Chapter 1: Caged

Ancient and powerful, the rulers of the Calabim posses a dark secret. Through fell ritual their lives can be prolonged at the expense of others, and by this act Alexis and Flauros have created a decadent vampiric aristocracy. Their battlefield success comes at a price they are only too happy to pay -- the blood of their human thralls, kept in miserable conditions to serve as little more than cattle. This secret would surely incense all honorable nations of Patria, but could even the strongest compare to the might of a vampire lord? Perhaps their enemies are willing to dismiss the ugly rumors as just that, to avoid the danger of sharing the fate of the sad Calabim humans.

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by Vardaen » Thu Jan 25, 2018 9:29 pm

Image Numerous small towns dot the fog-shrouded landscape of Calabim. At first glance, these towns might all seem kindred spirits—cozy collections of quaint buildings surrounded by farmland and forest, their skylines decorated by the steeples of churches or the steep roof lines of colorful taverns. Yet in Calabim, appearances are often deceiving, and many of the nation’s towns and villages harbor sinister secrets. Such is the case in idyllic Grimdale, a town built originally to provide support for the notorious caravan route known as Tombstone Road, but which today endures as a self-sufficient community with more than its fair share of secrets.

** Early Afternoon, North East Boundary Hills, June 3rd, 52 Years After the Fall of Bhall **

Tombstone Road, the Trail of Blood, Slaver's Way, you can call it whatever you like, but it doesn't change the suffering of those that are forced to take it. This is the road of the Calabim Slavers out Cindermere. From that foul city the slavers and their caged wagons roll east for league upon league passing across the river at Grimdale, then northeast through the Boundary Hills skirting the Calabim and Malakim nations. Anyone unlucky enough to have been caught along the road at the wrong time could end up in their cages. However most of the slaves come from the blasted lands east of Calabim. Gnoll tribes in the Boundary Hills and parts east collect and capture people all year long to sell to the Calabim, some are wanders, tribesmen of Malakim, or even their own kind of rival gnoll tribes.

The caravan wagons, like mobile jails make the long trip from end to end, then turn around and make the return trip loaded with poor souls destined for the slave pits in Cindermere, Achtep Keep or even the Citadel of the Ebon Hand. Slavery is, as expected, legal, and profitable, and used as punishment for criminals, or political dissidents of the country. Occasionally good aligned folks from Icatia or what's left of Braduk raid the caravan freeing slaves. Once and a while Elohim or even Malakim Clans might do the same, but freed slaves, unless able to get far to the south, rarely survive long after being released.

Now, in the middle of summer, the caravans are working their way south once more with fully loaded wagons. There are a half dozen different slave merchant companies, some working under the banner of noble houses of Calabim, others for the glory of the Ebon Hand Knights, some government funded, they are all rivals of one another, but much in the same way that many cobblers in one city compete with one another for customers.

The sun beats down, its sweltering out on the Boundary Hills, currently there is no shade or cover, save for the spiked roof of the rolling wagons of the Black Wheel Merchant Company. Dozens of guards sway along on camels, commonly used in these hilly and near desert regions on the eastern edge of Calabim. The wagons, seven in all, rolls along pulled by tired oxen and a few heavy horses. Teamsters sit and drive them forward in single file snaking along the baked road under the hot sun.

In the cages are dozens of slaves, but not every wagon cage is full yet. Smack in the middle of the procession is cage with two slaves. One is a tall and slender female gnoll, her finery she once had stripped from her, her wealth gone, her mood foul and her mouth parched. Sitting across from her is a brute of a man, a native to the Boundary Hills. Both gnoll and barbarian were captured at least a week ago, its hard to tell, time is tricky in these food and water deprived cages.
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The triangle of dots are caravan camps, oasis, etc...
Welcome to the game! I'm going to introduce you little by little, so wait for your intro. Enjoy.
Welcome Mongo (MWD) and Szis (Adam) as our barbarian and gnoll. I will send you both a quick PM.

The rest should wait for a intro, soon coming.
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"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by AdamDaBomb11 » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:03 am

"Can I at least get some water. I am of no value to you if I die." The Gnoll female is barely able to get the words out. She has asked several times now and is certain of the answer. With her mind shut down and barely able to move her body, Szis slowly turns her head to the other prisoner. "Where'd they find you?"

