D&D: No Humans Allowed(IC)

[Hound]

Prologue

The Darfunkle; a large cargo and passenger Galley ship, designed to maximise the compromise between speed and capacity. Lined with a dozen cannons on either side, it's more than capable of fending off the average pirate ship. Manned by mostly Merfolk, and Captained by the illustrious Liguria Orta, a seasoned man of the sea, and owner of the Darfunkle.

It's current voyage was simple, travelling from Lut Gholin Port, to the great Goblin city of Gold Sprocket. An average three day sail, two with good wind, five with poor wind. Either way, compared to the twenty day march along the main roads, it's definitely faster.

Captain Liguria had noted several interesting people buy fair on this trip. A holy woman, who looked startlingly like a human, a Goblin with the scent of blood, a Githzerai Monk, a Drow with a human slave, and the most strange of the lot of them, was an intelligent Orge.

Their business hardly mattered to the Captain, so long as their gold was good, and they caused no trouble. Over all the voyage was peaceful, until the last night, only hours away from port.

The wakey-wakey bell rang loud and clear in the quiet night, as dozens of Merfolk began to scurry about the boat, bringing it to action stations. The man in the crow's nest was screaming "Pirates!" at the top of his lungs, and it didn't take long for the Captain, and all the passengers to wake in their bunks and dawn their armour and weapons.

Every humanoid on board knew that they had to defend the ship, Pirates would not care if you were crew or Passenger, they would rob and kill everyone.

Not wanting to be over burden for combat, the Passengers left their excess baggage in their cabins and rushed to the top deck. Yet oddly enough they heard no cannon fire. Surely by now, they should have opened fire on the pirates?

As the various passengers, and the Captain spilled out on deck, they found the deck empty, not a soul in sight. The pirate ship had already pulled along, and several men were pouring over the sides. Gnolls, Goblins, Orcs, Ogres, Minotaurs, and Merfolk alike made up the enemy crew.

The adventures and the Captain drew their weapons, ready to repel the invaders then they were suddenly frozen, unable to move. Some outside magical force had a hold of them. None of them could see who was casting the spell, but they could hear a woman's voice, chanting an incantation.

In the blink of an eye, they found themselves teleported several kilometres away from the ship, in the exact same spot they had been when they left. Naturally they fell to the water, the freezing spell had worn off.

They group swim back to the surface, and could do nothing but watch the two ships sail off into the night. Thankfully they were not far from land, and with the aid of the Captain, and a few Dolphins he was able to call for help, the group made it to land with out anyone dying. Though what happened to the rest of the crew remained a mystery.

The group gathered, each had lost something of great value, or personal attachment on that ship. Though they had grabbed their wallets, they had left their extra baggage behind. The six swore they would help the Captain since it meant finding their own lost things. In the meantime the group agreed to accept normal jobs to earn gold, while working they would earn reputation and connections to help them find the ones responsible.

The goblin had a cousin in Gold Sprocket, a Business man by the name of Spleck. He knew he had a job for some adventurers, and if they did well, he would introduce them around the City.

