Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

The Age of Magic is ended, Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, has succumbed to the whispers of Agares and fallen into Hell. Her worshipers and creations driven mad, and fire, which has been a powerful ally to man, has turned against him. Each good god was charged with the opposition of an evil god. Bhall was responsible for balancing Mulcarn, the God of Winter. Finding himself unopposed Mulcarn has broken The Compact and moved into Creation.

Creation was on the verge of another open war between the gods, that which they had outlawed with The Compact. To keep that from happening a deal was struck and the gods agreed that one god would enter Creation to challenge Mulcarn. That was Sucellus, the God of Nature. The two gods battled across the face of Creation, entire civilizations still recovering from the Burning Skies that marked the fall of Bhall were destroyed by their power. In the end Sucellus was killed and Mulcarn remained.

The Eternal Winter has begun...
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Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Vardaen » Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:58 am

The small village of Falcon's Hollow is a wild place. Nestled in the shadow of Droskar's Crag, the people of Falcon's Hollow are hearty and stern. Theirs is a life of hardships, broken only occasionally by a handful of festivals and the infrequent merchant caravan. They face constant adversity from both the wilderness and the wiles of man. Wolves nip at their heels and cutpurses ply at their pockets. It is a testament to their strength that they even manage to survive at all.
--The Icatian Pathfinder Chronicles
Welcome to Act 1 of the Pathfinder Game Ice Age: Fallen Empires. Here we shall join the three Prelude stories into one and explore the town of Falcon's Hollow and the wild Darkmoon Vale that surrounds it. Settle in and get comfortable, the story shall linger here in this lonely out of the place town for sometime. This once Braduk satellite town has found itself on its own since Bhall fell to earth and destroy Hollow's mother city.

We begin as the three groups approach the Falcon's Hollow Ferry that crosses the River Foam from side to side.
** Early Afternoon, Near the Falcon's Hollow Ferry, South Bank, September 8th, 52 Years After the Fall of Bhall **

Winter has arrived nearly two months early here in the Darkmoon Vale. The wind is cold, the air filled with flurries, and the ground is covered in frost that persists even into the noonday hours. To the west, both south and north the Darkmoon Plain stretches toward the Burning Pit. That plain is a hotbed of geothermal activity ever since Bhall's fall. Mudpots, geysers and shifting hot springs makes that region dangerous. Here, closer to the river, the activity is gone, and the hard earth is covered in frost. The sky is partially cloudy, a new batch of clouds are slowly moving in fat and heavy with snow in them.

The River Foam is a wide river that moves from north to south across the entire continent, eventually joining with many smaller streams, and passing through great lakes before eventually reaching the sea to the far south. Here the waters are still moving, barely, for ice is starting to freeze along the sides. Further north, where the river is wider and slower moving the ice has already started to touch. An ancient road, the flag stones broken and covered with mosses and pierced by brown dead weeds walks up slowly to the south bank of the river. To the west the road simply vanishes into the Darkmoon Plain eaten up by the geothermal activity. However the last hundred feet of it makes its way to the bank of the River Foam where it stop before a ancient leaning carved dark wood totem pole before the river. The pole is as wide as three men, and in the heyday of the lumber mills in the region, it was carved with a masters hand, preserved and placed here to mark the ferry landing that leads across the river to the town of Falcon's Hollow. Now only vague faces, like ghosts of Braduk, peer out toward the road.

Few travels make this trip these days, and the ferry only runs as needed. Because of this sitting on the wooden dock that leads out to welcome the ferry to this side is a large copper bell, cracked, and green with weathering. Sitting on the dock are two short bald tattooed dwarves! They are watching across the water, waiting for the ferry to arrive.

Just arriving from the north come four figures, three strangely colored elves, one Red, one White, and one Blue. With them skulks a large wolf like creature.

At nearly the same time, from the south, a gaggle of children can be seen skipping up the road, throwing pebbles at the river.

Across the river, the town of Falcon's Hollow sits sleepily, the ferryman in no hurry to cross for the two dwarves sitting on the dock, but perhaps now that will change.
So introduction are so in order.

