Earth: 1,000 Years After the End

Hctib Yob - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

Hctib woke with laughter as he felt his new form. He poked at his new canines feeling the sharpness in them and giggled. The little imp was impressed, He had accomplished so much more than any of his other brothers could ever hope for but he was still hungry. The reborn creature needed to have more, He needed to eat something bigger something more dangerous but a chef who prepared no ingredients for his meals was no chef at all. He looked around the forest until he found them, a bundle of purple, hollow, helmet like flowers that would serve him well when he needed them. The imp picked the colored flowers from the stem because he knew that even touching the purple flowers would cause annoying effects on him.

With a bundle of devil's helmet in his pocket Hctib started foraging again this time for a bud shaped flower with little strings coming off from them. When he found a patch of white snakeroot he stuffed the poison in his other pocket.

After he was done looking for spices to use the green colored imp walked back to the corpse of the lizard which he felt could still give him a decent snack. Hctib picked up the mangled and ripped body of the lizard and started to pluck little pieces of the creature to eat while he made his way towards the nearby trading post. As he neared the settlement he tried to eat the lizard's bones because he enjoyed the crunchiness. The imp's fragile teeth snapped which left him in shock for a seconds before he realized that his new features had its drawbacks. Hctib screamed in frustration, His anger boiling inside of him when he realized that he just lost the ability to enjoy one of his favorite snacks.
@Stoic GM - Drake

Time Skip - 1 week

Hctib's fangs had grown back already. They returned after several days. He had also discovered that the incisors and molars in his mouth were still hard enough to chew on bones. The herbs that he had picked had dried after a while. Hctib had been unable to figure out how to use them because he lacked the proper tools and knowledge. In fact, he had no idea what they were called or how they could be used.

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Devil's Helmet -
This plant has many different species that are referred to with the same colloquial name. The Western Monkshood, or Aconitum columbianum, is the variety of Devil's Helmet found by Hctib. Due to the change in biology for all things, this plant has changed as well. While still poisonous, this plant has a few beneficial uses. Its roots are the most poisonous. They can be ground into powder and put into a drink with only a slight change in taste, nearly undetectable in alcohol. However, this poison is still weak and needs a considerable amount to kill a full grown human being (meaning that less is needed for gnolls, goblins, and gnomes; very little for imps). The leaves of this plant contain an extremely weak paralyzing agent that can be mixed with other herbs to produce tinctures or salves, which are generally used for medicinal purposes. The flower, though, carries a mild paralyzing agent. The petals are generally dried and used to make a tea. Depending on what else is in this tea, it can be used for a myriad of problems. However, it is typically used as a weak anaesthetic.

White Snakeroot -
White Snakeroot, a small, flowering plant that is found in the midwest and eastern North America, is poisonous. The poison is weak, requiring it to be ingested continuously. In this plant, the small, white flowers carry the poison. They are typically dried and ground into a powder. This powder can be used to create a salve that can be applied directly on the skin of the desired victim. While this method is slower than direct ingestion, it still works. The roots, however, contain chemicals that cause mild constipation. The roots of the plant can be ground into powder or cut up into thin slices. These slices, or powder, are typically used to make a tea to treat diarrhea, fevers, and kidney stones. However, as its name implies, the roots of White Snakeroot can be used to make a poultice for treating snakebites.

Poison Glands (Fire-headed Lizard) -
The poison glands of this lizard contain only a few mL of poison. While deadly to any imp, they are a mild poison to larger beings. Easily broken down by the liver, the extremely painful poison is rarely deadly. Symptoms include the feeling of one's blood being on fire. The skin around the bite marks begins to take on a slightly charred appearance. The pain typically lasts for about a day, during which the victim's entire body will experience this sensation of burning. One dose per gland. The lizard is uncommon in this area.
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A reverberating roar echoed across the lands, reaching Hctib who was venturing around the western side of Canton Lake. Suddenly, a series of gnolls and goblins began to run around. They were grabbing weapons and arms. Mothers, wives, and children were gathering around Hctib. Every able-bodied male in sight rushed off to the eastern side of the village, regardless if they had a weapon or not. Hctib, hearing the sounds of battle being prepared, was intrigued.

[OOC]

Look into the commotion on the Western Side - Take part in battle, recognized by the Grey Wanderers (possibly), Unknown
Stay on the Eastern side - unknown
flee the village - unknown
Surprise Me

(Hctib, due to having no training and having done no experimenting, does not know of any of the uses of the herbs that he gathered. As such, he must find a teacher in the future. He is able to take advantage of the Lizard's poison, but does not know its limitations. His own and the Lizard's poison does not affect the monster, but Hctib does not know this. No one knows this.)

[OOC]
 
Hctib heard all the commotion and figured that a hunting party was either readying for some major quarry or a group of warriors was mobilizing for war. The imp didn't really care for that but he figured that with most of the able-bodied members of the outpost leaving he could pillage the storehouses of the settlement with little risk. Once he thought the coast was clear Hctib flew into a tree where his skin barely blended into the leaves. The tiny creature watched and waited for the armed group to leave as he surveyed the area for possible places to loot.
 
Vuatz Einuk - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

"Damnation! The beast must have followed us back, else it would have never found us so quickly." Vuatz cursed. After having found the monster many days before, it must have tracked them back. It probably was on its way when it first saw the smoke from the signal, and the enticement of prey only hastened its pace. The beast was smart, that much was for sure. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage.

