In the wake of a crippling attack by the Wherhandlers, the Dragonriders were mourning the loss of their comrades both within Trine’s territory and deep in the heart of Malvren. The Mission for the Dragonriders had only been partially successful… a number of their group had been found out and taken prisoner by the Wherholders. Malvren’s underground layout had proven much more difficult to escape then to infiltrate and many worried for the health and safety of the individuals. No dragons had been lost but Riderless and harried by the fear of their bonded, these single dragons were a poor sight indeed.
For the Wherhandlers, they were riding high on the thrill of success. Things had not gone entirely as planned but the Firestone Mine was destroyed – it would take months to get it back – and they’d captured Dragonrider agents responsible for setting their herds aflame. They’d lost a quarter of the animals to fear and trampling and it had caused a shortage of meat for humans and dragons alike but it was nothing compared to the blow they’d delivered to the Dragonriders. That is until the illness began to sweep through the ranks… paralysis, seizures in some and death in a number of people. The worst part was that it struck anyone. The Dragonriders, it seemed, had been successful but at what cost? Men, women, and children were being made sick by the tainted supplies. Even Keller was not immune to the poison and was laid low, some fearing the illness would take him. This shadowy attack was blamed on the Dragonriders and it fuelled an even deeper hatred of their ways – the Wherhandlers had targeted resources, not lives, and the Dragonriders claimed to have the greater honour?
Fury raced through the ranks on both sides as they readied their parties. The Rogue Gold was to welcomed into either the Wherhandlers or the Dragonriders. It would be their last attempt. If she refused, she would be eliminated… and while the Dragonriders did not hold such extreme views as their counterparts, a refusal of the Dragonriders were mark her as an enemy as well, unwelcome in Trine or its territories.
Information Any character caught in the previous missions cannot participate in this ORP. The characters are being held elsewhere, [here for the Dragonriders] and [here for the Wherhandlers]. More information will be given for these captured individuals at a later date.
Approved characters that are not signed up may participate but gain the 0.5 EXP normal to an event. Any character signed up for this event gains 2 EXP if they post more than 10 times.
Your mission is to find and convince the Rogue Gold to join your side. This is an ORP and combat between characters is possible. Combat may not begin until a character has posted at least twice.
When a character is made unconscious, they are rescued either by their partner or comrades. Anyone can flee at any time and take themselves out of the ORP – they must roll 1d100 and roll higher then 65. Fleeing permanently takes the character out of Gold Diggers.
This thread will be open for 5 days. You have that long to convince the Rogue Gold to join your side. Character death is entirely up to the character player’s discretion, as is injury, but be reasonable people.
Combat details and statistics are below. They are slightly different from the previous missions so take note.
Refer to the grid below for HP, Attack, Defense, and Accuracy stats for all characters. Note that humans are sorted based on Age Category. To begin a fight, the players either choose an action order or each player rolls 1d100 with their initial post. The highest number takes an action first and so on down the numbers. Each character gets 1 post, be it a human, a wher, or a dragon. So a wherhandler pair has 2 posts where the human and the wher can take separate actions. Each post, a character can choose to ONE of the following: Attack, Defend, Use Item, or Make a Grab. Attack: attack the opponent in whatever way is suitable – the success and strength is determined by dice rolls. Defend: the target of an attack makes a defensive move – the success of the defense is determined by dice rolls. One character may defend another character IF they take action prior to the targeted character. Use Item: use an item from your inventory. This includes the Gold Wher/Dragon special Command abilities Make a Grab: throughout the event, Staff will make item drops where items become available for the taking. When this happens, a character can choose to Make a Grab and roll for the items – it is first come first served, however. Only Humans Can Make A Grab Item Drops: This is when Staff drop items for characters to pick up. See the grid below for details on what each item does. Flits are special exceptions. Weapons Note: Once you have a weapon, you can use it or you can use your bare fists. If you use the weapon, and you make a Critical Hit, consider the weapon’s Crit Effect (listed in the items grid) Critical Hit: Roll max number on whatever dice you’re using. (ie, 6 on a 6-sided die)
Attacking: to attack, a player announces their attack in some fashion and rolls the appropriate dice. The resulting total is the damage being done by the attack Accuracy: not all attacks hit, however. In order for an attack to successfully hit, the Damage – Accuracy must be greater then 0, if it is less the attack misses. (See grid for specific numbers and the example combat for demonstration) Defending: to defend, a player announces their defensive action in some fashion and rolls the appropriate dice. The result total is by how much the incoming damage is being reduce. (ie. Attack of 8, defense total of 5, so the damage that gets through is 3 (8-5=3)) Defending another character means the one doing the defending takes the incoming damage. Additionally, a character can only defend against 1 attack a time and must choose which attack is being mitigated. To Grapple: the attacking party rolls their attack as normal, if the action suceeds they successfully grapple the target (no damage is dealt), the defending party rolls their attack as well and compares the 'damage' if the | GRAPPLE - COUNTER | < 2 then the defending character breaks the hold, if | GRAPPLE - COUNTER | > 2 the counter fails. To break a grapple, the defending character must succeed before they can get free. Specific methods and actions are up to the players just keep in mind what your character actually knows.
