Classic Castle Roleplay: March - September, 2006

LEGO gaming, including group role playing games
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Classic Castle Roleplay: March - September, 2006

Post by The Green Knight »

Additions to the continuing epic should be posted here. Character registerations, questions and comments regarding the CCRP should be posted in this thread.

Let the adventure continue!
Let us stop for a moment and ponder the signiture...





Ok, enough of that!
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Post by Lord Nev »

G-10
Fire Breathing Fortress

In the midst of their travels, the Lion's Mane came across a fortification that just screamed Dragon Masters.

"Ah assume thes es the Faire Breathin' Fairtress," Nev said.

"Whatever gave you that idea," Camrast said under his breath.

"Alright, stow it you two," Jegg snapped. "We are guests in this place, hopefully. Don't forget that! Most importantly, keep your peace with the guards."

Jegg looked at Vald as he stressed this last point.

Vald looked innocent. "What?"

"You know what."

"The guard had it comin' to him."

"That may be, but you should have demonstrated more self-control."

"Broken bones heal y'know."

"Yes, but not ripped off fingers."

"Oi, who are you?" a guard atop the wall asked.

"We seek shelter for a few days. May we enter?"

The guard looked inquisitive.

"Alright. Enter."

The massive gates opened with a sound that was eerily similar to the exhale of a sleeping dragon. It sent shivers down all of their spines. A man greeted them at the door.

"Welcome to the Fortress. I am Ajaxx."

Jegg bowed. "I am Jegg and we are the Lion's Mane."
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Post by Robin Hood »

Grid: G-8
Location: Castleton

As Aiden left the castle and ran onto the streets, a loud horn sounded from the keep. In a minute, other horns replied from around the city. The city was going to be locked up. All entrances into the city were barred, even the sewers, with at least five men per gate, and along the wall, sentries were posted within easy sight of each other. The city's remaining soldiers went to assigned positions to wait for orders. Usually these orders would be for defensive or attack purposes, but here, the groups would be organized into search parties.

After putting the surviving attacker in prison, Sir Theodore told an aide to report to the king. He then gathered twenty officers, one for each gathering place of soldiers, to lead search parties in the city. The knight then headed the direction Aiden had gone. He found the man near the city's outer wall.

"Anything?" inquired the general.

Aiden shook his head. "No. I know that they didn't leave the city. They would still be visible to the wall sentries. There in the city somewhere."

"We'll find them," said Theodore. "I have four hundred men to search the city, not including those on guard duty. We'll find them."

Aiden hoped so. Things had become quite complicated. The fact the one of the men was a burakku shinobi, and that they were not supposed to exist was not comforting. And since the only know encounter with that group of mysterious people had involved Aiden and Kae-Os, Aiden was fairly sure that the appearance one was not coincidence. But until they were found, all Aiden could do was to help search.
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Post by TheOrk »

G-8 Castleton
"We'll find them," said Theodore. "I have four hundred men to search the city, not including those on guard duty. We'll find them."
With that, the two parted ways, Aiden with his hand on his sword hilt and the intention of finding the remaining attackers himself; disappeared around a corner. Theodore turned back to see to organizing the manhunt. He shuddered at the notion that a band of armed assailants could make it into the castle. After the incident involving that shape shifter, Theodore wouldn’t take anymore chances.

As he rounded a corner, he came face to face with a friend. “Valric?”

The Classic Knight laughed “You were going to throw a party without me?”

Theodore chuckled “If I knew where you were, I would have called you. You seem to be all over the place these days.”

Valric nodded “Aye, I noticed that. So what’s this whole deal about assassins attacking the king?”

Theodore winced, “The whole tyco incident isn’t half a day old and I bet rumors have spread to Orion by now.

“It was a handful of men disguised as servants, they tried to make off with a young woman. You know the one that that Aiden chap was besotted with?”

Valric nodded again “Her?”

The two began to move, “Yes, Nina if I remember.”

“It’s not my job to sort this mess out, what happened next?” Theodore began to fill him in.

Valric shrugged and laughed “Well finding four minifigs in a large city will be easier then finding one in a huge city! It’s not my job to sort this mess out, just point me in the right direction and I’ll be on my way.”
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Post by Lord Nev »

G-10
Fire Breathing Fortress

Jegg and his men followed Ajaxx into a chamber. There was a table and sitting at it were three others. One was a woman. The other two were men. Ajaxx introduced Jegg's company to the three alreeady seated. Jegg bowed to Aethen and Elain then took his seat.

"Ah knoo et!" Nev said under his breath. His attention was directed to the baby dragon on the table. A quick glance from Jegg and Nev sat silent.

