Town Under the Shadows NOW TAKING CHARACTERS

Started by BigBlackGamer, November 26, 2005, 07:57:08 AM

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BigBlackGamer

To look by daylight upon the town of Cold Rock--to see its streets, shops, buildings, and farms, one would not think anything amiss.  The population is a little shy of a thousand souls, almost all human with a little elven mixed in around the edges, here and there.  The fields are fertile.  The nearby river produces livelihood for four score of fishermen.  Two mines produce iron ore and a little gold. 

But as the afternoon fades toward evening, as the shadows grow long, one sees a different side of Cold Rock.  People go indoors.  Doors and gates are bolted shut.  Cattle are brought into barns.  As the sun sets, the fear begins.  Fear of things that move in the night.  For the people of Cold Rock no longer own the night.  The days when the Risling Empire's legions held back the beasts is over, the Empire folded up, gone back across the mountains.  The town is on its own.  And on its own, it cannot stand against the thousands of orcs, gnolls, and other even fouler things that called the forest home before the Empire came, and which now dare to call it home again.  Especially when the night falls, and they are unopposed.

About ten years ago, the conquest of Cold Rock began.  A farmstead was raided and burned.  Then another.  In each case, the men were put to the sword, the women abducted.  The town was powerless to stop the attacks.  The Empire it had relied on for protection was gone, faltering under its own weight, with its own battles to fight.  So the town had to find its own answer.  And it did...

One night, a band of orcs and gnolls went to destroy a third farm.  It was near the two that had been burned two nights before.  The farmers had seen the torches of the raiders from a distance, and had prepared.  When the party got to the field of the farmer, they found a cow, two pigs...and the farmer's wife, wearing only a cloak.  As the five orcs approached, weapons drawn, the woman dropped the cloak, revealing herself.  She was not an overly attractive woman, not the type who would turn heads or draw whistles, but she was not old or ugly either.  "Please," she said, "spare our farm.  You can take these animals...and..."  A tear came to her eye.  "You can take me for the night.  Okay?"

The leader stepped forward, a fearsome-looking orc a foot and a half taller than her.  His leather armor bore sigils indicating he was a captain.  He smiled a toothy grin.  "What is to stop us...from taking you and burning your farm, human," he half-said, half-snarled.

She looked down at the ground for a moment, then at him.  "Nothing," she said, sighing, shivering a little.  "We are but human farmers, you are orc warriors.  You can do anything you want to me.  To us.  But if you let me return to help run the farm...and spare it...then we can breed more animals, grow more food.  And...and...when your...youngling is born," she patted her stomach with a blank look on her face, "I will bring it to the edge of the farm after dark, so you can raise it."  She looked the leader in the eye.

"You have courage, human.  Though your kind are weak."  He laughed.  "I think I will breed you myself.  Every month on the full moon, you will come out when the sun goes down.  Agreed?"

The woman could only nod.  And, though her moans and cries filled the night air, smoke from a burning farm did not.  As daylight gathered in the east, the orcs carried her, too weary to walk, and dropped her at the front of the homestead, laughing.  Her daughter came to the door, pulled her inside, tending to her.  She was bruised some, but not seriously hurt.  The family did not speak of it, though when the full moon came in two weeks, she went outside at sundown, going to the same place...where the orc leader and three warriors waited.  "I did not think you would come," he said, chuckling, even as he disrobed...

And she came during the next full moon.  Her monthly cycle had stopped.  Each time, her belly grew a little larger, until by the eighth month after that first night, it was large indeed.  Her breasts were swollen.  When she went for the orc leader, he patted her stomach.  "You are too far along," he said.  "Tonight, bring me your eldest daughter."

The woman could only nod meekly.  She waddled back to the farmstead, shaking her eldest, a young woman of nineteen years, awake.  "You are needed," she said to her daughter.  The daughter wordlessly got up, putting on her cloak.  "You must be brave," her mother said.  Her eyes went down to her protruding belly.  So did her daughter's eyes...before the young lady looked down at herself.  Then, the daughter went out into the night...

The next day, the daughter came back.  Like her mother, she, too, had been released.  And about the time the mother gave birth to an orcling, her daughter missed her monthly cycle, too.

Over the next couple years, burnings of farms and other attacks on the town became less common.  The farmers on that homestead had not been the only ones to arrive at that...accomodation.  Word had gotten out...at first the farm family found themselves pariahs, but others would come to them, confessing they, too, had given the orcs, gnolls, and ogres "tribute" as well.  And there were other incidents.  One night, a boisterous group of fifteen orcs descended on the town tavern, buying drinks and taking advantage of both barmaids and the innkeeper's wife and daughter.

Cold Rock remained a town...but now the birthrate has gone down...about a third of all births in the town are nonhumans born to human women, over a hundred since the first farmstead offered up its matriarch.  Most of the babies are given to the horde living throughout the forest.  In a couple years, the first ones will come of age.  Fewer human children than one might expect play in the yards and streets of the town.

