Post by illirica on Jan 31, 2021 16:45:21 GMT
This is the IC information for the Dying Nation RP. I had it open when the site crashed and did a quick copy to notepad. It is not formatted - I couldn't preserve formatting. I don't have the Request or the Character Sheets, but the IC is here in full.
Post by Forg3ttable_S0ul » Thu Jan 21, 2021 12:04 am
In the early hours of the morning, with dawn only beginning to crest the horizon, the small village of Lon was all but quiet. Some people stood on their porches watching the sunrise; some cut firewood, while a select few took walks through the village, enjoying the rare peace of the early morning. Nestled inside of a man-made clearing in a forest, the Lon was mostly known for their good lumber, and was the main source of income for the town. A waterwheel-driven mill stood next to the creek that flowed strong and consistent through the middle of the village, splitting it evenly in two halves. As the waterwheel moaned and ached, frogs croaked as birds sang their morning tunes. From this scene, it seemed almost impossible to conceptualize the horrors that plagued this land. To think the Undead roamed the hills next to horrible beasts and terrible monstrosities almost impossible to conceive the true form of... the thoughts of the true face of the world around them made the peace of this true morning feel... fabricated. Alas, the guardsmen supplied by the Elves and Humans kept them at bay for the most part, save for a few distant bands that adventurers would be paid to handle.
---
As the early morning shifted to day, Hal'Kox sauntered slowly up the road toward the forest. He was still a bit of distance away, but he could see the village clearly. The canopy of trees above him was thick save for just enough room for thin shafts of light to pass through. clustered together, it gave enough vision to see clearly, especially with the bold sunlight teeming down the road from the village. Still, his massive bulking form was dipped in shadow, and he could see a few villagers peer down the road at him, and hurry along in slight panic. Hal'kox's weight made his steps sound heavy, not ground tremblingly so, but enough that he could hear the leaves shudder slightly around him. He heaved a sigh. This was his first time through this village, and he could only worry how they would react to him. Sure, this most likely wasn't their first time seeing Alpox, but the ones born outside of the Great Jungle weren't as... battle-worn.
As he broke the treeline, he rose his head to look at the sun. He stretched his tail and extended his neck out, popping his back in several places. He grunted from the relief, and heard a gasp. As he looked to his right, an Elven guardsman entered his vision. They took a step back, but held their tongue. Hal'Kox glanced down at the ground to gather his words. "Where... Inn?" His voice was heavy and full of a guttural hiss. The Elf shrugged and pointed to the inn across the river. one of the few buildings that reached 3 stories. Hal'Kox nodded to him and began his saunter over to the end. When he reached the bridge that crossed the creek, he stepped over to the edge of the water, dragging his bottom jaw through it to gather a few gulps. It was hard to get good fresh water during a long walk, might as well take advantage! he eventually sat down with a thud, the Macahuitl on his back rocking slightly as he adjusted his weight to get comfortable. His tail began slowly wagging back and forth as he enjoyed the sunlight on the bank, gathering water in his hands and taking drinks every now and then.
Post by Azra » Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:30 pm
"Taj the camp just got done with fighting." A drunken mercenary remarked to the tall Orc beside him, the woman of jade skin was several mugs of ale into the night but had yet to sway in what she wanted. If anything it only made her more eager to get into a brawl. Instead she got off her seat and went over to another table.
"You! You paid for are help right how about we go a round in celebration!" She spoke to Esmindias a elf property owner who had selected the particular mercenary group Taj was in. There was a shipment that was being delivered to Lon and a number of small bands had been employed to protect it. There was some attempted raiding and much to Esmindias the Orc was one of the mercenaries who survived to make it into town.
"If you mean a round on drinks, your choice is to cheep. If you mean a dance, I'd neither go with you be it horizontal or vertical." The elf spoke, his eyes may have had to look up but he clearly in tone was looking down. He owned numerous homes and farms in Lon. His dress was tailor made by the elite and its buttons costed more then everything on Tajira's entire person. He wasn't going to entertain the Orc who smelled of mud and blood in any fashion.