The Lion's Mane ate their fill. Though they avoided the dragon, the rest was fairly good. After the eats, the conversation started.

"So, Jegg," said Aethen. "Where are you bound to?"

"Well, I can't really say. Something in me told me to travel East for a while and that is just what I did."

"Huh, doon't ye' mean a bloomin' lifetime? Ow!"

Camrast sheathed a dagger as Nev looked his way.

"What about you?" Camrast inquired.

"We-"

"Will be staying here for a while," Ajaxx interupted. "Just as you will."

Jegg's eyes narrowed and his hand strayed to his sword hilt.
Last edited by Lord Nev on Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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The breakout

Post by E of Alshire »

D-10
Fire Breathing Fortress


“We will, eh?”

“Aye.”

“And why is that, I ask?” Demanded a red-faced Nev.

Aelain slowly moved her chair out from the table, grabbing Traver’s unattended goblet.

Aethen rose from the table, calm-faced but inwardly seething. “I’d like to hear that explanation as well, yer Majesty. And while we’re at explanations, what exactly is this bunch doing here?” He gestured dramatically at the Lion’s mane.

A loud crash came from across the table; Traver’s goblet had fallen. Or was pushed, thought Aethen (with a hint of a proud smile) in the split second before everything went silent - and suddenly; very, very loud.

Jegg’s already nervous hands drew this sword (quickly, thought Aethan, fast reflexes), nicking Nev’s arm in the process, eliciting a loud “Oy!” from the latter.

Aelain looked from the great doors that blocked their only escape route to see Aethen throw a platter of fish (they must have forgotten to cook them, Aelain thought with a grimace - odd customs has royalty) straight at Ajaxx’s bearded face, turning with the momentum of his throw to run toward the doors. Aelain broke her gaze long enough to force her sword through the cracks in the doors and raise the sturdy oak crossbar barring the doors.

Aethen tackled the doors needlessly, flying through the doorway with a bang. They ran throught the barracks area of the fort as inconspicuously as possible (not very). The guards are all either asleep or drunk, thought Aelain, and then with dawning comprehension, or..

They burst through the main gate; unlocked, thankfully, and stopped short as they saw Traver in full armor menacing three guards with Aelain’s sword.

He was standing on a fully horsed carriage as the guards cautiously thrust at him with poleaxes. He looked up at the bang of the heavy iron doors and lost balance, falling on the other side of the cart from the guards.

Traver!” called Aelain.

Aethen jumped from the switchback that led down to the cart as Traver pulled himself on the driver’s seat of the carriage. Aelain sprinted, adrenaline flowing through her veins as the molten lead she wished she could run through Ajaxx’s.
Aelain jumped into the carriage as Aethen tackled a guard without the aid of arms or armor - the spear on the haft of the guard‘s poleaxe thrusting into his arm. The remaining guards dove aside as Aethen weilded the first’s poleax with deadly efficiency, neatly disarming the second and with the same sweeping motion pinning the third to the ground by his tunic.

Diving into the carriage, he commented as Traver spurred the horses on, “Nice dinner, that.”

Then everything went black.
Last edited by E of Alshire on Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Robin Hood »

TheOrk wrote:Valric shrugged and laughed “Well finding four minifigs in a large city will be easier then finding one in a huge city! It’s not my job to sort this mess out, just point me in the right direction and I’ll be on my way.”
Grid: G-8
Location: Castleton

The main problem was that the right direction could be anywhere. Castleton, while no Orion, was not a small village. It was the capital of the country and the largest city between Falcon City and Orion. Not only that, it was on the Falcon-Royal trade route, and as such drew many travelers. To search such a city would be near impossible, even with over four hundred men.

This being obvious, Aiden and Theodore decided to interrogate the man they had captured. It didn't prove very fruitful.

The man remained completely silent, refusing to answer any questions, despite Aiden's various threats. The only information they got at all was from Kae-Os, who said that the supposed servant was Ninjarin. Though undetectable to most ears, the man had a slight accent. What’s more, Kae-Os had told them, the man was from the Ninjarin island, Boranis Dracis. Despite confirming Aiden's suspicions that Nina's kidnapping was somehow tied to their visit to the isle, this told them nothing. Except perhaps, that the men they sought were going to harder to find than if they were, say Falcons. Ninjarins were known to be a more intelligent than the average man.

"You do know that if we don't find them soon, Sir Theodore will have to remove the alert. Castleton cannot stand being cut off from the rest of the world for long. Nina is not an important enough person to keep trade away from the city." Said Kae-Os as he and Aiden left the prisoner.

"Yeah I know," growled Aiden. "But I can't think of anything else to do."

