LOG: The Hero Scrolls Episode 1 - pt 1
The Heroes came to the realm of Aegis by ship. Martin found a map in the library when he was looking for information on Cibola. The information in the map described the land of Aegis as a place where the Gods were petty and cruel and plagued the world of men. The information in the small journal Martin found is an account of a mild mannered third son of a Lord of Amber named Leaf who traveled with a grandson of Oberon he names only 'S'. The journal describes a temple to one of the mad god. I
In the temple sanctuary is a the only known place where there is a special flower known as the 'whitebell'. According to the journal, the whitebell, if mixed with the proper ingredient, apparently helps reinforce metal. The recipe is in the journal. The Heros are here to find the temple, make sure the mad god doesn't eat them, get the flower and bring it back to Amber.
Martin.
He is slightly under medium height with shoulder length straw blonde hair and a slender, wiry build. His eyes are bright azure blue, a sharp contrast to his rugged good looks. He's wearing an open sleeveless vest of patchwork brown material with several strange symbols. His pants are supple brown leather and there is a cloth tied around his left knee. His bracers are brown leather and only go halfway to the elbow. Several knives and a short sword are visible.
Heulwen.
Heulwen is tall with almost boyish slenderness. Glossy black hair appears to be naturally highlighted with dark blue creating ripples among wavy tendrils. Inquisitive indigo eyes and schooled alabaster features lend a 'borrowed' air of composure. An easy going manner betrays a need to be constantly seeking new adventures when coupled with a youthful appearance.
A short leather skirt is cut into several layers of rigid hand worked dark indigo leather and studded with silver. It cinches at her waist and hides her naval but reveals a great deal of bare midriff as well as anything below mid thigh on her legs. She wears a leather bodice, strange spiked shoulder pads and leather boots that come to her knees in the same shade of blue. There are several knives of different size attached to the leather and metal skirt and leather braces with a dragon design lace up to her elbow. A sword is in a scabbard across her back. Her jewelry is confined to silver hoop earrings, a metal choker and a white gold ring on her left hand.
Gilgamesh
Rich brown bangs are longer than the rest of the short form cut, bringing to mind the classic look of flyboys throughout shadow. The tanned face is rectangular and on the cuter side of rugged, a effect caused by a combination of the perpetual quirk in the brows above the bright blue eyes, as well as a viper-esque narrowing of what really should have been a lantern jaw. The nose is straight, the lips a bit expressive, and the neck thick as a bull's.
He's currently clad in a variety of skins...wolf pelts, a bear pelt, and rabbit skins, depending on where you look. There's the occasional bulge that one hopes is a satchel or somesuch under the furs, and a bow and quiver is strapped over his shoulder, as well as a thick bastard of a sword.
Molly
Curls and kinks of rich auburn hair spill out from a topknot and tumble down to athletic shoulders. Laughing emerald eyes take in the world from below thin arched brows. The nose is lightly dusted with freckles, the cheekbones are high, and the cupid's bow lips tend towards a wry tilt. Smile lines are only beginning to kiss at the mouth's corners.
Her slender yet curvy form is sheathed in a soft red leather bodice, which is in turn covered with openwork black metal armor worked into swirling knotted patterns. Her skirting is black leather, falling high on the leg, with strips of articulated plating over the thighs.
She wears a pair of long knives belted at her waist and carries a heavy sword at her hip. Her boots are studded black leather, and rise to a few inches below her high skirting.
The Heroes arrive in Aegis:
The trip is uneventful, though somewhat stormy on the way in. One might wonder if someone might have been fighting Martin as he was shifting or maybe the Good Ship 'Perilous Fine' was simply hitting all the bad spots of shadow. The crew is well bodied sailors and got you all through the worst of it. In the near distance looms land. "Land ho!" the crow's nest cries. Indeed... Martin's map has proven fruitful. There is a place to drop anchor and even what looks like a very old dock.
Martin wipes sweat from his brow as they arrive, "That looks like it, Haley isn't' that the landmark on the map?"
Haley glances at the map and the land and the map. "Yes. If it's not we'll all be dead?" She seems to be in good spirits in her crazy leather warrior chick outfit.
Gilgamesh says, "So we're here...are we stealthing?"
Molly stands at the back of the group, attempting to tug her skirt down and grumbling. "Can we be stealthy with all this creaking leather?"
Martin says, 'No, we're heroes. Heroes don't stealth. In the journal it mentions that the people of this world need heroes and tend to treat them well." He ticks the map into his belt.
Haley arches a brow; it's black like her hair. "On on second thought, we might still end up..." she laughs, "Never mind."
Gilgamesh walks to the railing, draws the hand cannon from under some furs, yells "FIRE IN THE HOLE," and fires the gun over the side, into the water. Well, he pulls the trigger, anyways.
Molly asks "They'll be *sure* we're heroes, right? They won't be confused on that particular point..." She looks sharply over at Gil's shout.
Martin frowns, "This guy Leaf seems to have been some kind of sidekick...." he pauses and stares at Gil. The gun fires but doesn't seem to do much more than shoot out a flare that explodes into fireworks.