A Note About Flits: all flits have 10HP regardless of colour and you can only use flits if your character owns them. If they are attacked and their HP drops to 0, the flit dies in-game, no exceptions.
Items are carried over between Fights and HP resets between each fight – it is assumed some measure of rest is taken to recouperate. Fights can be between 2 characters or 20 characters, it is up to the players. If you cannot post, please tell the group to skip you for that round.
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 12:12 pm
The Rogue Goldrider in question spent that day with her little sister and dragon. Over the last turn, Nana sprouted like a weed, running about on gangly legs to give hints that she would grow to be as tall as her older sisters. She still liked to dote on Iachixth and the currently lounging gold adored every second of it.
"I am making you a new flower crown," she informed the dragon, legs crossed with a pile of slightly wilted flowers on her lap. The large loose skirt caught most of them but even then it'd not be enough to wrap about Iachixth's head.
"She's too big for a small crown," murmured Natai, her eyes trained in on the map she'd been poring over. Their half eaten lunch sat beside her along with a few other books - ones about weather at other parts of the Southern continent, about farming, Holds, weyrs, all the things she'd thought one day she may need to know. Having a friend or two on the inside of a Weyr helped a great deal in terms of that. "Maybe something for her head knobs?"
The eight year old hesitated, pouted for a second, and then patted Iachixth's muzzle from where it pressed to her knee. "Is your favorite side the left or the right?"
Any side you're on is my favorite side! Iachixth crooned the words, squirming in place on the ground smeared with crushed green grass. She felt lazy for once, content to sunbathe with her two favorite humans with half spread wings. Her mind still bounced around, peering through Natai's eyes to the words on the page, the pictures, the ideas forming in the goldriders brain. They'd relaxed just outside the Holdtown where she could sprawl, unafraid to crush crops or people. Natai, Natai, have you figured it out yet?
"Not yet, love," Natai glanced up, the corners of her full lips quirking up at the sight of her dozing dragon, much too large now, and her small sister chaining together the warm flowers for a crown. "Getting there. It was a lovely little place though, wasn't it?"
I liked the water! Can we visit again?
"Maybe, dear. We'll need to talk. But for now, you become all flowered up and pretty. I'm going to map."
Iachixth trilled. I'll be pretty. and preened when Natai laughed an agreement.
The Nozomi
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TawnyAngel Crew
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 3:04 am
Frankly he felt that killing the girl if she refused to join them was rather hasty and quite a waste, but he supposed it was better that then having her join the Dragonriders. It was important to think of the riders as a 'them' and of himself as a wherholder despite the species of his bondmate, it wouldn't do him much good to make such a faux pas.
Acriculeth appeared over the small hold and it was only moments before his keen eyes locked onto the gold. he sent smoothly, For now diplomacy was the most sensible course of action, more extreme methods would be applied at need only. If the enemy faction appeared... well, he couldn't be held responsible for their foolishness.
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 6:53 am
Iachixth raised her head quickly at the strange new voice. Nana squeaked in protest, scooting back and sending the flowers tumbling. She crooned towards the sky and the bit of shine she spotted. Company! Just like that, she forgot the idea of a calm relaxing day.
Just don't crush the people! she called back cheerfully, rising up onto her legs. The gold stretched and hummed, wriggling. You know my name! Do you know my friends? Are you a bronze? You're shiny and...and I think not pale.
"Friends visitng is it?" Natai yawned into one slim hand, packing away her supplies. Iachixth didn't know this one and she remembered no dragon of that name. "Diplomatic mission. Right, then. Nana, scamper back to Mother."
"I don't want to."
"Oh, sweetie," Natai patted the top of her head. "Do it anyway."
The Nozomi
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 7:12 am
Acriculeth replied as he spiraled lazily down towards the ground, landing lightly about a brown's length away from the larger dragon.