Kae-Os didn't say anything. Aiden grinned, ever so slightly. "You have an idea." It was not a question.

"Yes," answered the elf. "But we will need the help of Sir Theodore."

"Then lets find him."
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Post by Lord Nev »

G-10
Fire Breathing Fotress

The Lion' Mane stood back to back as well as six men can. All of their weapons were drawn and they were ready to unleacj tyco if anyhting should go wrong.

"So I take it the 'be nice to guards' rule is off," Bohdran said sarcastcally.

Ajaxx rose form the table.

"I see you do not want to be stay."

"Not when our rooms are dungeons!" Jegg retorted. "Are you alright, Nev?"

"Ah sure, I have armor y'noo."

"You have been chosen to undertake a task so difficult that any ordinary man would die trying to accomplish it. I was going to ask the previous three, but they were eager to leave." Ajaxx's hopeful eyes turned to slits as he surveyed the warriors before him. "Why are there only five of you? Where is the sixth?!"

They all excahnged glances. Camrast.

"Ah, so there is a magic weilder in your group. I utterly despise them." Ajaxx's raised his hand over a dozen gueard burst into the room, poleaxes menacing.

"Now this goes beyond request. You are not alowed to leave unless the task is complete."

"What is this task?" Jegg demanded.

"Oh, did I not say? You are going to tame dragons," he turned his attention to the room around him. "These dragons cannot be tamed by magic so don't try."

Eigth barrels of wine tipped over as Camrast leapt from his position. He tackled two bewildered guards and moved to assault Ajaxx. Ajaxx skillfully threw a punch and it his its mark. Camrast lay on the floor, eyes closed.

"I could hear your footsteps, you fool," he said with annoyance. "Guards, take them to their chambers."
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Post by Lord Nev »

Same place as last time.

Jegg and his company were forcefully escorted to a high point on the fortress. They descended a tower and opened a door to the roof. Jegg could see why. At least 9 dragons were sleeping or eating on the very roofs of the fortress.

"Enjoy your stay at Dragonrest," the guard sniggered.

He shut the door and Nev began to get fidgety.

"Och, just hoo are we goin' tae tame these dragons?"

"Just get them used to plasticka presence, I guess."

Vald strode up to one of the sleeping dragons. It was red and very fierce looking. Only Vald would be so bold. He drew his mace, but he realized that he had no weapon. The dragons eyes opened with Vald's exclamation. It rose to its full height, nostrils flaring.

The dragon opened his mouth in a growl. Vald slowly stepped back, but the dragon was not apeased. He started stalking toward Vald, but was stopped immediately. The dragon was collared. The iron studded, leather nuisance was atached to a chain that was attached to a wodden stake driven deep in to the rooftop.

The guards were looking up at them. Some were making bets on who would die first. Camrast drew a dagger that the guards had failed to confiscate and slowly handed it to Vald. Vald gripped the dagger and crept toward the tethered beast.

The dragon followed his every move. Vald circled around to the stake and knelt by it. He began to carve the roof around the stake. It was buried deep. The dragon's mouth opened and it growled. Vald acted as if it was of no concern, but inside he was scared spitless. The dragon's eyes did not look as fierce as they had before. In fact, there was a look of the subtlest confusion.

For about fifteen minutes, the only sound was Vald's dagger carving at the wood and the occasional sneeze from the intrigued guards below. Finally, the stake came loose. The dragon stepped back as Vald approached it. He extended his hand and touched the dragon's snout. It snorted. He slid his hand up and down the dragon's face, stroking it. The ferrocity was gone from the wild eyes of the red beast. Instead, the dragon's eyes betrayed enjoyment.

"I don't think he's ever been stroked before," Vald whispered, half to himself, half to the company. He lloked over at the Lion's Mane. They all were bewildered.

"Who noo Vald would be such a softie?" Nev whispered jokingly.

"Well, if Vald had it this easy then we'll be fine!" Bohdran said excitedly...too excitedly.

The rest of the dragons came alive again. They got up and lowered their heads menacingly at Jegg's men. Loud growls emmitted from the dragon's open mouths. Unfortunately, the dragons' chains were long enough to reach Bohdran, Camrast, Jegg, Nev, and Tannerst no matter where they went. No doubt Vald would be in danger, as well.

"You just had to talk," Jegg.
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Post by Robin Hood »

Robin Hood wrote:Kae-Os didn't say anything. Aiden grinned, ever so slightly. "You have an idea." It was not a question.

"Yes," answered the elf. "But we will need the help of Sir Theodore."

"Then lets find him."
Grid: G-8
Location: Castleton

That night, the search parties were called off, as were most of the sentries. People were allowed to come and go into the city, though everybody was searched.

