The Journey Across the Shattered Empire [CYOA]

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Pinche Rudo: Feb 8, 2005

Greetings and welcome to my CYOA! I really enjoyed the other ones on here and figured I would give it a shot!

Introduction

The fire crackles, illuminating the small, dark clearing the group chose for camp tonight. It seems like the drat thing took an eternity to get started, all the wood you were able to find was wet from the heavy fog permeating the darkened redwood forest. You pull your blanket close to protect against the damp night air, watching the fire as the flames lulled you off to sleep...

You open your eyes and find you are at your boyhood home. A sound cuts through the fog of dream, the voice of your father echoing across the span of many years. You slowly start moving towards the sound of his voice as he calls out your name.

1) What is your name?

You find your brother and sister with him as he works. He turns to you and motions you over, bringing the three of you around as he shows you another task necessary to the family business. He always made a point to explain things when he could, and often turned mundane tasks into important lessons for the three of you. While you didn't exactly follow in his footsteps, those childhood lectures became an important part of the profession you would take up.

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
a) He was a Yeoman Warden of a major noble's forest. He taught you to hunt, track, and how to defend yourself. (Scout)
b) He was a minor noble. While you won't inherit his title of Lord, he still taught you chivalry, arms, diplomacy, and knighted you. (Knight)
c) He was a wealthy merchant with a sizable library. He taught you history, science, and math. He paid for you to attend the University of the Arcane (Arcanist)
d) He was the leader of the Underworld in a big city. He taught you leadership, intimidation, and how to kill a man countless different ways. (Assassin)
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)
f) He was a mercenary who saved enough money to start a smithy. He taught you how to fight, smith, and survive (Mercenary)
g) Other

Your dream becomes hazy, and when things re-focus you find yourself with your brother and sister by your father's bedside. He is dying, his face sallow and glistening with sweat as the pain wracks him. Despite everyone's best efforts the sickness has all but claimed him. He has been ranting and shouting off and on throughout the night, but now he lays quietly and motions your brother and sister away. He sits up, his bloodshot eyes focusing on you as he speaks in a low tone, his voice raspy from overuse. He tells you he is proud of you, and that he was so happy the day his best friend Decius found you and brought you to him. You are taken aback, but somewhere deep down you always knew he was not your real father. He still loved you all the same, and he wants you to have one of his most prized possessions.

3) What does your father give you?
a) His lucky coin
b) His favorite cloak
c) A shiny piece of rock he found
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid
e) His pen
f) Other

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon

I'll update later on this week with Part 2 of the Intro, then we'll be getting into the good stuff!

# ? Dec 10, 2014 17:00

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 22:48

HiHo ChiRho: Oct 23, 2010

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

# ? Feb 25, 2015 06:48

Loel: Jun 4, 2012; "For the Emperor."

There was a terrible noise.
There was a terrible silence.

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

Sure

# ? Feb 25, 2015 06:52

sniper4625: Sep 26, 2009; Loyal to the hEnd

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

I'm down with the rogue build.

# ? Feb 25, 2015 06:54

Music Theory: Aug 7, 2013; Avatar by Garden Walker

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2: A

3: E

HiHo ChiRho posted:

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

Music Theory fucked around with this message at 07:11 on Feb 25, 2015

# ? Feb 25, 2015 07:04

Successful Businessmanga: Mar 28, 2010

1) Volare
2)F
3)E
4) Rapier cinquedea arquebus

# ? Feb 25, 2015 07:06

Pinche Rudo: Feb 8, 2005

Glad to see this back awake! Let's get some more votes in and I will update tomorrow. Fun stuff like choosing the other party members!

# ? Feb 26, 2015 03:23

Lazaruise: Jan 25, 2009

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

I'm good with this too, we haven't had a thief character in any of the cyoa games yet.

# ? Feb 26, 2015 03:23

Absum: May 28, 2013

2. e
3. a
4. Fists, Whip and Bolas

e: 1. Ankh

Absum fucked around with this message at 02:02 on Feb 27, 2015

# ? Feb 27, 2015 01:56

Nettle Soup: Jan 30, 2010; Oh, and Jones was there too.

1: Ankh
2: B - I like knights.
3: A - Lucky coin
Spear, sword, bow.

Just to be different.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 02:00

A RICH WHITE MAN: Jul 30, 2010; See them other chickenheads? They don't never leave the coop.

