Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-23-2003 15:25

The Trials of Nicolai (MM9+), Team One: The Game

This thread may not be accessed by members of other teams. Only members of Team One, Advisors and I are allowed to post.

The following players are part of Team One:

Arturchix (Druid)
Jermy (Paladin)
Ladob (Ranger)
Vilx (Assessin)

This is where the actual game takes place. Here you post the team's decisions, and converse with Advisors and NPC's.

You can prepare your choices and questions in the Deliberation thread.

Everything you say or do in THIS thread has an impact on the game.

Note that Advisors and NPC's are not always available. At the start of the game, you don't even know who or where they are.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-23-2003 15:27

Arturchix (aka The Shaolin Master)

Profession: Druid

G10 Unarmed
G10 Dodge
G10 Spirit
G10 Bodybuilding
M7 Elemental
M7 Meditation
E4 Light
E4 Learning
E4 Merchant
N2 Dark

Skill Points left: 1
Randomizing key:

Jermy

Profession: Paladin

G10 Blade
G10 Armor
G10 Bodybuilding
G10 Merchant
M7 Bow
M7 Armsmaster
E4 Spirit
E4 Light
E4 Meditation

Skill Points left: 3
Randomizing key:


Ladob (Regran)

Profession: Ranger

G10 Bow
G10 Dodge
G10 Perception
G10 ID Monster
M7 Armsmaster
M7 Repair
E4 Spear
E4 Merchant
E4 Elemental
N2 Spirit

Skill Points left: 1
Randomizing key: 1411554123 4255236564 3115612456 161453463 4523345612


Vilx

Profession: Assassin

G10 Blade
G10 Thrown
G10 Disarm
M10 ID Item
M7 Armor
M7 Armsmaster
M7 Bodybuilding
N2 Merchant

Skill Points left: 1
Randomizing key: 4316352136 6245143142 5656663352 44414431142 4411152262

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-23-2003 15:29

You are in the Hall of the Gods, staring in disbelief at your incomplete Writ of Fate ....

Why would you go check on that drunkard of a Prince, as the last line of your Writ suggests, didn't you give him a job already?

Where would he be now, anyway?

And why are the gods laughing at you?

It might be a good idea to go and find Nicolai. After all, it's not like you have anything else of importance to do! Or have you? If there is anything at all that you want to first, right now may be a good time. And remember: there are shops and people, and you have a spellbook and an inventory. All that is lacking is a good, old-fashioned quest ....

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Sealand
01-24-2003 07:46

The Quest begins!
"Having imprisoned Njam, the four Supergubbers and their three companions look amazed to their Writ of Fate. Now they are destined to help the strange Prince Nicolai, who claims to be the descendent of a lienage of kings, the Ironfist. Bold Regran says:

- Lets not make our Fate wait, friends! To Guberland right now.

The others, not i single drop of sweat behind in greatness and heroism, seen to agree. Is that light a Town Portal opening?"

To the Gathering. Once we know what we shall have to do, we can start the preparations.

__________________
vilx

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-24-2003 13:02

Guberland, The Gathering

Nicolai: "Who are you?"
Arturchix: "We are the ones who helped you to get a job here at the Circus, remember?"
Nicolai: "Oh. I guess I should thank you then. It is all working out except, er, well, there was something I came here to do. Yes, there was ...."
Regran: "Anything we can help you with?"
Nicolai: "As a matter of fact, you can. You see, as an employee I'm not allowed to play the games myself. I'd like you to do that for me."
Jermy: "Why is that important? We played the games already, and won, too!"
Nicolai: "Nooooooo, you don't understand. I want you to LOSE all the games."
Vilx: "Why would we do that?"
Nicolai: "If you lose all the games, you get the Capstone of Chaos. The circusmaster has been trying for years to get rid of it. He doesn't know how important it is."
Vilx: "And you do?"
Nicolai: "When my head is clear, I know a lot of things. I am a Prince!"
Arturchix: "Yeah, yeah. You said so before. I'm sorry, but you don't look like a prince."
Nicolai: "I really am! But my world was destroyed, and I ended up here, where I can't think straight. Please, you must believe me. I must save my homeworld!"
Jermy: "How can you save your world if it has already been destroyed?"
Nicolai: "With the Capstone of Chaos of course! Let me join your party, and I will show you!"
Regran: "Join our party and go where?"
Nicolai: "Wait. I know that one ... Yes! We must go to the sky fortress! The Capstone of Chaos will activate the Time Gate! Oh it is clear to me now. It was the Prophecy, you see. We knew that no-one of our world could save it. The world, I mean. So we made preparations. And tricked Yanmir to go to this place. Is he still angry about that?"
Arturchix: "We killed him."
Jermy: "He sure was angry."
Nicolai: "Who was? Oh, it doesn't matter. Boy! I had to wait so long for someone like you to turn up."
Vilx: "Someone like us?"
Nicolai: "Yes, yes. Someone with an incomplete Writ."
Regran: "What do you know about our Writ?"
Nicolai: "Oh, just that the rest of it is on my homeworld. Or was. It all gets blurry again in my mind. Come! Be nice and play the games for me, while I get my things."