The lead ninjarin of the group that had taken Nina deemed it safe enough to leave the city. He and his three remaining men, dressed as Royal Knight peasants, left the city that night through the main south gate. Nina was hidden beneath a large pile of flour sacks, unconscious. The sacks was on a cart drawn by one horse.

The soldier at the south gate did a brief check of sacks, but deep enough to feel Nina. Or so the Ninjarins thought. In fact, the soldier who was checking the cart was Kae-Os. As the elf gestured to the ninjarins to go on through, he silently signalled Aiden, who was posing as the other guard. As soon as the cart was past the city walls, Aiden waved a torch into the darkness past the cart. In response, ten torches appeared in a semicircle around the cart. From the light of each torch stepped five soldiers. Aiden and Kae-Os, backed by ten men, approached the cart.

Seeing that they had been found, the lead ninjarin pulled out what appeared to be a flour sack. Striking a spark to it, he hurled it toward Aiden’s group. The three other men did the same to the other groups of men.

Aiden wasn't sure what was in the sack, but when the fire touched it, the stuff immediately began to give off huge amounts of smoke. Aiden, and all the other men, were blinded.

Coughing, Aiden stumbled forward till he was past the smoke. He saw the ninjarin's cart heading south with all the speed it could muster in the snow.

Before he even had time to curse, he heard a sharp whistle, followed by the sound of hooves. In a second, Kae-Os appeared in the fog, followed by two saddled horses. The elf passed the reins of one to Aiden.

"Just in case something like this happened." Replied Kae-Os to Aiden's inquiries. The two then galloped after the cart.

It wasn't long before the ninjarins saw they were being pursued. They were catching up fast, for the ninjarins horse had to carry five people and cart. Seeing that they would not outrun them at the moment, the lead ninjarin shouted something to his fellows. The sack containing Nina was put on the horses back, followed by the lead ninjarin. He then pulled out a knife and cut the bonds holding the horse to the cart.

The cart crashed into the middle or road, and the three ninjarins drew knives, preparing to slow down the pursuit. They didn't slow them down much. On horseback, Kae-Os barely needed to slow down to dispatch them. With a quick jab of his spear and a swing from his katana, the elf killed two of them. Right behind him came Aiden, whose rapier dealt with the last one.

The two comrades had to slow their pace though, for it was night, with little light to guide them. They could do no faster than a trot in order to make sure their quarry didn't change his path. It was fortunate for them that fresh snow had fallen and that the road had not been travelled a lot recently. If it hadn't been so, the tracks would not have been visible.
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Post by The Green Knight »

The ningaran spoke not a word, but quick as a wink, darted around the Dragon Master’s sword and shot his fingers up into Targon’s neck and around his esophagus. Instantly Targon couldn’t breath and plummeted to the deck. Then, just before he could recover, the captain appeared above him, brandishing the plank from the hatch.

“How did she get ou—

That was the last thing Caimlin heard before the teleharm connection was painfully cut.

Not one minute later the first sorcerer of the isle found himself being rudely interrupted from his work, by a strangely worried Caimlin. “Drock. I think Targon needs help.”
Targon the indestructible was in a terrible mood. He was also in several layers of chains and shackles tying him to the mast of the fastest ship in Dametreos. All night he’d been there. All the wet, drizzled and dripping night. Needless to say, it hadn’t helped his mood. But the surrounding fog was growing brighter now. Dawn was on its way.

“T-tyco stone.” The incomprehensible voice half growled, half chattered. “J-just trying t-to take back wha-at’s mine and look what happens.”

Indeed, what had happened was truly something to look at and the Dragon Master began to look back at everything that happened since the BloodVaine war.

“It was the bloody rock that gave me this garbly voice.” Targon thought, scratching the scar on his neck. “Was the rock that made the pirates turn on me too! And now I’m here, thanks again to that Tyco rock! Aw, I shoulda just forgotten about that megablock and let the bloody pirate keep it.”

Whoa!

I hope the reader, whom ever they may be, will excuse this short pause in Targon’s internal monologue for just a moment. You see I just have to take a second to enjoy this truly historic moment in which Targon has actually accepted the blame for the trouble he’s put himself into. I don’t know about you, but I think that this could be a real breakthrough in the area of Targon’s character…

“Yeah, it’s true.” The Dragon Master continued. “I was better off before I knew what that stone was good fer. Better before I met him. Better before Bragon tried to get me kil— waitaminute! BARGON! That’s it! It’s all his fault!”

Well, I should have known it was too good to last.

The grumbling man went on blaming his brother for another five minutes until a bucket of frigid water landed on his head.

