Lucius Cypher

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

Yeah I’ll work on an updoot once I’m home.

Fantasy RP - For those that want to 'Jump - In '

The messenger waited patiently by the chapel, his body facing outwards to observe the townsfolk milling about. He wished to finish his task quickly and return to his warband, but he couldn't help but wonder the possibilities within the near future. While many orcs like himself had joined Malakaus for the chance of plunder and violence, Malakaus had grander desires than just base destruction. It was a desire that resonated in many young orcs; while the older orcs pined for the glory days the new generation wanted change. Something different from just laboring in the wilds and something more exotic, exciting. For him, it truly felt like he was part of something grand. The orc shook this feeling off as some more of the wounded arrived to the chapel. His duty was simply to deliver the message, nothing more nothing less. Though admittedly his attention was caught when he spotted an elven woman assisting the wounded. He's never seen an elf before. He's only heard about them in passing, usually through the racist rants of his elders when complaining about the lands and history they've lost to the likes of elves, humans, and dwarves. She nodded to him. This made the orc freeze up a moment, nod back, and tried to look like he was guarding the chapel instead of just standing around like some sort of fool.

Though to his surprise, he spotted another orc making his way to him. He didn't think Malakaus would send another messenger...

---

Meanwhile back at the camp, Malakaus and his fellow orcs had finished smelting the left over steel into ingots and were ready to move out. He still hadn't heard from his messenger yet so he presumed that he would need to head to the town himself, however as he was packing up his belongings Garruk approached him. He spoke in a hush tone with two of his falcons sitting on his outstretched hand. "Zned um ud?" Garruk nodded as he let his falcons fly off into the skies. "U mirmi e tumdohpersi ur dni lehmn. La wecsyrm wyort dni muknd yw er eddesg. Ry mohfufyhm, ry pytuim." Malakaus didn't seem concerned, but Garruk wouldn't bother him about trivial things. This must have been important if Garruk came to Malakaus himself to tell him about it. "Zem ud era yw la lir? Yh bihnebm timihdihm?" The falconer shook his head as he put his hand to his mouth in deep contemplation. "Ry. Dned'm zned syrsihrm li. Ry pcesg ehhyzm, pod riudnih zihi dnihi mukrm yw mukruwuserd mdhokkci. Dni pytuim zihi kyri dyy. Yrca pcyyt mdeurm ert e mdhokkci. Lihi timihdihm whyl dned lihsireha ehla syoctr'd nefi guccit dni sehefer my iwwusuirdca."

What the orc said did make Malakaus concerned, however he knew better than to jump at every shadow. His army wasn't nearly large enough right now that he could afford to fight every battle he comes across. A weakness of usual orcish leadership who become too greedy and don't choose their battles carefully. "Pertudm ehi ryd er oromoec dnhied ehyort dnum ehie. Sihdeurca zyoctr'd pi mohbhumit uw dnia'hi mguccit iryokn dy bocc yww e hyppiha zudn ry semoecduim. Ert ifir uw dnia syoctr'd efyut ayoh iaim, ud zyoct pinyyfi dnil dy dha ert kid hut yw era ifutirsi wyh dniuh yzr megi." Garruk lowed his arms and shrugged. "Bihnebm. Pod dni sehky ert nyhmi zem ryd degir yww dni hyet. La wecsyrm wyort ud'm dhesg syrduroit dyzehtm dni dyzr yw Tamberle. Umr'd ud sohuyom wyh hyppihm dy degi dniuh sehky ert dha ert micc ud ur dni suda? Zyoctr'd dnia dha dy micc dniuh zehim dy myliyri zudn cimm mshobcim?" Malakaus was slightly surprised that Garruk even knew about fences and other clandestine businesses, considering he's lived in the marsh his whole life. But Malakaus wouldn't question how he learned these things considering he talks to falcons somehow.

"Zned ehi ayo kiddurk ed? Ty ayo mombisd lyhi iriluim ehi ewdih Maren?" Garruk nodded his head. He pointed in the direction of Tamberle, and in the distance one of his falcons were also flying in that direction. "Ud zyoctr'd pi oromoec wyh dni lihsirehuim dy nefi hiurwyhsilirdm dy syli. Ifir zudn dni timdhosduyr yw dni leur ehla, dnimi lir lea dha ert degi etferdeki yw dni wukndurk dy mdhugi znuci dni suda um mducc hisyfihurk." Malakaus gritted his teeth. He had no problems fighting a battle, but he only fought against the Karsusian mercenaries because he knew exactly what he was dealing with, how to fight them, and had his own reinforcements ready in case things took a turn for the worse. He didn't have the same intel on this new foe, if it even is one. Not to mention he had already extended his hand to assist Maren with the mercenaries once, he wasn't about to offer charity a second time to protect her from this new enemy if she can't even be bothered to speak to his messenger.

