The Silver Shield RP Thread

[LordLP]

*The Large Squad currently stationed at the Booreskyer Bridge has been packed up and moved, anyone passing the area has noticed. They were last spotted being stationed around the Tradeway just north of Bergost*

[The_Gruff_Stout]

A new addition of the Silver Shield is seen patrolling the tradeway from the Fields of the Dead to Nashkel. He offers aid to those that look in need.

"Well met, traveler. I am Jarresh Stillwater of the Silver Shield. Might there be anything I may assist you with?"

He takes payment from some, others he helps out of kindness. Always with a warm smile...

[The_Gruff_Stout]

After a night of hostility, Jarresh heads into the Friendly Arm to get a room for the night. He says goodnight to his friends in the common room before heading up to his long awaited slumber. He pens a letter to Valkrun before allowing the fatigue to overtake him.

"I'll have a errand boy run this to him in the morning." He says to himself with a yawn.

//Report to be posted on the guild forums

[The_Gruff_Stout]

Vigilant Stillwater spent the day giving new recruits the opportunity to prove themselves.

Firstly he met up with the newest recruit to the Silver Shields, Roric. He answered all questions he had for him from pay, to contracts, to order of rank. After all was brought to light, Jarresh swore him in as a recruit to the Shields.

As they sat at the Wyrms Crossing camp, Talas walked up. He spoke of his patrol the night before and the conversations he held with nefarious beings and those that were looking for a place to die. Introductions were made and the three set out on patrol north. They battled the Ogres of the Keep until Roric needed to head back to the Gate.

Talas and Jarresh then set of on their own to patrol back south once again by way of Soubar. Once back in Thundar's Ride they met up with Avae, another recruit to the Shield. Introductions were made before setting out on patrol once more. Battling their way through the Ride, felling bugbears along the way.

Once closer to the Gate the three ran into Tarundil One-eye the archer. The four set out for the farmlands to deliver Talas to safety before he needed to depart to the City for bardly pursuits. Avae, Tarundil and Jarresh then set out once again for the Ogre Keep to the north. They battled their way to the Keep then through its inner chambers.

Once the Keep had been cleared Jarresh left the two archers to hunt together and returned to the Friendly Arm to resupply and sleep. He rested his head knowing he had helped a good number of recruits that day...

[arakes99]

Rumors circulate that the Silver Shield will be holding a mages tournament at the end of the tenday. It seems a final location for this event is undecided but it is clear from the rumors that some place away from civilization would be preferred to allow the competitors to make proper and unrestricted use of their abilities without angering any local magistrates. Talk of planning such an event has gone on for months but it seems the council has finally decided to push forward and find a proper location for such an event.

((Tournament this weekend, time, place and rules are not finalized but I think the only rules will be no preparations and no death magic. Otherwise the sky is the limit))

[arakes99]

Valkrun Anatox can be seen issuing orders and warnings to men in his company about the bandit waylaying travelers north of Beregost. Shield patrols in the area increase to deal with what the councilor describes as a skilled threat. The Shield commander seems to have a few new scratches in his armor and scars to go along with these warnings.

[arakes99]

Posters can be seen put up all over stating that The Silver Shield will be holding a mages duel tomorrow at the Baldur's Gate arena. Competitors will be allowed to prepare two wards before the competition begins and no spells that cause the instant death of the opponent will be allowed. The posters go on to state that all other tactics and spells are allowed once the matches start so long as they do not cause too drastic of damage to the surrounding area and are not considered illegal in nature.

((Tournament is going to be on Sunday at 2PM PST, 5PM EST and 23:00 GMT and everyone is welcome to attend. There will not be skill brackets for this competition and only one prize will be handed out to the winner.))

[The_Gruff_Stout]

A broken and bloody soldier lay clinging to life on the cave floor. Blood pooling in the sand around him. On is finger pulsed a ring like that of a heartbeat and slowly life coursed through his body once more. Once able to move he painfully wrapped his wounds and limped back to the Friendly Arm Inn.

Once the room was rented he slowly pealed away layers of dented and scratched armor revealing deep wounds still healing. Reaching into his pack he produces a glowing elixir. Downing the concoction, with every painful gulp he felt the wounds closing a little more.

"What have I done." He thought to himself. His last memories being Councilor Lucy captured by those foul creatures from below. "If I have jeopardized her safety, I won't be able to live with myself." He mumbles quietly as he slips into unconsciousness.