“What the b-bloody megablox? Who’s the sh-shifty son of a b-brick who— Aarrgghhh!”

The bucket was wrenched off of Targon’s head, revealing the upright form of the captain. Unlike Targon, she was in a good mood. Of course, compared to Targon a castrated pole-cat would eligible for ‘good mood’ status, but that’s not the point. See, Helga was smiling so honest and cheery that if Targon didn’t know any better, he’d have thought that she actually felt sorry for him. They say misery loves company and that’s’ true, but if there’s one thing misery hates it’s a good mood and Targon felt like he could strangle the captain and half a dozen furry woodland creatures just from looking at that smile.

“How’s the water temperature, Bilge?” Helga inquired cheerfully. “Not cold enough to crack the pitch wax I’d say…though maybe about right for a dip, eh Bilge?”

“My name is Targon!” the captive bellowed. “And if I still had my sword you could add “The Wench Slayer” to that title, ya nano sea witch! I’d be using you for the rudder now if it weren’t for that Mephistar spawn, ninja grandpa.”


“Actually Bilge, you wouldn’t.” She said, still smiling. “Know why?”

“No, why?”

The captain bent down until her weathered face was level with Targon’s. “Because, I’m Helga Bernice von Blunderhassen and this…is my ship.”

Targon didn’t have a response to this, so he merely watched as she stood up and walked away. “Where are you taking me?” The Dragon Master finally croaked after her.

“Back to Glondur. Where I always go after a job is done. The professor’s going home now and so am I.”

Fate however, had other plans, for at that moment a great wave rocked the vessel. Helga raced to the gun-whale, peering into the fog. Then she saw it. It looked at first like a low patch of dark fog lying along the top of the water. Then, like a small, floating island and finally like what it was. An enormous green sea turtle.

Helga starred in shock for a moment. Not that the turtle was shocking, mind you. The captain had dealt with sea monsters before and wasn’t even close to being frightened. No ideed, the shock on her face came from the actions of another creature that had, at that moment, leapt from the shell of the turtle and was soaring towards the ship.

Targon couldn’t see the turtle from his viewpoint, but that was just as well. The two of them had met before. It had been a while, but Targon would have recognized ‘Pickle-bar’, just as recognized the man who had just crashed down onto the deck.

“Drock?”

The first sorcerer had arrived.
Let us stop for a moment and ponder the signiture...





Ok, enough of that!
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Post by Lord Nev »

Still there

"Oh, Ole Kirk help us," Vald prayed.

"Bohdran, next time you're happy about something, SHUT UP!" reprimanded Tannerst.

"Quit it, all of you!" Jegg silenced them both. "No one move. Any sudden movements will set them off attacking us."

Vald looked appealingly at the red dragon he freed. "Help us," he whispered.

The dragon bowed its head and walked towards them. It positioned itself between the Lion' Mane and the attacking dragons, much to everyone's surprise. It roared mightily and the other dragons backed off.

For the next three nights, this was how the Lion's Mane slept. The red dragon between them and their antagonizers. On the fourth night, the Lion's Mane had a conference.

"Jegg, you know it's only a matter of time before the guards will come and get us down."

"Whah's that bad?" asked Nev.

"We don't know what they are going to do to us. None of us have been able to tame the drags besides Vald."

"Oi Vald, mebbe you could get your friend to let the others let us tame them," Bohdran suggested.

"Don't be stupid!" Camrast snapped.

"Wait!" Jegg looked thoughtfully at the dragon, then at Vald. "It could work."

"Could ye dae et, Vahld?"

"I'll try."

Vald got up and crept towards his sleeping friend. He whispered in its ear.

"Ol' friend, you have saved us. I don't know how long we will be able to stay up here. We need your help. Your brothers won't let us befriend them. I don't know if you can understand me, but please convince them that we mean them no harm. We want to help them as we helped you."

The red beast got up and stalked over to his other sleeping brothers. The Lion's Mane held their breaths, waiting.
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Post by The Green Knight »

Grid: A-12
Location: Mist Isle
According to the skraeling, his homeland in the northern region, has great wealth. The realm below its almost as great… The closest lands, home to men “who ride winged serpents”(Norbrik took a great interest to that) inhabbit the region not far away. And all the land below that is too hot for our liking.” Finished Thedrikforge, placing the rock back over the parchment.

“Aye.” Replied Norbrik. Right now, he was going to find out everything he could about the sea serpents inhabbiting this Dametreos…
It was another fine day on the Viking’s island. The mist was rolling in. The carrion were feasting on the remains of last night’s hunting trip. And all the men who had slagged their urge to kill something during the raids were once again at each other’s throats, hacking away with renewed bloodlust in groups of various sizes around the fort.