Haley covers her ears. She glances toward Molly, "You look like a hero!" She enthuses.
Gilgamesh says, "Well...THAT'S odd."
Gilgamesh sniffs the barrel, shrugs, and holsters.
Martin says, "I don't know, we all look like heroes don't we?" He nods for the captain of the Perilous Fine to lower the longboat.
Martin eyes Gilgamesh, "Hey, fireworks!"
Gilgamesh says, "Begman candles."
Martin says, "But you did point and shoot and it worked!"
Gilgamesh says, "Well, worked is...relative."
Molly agrees that they all appear nicely heroic. She comments to Gil, "Pretty!"
Haley bounces and looks over the side to the longboat below, "Can we all be heroes in Amber?"
Martin eyes Haley, "I thought we were?" He shades his eyes, "Hey, looks like there's a group of people coming to the Dock.
Martin climbs down to the longboat.
Gilgamesh says, "Not always a good thing...."
Boy are there a group of people. One man surrounded by several young women who throw something in front of him as he walks. He wears a fairly crazy set of robes and is carrying some rolled up scrolls.
Gilgamesh offers a hand to the ladies the help down.
Molly giggles at Gil's offer and scampers down on her own. "Really, Gil!" she laughs.
Haley is eager to take the hand but bounces pretty easily even in the odd assortment of leather, "Thanks Gil." She's watching the group on land with a faint frown. "Slave girls?"
The girls on the beach seem to be extremely excited and dressed in white with bits of gold and jewelry. They all look youthful at least. The other man is tall and thin, but what he lacks in girth he makes up for in crazy colors and dangly bits.
Gilgamesh clambers down. "You don't need any more slave girls."
Molly watches the crowd of slave girls. "They seem awfully enthusiastic, at least."
To Gilgamesh, Heulwen says, "No, I expect they'll throw themselves at you or Martin."
Martin peers at the dock, "The journal didn't mention slave girls."
Gilgamesh says, "How old is the journal? Times change."
Martin flips through it, hurriedly. "It doesn't have a date..."
The pages are quite yellow and obviously it's been in the library a while.
The girls kneel down in front of the man with scrolls. They now have bowed heads. The man seems excited he waves frantically toward the longboat.
Molly peers at the journal. "You sure they still need those heroes?" She looks toward the crowd. "Huh. Guess so."
The Perilous Fine seems to be in good condition. In fact, it is a spectacular day, the sun shines brightly and the sky is blue.
Gilgamesh says, "He seems ...AWFULLY happy."
Martin eyes GIlgamesh, "I've never been here. They don't look like groupies..."
Molly notes to Martin, "If they are, I still have my membership card. We'll be alright."
The girls are tracing out symbols in the sand. The man waves one of his yellowed scrolls toward the longboat. He has the smile of someone trying to sell something. Low low prices.
Martin looks very worried now.
Haley says, "Wasn't there a story about your father and Gil's father and former virgin goddesses?"
Martin says, "Uh... yeah. there was..." he mumbles.
Molly quirks an eyebrow. "Is this going to be a Very Bad Thing?"
Gilgamesh says, "Do I have another sibling?"
Martin looks back at the boat, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Haley says, "Hey! These people need heroes and possibly deflowering."
As Martin looks back at the boat, there's a loud rumbling in the water.
Gilgamesh says, "Is their water god a trident carrying guy?"
Molly glares out over the water. "Anything in that journal about this?" She looks at Gil, "Hope not. He knows your trick now."
"I don't think you have anything to worry about, Gilgamesh. Prince Gerard says there is only a child if he fights for fun not for war." "Haley says.
A massive pink tentacle flips out of the water, splashes and causes a wave that comes towards the longboat!
The Man on the beach seems to take this as a most auspicious sign. He gestures toward the women who bow forward elbows in the sand. Although, he may spend a moment on trying to decide if the group is appropriately placed to miss the incoming wave.
Gilgamesh says, "Good, no personal grudges. Hold on!"
Molly groans, "Oh, goody. Tentacles. And me without my babies..." She hangs on to the side of the boat, watching the wave approach.
Martin holds on to the side of the boat.
Another tentacle joins the first and thrashes against the water wildly, then a third and a fourth. They seem to be converging on the Perilous Fine. Up above there's a swirling in the clouds. The wave approaches the longboat and nearly sweeps it over!
Gilgamesh uses his mass to displace some of the force of the wave, keeping it from capsizing, one hopes. "Come out to the coast, have a few laughs...."
Haley bows her head into the long boat mumbling, "Shouldn't we make with the heroing and go kill the sea monster?"
The canons of the Perilous fine are attempting to do that as well, but fireworks aren't -that- effective against giant squid.
Molly mumbles, "I just GOT this outfit! And you know how leather gets crusty when it gets wet an' dries." She looks at Haley, "You suggesting we go in after it?"
Molly unsheathes one of her knives.
Gilgamesh says, "The natives may not take kindly to that....."
Haley may in fact be thinking about throwing herself into the sea with that very thought in her head. "What?!?"
Martin quickly flips through the journal. "Wait! Wait! We can't kill it, Gil is right..."
