The Harbinger of Ferocity

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

I will respond after @Yamazaki posts, given there's a bit of split timelines for the moment. I will try to collapse our portion if they do not, @ELGainsborough, that way we need only worry about the current quest itself.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

"I wish we could do something about the dragon, but it is much too powerful for you to deal with. Many men have already died to it... I would be no leader to send troops on a suicide mission."

The sensibility of the governor in question was firmly established as his wounded lips spoke those words unto the group before him, at least in the eyes of the wilderness' warrior. They might have a chance then, something in the slightest if they were intent on avoiding the monstrous being and its wrath. There could be time for justified revenge to come, but for now it was safest to adhere to what the man had said in his other proposal; it was not suicidal, at least for the moment. Brannor could see little fault with being granted some direction by perhaps Greenest's last ruling official, as there was little he knew of the place in complete.

The man's concerns played themselves out into his expression, of which worried they - this entourage of outsiders - might decline to rescue what was left of the city he was charged with. A legitimate concern, given how worse for wear they were as well and the fact that not all of them might be "heroes"; Brannor certainly did not consider himself one. He was a knight of the wild, sworn to the world outside the city, but enemies of life and light - the very nature of the darkness that resided in the creatures here in their assault - gave him common ground and a stake in the battle playing out.

"There is still work to be done against these creatures. I am willing to continue my efforts against them, injured as I might be." Brannor said almost plainly.

Based upon the look of the governor and the infirmary, the survivors were woefully without anyone to restore them it seemed; it became increasingly calling for desperation, things that might not regularly be considered. He was left to wonder just how much more the orc, other than himself, could stand as well for the servants of the dragon had beaten them both mercilessly with every frantic blow - or lucky one in the man's case - that they could muster. It did not change his demeanor however and the large, strangely eyed human said nothing more.

@Ryonara@Phoenix@Raijinslayer@Lucius Cypher@Hekazu

There Are No Heroes

Thank you for posting, @RedXCross. If @Kidd does not post by tonight, we will continue on.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

"I regret to say that might be the only wise course of action... to withdraw..." The man's voice trailed off, overtly inferring that while the notion of saving some to fight again another day was desirable, even admirable, it might be near impossible to even accomplish such a feat.

What would turn aside the dragon above, to stop it from just pursuing those who were leaving the keep? Mayhap the keep found itself blessed with a secret tunnel or even some form of wizardly portal, but those were fantasies that could not be entertained. The reality was, that beyond most a doubt, attempting to move so many people would likely need be done only under the cover of the smoky night sky and its darkness. Odds that did not favor anyone, even the most quiet of mouths or silent of feet. A dragon was not likely to be so fooled, but Brannor thought and thought again on what other options they could act on.

Unlike others he was not called to fight to the death against the beast on grounds of honor or nobility; there was nothing wrong with keeping the embers going to start a roaring flame another day. Throwing their lives away did little for the good of others in the greater scheme of things if the "survivors" would only just later be captured and perhaps suffer a worse fate for their efforts. What was it the governor had in mind? Whatever it was, as Brannor along with his dwarven company exited to the ramparts, he finished speaking for the moment on the matter.

"But first some thought must be put into our actions to come."

Coming to a halt, he adjusted the leather strapping that held his great weapon to his armor. Noting the halfling, he conjured a slight nod in her direction, but the air smelled... strange. Like fresh blood, the blood of an animal rather than men - birds even. It was such a curious thing that as the ferine paladin looked about, the source in the night's air wandered around a corner and into the open with its powerful silhouette and questioning tone. There was no doubt that the scent wafted from him; from some of the blood that still lingered on his skin but was wiped messily free of his mouth.

Brannor crossed his arms, breathing a sigh of relief that it was the man-orc and not some other thing. It did, in all truth, bring to mind the latent hunger he could feel within his own stomach, but the hunt was far from over; he could not simply have eaten... he could, but not that he would. There were some things one could and could not ably do in these situations.

"I am summoned." He said plainly with the slight dip of his head, moving voice making him recognizable if his large figure, armored and armed was not enough.

@Ryonara@Phoenix@Raijinslayer@Lucius Cypher@Hekazu

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

"I could throw that question right back at ya. You're obviously trying to pull the whole 'mysterious' gimmick, which means you're going for the exact same thing as a crazy out-of-towner like me would: Gold and Glory. But yeah, I'm headed for the ruins."