Once his dragon was on the ground A'nos freed himself from the straps and slid to the ground, closely followed by a muscular man of middling height with mid brown skin.
"Good day to you Natai," he said with a smile as he approached, stopping a polite distance away to give a polite little bow. "My name is A'nos and my companion here is Fick."
"Wotcha," said Fick with a slightly tight smile. He didn't like this, didn't like it at all. They couldn't just kill some poor girl because she wouldn't bring her powerful dragon onto their side... well actually they could and that was the whole problem. He wished he wasn't here almost, but given he didn't want her to die he'd thought he'd do his best to talk her over. Where were the others that were coming though? He was expecting more riders to come in by air and there would be handlers - already dropped off - approaching on ground level with their companions. His own Ficksk was a short way outside the Hold, waiting where she was. If all went well she could stay there and nobody needed to get hurt.
A'nos quirked a lopsided smile and gestured to his companion. "Doesn't like heights," he explained. One of the reasons he had agreed to bring the handler on ahead with him was the fact that he knew the man's dry manner played well off his own charming facade.
Fick did not disappoint; snorting and shaking his head head said; "Don't mind heights it's depths that bother me."
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 7:32 am
((Note - Etasha will not be joining the mission! She's just here as an 'NPC' of sorts, to give C'ross transportation and to drag his sorry butt out of the line of fire if he gets KOed, since Nimith is too small to do it himself. If anyone else needs transportation, feel free to assume you also hitched with her!))
"You're crazy," Etasha told him flatly, going back to washing Coryxoth's rounded flanks. "I'm not saying I won't do it, but you're crazy, weyrling."
"I know," C'ross agreed in an uncharacteristically quiet tone. He'd spent the day after the mission into Malvren territory hunkered down in the weyrling latrines, vomiting his own guts out - whether it was a side effect of mild poison exposure or the stuff the healers had given him to counteract it, he wasn't sure. Apart from that and the various burns and bruises, he'd escaped unscathed... Unlike many of the others. He'd run his hands over Nimith's sleek hide again and again, looking for some wound he'd missed, some terrible tragedy lying in wait to fester, but none appeared. They were all right. They were both all right. And older, more experienced, better-equipped riders had not been so fortunate.
It had only reinforced his resolve to do what needed to be done. C'ross had met Natai at the Hatching Feast, and... well, she'd made an impression on both him and Nimith. As much as he was reluctant to force her to make a decision, she needed protection. Protection of the kind that Trine could better provide if she lived within its walls, at least for the time being.
The blackrider huffed a resigned sigh, then helped load her passengers aboard Coryxoth's back. The black might be small, but he was sturdy in build, and his current load wasn't much more burdensome than the firestone sacks they were expected to carry during Threadfall. Signaling his intent to the watchdragons, Coryxoth took off, circling once, twice, then blinking between.
When they emerged, Coryxoth bugled in alarm and changed course to give Acriculeth a wide berth. The Wherholders were already here?! This was going to get... interesting. Careful, youngling. That's an enemy bronze. Are you sure you and your rider still want to do this?
We're certain. If need be, Iachixth can order them not to attack. This is her domain, whether they like it or not. Nimith's eyes were fixed on the ground below, his whole body a tensely coiled spring.
Coryxoth still sounded doubtful, but he came in for a landing just long enough to drop his passengers off before taking off again. We'll be watching your back from a distance, but it's up to you from here on out. Mine's not the sort of lady you want on a diplomatic mission where wherholders are involved. Too likely to fly off the handle and call someone baby-killing scum, the black didn't add.
C'ross wasted no time heading directly for the field where the gold lay with her rider. Nimith loped at his heels, swift and silent. If they were meant to announce their presence formally, it was something that neither of them knew to do. Instead he merely called to her when he was close enough to do it with words instead of Nimith's mindspeech. "Natai! Hello! It's C'ross and Nimith - remember us, from the Hatching Feast?" His gaze flickered briefly to the other two Wherholders, but he masked the sudden tension in his back and shoulders with a polite nod to the two of them. He wouldn't be the first one to throw a punch in front of the goldrider.
Don't yell or be mean and we can be friends, Iachixth assured him quickly, stretching herself out again to get out any lazy day kinks. Natai doesn't like it and if she doesn't, I don't either. But it's nice to meet you anyway! Do you like our Hold?
Manners. Sweet Ramoth manners, how lovely. Natai smiled when he bowed, only slightly caught off guard. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," she said after a short beat, leaning over to pat Iachixth's hide. "And I quite agree with you, fick. Flying is wonderful but I always fret about the fall."