[Heartfilia]

(( It goes without saying that anyone who wasn't involved in this event doesn't know any of this except what they've learned IC. Do not just assume this is the account given to your character by Lucy, or any nonsense like that. This is my first real attempt at an extensive forum RP story, please be kind and don't metagame so I don't get discouraged to post more in the future! ))

PART 1

She left the town through its northern gate, her excitement building as she approached the wilderness...

Suddenly it began raining again, though lightly. With a sigh she looked to the clouds and drew her hood forward. As she crossed the bridge over the small river she came upon two armored figures fighting with a goblin. As they dispatched the vermin easily enough, she immediately moved forward, her adrenaline flowing, to see if either of the men had been injured.

Suddenly, though she could see nothing, she was almost knocked over by something, or as she would realize after a few moments when she saw the footprints seem to appear magically in the mud, someone. One of the armored figures approached her in her confusion, yelling "Goblins!! Behind you!" As the blonde Elf spun on a heel, suddenly the armored figure crushed its shield into the back of her head. Delirious and disoriented she turned, trying to fight her assailer, but the armored one struck her in the face with the butt of their sword. Just as she was falling, she had one last waking thought and manage to unhook the clasp on the mithril chain she was wearing around her waist, letting the treasured and valuable chain pool in the grass near her feet as she collapsed.

The armored figure drew back its hood, revealing long hair and skin dark as night. Looking at the unconscious Wood Elf with a wicked smile. She looked to the other one with her, speaking quietly in the rain, "Part two complete, prisoner taken." The strong Drow woman scooped the surface elf up off the ground with ease, slinging her over a shoulder.

"This Elf will be key in helping us get across the Dukes' lands."
Laughing, the Drow removed a few herbs from her pack and began stuffing them into the Wood Elf's mouth, to ensure the woman could not move or fight back when she finally came to.

All they left behind as they marched off was the mithril chain, and enough footprints to account for an entire column of soldiers. After an indeterminate amount of time, she would awake in a small, dank cave, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. But it would not be a peaceful wakening.

***


"Wake UP!" the voice yelled angrily, and a harsh slap across her face caused Lucy to open her eyes as consciousness flickered in around her.

"Shh...sh...you're in good hands.." she heard a voice say, though it was filled with malice and not comforting at all. As her face fell on the woman above her and the woman's skin, black as night, all composure left her and she was filled with fear. Her instincts told her body to run, but try as she might she could barely lift a muscle.

"How much longer until you are prepared!?" the woman barked at another Drow, this one a male.

"Time, I need time.. not yet."

The female seemed angry and sneered at her companion, turning back to Lucy nonetheless. Lucy's voice quivered and words were hard to form, but she managed to get some out: "What..what are you doing? Where are we?"

The Drow woman smirked, "You saw something you were not supposed to see, and allowed us to move freely. You did us a great favor, ELF.." Her voice dripped with venom as she emphasized the word 'Elf.'

The male Drow cooed, "You are safe.."

"I sure don't feel safe," Lucy managed to mumble.

The female Drow smirked, "You don't? I am sorry n'srii'tel'quessir. One of the soldiers bumped into you, and as soon as you felt it, your fate was sealed. Now you will come visit our home until I decide exactly what to do with you." Lucy felt a deep pit in her stomach. 'So this is how I die,' she thought to herself, grimacing. Instead of showing her fear she remembered her teachings, her meditations, and steeled her face with bravery.

"That's not gonna happen. You're dead. You're both DEAD," she cried with as much volume in her voice as she could muster.

The Drow brought an armored backhand across her face, bloodying her nose. "How about shut your mouth, and speak when I tell you to speak?" Blood dribbling from her nose, Lucy looked up coolly, and could already feel the rage building inside her. She could not find her center, this time, and with a sort of mental snap, Lucy's feral side won.

"How about you choke on your bloated blue tongue, dirt Elf?" she growled at the Drow, spitting at her.

"Now listen here you stupid little wh**e of an n'srii'tel'quessir, if I want you dead, you will die. If I keep you alive for the time being, it is a mercy, stop spitting blood in my face or I will change my mind!" the Drow barked angrily, sending her gloved hand across Lucy's face several more times. She finally turned to her companion. "How long til the spell is ready, jaluk?"

It was that moment that Lucy saw a man behind both of the Drow, a figure she had not noticed slip into the cave. As she realized who it was, a glimmer of hope entered her mind for the first time. "Oh thank the Gods! Send for backup, call the Shield! Kill these b--" Her words were cut short however as the female Drow began stuffing some more herbs in her mouth.

