In the Mists

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  • This topic has 114 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by Grey.
Viewing 15 posts - 61 through 75 (of 115 total)
  • February 13, 2015 at 4:19 pm #1151

    A tall humanoid form, a massive pole ax in one hand, wielded presently like a walking staff, slowly approaches from out of the mist ahead, at about 60ft away you see him clearly, and get the impression there are other shapes behind him obscured in the mists, then you hear the creak of stiff leather, the rattle of gear confirming that impression

    “Good day Lady”
    He makes a quick, practiced observation of your group, bows just a little, then focuses on Meela, addressing her as the leader

    Meela speaks with level authority, but there is a nervous edge in her voice

    “We gladly yield the road to you and your charge, route finder, we wish no trouble”
    With this she bows, not a deep respectful bow, but a courteous one of acknowledgement, then glaces back at you all as if to relay things are under control.”

    “Who would want to make trouble with all those mortal heroes….all that fine steel, strong muscle, proud sinew and defiant bone…I see no need to stain these grey lands red today, and you needn’t leave the road, this is about where we head down anyways lady”

    A tall potbellied figure comes forward from behind the ax wielder. He is nearly 8 ft tall, and rotund, an impressive bestial form, yet he moves with a submissive, nervous, cowed nature. His greasy eyes dart across your group as he slinks up beside the axe wielder

    “Is…is there trouble Tutsu?”

    “Oh I don’t think the lady and her friends are looking for any more trouble than they’re already in friend, time to go down”

    The axe wielder produces a heavy looking coil of shimmering black chain from beneath his cloak, a coil no normal being could so easily carry. Grasping one end in his off hand, he hands the rest of the coiled chain, it must be dozens of feet long and very heavy, to the 2nd figure, who struggles a bit with the weight and looks annoyed at having to take it.

    “Roll it out and hook them all up merchant” He speaks the axe wielder firmly.

    The other figure struggles with the chain, letting it un-spool loop by loop as he walks back out of view into the mists behind, not before giving one last nervous, critical look at your party.

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    February 13, 2015 at 5:24 pm #1153

    Stern stands firm unwavering. Intrigued. Trying to make out what lies beyond his field if vision. taking note of meela’s demeanor and stance. Looking just maybe for a hint of betrayal. (Stern is not sure if this is someone meant to try to capture us and we were set up or if this is just pure chance. The fact he knows of us does not suprise stern but makes him cautious on the inside but steadfast in his outward appearance.)

    February 13, 2015 at 6:53 pm #1154

    The axe wielder observers you with an iron stare, axe in one hand, chain in the other.

    Meela speaks back to you in quite tones
    “This is a caravan, they’re about to head down to the market below the city, I doubt they want any trouble from us”

    You can hear deep throaty shouts and guttural complaints from the mists as some unseen group does whatever it is they are doing for about a minute. All through out the rattle of chains, the shifting and securing of equipment, and deep, strangely chitinous sounds, then a call, the voice of that 2nd creature you think.

    “Ready, lead on with no delay!”

    With one last nod the axe wielder acknowledges your group, never taking his eyes off you. He slowly walks forward, but as he does, with each step, he also descends downward into the ground, as if treading down some unseen staircase. Then, lumbering from the mist come 6 behemoths, men with giant scorpian like lower bodies that creak as they shamble forward. Each bears arms, and a heavy load of sealed crates and chests upon it’s back, they are both caravan guard and beast of burden in one.

    The axe wielder has now completely descended below the ground, in a moment he’ll be somewhere deep below and behind you, but the chain he held in his off hand stretches behind him and up out of the ground, and each of the beasts is connected to it by a clamp on it’s belt. They eye you with otherworldly suspicion, and a very recognizable, almost human kind of curiosity as they too descend into the earth before you. It’s probably obvious to them you’ve never seen anything like this, it’s obvious to you, some of them have never seen mortals this close and in the flesh. Last comes the merchant himself, the shifty, reptile bodied being. His darty nervous eyes seem to move between you all with spastic frequency until the very moment they vanish beneath the ground about 40ft ahead. You all stand in silence

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    February 16, 2015 at 10:06 am #1156

    Anywhere other than this place I might be shocked at what I just witnessed,but I am not surprised at what has just happened. Grognak speaks, “well, at least it’s not a 100′ spirit shooting lightning bolts down from the skies! I could give other examples, but you get the point. We have all seen worse! Let us put this curiosity behind us and focus on our task,unless we can gain some insight from this odd meeting. Gentlemen, my lady, can these strangers help in any way, and if so, do we want their help?”.