It is easy to tell that this Gnoll is far more civilized than most and has a strong grasp of the common language. Her fur is a sandy brown color with a lighter underbelly. It seems that the toll of being locked up for a week is hitting her hard. Both mentally and physically.
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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Jan 30, 2018 12:42 pm

The human chained up next to her is build large. Thick torso, big arms, round face. His skin is deeply tanned by the unrelenting sun. His hair is cut short, and he looks confused. "Mongo not know. Maybe Boundary Hills, maybe outside. Mongo not know where we are." He shakes his head, looking sorrowful.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by Vardaen » Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:02 pm

"SHUT UP BACK THERE!" The driver whips the oxen as the wagon creeks along as it rolls forward. "No water until we reach camp." The file of wagons rumbles along at a slow pace, the beasts of burden are hot and tired, and at this time of day the heat is beating down on everyone, including them.

Jostling and bumping along the wagons rolls. The front wagon is loaded with four well tanned men, each looks like they were strong in their day, but now they are laid out, fatigued and tired from their long trip. A few more wagons, then there is Mongo and Szis, then a few more wagons, one of which has several women in it, they look like locals to the Boundary Hills barbarian tribes, they wear light leathers and furs, and most seem frightened and scared, but one stands up, holding the bars looking backwards. Her hair is braided, her dark faced bears a few fine tattoos, tribal marks of the region. She is well muscled and toned, and she looks backwards with steel eyes. Silent but intimidating she rolls along refusing to sit in her cage.
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The last wagon in the train is loaded with supplies, crates of food, barrels of water, other camping gear, but the wagon before that has another pair of newly captured slaves. Tolan, a man, perhaps Icatian, sits, his leg looks twisted, perhaps maimed by the slavers, perhaps not. He hasn't eaten in a few days, as your captors seem to keep forgetting to feed those in this wagon cage. In there with him is another wild woman, clearly a Malakim tribesman from the desert to the east, but she bears a strange affectation -- slightly pointed ears, and angular features. Rare are half elves in the area, to the far south the Lanun sail the sea, a culture of nothing but half-elves, but here in the north and east most elves are Elohim, and they are not known for their co-mingling attitudes. Still there are elves that wander the desert, and apparently this one, Eyris, is an half breed. She might not bring too good a price, feeble as they are, then again, she is rare, and that may be just enough for a collector or pervert. Her uniqueness shines out, she's been awkward among the other slaves.

Forward the long roll of the endless march continues....
Welcome Grimbold (Eyris) and Johnny (Tolan) to the game back in their own wagon. The wagons are far enough apart that you can't interact with one another yet. I'm going to make a background thread, post to it, stats and pictures!
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by Grimbold » Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:35 pm

A slender woman of medium height sits slumped in the cage, she stares at the horizon yearningly, and he body is tense. You can see the worry and fear in her eyes. She has dark skin and shoulder lenth black hair, as well as the typical pointed ears of the half elves. Her behaviour and simple leather clothes show she is not used to civilisation and seems like a fish out of water. Nevertheless, there is some fire in here eyes, something that suggests more than just fear. If you cast her more than just a glance, you see that she is observing things, not giving up, but instead waiting for some little chance to escape.

For now, she says nothing.

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by JohnnyWeird » Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:56 pm

The leg is the first thing most people notice. Even when he isn't walking, his right leg lies at the wrong angle - to his body, to the ground, to itself. Where skin can be seen it is a constellation of old scars.

People tend to notice the smile next. Not necessarily handsome, his face is striking in a way that draws the eye. He does not grin - only a lunatic would, here - but instead seems bemused by everything. His own gaze seems to see past people, even through them.

The especially attentive might notice the body under the clothes, comely but, by accident of birth, ill-suited to him.

His voice, when he speaks, is soft, even, and calm.

"Hello. I'm Tolan."

As his cellmate remains wary, he leans in slightly, his voice a clear, directed whisper.

"Keep an eye open. The opportunity will come soon."

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by Grimbold » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:14 pm

The woman takes some time before answering. "Greetings, chakka. ... called Eyris, me." She coughs and then goes on. "waiting for opportunity, me too."

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by JohnnyWeird » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:11 pm

"Good. I'm lucky to have you here, Eyris. Now we wait for the wind to change."

The mangled youth settles back into almost relaxed position.

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by Grimbold » Sat Feb 03, 2018 9:01 pm

Eyris seems shy to talk to a stranger, but then her curiosity wins: "Hurting bad, you? Who has done this?" She indicates his injuries.

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Chapter 1: Caged

Post by JohnnyWeird » Mon Feb 05, 2018 12:22 am

Confusion flickers across Tolan's face before she nods toward his leg. He nods, her meaning clear.

"Thrown by a cyclone - a great wind storm. Don't worry; I won't win any races, but it won't slow us down when the time comes."

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