As with all things Malakaus must act cautiously, less he finds himself in a situation he could have easily avoided. He turned to Garruk and ordered him to scout the area and find out more information about this new threat. Where they're at, who they are, anything that could be useful. He then went over to Tarkin as he was overlooking the catapults they took and ordered him to make them ready. He had his riders go out to gather any orc that had left to go hunt and tell them to hurry back to muster. There may be another battle soon. Finally, Malakaus' mother approached him. She informed him that the women were ready to leave. Malakaus told her to lead them back to the allied clans and wait for them. There was still some things he needed to take care of, and he didn't want his mother or any of the other non-combatants nearby when it happens. This just made her scoff; an orc woman was just as deadly as a warrior, especially when she has to defend her home. But Malakaus was firm and had her take the others back to the clans.

There was one more problem. This time Hew came to Malakaus and told him very simple that the Erymanthian Spawn was dead. This caught Malakaus off guard; while he knew it wasn't as powerful as the true boar, the fact anyone could kill it was shocking enough. But what Hew said afterwards made it clear that it wasn't murdered by humans, but the spawn had awakened something. Something stronger than it. Fortunately while it died within the Fire-fens it wasn't near Tamberle itself. As much as it concerned him, Malakaus didn't have time to send men out hunting for a dead monster. Though he'll keep in mind that there apparently is something worse than the Erymanthian Spawn in this place.

Wasn't long before the women cleared out, leaving Malakaus and his men ready to sally forth. For now, he would need them to be on standby until Garruk and Hew bring back more information about what they might be dealing with. Malakaus also sent out another runner to his messenger warning him of strange things happening and for him to remain on alert, especially around Maren. Malakaus gave his axe a few swings to get used to it's weight and heft, before an Tarkin came up to him and handed him a sword wrapped in cloth. Apparently his mother wanted Malakaus to have it. "This... Heh. Suppose I might as well hold onto it for now. Could be useful." Slinging the sword onto his back Malakaus and his men finished up their preparations.

You are the Mon

If that is the case, I’ll do a timeskip to the next morning. Things will have happened though nothing major.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Void

It seemed that they weren’t in any trouble. Quite the opposite: they were somehow teleported to town and in the guild to boot! Gren was quite ecstatic. He had heard from his mother about Pokémon with the power to teleport teams across the world but never had he thought such a power could be put into an object. Relaxing a little Gren looked towards the gible as he handed over 600 poke to split for taking down the wrumple. Gren practically glowed; he’s never had this much money before! But before greed could take him, he only took a small share of 100 poke. He didn’t feel that he really contributed to much considering his ambush totally failed and he just happened across them by chance.

Then Gavin asked for someone to come with him to turn in the thief’s bag. Gren was eager to explore so he chose to tag along. ”Right behind ya.” Gren followed towards the ladder, though instead of climbing Gren simply jumped. It was an easy thing for him to do considering his time living in the mountains. Gren didn’t really notice the voice that Gavin picked up on, but Gren followed nonetheless. ”Adventure time?”

Gaia Frontier (5e)

Took me two weeks to actually follow through, but here we are fellas. Day 2.

@Vapor@Rabidporcupine and anyone else I'm missing.

Gaia Frontier (5e)

Ethan

As Red Chaser and the goblin dueled, Ethan's stone was casted through the darkness. It flew true, striking the goblin in the back of the head. But rather than stunning it, it surprised Red Chaser, who had not expected Ethan to still be here. And it was at this opportunity that the goblin was able to knock her blade aside and swung upwards, smashing the club into her face as she fell solidly to the ground. The goblin let out a victory cry as he turned around towards Ethan. Seeing the man have the high ground, the goblin could only move to hide behind some cover.

