pleasantlybrieftiger-blog

[pleasantlybrieftiger-blog]

Yet more from the first session of Ularian Prophecy

Part 3/3 of the Giun and Aki Pov

Also, the Tiefling, Dwarf, Dragonborn, Gnome, and Darkelf from the last post are my players.

“So. the Pyiford express?” Aki asked as Giun finished his breakfast.

“That's what he said. We need to get on it, go to Nay-Baix, and from there we are to ‘cure the traceless plague’.” Giun talked in hushed tones.

“Traceless plague? Droppers disease?” Giun only nodded. “Hmm. no doctor or lab-coat has ever found a symptom, let alone a clue. This will be a true challenge.”

“I guess when God says he has a challenge, he means challenge.” Aki didn't reply, choosing to simply nod.

“It’s a brand new locomotive… tickets will not be cheap. And i have just spent the last of the trappers money.”

“There are alternatives to buying tickets. I happened to overhear Sir brightwood last night-”

“You mean you spied on him.” Aki interjected.

“What you going to reprimand me for spying on Amrik dogs?”

“No. but you should speak clear. It's the mark of a strong soul, saying things as they are. And you have a strong soul Giun.”

“Whatever, listen, the Queen has granted to tickets to a number of Nobles and Diplomats. So many in fact that hardly anyone will notice a few missing from the roster.”

“I don't know.”

“What do you mean you don't know? I thought that's why we came here, to destabilize and overthrow the Amrik empire!” Giun’s voice has risen, and Aki glared at him, however the Diplomat had also started yelling at the bartender, and it seemed that they had gone on unheard.

“Yes, but now Limbis has need of you Giun. i can only think that he needs you alive, and a quest for God overrules simple grudges like ours. We will need anonymity. Perhaps we can find the printers, and persuade them to make a few more tickets for us.”

“I swear to Limbis Thomas, if you don't fill my pint i will blow your brain out!” Brightwood rose from his stool, over turning it and drawing his half rifle. Giun made to move, but aki’s large hand shot out silently, baying the urge. The door to the tavern burt open, and three figures from before, the tiefling, Dragonborn, and Dwarf rushed in, the last of which released a odd shaped bladed object that arced through the air, deeply cutting the backside of Brightwood’s neck deeply.

“What the fuck!” the Diplomat ripped around, barely dodging a pistol shot from the Tiefling. However he could not move enough to dodge the drunken charge of the dragonborn, which pinned him firmly to the ground.

“Time to go.’ Aki muttered to Giun as the Tiefling drew a jeweled sword, and a rifle shot hit a front window.

Now, several Hours later, Aki found himself next to the black haired, dusty brown skinned boy he called a friend. They were in the south-west market, across the Locomotives valley path that separated Pyiford cities slums from the respectable places. They faced a printers shop whose name ran; Rames and Daughters Quality Press Printing. The store was closed for lunch, however Aki was dressed in a priests outfit, somewhat too small for his built frame, and Giun had hidden all of his weapons, including his precious rapier, which was now stowed in Aki’s robes.

“Maybe we should just sneak in, force them at knife point, like i said. I'm sure as hell not waiting for their lunch to be over. We only have two hours left as it is because you wasted so much time on this ridiculous get up.”

“You are only angry because i combed you hair and washed your face. You look nice, and remember, the good children of Limbis know that he calls at odd times. Like in night visions.”

“Dreams AKi. their called dreams.”

Aki did not responded, and instead shielded Giun from sight as the boy picked the stores lock in no time. As they entered they were greeted by a truly astonishing, beautiful tenor voice singing a song neither of them recognized, however the voice halted when the door’s bell jungled as both men made they way into the shop.

“Can i help you!” a man’s voices shouted, its owner unseen.

“I believe you can.” Aki responded, taking Giun by the shoulders gently. There was a cocking of a gun, and a gray haired stout man turned the corner fast, three curious women edging behind him.

Aki smiled upon seeing the pistol, it was a calm serene smile, however his arms subtly moved to protect Giun. once the man caught sight of Aki from across a printing press the man quickly uncocked the pistol and set it down. Looking as though he could have eaten his own hat.

“Forgive me priest, i did not know.”

“Forgiven sir. You where only protecting your family. You are Rames yes?”

“Yes, that me, and these are my daughters, Deliauh, Sarandanna, and Tylipa.”

“A Pleasure, and truly, forgive us for disturbing you during lunch. May we come in”

“Of course!” Rames said, turning to his daughters “let's fetch them lunch as well, Srandanna, please seat them.” and soon they were led into the back room, a somewhat spacious are, cluttered with racks full of typeset and jars and brushes for ink, and a desk against the far wall, facing away from the large window. Aki was sat in the biggest chair, upholstered with leather and made of a fine, if somewhat aged wood, and Giun was sat in the only other chair, a low backed seat with a floral print. The three daughters took the one couch, and Rames stood, a mug of tea in hand.