The morning may have continued undisturbed into noon and evening if not for the return of one of their long boats.

“Eoger’s back!” Came the call from the fortress wall. “The dwarf’s returned!”

Norbrick Ogbrickson was the first one down to the bay to receive the ship. And for a good reason too, for it was he who had dispatched the diminutive Viking on his little mission.

The longboat pulled up to the great dock and lowered its gang plank as the Vikings came to meet it.

It was really quite a commotion I must confess, with cries and whoops of triumph and shouts of a successful errand. In fact the scene was not very unlike the one that had occurred after the Viking’s first raid on the Royal Knights.

Now, up on the bulwark beside the dragon head prow appeared suddenly a small man with a red beard, holding aloft the bloodied head sea serpent and shouting aloud. “Whell Norbrick, does ‘is answer yar quastion?”

Eoger the dwarf. Three foot, four inches in height. Seven foot nine in personality. What providence had neglected in the man’s stature, it had more then made up for in fearlessness and tenacity. At least if Eoger could be called a man. No one seemed to know if he was an authentic dwarf or merely a vertically challenged Viking. And strangely, no one seemed to care.

“I see ya found the serpents, Eoger.”

“Yah sure I did, Norbrick. ‘ust like ya asked me to. And Norbrick, ‘ere’s more whare ‘is one come from. Scores more.”

A strange look came into Norbrick’s eyes as he heard the report. A look that one could only describe as feverish anticipation.

“Eoger!” he called into the ship. “I feel the plans far a new hunting trip coming on. Ya best come dawn here and tell me where this brood of serpents be sleeping.”
Let us stop for a moment and ponder the signiture...





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Post by The Green Knight »

Targon couldn’t see the turtle from his viewpoint, but that was just as well. The two of them had met before. It had been a while, but Targon would have recognized ‘Pickle-bar’, just as recognized the man who had just crashed down onto the deck.

“Drock?”

The first sorcerer had arrived.
“Drock?” Targon croaked again as the sorcerer stood and took a defensive stance, his eyes darting about the ship until they lit upon Targon.

“I see your condition’s not much improved since last we met. Whose bad side did you land on this time?”

“That would be mine.” Said a voice from behind the sorcerer. Drock turned, and there, a harpoon held point down at her side and looking calm as the sea on a windless summer night— was Helga. “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting this. So the one armed pirate crew has friends in high places…”

Drock lowered his scepter. “A woman?” He had figured that Targon was being held captive by pirates or marines or at least some swarthy whalers, but— a woman?

Either Targon had grown considerably less formidable since they last met or this woman was better at handling Dragon Masters then the sorcerer king.

Then again, one look at her rugged exterior and Drock was willing to believe it. “Excuse the intrusion Ma’am. I’m just here for the Dragon Master.”

“Why, what did he do against you?”

“Bah!” came a sudden burst from the base of the mast. “Nothing, that’s what ya barnacle queen! Caimlin musta sent him to rescue me. Come on Drock. Toss her overboard and we’ll hightail this ship back to the— ” Targon never finished as a huge wave rushed over the bulwark and pummeled the Dragon Master, leaving him cold and sputtering.

Meanwhile Drock lowered his glowing staff, shielding the evidence of what he’d done from the well-salted Dragon Master. “It’s true, I have nothing against him, but I’ll be taking him just the same.

The captain appeared to ponder this for a second and then replied calmly. “I can’t let you.”

Drock smiled. He had to admire her pluck. “Well…If you think you can stop me—”

“You don’t understand, sir. He tried to steal my ship. I will see him brought to justice.”

The sorcerer shot a hard look at Targon. “You did what?” He said.

“Eep! She’s lying!” the beleaguered Dragon Master squeaked hoarsely. “I—I was… I was kidnapped, that’s what! Why, I was minding my own business onboard one of them… merchant thingies when she attacked with her band of grandpa ninja monkeys! Which…um she keeps down in the hold of course and that’s why you don’t see them. Not that you need to look down there or anything because you don’t. I mean, not that I don’t want you to look, but it would be a waste of time so you um…yeah…

And then she kidnapped me! She kidnapped me to make me her… her barnacle king! Which can only mean that she must have heard of my fame and rugged good looks and has been searching high and low across the seven seas for one whiff of my blessed odor! Oh, SAVE ME, DROCK!!! SAVE ME from her demented schemes!”

Drock himself was nearly in shock. This was definitely a side of Targon he’s never seen before. As for Helga, she just stood, shaking her head in pitty. There was no doubt now as to who was telling the truth.

