Raven Chronicles RPG

[Black Shadow]

- Good. At least, I know what I'm up to. - I answeared to first.

But quickly after that I started to think what problems that mission can cause to my. Especially, when thinking about my special power which always in battle can take control over me and made a quick, bloody mess. Either way, this type of situation can occure - me against few fanatic cult warriors, on the edge from death and releasing Darkness powers could be only way to save my life. I'm a damn hipocryte - I still find myself to fear death. How disaapointing.

- Alright. I will make preparaions right away. I want some water and food, repair of my sword and one short sword, some light but good armor and horse. I want to make to that place as fast as I possible to know how situations is standing. I'm not careless. Gather supplies in one place, please.

What was suprisingly, first wouldn't mind anything and in short time everything was set up and only waiting for me. Still something told me to stay near the city guard headquarters for a little bit longer. Countless citizens od Raven had passed me by but still, I knew in a weird way that I'm waiting for one person. A mage. And I met that person. A mage was women wearing w white cloak. I already knew that she knows. She was glaring to me and her face showed only one emotion. Terrible shock.

- You... - she tryed to start talking when I walked near her.

- So, already know? Yep, it's terryfing. This... thing. - I said.

- H-How?

- Hell if I know. Possibly, even for a few hundread years for now. Something told me to wait for you... but still I don't know why.

- Maybe I could answear for that. As you can see, I have white cloak and that's is a symbol of Light. There are only few mages on whole world who are following this path and few who knows about existance of this. - she pointed at my stomach. - And...

- And...?

- We might know the way to control this power and... we are still searching informations how to ger rid of it. I might help you, but that will take a lot of time for preparations and still... chance of succes is minimal. Parasite in the end can take control over you.

- Geas... - I whispered. - What's your name?

- Cynthia.

- And I'm Shadow, but I'm not sure. I just called myself by myself... I don't have time for now, but I'm damn sure that we will meet again in this city. Maybe even very soon.

After that, I walked to place where my supplies where gathered...

For that meeting almost two days have passed. I'm slowly arriving at destined place. Possibly, almost in time...

[Knight Martius]

I suddenly hear a footsteps from left corridor? Then I just look into this direction. I wait for the moment when this person is visible?

And it turn out that my dream which I had a few days ago was? real.

- Key?

Although this person is known for me since a few days already, I managed to remember him. But he probably do not recognize me.

- What are you doing here? ? I ask him calmly. ? To be honest, I did not expect you.

Key should guess who I am. If not, I will make him think of me ? but it will come later. Now, if he answers me, I will check direction to ?zhan? rune after his speech.

?Well? Where are Alterr and Danath??.

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English-Polish dictionary

visible ? widoczny

to make sb think of sth ? przypominać komuś coś

((W tym poście nie wziąłem pod uwagę tego, że ktoś jeszcze wpadł tu do lochu. ;]))

[Rankin]

Kariga

- Who th' hell ar' you ta know me name? - he replies slowly and cautiously. Obviously, your illusion spell still works well. You reply with one word - "dream". His eyes widen a bit as he finally recognizes your voice.

- What brought you here...? - his odd accent vanishes - I say, this is rather odd... A nasty case indeed. But there should be more of us, don't you think? Wait - I think someone's coming!

In the meantime, you checked your rune. It points to the direction Key came from.

Alterr

You spent some time exploring the place. Oddly enough, it was a simple place with four corridors but not much else. Suspicious, you examined everything you could think of and after one long hour, you found it - a secret passage. Seeing no other way, you go through it. Beyond the secret passage there's yet another corridor, but it's in a visibly better shape, magic torches lining the walls.

Shadow

You've almost reached your destination when you literally stumble upon a young, obviously elven female. At first she doesn't notice you, obviously confused and looking for something in the area. After a brief moment of panic, she eventually says that her name is Limalu and that she was following her teacher and that he vanished around here.

((do you let her follow you?))

