Dragon Messiah - Birth of the Legend

[planswalker]

the story so far... (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=408208) by Morph Bank.


The drumroll echoed across the courtyard. Many people had gathered, whispering amongst one another, talking about rumours surrounding the spectacle about to unfold.
"They're all gonna get what they deserve!"
"They say he fell from the church tower, yet never got a scratch on 'im."
"I heard one of them stole a bread." "I SAW him stole a bread!"
The sheriff surveyed the mass of peasants with an annoyed look from his higher standing on the scaffolding. He hated having to do this. Sure, serving justice was great and the scoundrels deserved what was coming for them, but he hated having to do it in public, it made it into a spectacle for the masses, a form of entertainment.
Finally, the three men and one woman came out from the prison and walked up the steps to the gallows. The woman had been stripped of her colourful dress, she would face justice like the dirty necromancer she was. One man had bandages over an eye, a barely-dried trail of blood coming from underneath it, tried for strangling a sailor. The second was a scrawny fellow of age with few teeth left, sentenced for violating the blacksmith's daughter. The third man was taller than the others and probably as strong as the other three convicts put together. He still wore his furs like the savage he was, having stolen bread from the church and then fallen from the tower on top of a market stand, killing the salesman. He had not a scratch on him after the fall, so clearly he had done it on purpose, the murderer.
The deputees lined up the four as the sheriff read their crimes aloud. Next to him stood a priest from the temple in case any of the criminals needed a last prayer, a necessary courtesy according to the sheriff.
"Alright," he shouted so that all the people in the courtyard could hear him, "time for the curtain to fall." The deputees put the nooses around the necks of the convicts. One deputee fiddled with the noose for the savage man in furs. The sheriff wrinkled his nose. "For gods' sakes, just take those damn furs off him and put that thing on!" He walked to the tall man and pulled the furs off him, before taking a step back in shock. On the man's bared chest was a snarling, life-like dragon staring straight at him...
"By the gods..." the priest mumbled, "it is true. It is all true."
The sheriff swallowed. "Forget the noose," he said, "he's going elsewhere." The people wouldn't like it, of course, but they just didn't understand. Not like he did, even though it was only rumours before that he'd heard.
The savage man gave a wry smirk. He didn't know what was true, but whatever it was, he was going to live, for now. They didn't need to know that he'd gotten the tattoo for winning the Godsring nine years ago. Not yet...

The tall stranger is lead off back to his cell by the priest and a pair of burly guards.

"Can you understand me?" the priest asks in common as the savage is locked back in his cell.

[Morph Bark]

Erqi gave the man a smirk. "Of courrse I do. Who doesn't?" He'd heard they called the language 'Common' here. Seemed appropriate, since even his people spoke it, despite not living all that close to this town. He didn't bother to wonder why that was.

I'll probably try to keep up doubling Rs when Erqi speaks, to denote a bit of accent, rolling his Rs a little growly.

[planswalker]

"Very good, that makes this easy. What is your name? Where are you from?"

[Morph Bark]

He pushed out his chest as he replied, "I am Erqi Rajahn, grandson of Garaki Rajahn." He figured that would tell them enough.

[planswalker]

"Thank you for your name, now where are you from?"

[Morph Bark]

Erqi stared at the man, slightly incredulous. He didn't recognize the name? Surely they would've heard of his grandfather here! What kind of a backwater **** country was this? He should have them hang--owait.

He just let out a sigh to let his frustration escape, at least what little of it could. "I hail from the Torkah clans. I used to be a temple builder, during the snowy seasons."

[planswalker]

"Thank you for cooperating. What business brings you here, besides starting a fight?"

[Morph Bark]

"Look, I never intended to start a fight. I just..." He wanted to say he just needed the bread, but that might get him into trouble again. "I just was here on my way through. I'm travelling through here to expand my wisdom as an expiring shaman." It was technically true, in a way, the big thing against that being that he was likely never going to become a shaman anymore, despite what hopes he might have left.

[planswalker]

"And did you steal the bread to increase your wisdom as well?"

[planswalker]

"And did you steal the bread to increase your wisdom as well?"