And then suddenly a C'ross. Natai brightened immediately at a familiar face, her hand up and waving before she knew it. The handsome bluerider from the Feast! He'd been so kind. "C'ross! Of course I remember you. And - Nimith? You're even more dashing than before, Nimith. This is Fick and A'nos. Gentleman, this is my friend from Trine."
Oh, she went there.
Iachixth squeaked at seeing such a tiny thing up close. Her head went right back down to stare, crooning. I was small as you once! Hello! I think we talked before? You were nice to my rider. Hello! This is my new friend Acriculeth.
(Assume Iachixth talks to all dragons unless I say otherwise, I can't type italics on my phone apparently)
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:06 am
Acriculeth wanted to say something cutting about the dusty little place but his rider was leaning firmly on his mind. Ah well. Enemies. Acriculeth watched the black descend, his eyes if anything gleaming brighter green than before - the little runt didn't worry him and nor did the man who climbed off its back.
"I did as well at first but I've just about got used to it now. Although," A'nos gave a slight laugh and a shake of his head. "The last Fall was a bit too interesting for my tastes, Thread seared right through a section of my riding harness!" Humm, hello there! He didn't recognize that dragon. This might be able to get more interesting.
"...Y'know you're not exactly encouraging me to go back up on your big friend, A'nos," Fick commented, but his brown eyes were trained on the young man approaching them rather than on his companion.
The bronze rider chuckled but didn't reply to that, as he was being introduced to the weyrling. A'nos was internally still quite relaxed about the situation, no weapons were being waved, but it didn't do to look too friendly when faced with an enemy. A'nos therefore tensed somewhat too, his smile fading. "C'ross," he greeted coolly. "I should congratulate you on the success of your people's chosen method of attack. Very efficient, very clever."
Fick decided that now might not be the time to stick his oar in, so he just folded his arms across his chest and let the Harper do the talking for now.
Nimith trilled a polite greeting to all of them, then trotted up to Iachixth and rose to his hindlegs to get a better look at the gold. She was so big up close! Hello, Iachixth. It’s a pleasure to finally speak to you face-to-face. I am sorry we did not get a chance to do so at the Feast. And a pleasure to meet you too, Acriculeth. He turned his head to regard the wherholder bronze, and couldn’t hide the brief blaze of red-orange in his eyes. But Nimith was better than his rider at holding both their tempers in check. If Iachixth wanted no fighting, then she would get no fighting.
(Yes, it was also astoundingly improbable that a baby blue dragon would have any chance going up against a fully-grown bronze. But this is Nimith we’re talking about. He would have considered it anyway.)
It was... well, it was downright weird to C’ross to be standing here chatting with a wherholder, when hardly more than a sevenday ago he’d been locked in combat deep within the bowels of Malvren. And he twitched visibly when A’nos brought it up, though if anything the young man’s calm poker face just grew stonier. “Likewise, A’nos. Clever move, going after our firestone. I just hope the holdfolk aren't the ones to suffer for a lack of flame during Threadfall.” Two can play at this game, motherf-
C’ross.
The sharp rebuke brought him up short, and he forced a politely casual tone. “So what brings you two to the Holdtown? Just a friendly visit?”
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 9:21 am
She'd have chuckled along with A'nos, more than aware of the dangers of a harness snapping now that'd she'd started to use them. The quick discussion on attacks and such quelled any such amusement, the goldrider falling quiet immediately. Her eyes moved from one to the other, her expression shifting to one of serenity complete with the smile.
"... I've been missing a few things, haven't I," she said in a pleasant enough tones. "Well, looks as if the traders and Harpers aren't on their game on the moment. Would either of you like to explain what's been going on? I'm all ears."
Oh, good. No yelling is just fine then. I've not seen snow! But there's been beaches? Where is snow and lookat you! Iachixth squeaked with delight at Nimith, her muzzle tilting to rest close in case he wanted to lean against her. Acriculeth, were you ever so small? But you'll get bigger, Nimith, and then we'll fly about and it will all be lovely.
Yellow tinted the very edges of her eyes with Natai's silent apprehension, though overpowered by her delight at meeting the two males face to face. Iachixth beamed happiness. We've flown a lot lately. We've found all sorts of places.
Hush about that, darling.
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 9:54 am
S'kiro knew deep down that the 'others' would be there. It didn't make him happy that they felt a need to destroy and kill others to prove a point. Would he take it out on the Goldrider? No, regardless of which she chooses. Only if she attacked them. Feeling the way His was thinking, Neptanth rumbled. Stop. There is no need to talk with that kind of thoughts.