“That singing, which one of you was that?” Aki asked, siping the fine tea, probably the best the family had. They had just been served, and Giun was feasting on the cold meat and fruits. Aki subly nudged his leg, and Giun slowed, curious, then nodded, and resumed a more appropriate posture.

“That was Sarandanna.” Rames answered proudly. “She was showing us her piece that is going to get her into the Pyiford Opera.” Aki looked at the middle daughter and smiled warmly.

“You have astounding talent miss, truly.”

“Well thank you Priest. Truly if a man of Limbis thanks so, i may really have a shot.”

“You will get in, Easy, most of that Opera has half as much talent, you’ll be the star!” Giun said around a handful of cherries.

“So you said i could help you, how?” Rames asked, shifting the conversation, and his tone was nothing but polite and respectful, if not curious.

“Yes.” Aki said setting down his tea. “You see Redmond here has had a vision, a true vision from Limbis himself. And when he told the church about it our bishop prayed, for it made little sense to him. But upon return from his prayers he summoned me to escort Redmond to Nay-baix on a holy mission. The church believes that this journey will reveal the answer that has eluded so many men of science… Redmond will cure the reaceless plague.” the families eyes shifted to the boy, but Aki noticed something deeper than that, he noticed the way the father's eyes looked at that floral chair. There was a minute of quiet surprise from the daughters, but then the man, tear eyed turned back to Aki.

“But how can i help with that?”

“We need your trade. The church understands that you were commissioned for the production of Pyiford express tickets. And under normal circumstances we would send a messenger to Eddon and secure passage aboard the new Locomotive through the Queen, but time is short, and the Church has not the funds on hand to purchase tickets.”

“So you came here. I'm sorry father, i can make you tickets, but the official tickets where lined in silver and the letters were plated in gold. I don't have those materials on hand.”

Aki turned gave Giun a glance, Giun in response very subtly shook his head.

“I understand Sir. droppers claimed your wife correct?” there was a nod from the father., and Aki continued. “In times of so much plague, so much unfortunate death times can grow hard for families. When she passed i'm sure you gave her a proper loving funeral. That couldn't have been cheap, even for well done printing shops. Pyifords burial grounds are becoming crowded, no doubt the city asked a harsh price of you. But you paid it. And now a well off Print shop is in debt, cheap teas taste different no doubt. Plague took from you, city took from you, and then the city took from you again paying to little for a hard job. I understand Rames, the hardship. They probably didn't even trust you with enough money to buy your own silver and gold. They provided it for you yes?” another nod. “I thought so. And through that i'm sure you sought a way to get even. Take back some of what has been lost. Limbis blesses this, balance first yes? But. when you took the extra gold and silver and kept it, using nothing more than you absolutely had to, in the process of getting even with the wealth that was taken from you, you unbalanced your soul. You now have a weight of greed, and spite. The church recommends that you balance those out with Genouristy, and confession. Did you Rames, keep the extra silver and gold?”

Aki’s eyes burrowed into Rames’ own, and after a single tear was shed, no doubt in memory of his lost wife, the father nodded.

“Good Rames. Now the balance must be restored, you are a good person Rames, very little is unbalanced. In fact, the weight of to Pyiford express tickets would be perfect to reset the scales.

[pleasantlybrieftiger-blog]

More from the first session of the Ularian Prophecy:

Part 2/3 of Giun and Aki:

The Brass Eye tarven wasn't the most respected pub in north Pyiford, however it was the most affordable for two wayfarers with only a dwindling amount of gold left, and thus it was the prime place for Aki Bodei and his street rat charge, Giun. and now Aki spent the last gold piece buying breakfast for the boy. He had to pay extra to have the bartender make Giun’s favorite; eggs, thick slice of bacon, and a pint of beer. And now he looked through the tavern, bringing the plate and pint to his table. There was quite a few interesting faces. At the bar itself was a man of at least some money, wearing a strange cape that draped his left side, and a half length flintlock rifle strapped to his right thigh. The man’s hair was raven dark, just like Giun’s, and his skin was dark, not the midnight Aki’s own skin boasted, but along the same line. His eyes were grey, also similar to Giun’s, and his body was thick, and as Aki looked closer he saw just a start of grey stubble framing the intense frown.

“You sure you want another Sir Brightwood?”  the bartender asked.

“Don't make me ask again Thomas…” the man, Brightwood, said in a very posh Amrik accent.

“Very well. Anything for the Queens Diplomats.” Thomas answered.

“I’ll take another too.” a very drunk red dragonborn slurred.

“No you don't, not unless i start seeing some coin out of ya!” the barman retorted, setting a fresh pint down next to Brightwood.

“I’ll pay… anyway you like…” Aki was pretty sure he saw a wink from the dragonborn and was filled with second hand awkwardness. Giun merely chuckled around a bite of bacon.

The Bartender looked ready to shout something, but another person arrived at the bar, coming from a side table. This newcomer was draped in a white long coat similar to the ones Aki new the lab-coat guilds wore, however this man had the key features of a dark elf. A kind not usually associated in Pursuits of science.