"Dorgan, make you way into the watchtower. Take the Thunder Rifle with you, and wait for us to draw it into the abandoned village, away from the encampment. Those of you with the blades and bats of power, hide among the buildings. It is injured, but it will still move swift, beware. Those with the handguns, do the same."

"Dorgan, it will be up to you to attract the attention of the dark lion. Bring the god's fury upon it from a distance, and I shall lure it towards the abandoned village. From there, we can hide among the ruins, and strike when its flanks are exposed. Wither it down, blow by blow, round by round, cut by cut. Be cautious, and strike sure and swift. If the spirits are with us, we shall lose no man today."

"Soldiers of the Bandoin tribe, I leave it to you to strike from the shadows alongside the machine priests. Stay strong, and the Bandoin shall not lose another man to this monstrosity." Vuatz said to the goblins, gazing at them seriously.

Turning back to them, raised his voice, and began to bark in the old dialect of the gnollish tongue that so much of their holy scripture was written in.

"Fear is the poison of the mind,
The poison of death and destruction.
Fear strangles the weak and cripples the strong.
The flesh is fallible, but machines know no fear.
The machine spirits guide us, and keep us strong.
We become more than gnoll to overcome.
The fear will arrive, and the fear will pass.,
Only the gnoll shall remain."

Finishing the mantra, he raised his spear-staff in the air, and let out a cry. They would stop the beast, or die trying. As the rest of the men left the gnoll camp to take their positions in the abandoned village, Vuatz entered the field, calm and collected, ready to face the lion.
 
Kurtel looked back over his own group, noting with nervousness of the position that they had one, and only one task to fulfill. It seemed only a week ago that he was merely training, but now, he were made to not only battle, but lead a small group, it kind of surprised him to see the new responsibilities he was given. He paused his walking, and narrowed his eyes as soon as he's noted that indeed, his group wasn't the only group planning to flank his enemies. The man reached for his sword, scowling almost. Of course he would have chosen to fight. "Let us fight for our lord," he states, pulling his sword out, intending to attack.
 
Vuatz Einuk - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

"Damnation! The beast must have followed us back, else it would have never found us so quickly." Vuatz cursed. After having found the monster many days before, it must have tracked them back. It probably was on its way when it first saw the smoke from the signal, and the enticement of prey only hastened its pace. The beast was smart, that much was for sure. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage.

"Dorgan, make you way into the watchtower. Take the Thunder Rifle with you, and wait for us to draw it into the abandoned village, away from the encampment. Those of you with the blades and bats of power, hide among the buildings. It is injured, but it will still move swift, beware. Those with the handguns, do the same."

"Dorgan, it will be up to you to attract the attention of the dark lion. Bring the god's fury upon it from a distance, and I shall lure it towards the abandoned village. From there, we can hide among the ruins, and strike when its flanks are exposed. Wither it down, blow by blow, round by round, cut by cut. Be cautious, and strike sure and swift. If the spirits are with us, we shall lose no man today."

"Soldiers of the Bandoin tribe, I leave it to you to strike from the shadows alongside the machine priests. Stay strong, and the Bandoin shall not lose another man to this monstrosity." Vuatz said to the goblins, gazing at them seriously.

Turning back to them, raised his voice, and began to bark in the old dialect of the gnollish tongue that so much of their holy scripture was written in.

"Fear is the poison of the mind,
The poison of death and destruction.
Fear strangles the weak and cripples the strong.
The flesh is fallible, but machines know no fear.
The machine spirits guide us, and keep us strong.
We become more than gnoll to overcome.
The fear will arrive, and the fear will pass.,
Only the gnoll shall remain."

Finishing the mantra, he raised his spear-staff in the air, and let out a cry. They would stop the beast, or die trying. As the rest of the men left the gnoll camp to take their positions in the abandoned village, Vuatz entered the field, calm and collected, ready to face the lion.
@SedentaryCobra GM - Drake

(building numbered 2 on the map is the watchtower, forces are currently just southeast of it)

Dorgan nodded in reply. He snatched up the rifle, feeling its great power. He had used this weapon a number of times, and he has made thousands of sacrifices to it. Dorgan, as he ran to the tower, pulled out some of those sacrifices now. They were small, long, pointed cylinders. He had taken one apart once, revealing that it was made of many parts. It had a metal jacket that carried some sort of explosive powder in it. Then the tip was put in the jacket, pressing down on the powder. It was an amazing discovery and a source of pride for himself.

Dorgan was soon at the top of the tower. While it was only 20 ft high, it still gave him a number of clear shots on the beast. Leveling the Thunder Rifle, Dorgan looked down on his Shaman, Lord, and fellow priests. He saw as the goblins, with their flimsy copper weapons, snuck around the small buildings. He watched as the beast vanished.

The shadowy lion's form melted away. All that was left was a titanium skeleton. Now, being much lighter, the beast ran towards the gnolls and goblins. A great crystal, in the shape of a double hexagonal pyramid, pulsated with a violet light in the beast's chest. It was a foot from tip to tip and 4 inches at its thickest.

dubbelpyramide.gif

Then, emerging at the edge of the village, the beast's outer skin returned to it. The lion was once more a shadowy monster. With a roar, the creature slashed at a nearby gnoll warrior. Immediately, the two Priests with pistols opened fire on the beast. Soon, they sacrificed twelve metal cylinders to the weapons, tearing through the shadowy monster. While they bullets didn't do too much damage, they did function in jamming the lion's flexibility.