After a short while you find a masked entrance to a dungeon, exactly as marked on your map. You go in...

---

Żeby było jasne: Shadow jest tym nadchodzącym z postu Karigi

[Knight Martius]

After check what direction the arrow points, I answer the Key:

- You answered the your question yourself. You are right, someone is coming actually. ? I look deeper into direction where I should go. ? And what brought me here? Oh, nothing special. Only my personal quest.

I should go where my rune points? but I only tell Key with smile:

- Will we wait?

[Black Shadow]

O'well...

Quickly, I made up my mind.

- So, you can go with me. Maybe we will able to find your teacher. During the walk, could you give me more details how he vanished? You lost sight of him or something else happened? He was searching in this area?

After short walk I've found an masked entrance. Interesting.

- Alright, I'm going in. It's your call to fallow me or stay here. - I said to Limalu.

Slowly and cauntionesly I was going further and deeper into dungeon daring to face what awaits me.

[Rankin]

Arien

The cash was steadily running out as you spent the past few days looking for worthwhile contracts. As for now, you found but two that look interesting enough.

One is, oddly enough, actually an protect/escort type of a job. The employer is a woman who introduced herself as "Mitra". You're supposed to find a certain man and covertly dispatch anything that might pose a threat to him while not revealing yourself. More details would be given when you actually accept the task. Should you decide to do so, the second meeting will take place today on a clearing in the forest not far to the north.

The other is an assassination task. A local crime lord had his mansion infiltrated recently and he wants the offender dead. Once again, you will be properly briefed should you decide to take this task. The crime lord will tell you all the details himself.

It's still morning so you can look for another contract, if you want to.

---

found but two = found only two

covertly dispatch = kill and evade detection ~ assassinate

[Dracia]

I look down to the empty glass, thinking about the contracts awaiting me, judging the risks they carry, weighting the possible rewards. Suddenly a thought, reminiscence slowly emerges from the depths of this fumed mind of mine. A echo of my teacher, my old master Dragonfly, so long not heard,being now only a pile of bones in a casket , under a stone slab, only because he made one mistake, one only...

Alcoholic mist cools the soul down, but doesn't shut off the voice.

Assasin's mind should be as clear as a diamond,as clear as a stream. Sharp like a blade carved from the most precious of stones, shift as creeks's waters. No poison should ever cross his lips, because venom should be directed only at victim's hearts. Assasin is never a victim.

I ignored last part of that lesson a long, long time ago,when I saw that coffin being covered with shovel after a shovel of muddy earth.

Some would call it an assasin's curse, but there is no such thing. Killing is just a job, nothing else. There is no curse.

It's only the travelling,moving from one place to another,never making any friends, because there is no time for it.I am no court assasin, I do not have any stable job given by some king.

Throbbing emptiness somewhere inside,sometimes completly sucking out natural cheerfullness that emerged after the grim of the street was washed away,so long ago...

After my philosophical-blue period fades away I decide to take the second contract. It seems less dangerous than the first, whatever targets that man would surely be armed. Some petty thief would be no challenge.The only hard thing is finding the goddamn robber, but I have my ways that've proved useful every time.

[Rankin]

Alterr

Just as you were exploring, a trapdoor opened underneath you. You fall into the darkness down below...

Some time later, you wake up in a small chamber. It is dark here. It would seem that you are fortunate enough to avoid breaking your bones upon landing...

Kariga

- Just a minute, lad - Key mutters.

He pulls away one of his daggers and in a fluent move he tosses it - barely missing, purposedly or not, a man dressed in dark, or maybe even black, clothes, who just came around the corner. His face is concealed beneath a hood...

Shadow

The dagger barely misses you. You see three characters. The closest one then says slowly:

- Do not move. Identify yerself.

He definitely means business.

Arien

The crime lord being a lord of crime and all, owns an extensive spy network himself so he does provide you with all the necessary details. He is also not in the greatest mood so the "job interview" is rather short. At least you got the contract.