The Drow turned to the man now, speaking rationally and without fear. "How many men are with you? ...If you will entertain this Illythiiris question." the second part of the sentence seemed almost an afterthought.

Instead of answering, the hooded man turned to the Drow, speaking just as coolly, "I suggest you and your companion make yourself scarce immediately. The rest will be here any moment and I will not be held responsible for what may happen to you then."

The man cleared his throat, "What is the meaning of this? What business do you have with her?"

"She was our ticket to moving our troops through Gate territory. The movements are complete, and now she is a trophy. N'srii'tel'quessir are our enemies." the woman replied, sounding almost amused.

"Find another trophy," the man replied bluntly.

Finally the herbs took effect, and the world blurred around her as she lost consciousness again.

[The_Gruff_Stout]

After his patrol, Jarresh set out for the Friendly Arm. A conversation had, weighed heavy on his mind. Not letting himself get distracted, he kept his eyes on the road and surrounding area. Once at the Inn he made his way up to his room with his hood pulled low and his cloak turned inside out, and wrapped tightly around his armor.

After entering his room he grabbed the chair at the desk and wedged it tightly under the handle of the door. With a resounding thud he drove his dagger into the floorboards barring the chair solidly in place.

"Just seemed odd." He thought to himself resting in the chair, fully armored with his longsword resting across his lap. "She said she heard this...then dodged the question as to the source." Thoughts rolled over in his mind. "Then stated that it was to be taken seriously. Never revealing much information." Jarresh let out a sigh. "How does that saying go? With friends like these..."

He spends the rest of the night awake, staring at the door..listening for movement in the hallway.

[The_Gruff_Stout]

A few days have passed since anyone has seen Jarresh around his usually spot outside the walls of the Friendly Arm. The grizzled old warrior has taken to the northern out lands, a sort of self imposed exile from the more civilized areas of the Sword Coast. If encountered at his camp one can see the remnants of the beasts that stood against him. A troll hide stretched and drying, a head of a hobgoblin on a pike, a cured yaunti hide and a leather string with gray orc ears hanging from it. The once well groomed warrior has fallen into a state of unkempt savagery. The Silver Shield issued armor and cloak aren't anywhere to be seen and he has taken up his fathers darkened armor once more.

If approached he states that he is on leave from duty and wishes to be left alone. If those words aren't taken seriously and heeded, he resorts to violence.

[The_Gruff_Stout]

Jarresh was visited by two Shields. Joseph Darkwater and Umbral. The two were met at sword point and asked a few questions to find their intention. Once Jarresh was convinced they were still friend and not foe, he lowered his blade.

The three discussed recent events over the campfire at Jarresh's camp in the high cliffs of the Troll Claws. The grizzled warrior was convinced by his friends that now was not a good time to take leave. Gathering the things he needed and throwing the rest over the cliff into the river, Jarresh made his was south with his Shield brothers.

[XyrisMourn]

An observant traveler passing the cliffs south of Candlekeep might have noticed a new statue gracing the soft muddy grass along the clifftop. A thick black woolen cloak, occasionally wind-whipped, draped the figure who was otherwise barefoot and dressed in only loose-fitting clothes.

Still, silent and staring out over the endless waves, stood Umbral.

[The_Gruff_Stout]

For most of the day and night, Jarresh can be seen within the Friendly Arm Inn nursing his wounds from the recent battle. He gives Bentley a small sack of coin to cover the gratuitous amounts of ale he would no doubt be consuming to dull the pain.

Throughout the day he replaces bandages with new wrappings showing those near the savage burns that adorn his arm. Those that look closely notice that the burns are almost claw-like in shape. Jarresh dances around questions, never really giving the full story. He just tells them that it is good to be at the Inn, and that they should thank the gods that didn't have to face the terror he did the night previous.

As the day goes on the veteran warrior grows increasingly more drunk. Spreading coin around trying to get others as drunk as he has become. Laughing off the pain and avoiding questions until he finally passes out in one of the chairs in front of the fire.

[=Thunderbolt=]

Recent days Roric has been seen sticking a sign to the ground and standing next to it on the grounds outside the walls of the Friendly Arms Inn. He nods to by passers with a smile. Most of the folk that stop for talk are seen soon continuing their journey, but a few exchange coin with the man after some discussion. He then joins them taking the sign with him. The sign reads "Mercenary for hire." .