Are you going to help Nicolai? Is he really a prince, like he says? He still sounds very confused. How could that weird Capstone help save a world that was already destroyed? What world? Is it worth losing your reputation over? What is a Time Gate? And what prophecy is he babbling about? If Nicolai is to join the party, you lose Tamur Leng.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
01-24-2003 22:31

The heroes' Writ of Fate was in another world, or so said Prince Nicolai. He asked to join the group, which meant one thing above all: one of the other companions would have to leave, as a big group would not be able to pass unhindered by the portals.
Vilx: Tamur Lang is the obvious choice. I still do not trust him.
Arturchix: I must agree. We already battled once for Writs of Fate, maybe now that Njam is gone his old ideas return...
Regran: So be it. Ake and Mage go with us too. Shall we arm the Prince?
Jermy First things first my noble fellows. Lets see IF the Prince has any courage to fight along side us, or will only be around.

The departure was fast and without regrets from both sides. Tamur Lang knew he was the most probable one to be dismissed. the others were with them for a long time, having faced many perils. Maybe after they returned from the Gates to Another World, trust shall ave time to grow.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-25-2003 13:30

Guberland, The Gathering

It's a good thing you didn't dismiss Ake and Mage as well! All of you forgot about playing the Circus games, but luckily they remembered.

Though it took great effort, especially after you invested so much to learn how to whack the birdies the last time you were there, you finally managed to lose all the games.

So there is Nicolai, now carrying an oversized backpack. He is holding the Capstone of Chaos, turning it around and around. It looks very much like the Capstone of Order, only it is grey and the point of the pyramid is at the bottom instead of at the top, like it would fit IN something, instead of ON.

You are looking at this sorry excuse for a prince to lead you, but he seems lost in thought. Fortunately, he has already told you where he wanted to bring this artifact.

Still, you hesitate. Your world seems so tranquil, so peaceful now. The idea of leaving it behind, with no telling if you will ever return, makes you feel uncomfortable .....

Will you go to Yanmir's Fortress, where Nicolai said the Capstone of Chaos should be placed? Maybe you should postpone, enjoy this place a bit longer. Perhaps you want some answers first. Or perhaps you are afraid of what those answers would be ....

Note: now that Nicolai has joined the party, any member of the team can ask him questions at any given time.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-26-2003 12:06

Guberland, The Gathering

Nicolai is getting restless, pacing up and down despite his heavy luggage. Are these would-be adventurers going to camp here for the weekend?

Meanwhile Thorir Mouth, the Circusmaster, is having ideas. He needs volunteers for his new mud-wrestling show, featuring the lady Ebora, and these four look like the perfect candidates.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Sealand
01-26-2003 20:23

While others taked little rest after all last days hard figh, drinking tea in small Inn, Vilx decided to make small research on his own. He met Gathering master and asked him to tell his story how Capstone of Chaos get in his hands. After third glass of "Frosgard Special" beer Thorir says "Hic...

__________________
vilx

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-26-2003 23:25

Guberland, The Gathering

Thorir Mouth: That little trinket? It fell out of the sky, they said. Up north. Traders brought it here. Asked a mean price for it, too. I thought what the heck, a Circus needs prizes, even for the losers! So there you go. Never had such losers as you before, so you deserve it, hahahaha! Wanna trade it for a stuffed dragon? Markel had lots of them, tssk.

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
01-26-2003 23:28

Regran approaches the strange Prince, his mind set on the questions Vilx had talked with him some time before. The sly one was fast with a blade, and even faster with his mind.

Regran: Prince Nicolai, you said Yanmir was tricked in to coming for our world. Did he himself told this to you? He wasn't very talkative with us back them. Who tricked him to come? You mentioned "we", there are others of your people in Chedian? And how many worlds are out there, sounds like much terrain to cover...


But even as the Prince began to tell his tale, Regran eyes were set for Eboras' Mud fight...

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-26-2003 23:56

Guberland, The Gathering

Nicolai: "Yanmir? Oh, he can speak fine. He found out too late. That's what got him so upset. Yes, we tricked him. But not here! Er, no it was there. I'm sure of it. Wow, my head hurts when I try to remember! You should really ask the Seer, you know. Seers know stuff, about Yanmir, about all of them. Too bad there are no Seers in Chedian. There were plenty on my world. You are coming with me, right? You'll see for yourself."

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: universitas latviensis
01-27-2003 10:22

Guberland, the Gathering

Arturchix: "I dont know if we can trust you... if you are really a prince of Enroth then you probably can proove it. Yes, we helped you to get a job in circus but that doesn't mean that we believed you. Now the things are going to be more serious, can you proove that you are a prince and that Enroth really existed - i have never heard about it before. If you can proove it, we will help you. So?"

Vilx: "I agree to Arturchix, we really dont know much of you, just that you told us."

Jermy: "Yeah, why we should believe you?"

Ladob:"So do you have any document, a letter or something important to show us and proove that you are really a prince?"



All four heroes of Chedian were waiting for a reply...