But barely a few steps forward and something lurched forward. Red Chaser. Bleeding from the scar going up her face, she plunged her blade into the goblin's neck. It screamed in agony, which was short lived as she twisted the blade and jerked it forward, tearing it out of the goblin's neck. The partially decapitated goblin fell dead to the ground as Red wiped away the blood from her eyes to look at Ethan. "Damned fool. Don't you know how late it is! Get over here quick, I need to take you somewhere safe!" Ethan may protest, but Red Chaser would near none of it as she would drag him, literally if needed, to a small but sturdy hovel. She knocked thrice and the door opened, revealing an adult man with a hatchet and his two sons with knives. However when they saw it was Red and Ethan they seemed relieved and allowed the two inside.

Red scolded Ethan lightly for his involvement, but would eventually calm down once one of the sons served some tea and pointed out that Red would have a hard time facing the goblins alone. It was only due to her stubborn pride that she was angry, as she wished to have been the sole savior against the goblin gang. The father would then explain the situation of how there had been some recent robberies as of late, usually just stolen tools and livestock, but recently a family was found murdered and some children had been gone missing. Red Chaser choose to find the lost children and unfortunately she could not save them, but she could fend off the goblins. It's unknown if these were the only goblins nearby, but whether or not it was didn't matter. They had managed to eliminate this gang for now, and the village was safe. Ethan was commanded by Red to stay the night; the boats aren't going to be sailing until morning and even Red wouldn't try to head back to the Frontier Town so late at night.

The family didn't have much, but they offered Ethan and Red a bed for the night. Red choose to sleep near the hearth instead so she was given some extra furs to make herself comfortable. Should Ethan ask about the a delivery he would need to pick up, one of the sons would inform him that he actually works at the grocer in town and would make sure Ethan receives his package first thing in the morning. Regardless, there wasn't much else to do tonight, short of going back to loot the goblins. While certainly a possibility neither Red nor the other menfolk would accompany Ethan and highly recommend that he stay inside where it's safe. If he chooses to stay here, his rest would be fortunately uneventful.

The Next Day

Ethan would manage to return to the Frontier Town before the first dawn. He would receive his package as well, and the guards recognize him and allow him entrance without much hubbub. The Drunken Dragon was not particularly busy beyond a few miners who came to pick up an early breakfast, and it seemed as though only Revas the bouncer and one barmaid was on duty at the moment. Neither seem to react to Ethan beyond the barmaid offering Ethan a seat and a menu.

@Searat

Antaeus

For Antaeus, waking up early was not unusual even for miners. As they were often expected to be underground for hours, it behooved them to get in soon so they could get out while there was still daylight. Chances are his own father was also already awake and gone. As for the rest of the town, miners were no doubt awake, as were the fishermen who operated the boats, guardsmen changing shifts, and other businesses that needed to start early. The White Stag's horns were fortunately left exactly where he had left it, though the blood had dried the sack to the scalp. Barthen's should be open now, even if Barthen himself is probably still asleep. He did have a few elven workers who usually took the early morning shift after all. And of course, one important thing for Antaeus's dreams, was that today was marching day. In the Frontier Town, marching day was when Ork and Daegun would take the recruits out from the town and into the forest to hunt, both to provide meats for the town as well as to test the recruits in their ability to cooperate with each other to hunt and fight. With so many young men and women working together, it's usually easy for them to take down things like wolves or bears, so someone who was able to fight a beast alone and come out on top tends to get more recognition. And the fact that Antaeus more or less did that yesterday, it could help prove to the militia he wasn't just a rock beater.

Still, if Antaeus wished to find Katalmach or the silver haired girl, they didn't seem out and about. The silver-haired girl was obviously still resting at Maeda's place, and Katalmach might be at the Drunken Dragon as he told Antaeus. The March won't happen until around midday, so Antaeus would have some time in the morning to do his own business before trying to impress the captains.

@Zeroth

I, the Demon King, Will Summon My Own Damned Heroes!

Orchid and her entourage marched briskly following the trail of the rats. Fortunately they didn’t seem very subtle, at the very least Jezee’s sluggish footsteps made it easy for Orchid to know where she went. However she didn’t drop her guard for a second, and when Sqwal ended up getting attacked by something Orchid was not the least bit surprised. They were going fairly deep into the forest now so it’s only a matter of time before there was more random encounters.

Turning to face the new enemy, they appeared to be some sort of big black cat, like a puma or a mountain lion. Orchid remembered hearing about them in her human life though only her father ever had to deal with them personally. And somehow Orchid doubts these magic cats are anything like normal mountain lions. First thing Orchid did was use her Mobster Analyze on them to get some intel, then she started doling out orders.