Your target is an individual known as "Alterr". He is currently away from the city but according to the crimelord's sources he'll be back. If you want to end the contract sooner, however, you might want to try and track him right now.

You also learn as to why he didn't send his own men.

That man is apparently a moderately capable necromancer. Even though he does not have a guild's backing, taking him out is going to take a lot of careful preparation... so it would seem.

[Dracia]

Necromanter

I've never feared the dead, I've seen them too often...And it is *only* a Dark Arts mage - it means that very likely he won't be able to pierce or detect my illusions. But..better safe than sorry- I poison two of my unpoisoned bolts with neurotoxin. He won't be able to cast spells with his fingers numb and tongue as stiff as thick stick.

I need the money fast, so I set off the day after my meeting with the boss-on feet, the horses are quite pricey. I know where the thief headed, so the only problem will be finding him there.

Mage or not....It's seems that the contract shall be fullfilled with ease.

[Knight Martius]

Well? He is a stranger. I do not know what he want ? good partner to discussions or our enemy? We will see? Meanwhile, I look into Iru who is near me, and I tell him a quite freely:

- Stay near to me. We will wait on progress of situation.

I wait until this stranger will identity himself. Meanwhile, I keep an eye on Iru ? I definitely suspect something in this young person. I am interested when (s)he disclose himself or herself?

[Black Shadow]

Dagger was quite suprising, but at least, they don't intend to kill me from beginning. With calm voice I answeared.

- Whoa, whoa. Take it easy. You wanted to kill somebody with this? - I tryed to laught. - I'm not your enemy, but to be honest neither your friend. They calling me Shadow, I'm just a lone, excuse me, almost a lone traveller for now. I don't come here to fight or kill somebody. My intentions are peaceful.

While talking I don't make any unexpected moves. Calmly, I wait for their decision.

[Knight Martius]

I listen what the stranger is saying? No, not the stranger now. Shadow. His words sound honestly.

- I think that we can carefully trust him ? I tell Key, but to let Shadow hear, too. Later, I tell the new person: ? Welcome, Shadow. This is interesting coincidence, do you admit yourself? My name is Kariga. It will be better for you to do not know why like that. ? I smile. ? What get you here?

I try to keep still an eye on Iru?

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

English-Polish dictionary

to admit ? przyznawać, przyznać

What get you here? ? Co cię tu sprowadza?

[Black Shadow]

- Yep, sure it is. - I answeared. - What got me here? Hm, well. Geas, fate, simple coincidence or even some kind of prophercy. It's the last one. One of City Guard fortune teller or what they are calling this people seen that something will occur here and I'm one of persons who need to be here while this happens. Don't ask me. I don't know either. But don't be afraid, I'm not city guard itself and really, I hate fighting. My... ekhem.... inner nature isn't suitable for that. Can I come closer now? - I asked calmly.

[Lord Nargogh]

Damn!

How could I be so stupid to step right into the trap, while I can see in darkness very well thanks to my transformation...

Alterr makes few steps.

<CRACK!>

Alterr looks under his feets

It appears that there's plenty of bones on the ground. Many people weren't lucky enough to survive that trap. Or maybe they were killed AFTER falling?

Hmmm... I can see few skeletons in good condition. I feel that after my change I can animate them with ease.

Alterr rises first skeleton. It stands up and takes rusty sword and shield that was lying under its feets.

Strange. That was very easy. I even feel that I can raise another one without getting tired.

Alterr rises second skeleton. It stands up and takes rusty two-handed axe that was lying under its feets.

Ok gentleman, I think we can move along. Oh, First One, you go first - we don't want me to step in another trap, don't we?

[Knight Martius]

I answer:

- In my opinion, you can, but not too close. Not yet. However, I understand what you mean. Fight is a lousy method for take care of businesses.

I look at the triple junction. Later I direct my eyes into Shadow again.

- Where you want to go? This conversation is very interesting, but I have my personal quest and I am going to go deeper in this dungeon. Iru, let?s go.

