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Author
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Comment
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 380
(3/13/03 10:08 am)
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Re: Death
Draxim wolfs down two cheese sandwiches with extra butter and some nuts and such (TM). "What's a travois?" he asks Madragar "is that like a stretcher or a sled?"
"Perhaps Sangraal is right, we may be able to find what we need to build a ladder there. What do you think Harek?"
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1191
(3/13/03 10:10 am)
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Re: Dawn
Harek and Kildeer stand next the ladder they constructed last night during their watch.
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 333
(3/13/03 10:18 am)
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and the Dawn
Atan is uncharacteristically quiet. Offering little conversation to his companions usual bantering. The tidings brought by Kyethe has obviously silenced the ranger.
When morning comes Atan is once again packed and ready to depart at sun's rise. As Yimris is arranging his own pack Atan walks over to confer with his friend, "I think once we are done here I will head towards the Western side. An accounting should be done."
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Ruglan
Ruglan
Posts: 109
(3/13/03 11:30 am)
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Re: and the Dawn
Ruglan packs up his gear, puts on his armor and gets ready to head out.
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 381
(3/13/03 12:18 pm)
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Ladder
Draxim scrutinizes the ladder and then nods his approval.
"Need help carrying her?"
He finishes packing his belongings and making sure everything is cinched down tight for the most precipitous part of their journey.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 345
(3/13/03 12:58 pm)
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Which way is up?
Brushing leaves and dirt from the peppered plume adorning his imperial helm Sangraal gazes up at Old Kurlew.
"How long till we reach the top Master Killdeer?"
Adjusting his armor straps and pack Sangraal proclaims himself ready to depart.
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 268
(3/13/03 2:05 pm)
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Re: Ladder
Kezib, upon noting everyone else getting ready, will gather gather his belongings and prepare to leave. He will take a small piece of bread from his pack and eat that for breakfast.
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 319
(3/13/03 2:44 pm)
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Re: Which way is up?
[Kyethe is a raven...an omnivore. He'll eat carrion if that's what there is. But as the men were diseased, Madragar is sure the bright bird ate only from the half-men.]
Like Meneloss, Madragar rises early and studies. But the ritual seems to involve not only his book, but the intricate pattern of tattoos on his arms.
When he is done, he nods in satisfaction and packs quickly.
[GM see altered spell list.]
As soon as the others are ready to go, Madragar sets off with them.
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1192
(3/13/03 3:07 pm)
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Hiking
Emerging from the pine forest, the group makes for Old Kurlew along the rocky shoulders of the mountain range. The mysterious ruts lead straight to it and almost the entire trail is visible from their position. In fact, just about everything on the mountain side is visible. Only a few large boulders provide even the slightest bit of cover, and they are few and far between. Any keen eyed observer could spot the expedition from miles away, though it is unlikely any broo would be scouting about in the intense morning sunlight.
It takes only an hour or so to reach a cleft in the tall spire of Old Kurlew. The slopes of the mountain are quite steep at this point, though not dangerously so, and there is much loose stone laying about that slides underfoot, further slowing the travellers' progress. As they approach the bare, rocky mountain there is no sign of an entrance. At one point Harek stops the group and points out an almost undetectable line running diagonally across the high cliffs at the base of the mountain, insisting that the rocks there conceal the stairs.
Following the ruts, the group finally stand at the base of the towering cliffs. The peak of Old Kurlew must be over one thousand feet above even this, the crest of the mountain range. Harek, it turns out, was right. Running diagonally up the cliff face is a depression in the stone. Massive steps (many thirty feet wide and eight feet high) have been cut into the depression. With the cliff on the western side and a line of uncut boulders on the east, the stairs are not visible from the ground unless the observer is at the foot of them.
At first sight of the steps Harek and Kildeer curse in unison and drop their ladder. Each and every step of the stair, up the mountain side five hundred feet to where the stairs end at a concealed landing of some sort, is covered in a stout, iron-reinforced wooden ramp. Dozens of these ramps appear to have been constructed specifically for the stair on which they sit, for the stairs themselves are uneven and the ramps appear to take this into account, each fitting snugly against the carved stonework. The long series of ramps are also decorated with a number of corpses, apparently broo, scattered here and there.
Due west from their position at the bottom of the stairs, the group can see a wide rocky trail lead several hundred feet up and around the ridge to where Kyethe said was the battlefield.
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Meneloss
Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 420
(3/13/03 3:25 pm)
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A sinking feeling
Meneloss looks at the prepared ramps and his stomach drops. "If they had numbers like this to lay seige to Old Kerlew and slay Koreus, then we are indeed far too late to affect any change now."
He looks about nervously and adds "Friends, there is no shame in returning to Raven's Gate now. Though we would better serve our cause by investigating the ancient temple below the fortress to be sure."
He sips a bit of water to clear his dry throat. And draws his sword at the ready.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 347
(3/13/03 4:09 pm)
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Scanning
As everyone feared Old Kurlew looks to have fallen and as Sangraal guessed the wood from the grove was used to build a ramp up the stairs.