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

I also like this except for #1 which I vote Ankh on

# ? Feb 27, 2015 02:25

Wentley: Feb 7, 2012

HiHo ChiRho posted:

1) What is your name?
Volare

2) What was his job, and what did he teach you?
e) He was a confidence man who duped a noble out of a large sum of money. He taught you how to fast-talk, steal, and move without sound. (Rogue)

3) What does your father give you?
d) The knife you would always steal as a kid

You close your hand around his gift, tears burning your eyes as your father slowly drifts off to sleep. He would never awake from that slumber, entering the final door sometime around dawn. You and your brother bury him while your sister watches on. Things fade again until you are at that day you leave home for the last time. You know you will never see your brother and sister again, and you say your goodbyes. You had a life to live, and couldn't do it in your father's shadow. The wide world was calling you, and although the years ahead would not be easy you hoped they would be ultimately gratifying. You pick up your weapons and secure them for the long journey ahead, across the Shattered Empire.

4) Choose two melee weapons and one ranged weapon
Knife, Fists and Bow

A thief sounds like a fun character to play. So I vote this.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 04:09

Pinche Rudo: Feb 8, 2005

Introduction- Part 2

Volare

You awoke in your bedroll, the smell of damp earth and evergreeen trees mingling as you inhaled your first deep morning breath. The fog hung low, permeating the clearing and covering everything in a layer of mist. The first few rays of sunrise filtered through the leaves of the Redwood trees. You had slept clutching your father's knife, as you normally do. You looked down at it, turning it over in your calloused, scarred hands. Hands that had seen more than a few fights. Hands that knew how to subdue a man, incapacitate him, how to kill him. You attached it your belt and picked up your bow, looking around the camp. The fire was down to a few smoldering embers. You called to your companion(s) to join you to break fast.

1) Choose at least 1 to 3 companions. If you choose less than 3 you will have the option of adding more at a later time

Declan - "The Bloody Barber": Has some formal training as a Physiker but never talks about why he never completed it. Gives the closest shave you've ever had. A pretty good healer with secondary knowledge of herbs and poisons. Preferred Weapons: Razor, Staff with concealed blade.

Ayn - "Lady Death": From a kingdom across the Pacifa Sea, brought as a slave to the shores of the Shattered Empire. She bid her time and learned enough of the Empire Tongue before killing her Master and (you
would assume) a number of others while making her escape. Daughter of a fierce chieftain, she has a strong knowledge of tactics. A fierce warrior and natural on horseback, she excels with the use of the Curved Sword, Longbow and Club.

Tivor - "The Unproven" A Novice Arcanist, University trained and all. Sent out to get some "Worldly Experience" for a few years before he can finish his studies and gain the rank of "True Arcanist". Geographical, historical, and some medicinal knowledge. Only child, overbearing mother....it shows. Preferred weapon is the Rapier.

Sorak- "The Brutal Beast" A massive, imposing MA ercenary with a taste for war, blood, booze, and wenches. Not much for social skills but absolutely terrifying in combat. Seems to enjoy it too. Preferred weapons are the Crossbow, Great Axe, and Mace.

Yohan - "The Dark"- Mysterious worshiper of some swamp god from his homeland. Seems to be able to perform some form of magic involving nature and death. Knowledge of herbs, poison, and stealth. He has tried to explain his beliefs while under the influence of the various powdered herbs he makes into a tea but it came out as incomprehensible rambling. You tried some of his tea once and vomited then hallucinated for hours. It was terrifying. Preferred weapons are the Blowgun and the Spear.

Walton- "The Tinkerer" - Son of an Arcanist, he never made it into a formal University but managed to glean enough from his Father's books to make it as a novice Artificer. Can repair and improve arms and armor. Some Arcane knowledge but only related to Artificing. Preferred weapons are the Repeating Crossbow, A Retractable Polearm of his own Design, and the Hammer.

Design your own party member(s)

You gathered your companion(s) and broke fast, then packed up camp and headed to a ridge nearby that overlooked the entire valley below. It was green with trees, and coated in a light fog that seemed to be ever present. There were the ruins of an Old Empire Lookout post here on the ridge, worn down to a pitiful stone circle about waist high by years of weathering and scavengers. You thought back to what you learned about the Last King, Decius. Technically he wasn't the last King, as there were a string of failed successors after his death. A pitiful mix of drunks, inbred fools, and puppets. One sticks out in your mind, William the Weeper. He got the name from his laugh which sounded like crying to those around him. You tried to remember how King Decius died...

