Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

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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Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by Vardaen » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:37 pm

"There is no gain without sacrifice." - Braduk proverb The Last Summer has come and gone, and may never come again. It is a discouraging thought, but one that must be put out of ones mind if one is to survive. Neigh over fifty years ago Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, fell from the sky and destroyed what was once the thriving and prosperous city state of Braduk. Ninety five percent of its people were killed in that instant when the Goddess struck the earth, their souls sucked into Hell along with the Goddess as she traveled through the earth into the depths below where Agares the Black, the God of Night rules. Only a handful of refugees survived the cataclysm that rent open a hole between the planes. Two small settlements outside the blast radius survived, Peptin in the south and Falcon's Hollow in the north. However the Braduk people are a strong and determined folk and even near ground zero some survived, those survivors are the unfortunate ones.

For fifty years the land has burned and the sky has filled with ash. Demons and devils walk the bounds of the ruination of The Pit killing all they find. Slavers from nearby Calabim claim refugees fleeing east, and the orcish hordes of the Ember Clans capture and torture those fleeing west. Yet through it all a small population of Barduk still linger in the edges of the devastation, these hardy folk either refuse to leave their home or don't realize that they can. Wild and barbaric now, twisted with strange infernal or abyssal power they fight for survival among one another as much as they do against the demons of The Pit, and that is perhaps the only reason the demons have not wiped them out by now. Evil always enjoying watching people devourer themselves.

Among the blasted land a small band of brave of refugees has survived by both sharp wits and quick blades. However tragedy has befallen them of late, and most of their strong men have been captured or killed. Only a small handful of children remain now. Chief among these kids is Vren, a black haired girl of seventeen, a survivor and oldest of the group. Gunner and Nessa, twins of twelve years old look up to Vren now to save their little group. Greit of ten and Jak of seven will either grow up fast or not at all.
Welcome to the Age of Ice: Fallen Empires campaign! This is the opening post for the thread that will contain Vren and Ellsbeth. Please do not post in reply to this yet, as I will be making additional posts and shall cue you when its time.

Looking forward to this!
Last edited by Vardaen on Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:33 am, edited 2 times in total.
"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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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by Vardaen » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:59 pm

** The Outskirts of The Pit, Sometime in September, Nighttime ** The night always seems darker and thicker here in what was once Braduk and tonight is no exception. The hour is late and the tiny fire that crackles in a make shift pit is hardly enough to warm oneself by, not that heat is ever an issue this close to the Pit. The light it casts is a dangerous risk that had to be taken tonight. Hours ago Vren and her small band was fleeing east and north attempting to put some distance between themselves and a Pit Hound that was roaming about their old hideout. Along the way Jak tripped, and ripped his pants right up the backside, as well as scrapped his hands and knees on the rubble in the street. Having found this small burnt out shack, perhaps once a coffin makers shop, the group quickly hid inside. Vren now sits stitching up Jak's pants, his wounds already washed up as good as can be done. The low light of the fire is just enough for the young woman to do her work while her companions catch what shuteye they can. The food is nearly gone, and the water won't last more than a day, but tough times are common for anyone daring to live here.
Welcome paradoxa to the game! You get the joys of making the first player post in the new Age of Ice Game. I will introduce others as we go. If you like feel free to also post some description of the other kids, but I shall RP thier actions.
"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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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by paradoxa » Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:34 am

The dim light strains her eyes and the mending strains her patience. After yet another day of running and hiding, Vren is weary to the bone. It's been a long time since she has had a full night's sleep, and things don't look much better for the future.

Every now and then she pauses to listen if there is anything to be heard outside, like the howling of the Pit hound.
But even a creature like this has to fear the night, when vile things crawl out of the Pit, and swarms of bats and winged devils pour out of their hiding places, to prey on anything foolish enough not to stay hidden.

Her stitches are large and uneven, and the trousers have been mended far too often already, but they will just have to do. Again, the needle gets stuck in the coarse cloth, and as she pushes it through with more force than neccesary, she promptly pricks herself.
Vren curses under her breath and sucks the finger, then looks over to the kids, hoping that this hasn't woken them up.