I go into corridor where Key came from. On the enter, I stop and ask Key:

- Key, what you saw in this corridor?

I look once at Key, once at Shadow, still keeping an eye on Iru. I wait for their answers. Later, I am going to go deeper.

[Black Shadow]

- Hell if I know. - I tryed to tell it like a not bad joke. - I only got informations about this dungeon and unknown event that will occur. So I'm more like blind man in this dungeon. Well, I simply planned to stick to you people... Of course, if you don't have something against it, but I'm man of his word. - I resembled to my word's about peaceful intentions. I wonder what will happen...

[Rankin]

Kariga und Shadow

What happens? Nothing much. Key gets impatient, grumbles to himself and goes deeper into them tunnels once. You follow him, Kariga because the tunnel he chose this time is the same your arrow was pointing at and Shadow because that was as good a direction as any. After some time of dungeon crawling and trap avoiding you reach a larger hall. In it, a large, mirror-like pool filled with water - probably water - and an altarr covered in dried blood. Around the pool, there are numerous runes. Kariga recognizes some of them from his research: this place was used to trap people in the dream world.

A few heartbeats later, large tentacles, thicker than a man's arm, raise from the pool...

Alterr

A small explosion tells you that the door was rigged with some explosives. You're fine but your servant not so much... Blasted to bits, actually. You raise yet another one in his stead and leave the trap room for good. Three surprising traps later, you reach a room that until very recently was someone's study. Deciding that you have time, you skim through any papers you find - here's one interesting piece:

(...) and even if they do manage to subdue the hyde and take apart the altar, they will not succeed - He will still be able to enter, although it will take more time and He will not be as strong. As long as we're carefull... His entry point will be even deeper in the forest, specifically [directions here]. And since He's not a mortal, he'll still be near-invincible!

Rowan

P. S. And don't forget to burn this damn leter this time!

P. P. S. Candle Cove!

Your further inspection ends abruptly. A large man enters the room: he's one of the cultists and obviously not very happy to see you...

Arien

Not much happens. The necromancer is still away.

---

to skim through - przejrzeć pobieżnie / prześlizgnąć się

[Knight Martius]

I do not have even time to look on this place ? which, by the way, resembles a sect?s seat. From the pool appear tentacles which probably belong to a monster ? it rather does not have good intentions. Worse news: I don?t know any good spell for this situation?

- Shadow, Key ? I tell companions. ? Do you have any idea?

I go back slowly, regularly to make these tentacles longer. After the moment, I look whether Iru went somewhere, too. Meanwhile, I prepare myself to use an other spell?

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English-Polish dictionary

seat ? tu: siedziba

[Black Shadow]

I answeared to Kariga.

- Well, one or two. I see that fight is unavoidable so it's time to face that monster. - And keep inner demon in cage on other hand, I added in mind. - It's a chance that I remember few spells to burn that thing. If you will so, give me aid in battle.

After that, quickly I grab my sword in left hand and in right I begin to gather magical power. It was quite dangerous to use Darkness as a power core, but for now it looks like it's in 'sleeping' state. Some advantage for me. Now's time for strike.

- Incarnate - I whispeared.

Instead of pulling several fireballs into tentacles, I swang my right hand like a sword cut move to create a fire wave with a double magic power. In fact, I'll get tired faster, but tentacles won't be able to dodge. At least, I presumed that. In the end, normal sword combat will be in use.

[Lord Nargogh]

"Uuummm... hi?"

Cultist attacks Alterr

"Fine, if that's what you want... servants! Attack!"

The skirmish between cultist and skeletons took a while. It appeared that Alterr's undead servants are fighting quite good - but not good enough to defeat that cultist. It was certain that if Alterr won't engage this fight, soon he'll have to face that man alone. So he engaged, shooting some magical bolts into that cultist. Unfortunatelly, they didn't wounded him at all - but at least bolts distracted cultist for a while. That while was long enough for one of the skeletons, who tore cultist apart with his rusty axe. Second one tried to cut his head off, but Alterr ordered them to stop, and used some necromantic magic to prevent cultist from dying. For a while.