Dorgan, witnessing as the beast moved, aimed his weapon at the lion's head. With a deep sigh, expelling all air from his chest, the old priest pulled the rifle's trigger. With a sound as great as a crack of thunder, the weapon's "sacrifice" hurtled towards the creature. It hit. The lion's head snapped to the side as the bullet hit the beast in its temple. An audible crack rang throughout the village as the bullet snapped the creature's metal skull.

The remaining priests ran up to the beast then, brandishing their electrified weapons. The goblin and gnoll warriors, sensing the shadow beast's weakness charged as well. With a roar, the beast, now clearly weakened, attempted to attack its prey. However, it didn't realize that it was the prey now.

[OOC]

Surprise me

[OOC]
 
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Kurtel looked back over his own group, noting with nervousness of the position that they had one, and only one task to fulfill. It seemed only a week ago that he was merely training, but now, he were made to not only battle, but lead a small group, it kind of surprised him to see the new responsibilities he was given. He paused his walking, and narrowed his eyes as soon as he's noted that indeed, his group wasn't the only group planning to flank his enemies. The man reached for his sword, scowling almost. Of course he would have chosen to fight. "Let us fight for our lord," he states, pulling his sword out, intending to attack.
@budgiebird GM - Drake

Steel clashed, ringing in the dark woods. The two groups were engaged in a fierce battle. The Kobold known as Kurtel, who is still loyal to the Emperor, had lost no man. He himself had cut down several of the enemy already. They seemed to be nothing more than simple farmers that were given weapons. As the battle swiftly drew to a close, the surviving Kobolds, all of whom were from Lord Furanst's forces.

However, a few of the enemy's soldiers refused to die easily. They were in great pain, but were still coherent enough to speak. With a defiant look in their eyes, the men awaited swift death.

[OOC]

question survivors - Information
Save survivors - gain a reputation as a merciful leader
kill survivors - your soldiers see you as a cold and ruthless leader, willing to do whatever it takes to complete a mission
Surprise me - unknown

[OOC]
 
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Hctib heard all the commotion and figured that a hunting party was either readying for some major quarry or a group of warriors was mobilizing for war. The imp didn't really care for that but he figured that with most of the able-bodied members of the outpost leaving he could pillage the storehouses of the settlement with little risk. Once he thought the coast was clear Hctib flew into a tree where his skin barely blended into the leaves. The tiny creature watched and waited for the armed group to leave as he surveyed the area for possible places to loot.
@Stoic GM - Drake

Around the small imp stood several tents and one permanent building. The permanent building was locked and fortified. Unless he came up with some ingenious way of getting in, Hctib would never be able to steal from that building. The other tents, however, are much more open. Sadly, the tents only hold small bits of dried fruit and meat along with scraps of metal. Maybe Hctib will be able to use them in some manner.

[OOC]

describe what you steal and how you steal it - rewards depending

[OOC]
 
Vuatz Einuk - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

With a dance of claw of and spear and sword, the lion and men leaped around the beast, striking its unprotected flanks as the the great beast struggled to combat the many opponents it faced. The men fought cautiously, striking when sure and safe, and slowly, the number of wounds on the strange hide of the shadowy lion grew.

Vuatz danced about it front of the lion, rarely attacking, but holding it's focus more than anything. He had grazed it several times across the neck and face as it turned to deal with those on its side. Were it not for the incredible speed of the beast, a crippling wound might have been inflicted, but unfortunately for Vuatz, he had no such luck.

Suddenly, the lion turned to make a swipe at one of the machine priests attacking its flank. The machine priest adroitly dodged the blow by a slim margin, while still landing his own. Vuatz, prepared and seeing an opportunity, lunged forward. Lunging forward, he struck his spear directly at the chest of the monster. To his surprise, it sunk in very little, grazing the beast, and deflected off with a hurl of sparks. Vuatz dived, and rolled forward to keep his balance, throwing himself to the side of the great lion to get out of its way.

The fight raged on for several minutes longer, moving closer and closer towards the watchtower that Dorgan lie in. Quickly, they were running out of area to fight. They would soon be in the open area about the watchtower, and the lion would be able to shred them with nowhere to hide. It was then, as his mind moved to desperation, that Vuatz noticed the tracks of the beast. Heavy, deep, and mechanical in nature. Vuatz knew what to do.

"Dorgan! We fight a corrupted machine! Use the artifact and purge the machine spirit from the vessel, quickly!." Vuatz barked, calling for Dorgan to throw the EMP grenade. Lunging forward once more, Vuatz rammed his spear deep into the already wounded paw of the lion, driving it into the ground beneath. Exposed, Vuatz was immediately slammed in the back with the other paw, sending him tumbling a short distance. He could feel the air rush out of his lungs, leaving him unable to breathe. He could taste the warm, sticky blood oozing from the back of his mouth. The beast was trapped for the moment, but it was up to Dorgan and the other to finish the wretched machine now.
 
Hctib Yob - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

The little imp watched in the tree as the remaining non-combatant Gnolls went about their day in the now mostly quiet outpost. A plan had formulated in his mind about what to do and it was time he enacted it mostly because the pathetic creature thought he might find useful things if he robbed the place. Hctib snuck between the shrubbery as an old Gnoll woman walked out of an empty tent carrying food and supplies to another nearby crowded shelter filled with the sickly and ill. Even though they seemed mostly ailing the Imp knew he could not fight so many people so he went into the tent that the woman had come out from which was now empty.