2) How did King Decius die?

You pulled out your small, crudely drawn map and eyed the two nearest towns on it. Bedeg, was a fishing town and regional trading port about two days travel west to the Coast. Keyah was a mining outpst and farming town to the South. Both were decent choices for a opportunity to make your next bit of coin. You could also continue East through the Forest, your map indicates it will be a week until you reach the foothills and the Regional Capital of Hardhold. All had opportunity, maybe you could get in with a clueless rich fool and work one of the long cons your Old Man taught you.

3) Where do you travel next?
A- Bedeg- Fishing town and Trading Port to the West
B- Keyah- Mining and Farming Outpost to the South
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

Pinche Rudo fucked around with this message at 05:38 on Feb 27, 2015

# ? Feb 27, 2015 05:36

Ceramic Shot: Dec 21, 2006; The stars aren't in the right places.

edit: oops

1) Party Members
Declan, Tivor, Walton. Medicine/Poisons, historical knowledge, and craftsmanship all synergize awesomely with consmanship.

2) How did Decius die?
Advanced age, or a broken heart? At the news of his sole heir's death in a hunting accident, the old king refused to name a successor on his sickbed, passing from this mortal coil surrounded by former brothers-in-arms and green-eyed cousins, first pleading and then shouting at the sovereign to pass on the torch.

3) Where do you travel next?
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

Ceramic Shot fucked around with this message at 06:10 on Feb 27, 2015

# ? Feb 27, 2015 05:42

Loel: Jun 4, 2012; "For the Emperor."

There was a terrible noise.
There was a terrible silence.

Death, Dark, Bedeg

# ? Feb 27, 2015 05:42

HiHo ChiRho: Oct 23, 2010

1.) Ayn and Yohan

2.) Decius "The Decadent" died corpulent and fetid smelling on top of his concubine.

3.) Keyah

# ? Feb 27, 2015 05:49

sniper4625: Sep 26, 2009; Loyal to the hEnd

LowellDND posted:

Death, Dark, Bedeg

Spooky vote.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 07:04

Nettle Soup: Jan 30, 2010; Oh, and Jones was there too.

Ayn, Tivor, Walton, seems an interesting mix.

How did he die? Stabbed in the throat by a slave, now missing.

C - Through the forest to Hardhold.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 12:11

Lazaruise: Jan 25, 2009

1 Ayn, Tivor, Walton

2 Died in a duel with a minor noble over a small land claim, the noble tried to be one of the first successors that failed as well, he died quickly to assassins

3 Bedeg

# ? Feb 27, 2015 12:37

Dog Kisser: Mar 30, 2005; But People have fears that beasts do not. Questions, too.

1) Party Members
Declan, Tivor, Walton.

2) How did Decius die?
Tripped on a loose cobblestone, hit his head on a table. Never woke up. Sometimes accidents just happen, even to Kings.

3) Where do you travel next?
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

# ? Feb 27, 2015 16:26

Outrail: Jan 4, 2009; www.sapphicrobotica.com

LowellDND posted:

Death, Dark, Bedeg

Swamp God best God.

# ? Feb 27, 2015 19:38

Wentley: Feb 7, 2012

1)

Ayn - "Lady Death": From a kingdom across the Pacifa Sea, brought as a slave to the shores of the Shattered Empire. She bid her time and learned enough of the Empire Tongue before killing her Master and (you
would assume) a number of others while making her escape. Daughter of a fierce chieftain, she has a strong knowledge of tactics. A fierce warrior and natural on horseback, she excels with the use of the Curved Sword, Longbow and Club.

Walton- "The Tinkerer" - Son of an Arcanist, he never made it into a formal University but managed to glean enough from his Father's books to make it as a novice Artificer. Can repair and improve arms and armor. Some Arcane knowledge but only related to Artificing. Preferred weapons are the Repeating Crossbow, A Retractable Polearm of his own Design, and the Hammer.

2)

Nettle Soup posted:

How did he die? Stabbed in the throat by a slave, now missing.

3) Where do you travel next?

C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

# ? Feb 28, 2015 21:51

Mr Apollo: Jan 1, 2013

Ceramic Shot posted:

edit: oops

1) Party Members
Declan, Tivor, Walton. Medicine/Poisons, historical knowledge, and craftsmanship all synergize awesomely with consmanship.