Sangraal takes a long look at the surrounding rocks. Scanning with his eyes looking for any signs of a lookout.
"Even though I counseled against coming, now that we are here ..." Sangraal trails off his unspoken words ringing loudly, leaving little doubt that he means to proceed.
[OOC: Spot +2 - scanning for any broo lookouts. Can any of the Rangers or anybody with a good spot skill see if there is a watch/guard hidden amoung the rocks?]
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1194
(3/13/03 4:12 pm)
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Re: A sinking feeling
Training his eyes up the rocky cliffs Sangraal can see no signs of any broo lookouts. The elves do the same but also don't detect anything unusual... well, except for the massive feat of carpentry and siegecraft that sits before them. That's pretty damn unusual.
[My internet connection is out of commission at home until Friday so I won't be posting at night. Sorry for the slowdown.]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 3/13/03 1:13:54 pm
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 348
(3/13/03 4:25 pm)
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Re: Scanning
For a brief moment Sangraal fumbles for words then says
"On futher consideration, an army big enough to build those seigeworks so close to Ravensgate is a threat to the countryside. We must get a message to the town posthaste. What do you all want to do?"
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 383
(3/13/03 5:24 pm)
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Re: A sinking feeling
"We must at least investigate. We have come this far, let us see the wonders of Old Kurlew and discover what information we can about the demise of Koreus and the Merek Lek. By the looks of the tracks we discovered, a great many Broo left here after the battles. A great many more are dead. Some that left here are dead outside a farm house in Werthyn Yes? Let us not abandon our mission so close to our goal!" Draxim furiously tears off a piece of dried venison and begins chewing noisily.
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mikedobbs
Yimris
Posts: 143
(3/13/03 8:41 pm)
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Re: Scanning
"There is no way I am turning back now." Yimris says with a stern face filled with determination. "What has happened here is to important to not be fully investigated. If there is an army of broo camped out here we need to know and to report it. If an army way destroyed that is also vital knowledge. I'm going on regardless of what everyone else decides to do."
With that Yimris starts looking for the best way up the ramps. Sliping on broo blood and falling to his death is definately not the way he wants to check out.
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Meneloss
Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 422
(3/13/03 9:07 pm)
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Re: Scanning
Meneloss looks at his companions who have steeled themselves for the worst. "Aye we cannot leave until we know more. So then, let's be off without delay. If there are broo here then lets not be sitting still for them." Meneloss suggests a marching order to the group [see General discussion OOC for details]
He gets the rope and two spikes from his pack. These items he secures to the outside of his pack and asks Draxim to tie down so that they remain secured but can easily be released with a simple action.
"Draxim, I have seen you time and again use a rope like the very coils of a serpent. I am not as skilled as you are. Could you show me a knot which would enable me to drop these things easily, yet secure enough that they won't fall?"
[Rope use: some kind of quick release knot. Please Draxim ol pal!]
Edited by: Meneloss at: 3/13/03 8:53:19 pm
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 321
(3/14/03 2:07 am)
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Big Honkin' Stairs
Madragar examines the wooden ramps. Does the level of craftsmanship seem commensurate with what he knows of the broo?
He is as surprised as any to see the extensive works, but is baffled by what could have kept the Stone King occupied while his enemies built a structure that must have taken days.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 349
(3/14/03 7:09 am)
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Big Honkin' Stairs
[OOC: I have heard that dirt naps occupy a lot of time, maybe thats what the giant was doing when they built the ramp?]
Sangraal picking up on Madragars line of thought.
"Maybe seeing how each piece of seigeworks was built so precisely.... it was to facilatate getting something out of Old Kurlew instead of allowing the broo in? Do we know if those big ruts lead down the mountain?"
"Like the tower at Grugni's house, maybe the broo were sent to retreave something? Master Killdeer did'nt you say something about a ruin under the mountain?"
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 3/14/03 6:40:00 am
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 385
(3/14/03 9:28 am)
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Re: Big Honkin' Stairs
Draxim is more than happy to help his fair, yet horribly scarred freind with a knot [Use Rope +4] "Here you go master elf, now watch closely. The wolf chases the rabbits through the hedges. then the rabbits split and the wolf turns back and cuts off the right-running rabbit at the pass...".
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1195
(3/14/03 9:45 am)
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Re: Big Honkin' Stairs
Madragar takes a close look at the nearest ramp just a few feet away. It is made of thick, evenly planed timbers and reinforced by iron bands which run horizontally across them. The wizard surmises that the iron bands both hold the construction together, and provide traction for anyone wishing to scale the steep incline.
The iron reinforcements are rusted, and the wood well aged. Madgragar doesn't think that these ramps were constructed recently. Furthermore, the ramps are made of oak, not pine, so they were almost certainly carried to the mountain from somewhere else. Madragar is no expert on broo, but he's never heard of those savage creatures having any skill in carpentry.
Kildeer shrugs at Sangraal's question. "Savud said something about what lies beneath the mountain, I think. Some sort of temple maybe? I don't remember."
Edited by: Jubilex at: 3/14/03 6:45:58 am
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