Hctib guessed from nearby scraps of rotten fruit in the corner as well as a few rusty pieces of metal that this tent had been used to store some of the outpost's supplies but was now mostly bare after the warriors and the Gnoll woman took what few items remained. The plan however wasn't just to settle for so little but to make a distraction and so the Imp gathered dried refuse and clothing into a pile. He then took nearby metal shard and a rough looking rock then screech, screech Hctib clashed the rock and metal together screech, screech It took him many minutes and at the start he screamed Impish in frustration but he had created a spark and lit the pile of trash on fire. Afterward, the little thief ducked under one of the tent flaps as the fire started to grow.

The green Imp wasted no time and set his eyes on his actual goal. Hctib flew towards the roof of the one building in the outpost and dug his knife in between the wooden boards. When the knife was sturdy he took a rock then started to hammer the knife in the side hoping to pry the wooden piece from the roof.

By this time the fire had already begun to light up the top of the tent from which it had started. Various Gnolls mostly the very young or the very old rushed in confusion at the sudden blaze, They were all shouting hysterically in their own Gnolls but Hctib guessed they likely screaming for water which didn't really matter to him since all the noise drowned out the sound of the Imp prying open the roof.

After a few sturdy "Whacks" A board came loose. The green thief even though he was weak was able to pry the loose piece away with the knife and slip into the secured storehouse. He knew that the fire could still buy him a few minutes to cherry pick what he wanted so he opened a nearby light chest with a handle. The Imp had no use for things of material value like gold or silver so he started looking for things to help him. First on his list were botany books specifically those written in common which he barely understood or if he was lucky in Impish for which he was fluent. Secondly, he looked for weapons usable by someone of his stature preferably something he could use in range and finally the imp took any spare pieces of food he could reliably put into the box and carry then stuffed his pockets with random nic-nacks.

Once his trunk of treasures was filled in a way he could still drag it, The imp unlocked the door from the inside and dragged his spoils back towards the forest preferably not using a main road. By now the fire had mostly died down and various Gnolls milled around the smoldering heap trying to find out what happened.
 
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Vuatz Einuk - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

With a dance of claw of and spear and sword, the lion and men leaped around the beast, striking its unprotected flanks as the the great beast struggled to combat the many opponents it faced. The men fought cautiously, striking when sure and safe, and slowly, the number of wounds on the strange hide of the shadowy lion grew.

Vuatz danced about it front of the lion, rarely attacking, but holding it's focus more than anything. He had grazed it several times across the neck and face as it turned to deal with those on its side. Were it not for the incredible speed of the beast, a crippling wound might have been inflicted, but unfortunately for Vuatz, he had no such luck.

Suddenly, the lion turned to make a swipe at one of the machine priests attacking its flank. The machine priest adroitly dodged the blow by a slim margin, while still landing his own. Vuatz, prepared and seeing an opportunity, lunged forward. Lunging forward, he struck his spear directly at the chest of the monster. To his surprise, it sunk in very little, grazing the beast, and deflected off with a hurl of sparks. Vuatz dived, and rolled forward to keep his balance, throwing himself to the side of the great lion to get out of its way.

The fight raged on for several minutes longer, moving closer and closer towards the watchtower that Dorgan lie in. Quickly, they were running out of area to fight. They would soon be in the open area about the watchtower, and the lion would be able to shred them with nowhere to hide. It was then, as his mind moved to desperation, that Vuatz noticed the tracks of the beast. Heavy, deep, and mechanical in nature. Vuatz knew what to do.

"Dorgan! We fight a corrupted machine! Use the artifact and purge the machine spirit from the vessel, quickly!." Vuatz barked, calling for Dorgan to throw the EMP grenade. Lunging forward once more, Vuatz rammed his spear deep into the already wounded paw of the lion, driving it into the ground beneath. Exposed, Vuatz was immediately slammed in the back with the other paw, sending him tumbling a short distance. He could feel the air rush out of his lungs, leaving him unable to breathe. He could taste the warm, sticky blood oozing from the back of his mouth. The beast was trapped for the moment, but it was up to Dorgan and the other to finish the wretched machine now.
@SedentaryCobra GM - Drake

Dorgan immediately did as the young shaman ordered him to. Pulling the EMP grenade from the folds of his coat, the gnoll released the pin and lobbed the weapon at the creature. It landed with a thud, rolling to a stop directly underneath the beast's chest. Several seconds later, as Vuatz was flung away, the grenade detonated. With a bright, blinding flash and a web of electricity appeared. The beast screamed as its electric parts refused to work, having been shortcircuited and fried. With a great thud, the beast fell to the ground. The shadowy skin that covered it slowly, very slowly, seeped into the ground, disappearing without a trace. The creature's titanium skeleton began to show through the shadows. Its heart, the pulsating, purple double hexagonal pyramid, began to shine throughout the group. Surprisingly, it continued to pulsate.

The battle was fierce, with several casualties. Most of which had been normal gnolls, of which five died. The Priests lost one of their number, and the goblins lost two of their precious warriors. As a result of the EMP, the electrified batons and swords refused to work anymore and would need to be fixed. The injuries were also severe. Several gnolls and another goblin faced serious injuries. A couple of the priests also had to deal with severe injuries. Out of all of the combatants, Vuatz was rewarded with the worst of the injuries. The young goblin healer, who had been wary of the gnoll at first, had ran to his broken body when the beast had flung him away.

The process took several hours, but the healer, with the help of Vuatz's predecessor, was able to place Vuatz's broken bones in the right places. Sadly, Vuatz would remain unconscious for several more days, but not from his injuries. The gnoll's body began to change, slowly at first, then faster. He was mutating. At the end, his hair on his spine and the top of his head will stick up straight, small arcs of electricity jumping between the strands. He will grow to be 5'6", a height that towered over other gnolls. His legs and back will straighten ever so slightly. His claws will be jet black, and harder than a normal gnoll's claws. At the end of this transformation, Vuatz will be able to have some very minor control over an electrical current, along with a healthy amount of resistance to electricity.