Her fist only slammed against the table in response. The very expensive wine in Esmindias very expensive glass leaping in a splash that would stain that ever so expensive coat of his. "No I mean fight! I didn't even aquire a new scar on this! Make this feel worth it for me!" A furrowed brow glared at the Orc, he started to speak but Taj put a finger to his lip to hush him. An act which had him almost wretch, while Taj had bathed on return she hadn't put much effort in cleaning her nails. They were still painted in the caked on blood, hints of meat under the nails from when a weapon went to deep or she simply chose to tear a foe's open wound more open. "You win, I give back my keep. I win I get that sword."
Esmindias wasn't much of a warrior, but he did have a sword on him. Something he took pride in. "Alenhelm has been passed down for generations! My grandfather defended these lands in the darkest moments with this! You've a deal I'll cut you down!"
------Roughly Ten Minutes Later------
A number of guards were pushing Taj out of the tavern. The place was a rowdy mess with a number of fights going on inside but a good handful of the security insisted on booting the Orc out of the tavern first. Thick black blood ran down her bicep in a shallow cut. Despite all this though she raised Alenhelm into the air triumphantly! "You've my respect Esmind! And I think the tavern has lost any it had for me!" It was just a bar fight the security didn't want to hang her yet. She could see it in their stern looks though the Orc wasn't welcome back.
All the same she gleefully wedged Alenhelm into her scabbard. The edge of it teared, as Taj's previous blade was a bit shorter and thinner a make. The only thing to slightly spoil her day was the sight of a Alpox heading to the inn she left. She didn't like them, she could grow to know they were decent people. Her first thought though was always just how the race was stronger then orcs by default and this bothered her. She'd go on to sit by the river that divided the town removing her shoes to enjoy the feeing of the cool water on her feet. A few young elves protesting the fact across the bend.
Post by illirica » Thu Jan 21, 2021 3:11 pm
What was an Alpox doing in a town like this one?
Of course, Laitha A'Tuan was well aware that the question what was a Faelin doing in a town like this one? could also be asked, but unlike the Alpox, she had at least some flexibility about her appearance. Her legs and feet - her only truly defining features - were hidden under boots and leggings. The leggings made her leg fur itch, and the boots made her feet hurt - but it was easier than dealing with everyone being upset by the presence of a demon-spawn in their midst. Laitha had been around enough to know all the insults and where they were most likely to be found. Better that the people here just think she was a human, and a rather imposing one at that.
Admittedly, the battle-axe across her back might have something to do with the lack of questions, too. The innkeeper had suggested that she could take her armor off and leave it in a room when she'd arrived, at which point Laitha had given him a silent withering stare until he'd suggested that perhaps whatever made her comfortable might be best.
She found it interesting how well people could communicate by saying nothing at all.
Another good question, she thought, was what was an Orc doing in a town like this one? That had been the question of several minutes ago, when she had been sitting in the inn's common room with a mug of cider, when the aforementioned Orc had strolled in and started a brawl. Laitha had decided at that point that it was a good time to be anywhere else, and had left a coin on the table to pay for her drink and slipped out the door while the fighting happened, deciding that a stroll around the town might be a better use of her time.
Of course, her boots were pinching her feet, but it wasn't like it was going to be a very long stroll, given the size of the town. She'd made it as far as the bridge, which was where she'd seen the Alpox, which was what had prompted the latest question to surface in her mind. She said nothing for a while, approaching him from behind and staring - not at the large Alpox himself, but at the weapon he wore on his back, taking note of its intricacies. After a moment she gave it a nod, moving a little closer to the side of the Alpox.
"Good weapon." A succinct speech, but it covered most of what needed to be said, in her opinion. Laitha glanced back over her shoulder, where the Orc was emerging from the bar, wondering if a mob was to follow. It seemed like that wasn't happening this time, so she gave the situation a wordless shrug, and returned her attention to the Alpox, extending a calloused hand in his direction. "Laitha."