All players must make a note in their opening post what object was left on the ship. It can be anything from a chest of gold and gems, to an important artifact given to them by a parent. Anything you like(with in reason)

~~~

Chapter 1: Rule of Acquisition #59: Free advice is seldom cheap.

The city of Gold sprocket was surrounded by a massive wall, easily 60 feet tall, and 20 feet thick. Designed long ago by Dwarfs to resist invasion. Now it was home to Goblins. The Dwarfs who built it would weep if they could see it today.

Inside the walls, and the port were where the money was, hundreds of Guilds, Factions, Companies, and Lone Business men operated. Every race imaginable live there, selling their wares or services. They say every minute thousands of gold change hands in this city.

Built up along the walls, and expanding outward from the city were the slums. Places where poor lived, where crime ran rampant, where poor and new businessmen who could not afford the high rent of the city worked.

To enter the city, one must go through one of five gates, The Lion Gate(North), The Falcon Fate(North West), the Tiger Gate(West), The Horse Gate(South West) and the Dragon Gate(South), to the East was the port and the Ocean.

The adventures chose to enter through the Dragon Gate. There they were met by a civil servant, a Goblin by the name of Gleek. He wore a business suit with small square glasses. Beside him were two large humanoids, each dressed in full plate armor. The one was a humanoid Boar, the other was a Humanoid Alligator. They both wore the gold cloak of the City watch.

The Goblin greeted them, "Admission is two silver coins each." He announced, his voice was dry and monotone, showing he must do this a lot. "The north end of the city is separated by a small river which runs through the city. All animal and slave trading is restricted to that area. All humans south of the river are required to wear a Bomb-collar. Trade Mark Gob-co." As he spoke he handed the Drow a small silver collar and a remote control for her pet human.

"The collar will detect any human performing any sort of violence, and will instantly... fix the problem. It can also be remotely detonated by the controller I gave you."

"Also note, that all goods and services at a legitimate shop, already include the tax towards the Demon Council. If you do any personal business it is your duty as citizens to pay proper tax to the Tax collectors. Anyone caught not paying taxes will be hanged. Have a pleasant stay."

With that, the group was allowed to pass through the gate way. The meeting time with Spleck was still an hour away...

All players start with the Standard 1 Hero Point, and 100 Gold Pieces(1 Gold is 100 Silver, 1 Silver is 100 Copper). Please keep track as you spend it.

I like to see each post start off with:
Character Name
HP: # Money: ###
(Only if you are not "normal")Condition: Example Bruised
(Optional) Location:

You can explore or go straight to the meeting place. You are meeting at the "Wolf, Ram, & Hart Tavern" in one hour.

Keep in mind you will start building a reputation, which will effect how people see you. Are you violent? Do you keep your word?

Have fun.

[EPIC]

Silver
HP: 1, Money: 99g, 98s

Silver had insisted for the entire length of the trip thus far she was not a holy woman of any sort. When confronted about her divine magic, she was hard pressed to answer anything more than they were simply things she could do and maybe it had to do with her race.

Then the alert bell tolled, she had raced up to the deck, barely sparing the time to don her armor and grab her sword. Her money pouch was attached to her belt so didn't get left behind when the passengers were forcibly extricated from the ship and left to a long, and chilly, swim for shore. She was glad the captain had a way with sea creatures and managed to get them a lift. The soggy slog towards town on the word of a goblin on the other hand... but what choice did she have if she wanted to get her ring back.

It was the only keepsake she had of the parents she never knew, who had presumably given their lives to bring her to freedom. She had to have that ring back. She cursed herself twice for not wanting to wear it into combat..

Once they arrived in town, wearing her traveling cloak to keep warm, the hood up hiding her long silver locks, she only too gladly paid the two silver. Anything to get closer to a warm bath. She ignored the stares she got. She was used to them. She looked human and knew it, but found quickly that unless she was approached, it was better to simply just ignore the stares and go about her business. And right now, her business involved getting cleaned up after the swim and hike (Not to mention the time spent on the ship!), a use of the hour they had before meeting the goblin's contact well spent in her opinion.

"I'm heading to the tavern. I hope they have rooms and warm baths..." she informs the others before heading towards the tavern with anyone else deciding to accompany her.

[Ryan M. Danks]

Charis Tahllian
HP: 1 Money: 99g, 98s
Character Sheet

Charis grinned ever so slightly under her drawn hood when she was handed the bomb collar. She immediately turned and clamped it on Galadriel, then yanked at it to make sure it was on. Charis was unhappy with her slave, leaving her most prized possession on the ship like that...

When the alarm went out, she yelled at Galadriel to retrieve her Bladesinger Sword, a special sword that was designed to amplify the sound of the blade as it travelled through the air, Charis had trained with it for decades. It was her blade, through and through, but not any longer. Galadriel was too late getting to the deck, she claims she tripped and dropped the blade. Now Charis was forced to use this nearly useless longsword. She at least needed to see if she could find an elven blade, at least their's had a quality that took to bladesinger well.

...Satisfied that the clamp was on tight, Charis looked back to the front, nodded to the guards and walked through the gate with the rest of the group. She had tried to avoid Silver since they first met. The being was clearly a paladin or cleric in disguise, despite her claims to the contrary. Upworlder religions hated drow pretty equally, and she was not looking forward to fighting with such a terrible blade at her hip.