In this time, Trallian, the Shaman Lord of the Grey Wanderers, Studied the lion's gem-like heart. It pulsated with an unknown power. The technology behind it was unlike anything the Shaman had ever seen before. The only explanation for what it could be is that it was a physical manifestation of a very strong machine spirit. One that had been corrupted and tortured. With a grim heart, the Lord vowed that the Grey Wanderers would find the rest of these poor ,achine spirits and free them.

[OOC]

Surprise me

[OOC]
 
Hctib Yob - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

The little imp watched in the tree as the remaining non-combatant kobolds went about their day in the now mostly quiet outpost. A plan had formulated in his mind about what to do and it was time he enacted it mostly because the pathetic creature thought he might find useful things if he robbed the place. Hctib snuck between the shrubbery as an old kobold woman walked out of an empty tent carrying food and supplies to another nearby crowded shelter filled with the sickly and ill. Even though they seemed mostly ailing the Imp knew he could not fight so many people so he went into the tent that the woman had come out from which was now empty.

Hctib guessed from nearby scraps of rotten fruit in the corner as well as a few rusty pieces of metal that this tent had been used to store some of the outpost's supplies but was now mostly bare after the warriors and the kobold woman took what few items remained. The plan however wasn't just to settle for so little but to make a distraction and so the Imp gathered dried refuse and clothing into a pile. He then took nearby metal shard and a rough looking rock then screech, screech Hctib clashed the rock and metal together screech, screech It took him many minutes and at the start he screamed Impish in frustration but he had created a spark and lit the pile of trash on fire. Afterward, the little thief ducked under one of the tent flaps as the fire started to grow.

The green Imp wasted no time and set his eyes on his actual goal. Hctib flew towards the roof of the one building in the outpost and dug his knife in between the wooden boards. When the knife was sturdy he took a rock then started to hammer the knife in the side hoping to pry the wooden piece from the roof.

By this time the fire had already begun to light up the top of the tent from which it had started. Various Kobolds mostly the very young or the very old rushed in confusion at the sudden blaze, They were all shouting hysterically in their own Kobold but Hctib guessed they likely screaming for water which didn't really matter to him since all the noise drowned out the sound of the Imp prying open the roof.

After a few sturdy "Whacks" A board came loose. The green thief even though he was weak was able to pry the loose piece away with the knife and slip into the secured storehouse. He knew that the fire could still buy him a few minutes to cherry pick what he wanted so he opened a nearby light chest with a handle. The Imp had no use for things of material value like gold or silver so he started looking for things to help him. First on his list were botany books specifically those written in common which he barely understood or if he was lucky in Impish for which he was fluent. Secondly, he looked for weapons usable by someone of his stature preferably something he could use in range and finally the imp took any spare pieces of food he could reliably put into the box and carry then stuffed his pockets with random nic-nacks.

Once his trunk of treasures was filled in a way he could still drag it, The imp unlocked the door from the inside and dragged his spoils back towards the forest preferably not using a main road. By now the fire had mostly died down and various Kobolds milled around the smoldering heap trying to find out what happened.
@Stoic GM - Drake

The imp was promptly surrounded by books, some food, and a hulking, metal object. The books were covered in dust and held a range of topics. While some of them were written in gnollish, none were written in common. Most of these books, though, were written in the Old Tongue. While closely related to common, they were still esoteric to anyone not versed in the past. One book, which was rather small, told of different herbs and their uses, but was written in gnollish. Several books in the building held knowledge of plants that existed in the time of the Old Ones, but are mostly irrelevant with the plants of today. On the back wall laid some bags filled with foods that do not perish easily. Some bags were filled with an assortment of cheeses, gained from trading with goblins and Lizardfolk. In other bags were dried fruits and vegetables, either traded for or made by the gnolls themselves.

On the opposite wall from the books stood a metal colossus. It was about 7 feet tall, with a slightly hunched back and thick limbs. The machine's body was made up of steel and replacement parts built out of copper or aluminum. in its chest was a hollow vacancy big enough to hold a very large imp comfortably. Underneath this hole laid another slot which seemed to be able to fit a double hexagonal pyramid of about a foot in height. Sadly, both holes were empty. In the first hole a bunch of wires poked out. There must have been some sort of control panel there, but with the right knowledge, one could put a small cockpit there.

[OOC]

Surprise me

[OOC]
 
Azayla Aquus - Western Coast, somewhere in California.

Azayla wiped some perspiration from her brow, sighing heavily to herself as she prepared herself to lift the crate before her, the heaviest of the lot she had been assigned. She could hear the snickers of off-duty sailors behind her who had gotten the same work to do, moving crates from a loading dock onto a nearby ship, although not only were they stronger but they had more experience lifting items against the force of gravity than she did. The female scowled, chewing on her lower lip as she tucked a stray curly strand of her hair behind her ear, bending her knees and placing her hands on the crates edges as she had first seen the soldiers do. She may have looked stupid before, unable to make the crate budge and thus had made the men laugh at her antics, but she could hardly be upset with herself considering it was her first time doing such an errand.

Your efforts are going to be rewarded handsomely. Keep your thoughts of bloody death by siren song to yourself or else you'll never be able to work around here again.