Martin says, "It's the ... ew.." he reads the book again. "It's the offspring of a god..."
Martin says, "If we kill it we'll annoy its parent."
Molly Glares at Martin, "It was in there the whole time and you didn't think to *mention* it?" She resheathes her weapon. She looks at the tentacles, "How big *is* Daddy?"
Gilgamesh says, "Well, they're bowing to it....."
Martin opens up one page and it folds out to several pages taped together. "Er..."
Haley's teeth grit but she remains seated in the longboat. "You're just going to let IT eat the crew of the fine Perilous FINE?"
Molly peers at the book. "Gulp!"
Martin says, "That's its mom. Apparently some god slept with her."
Martin stares at Haley, "But Haley's right, we can't let them die!"
Molly mumbles towards Gil, "Probably the one with the trident."
Gilgamesh says, "Think it'll get upset if we cut off a tiny piece of it?"
Another wave comes towards the longboat as the creature flails.
Haley mutters to Gilgamesh, "I thought the other places that I went with Martin were odd..." she still looks half like she's going to toss herself out of the boat but she might be reconsidering."
Molly yells "Haley! Watchit!"
Haley seems to have made the worse possible effort to stay aboard as if she were still trying to throw herself at the sea monster.
Martin attempts to stay on the boat, manages to grab hold of some mooring rope to keep him steady. The creature starts to squeal in earnest as the Perilous Fine's guns take out the tip of another tentacle. It starts to whimper and whine as it shudders and sinks back beneath the waves as though it is retreating.
Molly holds on tight and manages to stay in the boat. She reaches out to Heulwen, but far too late to help.
Gilgamesh goes airborn a moment then slams back down. He grunts...or maybe it's a sigh at Haley.
Maybe she was leaping into the water, unfortunately for her sea monster slaying dreams, Haley's sword thuds against the bottom of the longboat as she goes overboard. She does not sputter, or look surprised she merely disappears quickly under the surface of the water.
The sky starts to clear again as the women on the beach prostrate themselves into the sand and symbols they were writing. The tin man holds his arms out to the air as though he is praying. The creature continues to sink into the depths below and there is a cheer from the ship. Martin looks over the boat for Heulwen, he's not really worried, he'd just much rather that Heulwen not get snagged by sea monsters.
Molly picks up and briefly considers tossing the sword in after Heulwen, but decides better of it.
Gilgamesh says, "Knowing her luck, it'd hit her."
Molly nods at Gil and drops the sword back to the bottom of the boat. She peers down into the water.
"I pity the sea monster." Martin mumbles under his breath. "She'll be fine. Let's get to shore!"
The longboat makes it to shore, sans Heulwen. Martin doesn't seem too worried about that. He ties the rope to the dock. "Let's see what this greeting committee wants."
Molly grabs Haley's sword and tucks it into her belt, dragging it along with her. She waves a hand at Martin, "Lead on."
The welcoming committee does not seem to be overly worried about the loss of one of the heroes. The man approaches while the women look up. They look very similar. Similar enough to be sisters, exotic and enthusiastic.
"I am Aristides. Welcome. Welcome. Heroes." He waves the scrolls. "Your journey was foretold on the ancient scrolls."
Martin says, "Er. Hi." he straightens, "I"m Martin, this is Gilgamesh and Molly." he looks back at the water. "In the water is our friend Heulwen. She'll catch up."
Gilgamesh arches a brow at the man as he gets out.
Molly waves cheerily at the man. "Lo there. Would that be your monster out there? Nice welcome, that."
Aristides bows his head to Martin and then to Gilgamesh and Molly. "Martin the Bold. Molly the Magnificent. Gilgamesh the Great?" He motions behind him introducing each in turn. "Alekto, Alexis, Alkippe, Aminta, Cymone, Damali, Danae." As the girl's name is called she stands and rushes toward the party. Aristides completes the introduction adding, "My daughters. They have been praying that your journey would be swift and safe."
Gilgamesh says, "Shouldn't Martin's name alliterate like the rest of us?"
Martin glances at Martin and Gilgamesh. "Er. I see..." He turns back to the man and the bevy of daughters, "Hello." he smiles. "We're actually here to find a temple. What do you mean you were waiting for us?"
Aristides says, "No. No." The man waves the scrolls about. "It is right in the in the scrolls. Bold, Magnificant and Great. I made the distinction. I mention the rest not at this time. Not yet. You'll have to wait and see when your friends make it to shore.""
Molly notes, "You might want to be reconsidering your guest escort, then. Not exactly safe, that."
The woman now may be qualified as groupies. Their combined enthusiasm is great.
Martin says, "I don't think they expected the sea monster to come ashore."
Gilgamesh says, "Well, it's in the name, isn't it? Sea."
Aristides says, "So you will head up to the temple, laugh in the face of the mad god, return with your trophy, celebrate in the middle of the village and procreate with my daughters." He nods as he slips the last one into the list, "Not all fifty of them only the most beautiful." He waves the scroll again as if it were written down after all.
Martin clears his throat.
Molly wonders aloud how they expect her to do that last one.
http://rta-martin.livejournal.com/33424.html click here for part 2