Post by Forg3ttable_S0ul » Thu Jan 21, 2021 4:40 pm
Bliss. That was the word Hal'Kox formed in his mind as he listened to the wind gently ruffle the leaves of the forest surrounding the village. It wasn't every day that he was able to relax unhindered. In the larger cities, alone time was only found in backstreets and alleyways where no one treaded for fear of thieves. The sound of somewhat lopsided steps crunching the grass behind him made him stir, stopping the wag of his tail. He tasted the air with his nose. The smell was slightly human, but tinged slightly. A half-demon, perhaps? He shrugged as he took into his hand another sip of water and drank from it. He placed his hands on his knees and glanced up, noticing the sound of what seemed like a struggle, and to his dismay, his eyes fell on an orc. A strange sight, indeed, being so close to the border of the Sacred Groves. The sounds of conflict emanating from the tavern made sense to him now, however, and turned his eye to take in the person standing behind him.
Crossed arms, a kilt, and a battle axe? This one was surely a warrior. The tainted smell still confused him; perhaps the kilt was that of a Highlander? He only looked her up and down once, for that was all she needed. One look told Hal'Kox that she could more than handle herself. Where he showed his experience with the scars that covered his battered body, she showed it in the discipline she irradiated. He nodded to her and turned his attention back to the flowing stream, feeling no danger from her, but only that she was doing to him what he just did to her. When she stepped more to his side, he inched away from her to give her space, and nodded at the compliment she gave him.
His Macahuitl, though still primitive compared to weapons wielded by most Kul'Jans, was quite formidable in his hands. It had served him well over the many years he fought against the other tribes in Alpoxia, and it had claimed the lives of many of his brethren. While sadness only took him from the thoughts of him slaying his fellow Alpox now, he still knew it was what had to be done at the time. A trial by fire, as it were. His reminiscing was interrupted by the warrior's introduction. He looked down at her hand, hesitating a moment before extending a single finger, laying a long yellowed claw in her hand. "Hal'Koxssssssssss." the rattle of the syllable growled deeply in the back of his throat. his tail curled slightly in embarrassment, but he tried to pay no mind to it. He thought for a moment before pointing to his weapon. Trying hard to form its name in English, "Ma...Ca...Hui...Tl."
He heaved a sigh through his nose, mumbling cursing slurs in his native tongue under his breath. Why was their language so hard? The Kul'Jan Alpox spoke it fluently, but through the years of his travels in these lands, it was something he could never master. Ironic that his skills as a warrior were unparalleled, but a simple sentence in a foreign language was by far his hardest challenge. He removed the claw from the person's hand and laid his tail in between them. Not known to many, it was a sign of peace between them. The tail of an Alpox was important for balance, especially given the massive weight of their body. any loss to the length of a tail could mean loss of efficiency in battle, which in turn could mean the loss of their life. He was unsure if they felt uncomfortable around him, but this was his only way of showing he meant no harm. He reached forward to cusp another sip of water from the stream, only to notice right before he drank from it that the orc had placed their feet in the water upstream. Who knew where those feet had been? The thought echoed through is mind as he threw his sip back into the stream.
Post by Azra » Sat Jan 23, 2021 1:46 pm
Tajira didn't intend to ruin things for the lizard but at the same time she did take a silent sort of pride in the fact. Mostly Taj just looked to enjoy herself. It started with drinking, moved to picking a fight and then went to something she found relaxing. It was all just actions of selfishness done for her own sake because to her life was only worth living if she aimed to chase what she took pleasure in. To many races she thought were absorbed in other vices and priorities. That said she hated the thought of someone naturally stronger then her, so managing a victory over such a foe did give the Orc further pride.
So she enjoyed herself indifferent to such a response. Yellow eyes briefly admiring the latest of cuts on her arm, a badge of pride in Taj's eyes. Her other hand glows for a second before she presses it to the cut. The reaction of the pain only the slightst flinch from the Orc as the wound healed. Becoming just another scar as her hand then went to cup water t then wash off the grime. She was an Orc she didn't much care for looks, but a scar deserved t be worn with pride not masked by mud and blood. Not that it was an easy scar to identify, one among dozens in just that section of the body.
"Relax its yards away." The mercenary remarked possibly rudely cutting in on a conversation. Pride aside the Orc did also think the distance enough not to have to ruin the others day. The woman talking to him was a bit more interesting to the Orc. Seemed as big as herself and more importantly a person who had to work for such an image. Good weapon choice to.