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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by Vardaen » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:54 am

Nessa stirs, the curse wakes her, or perhaps she's simply not going to sleep well regardless. The young girl rolls over and now faces the fire and looks across it and through it at Vren. "Wha was that?" She asks as she rubs the sleep from her eyes, its only been an hour, and the poor girl needs more sleep but she pushes herself to a sitting position. Her hair hangs back in a long ratty ponytail, her cheaks are shallow and her eyes bloodshot. A small dagger hangs on her hip, and one hand rests on the pommel of it.
I have a great little picture set of the kids. I'll edit it up and post it.
"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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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by paradoxa » Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:55 am

She puts a finger on her lips to signal Nessa to be quiet.
"Nothing. Go back to sleep. "

Vren keeps her voice a whisper, even though one of them has woken up, there are still the other three sleeping. And especially Jak needs all the rest he can get. As the youngest, he has a hard time keeping up. And that is not the only thing she is worried about - he speaks less and less, he didn't even say a word when he fell and hurt himself. She closes her eyes for a moment. Even more problems piling up, when surviving alone is hard enough...

But that's a dangerous thing to do. Feeling she is about to be overwhelmed by sleep, she forces herself to open the eyes again and blinks a few times. Wiping her finger clean from the small drop of blood on her own trousers, she picks up the needle again, to get the mending finished.

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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by Vardaen » Sat Dec 19, 2009 6:26 am

Nessa shakes his head, "I heard something."

Vren is about to tell her to go back to sleep when she hears something herself.

Foot step. There is no doubt some armored foe is moving slowly toward the hovel. Nessa draws her dagger and points to the east wall where a hole opens up to the street, perhaps it can be used to escape through.

The armored footsteps grow closer and closer. Normally Vren would have acted by now, she'd have these kids up and out that hole and three streets down, but she's exhausted and her reflexes are just shot. Holding Jak's hallf sewn pants in one hand she finally snaps to, but its too late.

Its here...whatever it is, it steps into the shadowy light of the doorway.
Welcome MadVlat to the game! I'll let him post his entry in the doorway
"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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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by MadVlat » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:04 pm

A lone figure steps into the doorway clad in a dark hooded cloak, with a morningstar grasped tightly in a gauntleted hand. The figure stands poised to strike for several long seconds before it lessens its guard. The cloak falls back slightly revealing a shield of polished steel brandishing the symbol of Junil the Righteous. The revelation of the holy symbol suddenly accompanied by a firm but caring voice which speaks in soft tones. "What has brought children to a place such as this?"...

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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by paradoxa » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:49 pm

The girl sitting near the fire, apparently the oldest of the small group, just stares at the door with wide eyes, unable to react. The words spoken break the paralysis, but now it's to late to run.
Her eyes dart around, to the younger girl that is awake, a dagger in her hand, to the huddled forms of the other three, to the hole in the east wall. Her mind is racing...

So it's not a demon or something else that will kill them at sight... she recognizes the coat of arms, but words are cheap, and symbols are even cheaper. Experience has taught her distrust.
Right now, all she hopes for is an opportunity to still escape. Talking might buy them enough time, fighting would surely not...

Vren raises her chin and stares back at the figure in the doorway, heart hammering in her chest.
"What makes you think we're on our own here?", she says, putting confidence in her voice she doesn't feel.
Her right hand, covered by the half mended trouser, creeps slowly towards the hilt of the short sword sheathed at her side.

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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by MadVlat » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:47 am

The figure moves forward with a short step, shaking the shield loose from her arm and placing it against the wall behind. "If you were not travelling alone your parents would see that you were in much better condition than what I see before me now". Ellsbeth pauses for a moment taking time to look at the hands and knees of the boy. Then without turning the paladin utters, "To draw a weapon upon a stranger is a sign of poor hospitality. However, if you would allow it, I would much rather tend to this childs wounds than fight you". The hood is pulled away from the young woman's head revealing strong Braduk features, her beautifully chisled face outlined in dark hair as she now turns to face the young girl. "But of course that choice is up to you, so choose quickly before the agents of that accursed pit join us or I am beset with old age"...

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Re: Prelude - The Pit: Ashes and Cinder

Post by Vardaen » Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:25 am

Nessa the young girl sitting opposite Vren still holds the dagger, but when scolded on her hospitality he sort of half hides it, not sure what to do. Here is an adult, she hasn't seen a true adult in some weeks now and he's both glad and a bit worried at the same time. She is strong willed however, and chimes up before Vren can say anything, "Who...who are you?"

The other kids, Jak, Griet and Gunner remain sound asleep, Gunner is even starting to snore. Zzzzzzz.
"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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