"Now, we're going to have a talk..."

[Dracia]

I keep walking.Keep walking on and on and on, cursing my decision not to buy a horse. I'm dreaming of a horse, a pony, a donkey or mule, anything.Still...The road hadn't seemed to be that long on the maps. But it is long. And tiring.

I'm to distract myself, to not to think about the aching feet.

I 'm. I'm covering every goddamn possibility that may occur.

For example I think about skeletons-hhe hurt is making me pessimistic. That damned mage could've summon one or two of them...

Thanks gods I'm a fast runner.

[Rankin]

Kariga

You check around and see that Iru is still behind you. He/she is visibly disturbed... at least it would seem so, considering how much, or how little of Iru is visible, anyway. In the meanwhile, you have finished preparing the spell and you can cast it anytime.

Kariga and Shadow

As Key and Shadow both attack, hacking and slashing away some of the tentacles, cutting them off, with a loud splash and roar the rest of the creature emerges from the pool. It is an amorphous blob with no distinct features, kind of resembling a raddish - if a raddish was black, had lots of tentacles and was around five meters in diameter. Suddenly, in one quick move a tentacle has knocked Key over and entangled him, then raising a few meters upwards.

Alterr

Unfortunately, this one's a grunt that was left behind. After some thorough interrogation you're pretty much convinced he doesn't know much more than you do. All you learn is worthless details and the general layout of the place. Right now you're in lower, "living" chambers - there's also upper chambers with a ceremonial pool and... that's about it.

Arien

Looking for something to do while this necromancer's away, you learn about several more interesting contracts. First off, a very high profile and very difficult job - someone wants Gwayne, the Gwayne, head of the paladin's guild, very much dead. This reeks of trouble. The other one is espionage and retrieval - a "Johnson" (probably a fictional alias, that) wishes to hire someone to provide a copy of documents signed between a particular noble, Savan and a representative of the Merchant's Guild.

[Dracia]

Paladins' Big Boss seems a little bit too difficult. Successfull mission would make me famous in some places, but failure would be horribly, horribly painful.

The second one is rejected without hestiation. I'm not a thief, Gods damn it!

And I never let myself distracted when I'm on contract.

I keep walking. I'm going to get that mage.

[Black Shadow]

Aw, hell... I saw that tentacles grabbed Key, if I remember his name correctly. They were suprisingly fast and now this man live is on the edge. Good thing that monster wasn't that small. It will be easier to hit it with spell - I thought. I don't know what Kariga is preparing untill now, but I still wish he'll help me anytime.

- Kariga, have you done already? - I said loudly and calmly to him. At least, I pretended to do so.

In meantime I holster my sword and started to gathering another amount of my magical power. When the ball - half of a meter in diameter - is formed I said.

- Fireball.

And "push it" with speed enought to get sure that this creature won't be able to dodge it. But still without loosing my cautioness, I grabbed again my sword and prepare for possible couter attack if my speel won't deal enought damage.

(OT - pardon jeśli słowo holster źle przeze mnie użyte)

[Knight Martius]

Well, the monster has appeared. And I am ready to cast my spell? Although, I guess it is not necessary yet. Key and Shadow have a trouble with this creature, and Iru is still behind me. He or she is probably disturbed? However, situation is very tense. Even though prepared spell, I want to cast other one. I answer meanwhile Shadow, without expression:

- Yes, I have?

In a minute, I cast the ?Fireball? spell. I want to take aim into this monster, so as make it to free Key, by the way. It should be work with Shadow?s fireball, however we will see. Later, I check whether Iru is still behind me.

((Post was consulted with GM. ))

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English-Polish dictionary

so as make it to free Key ? tak żeby zmusić go (potwora) do uwolnienia Keya