2) How did Decius die?
Advanced age, or a broken heart? At the news of his sole heir's death in a hunting accident, the old king refused to name a successor on his sickbed, passing from this mortal coil surrounded by former brothers-in-arms and green-eyed cousins, first pleading and then shouting at the sovereign to pass on the torch.

3) Where do you travel next?
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

This

# ? Feb 28, 2015 21:56

totally losing my mime: Aug 3, 2012; The quiet can scrape
All the calm from your bones.
But maybe it should.
Maybe we need to be hollowed
To get up and grow,
And stop fucking around,
To kick off our braces and start straightening out; Fun Shoe

dog kisser posted:

1) Party Members
Declan, Tivor, Walton.

2) How did Decius die?
Tripped on a loose cobblestone, hit his head on a table. Never woke up. Sometimes accidents just happen, even to Kings.

3) Where do you travel next?
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

This

# ? Mar 1, 2015 01:00

Kira Akashiya: Feb 2, 2013

dog kisser posted:

1) Party Members
Declan, Tivor, Walton.

2) How did Decius die?
Tripped on a loose cobblestone, hit his head on a table. Never woke up. Sometimes accidents just happen, even to Kings.

3) Where do you travel next?
C-East through the Forest to Hardhold

This

# ? Mar 2, 2015 06:07

Pinche Rudo: Feb 8, 2005

The Road to Civilization

You reach out and touch the stones of the Watchpost, covered with moss and creeping vines as nature reclaimed the ruins. You thought about when it was actually used, 400 some odd years ago. Tivor walks up and admires the ruins from the other side. "Who would have thought, all this...the entire Oestus Empire brought down by a loose cobblestone and the corner of a solid Oak table." Declan looked up from his spot watching the treeline, chewing a sliver of wood he whittled down to a toothpick. "That's all it takes really. Sharp blow to the head, edge of the table...can crack the skull pretty easily." He said with a casual shrug. "Once the skull goes, odds are you're a goner. If they get some leeches on there right away, there's a very small chance..." he says, shaking his hand side to side and grimacing "But even then if you ever wake up, you're never..uhh the same." Walton guffawed in response, his massive frame looming over the group as he cradled the huge repeating crossbow in his arms. "Thanks for the anatomy lesson. Good to know in case anyone decides to take a spill."

Tivor walked around the perimeter of the post, framing various possible angles for the view over the valley below. "These posts were at strategic points throughout the empire." He pointed down to the valley below, a narrow strip of road cutting through the broad swaths of forest. "This one watched the road, made it tough..almost impossible for bandits. It was expensive to man and maintain these outposts, but it was more expensive to have trade disrupted. After Decius took his little spill without naming an heir, everything went crazy. Various cousins, nephews, nieces, pretty much anyone with a drop of royal blood made a claim to the throne. The Nine Lords backed their various candidates and send out assassins and armies to take care of their rivals. Ended up being a messy fifty years. Eventually trade ground to a halt and the Nine Lords realized all they were doing was draining their coffers and cutting off trade for a nearly worthless prize. The Royal Coffers were empty, the Imperial Army was in tatters, and the number of royal claimants had grown after two generations. The Nine Lords decided to make their peace and killed off every member of the Royal Family. Messy business but it officially ended the Succession Wars and put an end to the Oestus Empire. Now, the Nine Lords don't care so much about protecting the roads out here in the wilds. They know merchants will still brave the highways in the deepwoods, and they just take a nice cut whenever they come to their cities. Hardhold being no exception..."

You rubbed your chin thoughtfully, looking back down at the map. Yes, Hardhold....the seat of Lord Calwyn, the regional capital. And a major trade hub for the entire region. Metal and minerals came from the mines across the mountains to the east. Timber, agricultural goods, and fish came from the west The city itself was nestled in the foothills, with steep roads that could easily be cut off in the event of an invasion, although it had been over a hundred years since any of the other Lords were foolish enough to attempt a siege on the city. High walls protected the city, and a deep aquifer kept it fed with fresh water throughout the year. Lord Calwyn had enriched his family eve further, striking lucrative trade deals with the various mining settlements across the Serryn Mountains. Gold, silver, bronze, iron, all of it flooded the markets of Hardhold and made Calwyn and his cronies rich. Perhaps you could get some of that money. Father always said, there's a sucker born every day and a hundred chances to fleece him blind. He taught you all the old tricks, from the Honeypot to Salting a mine. You'd need a couple of nights to sleep on it and figure out your plan, but you'd come up with something good. You always did. You snapped back to the present and Tivor was still droning on through the history lesson. He had gotten on to something about Queen Ah'ane and her building the Imperial Palace on the hills overlooking the Glass Bay. You raised your hand and motioned at Tivor to pipe down. "East, we go East to Hardhold. Let's get moving, I want to make some progress before dark." The others nodded and Tivor looked a bit wounded at having his lecture cut short, but he'd get over it. Everyone went back to the horses and began the march down to the valley below.