Now, for the mechanics.  This is freeform.  You can play monsters or townspeople.  If you want to turn it into a more classical RPG adventure, we can use D&D 2.0 rules for those threads.  You can RP with other players, or me, or both.  It's all up to you.  Note that characters will be the equivalent of third-level AD&D characters...no super powers, changelings, half-dragons, vampires, etc. 

If you're interested, reply here.

MasterJedi

im interested, lemme know more bout this when u wanna start it
[tr][td]
Characters:
tPSH: Kale | tEoME: Johny
BSB: Damicus/Arblus | MCZ13: Galad
FtLoaP: Captain David[/td][td]Random Thought:
"What's the definition of a will? It's a dead giveaway...."[/td][/tr][/table]

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: KRaNiX on November 26, 2005, 08:08:48 AM
im interested, lemme know more bout this when u wanna start it

I'm flexible on which version of D&D we use...bear in mind that I have none of the materials for 3.0 or 3.5.  I'm willing to learn, but someone's gotta be willing to teach.   :)

MasterJedi

i have most of the 3.5 books, can....borrow...them to you... :P
[tr][td]
Characters:
tPSH: Kale | tEoME: Johny
BSB: Damicus/Arblus | MCZ13: Galad
FtLoaP: Captain David[/td][td]Random Thought:
"What's the definition of a will? It's a dead giveaway...."[/td][/tr][/table]

Natalie C. Barney

If this is not a more serious game how about one of the free rules systems I always push RISUS they are free, easy as hell to use and character creation if more liberal than most. Just go to my game The Ohter Side of Rome I copied them under Character Generation and added a Hit Point System I made up to add more realism using that instead of losing a die in pools as under the rules, 1 or maybe 2 Hit Points are lost instead

And the Cliche's system each Cliche's roughly aspects of a character class like a FIGHTER might have as traits under a Cliche' [Fight with Weapons, Brawl Unarmed, Know How to Use Armor to Best Effect]. A MAGE might have if a specialist in this case we will call him a WARDER [Cast Spells Placing then in Magic Sigils, Knows Arcane Symbols, Read Arcane Writings]. A SUMMONER might have [Knows Magic Circles of Power, Summon Demons (or Angels or Elementals), Bind Summoned Creatures to Your Will].

You can even have fun ones like the MANIPULATIVE CONNIVING COURT MAGICIAN WHO IS A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE OLD KING [Cast Spells to Impress the Lay Folk, Look Innocent while Doing Treasonous Acts, Manipulate the Old King Like a Harp in the Hands of a Master].

D&D Cannot be that flexible and easy just read the rules and copy them if you like and paste to the game, you can use my hit point system if you like.

In any case I want to be the Commander of an All Female Orc Company, at least we won't get the townsfolk women pregnant. Maybe eve recruit a half-breed to join the illustrious COMPANY OF THE BLOOD STAINED MAUL (all use big bouble handed hammers and wear heavy armor when not raping the women in a town). For cliches' if Risus is used I have ideas.  ;D *evil grin*
"Why should a woman dress like the enemy."
Natalie Clifford Barney

D&D Shadows & Shades: ~Yeskarra, Bard~
Serenity-Tales of the Chasseur ~Saranii Jannu, Registered Companion~

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: Natalie C. Barney on November 26, 2005, 10:15:08 AM
If this is not a more serious game how about one of the free rules systems I always push RISUS they are free, easy as hell to use and character creation if more liberal than most. Just go to my game The Ohter Side of Rome I copied them under Character Generation and added a Hit Point System I made up to add more realism using that instead of losing a die in pools as under the rules, 1 or maybe 2 Hit Points are lost instead

And the Cliche's system each Cliche's roughly aspects of a character class like a FIGHTER might have as traits under a Cliche' [Fight with Weapons, Brawl Unarmed, Know How to Use Armor to Best Effect]. A MAGE might have if a specialist in this case we will call him a WARDER [Cast Spells Placing then in Magic Sigils, Knows Arcane Symbols, Read Arcane Writings]. A SUMMONER might have [Knows Magic Circles of Power, Summon Demons (or Angels or Elementals), Bind Summoned Creatures to Your Will].

You can even have fun ones like the MANIPULATIVE CONNIVING COURT MAGICIAN WHO IS A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE OLD KING [Cast Spells to Impress the Lay Folk, Look Innocent while Doing Treasonous Acts, Manipulate the Old King Like a Harp in the Hands of a Master].

D&D Cannot be that flexible and easy just read the rules and copy them if you like and paste to the game, you can use my hit point system if you like.

In any case I want to be the Commander of an All Female Orc Company, at least we won't get the townsfolk women pregnant. Maybe eve recruit a half-breed to join the illustrious COMPANY OF THE BLOOD STAINED MAUL (all use big bouble handed hammers and wear heavy armor when not raping the women in a town). For cliches' if Risus is used I have ideas.  ;D *evil grin*

Okay...I'll freely admit I don't know jack shit about any other systems besides AD&D 1.0 and 2.0.  I'm a writer and editor, not an accountant. :D  And I simply lack the time to learn new systems at this juncture in life.  That's no knock against the system you describe or anyone else's--I'm not claiming AD&D is any better or worse.  It's just what I grew up with.  I have a limited amount of time to devote to stories and I'd rather spend that time writing than dealing with the intricacies of unknown (to me) systems.