For now though the Orc just continued to relax and admiring her scar. Was a decent chance the mercenary band she was in would be breaking up soon. They'd had their victories and traveled plenty now they wanted to settle in at least for a time. Taj though was never one to want to settle into a home. For her, home was the battlefield. This town was probably perfect to most, to her it was boring the comfort of the river and of decent ale the only real thing she thought it had going.
Post by illirica » Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:47 am
Laitha accepted the clawed finger, a reasonable compromise on the traditional handshake given the disparity between her own hands and the Alpox’s. He gave his name as Hal`Kox, which she nodded acknowledgement of, and attempted to introduce his weapon as well. Of course the syllables would only be an approximation - no doubt in his own language, the weapon’s name was something beautiful, not stilted as the translation had been.
She knew several words of the Alpox language, from her time with various mercenaries, but most of them were best not used in polite conversation. Or at all, really. She could manage ‘Hello,’ ‘Good-bye,’ and ‘Thank you,’ as far as useful phrases went, though she’d been informed her accent was terrible. There wasn’t really any need to employ any of those words for the time being.
The two of them were joined by - or intruded on by - the orc woman from the inn earlier, and Laitha noticed that the hilt of the weapon she wore was the one she’d been eyeing when she had started the fight in the first place. She wondered what had become of the orc’s other weapon. Hal`Kox, meanwhile, seemed distressed by the presence of orcish feet in the water. Laitha doubted that was the worst thing that had been in the water even today - and was honestly a bit jealous. The water would probably feel nice on her own feet - cool and comfortable.
She’d make sure if she ever did so, to keep it downstream from the Alpox, though. Since he seemed a little uncomfortable about the water, she shifted her position slightly as the orc approached, to better guard his tail should that be needed. It wasn’t something Laitha had to think about, it was just something automatic. One couldn’t fight beside an Alpox without knowing how they were about their tails, and Laitha’s former companies had both had Alpox members. Good people, some of them.
”Upstream,” she pointed out, briefly, regarding the Orc’s comment on her positioning. ”Water flows.”
Post by Forg3ttable_S0ul » Sun Jan 24, 2021 2:56 pm
Hal'Kox eyed the Orc woman, mostly staring at the uncovered feet in the water. In Aploxia, nature was almost as sacred to them as the Groves were to the Elves. Every aspect of their lives was given to them by nature. Their legendary strength was a gift from nature; their weapons were made from nature rather than forged in fire, and their dead returned to the soils serving as fertilizer for the jungles that they may grow and thrive around them. Bathing? A waste of the waters that gave them sustenance. Bathing was only something he had begun to do when he became a wanderer of the lands. He bathed now, sure, but only after weeks of convincing from Kul'Jah Alpox that the waters that flowed outside of the jungles weren't the same sacred flows, and didn't matter as much. Still, that didn't mean he had the gall to simply thrust his unclean body into the same flows, especially upstream from one who was taking drinks. He would usually take it as disrespect, but did not hold it against her. She was Kul'Jah, and did not need to know of his beliefs. They weren't in Alpoxia, to be fair.
He shook his head slightly and glanced over at Laitha. Noticing her not foreseeing anything dangerous from the Orc aside from adjusting her stance somewhat took the edge off, and he relaxed a bit himself (the last thing he needed in a town he had never been in before was a fight on his hands), only nodding to agree with her statement. "Kul'Jah Muttra Mikala-" he stopped immediately, realizing he was speaking his native tongue. He looked between them in embarrassment, trying to search for the words he attempted to speak, but in English, " No... worry... Me.... Outsider... Me... Drink... Later," Hal'Kox scratched at his nose before getting up from his little spot, "Me.... Go... Find... Job... Need....Gold." He accidentally brushed Laitha's arm with his tail, and bowed his head at her slightly in apology. He looked on toward the inn, then up and down the road they sat next to before laying his eyes on his target: a large wooden signpost with papers displaying local news and jobs available to adventurers and travelers. It stood just past the bride and right before the inn. A few postings still hung on it, signifying jobs perhaps no one else was interested in.
