[three_fourth]
It was a quiet time in Quinland. Nyx and Lalandra are off enjoying some down time together, and Grace is attending to business away from the Fortress.
Crysania and Balreth are taking advantage of the times by engaging in professional development activities with their junior officers, particularly Achi and Stabbith.
Crysania: You know, we could have finished skill hunter this last week or two.
Dandd, taking some time off as well, scoffs: He could have finished that ages ago.
Balreth grins from Crysania’s mahogany couch: I still have time.
All present shake their head, but stay smiling.
Balreth retorts: What about you, oh little one. You’ve been not-bloody lately.
Dandd ponders a moment: …yeah! What is the next plan?
Simon, sitting on the other end of Crysania’s couch, pipes in: Nobody tosses a dwarf, but even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Balreth stares at Simon in amazement.
Dandd wonders aloud: change the course of the future…
Crysania looks at Balreth: I still have time.
The four of them share a good laugh.
It wasn’t long before an unfamiliar noise echoed up Crysania’s tower. Everyone turned to look to see a panicked Volusja land heavily upon the floor.
Simon: You should have stayed home!
Dandd groans.
Crysania: Well here’s a new type of guest.
Balreth: I guess she’s come to gryps with how to get up here.
Dandd groans again.
Volusja: I have a request.
Crysania: What’s up?
Volusja: I want to learn more about the Beta Order.
Volusja had the undivided attention of all in the room.
Dandd rose from his chair, and mumbled something about ‘be right back’ and disappeared through Crysania’s tower.
Balreth and Crysania looked at each other, grinned, and wasted no time rearranging the furniture in the room. Couches, chairs, and little tables all orbit a larger table in a circular fashion. Volusja steps back in mild horror.
Volusja: That was almost ritualistic right there…
Crysania: I am going to grab some snacks!
Balreth: Sounds like a plan!
Crysania leapt off the side of the tower, unfolded her Aion wings and safely glided to another island nearby.
Shortly after, Dandd returned with a practiced landing.
Dandd: Where’s the little one?
Balreth: Snacks!
Dandd nods enthusiastically: She’ll catch up.
Balreth rubs his hands together in glee.
Volusja is nervous, but sits next to Simon around the large table.
Dandd begins explaining basic rules to Volusja, when Simon decides to find Spike and have some fun.
Crysania returns with a cheer and armfuls of food.
Dandd stops with his explanation, and looks at Crysania in anticipation: So what you got?
Crysania: Savannah Heat Crisps and Boar Jerky from the Henge of Denravi.
Balreth cheers loudly and returns to his character sheet.
—
Dandd: Ok! What did you all choose.
Crysania: Me First! I chose a Barbarian!
Balreth hmmms.
Dandd: What’s his/her name?
Crysania opens a bag of crisps and grins: Simon Says Roar!
Volusja stares, jaw agape, at Crysania while Dandd and Balreth start laughing.
Crysania: Next!
Balreth reaches for the boar jerky: A Paladin.
Crysania leans to Dandd: Of Course.
Balreth: What do you mean of course?
Crysania grins: eth, ard, or us?
Dandd laughs, as Balreth smacks himself in the forehead.
Balreth mutters something about ‘good jerky’ before admitting: Octavius.
Volusja nods approvingly before nervously reaching for the jerky for herself.
Dandd gestures to the warrior: Your turn.
Volusja: Dandd recommended a Sorceress.
Crysania: Back Row, Ho!
Volusja: …but I named her Volusja.
Balreth: Well, when you re-roll, you can try again.
Volusja: Re-roll?
Dandd, glaring at Balreth: Nothing. Let’s have some fun.
Dandd, the DungeonMaster: Welcome to the Dendrobium Federation, a once peaceful land that has become infested with dark beings, corrupted from the Zeon Rebellion. The Tome of the Stardust Memory has been stolen along with both Unicorn Sigils from the Crossbone Sanctuary. The Lord Dendrobium has commissioned you three to obtain information into the location of the items, and the items themselves if possible. The Dendrobium Federation believes them to be the key to put down the Zeon Rebellion and its cursed creatures once and for all.
Volusja: What kind of creatures are we going to be up against?
DM: For now, mainly zombies and wild beast.
Volusja: Zombies?
Crysania: Yeah, you know, groaning mobile suits of rotting flesh and bad breath.
Balreth grunts and chuckles.
Dandd whispers: bring fire.
Volusja: Fire. Got it.
DM: The point you are at your map now, we will call RX-78.
Balreth scribbles notes.
DM: Known landmarks are: The Nu Gate at RX-93 leading away from the kingdom, The Merchant’s Guild at GP-02, The Blacksmith’s Guild at GP-03, the Magic Guild at GP-01. Lastly, the Red Comet Inn here at MS-06.
Balreth is scribbling furiously.
Volusja sits back: You guys really get into this.
Crysania smiles widely.
Volusja smiles back: I’m kind of excited, let’s go!
Balreth: RX-78 to MS-06 is a bit of a hike.
Crysania: I bet the Zaku Corridor is densely populated too.
Volusja: I’m going to bring a pack-mule henchman, then.
Balreth: Me Too! I’ll name him Seravee.
DM: Who said anything about henchmen? Carry your own loot.
Volusja looks down, deflated.
Crysania: You wanted Beta Order treatment.
Balreth snorts.
DM: Are we ever going to leave?
Crysania: Simon leaves the camp.
Balreth: FTM…er…B?