I'll leave it up to prospective players...if you want system, you can have AD&D 2.0.  I'll interpret it rather loosely, so you don't need the Complete Handbook of Nose-Picking or whatnot, and if you want mods I'll grant them as long as they don't involve shooting eight-dice fireballs out your ass, pissing chain lightning, or turning into a vampire or ancient red dragon at will (in other words, no munchkinism).  No level limits, strictures against elves being rangers, or other TSR-era prissiness will stand in your way.  If you want a team of militant lesbian orcs, I'll admit it's not what I had in mind but we can run with it and I'll see your Lead Mistress has ample entertainment and opportunities to grow as a character.

Natalie C. Barney

Its 13 Pages for the Core RISUS RULES- 13. Thats it not hundreds. Its all easy to use and can plug in ANY genre. You want Jedi/Mech Piliot/Chefs you can do it. I proposed it because anyone can easily use them. My hit point addendum I use for serious games are two paragraphs. As I said a 12 year old could use them. I even saw a 10 year old run a game at a convention (free games area).
"Why should a woman dress like the enemy."
Natalie Clifford Barney

D&D Shadows & Shades: ~Yeskarra, Bard~
Serenity-Tales of the Chasseur ~Saranii Jannu, Registered Companion~

Amberghylles

I find the idea interesting.  Personally, unless you're planning on having to deal with combat (which doesn't seem likely to me based on the premise) then you should just run it freeform.


Natalie C. Barney

"Why should a woman dress like the enemy."
Natalie Clifford Barney

D&D Shadows & Shades: ~Yeskarra, Bard~
Serenity-Tales of the Chasseur ~Saranii Jannu, Registered Companion~

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: Natalie C. Barney on November 27, 2005, 10:20:32 PM
I don't mind freeform that much.  ;D

I think the way this is gonna go down is that I'll use my own very basic system, and keep it behind the counter.  Far as you all will know, the game is freeform.  But your characters will be able to advance, get more powerful, etc.  You just won't know exactly in what ways, at least not at first.

Natalie C. Barney

Ok SAJURKA, WARMASTER OF THE HOARD (a female orc or half-orc) should be fun. Is there magic in your game and if so how much a WARRIOR and PRIESTESS might be fun. More a warrior but can toss a healing spell or battle magic spell as needed.
"Why should a woman dress like the enemy."
Natalie Clifford Barney

D&D Shadows & Shades: ~Yeskarra, Bard~
Serenity-Tales of the Chasseur ~Saranii Jannu, Registered Companion~

Amberghylles

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Personally, I find myself leaning towards a Gnoll.  They've always been my favorite humanoid monster.

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: Amberghylles on November 27, 2005, 10:42:29 PM
Sounds like a good plan to me.

Personally, I find myself leaning towards a Gnoll.  They've always been my favorite humanoid monster.

All good, all good.  I'm on Yahoo IM under the handle pbemmaster if you want to chat.  MAgic is cool...priests and wizards are fine.  I'll probably just lift the AD&D spell system bodily and use it here.

BigBlackGamer

*BUMP*

Who's interested in playing now?  I've been offline a lot due to workload, but that's improving now.   ;D

Faolan

I am definitely down with the game. Freeform or whatever. I would be okay with a super basic no-frills AD&D 2nd ed. I quit before any of those dumb complete fucknut guides came out.

LilRavyn


Amberghylles


Zakharra

 Sign me up as a townsperson. A young woman that is pure human, beautiful and working in the Inn, and a good sneaky thief too.  ;)

Muse

Melisa and I were discusing a pair of twins, but she's out for the weekend and I'm sick. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

BigBlackGamer

Okay folks...we're moving toward startup here...go ahead and make those characters.  I'm going to go with D&D Second Edition, but kept behind the counter.  To you folks, this is going to be a freeform game.  So go ahead and create your human(oid) characters.  You'll start at somewhere between 1st and 3rd level, depending on my whim and your concept.

Amberghylles

Did you need anything more concerning Harker to finish making his unseen stats, or did the PM cover it well enough?

<rubs hands together>  This is going to be fun...

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: Amberghylles on December 20, 2005, 04:35:49 AM
Did you need anything more concerning Harker to finish making his unseen stats, or did the PM cover it well enough?

<rubs hands together>  This is going to be fun...

The PM covered it well, and I replied there too.  We can keep his thread there a bit longer.

Amberghylles

<nods and grins>  Yes, I did notice. 

BTW, are we going to collect and post that once the game's got a board?

BigBlackGamer

Quote from: Amberghylles on December 20, 2005, 04:46:42 AM
<nods and grins>  Yes, I did notice. 

BTW, are we going to collect and post that once the game's got a board?

Yes...it'll be part of the story.

Amberghylles