“Excuse me barkeep, i'm in need of gold, and was wondering, where is the closest Bounty board?”  the tavern, quiet s it was somehow stilled even more. The only sound was the cokcing of a flintlock. Even Giun in his all of fourteen winters sensed the seriousness that had gripped the lazy morning bar room.

“Brightwood, not in here.” Thomas said in as polite a manner as he could. “Listen Elf. i don't know what parts your from, but Bounty hunting is illegal in Pyiford, and all other of Amrik cities. So i suggest you leave before Sir Brightwood Concord here does his duty to the Queen and makes a red mess on my floor.”

The elf took a few steps back, holding his hands up and nodding, before taking his leave. The dragonborn to this muttered something Aki didn't hear and stood. Rather he attempted to, but fell, puking on the floor.

“Damn!” Thomas shouted and reached into his pocket. “Five silver to however gets this bastard and his mess out of my bar!” immediately a Tiefling woman in her mid twenties, over a foot shorter than the dragonborn, and to Giun’s amusement a Gnomish man half the girls height rushed out and started tugging on the thickly built mans arms.

“A tiefling Thomas, what's the Brass eye coming too… and to make it worse a Gnome associating with it.” Bright shook his head, although his words went unnoticed by the said people. The pale Gnome with graying black hair and green eyes, and the lavender skinned tiefling whose eyes aki could not see where making no progress.

It was here that a Sturdy looking Mountain dwarf man, nearly five feet in height strolled from their middle table and with one hand dragged the drunken flirt out of the bar, tossing them onto the street.

Rags hit the floor between the Gnome and Tiefling, and they made short work of the vomit.

“Well, three people, five pieces, you can work it out.” the bartender had barely finished before the tiefling had stolen the pieces. The Gnome, presumably frustrated left the bar, followed by the Dwarf. The tiefling caught a glare from Brightwood, and left as well. This left only Aki and Giun, along with Brightwood in the tavern. The latter of which slammed another empty pint on the table, forcing the barman to get him another one.

[pleasantlybrieftiger-blog]

So the first session was fun!

the following posts are from my D&D 5e campaign that i home brewed called the ‘Ularian Prophecy’ although im not recapping what my players did, i’m recounting what their “competition” did. the following post is about Giun (pronounced June) and Aki Bodei, one of the two other groups summoned for the challenge by Ularia’s god Limbis. enjoy! 

The boy flung himself from the hay stuffed cot in shocking speed. Aki rose from where he had been meditating, his lumbering form creaking the floorboards of their room.

“What's wrong Giun?” his deep baritone asked in what he thought a worried tone was.

“Nothing, just a dream Aki…”

“A what?” he pressed on, ignoring the boy’s clear signal to have him stop. The boy always used outlandish terms to confuse him.

“Ugh, a night vision, like your stupid meditation, oh it doesn't matter. It was just a drea- what's this!” Giun grabbed a stone Aki hadn't noticed in the room and jutted it to his full arms length into the taller mans face. Aki took it and held it up by the window.

The stone itself was somewhat transparent, and glittered dark blues and purples in the dawn’s light. Aki truly had no idea what it was, but from the look the boy was wearing, one of confusion, yet utter horror, and the slowly creeping recognition that he tried so hard to fight away, the boy knew what it was. His guess was confirmed when he went to hand it back, and Giun refused.

“It doesn't hurt. No sharp edges on it, but you are afraid to touch it, that is not what a curious person does, that is what a scared person does, a person that knows exactly what it is… tell me Giun, what is this stone?” he asked, pocketing the stone, retrieving the boys eyes from their transfixed state.

After a few false starts, Giun managed to speak; “its from my dream Aki. i think God Limbis is asking me to do something.”

Aki control the urge to have his highbrows shoot up. “What has he asked you to do?”

“He wants me to be his chosen… he wants me to be in the final battles of good and evil…”

[pleasantlybrieftiger-blog]

The world of Ularia, home to 12 continents, and hundreds of islands and millions of souls. There are 6 distinct oceans, and 7 unique realms. And all are watched over by the Deity of ,Balance Limbis. For thousands of years he has been quite, content with the natural balance. But on this night, when you find yourself sleeping peacefully in Pyiford city he comes to you. “The time has come, prove you are worthy to fulfill the prophecy, i challenge you, Travel aboard the Pyiford express on the morrow, go to Nay-baix, and search the cure for the traceless plague, if you can, i shall reward you, and you shall be my chosen in the final battles of good and evil.” As he withdraws into shadow you awake, startled by the dream, though just as you are dismissing the thought, a gem of unrecognizable origin catches your eye. something faint from your childhood memory, a Challenge stone. And as the first rays of the golden sun break the horizon you know this was no dream, but a call to the ULARIAN PROPHECY.

Lord Odric, DM Hey! first post, and its a hook line for a home-brew campaign i’m running in 5e for my friends, although i’m going to be doing something fun, i explained to them that this will be a 1-10 level run through, and that it will climax with the final battles of good Verses evil (they love that stuff) and on here i am going to be posting what the other group of ‘challenged’ are doing. we play most Wednesdays, so i should post updates Thursdays!