Fantasy Tales

Aftermath

2010-11-30T17:39:00.002-06:00

Brakis, Liowin, and Sigfred returned to the farmhouse after finding the horses safe, and seeing no more scarecrow zombies.

The found Pernal and Hanzir helping Rollan - who was protesting that he was fine.

"Brakis!" he called, "Tell these two to stop fussing with me! I've been banged up a lot worse than this during adventures with Sir Prixon!"

Brakis asked Pernal, "How is he? Does he need a healing spell?" "No, he just has some deep bruises. He should recover."

Then, they all sat down while Hanzir explained about the scarecrow zombies: "There are two types of zombies: those that are created from the dead, and those that are created from inanimate objects. This last category is where the scarecrow zombies fall under. While the first type of zombie is used as a type of fighter or slave, and sent out on missions, inanimate zombies are animated for one task - usually to guard something valuable!"

Night Fight

2008-07-10T13:04:00.004-05:00

The adventurers grabbed weapons and rushed to the front room. Two scarecrows were silently hulking towards them - with 3 more outside!

Hanzir whispered "scarecrow zombies..."

Rollan let out a yell and charged with his broadsword!

He took a big swing at the first scarecrow zombie - and decapitated it!

As its body collapsed in a pile of straw, the other scarecrow grabbed Rollan by the shoulder and flung him into the far wall - like a rag!

Rollan crashed and splintered the wall and lay stunned and winded. Without his mail armor on, his back took the brunt of the force.

Brakis impaled the second scarecrow zombie with his long sword, but the zombie grabbed Brakis by the neck and lifted him.

Moving quickly, before the scarecrow zombie could snap Brakis' neck, Liown darted sideways and stabbed his short sword into the zombie's neck!

The creature released Brakis and fell to its knees!

Zigfred quickly began hacking it with his battle axe, as Hanzir and Pernal turned their attention to the 3 scarecrow zombies who were beginning to enter the farm house...

Hanzir fired his air slam spell at the first zombie to enter the door.

The fist of air he projected slammed into the zombie's mid section - causing it to explode in a burst of rotting straw!

This left the final two scarecrow zombies - and Sister Pernal crushed their 2 heads together with a crush jaws spell!

Hanzir and Pernal went to check on Rollan, while Brakis, Liowin, and Sigfred went to check for more scarecrow zombies - and make sure the horses were ok.

Things Go Bump in the Night...

2008-07-10T12:40:00.002-05:00

Sigfred slowly drove the wagon onto the winding private path that lead towards the farmhouse, while the other adventurers cut across the overgrown fields.

Liown felt uneasy. Everything was too quiet. He realized that there were no birds.

Suddenly, Sister Pernal let out a scream!

The other adventurers rushed to her side - and then Rollan burst out laughing!

Pernal had parted some stalks and came upon a hideous scarecrow!

The scarecrow was made of rotting burlap - with blackened straw poking out. Its face was hideously contorted - its mouth snarling.

Liown relaxed - this thing was probably keeping the birds away.

They proceeded to the farm house without further incidence, and made camp.

Sometime in the night, however, they were awakened by heavy thrashing sounds outside, and then heard the farm house door bang open!

The Farm House

2008-04-30T16:28:00.002-05:00

The adventurers spent the afternoon riding on the North Fork, heading towards the Emperial Forest and Mt. Caldur.

The horses were forced to move at a slow pace. The road had not seen much travel, and was in need of repair.

The surrounding fields were abandoned and overgrown with weeds and wild vegetation.

As dusk began to settle in, they spotted an abandoned farmhouse among the fields.

"Let's camp there tonight, and have dinner", said Brakis...

Heading Out at First Light

2008-02-12T16:27:00.000-06:00

The sky was still gray and the heavy curtain of night still hung in the air as the adventurers left the gates of Blackmoor.

All but Sigfred was on horseback - he drove the small wagon that held their supplies. They all hoped to return with the wagon weighted down with treasure!

They were headed east on the main road, heading into the countryside. The rays of light were getting stronger, and the birds were singing.

They passed farms and countryside.

By midday, they turned onto the seldom-used North Fork, heading towards the Emperial Forest - beyond which lay Mt. Caldur and the castle ruins...