She repeated these thoughts like a mantra, the words instilling confidence in her as she used the leverage of her knees to lift the wooden storage vessel from the sandy ground. She let out a small grunt, finding the item easy to hold once she had straightened. She grinned over her shoulder smugly to the men who stood open-mouthed in surprise, some mumbling fowl words under their breath at her victory.

They don't even know how I could carve up their faces using my blade. No need for that now, the satisfaction I feel will be enough to encourage me to finish the task at hand quickly.


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A few hours passed, Azayla making her way back to the inn she rented a room at with the money she had earned giving her a fulfilling weight in her dress pocket. Her attire was feminine but sturdy, something she had bought from a cheap seamstress who was going to throw the laboring attire out because of an inconsequential rip in the hem of the frock. The imperfection hadn't bothered her and was easy to keep clean with it's grey-beige fabric and matching loose undershirt. It wasn't too decorative, with just simple blue ribbon stitched around the neckline but she always had her dagger within it's sheath buckled in a slouchy-manner around her hips. Her lace up boots with a small heel click-clacked against the cobblestone streets of the semi-submerged town she had recently arrived in. After undergoing her transformation, she had found lodging at the inn on the edge of the water that now rose up before her, small amounts of smoke erupting from the chimney on the roof.

She was weary from what she had done, but she knew that the money she had received would be enough to add to the rest of her earnings to achieve her goal. Now she could afford a horse and a few days of supplies and leave the small, watery city with it's canals and bridges before the sun set on the following day. She was almost at the inn, only needing to turn a corner into a narrow alley placed compactly between two buildings and she would be there. She entered this area now, the darkness suddenly increasing as the tall buildings on either side of her blocked out the dissipating sun. She suddenly felt a shadow decrease the minimal light further, making the female halt in her tracks and lift her head from where she had been watching the ground and turn around. She recognized the smile of one of the sailors from earlier, a gold tooth glinting at her in the growing darkness. "Lady walking in the dark alone? You should know better than that. Me and some of the lads just want to claim some of the money you owe us."

Azayla turned to exit out the other side of the alley, but saw that way was blocked too by two more of the men. "I owe you nothing." She said calmly, trying to eradicate the fear she felt forming a small lump in her throat and threatening to make her voice shake.

"You see, women here should be at home or looking after children. Men earn the money round here, women just spend it. So, really, anything you earned today belongs to us." One of the other men in front of her said, cracking his knuckles in a way that made goosebumps rise across Azayla's skin.

Three against me. Maybe it will at least be a fair fight then....for them. She stilled her body, tensing her muscles and preparing for what was to come.
 
Kurtel stared down at the soldiers for a moment, almost in near disgust, as if they'd done something quite unthinkable. Of course, it was quite incomprehensible to him. "Damned beings," he spoke, staring at the betraying enemies with his sword still out, threateningly, "Why did you decide to fight against the emperor? Why be so defiant?" He store at them, watching, quite threateningly prepared to deal with any sudden movements.
 
Vuatz Einuk - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

And he dreamed of a great journey, past the Desert of Death, beyond the sky scraping peaks, following the sun on its path, girdling the world. Clawed feet would cast plumes of dust into the sky, a great horde rallied under a cause, drinking the rivers dry as it made its way to the sea. Standing firm under one banner, the warband would scour the coast in search of the heart of a dead god. Upon the tongue of the followers of the new faith was a single word, muttered waking and sleeping, in the hearts and minds of the militant faithful. Shakaal. A word once invoked by the leaders of old as they led their men across plains still scorched by the god's blood. This would be the rallying cry of the great jihad. Shakaal, he whispered as he dreamed. Shakaal...

"Shakaal." Vuatz muttered, as he awoke. He wasn't sure when he truly did wake, but he found himself staring at the tarpaulin ceiling of his tent, his eyes clear of sleep and his mind clear of thought. "Shakaal..." He said once more. The word was ancient, and simply thinking about it made his spine shiver and the hair on his arms stand on end. It carried so many meanings with it, it was hard to describe. Fight, survive, move, struggle, conquer. Crush, brutalize, dominate, kill, feast. Reclaim, relearn, adapt, manifest, ascend. "Shakaal..." He said again. He had heard the word so rarely, only in the records of their earliest histories, stories barely remembered, was the word used. The Gray Wanderers were fortunate enough to have such records, and barely remembered the words. Only once had he ever heard it mentioned in another gnollish tribe, and even then it was whispered in a veil of superstition.

Vuatz slowly pushed off the hides and furs he used as blankets and rose to his feet. Every joint in his body released a small series of pops in disturbing, although not entirely unpleasant, bursts as he moved them. He rolled the stiff knots from his muscles, and took a deep breath. He sighed heavily, and turned to a basin of water at his feet. He turned left and right, examining his reflection in the still pool. The slightly distorted image of a black gnoll with mercury eyes and spiked fur stared back at him. Vuatz grabbed the bowl and raised it to his mouth, taking a long draught before placing it back down on the ground.

Vuatz grabbed his spear staff on the way out of the tent, pushing the flap open with one arm as he stooped low to exit. It was before dawn, as the violet pre light began to grace the landscape with it's dull glow. His mind was distant, drawn forward by a feeling he couldn't place. Wearing only some tattered pants and armed with his trusty staff, he made his way through the sleeping camp, and into the abandoned town, towards the site of the battle. Along the way, he noticed several new graves, which he he stopped a moment to pay his respects to, before continuing onward.

