror. As he chants an incantation over it, he sees an image of the young blade sitting by a fire outside of the hermit's cave. He cancels the spell and tells Ni Deng that he will return soon.

He reaches into his pouch for a specific spell component and begins to chant again. An "opening" appears in the air and Addison disappears through it with an audible *POP*. He is instantly transported to the clearing outside the hermits cave. Skye is still there, staring aimlessly towards the mountains nearby. Addison approaches her and offers his hand.

"Come Lady Skye, let us see if we can set you a'right."

She smiles at the appearance of her companion. She seems to remember him being nice to her, but she can't be sure. Still, she stares at him hopefully.

"I beleive I may have found someone who can restore your memory, Skye. If you wish, I can take you there now." She nods quietly and gathers her gear. As they are about to leave, Kishin, the young psionic, comes out of the cave.

"Greetings Addison. So good of you to join us." The mage detects the minor sarcasm in his voice as he continues, "Why, I thought you had forgotten about us altogether after your grand adventure with the wyrm."

Addison flinches at the truth of his words. He had, indeed, forgotten about them. He had just naturally assumed they would continue traveling with the paladins.

"I do apologize and deeply regret what has transpired," he says. "You are correct. In my haste, I forgot that the two of you were waiting nearby. I have no excuse to offer for that terrible oversight."

Kishin's expression softens somewhat. "Well, best to leave the past where it belongs then. Where are we off to now?"

"Back to Steeplewood Forest. There is an incredible magic to that place. Mgic that is perhaps strong enought to cure Skye's memory loss."

Kishin is obviously not excited about returning to the area so near Korup-Shun and Addison reads his thoughts.

"Not to worry, my friend. I am not staying within the city. Rather, Ni Deng and I are encamped in the woods nearby."

"Come, let us return with all due haste so that Skye's memory may be restored."

Another spell, 3 audible *POPS*, and the companions are back in the clearing at Steeplewood."

OOC>> Skye and Kishin...let me know if this is OK with you. I'm just trying to keep everybody together.

[ 07-24-2002, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: Cerek the Barbaric ]

[Larry_OHF]

Raymond

He opened his still-sleepy eyes and looked around. At first he knew not where he was, and that frightened him. But then sweet fragrants of the forest came to his nostrils, and he settled down. He remembered it all now. A dream was still half lingering on his thoughts. He heard his name being called. He felt the caress of a presence there...a memory or an illusion, he could not tell. Yet, it had passed. Stretching the laziness out of his limbs, he tried to reckon how long he had slept. The day was young, still by the looks of it. A cool breeze tickled as it invaded the room through the open window.
Raymond got up and walked over to the door and peered out, covering his lazy eyes from the assault of the bright morning sky. It felt fresh and wonderful out there! Deciding to make the best of it, Raymiond concentrated his thoughts and his body shifted into that of a large ebony panther. It was becoming increasingly more easy to shift, less pain and a smoother transition. His master, TAOWolf would be proud to know of his growing strength. Darting off in no particular direction, Raymond decided to wake himself up with a little exercise. His nose had found water nearby, and already his ears were confirming it. In apparently no time, he was staring at a large waterfall, screaming away into a deep chasm where he could not see the bottom of. Many lush foliage grew here and the breeze carried the promise of many more hidden herbs and such at every turn. Raymind fell to his side and rolled over onto his back, squirming in the ferns and moss. He loved his new life.

OOC>>>I hope I have no thwarted in plans you may have had, Cyril in that dream. I...I mean Raymond wanted to get out and smell the roses, if you catch my meaning. I have walked through that one area that you -mailed me a number of times, and I really like the waterfall area...so I wanted to put your image into words.

I am at work at the moment...and should be working, but I dunno if I can log on from home yet. We'll see!

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: No worries, Larry, I can move with your post just fine. Hopefully your connection issues will be resolved soon.

BTW - Wait until you see the updated version of the module. I'll try to get it ready to send your way by the weekend.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: Let’s just assume that this takes place prior to Larry’s post so we can keep the timelines of the story in sync.

The Steeplewood Forest

THE GROVE

The words of the visitor’s tale still hang suspended within the night air as Iphigenia stands. She says nothing as her eyes move to look at each of the gathered women in turn. Her gaze probes each of them before stopping finally with Ligeia who as the youngest must choose whether or not to begin the speaking of the rite.

“She has been rejected,” Ligeia’s eyes burn as she speaks.
“Cast aside and cast away,” Claudia adds in a strangely audible whisper.
“From family and home and land and place,” the flowing tones of Miriam’s voice continue.
“Judged and condemned by those of limited sight.” Iphigenia’s voice is firm.
“Feared by many. Understood by none.” Ullalume says placidly.

The women stand as one forming a circle around their visitor.

“But the Circle undoes rejection,” Ligeia smiles.
“Gathers that which has been lost,” Claudia continues.
“And provides a place within the beauty of the land,” Miriam adds.
“The Circle does not fear what it does not understand,” Ullalume’s voice brightens.

As the others speak Iphigenia closes her eyes and her calm face breaks suddenly alive in an ecstatic expressiveness. Softly she sings the mysterious song of Bright-faced Artemis and as she opens her eyes once more the silver light of the moon burns outward from within them. One by one the others join her song and a cylinder of bright and silver moonlight envelopes the group. Ajax rends the night air with a terrible howling and Aesop soon joins him and a chorus of howls swells upward toward the moon from throughout the forest.

“Daughter of Fenris,” Iphigenia addresses the visitor taking her hand. “Lonely is the way marked out for you and difficult to walk. But it is no longer a way without a place of comfort and support. The Circle judges you worthy of respect and fellowship and sees nothing to condemn.” She turns TAOWolf’s hand palm upward and rests her own upon it. She smiles and closes her eyes continuing the song of Artemis in the low howls of a wolf. The silver brightness of the moonlight gathers around their joined hands and as Iphigenia withdraws her own hand a small and delicate statue, a wolf of crystallized moonlight rests over the rune embedded in the visitor’s palm. “As often as you like, a place among us shall be yours.”

ooc: My basic assumption is that the night will pass largely uneventfully into morning from here so that we can resume Raymond's plot and give TAO a chance to meet Melpomene.

[ 07-25-2002, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]