Magnamund Rescue - IC Thread.

[Aguila Saber]

The story so far ...

Four weeks ago never seen monsters appeared from out of nowhere in a number of locations in Magnamund. The first contacts were invariable shocking and resulted in the disintegration of both the monster and the first creature it came into contact to.

Farmers in Sommerlund tell of a score of monsters eradicating their cows on the fields. Citizens of Barrakeesh witnessed how a score of the Monsters were attacked by Sharnazim outside the Grand Palace, and both the Monsters and the Sharnazim snapped out of existence. The event was followed by a raid of the Palace and the Zakhan had to flee from the city by Itikar. He has since vanished from the face of Magnamund.

Vakeros warriors witnessed how a score of the monsters caused a score of townspeople in Hikas disappear to never be seen again, and the last monster took with the price horse of the Mayor of Hikas.

Events were reported up the chain of command but no one could tell from where the Monsters came and why they had come here. The monsters are named Annihilators after the first contact.

One week later the Monsters reappeared. This time in solid shape. They soon started to destroy and lay waste on the land around them. Armed forces were called upon to dispatch the threat, and the people of Magnamund successfully did so in the more densely populated areas.

Other people in Magnamund observed what the monsters were doing and after some days of observing the areas around the places where they had settled came to the conclusion that the Monsters were slowly eating away and dissolving the land around them. Moreover, a few days later it was observed that the Monsters were creating crystals of power on the planet.

Then finally two weeks ago, all was made clear when both the Gods of Good and Evil communicated with their servants and explained the purpose of the monsters. They have been sent to Magnamund by a God they had slighted millennia ago. The purpose of the monsters is to destroy all life on the planet and then all of Magnamund itself.

Their plan is to build crystals of power in remote locations. These beacons will build in power and be capable of destroying anything living which approaches them. If they manage to successfully build up and maintain a number of these beacons, the beacons will soon be capable of dissolving the land around them into the Neverness.

To combat this devious plan the Gods of Good bestows upon their representatives a recipe for a vaccine against the deadly rays of the crystals. The God of Evil reveals a ritual which can be used to locate all the crystals that are being built.

Cooperation is necessary and an uneasy truce is made while this threat exist.

One place where the Monsters has settled and has been allowed to grow unchecked so far is in a desolate place in Southern Magnamund – a large plateau located in the border mountains between Lunarlia and Telchos.

There is no paths to this plateau and the only feasible way to reach this place is by air, whether this transport is a sky-ship, a Kraan, an Itikar or something else. There is a call for champions all across Magnamund to go to this area and destroy the crystal. Transports are quickly arranged through a number of channels and the vaccin is also quickly distributed to the champions.

A few days later the first champions arrive in the so far unaffected outskirts of the large mountain plateau.

This thread is for IC postings in the Magnamund Rescue championships. For now you can announce your arrival and how you arrived in this desolate place. There will be various competitions to secure victory over the monsters and the champions who perform best will win fame and glory.

[Aguila Saber]

It was afternoon when the Sky-Ship began its descent to the plateau in the border mountains between Lunarlia and Telchos.

The trip had started in Bor where she had been in a diplomatic erran when the call for champions to counter the threat came. Learning the location of the threat Aguila, it was only natural that she volunterred her help.

For this reason, the ship she arrives on is mostly manned by dwarfs and they have brought with them a fairly large supply of boom-powder and guns to be used in the war effort.

Aguila looks out over the plateau, which is bordered on all sides by mountain peaks. A line of hills divides the plateau in one northern part and one southern part. The northern part appears mostly untouched so far. There are some signs of destruction, although overall the impression is positive. A few small copses of seemingly healthy trees can be seen in the north. There are copses in the south as well, but they contain dead, barren trees.

Aguila takes in the details of the landscape below her while the ship floats above the creatures on the ground.

To her surpise there are some signs of a past civilisation in the south, which is somewhat surprising to her. At least it is difficult to explain the ruined walls which are plentyful near the area where the annihilators guard the power crystal by something else. At some point of time there was village at the place where the power crystal now is.

The ground is mostly solid and rocky. In places the ground is reddish which Aguila attributes to the fact that some of the sand in Telchos must have found its way here over the years.