Two days outside of Hardhold you come across a small encampment: three wagons in a clearing on the side of the road. As you approach you can see a man talking with two women, one older and one younger. They all seem to be severely distressed by their body language. They turn and face the four of you as approach. "Ho there!" The man says, waving at you, studying your group carefully as you approach. "Thanks be to the gods, aren't you a sight for weary eyes?" He approaches and extends his hand "Valmir, pleased do you meet you! And you gentlemen may be?"

1. How do you introduce your group?
A. Give him your real names make up fake professions
B. Real name, real(ish) professions
C. Fake names, fake professions
D. Fake names, real(ish) profession
E. Other

He motions over to one of the wagons, which is leaning a bit to the side and appears to have some damage. The front seat appears to be cracked and a few arrows are stuck in the wood around it. One of the wheels also appears to be damaged. "We ran into a bit of trouble a half day back, coming up towards the main road to Hardhold. Brigands, ambushed us. Only two days from the Capital, too! These roads are getting worse, I tell you." He wipes sweat from his brow and gestures towards one of the other wagons. "Couple of my daughters got hurt. One hurt her arm when the wagon crashed into a tree off the road, and one took an arrow in the leg. They're both in need of attention and this wagon is too damaged to make the rest of the trp" He sighs and glances at the rest of your group "If you can help, we'd mighty appreciate it. We are going into Hardhold and I've got a credit there I can use to repay you."

2. Do you offer to help him?

# ? Mar 4, 2015 16:03

Dog Kisser: Mar 30, 2005; But People have fears that beasts do not. Questions, too.

1A 2Yes!

# ? Mar 4, 2015 16:35

HiHo ChiRho: Oct 23, 2010

C Yes

Frank, Joe, Walt and Steve Hardy. We are the Hardy Boys, heading to HardHold.

# ? Mar 4, 2015 17:09

Wentley: Feb 7, 2012

HiHo ChiRho posted:

C Yes

Frank, Joe, Walt and Steve Hardy. We are the Hardy Boys, heading to HardHold.

Always be lying. Practice makes perfect, after all.

# ? Mar 4, 2015 18:38

Loel: Jun 4, 2012; "For the Emperor."

There was a terrible noise.
There was a terrible silence.

HiHo ChiRho posted:

C Yes

Frank, Joe, Walt and Steve Hardy. We are the Hardy Boys, heading to HardHold.

Sure

# ? Mar 4, 2015 19:23

Outrail: Jan 4, 2009; www.sapphicrobotica.com

HiHo ChiRho posted:

C Yes

Frank, Joe, Walt and Steve Hardy. We are the Hardy Boys, heading to HardHold.

Haha yeah. But shouldn't we have a Jupiter Jones?

# ? Mar 4, 2015 19:30

OfChristandMen: Feb 14, 2006; GENERIC CANDY AVATAR #2

HiHo ChiRho posted:

C Yes

Frank, Joe, Walt and Steve Hardy. We are the Hardy Boys, heading to HardHold.

This + have Declan fix the girl + Walton the cart

# ? Mar 4, 2015 19:49

Kira Akashiya: Feb 2, 2013

C Yes

# ? Mar 5, 2015 01:42

Squeezy Farm: Jun 16, 2009

Jenkem Delivery posted:

The Road to Civilization

You reach out and touch the stones of the Watchpost, covered with moss and creeping vines as nature reclaimed the ruins. You thought about when it was actually used, 400 some odd years ago. Tivor walks up and admires the ruins from the other side. "Who would have thought, all this...the entire Oestus Empire brought down by a loose cobblestone and the corner of a solid Oak table." Declan looked up from his spot watching the treeline, chewing a sliver of wood he whittled down to a toothpick. "That's all it takes really. Sharp blow to the head, edge of the table...can crack the skull pretty easily." He said with a casual shrug. "Once the skull goes, odds are you're a goner. If they get some leeches on there right away, there's a very small chance..." he says, shaking his hand side to side and grimacing "But even then if you ever wake up, you're never..uhh the same." Walton guffawed in response, his massive frame looming over the group as he cradled the huge repeating crossbow in his arms. "Thanks for the anatomy lesson. Good to know in case anyone decides to take a spill."