    February 16, 2015 at 10:17 am #1157

    I agree we should push on

    February 16, 2015 at 11:21 am #1159

    Meela answers by nodding to Grog and Stern, and then walking on, in a moment she speaks

    Just a caravan, not so different from what it might be on your side. That creature in the lead, the one who holds the chain, he was what they call a Grey Guide.

    A little ways longer and she breaks off from the road heading out into the park like boulder field that sprawls along Fanlu’s south side, between Tradeway and the Sleeping Mountain. She moves around the boulders as if they are solid, not phasing through them. She continues as you go along.

    This side would be an excellent place to travel, no walls, very little of anything at all in some places, if not for certain things. With the mists, no moon, no stars, no sun, no way to view things in context, it’s very easy to get lost, even if you do know the roads. Those Grey Guides know the ways. Anyone who can pay them can travel here safely, no one on this side messes with the Grey Guides and their charges. They are allowed to be here, you are not…he didn’t give us any trouble, perhaps, despite your current situation, you are lucky.

    A bit of color comes into view, it’s as if the grass is taking on a dull green, the some of the rocks a muted brown, and the blossoms of a wild cherry tree ahead are allowed some of their pink hue. Then you see Red ahead, the red of flags, this is a place you’ve been before. A place you passed by weeks ago when you first went up to pay your respects to Fang Quiang. You realize you are all seeing much further than you could before. There is a trail that leads up the side of Old Black Strip, and near its base, a flat ledge large enough for a home, but left as a place to honor those who founded Fanlu. Grey statues dot the path, and stand in a line upon that rock ledge.

    Founder's Watch

    Founders Watch, we’re very close now

    February 16, 2015 at 11:32 am #1160

    Pay them?… How would one pay them? what id the currency on this side?

    February 16, 2015 at 12:12 pm #1161

    Magic, favors, gold…not so different.

    She speaks as you climb the trail up to Founders watch, a short jaunt, drop on one side, shadowy stone wall on the other. The trail winds along a short stretch of the Sleeping Mountains lower base, plunging up and down in short stretches at it winds. About every 30ft along the path a life sized statue stands, in a natural rock alcove, or on a spur that juts from the trail and hangs over the valley below. You’re still not very high up at all, but you feel high up.

    Creatures from the underworld will trade in just about anything..but they love gold, because just having it keeps it out of the hands of mortals. Gold, silver, copper, it’s the pure metals, they are worth more to the underworld than they are even in the kingdoms you come from, where they are used to make coins.

    This place is like neutral ground sort of…The spirits of nature are allowed to travel here, and ancestors too, so long as they are properly invited. Some underworld spirits, like the wretches, and the Grey Guides, they have license to use this place too. Not all underworld spirits are evil, the wretches are, the Grey Guides usually are not. Some underworlders are just outcasts, not evil, just not good enough for the heavens.

    Usually ancestors, and even underworlders on this side, can be reasoned with. There are other things though, strange beasts that seem born to this place, and restless spirits too, they are the real dangers here.

    February 16, 2015 at 2:37 pm #1162

    I am sure we can come up with enough of something to get one of us out if we run across one with the power to do so. Even if only one of us can afford the trip back, we should start planning for how the one can help the rest. I don’t like to think about us being separated, but we have to be prepared for anything, and only being able to afford one of us the trip back could be a real possibility.

    February 16, 2015 at 2:42 pm #1163

    i think she is referring to the grey guides.

    February 22, 2015 at 1:18 pm #1238

    The Broad stone ledge called Founders watch is set into the side of Old Black stripe, about 80 ft over the town. One side is rising natural stone walls of that massive rock dome,the other is dead-fall, looking north east out over the town of Fanlu. The edge is ringed by polished poles of dark hardwood, each foot of their heights carved like a different leering face, like a totem poles, and each topped with a long red flag. There is a graceful wooden archway, the style of this land, that frames the paths onto and away from Founders watch, whose ledge is like a look out point on the way up to the top of the mountain.

    But all of this is just background, it’s the life sized statues that draw your attention, and hold it continuously as you approach,and finally pass under the gilded archway onto the Founders watch. Each is a master work, the years long project of a single master mason. The detail is stunning. Each seems to simmer with a subtle internal light, as if the stone were warmed from within, at first you’re not sure it’s there, the aura is so dim, but it is there.