There is very little growth here. Apart from the hills and the copses the area is quite flat, and mostly barren. Until recently, that is. Now there are also large holes in the ground which she attributes to the doings of the annihilators and the power crystal.

The sky-ship eventually descends in the north-west part of the plateau close to a lake. This is one of the few areas in the plateau where the ground is not barren. The same applies to the banks of the small creeks which drains into the lake.

When the sky-ship is about to land Bor Gunners man the railings armed with Bor Rifles. The annihilators on the ground that prepares to meet them are given a welcoming saluted. They are peppered with bullets and falls to the ground lifeless.

When the ship has landed, some of the equipment on-board is off-loaded and a ground camp is built. Lookouts are detailed to keep the camp safe. Efficiently they deal with any annihilator that strays too far to the north-east.

Map:
www.algonet.se/~thyhe/MagnamundRescue.jpg

[eviltb]

The message given to my by the Dark God Naar was clear. All life on Mangamund would cease if these things where to succeed. As my Dark Lord has already laid his claim to this world, I must do what I can to end these Monsters, in His name.

Glancing down from the saddle of my Kraan, I see the encampment on the outskirts of our target. I pull on the reins and begin my descent. I can see figures moving around on the ground, some pointing, some running. I chuckle and send my steed into a sharp dive. Moments from the ground I pull up and circle around again, then bring the beast into land.

Almost immediately, I am surrounded. I identify myself as a chosen Champion, and am allowed to make camp. I look around for other Champions, but can only identify one. A woman, one I have not seen before. Im sure others will come soon.

As I ready my equipment and tether the Kraan, I lift my head and breath in. There is something here, in this southern land, other than our intendid target. Something to the east, something wholly evil. I close my eyes and embrace the presence I feel. I shall be victorious for Naar.

[Doomy]

Following his adventures in Casiorn, Doomy the Gunner of Bor had received a pistol that had been confiscated from the Kai Hunter EvilTB, who had been sentenced to death but escaped before justice was served.
The dwarf returned to his homeland to bring news of its original owner’s demise to his family, whom he had located after tracking down the Boradon gunmaker who had left his mark upon the gunbarrel, and he received a modest reward for his trouble.
While relaxing between his adventures, the dwarf learned of the invasion by the Annihilators and was called upon as a Champion of the Drodarin. He immediately joined the crew of the skyship taking the Telchoi envoy Aguila Saber to battle this threat. He fearlessly commanded the small crew of dwarfs who fired upon the initial group of annihilators, and was pleased to see these monsters were not immune to gunfire.
Shouldering his rifle, Doomy marched into the camp. It did not take long for him to identify the Kai Hunter. Believing him to have murdered their son, the parents of the dwarf whose pistol it had been had put a price on his head. Perhaps he would collect this once the current business was dealt with. Doomy felt this unlikely alliance between the forces of Good and Evil would be short-lived...

[Beowuuf]

A furry hand restrained the dwarf, even though he had made no move to the Kai Hunter, nor had any intention - yet - of creating trouble.

"Even the hint of tensions could undo this truce," said Beowuuf coming from behind the dwarf. The wolf was looking, to, towards the Nad Adez Konkor inscrutably. He then turned and gave a grin to the dwarf he met in the dungeons of Casiorn - a dwarf who had infact saved his life. "Of course, as the ambassador of the Knights' Council to the Dwarfs still, I feel it my duty to offer any aid to an ally when this matter is resolved."

Beowuuf gestured to the weapons and items that had been offloaded into the camp. "I need to find some form of missile weapon, it would appear. I am not sure if I still have the skills with a bow I once did. I would welcome a friendly and skilled fighter at my side."

[Doomy]

"Ah, the zombie magnet is here," grins Doomy. "Well, we've brought enough weapons we can spare one or two. We also have brew if you'll join me in a mug."

[Aguila Saber]

Aguila walks over to one of the dead annihilators and examines the corpse closely, while turning it over with a spear.

She then repeats this procedure with another annihilator of a different kind.

She eyes the others briefly and concludes that only two different kinds of them were present on the ground.

Having concluded her errand with the corpses and she returns to the camp just in time to see another sky-ship arrive. She recognize the standards of Cincoria on the ship and recalling this nation's reputation with bows, Aguila decides to pay the ship a visit.

Aguila soon finds out that the ship has come here with a fair amount of longbows for the war-effort as well, as some of the best longbowmen in their nation.