”Divide em up! Crispy, help out the other two with one of these cats. I’ll take care of the other one.”

Orchid went to the black cat attacking Sqwal, knowing he won’t be able to defend himself as well as Bigg’s could. Sqwal was flailing so Orchid couldn't just walk past him, but it also meant that the black cat who was attacking him backed off. Orchid barked orders at Squal as she stood behind him. ”Sqwal, stick with Bigg’s and Crispy! I got this one.”

Orchid would have her sharp club parallel to her hip, held at a somewhat low angle. If the cat tried to pounce at Sqwal she could easily jab her club at the beast to intercept. Orchid could do the same if it just came straight at Orchid. Her other arm with the vambrace was held up close to her head, in case something tried to strike her from a blind spot. Orchid’s tactic beyond just intercepting the black cat would be slicing up its legs, just like how she fought Crispy. Only instead of bit and powerful swings she’ll whittle then down with weaker but faster and more accurate swipes and smacks. She’ll even use Smash to make her jabs do more damage than they would’ve normally.

Stats

Health: Slightly Wounded
Stamina: Full
Magicka: Full

nventory -
Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Sharp Stone Club (Well-Made) (Equipped)
Vine Bracer (Above Average) (Equipped)
Torch (Good) (Stored)
Rawhide Bag (2/12) (Equipped)

• Antidote Fern
• Bloody Garrote

Current Skills:
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.1)
Stronger I (2.0)
Crafting IV (4.6)
Material Analysis II (2.05)
Monster Analysis I (1.25)
Smash I (1.5)
Faster (1.0)
Fireball (1.0)
Charisma I (1.6)
Taboo I (0.1)
Hellish Fiend's Protection (Petty)

<UNUSABLE>

Demon Affinity (0.666)
Muffle (0.8)
Deception (0.7)
Charm (0.3)
Alert (0.3)
Stone Shot (0.4)
Throw Item (0.4)
Slash (0.8)
Warcry (0.5)
Pierce Resistance (0.7)
Blunt Resistance (0.3)
Slash Resistance (0.1)
Blood Drain (0.35)
Skewer (0.4)
Mental Resistance (0.4)
Mana Orb (0.2)
Focus (0.2)
Magic Analysis (0.2)
Overwork (0.3)
Intercept (0.3)
Defender (0.7)
Rabid Fit (0.5)
First Aid (0.1)
Intimidate (0.5)
Counter (0.4)
Shield Slam (0.6)
Poison Resistance (0.1)
Fire Resistance (0.6)
Dust Blow (0.1)
Magic Resistance (0.2)

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Orchid snarled as the stones struck him in the head, but his fury barely registered the attack. The enemy was scattered apart but hardly in such a fashion that he couldn't reach one; Brannor had already gone to take a swing but unfortunately missed. Fortunately for Orchid, Parum's magic made the little lizardman shine like a beacon, making him an easy target for Orchid to take down. With a wicked grin Orchid pounced on the kobold and would go to cleave the monster in half from shoulder to groin. Normally Orchid would've tried to be more careful so he could save the skin for later, but in the throes of rage, restraint was hardly something Orchid considers.

Stats

HP: 28/30
AC: 16 (With Shield)
Rage: 2/3
Status: Raging
Weapons: 1d8+5 Machete

Machete Attack on Faerie Fire'd Kobold = 8/24
Machete Damage = 10

Fantasy RP - For those that want to 'Jump - In '

As the messenger awaited audience with Maren, Malakaus and his orcs were hard at work. They had set field smelters to melt the unused equipment into ingots, which they’ll transport back to their tribal homes once the job is complete. Many of the warriors returned home aside from Malakaus’s own riders and a few men who volunteered to join his warband. They were excited for future battles, wishing to bring home wealth and prestige against the humans. Though this was a good attitude to gather forces, Malakaus knew he would need to curtail this one sided hatred.

Unlike previous orc warlords, plunder and conquest was not Malakaus’s only desires. He was not gathering an army to steal from the humans. He wanted to retake the lands of his people and ideally create a proper civilization for the orcs, one that can work with their neighbors instead of being constantly at war. Though even this was a naive thought. Malakaus would know it well; he he saw how peace had broken his people.