Liown The Half-Elf Thief

2006-11-13T13:26:00.001-06:00

Liown winces when he remembers the teasing and bullying he recieved at school in Lochnreenglunoch. He was the only half-elf in this picturesque elven town on the banks of the Lochnreen river.

There would be hushed whispers on the street when little Liown tagged along behind his mother, the beautiful Larnore. She would always try to keep a brave front for Liown, and always tried to instill pride and confidence in him.

But, he would sometimes hear her cry at night, and knew that circumstances wore heavily on her: she was an unmarried High Elf, scandalized by having a child with a human. On top of that, she was destined to outlive Liown by centuries. As a half-elf, Liown would live longer than a full human but, the longest recorded life span of a half-elf was still only 432 years. Elves live for 1,000 years plus.

When Liown was 15, he ran away to the nearby human city of Heathridge, and spent the next 5 years in the city's slums and underworld. He apprenticed with a master thief named Barth, and learned the thief's arts, such as detecting traps, moving undetected, appraising jewels, gems, and metals, and backstabbing.

One day, Barth and Liown robbed the wrong person. They robbed a rich merchant, who was under the protection of the gangster Dath Mutrj. Mutrj sent out two of the Heathridge underworld's most fearsome assassins, the Wa'qr brothers, after them.

The Wa'qrs, half-orc assassin-priests of the Xat'lug death cult, caught up to Liown and Barth. Barth helped Liown to escape, at the cost of his own life.

After Bath's death, Liown re-thought his life. He decided to leave the thief's life, and go back to his mother. When he returned to Lochnreenglunoch, his mother welcomed him back, and told him that his father had re-established contact with her.

One week after returning home, Liown met his father - Sir Prixon. Prixon had met Larnore during one of his adventures. Over the next 6 months, as Liown's bitterness and anger dissolved, he began to understand how Prixon had stayed away due to a combination of youthful stupidity, as well as the rigid class and species discrimination in the Heathridge upper class.

Even now, Prixon would pay a heavy price if he tried to officially recognize Liown as his child. However, Larnore and Prixon were now living happily together, with Prixon only occasionally venturing to Heathridge to handle business matters.

Liown told Prixon about his past as a thief, and how he was reformed - but did not have any idea what to do now. Prixon arranged for him to join Brakis' adventuring party - where a thief's skills could come handy.

Besides his thieving skills, Liown has the elven ability to see in the dark, and can detect magic, just like the magic-user spell.

Liown wears leather armor, and uses a short sword and sling, with lead shot.

Rollan the Warrior

2006-11-13T12:37:00.001-06:00

Rollan the Rough grew up in Heathridge - one of 5 boys of Rotham, Captain of the Heathridge Guards.

Rollan was squired at the age of 11 to the knight Sir Tratham. However, Rollan was strong-willed, did not follow orders easily, and liked to have a good time at the local tavern. By the time he was 18, Rollan was down to his last chance to stay in Tratham's employ.

Then, however, came the unfortunate incident with Tratham's son, Gorlthum. Rollan was best friends with another squire, Jorthyn, who was assigned to aid Gorlthum. Gorlthum was a spoiled rich kid and bully.

One day, while off duty, Rollan and Jorthyn were enjoying ale at the Boar's Landing. Gorlthum stormed in, angry that Jorthyn wasn't available. Jorthyn appologized, but said that he had been off duty. Gorlthum slapped Jorthyn right there, and then started to chew him out. Then, Gorlthum started to drag Jorthyn out of the tavern, saying that he would give him the beating of his life.

Rollan, who values loyalty and has no use for self-important people, gave Gorlthum a severe thrashing. This was the final straw - Rollan was dismissed from Tratham's household and lost all chances for a future as a knight, or even a position on the Heathridge Guards.

However, Rollan's uncle was a friend of Sir Prixon. Both men secretly admired Rollan's character, and Prixon set Rollan up to join Brakis' adventuring party.

Rollan wears mail armor and is armed with a broadsword and dagger.

Hanzir the Air Mage

2006-10-19T14:11:00.001-05:00

Hanzir's family had a date farm near the Oasis of Katurba, in Wazkstan. The farm was lost however, during the Dukat War, when the Fire Wizard Guthan, serving the Dukat Sheiks, turned the Oasis into a dustbowl, in the Battle of Black Fire.

