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Rukh's Journal - 1
17 years ago
General
Wherein Rukh wonders what is wrong with "civilized" people and bloodies his weapons against the honorless raiders
Dear Master K’rrg,
As you suggested, I am keeping a journal of my travels. Perhaps, someday, it will aid some young cleric or paladin of Tuan, either by example, or by what they should not do. Only time will tell which is which.
I traveled with the eladrin, Fallon, to the settlement of Northbridge. There, Fallon presented me to the mayor, a human named Galen Ashford. There were other adventurers there, and I’m ashamed to admit that, for a moment, I hoped I might not be needed and might return to the monastery. I was quick to put this shameful thought aside when the need of the folk of Northbridge was made plain. They have been attacked repeatedly, as have local farms and a gnomish settlement to the north, by small humanoids. Their tracks suggested to me that we might be dealing with kobolds, such as sometimes Gurglurz’s tribe would raid for slaves. All the while we were searching for clues, I also found myself taking the measure of those who have become my companions.
There is a human named Al’Der’eth, who called himself “the Pious”. I took him to be some kind of cleric, but it soon became clear that he wields a magic not of the gods. He is a strange sort in that respect. He seems fervent to bring the justice of the Gods down on the head of…something. I am pleased to travel with one of my mother’s folk, but he does seem a bit odd.
There is also a she-elf called Delana. She is a holy woman in service to Pelor, the god of the sun. I had always heard that his order was a grim one, and his people slayers of undead and bringers of righteousness upon the wicked. She must belong to a different branch, for she seems kindly and somewhat jovial. I find her a little unnerving in that respect.
There is also another high elf, like Fallon, named Eisenheim. He baffles me. It’s clear he wields a kind of magic, but it seems almost…frivolous. Still, in a battle, he’s proven himself capable. His mannerisms are flamobyant to the point of a near-madness, and he seems to desire greatly to prove himself…but I’m not sure how he plans to do so using cards and round-about mating rituals with those who serve in Inns.
Another of our number uses cards, too, but in a way that seems more sensible. He is called Gaervesk, and I have no idea what race he hails from. He is like a kobold, but large, and white, and he can breathe ice, as though he were a dragon out of one of the old sagas. He seems to have magics as well, but of a totally different kind that the others. He uses the cards to read the future, like you with the bones and bowl. I do not know what he sees for us, but, of all of the companions, I feel most at ease with him, perhaps because he seems as much an outsider as me.
We investigated some of the kobold raid sites, and we found tracks which suggested an eastern road. To aid Master Ashford, however, we decided to check one of the southern farms, for the people of the farm had not shewn themselves in town in some time. We hoped to find more clues there to lead us to the source of the attacks. At the farm, we encountered several kobolds, but they were no great burden to dispatch. I did not pause to give thanks to Tuan for the valor he had lent, for they had emerged from the farmhouse, leading me to fear there might be humans inside, dead or dying. There were not, but a nearby well held the bodies of the entire family, slain. What honor or proof of arms in the slaying of farmers? What strength shewn in the murder of a human infant? Truly, these kobolds are cowards. My wrath grows on me; Tuan grant that I give them something to fear.
After a night at the Inn, I slipped out to the town’s nearby river to make my morning ablutions and absolutions. To the north, smoke rose, and I returned to town, rather than meet the party on the road, as I had planned. Fallon told us that the gnomish settlement to the north was hit, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Clues had shewn us that the kobolds were using weapons tipped with black-glass, indicating a fire-mountain. Asking around town told us that the nearest source of the black-glass is a series of caves near a large formation called the Stone Table, to the east of town.
We headed east, planning on hitting the kobolds in their lair and ending their threat. Following Fallon’s knowledgeable instructions, we sought out an old crumbling tomb nearby and followed the track further east to a ruined keep. The road led through the keep, so we followed it towards the fallen gates. As we approached, more kobolds attempted to ambush us, treacherously. As we rushed to battle, more of them emerged from their crawl-holes, but we slew all who opposed us. One kobold, who I let escape in my efforts to protect my less combative companions, ran into a structure, but, once the others were clearly safe, I followed at haste.
Inside, a human boy was chained to the wall, knives around him showing that he’d been used as savage amusement…a target for throwing practice. Again, my rage grew, as did my shame, for the boy was clearly terrified of me. I could not meet his eyes, but, seeing no kobold present, I charged forward and up the stairs. At the top, I found the kobold, along with several hobgoblins. Giving thanks to Tuan for a chance to show my valor, I hurled myself towards the foe, shield raised to take a blow, axe already in motion…
So yeah, we ended mid-fight, which was kind of exciting. ;)
In 4th Edition terms, Rukh's role as a paladin is that of the Defender. Basically, if he does damage in combat, great, but he's really mostly there to soak up the enemy's damage and not let them get to his party...he's a tank in MMO terms.
Oh...and in case anyone was wondering...no, half-orcs aren't in 4th Edition yet. I'm using the Orc player character option from the Monster Manual with intention of switching to half-orc when PHB2 comes out in March, 2009.
The rest of the party are:
Al'Der'eth - a Human Wizard who's multi-classing into cleric. It's kind of fun...when he casts his spells, he's very descriptive of storm clouds and the local temperature dropping, andh is eyes changing color. Heh. Fun to play with.
Delana - Elf Cleric of Pelor. She regularly scolds the others for killing the monsters, instead of knocking them unconscious.
Eisenheim - Eladrin Wizard, multi-classing into Warlock (Fey Pact). He's using a lot of the illusionist spells from a Dragon Magazine article. Makes for an interesting variant on the wizard's controller role.
Gaervesk - Dragonborn Warlock (Star Pact). Maybe it's because we're the two "monsters" in the party, but Rukh gets along well with Gaervesk, even if he doesn't understand him or his powers.