The dwarves are Torrak and Torias who arrived first! You have already rung the bell, about an hour ago, but the ferry from the far bank hasn't moved even though you know a man there saw you both and heard the bell.

From the north, down the river bank, come our Elohim and Thelonite trio (and wolf) and from the south as fate would have it comes the humans Ellsbeth, Vren, and the kids Nessa, Gunner, Greit and Jak all skipping and playing on the ancient Braduk road.

Please take your time to make real nice intro posts for everyone. And it might work out if we post in groups: Dwarves, Elves, and then Humans (paradox you can post the descriptions of your kids as well).

Welcome to Chapter One - Waiting for the Bus!

Maps and Images of Falcon's Hollow can be found here:
https://brennor.dyndns.org/rpg/Forums/v ... =4110.html
Last edited by Vardaen on Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Eanwulf » Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:40 am

The run from Rockmaw to Falcon's Hollow has been anything but easy for Torrak and his brother. The two warriors now sit leaning up against the sides of two pylons placed amongst the dock. Those approaching would more assuredly have heard Torrak's snoring. Closer observation would indicate that the dwarf is suffering from some form of troubled dreams.
Torrak woke with a start. That was some dream he thought. The dwarf had dreamed that he was back at Rockmaw, dying. And that everyone he knew was standing around him, asking him why it was that he had chosen such a foolhardy quest to undertake as the one that he secretly feels that he is on currently. For my brother of course'¦always for my brother. It was then that Torrak notices his surroundings; he was still sitting upon the docks and leaning against the pier opposite him, Torias. As his sleepy eyes adjusted to the midday sun, Torrak soon noticed the ferryman once again staring over in his direction. What's this Torrak ponders as he begins to nudge his brother awake have you finally decided to actually get off of your lazy ass and do your job!?

'œCome Torias wake up.' Torrak states in a gruff manner. Instantly, the weary dwarf bolts upright and begins to look around. A cold wind blows all around the brothers as they begin to speculate what it is that has finally spurred the human into action. The air is filled with a tarry smell, and the only sounds that are initially heard are those of a strong breeze across the river and the distinct slapping sounds of lapping water as it strikes against the side of the docks. The river's waters are deep and carry with them the stench of decay. "Best we give it another shot I suppose." Torrak adds as he stand up on tired and shaky legs. "Pfeh...that smell!"

As the stench of the river fills his nostrils, Torrak notices that the man on the opposite bank now stands looking across the water and apparently debating whether or not to come across. "Pfeh...humans..." exclaims Torrak as he turns to face the weathered copper bell. The dwarf pays little attention to the newly arrived adventurers, for they are most assuredly the cause of the ferryman's sudden burst of activity. Nor does he put his hands round his mouth and call out to the human, insisting that he ferry his vessel across immediately. Instead, Torrak walks straight up to the sounding bell, draws back his runed-hand and strikes it as hard as he can! *CLANG* The bell rings shrilly and the echo carries across the waters to the ferryman's villa, once again sounding the "Boat ahoy!" Almost at the moment when the bell rings, the ferryman comes out of his little official dwelling, as though he has been standing behind the door or sitting on a chair waiting for the signal. "Oh now you want to come..." Torrak grumbles as he helps his brother to his feet.

I see how it is...dwarves aren't good nuff for ya...but this here lot is...Pfeh!
Sorry, Torrak is tired from all the running and travels. Throw in a heavy conscience for the loss of his kinsmen, and you have a rather quiet dwarf. Perhaps his brother is a little more verbose. ;-)
Last edited by Eanwulf on Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Grimbold » Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:48 pm

Torias is lost in thought as he ponders what he has found out and what the future might bring.
He is a stout dwarf, shaved clean and tattooed all over. Strange runes decorate his body, marked in black or green ink. A circle of very small runes goes around his eyes giving him a pretty exotic appearance. He is wearing dusty clother, worn from travel and a metal armor. His shield is white but also fully covered in minute writing. He has a dwarven waraxe on his belt and a smaller axe too. A holy symbol hangs from his neck and he has a rather large backpack.

