ROA: Part 1, The Lone Tower

[Truthseeker]

Brokan tries not to acknowledge the fighter's comment. The duel-sword-wielding man was undeniably the most skilled combatant in the group, but his apparent lust for violence could make him a liability.

Speaking again to the Dwarf, "I am unfamiliar with your 'Forge Father,' but if he grants the gift of healing I suggest we reserve that gift for a true emergency. I appreciate the consideration, Dwarf. I vow to you that I will return the sentiment should the need arise."

[ccgr]

I can try to mend some wounds once this battle is finished and we can breathe for a bit

[ironwizard]

"The Forge Father. Moradin, Father of all Dwarves. The Forger o' Souls. Lord o' the Deep. 'Tis the God o' me people, and he grants his blessings to any who prove themselves worthy, either in battle or in front o' the bellows. 'Tis understandable that ye'd not be familiar with him. Dwarves be a reclusive folk."

[Deepfreeze32]

Minather snorts muffledly at Kagor's comment. The last Dwarf I knew wasn't so reclusive once you gave him some ale.

[ironwizard]

"Ye mistake the ramblings of a tipsy Dwarf with the outlook o' the entire clan. Any Dwarf'll make small talk over a towering mug o' mead, but few will speak at length about life in the mines with a mere acquaintance."

[ArchAngel]

Kratimos muttered something in dwarvish, loud enough for Kagor and a couple others to hear.
For those who can understand dwarvish:

Spoiler:

"But the mead helps."

[ArcticFox]

Guy is only peripherally aware of the discussion, having braced his sword against the ground and begun to etch some writing into the blade...

"THIS SIDE TOWARD ENEMY ------------>"

[ArchAngel]

Kratimos quickly glanced and saw Guy writing on his sword and saw in his eyes the doubt he had in his own ability. Or at least that's what he thinks, Kratimos was never great at reading people. But he does know battle and he knows any person who carries a sword long enough will have a time where confidence in one's skill and prowess is questioned. Some never recover, and never grow to anything beyond a man behind a shield. He's never seen this in a young Paladin; the others were so blinded by their hubris... Kratimos was never one to value humility, but seeing a little of it in Guy humanized him. Maybe he is different, a little more self aware than the others. Maybe there is potential for him to be more than a tool, to be a warrior.

"Hey kid," Kratimos waited for Guy to look up at him. "Don't worry about it. You'll do fine."

[ArcticFox]

Guy snaps out of his reverie, realizing Kratimos was addressing him. He looks over to the warrior and nods, a silent "thank-you" before resuming his ready stance. Would he do fine? Perhaps not. He'd already come dangerously close to dropping his sword in battle twice against an opponent that was outnumbered and surprised. Had he done that on the practice field, he'd have been demoted back to the beginner course and given a wooden practice blade until he proved he could handle the real thing.

And it was then that he realized his mistake.

He'd forgotten one of the 3 'P's of battle: Practice, Purity and Prayer. All 3 were required for a Paladin to expect his hand to be guided by the righteous fury of the Lord of Battle. He had practiced unfailingly. He had kept himself pure, and he had failed utterly to ask the blessing of his own deity.

If Adept Grimaldus had seen this he'd have been made to shave his head for sure and do penance until it was again long enough for a warrior's ponytail.

Taking a deep breath, Guy exhales slowly, bringing serenity to his mind. He raises his blade, presses it to his forehead, letting the cold steel remind him of the heat of his own blood. He whispers a silent benediction, and when his eyes open again, they are once again backed by resolve. He looks over at Kratimos and nods again, to convey I am with you.

[ArchAngel]

Kratimos nodded back.
He remembered doing those very prayers as a boy. It brought peace to the mind, but when he looked back, his prayers were never answered. He doesn't know if the Lord was silent or never existed, but in the end, it was came down to himself and his blades and it's never changed since.
Let Guy have his prayers; so long as he is fully here in battle. He'll have prove himself yet.

[fathom123]

The sound begins to build as whatever it is approaches. Soon the grunts are heard mere meters away. A great clanging in rhythm with the grunts at opposite intervals as if it were some kind of chant. Ahead, roughly 20 feet, is where you first spy them. First one, then five, then ten highly armored and seasoned looking gnomes, each wielding a wicked and sharp looking pick. Each time they step, they bang their armored forearms against their chest pieces and grunt. Though they are small in stature, not one looks frail and each has a distant yet focused gaze as if they see everything all at once, the mark of a seasoned warrior.

The gnome in front, an old gnome with a large beard steps forward. His arms are gnarled muscle, his armor worn and scraped by countless battles, his pick glowing slightly green. He looks the party over, sizing them up.

He speaks, his accent thick and rough, "So, ye think ye cn dismembr ur kin and not pey with yer lives?"

His eyes go from person to person, sizing each warrior up. He has the look as if he would try to take the entire party by himself.

The party's current positions:

Spoiler:

((Sorry for not posting for a bit. I'm working a big job at the moment so I am quite preoccupied with it. I should be able to keep regular posts for the next 10 days or so because I have down time during the day.))

[ArcticFox]

Guy blinks, surprised, then realization dawns on him. He lowers his weapon, planting the tip of the blade in the dirt (being sure to keep the engraving facing toward himself) and speaks, somehow managing to keep his voice from cracking.

"Hold. They who attacked your kin lay dead already. We did not attack them, but we have avenged them. I regret only that we arrived too late to save them." He nods toward the corpse of the creature that had been eating the victims. "We are not your enemies."

Diplomacy: [dice]0[/dice]

[ironwizard]

"Aye, the tallfolk spealks the truth. They've gone to their eternal rest. If ye don't believe us, the evidence is in fornt of ye, plain as day" indicating the monster and the corpses. ((Note that I have also lowered my weapon))

[Truthseeker]

Brokan lowers his scimitar and remains silent. They were outnumbered, and although they were larger than the gnomes the best case scenario if a fight broke out would be a waste of spells and vitality. Guy seemed to be handling the spokesperson role well, as far as Brokan could tell.

((fathom, when you get an opportunity could you answer my question about xp from right after the last battle ended?))

[ccgr]

CrimsonBlade lowers her crossbow but rests her hand close to her dagger just in case