“Well,” Drock thought to himself. “Perhaps I can make a deal with her.”

“Well miss, eh—

“Helga, Helga Bernice von Blunderhassen, captain of the Sea Serpent, fastest ship on the ocean.”

The sea serpent? Drock smiled. “And how fast does she go?”

“How fast does she— How bloody fast—” It was Targon who answered. “Hellooo! I’m still tied up over here! This is supposed to be a tyco rescue mission! I’m not—

Once again Targon’s voice disappeared in the roar of a second wave breaking onto the deck. This, in turn, dissolved into a fluent stream of obscene language, bubbling incoherently out of the Dragon Master’s mouth. Drock began to wonder how many interruptions he could silence without Targon catching on.

Speaking of Targon, Drock had half a mind to leave the Dragon Master where he’d fallen and let him shift for himself. He was only doing this for Caimlin really and the fact that Targon had been playing pirate didn’t make things easier. The sorcerer was about ready to teleport them all back to Boranis Dracis and let Caimlin try to apease the offended captain. This whole rescue mission was his idea anyway. He was the one who ought to be here, reasoning for his friend’s release. Diplomacy had never been Drock’s strongest point anyway. But of course it didn’t matter because Caimlin wasn’t on Boranis Dracis and that was why Drock was here, playing Caimlin’s ambassador in the great Targon exchange.

Now it just so happened that just then, a dizzy sensation came into the sorcerer’s head. A teleharm was on its way and though no one knew it, things were about to get much more complicated.
Let us stop for a moment and ponder the signiture...





Ok, enough of that!
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Robin Hood
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Post by Robin Hood »

Robin Hood wrote:It wasn't long before the ninjarins saw they were being pursued. They were catching up fast, for the ninjarins horse had to carry five people and cart. Seeing that they would not outrun them at the moment, the lead ninjarin shouted something to his fellows. The sack containing Nina was put on the horses back, followed by the lead ninjarin. He then pulled out a knife and cut the bonds holding the horse to the cart.

The cart crashed into the middle or road, and the three ninjarins drew knives, preparing to slow down the pursuit. They didn't slow them down much. On horseback, Kae-Os barely needed to slow down to dispatch them. With a quick jab of his spear and a swing from his katana, the elf killed two of them. Right behind him came Aiden, whose rapier dealt with the last one.

The two comrades had to slow their pace though, for it was night, with little light to guide them. They could do no faster than a trot in order to make sure their quarry didn't change his path. It was fortunate for them that fresh snow had fallen and that the road had not been travelled a lot recently. If it hadn't been so, the tracks would not have been visible.
Grid: E-11
Location: Port Jozef

Two months had passed since Aiden and Kae-Os had tracked the ninjarin and his captive to Port Jozef, the most southern of the Royal Knight cities. There they had carefully searched and search, but with no result. At first they had been pretty sure that the ninjarin hadn’t left on a ship, but as the days passed they finally began to accept the fact that Nina was gone. Just as Aiden decided to start looking abroad for her, word had reached him that Nina and her captor had been spotted in the city. But the two friends had not found her. Again they gave up hope, and again they heard a rumour of their quarry, still in the city, but again they could not find them.
This happened over and over and, while Aiden and Kae-Os continued their seemingly impossible hunt, the snow melted and spring came to the land. It was now early June and summer was starting. By now one would have thought that they would have found Nina, but Port Jozef, apart from being the third largest Royal Knight city, was also a huge crime pit. Though the king had tried numerous times to squash the evil in the city, crime still thrived. What soldiers were stationed there did little save keep an eye on the Dragon Master border. One could hide in the city and never be found.
“I don’t get,” said Aiden, as he and Kae-Os walked through the streets, stopping now and again to ask shop keeps, bartenders and the like about Nina. “I can vaguely understand why we haven’t found Nina yet, but why would her captor still be here. He was obviously ninjarin, so why stay here?”
“I don’t know,” replied Kae-Os. “But I suspect he is waiting for something, a pickup perhaps. Maybe he received orders and now has to wait here for something or someone.”
“Yeah, but two months?”
“It does seem a long time, but remember, part of Ninjara is a fair distance away. Mayhap something got delayed.”
Aiden considered this. “Only the Ninjarin isle is really far off. The north most part of Ninjara is separated from this land only by a short stretch of land ruled by the Dragon Masters.” He paused. “You think he is from the isle?”
“I think yes, but have no proof,” said the elf. “I feel somehow that this is connected with our adventure there. The ninjarin was a burakku shinobi, a supposedly mythical person. And on the isle we met several more of those people who aren’t supposed to exist outside of tales. Coincidence? Maybe, but unlikely.”
“You think perhaps they only took Nina because she was close to us?”
Kae-Os said, “Maybe, though I could be completely wrong. We know of no connection between Cloak and any Ninjarins, save the burakku shinobi and that fact that he worked for the Daimyo there on occasion. Still, it does seem unlikely that Nina’s kidnapping and our adventure there are completely unrelated. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that Cloak either was an ally to the Daimyo or asked to borrow his shinobi to help kill us, making the assumption of course that the shinobi were the Daimyo’s, and now the shinobi has taken Nina in order to avenge the ones we killed. As for why he is still waiting in Port Jozef I can’t really say. Perhaps he sent a message to others requesting a pickup. The time it would take for a letter to reach Boranis Dracis, and for his pickup to come here could take to months, especially with spring weather.”
“Hmmmm,” pondered Aiden. “I wonder what sort of pickup it will be?”