After a chat with the longbow men about the bows they've brought Aguila examines the weapons and tries to draw their strings until she finds a bow which is stringed to match her own strength and with superb balance.

While Aguila is no expert in the longbow, her own weapons are all short range, and a Bor Rifle is not to think of since to be effective with that weapon requires years of training.

[eviltb]

Walking around the camp, I notice the woman testing longbows by a newly landed ship. Given the limited range of my own crossbow, I walk over to choose an appropriate weapon. I keep looking forward as I approach, my cloak hood down, ensuring I can see all who stop and stare as I walk past. I hear whispers of names; darkspawn, fallen one, taint of naar they say. Men clench their weapons but none have the guts to attack me. Evil has its advantages it seems, as I approach the bow stock, those examining them get out of my way.

All but the woman.

I look around and pick up a random bow and pull at its string. It seems weighted enough for my uses. I walk over to a random soldier and gently lift an arrow from his quiver. The man stares but does not say anything. Smirking, I hitch the arrow to the bow and turn to face the camp. Looking forward, I see my target and grit my teeth. The arrow flies true and imbeds directly into the centre of a wooden table. The dwarf and wolf-creature jump with suprise, I chuckle and wave as their mugs topple over.

"This will do me, I think."

I shoulder the bow and walk back towards my Kraan.

OOC: So at the end of this, looks like its me vs The Kingdom of Bor. Hmmm. Odds on that one please?

[Doomy]

"Not a bad shot," says Doomy to Beowuuf, looking at the arrow protruding from the centre of the table before waving back at the black-clad figure.
"The reward on the Kai Hunter is bigger if he's brought in alive, but maybe I'll break a few of his bones," he adds, sotto voce.

[Aguila Saber]

Aguila notices the kai hunter starting to sift through the longbows beside her.

She refuses to move out of his way as the others have done, and she seemingly does not spare him a second look. It is dangerous to turn the back to a Kai Hunter so she makes sure that she faces him side-ways, so that she can observe his doings in the corner of her eyes.

Fortunately, he leaves soon with a long bow.

Aguila takes with her a quiver of training arrows and starts to practise using the trunk of a lone tree as target.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of activity in the camp. The dwarven cook on the ship is preparing some food in the open. Many of the champions are busy sharpening their swords or sparring against each other.

For the moment the camp is calm but few seem to think that the calm will last for long.

[dharn]

Trasken Blackpike huddled around the tents looking for a good spot to sleep. He was restless and agitated. He is now a million miles away from his beloved people and from the embrace of the Danarg swamps, the farthest away that one of his people had been. But he had to be here. He had even managed to stomach the flying ships to get here, with his knees knocking each other all the way. It was a matter of revenge.

He was about to give up and settle to make a place in the opened when he smelled freshly made food. His stomach grumbling, he followed the smell.

[Beowuuf]

Beowuuf ignores the Nad Adez Konkor due to their history in times passed. Besides, the wolf has bigger concerns just now as he takes a powerful bow and settles at a section marked off to defend. As the Vakeros Tamas in times passed he had some small skill with the bow. Now, with different eyesight and musculature, Beowuuf has found his combat bowskill lacking. Give him a rabbit and time to line up and it might be a different matter, but on this line he realises he will be one of the weaker members.

Beowuuf checks the sword at his hip, and hopes he can at least make a good showing for himself. As a black cloaked figure settles in at the marked section to the right, Beowuuf feels a greater sinking feeling.

"Remember to aim forwards," mutters Beowuuf not making eye contact.

[Doomy]

OOC: Post temporarily removed for continuity purposes.

[Aguila Saber]

OOC note:

The scout has not yet sounded the alarm and no one is currently marching against us.

Settle down by the campfire and have a Bor stew from the dwarven chef! Then you can enjoy some hours sleep before the dawn attack then next day ...

Alert for the approaching enemy will be announced on Wednesday to cater for last preparations...

[dharn]

For Trasken, it was hard to not feel out of place when he arrived at the open where food was served. At six foot five, he loomed over the dwarfs easily and his attire already mark his rather uncivilized upbringing. Short, gray hair and a lean, mean body that was a bit hunched, Trasken scanned around with wild eyes.

There were stew being passed around but he was looking for something a bit more... meaty...