__________________
Arturchix

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-27-2003 14:07

Guberland, The Gathering

Nicolai: "Proof, poof! I am here, am I not? But if that's not good enough, come with me to, er, come with me to the Fortress in the Sky and I'll show you proof. Yes, it's there! In the Fortress itself, it came with Yanmir. I promise. My word as a Prince!"

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
01-28-2003 01:03

Set upon their quest, the heroes town portal to Frosgard. I short distance by the mountains is all that is between them and Yanmir's Fort.

Arturchix: Here we are, Frosgard.

Jermy: Cold land, brave people. Already i see the burnt houses being remade. Tamur Lang's destruction won't last.

Regran: Hope we do not encounter those silly dogs and yetis. We better hurry to this "new world", humph.

Vilx: IF there is a new world. Nicolai, does your princely status means that there is something for us in all that? Heroes also have needs... gold for example.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-28-2003 15:59

Frosgard, Yanmir's Fort

Fully expecting the place to be abandoned after Yanmir's crash, the adventurers were astonished by the presence of the Forest Giants who had now chosen to reside there.

Nicolai seemed strangely undisturbed though. The Prince of Enroth quickened his stride and went right to the Throne Room, then to the corridor with the missing floor!

Jermy tried to warn him, but there was no need. Right at the hole, the prince dropped to the floor. Even before the others could catch up with him, he edged forward and extended his arms, holding the Capstone of Chaos, then reaching below the floor where they could not see.

Nicolai straightened himself with some effort, took two steps back, and pointed.

Nicolai: "There is your proof! I have placed the Capstone. If you could just look down, you'll see. Come closer. Yes, you'll see. The gap. I mean, the Ginnunga-gap. Ake, Mage, make room please."

Reluctantly, the four heroes moved forward, ignoring Nicolai's gibberish, and looked down into the depth. Then held their breath in shock! There was whiteness below, yes, but when they dared to focus it became clear that they were not looking at Frosgard harbor! It was a different entourage altogether. Below they saw a snow-covered land, covered with only a few pine-trees. The land itself was not that low, even. Much further down they saw a sea, wilder than the waters north of Frosgard. They could hear birds, and other sounds that they could not identify.

When they remembered their awkward position, it was too late. Holding his large backpack in front of him, Nicolai pushed all four of them over the edge ...

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-28-2003 16:41

Vori, Yanmir's Fort

When you regain your senses, you notice that you are still in the same corridor. The floor is whole, after all, you can see it now for what it is. It was all an illusion, a dream.

Or was it?

Ake, Mage, Nicolai, the Forest Giants, they have all gone.

And it is definitely chilly in here, cold even.

You can hear the booming step of Yanmir coming from the Throne Room. He looks at you and you miss a heartbeat, but there is no rage in his appearance. He just gives you a strange look like there is something wrong with you.

Vilx reaches for his daggers, just to be on the safe side, and misses - no daggers!

Finally it dawns on you. Now you know why you are shivering. Not just Vilx's the daggers are gone! All your weapons, armor, clothes, rings, purses, inventory - gone!

A few steps down the corridor you find Nicolai's backpack lying on the floor. When you open it, you see that it contains four identical sets of Fuzzy Slippers, Wooden Shields and the rest of the Circus prizes. How nice of him to leave that for you.

Then, on the bottom of the pack, you find a sealed letter. On the enveloppe it says: "To Nicolai, for your eyes only. King Roland Ironfist".

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
01-28-2003 17:52

Amazed by their new enviroment, the heroes look around to see if any danger comes."

Jermy: Shall we open the letter? It is for Nicolai's eyes only.

Vilx: Do you see any Princiling here? I don't.

Regran: Agreed, Vilx. Let me read it to us...

The ranger opens the letter wondering, who is this King Roland? Prince Nicolai said all have died in his home-world, was it all a lie? Are they in a trap? May the Ancients bless their way.

Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Castle Gobs
01-28-2003 18:38

Vori, Yanmir's Fort


The Letter


August 18, 1152


Nicolai, my son.


If you are reading this, it means that we still have hope.

Devils have set foot on Enroth. When we went to investigate, the threat appeared to be even greater than we could imagine.

I am trying to get to the bottom of this. But it may take more than I can muster, and with your mother absent I have to trust in you alone to set things into motion.

Make sure that no eyebrows are raised, the followers of Baa are everywhere! Act like you run away to the circus. The Circusmaster knows you are coming, he works for me. He will cover for you.

You are to sail to the city of Terrax on the 'Lady Catherine'. From there, follow the river Ebony due south and contact the Seers of Serenity. Only there do I expect the knowledge to be found that can save us all. Follow their instructions, but also trust your instincts. Never forget that you are an Ironfist.

But the timing must be exactly right. That is why Falagar kept this letter for you. Now that he gave it to you, make haste.


Your loving father,

King Roland Ironfist

__________________
If you have no feet, don't walk on fire.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location:
01-29-2003 14:30

Yanmir back from the dead? Can it be true? Regran the ranger analyses the giant with his keen eyes..."

Arturchix: Regran, can you tell us something about this giant?

Regran: Wait, it seems like...