The family became poor and Hanzir, who was a promising student, had to trade in his studies for a job herding goats. Things took a bright turn when his brilliance was recognized by the djinn d' Ara Butan, who became his mentor.

Butan taught Hanzir the art of air elemental magic. Hanzir can cast detect magic and wind arrows three times a day. He can cast air slam and whirling dervish each once a day.

Hanzir wears a bracelet of protection that he got from Butan, which protects him like plate mail. Hanzir wields a scimitar.

Sigfred the Dwarf

2006-10-19T13:20:00.001-05:00

Sigfred is 4 feet tall, with a muscular build, and flaming red hair. His thick, red beard reaches the middle of his chest, and his bushy mustache is starting to curl.

He is extremely strong, like his father was during his adventuring days, before a poisoned orc arrow turned him into a bed-ridden invalid. Still, Sigfred's father is never bitter or depressed and, whenever Sigfred visits him, he regales him with tales from his days with Sir Prixon.

Sigfred, however, has let what happened to his father fester into an intense hatred of orcs.

Sigfred wears mail armor and wields a large battle axe.

Sister Pernal the Priestess

2006-09-28T16:13:00.001-05:00

Sister Pernal came from a wealthy merchant family. However, at the age of 10, she heard the calling of Carloth, the Priagean god.

She entered the Order of Carloth, and became a priestess. She was so skilled with the Holy Magic Arts, that she attrated the attention of the Arch Bishop of Heathridge.

Upon completion of her training, Sister Pernal decided to seek adventure in the outside world, while helping mankind.

Sister Pernal can cast both Bless and Heal spells three times a day. She can cast Crush Jaws and Destroy Undead each once a day. Since she is a low level priestess, her Destroy Undead spell can only affect skeletons.

Sister Pernal wears mail armor and, because she is only permitted to wield blunt instruments, carries a mace and flail.

Brakis the Knight

2006-09-15T15:52:00.001-05:00

Brakis is 20, and had been serving Sir Prixon since he was 13 years old, which is the last time he lived at home, with his parents and two sisters.

Brakis has a full set of plate mail armor, and a full shield, which were all custom forged by Prixon's armor-smiths.

Brakis is expert with the long sword, and also carries a large snee for backup.

The Gathering

2006-09-13T16:24:00.000-05:00

Brakis was seated at the back of the tavern in the town of Blackmoor, huddled over his tankard of ale. "The others should be arriving now", he thought. He had never met the others, but knew that their lives would depend on one another.

Centuries ago, Blackmoor had been the capital of the Barovian Empire, and the ruins of the emperor's castle still lay outside of town, on Mt. Caldur. Brakis and the others would explore the ruins, looking for treasure, and gaining real world experience.

Brakis had recently finished his apprenticeship with Sir Prixon, back in Heathridge. He had expressed to his former master that he was interested in finding fame and fortune as an adventurer. Prixon respected Brakis as one of his best students, and had used his connections to help set up this operation.

The others began to arrive:

First, there was Sister Pernal, from the Order of Carloth. She had recently completed her training in the Holy Magical Arts, and was there because of Sire Prixon's friendship with the Arch Bishop of Heathridge.

The next one to show up was Sigfred the Dwarf, whose father had adventured with Prixon many years before.

Third was Hanzir, from Wazkstan, who had been trained in air elemental magic by the djinn D' Ara Butan, who had once been saved by Prixon.

The next to show up was Rollan the Rough. Prixon had known his uncle, and told Brakis that Rollan was quick tempered and uncouth, but was loyal beyond question - he would always have your back.

Finally, when everyone was seated around the table, the slender, half-elven features of Liown the thief suddenly melted out of the darkness. Prixon had never told Brakis about his connection to Liown, but Brakis had heard rumors that Prixon was Liown's human parent.

All six of the adventurers had finally arrived. They talked excitedly, in hushed tones, as they ate their lunch and consumed their ale.

The plan was for them to spend the rest of the afternoon pooling their money and shopping for supplies. Tomorrow, at first light, they would head off to Mt. Caldur...