    These pictures are of the people who founded Fanlu decades ago. They are not exactly how the picture looks, but the pictures give an idea of what they looked like. They are arrayed in a semi-circle, as if embracing the view ahead of them, in order from closets to furthest:

    H
    Ryu Yoritomo: Fanlu’s Current Mayor.


    Zhang Yoritomo: The Mayors Brother you think


    Evon Threnodain: You have never heard him referred to by his last name, people just don’t call him by it around you..it is curiously similar to Threnody, if it were written in Ink you might think it a type O, but this is carved in stone, to be remembered as a part of him for all time. Here he is looking much younger, and generally more like an ass kicker than the laid back Evon of fine robes and tea you know.


    Virith “Little Arrow” Threnody: You have no idea who this is, but he is obviously related to Grey…in fact, their is an eerie resemblance, not like a twin, but like that between two brothers who look alike one another.


    Ryalli Threnody: Grey’s Mother… The sculptor gave her a regal look of calm, self assured focus, that reveals little else of the emotions that lie beneath. It could be mistaken as an aloof or vain expression, but is too sincere to be that…you have seen the same look on Grey’s face too many times…she does not look nearly as much like him as Virith, but the expression is all Grey…you find yourself in wonder at the mastery of this sculptor, that in stone, he caught an expression with such accuracy, that decades later, you can tie it to the same inherited personality of the living son. Some of you are also in awe of the power and relation of family. Ryalli, is no longer in this world.


    Aelihir Threnody: Beside his wife, Grey’s father is captured in fine foreign attire, slight smile…hinting at warmth and happiness without looking obvious. The statues of heroes are usually given serious or determined expressions, that’s true of any statue in any land. He must have given the sculptor the liberty to show such emotion. He too is no longer alive.


    Rythin Threnody: Older Brother to Grey’s Father, making him Grey’s Uncle. He is said to be an accomplished wizard, living somewhere in Yunshan to this day. Grey does not speak of him much, but then again, he generally has not spoken much about his family at all.

    null
    Loannah Leafborn: There is something familiar about this beautiful elf’s face, but you have no idea who she is. You’ve never heard her mentioned as a founder before, or seen someone around town who might have been her.


    Kito Taishan: Beside Loannah, crouched in warrior stance meant to convey focused humility, is a much younger looking statue of Kito.


    Asagi O Yimjo: You’ve heard the name before from both Grey and Evon, but you don’t anything about this warrior frozen in stone.


    Danjo Lo: A much younger depiction of the Keeper of Pacified Shadows, before he took that title or founded the House of Pacified Shadows. He is sitting in a position of meditation, looking slightly upwards with a look of self satisfied calm.

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    February 22, 2015 at 2:54 pm #1242

    Grey breaks away from the group striding swiftly to the middle of the semi circle of Fan Lu’s greatest heroes,his family. Pulling off his hat.
    Silently, he reaches out in turn to each of the statues. Gently touching a detail or two on each of the magnificent sculptures, murmuring to himself. Lingering noticeably less on some like His Uncle Rythin and Evon, Longer on others. Like is Father and Older Brother, finishing on his knees head bowed before his Mothers serene statue. Even through the gray distance the heaving movement of his shoulders is visible, his hair falling forward just enough to occlude his pale face, and the tears upon it.

    Before too long he stands obviously shaky, face turned away form the group. He pulls his hat back on slowly dipped down to cover his eyes, he bows to the august assembly of mystical statues and walks slowly through them and to the trail beyond. His back turned to the group, waiting…

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by DM.
    February 22, 2015 at 4:51 pm #1276

    Stern aproaches grey to the left side from the rear and places a gauntleted hand on his shoulder.

    “No parent could be more proud of a son as yours must be of you.”

    Standing silent he waits for the group to catch up and continue to move forward.

    February 22, 2015 at 9:10 pm #1289

    Nodding in silent thanks, Grey reaches up with one hand and pats Sterns wide gauntleted hand with his own, slim gauntleted hand. The dull steel on steel echoing weirdly in the ether, his next words carrying back to the group, though spoken just above a whisper.

    “Thank you my Brother. You know I have avoided coming here for a variety of reasons, i was overwhelmed for a moment. I have lost a family”,

    Grey smiles widely over at Stern and looks back towards the group,

    “But i have gained a new one”.

    Gesturing for the group to catch up Grey calls back louder,

    “Come on guys, lets move. We have a date with the greatest spirit in Yun Shan. If you have any questions about the Statues and the Founders, simply ask. But do so whilst we move onward.”

    February 22, 2015 at 9:24 pm #1294

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