Tivor walked around the perimeter of the post, framing various possible angles for the view over the valley below. "These posts were at strategic points throughout the empire." He pointed down to the valley below, a narrow strip of road cutting through the broad swaths of forest. "This one watched the road, made it tough..almost impossible for bandits. It was expensive to man and maintain these outposts, but it was more expensive to have trade disrupted. After Decius took his little spill without naming an heir, everything went crazy. Various cousins, nephews, nieces, pretty much anyone with a drop of royal blood made a claim to the throne. The Nine Lords backed their various candidates and send out assassins and armies to take care of their rivals. Ended up being a messy fifty years. Eventually trade ground to a halt and the Nine Lords realized all they were doing was draining their coffers and cutting off trade for a nearly worthless prize. The Royal Coffers were empty, the Imperial Army was in tatters, and the number of royal claimants had grown after two generations. The Nine Lords decided to make their peace and killed off every member of the Royal Family. Messy business but it officially ended the Succession Wars and put an end to the Oestus Empire. Now, the Nine Lords don't care so much about protecting the roads out here in the wilds. They know merchants will still brave the highways in the deepwoods, and they just take a nice cut whenever they come to their cities. Hardhold being no exception..."

You rubbed your chin thoughtfully, looking back down at the map. Yes, Hardhold....the seat of Lord Calwyn, the regional capital. And a major trade hub for the entire region. Metal and minerals came from the mines across the mountains to the east. Timber, agricultural goods, and fish came from the west The city itself was nestled in the foothills, with steep roads that could easily be cut off in the event of an invasion, although it had been over a hundred years since any of the other Lords were foolish enough to attempt a siege on the city. High walls protected the city, and a deep aquifer kept it fed with fresh water throughout the year. Lord Calwyn had enriched his family eve further, striking lucrative trade deals with the various mining settlements across the Serryn Mountains. Gold, silver, bronze, iron, all of it flooded the markets of Hardhold and made Calwyn and his cronies rich. Perhaps you could get some of that money. Father always said, there's a sucker born every day and a hundred chances to fleece him blind. He taught you all the old tricks, from the Honeypot to Salting a mine. You'd need a couple of nights to sleep on it and figure out your plan, but you'd come up with something good. You always did. You snapped back to the present and Tivor was still droning on through the history lesson. He had gotten on to something about Queen Ah'ane and her building the Imperial Palace on the hills overlooking the Glass Bay. You raised your hand and motioned at Tivor to pipe down. "East, we go East to Hardhold. Let's get moving, I want to make some progress before dark." The others nodded and Tivor looked a bit wounded at having his lecture cut short, but he'd get over it. Everyone went back to the horses and began the march down to the valley below.

Two days outside of Hardhold you come across a small encampment: three wagons in a clearing on the side of the road. As you approach you can see a man talking with two women, one older and one younger. They all seem to be severely distressed by their body language. They turn and face the four of you as approach. "Ho there!" The man says, waving at you, studying your group carefully as you approach. "Thanks be to the gods, aren't you a sight for weary eyes?" He approaches and extends his hand "Valmir, pleased do you meet you! And you gentlemen may be?"

1. How do you introduce your group?
A. Give him your real names make up fake professions
B. Real name, real(ish) professions
C. Fake names, fake professions
D. Fake names, real(ish) profession
E. Other

He motions over to one of the wagons, which is leaning a bit to the side and appears to have some damage. The front seat appears to be cracked and a few arrows are stuck in the wood around it. One of the wheels also appears to be damaged. "We ran into a bit of trouble a half day back, coming up towards the main road to Hardhold. Brigands, ambushed us. Only two days from the Capital, too! These roads are getting worse, I tell you." He wipes sweat from his brow and gestures towards one of the other wagons. "Couple of my daughters got hurt. One hurt her arm when the wagon crashed into a tree off the road, and one took an arrow in the leg. They're both in need of attention and this wagon is too damaged to make the rest of the trp" He sighs and glances at the rest of your group "If you can help, we'd mighty appreciate it. We are going into Hardhold and I've got a credit there I can use to repay you."

2. Do you offer to help him?

# ? May 13, 2015 16:11

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 22:48

Outrail: Jan 4, 2009; www.sapphicrobotica.com

It's over man

# ? May 13, 2015 19:31

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