[Morph Bark]

"I was hungry. It seemed like the sensible thing to do at the time." His stomach growled in agreement.

[planswalker]

"I'm sure someone of your talents could find some honest work to be able to afford bread. Were you not able to afford to buy food? Why?"

[Morph Bark]

Erqi was getting a little frustrated with this man. "I just couldn't, okay?! I had been travelling through the wilderness for over a week and I was starved! Like I had time to find work and get paid!" He gritted his teeth. "Where I come from, we always hunted for our food! These woods of yours though, they're practically empty!"


I just realized Erqi has got some rations and gp in his sheet. Erm, hadn't thought that one through, honestly! Since I figure the rest of his items would have been taken upon his arrest, I suppose he could get that later somehow? Or he just panicked, didn't think of just buying the bread and went for it or something, or he could be lying. Pretty big derp from me, sorry. Feel free to decide on which way to do this.

[planswalker]

"That's fascinating. Then why were there several days of rations in your pack?"

[Morph Bark]

Erqi blinked. Had he had rations with him? He thought about it for a bit. He had. Why did he steal the bread again? A little excitement? Tasting something better than the bland, bad-tasting, week-old rations? "I don't know how those got there. I swear to you, I've been travelling without food or money for a while now."

Bluff: [roll0]

Good thing rations don't spoil by RAW. :P

EDIT: Holy natural 20, Batman!

[planswalker]

"... You don't even know what's in your pack?"

...

He walks off, leaving you alone with yourself.

As he crosses the door, he mutters something. listen check if you want to hear.

[Morph Bark]

Listen: [roll0]

[planswalker]

You do not manage to catch what he says, thought you think there's something about "impossible".

An hour later, the priest and the sheriff walk back in and the sheriff unlocks your cell door.

"Father Martell here has placed you under Church protection for now. You are now a ward of the church and they have offered to make restitution for your crimes. In exchange, you are to leave with the Father and never return to town. Do you understand?"

[Morph Bark]

Well, that went well. Not. From what the Sheriff said though, at least he was allowed to go free. "I understand." Erqi said. "Thank you, sir." A little politeness probably couldn't hurt at this point.

[planswalker]

The sheriff and the priest escort you to the edge of town, where a small monastery stands. As soon as you arrive, the sheriff departs, muttering nonsense syllables of frustration.

"I expect you to be up for morning devotions at dawn. Breakfast will be an hour after that. We can discuss your status and such then. For now, eat and rest. Tomorrow is soon enough for explanation."

[Morph Bark]

Erqi seems somewhat uncomfortable at having been taken to a monastary. "What god do you worship here?" He asks after the priest finishes speaking, not sure if it is even really a temple. They were so different here from back at home.

[planswalker]

"Does it really matter to you, the man who killed someone earlier today so you can steal bread?"

[Morph Bark]

"His death was accidental. I suppose it may not matter, but as a shaman, I am curious for these things." Erqi responded.

[planswalker]

"How exactly does one land on someone from a long ways up and kill them without landing a scratch on himself accidentally?"

[Morph Bark]

Erqi combated the desire to smirk at that. "It's a technique I've learned in the North, but I cannot divulge the specifics."

[planswalker]

"I want to help you, I honestly do, but you are making it very difficult to do so. You steal food from a church while your pack has nearly a week's worth of rations, you survive a miracle fall without a scratch that kills the person you land on, and you can't even give me good reasons why. Is there anything you can say in your defense?"

[Morph Bark]

Erqi thought for a while on that. His previous objections hadn't helped at all, so he would have to come up with something new to say. Finally, he decided: "No, I can't." He said sadly. "But I can atone for the mistakes I've made and the accidents I've caused." He pointed at his chest. "There was a reason I was taken away from the gallows and while I don't know yet what it was, I believe that it can help me help you, in whatever way necessary."

[planswalker]

"That answer, I can accept. Rest now, and in the morning, be there for devotions at dawn."

[Morph Bark]

"Right, um... where will I be staying? Just on the floor?"

[planswalker]

"You may use one of the unoccupied alcoves in the back of the abbey. Do I need to show you to one or would you rather find them on your own?"