Unfortunately, Silver had a good idea. "The inn sounds like a fine idea," Charis said. She and Galadriel walked a few feet behind and to the side of Silver, keeping the clerical being in sight.

[timothy]

Mardu ak'Taal
HP - 1, Luck - 4, Coins - 99g, 98s

Mardu had found a strange sort of comfort onboard the Darfunkle. It was the first time he had been aboard a ship and he had found it much to his liking. So much so, in fact, that he had considered continuing on with the ship rather than disembarking as he had originally planned.

The choice had, of course, been taken out of his hands by the attacking pirates. "Ah, well," he thought, "the pattern is woven and we follow our thread, for good or ill."

The only thing that truly irked him was the loss of his Xa'han crystal. It had been a gift from Brother Dakkam, an aid to meditation and contemplation that was, in this realm, irreplaceable. He had been studying it's shifting facets in the small cabin appointed him when the attack came. Normally, he would have slipped it into his sash when he rose, but this time, for some reason, he had placed it on a small table before leaving the cabin.

He frowned slightly at the memory. Had it truly been his choice to leave it behind or was it a weave in the pattern meant to bring him to this place with these people?

It was a question for future contemplation. For now he must walk where the pattern wills and see what lessons may be learned.

He nods silent assent to Silver's decision to seek the inn, eager to see where his new path leads.

[Evolución]

Tutek
Hp: 1 ; Money: 99g, 98 s

It had been some time since Tutek enjoyed the embers of battle, so he embraced the chance to smash some pirates and toss them overboard. Great was his dismay when he was prevented from smashing and ported to the middle of the ocean. An ogre is noteant for swimming, and Tutek might have drowned if it wasnt for the captain's sea allies.
Once on dry ground, while the group advanced towards the goblin city, Tutek cursed aloud, and released his anger over a tree, smashing it down to splinters. He then explained that in his eagerness to fight the pirates he had forgotten a sending stone, an artifact with wich he kept in touch with his son, the inexperienced new chieftain.

Once inside the city the ogre nodded towards Silver "The Human is right, Tutek is tired and hungry. A good cold mud for sore feet would please Tutek greatly".

[sweetja713]

Squee
HP 1 LP 3 99 gold 98 silver

Ahh the pretty, pretty rubies. Squee could look at them all day. Just falling through his fingers, so many of them. It was on his tenth repetition that he heard the alarm. He hastily stowed the rubies in his hidden spot in the room. So many filthy thieves in this world. Trying to get their hands on Squee's rightful treasures. He'd show them. From the shadows of course, a deck filled with crates had so many places to hide and take from them what they would take from him.

Finding himself on land did nothing to improve Squee's disposition. He had been counting on those rubies for... well not retirement. A goblin never retired, not while there was profit to be made. Still it was his a huge fortune, lost simply lost. At least he had a group to make money with. Spleck would help him out. Course he wouldn't pay them nearly enough, the money grubbing rat. Speaking of money grubbing, maybe it was time to work on the group dynamics.

"We should probably talk business while we wait. You can bet my cousin will be trying to screw us over anyway he can. I, of course, will endeavor to do my best but I think it only fair that my efforts be rewarded. Say 20% before the split of any extra negotiated fee?"

[Ryan M. Danks]

Charis Tahllian
HP: 1 Money: 99g, 98s
Character Sheet

"And maybe I should make you 20% shorter, you rotting little goblin!" Charis said, turning on the greedy Squee and seizing the scabbard of her longsword with her left hand, ready for the right to sweep across and draw the blade.

"I can negotiate my own deals, goblin or no, and I'm not paying anyone to do the talking."

[sweetja713]

Squee

Squee put his arms up. "Fine, fine. If that's the way you want it to be let our group get ripped off by shrewder bargainer's. What do I care? Never mind that I'm the one leading us to work. Never mind I'm the one who knows how this culture works. No, no you're quite right not to have me help you. Just cause I'm trying to have an incentive to negotiate as high a price as I can for our labor. Heap abuse on the poor goblin, he's used to it."

[Ryan M. Danks]

Charis Tahllian
HP: 1 Money: 99g, 98s
Character Sheet

Charis's eyes looked to the rest of the party. The goblin was right, it wasn't just her money at stake, it was the group's. She straightened her body and let her hand fall from her sword.

"Since you're being so generous to the group, you'll let your own equal cut be your fee for negotiating. Unless you'd rather we think you greedy, and thus untrustworthy in future endeavors concerning money..."

[EPIC]

Silver
HP: 1, Money: 99g, 98s

Silver glances over at Cheris and Squee 'negotiate', though it looked more like bickering, and sighs slightly. "Squee, while your contact may be the quick solution to our situation, it is not the only one. You stand to gain as much as the rest of us to negotiate the best deal you can and that should be incentive enough. That and not having the rest of us angry with you for 'protecting' us from being cheated by your contact while you cheat us yourself."

She turns forward again and continues towards the inn. She really didn't want to deal with goblins. She trusted them as far as she could throw them, but she had to admit they did have contacts and contacts meant information and leads that would bring them reputation and coin needed to find the Darkfunkle and recover their lost possessions.

[sweetja713]

Squee
HP 2 LP 3 Golder 98 Silver 98