The titanium carcass of the beast lie dormant, the great crystal in its chest removed. It lie untouched, claws still covered with small bits of flesh from some of the lives it had taken. Vuatz was gratefully he was merely hit with the blunt force, and not the talons. Vuatz moved his hand along the strange metal of the beast, his own dark claws raking along the surface as small arcs of lightning jumped from his hand to the beast, turning on small LED lights embedded within its structure as he did so. His eyes devoured the small details, searching for something hidden in machine, his body seemingly moving of its own accord.

His prize came in the form of several small words, engraved onto a panel on the back of the great beast. It was written in one of the pre-war languages, and he couldn't read most of it. Two words though, a name, stood out to him.

"Los Angeles... The Boneyard..." He muttered. The great sprawling, fallen city of the west. It was there, he thought, there, that this ancient, corrupted machine was made. In the city of steel, monsters were still crawling from its bowls centuries later. Vuatz stood there, ebony fur standing on end in the cold, lost in thought.

"Shakaal..." He whispered.
 
The morning had arrived, with the alchemist's apprentice having been up for a while. She is an early bird, who tends to wake earlier than the most to have her morning routine done as early as possible so she can quickly set course to the den where her master is. Sooner or later her waking up early may leave its marks on Slaatch.

Slaatch had eaten her breakfast and put on her plain and simplistic set of brown clothing with her blue and white scales being more than just visible from the contrasts. She has a belt on her waist for pouches and carrying field equipment. She was living in the same hut as her siblings were.

When others were stepping out of their huts to get to work, she as well left her home, only to be utterly shocked as she was slow in her morning routine. She gives a long groan before setting course to the local den for her work. She has learned a lot during her time as an apprentice, almost ready to be the village's next alchemist, should her master die. She continued strolling down the street with quite a pacq through the streets of her home, Dragonville.


[OOC]
TL:DR edition

She walks towards her workplace to meet her master as she is a simple apprentice.


Ps. Sorry for the long wait.
@Drakey
 
@budgiebird GM - Cobra

The defeated band of kobolds stared back at Kurtel. Upon hearing the question, one kobold struggled tohis feet. His brown fur was matted with blood, and his leg bled profusely. He stood as straight as he could, wobbling on the injured leg, threatening to fall over, but he managed to stay upright just barely. The kobold stepped into Kurtel, his chest edging into the tip of Kurtel's weapon, biting into his skin and drawing a small trickle of blood. The kobold seemed unaware. His face was contorted in a mixture of rage and pain, and he spoke through bared teeth.

"House Kall is the weakest of all the houses." He spurted, teeth clenched tightly. The sounds of grinding fangs were audible, even with the din of the battlefield still in the background. "For decades now, we have been the ones called upon to defend the south against the Lizardmen. This burden has fallen entirely to us. The weakest house, holding off the every lizardfolk tribe. And because we were the weakest, we were taxed the most."

"Every time a man comes of age, he is sent to war. We are lucky if half of them come back from their first battle. And they come back to an empty table, the lands barren because all the men had to fight to keep us alive. We died from the scales, or we died from hunger." He spat angrily. "Meanwhile, the west farms the fertile lands and fishes the sea, protected by that vast ocean. The north hunts game, and is protected by the frozen fields to the north. The east mines gold and silver and iron, protected by the great mountains. And the south, the south watches generation after generation die while struggling to farm the worthless soil we are settled on."

"That is why we fight, loyalist!" He shouted. "The emperor pushes his knife into the gut of House Kall and twists it, and you ask why we are so defiant?!" The kobold yelled at Kurtel. He pushed Kurtel's weapon up to his throat, and stared him in the eye. "Finish me know, loyalist. You'll regret all of this when the lizardfolk gut you and your family your furs."

[OOC]
The rebels explain their plight, and ask for a swift death.
[OOC]
 
Hctib Yob - Trading Post - Disputed Lands - Canton Lake, Oklahoma

Hctib looked around the building and was disappointed by the lack of anything he could take. Ideas raced through his mind about becoming a metal colossus that could smash his enemies to pieces but he had no idea how machines worked. He barely understood common so the books were of little use to him. The imp decided to be smarter in his thefts so instead of obviously looting whatever he could take he stole a small bag of food and a herbal book he figured nobody would miss. With great effort, he took his spoils and flew out through the hole in the roof.

The sad green Imp covered the hole with the board again and hoped nobody would notice that it was loose or that he had stolen what he had. By now the fire was put out and the Gnolls were gathering in confusion about how the fire was started. Hctib knew they would be suspicious as nobody would have been dumb enough to believe that a fire would start on its own in this weather.

He made his way back into the forest where he looked for a cave or tree he could call his home. Hctib planned on staying near the village and to try to decipher the book hoping he could at least get a rudimentary understanding of the surrounding plant life from pictures but mostly it was because he wanted to wait until the heat had died down and he could have gone back into the village. His biggest plan was to grow stronger and the mech would provide him with just that strength. The green creature had no idea how he could hook himself into the machine at this moment so he was perfectly content to just have an opening to the Gnoll's most secure storehouse and hunt for more creatures so he could grow.
 
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@Enki GM - Cobra

The alchemist's den, a wide, squat stone structure, sat on the outer edge of Dragonville. The wooden shutters over the windows were flung open, and the heavy wooden door open wide. Thin, multicolored fumes trickled from the openings, dissipating quickly in the open air. The sounds of boiling liquids poured out as well, along with the clatter of metal tins. As Slaatch approached, a lizardfolk woman stepped from the hut to greet her. Her dark green and dull gold scales were marred by a sooty residue in places, something which she seemed apparently unaware of.

