[DCC] Purple Planet!

Best Selling RPGs - Available Now @ DriveThruRPG.com
Groon remains still, though its eyes flick from speaker to speaker. Again, Groon speaks. "The truth does not take so long to deliberate. How long must I wait?"
 
'We were sent by our masters from another world to this one. We are here to help you and discover the secret of the temple.'
 
'We were sent by our masters from another world to this one. We are here to help you and discover the secret of the temple.'
Groon stares expressionlessly at Wheatgrass for about a dozen heartbeats before speaking.

"Who are your masters?"
 
Groon's brow is deeply furrowed. "What does this mean to me? I am one who walks! Explain this so I can understand."
 
"Our Masters are mysterious but powerful, we don't question too closely unless we risk having our blood spilled in turn.'
 
OOC: Presumably Wheatgrass is translating this to his comrades, so it would be easy for them to interject. I'll pause for a little while, just so we don't get too far ahead of the rest of of you, and give all of you that chance to jump in.
 
"Do you have the concept of Gods here? Beings who cannot die and are woven into the fabric of the world.

One of the gods sent us here on a divine mission"
 
Groon frowns. "Everyone dies. Even the Ascended Masters must die, although they live for eons, and where they go when they die is a mystery."

It glances sharply at the Resurrection Blade. "You are sent by one who does not die? Are there many of these 'gods'?"

The chief then looks down in contemplation for a moment, then looks up. "Where is this land? And why did your masters send you to help us? What secret is this that you seek?"

Groon cracks a rare smile. "I ask you many things, but you must answer if we are to be battle-siblings (their term for friends)."
 
"Everyone dies. Even the Ascended Masters must die, although they live for eons, and where they go when they die is a mystery."

It glances sharply at the Resurrection Blade. "You are sent by one who does not die? Are there many of these 'gods'?"
"In total I do not know. Several are known to us, but there are certainly more"

"Where is this land? And why did your masters send you to help us? What secret is this that you seek?"
"You cannot reach our land by foot from here I suspect. Our master did not explain himself. Gods rarely do. The difficulty of serving them is that they rarely instruct you directly and yet possess terrible power to punish you if you disappoint them. Many say figuring out what they want is part of some test.

Have you had a similar experience with your masters?"
 
Have you had a similar experience with your masters?
Groon slowly nods. "It is our lot."

After a pause, Groon continues in a much lower voice. "Now that you are known in the tribe as Ascended Masters, you must be careful to maintain this story. Otherwise we will all die.

"This means you must act a certain way. Ascended Masters are never uncertain and they always expect absolute obedience. They are...not kind.

"And," the chief continues, "if we are to meet actual Ascended Masters, you should say as little as possible and let me do the talking. This is always a good idea when you don't know what to do - just call for me and say nothing.

"Does this make sense to you?"
 
Conrad looks expressionlessly at Groon. "I have have walked this path before and lived" he says confidently. "I know my part."
 
"It makes sense to me. Though I am curious to see what your Ascended Masters actually are. They don't seem like Gods"
 
I translate Conrad's statement but not Gaz's, erring on the side of caution and wanting to ensure we keep things appropriately vague.
 
Groon casts its eyes over the party and nods. "Then it is well.

"Know that we cannot return to that temple immediately. It is in enemy territory," Groon continues. "Before we consider the approach, we must find and engage the war party whose camp we used last night. They are close to where we are now, and it would not be well if they brought word of our location to their main camp. It will take a day or two for our scouts to find them."

The chief then changes topics. "We will have a feast tonight. You must sit by my side - you will be given the greater seats to show your station."
 
'We look forward to the feast and the coming battles,' I say. 'Where can we rest and bathe until then?'
 
'Where can we rest and bathe until then?'
"After the feast," rumbled Groon, "you will be presented with Tharg's old tent. It is larger than mine," it says with a sweep of its hands, "and you are greater in number."

The chief holds up a hand. "One more thing before the feast. Come in!" calls Groon past the tent flap.

The young bearer of the grey box, who came to Tharg, enters the tent with that same box. Groon opens it and pulls out the gleaming jet gauntlet. It turns the highly-articulated piece in its hands to expose a familiar set of symbols. It is the same wheel of runes that you encountered at the door leading out of the temple.

"Do you know with certainty how to operate this?" Groon asks.
 
"No...but these runes, what are they? We have seen them before"
 
"No...but these runes, what are they? We have seen them before"
Groon returns the gauntlet to the box, and bids the boy to leave. "They are signs of the magic language of the elders. The ones who came before the Ascended Masters and the Kith, before the land was cursed, when there grew tall proud trees of azure and gold instead of this violet sand where only fungus takes root."

"Oh, those elders," says Ricky.
 
Steevo thinks about the guantlet.

"Hey, Ricky. you can cast read magic. Do you think it would work on the runes? If we knew more about these elders, I wouldn't feel quite so screwed. We have time for you to remove your armor and prep a spell."
 