"Of course, of course myequal split for the adventuring, but you must admit the bartering is an entirely different skill set. One in which I just so happen to be proficient and thus should be rewarded for the extra work, right?"

At Silver's accusation of cheating, Squee draws himself to his full height. "I can assure you I am no cheat, he says in an offended tone. "I am but a humble goblin adventurer out to make a living. But of course all goblins cheat. We probably all look alike to you too, don't we?" "Stupid stuck up clerics. Got it out for anyone trying to make a decent living", he mutters under his breath.

[timothy]

Mardu ak'Taal
HP -1, Luck - 4, Coin - 99g, 98s


Mardu said nothing as he watched the confrontation between drow and goblin.

It was an interesting dilemma. He was not particularly beholden to either nor was his desire to regain his crystal an overwhelming obsession. If the two were to come to blows, would he choose to remain neutral or would he choose to aid one of his erstwhile allies and, if so, which one?

The conundrum was one that he would ponder as they walked. Unless the conflict escalated further, in which case he would be forced to make a choice, a choice that might move him further from the path he is ordained to walk.

The question brought with it the insight that any choice bears the same possibility of failing the pattern. Perhaps that realization alone was sufficient answer to his dilemma. If each choice is equally risky, does it matter how that choice is made?

With the faintest of smiles he nods to himself. If such a decision becomes necessary, he will act as the moment demands trusting that the pattern will reveal itself.

[EPIC]

Silver
HP: 1, Money: 99g, 98s

The woman who is not a cleric and has said so multiple times glances back over her shoulder. "We all have unique skill sets Squee. Should we not all be rewarded for our extra work where your skills are of less or no use?"

[Ryan M. Danks]

Charis Tahllian[/size]
HP: 1 Money: 99g, 98s
Character Sheet

Charis let the clerical female take over the conversation. A lifetime in the Underdark taught Charis to recognize when her emotions could get in the way of negotiation, and it could end badly. Her training in that harsh, unforgiving environment kicked in and she remained quiet on the subject of the goblin's perceived self-worth.

"Let's go," she said to Galadriel, a little softer than she had in the last few days. Forgiving her was a foregone conclusion, but her anger towards losing her Songblade wasn't something she was ready to suppress, not yet.

[whiteprofit]

Liguria Orta
HP: 1; Gold: 99g, 98s
Location: Headed to the Docks

Dolphins were notably chatty and Liguria knew that word of the loss would make it back to his family within the day. Which was bad news for the young captain. The Darkfunkle had been in his family for seven generations and had known eight other captains prior to his command. None of them had ever lost the ship. And with each succession the Darfunkle had became stronger and more connected to the family line of the Orta's. It was undeniable anymore that the ship possessed magical properties and was more than just a lucky container ship.

The loss of the Darfunkle was inexcusable and could not have been at a worse time. Whatever magic had kicked him off his own magically imbued ship must have been notably strong. And they must have known they would need to remove him from the deck of the Darfunkle. The event would certainly be used against him by his sisters and worse, if they recovered the ship before him... unthinkable. The Darfunkle had become his responsibility, livelihood, and his home. He cared for it and its crew like his own flesh and blood. And he would not lose it like this.

Balta Orta was the eldest and had commanded as captain of the Darfunkle until Liguria had come of age and taken the position. His right to the family vessel had come from elder tradition and was enforced by their father. Though she would never act out against him publicly, Balta was extremely upset by the demotion by her father and the gender inequality made her defiant. She was quite outspoken in her belief that experience, age, and talent should be more important than the gender of the Darfunkle's captain. Though she wasn't directly angry at her little brother, he was at the receiving end to much of it.

Thinking similarly and empassioned with the same furvor was his other, older sister, Flaor Orta. She was equally determined to prove herself as a warrior and equal any of the male gender, though her words were quieter and more rehearsed than Balta's. Liguria knew that she would also like to prove herself as a viable option to captain the Darfunkle, but would never defy her sister or the law that put Liguria before both of them. At least not outright. If she were to find the ship however...

The cold and damp feeling from the water didn't bother the aquarian-being in the slightest and he disengaged from the others. "Go on ahead, I'll meet you all there. I'm going to check in at the docks first and see if I can find out anything. Perhaps other ships have been taken in this way as well." Liguria told them, nodding toward the loud and crowded docks.

Though a part of Liguria wanted to jump into the water right now and high tail it after his ship, he knew that pursuing the Darfunkle and the other vessel was pointless. Especially on 100 gold pieces. He would need to procure more supplies, another ship, and a crew to aid him. And information. The passengers that he'd been repelled with might prove especially useful in getting the Darfunkle back, but their investment was to their own belongings. He couldn't count on anyone he wasn't paying. And for that he needed money.

The air of the dock was a familiar one, salty and alive like the sea. People were looking for deals, passage, supplies, or just trying to get off the docks to find a drink. Liguria could use a drink himself, but he would be forced to abstain until the Darfunkle was back in his possession. He walked to the Deck Master and asked, "Excuse me, have you heard of any ships being stolen in peculiar ways in the last few days? Like with Magic in the middle of the night?"