The strange woman proved to shrug in a manner one might mistake as initially haughty or arrogant, to which the man felt in first instinctual reaction. Why would anyone seek those things out and wager their life on? The thought seemed foreign at first, but the further he distanced himself from just that - himself - the more sense it all made. The notice was very much a promise of reward, more so one granted by the nobility of the region, just not the same kind as he sought out.

"But I suppose I could use the back-up on this, assuming you're out here for the same thing. If this is as terrible as the job posting claimed, this isn't likely to be easy. Otherwise a few locals would've already did the job and claimed the reward by now."

She quickly continued, still at the ready with the point of her spear should he have been so willful to try anything. The man however, proved not so trying and more confused than anything. His expression was one of lacking understanding, yet it only disappeared when he composed himself to reply in turn.

"You would be wrong in truth, as I am neither here for gold nor glory. Business yes, but not those ones." He said calmly, moving with his hand in a manner to emphasize the negative, "As for the nature of this task? I take it to be of some danger, which is why I do not travel alone but... wherever my friend is off to he is of no danger while I am well."

"This said, I have no issue with us going together to the tower."

Off into the distance he looked briefly, examining the ruin then back to the woman whose boots but partially concealed her other weapons. She seemed as hostile in person as she looked in body, threatening a poorly armed man dressed in worn-in robes. At least she was not foolish - appearances were most deceiving, so in its own way her reaction was appreciated. The young druid had need of allies in the world here, one so clearly rooted in it would be even better, especially with such wariness as to not trust only what she saw.

@Yamazaki

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

You have my thanks for the assessment and kind review, @ELGainsborough. Since we are discussing posting, I will share that my schedule is nocturnal by choice and by circumstance, as well as part of a rotation. That accounted for, some weeks will get more responses from me than others.

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

I hope that was satisfactory for an introduction, @ELGainsborough. Not all of my posts will quite as long, but I took some liberties in it as it was - so do forgive me and inform me from here on out if I caused issue. I provided a bit of background insight and, because we are as of now an unofficial party, assumed that the encounter with @Yamazaki's character resulted in her joining. I do not mind a bit of split timelines briefly so that interaction turns favorable; I do not foresee us being that sort of party which turns on one another at whim.

I will personally do my best to ensure all of these characters survive long enough that their existence is just not immediately discarded. 1st level is quite lethal, but that's what our feline friend is for; he makes an excellent and striking stand-in for a fighter or barbarian. You have my word I will avoid being abusive with that power among others. I am here to tell a story personally - I'd rather it not end so soon, if you know what it is I mean.

And I should note, even if we only have a few characters portrayed by players, I am more than willing to continue participating.

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

"I find it strange, a bit amusing even, how seriously you take what it is you are speaking on. Do you not recall your earlier endeavors, your previous excursions? Men, those alike you in flesh, were just as content to take your aid as they were to speak in hushed tones behind your back - to call you 'sorcerer' and 'monster' - and to hunt you for fearful sport."

"And why would that change my heart? Surely some of them can be swayed - to see the more noble things we love just outside their stone walls. Some must know what it is they feel somewhere within the depths of their soul. How could they not?"

"Because they are mortals raised by that same like. Do not forget what it is you see and experience remains the exception, more so in their eyes. They will be just as suspicious in their willful paranoia as they were before... perhaps even greater now."

"Then it should be me to dispel those illusions of what they believe they know and prove to them not all things born wild are so mindlessly vicious, that some are instead beautiful and wondrous. If I can -"

"If you could, you would succeed where others of your blood have long since failed before. However, I still consider your desire to show them favor, immense pardon at that, noble and even in its own way charming. I will not hamper your efforts... but do not consider it explicit permission. I have no interest in you throwing away your youth, your life, on a matter of risk we could in time tend to."

"You shall return to me and the call of the world whenever we summon."

"I shall."

"And you will..."

---

It was of no surprise that the journey to the foreign land itself was a special endeavor. Fortune was it that the younger man had means to make the trip, in particular by avoiding those places one might expect to find travelers. He had no reason to fear the surrounding wilderness that accompanied the roads, not like the merchant or peasant; he was never truly quite alone. At the same time however, he made the worthwhile effort to not arouse suspicion whenever the chance came as hiding in the woods when others were about was a fair way to do just that. He conversed with these unsuspecting men, women and children with no appearance other than a robed vagabond devoid of anything of value. In turn, having neither bothered them for alms nor aid, they seldom took problem with his company as brief as it might have been.