"My apprentice!" Sor'Ka greeted as she strode towards Slaatch. "You are late! The sun begins its ascent, and there is much work to be done!" Sor'Ka motioned Slaatch inside as she returned to the building. The building, which both Slaatch and Sor'Ka had grown intimately familiar wth over the years, was a mess, as usual. Various herbs covered almost every available surface that wasn't used for a work space. Metal and glassware bubbled away beneath carefully controlled fires, and premade potions, poultices, and powders covered the shelves. The place was utterly chaotic to anyone unfamiliar with it, but both of the alchemists navigated it with ease.

"I have several tasks for you, Slaatch. These are tasks for a senior alchemist, but these things need to be done, and with haste. You have learned well, and I believe you are ready for these tasks. So I give you your choice." Sor'Ka turned to Slaatch, and stared at her seriously.

"Several warriors are going to explore a ruin, and there are several herbs growing there that require a trained eye to find and harvest. Other than that, the elder, Grak, requests some medical care for his son, who was injured in a fight against gnomes while out hunting. Finally, a large raiding party requests the aid of an alchemist, both for healing his men, and for helping fight the gnomes." Sor'Ka said, and raised her brow curiously.

[OOC]
The senior alchemist, Sor'Ka, has offered Slaatch a choice several tasks, as she cannot complete them all herself.
1. Gather rare and delicate herbs in a ruin while accompanied by warriors.
2. Give medical care to the elder's injured son.
3. Help a raiding party in their fight against the gnomes.
[OOC]
 
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@MJK2431 GM - Cobra

The sailors slowly encroached, moving ever slowly closer to Azayla. They grinned sadistically as they closed in, savoring each moment as they closed in on their prey. In front of Azayla, one of the men slowly drew a short dirk, rasping from its sheath. On the other side, the lone man walked forward with a lopsided gait, his left leg limping behind.

"Just hand over the money, and anything else you have on you, and we'll let you go unharmed." The gimped man said.

"Mostly unharmed. We don't want you pulling any siren tricks on us." The thug with the dirk called back across the alley.

As the sky grew darker, light grew ever more precious. The three sailors were dark silhouettes against the poor torchlight of the main streets behind them. Several slivers of candle light came through a flimsy wooden door to Azayla's side. The building had its main entrance right outside the inn, and this back alley entrance was probably rarely used. Everything was quiet, and cold. Azayla could hear her own heart beating, and the breaths of the three other men as they came closer. She could also hear a set of armored footsteps growing closer. Whether it was a guard, a mercenary, or some adventurer, it was impossible to tell. A shout would probably reach him, but whether he would help was an entirely other matter. Sirens had a bad reputation, and much of what people knew about them was veiled in superstition.

"So little lady, what will it be?" The third sailor called out, curling his hands into fists as he approached.

[OOC]
The three thugs are closing in on Azayla. One is armed with a dirk and is accompanied by an unarmed friend. On the other side of the alley is another sailor, with a bum leg. An armored individual is passing by the alley soon, although his intentions are unknown. To the side, there is a weak wooden door, which leads into one of the buildings.
[OOC]
 
@Stoic GM - Cobra

As Hctib wandered through the forest on the outskirts of the village and camp, he found several suitable hiding spots. None of them were quite perfect, though.

The first Hctib encountered, he nearly wandered into as he left the village. It was a massive oak tree, and Hctib poked his head into the hole at the bottom. Inside was a vast hollow, easily large enough to hold an entire normal sized gnoll comfortably, let alone someone as small as Hctib. The tree had been home to several guests before, from birds to rats to large bugs, although they all seemed to be long gone. Higher up, there was another hole that let out on one of the upper branches of the great oak, giving a clear view of the village and the gnoll encampment that lie beyond it. The only issue with it, though, was its proximity. From the tree, Hctib could hear the gnolls barking at each other over what burned the tent down. The imp moved on, and found a second place soon after.

The second location was a foxhole a short distance from the village, near a stream. It was large enough for Hctib to rest easily and store his things, and the stream nearby was plentiful in small fish and water bugs. The ground, though, was wet and damp. It was a great place, but it offered little protection from the rain. If it wasn't flooded by the rain itself, an overflowing stream would do the trick just as well. Of course, those problems could be fixed with some time and resources, but he didn't have enough of either at the moment.

The last place Hctib found was a cave formed in the side of a hill formed by the remains of an RV. It was rusty, covered in holes, and part of it was collapsed, leaving a significantly smaller amount of room, but it was still plenty. The entrance, a rusted hole in an exposed peice of the door, was easily concealable. There was evidence of small animals here, as well, but these were fairly recent. It was a good distance from the village, as well.

As Hctib was about to leave, he saw a gnoll moving around outside. He was small, even by gnoll standards, and by the looks of him, fairly young. He carried with him a small hunting bow, and a string of fat pheasants he had caught recently. He looked around through the forest, and dropped his shoulders helplessly. He was clearly lost. Dejected, he saw down on a rock, with his back facing Hctib. He set a small rucksack to the side, and began to rummage through it, finally retrieving a waterskin and some tough jerky, which he began to consume slowly. For the time being, though, he was unaware he was being watched.

[OOC]
Hctib searched for a hiding place, and found three good candidates.
1. A large, hollow oak tree, dangerously close to the village.
2. An abandoned fox den near a stream, in danger of flooding to the rain.
3. A buried, partially collapsed RV, showing traces of recent use by the wildlife.
As Hctib was about to leave the RV, a gnoll, lost while out hunting, decided to eat his lunch right outside of Hctib's hiding place, unaware of his presence.
[OOC]
 
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