[Morph Bark]

"I think I will be fine on my own, but thanks for the offer." Erqi replies.

Search check? :smalltongue:

[planswalker]

why? Will you be looking for spare change that might be hidden in a corner? Looking for tracks to follow? Or do you think this abbey has hidden doors to secret passages?

"Very well. You'll find the novitiate cells in the back on the hallway to your left."

[Morph Bark]

Nah, I just thought that it might be hard to find the alcoves. Though that would be an interesting idea, but would fit more with my standard Changeling Rogue/Human Factotum character concepts.

Btw, I won't be able to post tomorrow or early on Sunday. Posting might be more sporadic until Wednesday, as I'll have my last exam then. Thought I'd give you a heads-up.

"Thanks," Erqi gives the man a nod. If this had been an inn he might have even tipped the man. He walked away in search of the alcoves, turning left where the priest had told him to go.

[planswalker]

thanks for the heads-up, but since this is a solo game, we'll go as fast or as slow as you want/need.

You find your way to a hall of bare, empty cells slightly smaller than your prison cell back when you were condemned to die. But hey, the place was quieter and the bedding was actually soft.

[Morph Bark]

Erqi heaves a sigh as he crawls into an empty alcove to call his 'bed'. "I guess life won't let you out of one problem without rolling you into the next." Turning onto his side, he closes his eyes and tries to catch some sleep.

[planswalker]

In your dreams, a great scaled beast of shifting colors stares at you wordlessly. You feel trapped underneath the penetrating gaze, yet you are not frightened.

You awaken just before dawn rested.

[Morph Bark]

Erqi awoke in confusion, nearly bumping his head against the alcove's wall as he got up, rubbing out his eyes. "What was that?" He wondered.

[planswalker]

You assemble with the others at dawn for devotions. In addition to the priest you met yesterday, about a dozen novices and two elderly dwarves make up the assemblage at the monastery. The fellow you talked with yesterday leads everyone in a rousing prayer to the gods before each of them breaks of into individual meditations for the rest of the hour.

After that, the male dwarf ladles out hearty portions of porridge flavored with a bit of venison while the female dwarf pours everyone a weak ale. With breakfast in hand, everyone sits around a long wooden table capable of seating over twice the number present. All of the novices give you nervous glances and do their best to avoid sitting near you. The dwarves sit among the novices and seem to have an air of absolute authority among them.

After you have sat down, the priest who seems to be your de facto warden sits beside you and says, "Did you sleep well last night?"

[Morph Bark]

Feeling rather out of place, especially with the apparent rejection of the novices as they all avoid him, Erqi yet does not feel too uncomfortable with the situation. It was a lot better than the day before or what might await him back at home, should he ever return. When the priest sat down beside him and spoke, he grunted first. "I slept alright. A little unusual, but..." he contemplated telling him about the dragon in his dream, "just dreams is all. Almost never dream."

[planswalker]

He raises his eyes at your mention of dreams, but he says nothing until you are finished.

"I'm sure you have questions. Ask them and I will answer."

to save time, go ahead and ask all the questions you want in one post. He'll respond to each in order and we'll assume it was a back and forth. If you have more questions spawned by those questions, ask them in your next post. We'll keep this up until we get the necessary exposition out of the way.

[planswalker]

*reminder that the game exists*

[Morph Bark]

Hey. Just popping in here to say that, while I haven't forgotten about the game, I'm very burnt out on inspiration and desire to roleplay. I've been gone for a few days mainly to work on this huge assignment I have to do, and it's been a drain on me. Though you seemed to have put in so much work into setting up a setting and story for me, I think I'm just dragging you down with my slowness and wouldn't help much even if I'd reply, as my replies would all be short, uncreative and uninspired. It's fairer if I just walk out at this point, still relatively early on, so that you can have a shot with a different player.

I'm sorry to have disappointed you, Planswalker...

[planswalker]

I really respect that you've come and told me. I completely understand that sometimes you just can't. Happened to me with AVB back in the day. No hard feelings at all.

In this case, Techwarrior, as per our talk over pm, you're in. Mind re-submitting your sheet so I can look it over and figure out the best way to insert you into the story?