He began to cross over, putting a 3-toed foot on the bridge. It was a bit narrow, and not reinforced for overly heavy weight, so it whined and creaked in protest as he shifted his weight to that foot, and at the sound of the wood fibers ripping themselves apart in agony, he took a step back, eyeing the bridge with concern. He glanced again at the orc's feet, then his own, then the water. It would be foolish to create a double standard by walking through the water, so... to avoid it, he would have to do something else. He positioned himself in front of the stream and got down to all fours, taking a few bounds before jumping across. The ground rumbled and heaved as he landed, and a passing guard nearly lost his footing, fumbling over himself as he tried to stabilize his stance with the haft of his spear. The Elven man looked at Hal'Kox in dismay, "What in the bloody hell?! Can you not just use the bri-," the man looked at Hal'kox for a moment, then at the bridge, then back to him, "Erm.... cease the tomfoolery. I don't want you causing any trouble here. Thank you for not... uh... breaking our bridge... I guess."
The Elf adjusted his Chainmail shirt and stepped off hurriedly. "Tom....fool?" Hal'Kox grumbled as he watched the guard walk off and turn the corner before looking behind him, locking eyes with the orc woman, and shrugging comically. At least he wasn't in trouble. With that, he stepped off toward the job board, hoping for a few silver pieces before completing his journey across the Elven border and into the Groves. He had only ever crossed the border once, though his path had taken him through land ruled by a majority of High Elves. Perhaps the Wood Elves would be more favorable to him?
Post by Azra » Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:50 am
Taj made a somewhat shocked expression as if she were a dumb Orc who just was so surprised by this revelation. Which was sarcasm of course as the green skin and those like her weren't that bad. At least she liked to think that to be the case, at any rate who knew how well the sarcasm was even read. The voice tried to convey it but when it came to expression an orc usually just seemed founded on extremes. There was a rather loud bark of a laugh though still the reptiles words.
"Who among us isn't an outsider?" The woman with an axe appeared human but she was also bigger then most. Taj was a mercenary and she had met many humans, it was by no means exclusionary but most women didn't have a physical stature like herself. Taj was an Orc almost always the enemy in most cases rare to see one in any village. Let alone finding one who was decent at common. For what it was worth she felt like she'd break her jaw or bite off her tongue trying to speak any other language besides Orc and common. Then there was the scaled warrior among them taller by a head then most with giant tail and so on.
"Have you not met a Tom? They are notoriously stupid." The reasons for death was various but Taj could remember five different Tom's she'd known who had perished. Well two Toms a Thomas a Tomas and a Tomolobas but they'd all gone by Tom. "What about you, also looking for a job?"
The Orc would rather be in the redheads company then the lizard but both didnt seem the worst. She was also just now in need of work so why not head the same way? Mercenary bands came and went, broke apart and reformed and she was in between such situations right now. Her party had enjoyed some drinks and we're now going their opposite ways, hers including kicked out of another tavern.
Post by illirica » Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:09 am
Hal`Kox had started speaking something in his own language for a moment, then switched over to stumbling human language instead. Laitha gave him an apologetic glance for not understanding his own tongue - knowing enough to identify what it was didn’t do any good as far as understanding the words themselves. The least she could do for him was wait patiently while he figured out the words he wanted.
So, he was looking for work. That was understandable. Most were, at one point or another. It seemed that one wasn’t to be found right here, so Hal`Kox made an attempt to cross the stream, causing an ominous creak of the bridge. He seemed to realize the futility of that situation before Laitha could comment on it, and moved back to jump the stream instead, which attracted the attention of the guards for a moment.
They didn’t seem bad as far as guards went, in that they realized the error of their assessment and were willing to own up to it. Their condemnation of tomfoolery seemed to confuse Hal`Kox, and Laitha was certain that the Orcish woman’s description would only make it worse. Laitha crossed the wooden bridge sedately, with a sigh. ”Tomfoolery is bad behavior. Not serious.” Most of the time, it was more akin to naughtiness, the sort of mischief that children got into.... Not something that the guards needed to do anything about, but something they felt they should remark on.
It seemed that the Orc was determined to come along. Truthfully, Laitha wasn’t even sure how it had come to the point where she was coming along, but the Alpox seemed as good company as any - certainly better than she was going to get in the village, at least once people had a chance to learn a little more about her. She considered the situation in silence a few paces, contemplating.
”Better jobs for two,” she stated eventually, then glanced at the Orc woman as well. ”Or three. Your name?”