"The temple had similar runes to your gauntlet. On one of its doors" Gazadhim says.
 
Ricky perks up as though he had been asleep. "Oh, I suppose I could check. Could we take another look at that gauntlet, Groon?" Ricky asks via translation.

Groon shakes its head. "Unless you know how to use it with certainty, it is dangerous to tinker with. I was hoping you knew, but it's not worth the risk to your person."
"The temple had similar runes to your gauntlet. On one of its doors" Gazadhim says.
Groon seems to ponder that, giving a slight nod.
 
Could I use my ring to read the runes?
 
Could I use my ring to read the runes?
Wheatstraw got a good look at the runes when the gauntlet was presented. They looked familiar but odd, as though the script was some kind of dialect of the language that he can (presently) speak. Each rune seems to be a single complex word. With his present understanding of the tongue, Wheatstraw would need some time to study the gauntlet to make more sense of them.
 
'If you will do me the honour of keeping this gauntlet for the night I may be able to understand the runes,' I say to Groon.
 
Groon narrows its eyes. "The gauntlet is dangerous. Leave it be."
 
OOC: sorry guys, I have to drop out, I have a lot going on in real life. You guys are awesome to play with, wish I didn't have to go.
OOC: Bummer! Well, it always happens to someone but I always manage to be sad. If your time frees up and you want to rejoin in the future, let me know and you're as good as back. It was fun gaming with you!
 
Gazadhim will ask if there is anything more to discuss and if not will head on to the feast.
 
OOC: I've been a bit preoccupied again but I'll update all my running games tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for being so patient, guys!
 
OOC: Um, fell asleep early last night...catching up!

The party returns to the feast. Things are much as they were when Groon's smaller band won their battle, but on a much larger scale. There are several bonfires, although Groon and the party sits at the largest in the center. Around you are feasting and boasting warriors. At each fire a band leader sits at one portion, with diminishing status as one moves around the circle, until one reaches the other side, where children cavort and play.

Again, they feast on the avians and other less-recognizable cuts of sizzling meat. They pass a beverage in horns and makeshift cups; it smells powerful and deeply sour, but it seems to intoxicate the warriors. They grow more raucous as the night continues. At a certain point in the evening, the warriors more inspired by their new chief rise to praise Groon, and then lead their bands in song. They chant and a deep baritone, and it is not unpleasant. Not a few warriors rise to praise the Ascended Masters, and several sing paeans to Malthemundo's terrifying skill.

At the end of the evening, you are led to the large tent of the former chief. It appears that several children defaced one side with food and excrement, but several adults are scrubbing at those spots fearfully. Surveying the interior, there is a firepit in the center with an opening in the roof for smoke. The floor is strewn with blankets and pillows; some of the pillows look like they used to be quite nice.

You're all starting to feel pretty exhausted. The benefits of drinking the strange milky fluid have now worn off.
 
'To be safe one of us should stand watch on shifts throughout the night,' I say.
 
"That's a great idea. Not everyone here likes us. I really need a nap right now but someone can wake me up for a shift."
 
Conrad nods at the suggestion and says "I'll take first watch."
 
'To be safe one of us should stand watch on shifts throughout the night,' I say.
OOC: Is Wheatgrass using his ring to be able to speak the local language again? Be aware that will cause another 1D3 Stamina damage. Also know that you're already going to suffer 1D3 Stamina damage from exhaustion without the milky "energy drink" you had the previous evening. Plus you don't heal (HP or ability damage) on nights you use the ring.
 
I'll use the ring again, his years of drinking has made Wheatgrass careless regarding his health. I have a plan for the next morning.
 
OOC: If everyone is going to bed for the night, then you all take the following Stamina damage:
  • Kara: 2
  • Malthemundo: 2
  • Steevo: 1
  • Konrad: 1
  • Gazadhim: 3
  • Wheatstraw: 4
Adjust HP and Fortitude saving throws accordingly. If anyone but Wheatstraw has taken HP or ability damage, recover one point of HP and each reduced ability (except Luck). Halflings and thieves recover Luck equal to their respective levels.

Ricky yawns deeply. "Goodnight everyone...looks like we'll be around another day. Another hot, stinking day in this purple nowhere. Sleep well!"
 
The party wakes blearily in the morning. The maroon sun gives you the initial impression of a sunset rather than the peak of the morning. You are attended by adolescent warriors bearing cold meats and a bitter but flavorful mix of fibrous materials and a savory custard.

The chief informs you that the trackers left to seek the enemy war party immediately before dawn. It will be at least a day before there is any word, possibly more.

The time is yours for now. Groon sternly advises you to minimize interactions with the other warriors.
 
I ask Groon if there are any local rememedies to counteract the effect of the atmosphere on one's constitution.
 
Banner: The best cosmic horror & Cthulhu Mythos @ DriveThruRPG.com
Back
Top