---

The Black Star Mountain. A large mountain range consisting of at least seventeen peaks to the north, protecting the kingdom of Elrad from northern invaders. While the mountains were not controlled by the kingdom, they had brokered a peace deal with the indigenous mountain people who lived there, the orcs. In eras passed the mountains were a hotly contested area fought for by humans and orcs for many years, and this peace treaty was the first of its kind. Created when King Aeryn was on the throne, it brought a new age of prosperity to the orcs.

The orcs have always been a transient people. Even when they weren’t warring with the humans they competed with each other for natural resources like game, foragable food, and water. And that’s if they weren’t fighting for personal reasons such as honor or revenge, or engaged in wife raids. It wasn’t until one clan, the Clan Blodskal, was able to use multiple victories to form a large coalition of clans to create the first tribe, the Red Fist Tribe. Amassed as a large horde he subjected various clans as well as the humans who lived nearby, forcing former enemies into uneasy allies in order to bring a stop to his reign. It was through this unconventional alliance that the humans allowed the orcs to settle into the Black Star Mountains, in order to give them a home where they could grow their own food, raise their own beasts, and no longer need to fight one another. Sure initially the mountains were inhospitable and full of dangerous predators, so treacherous not even the bravest explorers would risk climbing through it, but for the orcs they saw it as a chance to challenge a cruel fate and make something great. And great it was.

The Black Star Mountain was rich in mineral goods, like coal, iron, and precious gemstones. The mountain also grew the indomitable Blackwood trees, hardy wood as tough as steel. The various clans pooled and shared their talents together to spread the knowledge of animal raising and husbandry, medicine and alchemy, smithing and carpentry. Within ten years the five tribes of the Black Star Mountains were able to form a civilization. But just as quickly as they started they began to fall. They grew complacent with peace and despite the discoveries they did not make any improvements. They never bothered to grow stronger. All they did was eat, stockpile basic weapons and armor, and indulged in the comforts that could be bought with gold. So it was no surprise that when the humans marched their armies to the Black Star mountains after a series of disaster, the orc’s new home was gone.

That brutal year was known as the Four Curses. The first curse was a plague that sickened the orcs in charge of the forge. A disease known as Black Lung infected many who worked with iron and flames, even affecting family and friends who don’t work the forge. They grew weak, had trouble breathing, and many suffered for days before ending their own misery. The next curse was famine. With many orcs too sick to care for the fields or animals food became sparse. The indulgence of the chiefs and upper class didn’t stop however, as soon the lower class orcs began to starve out and die, resorting to desperate measures to survive.

This created the third curse: Betrayal. The once united orcs were divided as the poor warred against the rich, the indulgent were attacked by the moderates, and where even families were torn apart literally and metaphorically in order to just fill their own stomachs. The greatest of the betrayals, that the King of the Black Star Mountains, sold out his own people for human gold, brought the final curse that destroyed the orcish lands: Conquest. The Kingdom of Elrad sent soldiers and knights to annex the Black Star Mountains, killing or capturing orcs who tried to fight back. Weakened by the previous curses and armed with crude weapons that could not break the properly crafted manmade steel, the humans took the mountains with little to no difficulty, a pitiful effort by the once warlike orcs.

Malakaus was a child when he saw all of this happened. He remembered his stepfather poisoning himself with alcohol to numb the pain from the Black Lung. Malakaus remembered joining the fight pits at the tender age of seven to earn money to feed his family. The memories of how Malakaus went from fighting in arenas to the streets as he joined a gang to raid houses and strongholds for food, and only to find books. Instead of turning them into kindling, it created a flame in his heart as his homelands were burned by the fires of war. Though this experience Malakaus learned the follies of the previous chiefs, warlords, and kings, and aimed to change. That’s why when the Orc King Yamarik Jawk tried to flee with his treasures, Malakaus personally made sure to melt his precious gold into slag and brought the king to be lynched by his own people. There was no nation for the orcs under such a selfish lord. Malakaus didn’t care to try and keep the orcs together if it meant perpetuating the lazy and corrupt. He was going to create his own kingdom from the ground up.

And so began Malakaus’s ambition.

---

Malakaus finished his new axe. It’s Blade had more mass which meant greater heft was needed, heft that Malakaus could easily give thanks to his sheer strength. For a mortal man such a weapon would be considered a greataxe and need two hands, but Malakaus could swing it with one. It even had a trick, though Malakaus would save that for later. For now he wrapped the handle to have a better grip as he started working on his new armor.

”I wonder if Maren has heard my message yet.”

You are the Mon

@Zanavy

Glad to see you back.