Volsuja: What he said, minus the M.
DM: So you leave Point RX-78 and head across the Moon Plains towards Side 3 and the Red Comet Inn. Roll listen check.
Crysania: 2
Balreth: 4! Ha.
Volusja: 6. Is that good?
Dandd sighs: Yes, child, six is very good.
Volusja: Well then, 6!!! HA!!!
Dandd nods in approval: That’s better.
Volusja grabs a celebratory boar jerky piece.
DM: Volusja hears voices down the hill along the road.
Volusja: Bash them with my hammer!!!
Balreth leans over: you’re a sorceress.
Volusja blushes: Oh yeah. What spells can I cast?
Dandd: Any level 1 on this list.
Volusja, defiantly: I cast Magic Missile!
Crysania spits out her crisps laughing, and Balreth falls backward into the couch in hysterics.
Dandd groans: That’s not even on the—you know what, nevermind. You cast Magic Missile into the darkness. You miss everyone and now they are alerted to your presence. Roll for initiative.
Volusja, pouting: 1.
Balreth, grunting: You deserve it. … 3.
Crysania: 5.
DM: 4, 2, and 2. Ok, Newtype. What are you doing?
Crysania roars: SIMON SAYS DIE!
Just then Simon lands with more snacks: Hey. That’s my line.
Balreth: I understood that one.
Simon: I’m kinda mellow right now. Spike and I found new uses for Taro leaves.
Dandd nods: Have a seat.
DM: Roll for Melee Attack.
Crysania: 6! Ha!
Simon: Damn Straight.
Volusja: Nice.
DM: Ok. Roll for Critical.
Crysania: 6! Ha and Ha again!
Balreth: Woof.
DM: Well… Simon hits the bandit in the throat with his club, knocking off of his feet and frightening the other two.
Simon roars: Yeah!!!
Balreth: I guess Simon does say roar.
Crysania nods: Told you!
The battle ended quickly, with loot grabbed and the road resumed. The party of three carried down the road, and back to town. Down the road, and back to town. Down the road, and back to town.
Volusja: For @#$%s sake. Must we kill EVERYTHING?
Crysania and Balreth didn’t even look up: YES!
Dandd grins: I’ll toss you more White Base Portal Scrolls.
So the Three made it out of Federation controlled land, through the Moon Valley and into Zeon controlled land. At the fringes of Zeon land two large, and well armed, guardsman halted the group.
Zaku I: Halt! Who goes there?
Crysania: Who goes where?
Balreth: Oh no…
Zaku II: ‘ey! No messin’ round with us. Who sent you ?
Volusja: Lord De-
Crysania begins shouting: ‘ey! What about messin’ straight with you? It’s not ‘round’ you.
Zaku II lowers his guard a moment: Wait…what?
Crysania ‘stumbles’ towards the guards, and gets pushed back by Zaku I. Balreth, trying not to smile, pushes Crysania back towards Zaku I.
Crysania: I want to choke him.
DM: Roll grapple.
Balreth: and I want to stab him.
DM: Roll melee.
Crysania: 4.
Balreth: 5!
DM: Well the grapple failed, but you distracted him enough that Balreth’s stab was fatal.
Balreth flexes from the couch.
Volusja: I want to cast fire bolt.
DM: At who?
Volusja: at the guy Balreth stabbed.
Crysania paled: No!
Dandd grins: Roll.
Volusja: 1.
Balreth: Not good.
DM: Your spell misses, but hits the other guy, battle over.
Dandd leans to Volusja: That one was a freebie, but try not to burn your friends.
Volusja looks down: Oh…
DM: The commotion of the battle alerts guardsmen in Side 3, who promptly show up with a larger man with a distinctive helm.
Guard Captain: I am Knight Commander Tallgeese. Who are you?
Crysania: Simon Says Run!
The three turn and run away from Side 3, Tallgeese and Krewe in pursuit.
Volusja yells: Doesn’t anything go right in beta order stuff?
Balreth retorts: Rarely!
Crysania yells: It’s more fun that way.
DM: Since you never specified a direction, you see in front of you several fires of tribesmen, and they hear you all coming.
Volusja: I want to cast inferno.
DM: While running?
Volusja: YES!
DM: Ok, You are now a moving flamethrower at full sprint, be sure to track mana usage.
Crysania: I’m following her!
Balreth: I hear that.
DM: Blocking your Path is Blood Raven of the tribesman.
Volusja: I’m going to burn and trample her!
DM: Roll.
Volusja: 5.
Crysania: 4. I’m assisting!
DM: wow… Ok, you scorch her front side, then all three of you trample her burning body leaving her incapacitated at best. The rest of the tribesmen quickly engage The Zeon guardsmen as you narrowly escape…killing a boss in the process.
Dandd: I need to make the bosses tougher…
Balreth: Quin or Quit!
Crysania echoes, but with a mouthful, causing much laughter.
DM: Ok. So none of you have any stamina, Volusja is low on mana, Knight Commander Tallgeese is looking for you, Blood Raven is dead and you still haven’t made it to the Red Comet Inn. What now?
Crysania: I say we put this down for now, and come back to this again.
Balreth and Dandd nod in agreement.
Volusja grins: I can get into this.
The group share in some laughter, and help clean up…for now.
[/three_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]
Bonus Story!
16 Jul 2011
Notes: Full references to be added soon. I thought there would be a grander, multi-part Diablo referenced story, but it didn’t quite work out that way.
References: Guild History
[/one_fourth_last]