Post by Forg3ttable_S0ul » Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:01 am
The job board was lacking a bit, much to Hal'Kox's dismay, but it wasn't too worrisome. It was a small village, so not many people would be actively seeking adventurers, that much was to be assumed. He scratched at his chin a bit as his eyes jumped from post to post, mulling over his company's explanation of the strange term the guard had used. It was quite an unusual term to use for bad behavior. English was... a peculiar language. Perhaps it would be better to try to use signings with his hands rather than stumble over words. Laitha would probably have the easiest time understanding his meaning with his signs, but the Orc? That would be a bit more difficult. Then again, the Orcs he had known spoke a tongue that was only a bit more constructive than his own. Perhaps she was used to it? Who knows.
Hal'Kox ripped two postings off of the board. One was a simple job to clear a cave of some common woodland creatures so the village midwife could safely gather herbs. It appeared that the midwife herself had posted the job, and offered 20 silver to the party that cleared the cave for her. The other seemed more entertaining; it was a job that would take them deep in the same direction as the border, but off the beaten path. Apparently a bandit's camp had been overrun in the forest, and the dead had risen. The job was posted by the Elven Guard, and offered 12 gold pieces to the party that cleared the camp, as well as whatever loot the vagrants had in their camp. He paused as he read the description over and over again. Hal'Kox despised the undead. When the curse had first taken the land, it only affected the common races, Alpox, with no affinity or connections to magics, seemed almost completely untouched by it. The physical spread of the curse (usually a deep mortal wound of sorts) would act like poison. A living adult Alpox would begin to decay rapidly and turn to dust. The elders had always proclaimed it was a horrid sight, and the few times Hal'Kox had seen it himself made him sick to his stomach at the time. Recently, however, the curse had found a way to affect the young in the same way it affected the commons. Thankfully, a young Alpox was much easier to fight than an Adult, especially when risen from the grave, but the sheer thought of it was what made it difficult. Hal'Kox shuddered a bit at the thought, and quickly shifted his focus to other things.
He stepped back to Laitha and the Orc woman, and showed them the pamplets, however, he could not take his eye off of the more sinister request. If there was anything Hal'Kox hated in this world, it would be two things: Evil and all forms, be it human crooks profiting off of the backs of hard workers or Abyssal Demons, and disrespect. Of course, the disrespect had no deeper story behind it. It was simply his code of the warrior: Respect among fighters. Long had he fought and felled warriors of all shapes and sizes, but he never once disrespected an enemy, unless they deserved none. He had even been the one to bury a few of his enemies, for their comrades had refused to do such a thing. It was a disgrace, letting your brother or sister in arms decay in the open after laying down their life for their belief. If they fought with honor and respect, they deserved it in return.
He heaved a heavy sigh as he looked between the two women. He shook the cave clearing request "This one....easy.... Good....travel....gold." He nodded a few times, looking intently at each of them to make sure they understood his words before shaking the other one, "This one... dead....rise....kill...evil," he looked up for a moment in thought, "More...honor....here... still... good... gold... more... harder," he dropped his snout, feeling like his words did not fit together, but he felt as if his point was made. He handed the papers to Laitha to let her observe them. His tail wagged slightly in anticipation, but he would respect whatever choice was made.
He began eyeing the Orc woman, now that he was closer to her. She seemed very battle-hardened, and she reeked of gore and death. It wasn't a smell he shied away from; if he were still in Alpoxia, it would be a smell he drenched himself in every day. He looked her up and down closely, counting the numerous scars that covered the visible parts of her body. Even his own scars did not come up to the number he estimated. A few of them were close to killing blows, but even a few of his own had come close. He began to scratch at a scar that crossed through the symbol of his old clan branded into his chest. It had nearly cleaved his chest away, had it not been for a last second backstep, but it took many days and a large amount of healing herbs and even a few imported potions to completely heal it. Even then, as faded as the scar was, the battle still laid fresh in his mind. It had almost been his last battle, but it was also one of his greatest. He dropped his eyes after a few moments and locked his gaze to the distant treetops on the far side of the village. It seemed all he had done today was reminisce on old thoughts. Maybe soon he would be able to create new memories to relish in.