"Hrumpf. We have not come here all the way to hurry. After all these days I guess we can spare a few minutes, brother. I just hope we will find the leads here we need." With that, he is silent again.
When he sees the other travellers coming, he grips his axe reflexively and mumbles to his brother: "Company!"

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Trogdor » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:28 pm

At the head of the head of the group of Elohim strides a very handsome elf of slightly over average height with jet black hair and skin of a fine golden tan. He's wearing brown and green hunting leathers with a small backpack, and carries a morningstar on his belt. Only two things about him are at all unusual: his eyes and his forehead. His eyes appear to be made entirely out of blue crystal - the gods alone know how he sees out of them. And on his forehead is a faintly glowing bluish silver rune. The strange Elohim walks with purpose, clearly familiar and comfortable in his surroundings.

Approaching him from just off the trail is a man-sized, lean, gray wolf with a blue fire in its eyes that matches the color of the Elohim's eyes. Those who have fought goblins before may recognize it as a worg. But unlike any worg you may have seen, this one has a faintly glowing bluish silver rune on its forehead that is the match of the one the Elohim bears. Clearly this is not a natural creature. And just as clearly the Elohim and worg are associated somehow.

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Wayloss » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:41 pm

Comming in from the north part of the trio of elves the eyes of the dwarfs are drawn like a moth to flame red hair. Although dirty from travel the willowy elf has the long red hair tied back in a simply traveling pony tail. He wares simple traveling clothes and is rubbing his arms against the cold as he approaches. At his hip is a slim rapier, and a crossbow hanging from a hanger. He is burdened by a backpack with assorted weapons bulging from but he is not wearing any armor.
As he gets closer it becomes apparent there is something very different about him. His skin carries a reddish undertone that seems unnatural and seems to pool under his eyes. This draws attention to his eyes which are black making it impossible to differentiate his pupil from his iris.
Still some distance away he speaks to his companions in elven. "Dwarves? away from their caves? We should see what brings them to Falcon's Hollow."

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Muskrat » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:29 pm

The third elf is a woman with snow white hair, her face marked with elegant tattoos--if you know anything about the Elohim, you know the tattoos are perfectly normal. The white hair, however, looks odd on one who shows no other signs of age. She is dressed as a warrior, in studded leather armor, armed with a short bow and arrows, a rapier, and a dagger. Her clothes, though designed for adventuring, are dyed black and elegantly cut, as if also for a funeral. She also wears an elaborate sash, on which is embroidered a sword with an eye at its hilt, with the symbols of Junil and Lugus flanking it. Around her neck, she wears a holy symbol bearing the same image.

Her eyes widen slightly in surprise at seeing the tattoos covering the dwarves--she knows it is rare for them to decorate their bodies with art the way the Elohim do. However, she smiles warmly at them and gives an elegant bow, saying, "May the day find you and your clans well and healthy."

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by paradoxa » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:50 pm

Coming along the road from the south is a small group of kids, three girls and two boys. All of the bunch have tousled dark hair, either black or dark brown, dark eyes and their skin has an olive tan. All of them are thin and somewhat grubby. They are clad in little more than rags. Their clothes are worn, mended, patched with different cloths and scraps of leather, adorned with various bits and things like a bird's feather with some crude wooden beads here and a polished shard of green glass held by a spiral made of rusty wire there. Considering the coming winter with its early frost and snow, their makeshift garbs seems to be very thin. Each child is carrying a small bundle of belongings, rolled up in a blanket, and they look as if they have been on their way for a while.

The youngest two of them are Jak, a boy of maybe seven and Griet, a girl of perhaps ten years. They are busy letting pebbles skip over the surface of the river, running ahead of the group.
The second pair, Gunner and Nessa, a boy and a girl both aged about twelve or thirteen, have fallen back behind the rest a few steps. Their faces bear some similarity, but Nessa's features are sharp and she looks nimble and witty, whereas her brother seems to be sturdy, but a bit slow on the uptake. Currently, they are squabbling with one another. The boy pulls on a loose end of the odd looking bandages around the girl's hands, laughing, and earns himself a solid kick on the shin that sends him hopping on one leg and complaining.
The oldest girl, Vren, already a young woman, is walking besides an other traveler who doesn't really look like she belongs with that wild bunch. Vren is far less relaxed than the other kids, she seems to be alert and wary, keeping watch over the rest.