There was a relief in his heart that he had no need to perform any of the gifts he had been blessed with; a wanderer in brown, thick clothes that followed in slight upon dusted paths bearing a single sheathed blade who could perform minor miracles might attract unwanted company. Not that he would have denied them, not in the slightest of course, but he had no desire to yet go beyond what he had planned. It was already such a dangerous effort that he could only muse on how many ways it could go; it rightfully worried him, nature's favor or not. Not a question of fear like that many had of death, but of failure.

It steadied his nerves whenever he recalled that this was his one great chance to start the turn of the tide. In fact, it kept him the most company on the dark nights he spent travelling, more so than his actual companion.

At last when he did yet arrive to his destination he found himself not quite so alone; a lithe woman of athletic build and figure, marked by vibrant red hair seemed to be the only other company the wanderer had. She carried little more than a pack of what he could only assume to be her travelling stock, but moreover she was armed and armored - with a pointed spear and metal studded leathers. Regularly this would be some cause for alarm, but the young man was not completely uninitiated; certainly not naïve at that. What odds were it that such a distinct woman was a foe rather than a potential friend? It was immensely unlikely she was here, with the ruined tower looming in the distance with an apparent fire still burning, for any other reason than she too answered the call to arms.

Outwardly so minimalistic to her, he made no attempt to hide as he followed the road which was flanked by tall grass and spots of open sand not far from the sea itself. When he drew near enough, his humbly bound feet slowing in step, he spoke audibly to her;

"I must ask, are you as well headed to that ruin? I mean no offense in this question, just that you seem of the determined sort."

---

Rolls

While looking over the tower's ruins, Geraint rolled a 10 on Spot to notice anything unusual or out of the norm. He does not note Jaegar's approach and has no reason to suspect anything overt meriting a Listen check, forfeiting his own roll.

It was on approach to the tower that the traveler, with his added company, did screen the building's fading architecture; how it had so clearly decayed and fallen into disrepair, worked over by nature in many, many years. It concerned him some that this was the place they were sent by the summons, being so confined and small. He knew well what blessings that did entail, but he was unsure if the woman at his side now would even be accepting of it. After all, it had been one thing to agree to travel with a strange man who had nothing more than a lonely worn iron dagger and old robes to a fallen tower, but another to have him practicing magic or more on whim.

Rolls

Whereas Geraint failed to see anything strange, his animal companion rolled a 23 for Spot. Because it was ordered to remain hidden and far back so as not to cause alarm, it takes no action to Jaegar approaching its unaware master. If Jaegar observes his surroundings behind him, he might notice a distant concealed figure in the tall grass as the animal companion rolled a 5 ((9), owing to tall grass and (14) if Jaegar is considered distracted).

The two had halted, as the man prepared to converse, but another stranger seemed to arise behind them from his hiding. He appeared as mercenary as one could in truth, enough that it prepared the druid for a fight, but his spoken word did not seem overtly harmful. A trap perhaps this was, but at least they were not truly alone against the man with his pair of swords and strung bow. Resting idly upon the hilt of one of those blades did he address them both.

"Greeting strangers, I suppose you too are here to collect the King's ransom?"

"I will not speak for her business," The man gestured, the long outstretched sleeve of his drab earth robe motioned toward the woman slow enough so as not to be threatening, "But you could say that I am here on a similar quest."

Carefully with clam mind, body and spirit, he tried to look over the added company; he would rather another friend than foe, but something about this man seemed that he was just as wary of them as they were him. A positive sign, but not everything one could judge the situation of off. The air smelled of smoke, a bit rancid at that, with the structure behind them appearing quite disorganized but only time would tell further when or if they would ever be able to venture into it.

"And what of you sir?"

@ELGainsborough@Yamazaki

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

Wonderful to see this all, @ELGainsborough. You can expect to see a post from me in the coming morning.

There Are No Heroes

@Kidd, @RedXCross, I need a post whenever possible but soon. While I would rather not control Piper, we will see if we can continue up until that point.