Dear Master K’rrg,
As you suggested, I am keeping a journal of my travels. Perhaps, someday, it will aid some young cleric or paladin of Tuan, either by example, or by what they should not do. Only time will tell which is which.
I traveled with the eladrin, Fallon, to the settlement of Northbridge. There, Fallon presented me to the mayor, a human named Galen Ashford. There were other adventurers there, and I’m ashamed to admit that, for a moment, I hoped I might not be needed and might return to the monastery. I was quick to put this shameful thought aside when the need of the folk of Northbridge was made plain. They have been attacked repeatedly, as have local farms and a gnomish settlement to the north, by small humanoids. Their tracks suggested to me that we might be dealing with kobolds, such as sometimes Gurglurz’s tribe would raid for slaves. All the while we were searching for clues, I also found myself taking the measure of those who have become my companions.
There is a human named Al’Der’eth, who called himself “the Pious”. I took him to be some kind of cleric, but it soon became clear that he wields a magic not of the gods. He is a strange sort in that respect. He seems fervent to bring the justice of the Gods down on the head of…something. I am pleased to travel with one of my mother’s folk, but he does seem a bit odd.
There is also a she-elf called Delana. She is a holy woman in service to Pelor, the god of the sun. I had always heard that his order was a grim one, and his people slayers of undead and bringers of righteousness upon the wicked. She must belong to a different branch, for she seems kindly and somewhat jovial. I find her a little unnerving in that respect.
There is also another high elf, like Fallon, named Eisenheim. He baffles me. It’s clear he wields a kind of magic, but it seems almost…frivolous. Still, in a battle, he’s proven himself capable. His mannerisms are flamobyant to the point of a near-madness, and he seems to desire greatly to prove himself…but I’m not sure how he plans to do so using cards and round-about mating rituals with those who serve in Inns.
Another of our number uses cards, too, but in a way that seems more sensible. He is called Gaervesk, and I have no idea what race he hails from. He is like a kobold, but large, and white, and he can breathe ice, as though he were a dragon out of one of the old sagas. He seems to have magics as well, but of a totally different kind that the others. He uses the cards to read the future, like you with the bones and bowl. I do not know what he sees for us, but, of all of the companions, I feel most at ease with him, perhaps because he seems as much an outsider as me.
We investigated some of the kobold raid sites, and we found tracks which suggested an eastern road. To aid Master Ashford, however, we decided to check one of the southern farms, for the people of the farm had not shewn themselves in town in some time. We hoped to find more clues there to lead us to the source of the attacks. At the farm, we encountered several kobolds, but they were no great burden to dispatch. I did not pause to give thanks to Tuan for the valor he had lent, for they had emerged from the farmhouse, leading me to fear there might be humans inside, dead or dying. There were not, but a nearby well held the bodies of the entire family, slain. What honor or proof of arms in the slaying of farmers? What strength shewn in the murder of a human infant? Truly, these kobolds are cowards. My wrath grows on me; Tuan grant that I give them something to fear.
After a night at the Inn, I slipped out to the town’s nearby river to make my morning ablutions and absolutions. To the north, smoke rose, and I returned to town, rather than meet the party on the road, as I had planned. Fallon told us that the gnomish settlement to the north was hit, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Clues had shewn us that the kobolds were using weapons tipped with black-glass, indicating a fire-mountain. Asking around town told us that the nearest source of the black-glass is a series of caves near a large formation called the Stone Table, to the east of town.
We headed east, planning on hitting the kobolds in their lair and ending their threat. Following Fallon’s knowledgeable instructions, we sought out an old crumbling tomb nearby and followed the track further east to a ruined keep. The road led through the keep, so we followed it towards the fallen gates. As we approached, more kobolds attempted to ambush us, treacherously. As we rushed to battle, more of them emerged from their crawl-holes, but we slew all who opposed us. One kobold, who I let escape in my efforts to protect my less combative companions, ran into a structure, but, once the others were clearly safe, I followed at haste.
Inside, a human boy was chained to the wall, knives around him showing that he’d been used as savage amusement…a target for throwing practice. Again, my rage grew, as did my shame, for the boy was clearly terrified of me. I could not meet his eyes, but, seeing no kobold present, I charged forward and up the stairs. At the top, I found the kobold, along with several hobgoblins. Giving thanks to Tuan for a chance to show my valor, I hurled myself towards the foe, shield raised to take a blow, axe already in motion…
So yeah, we ended mid-fight, which was kind of exciting. ;)
In 4th Edition terms, Rukh's role as a paladin is that of the Defender. Basically, if he does damage in combat, great, but he's really mostly there to soak up the enemy's damage and not let them get to his party...he's a tank in MMO terms.
Oh...and in case anyone was wondering...no, half-orcs aren't in 4th Edition yet. I'm using the Orc player character option from the Monster Manual with intention of switching to half-orc when PHB2 comes out in March, 2009.
The rest of the party are:
Al'Der'eth - a Human Wizard who's multi-classing into cleric. It's kind of fun...when he casts his spells, he's very descriptive of storm clouds and the local temperature dropping, andh is eyes changing color. Heh. Fun to play with.
Delana - Elf Cleric of Pelor. She regularly scolds the others for killing the monsters, instead of knocking them unconscious.
Eisenheim - Eladrin Wizard, multi-classing into Warlock (Fey Pact). He's using a lot of the illusionist spells from a Dragon Magazine article. Makes for an interesting variant on the wizard's controller role.
Gaervesk - Dragonborn Warlock (Star Pact). Maybe it's because we're the two "monsters" in the party, but Rukh gets along well with Gaervesk, even if he doesn't understand him or his powers.