Even if they are just children, the small group is armed. Most prominently Vren, with a quiver holding a shortbow and arrows slung across her back, and a short sword, sheathed, hanging from the belt. But each of the kids has some meager mean of defense. Nessa has a slender dagger. And even little Jak is carrying a sling, together with a small pouch containing stones.

Seeing that they are approaching other people, accompanied by what looks like an extremely large dog from the distance, the oldest girl calls out the rest.
"Jak! Greit! Stop running ahead and come back! NOW! Nessa! Gunner! Stay close, will you?" Vren sounds more than a tad impatient and is ill at ease. With no obvious danger around, taking care of the kids is like herding cats. They are in high spirits, relieved because of the relative safety in the past few days, happy to have the chance to play and eager to reach Falcon's Hollow, so they seem to forget all precaution. But now that they are coming close to their goal, and meeting other travelers, Vren's doubts surface again. What if the welcome isn't as warm as Ellsbeth thinks? What if they turn us back?

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Eanwulf » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:34 am

Torrak's face hardens at the site of the rather odd assortment of elves that approaches. Pfeh...Elves, the dwarf thinks to himself as he nods his head cordially, Odd-looking ones at that... The dwarf's attentions soon become distracted however, as he spots the ragtag group of children likewise advancing. "Yeah," Torrak replies halfheartedly to the white-haired elven maiden, his attentions still focused upon the children, "G'day ta you too..."

The dwarf then proceeds to take a step towards the herd of adolescents and raises a hand in caution, adding. "You lot best listen to the little lady over there...I just saw me a hawk the size of this here dock fly overhead not more than twen'y minutes ago!" After giving the frazzled woman a playful wink, Torrak continues, "I hear they likes to eat lil children like yerselves this time of year...Best ye keep yer voices down and follow one another in a straight line, lest they snatch a couple of ya's up for supper!"

Once the woman gets close enough to the docks, Torrak saunters up and whispers, "Sorry bout that. Couldn't help but think that ya could use a hand keeping them in line there lil lady. Hope I didn't scare em too bad..."
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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by Grimbold » Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:29 pm

The iron-armored twin of Torrak looks at the newcomers critically. He seems a bit shy to talk to 'foreigners' but feels it is his duty to welcome them. He gulps and speaks, a bit formally, as he often does with strangers.
"Crafter's welcome, travellers. I, Torias Runefist of the Kilany Yur, confer to you my greetings." He bows, trying to gauge the other's reactions.

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Re: Act 1 - Hollow's Last Hope

Post by paradoxa » Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:29 pm

The 'little lady' is, in fact, one head taller than the dwarf.
"Oh, you should have kept that bird around, would have been nice for dinner. " She answers the dwarf with a broad smile and taps on the quiver on her back.

Despite the ostentatiously boastful confidence displayed, she doesn't focus her attention on him for long, but instead nervously eyes the large wolflike creature. Her hand moves back to linger in the vicinity of the sword handle again.
Even if the beast doesn't seem to be aggressive right now, it is huge, perhaps even bigger than the Pit Hound they fought, and likewise bound to have sharp teeth and all. The strange Trio accompanying it looks very alien to her - tall, graceful, slender, with those strangely colored eyes and hair and all those fine clothes and things of unfamiliar, but elegant design. She's never seen anything like those people, and they don't exactly inspire instant confidence, but instead strike her with awe. She is not sure if it is safe to come any closer, or if they should better move on. But this seems to be the only way to get across the river...

"Ellsbeth?" Not daring to turn her eyes away from the possible source of danger, Vren addresses her fellow traveler.
"Um.. what now?"

The girl keeps her distance from the elves for now, and holds the kids back from getting too close to the worg. She is quite content to have Torrak between her wards and the large beast. From what she has seen of dwarfs, they aren't folks to shy back from a fight, so should there be trouble... well, having someone else in the front line might come in handy.

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