-------------------------------

A league west of the city, floating in the sea, was the answer to Aiden’s question. Seven great ships lay there, waiting for the word to finish their long voyage.

-------------------------------

“I despise this city.” Commented Sir Theodore. The Knight stood just before the gates of Port Jozef with twenty men behind him.
“Who doesn’t?” asked Sir Valric beside him. “Everyone hates this place.”
He and Theodore were here to assist Aiden and Kae-Os. When the two had left Castleton two months ago, the knights had assumed that they would pursue their quarry out of Royal Knight lands. Then, a week ago, word had reached them that the two were in Port Jozef, and had been for quite awhile. Seeing that they could still give some aid, Theodore had quickly traveled to the city. He had brought only enough men to protect his party from the unsavoury types one finds in Port Jozef.
The group had not walked long when they found Aiden and Kae-Os. The two explained all that had happened since they parted.
“If I had known that you would stay here for so long, I would have followed you two directly from Castleton.”
“Better late than never.” Said Aiden. “At least with these extra men we will have the power to seize any vessel that may come to pick them up. Till then though we may as well continue to search the city.”

-------------------------------

The ships had set sail. All seven of them were packed with soldiers, a hundred a piece. And on the front of each of vessel there was a large ballista. As the ships drew near the city, the weapons were loaded and torches held ready to light them. The ships sailed into the harbour. The commander of the fleet gave the order, and the ballistae were lit and fired. Seven fiery missiles streaked into the city. Port Jozef, being the city it was, was not very well kept and its buildings were falling apart. When the missiles hit them, they immediately burst into flame. As people rushed over to see what had happened, seven more missiles were launched, aimed at different targets. As the third round of missiles was launched, so too did the boats set out to the shore. In each were eight men.
Upon reaching land, six jumped out of each while the remaining two sped back to the ships to reload. By the time all seven hundred soldiers had reached the city, ten rounds had been fired from the ballistae and large parts of the city were in flames. The soldiers, once all assembled, broke into groups of twenty and began to move into the city, with the only clear intent to cause as much destruction as possible. Everywhere they went the soldiers threw torches into buildings, threw fuel onto existing fires and killed everyone they saw. All the while burning missiles crashed into the city.

-------------------------------

Sir Theodore, upon seeing these events, spoke to Aiden. “Your on your own now I’m afraid. I have a duty to the country. With that he dropped his visor and signalled his men to follow him. They headed down toward the water.
Aiden looked at Kae-Os. “I have a feeling this has something to do with our friend.”
The elf nodded. “Perhaps this is how he plans to leave the city, either with these invaders or under the cover of their attack. Either way I think he plans to leave by water.”
“I agree.” The two then followed the route Theodore had taken.
The fire had now spread past the waterfront to inland part of the city. There was now no chance of stopping it. All that the citizens of the city could do was head for the gates. Unfortunately, so were the soldiers. Cutting and burning their way through the city, the invaders had made their way to the main gates. There they stopped and proceeded to kill anybody that tried to escape the inferno they were now stuck in.
Theodore saw this and ordered his men to the east, and largest, gate. There the tides of screaming people were held back by sixty of the enemy soldiers. Getting close to them, Theodore saw who they were, or at least who they appeared to be. The soldiers were not ninjarin that was plain. Their armour and weapons were of Black Knight style. On their shields though, instead of the Black Knight dragon, were winged serpents, but in the same design and colour of the dragon.
Theodore was out numbered three to one, but if there were to be any chance of saving any people, they would have to try and take out the soldiers. He looked at Valric. “If we don’t make it, I just want to say it has been a great honour fighting beside you.”
Valric grasped Theodore’s arm. “The same.”
The two and the twenty men behind them then drew their swords and charge the men holding the gate.
I build, therefore I am.

Brave words coming from a guy called grapenuts.
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