Patting the large blues neck, Sorry. It just gets on me when it comes to that. They were flying over an area that they heard she liked to fly around. Looking down, well it wasn't hard to spot a few others already there. Announce us, my dear. I don't want to startle anyone.
Greetings. S'kiro and I arrive! It was simple and told who was there. He found a spot close and with enough room to land and let His jump down.
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 11:54 am
"I most assuredly agree with you," A'nos replied lightly, but the appearance of another rider was starting to make him nervous. Where were their allies?
For the time being A'nos turned to Natai. "Trine riders attached Malvren a short while ago. They cost us some beasts through their activities, but as well as that they poisoned our supplies. The thing with poison of course is that it can strike anyone, but the ones its most likely to kill are the very old and the very young. We on the other hand, as C'ross has hinted to you, struck one of Trine's firestone mines. I can't say that either gambit was entirely honourable... but I find it a little ironic that the dragonmen who claim to be on the side of goodness and right are the ones with childrens' blood on their hands."
Fick's gaze flickered back and forth between the Trine riders, silently hoping that some more backup would appear soon. On the other hand more people around raised the chances that some stupid b*****d would decide it was time to fight.
"As for our purpose," A'nos continued, "if you give yours, we'll give ours." Frankly he felt it was all a bit obvious but if the rider wanted to play that game then let him.
A’nos wanted backup. And he was going to get it. Unfortunately for Malvren and Benden, it was likely not the sort of backup that they would have wanted.
Not that Trine would be any happier about S'dekai.
A flicker in the sky, a burst of cold, and another bronze emerged from between: Pioth, with S’dekai on his back. Looking rather dwarfed next to Acriculeth – the other bronze was only average sized, but still outclassed Pioth in both length and weight – he landed as delicately as a large dragon could and lowered his fore half to the ground. Iachixth. Natai, he greeted silently, directing his thoughts only to the gold. For all our safety, little queen, my rider requests we pretend to be meeting for the first time.
Ironic, really, that he should still be calling her little queen. She was bigger than him now by quite some margin... but still younger, and in Pioth’s eyes still too young to be used as a pawn in such cruel games.
S’dekai slid off Pioth’s back and bowed courteously to Natai, only a knowing flicker of recognition in his eyes betraying him. “Well met, goldrider. S’dekai of Pioth, at your service. I apologize for the intrusion – you seem to be rather popular today.”
---
Great. Another bronze. S’kiro’s timely arrival had at least kept it even, but it was still a black and two blues – one a weyrling blue, and no guarantee of the black's assistance – against two adult bronzes. Likely bronzes battle-hardened by revolution and Threadfall, for that matter.
C’ross’ gaze flickered to S’kiro and Neptanth, and unthinkingly he shifted – just slightly – to stand a little closer to his fellow Trine rider and a little further from the wherholders. Lines were being drawn already.
And he was going to refuse to rise to A’nos’ bait. War was war. If he let himself be drawn into an argument over which side had committed the worst atrocities, he would only convince Natai that neither was worthy of being an ally. Still, the snipe about dishonor clearly affected Nimith more than his rider, the blue dipping back to all fours with his eyes clouded grey. Children’s blood on their hands?
I won’t call it good, but it was a necessity. Sometimes collateral damage happens.
That doesn’t mean we have to support it, C’ross. More clearly, to both Acriculeth and Iachixth’s ears, Nimith added, We regret the loss of innocent lives – on both sides.
Well. It wasn’t in C’ross’ nature to beat around the bush. Turning directly to Natai, he spoke without acknowledging A’nos further. “We’d like to invite you back to Trine – hopefully for a longer stay this time. Given recent events... You would do us a great honor if you would let us protect you."
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 6:47 pm
Leave it to the bronzes to be the first ones to get here, to try to lure this rogue gold to their side. No doubt because it would mean another Queen that they could chase, once she was old enough to glow and Rise. Firith had been of half a mind not to come - this whole affair was placing too much importance on the silly creature - but the potential for conflict was enough to convince her to put up with this otherwise boring venture to the Holdtown.
The little green popped out from between shortly after Pioth, and didn't bother to announce herself to anyone. She simply circled the area and landed comfortably away from the other dragons. Neither she nor her rider had any interest in conversation or diplomacy; they were only here in case things got ugly...which they very much hoped they would.
As quiet as her dragon, Ralla dismounted and stood beside her scarred bonded. So the Warden pair would remain, for the time being at least. Until something interesting happened.
Meepfur Crew
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:10 pm
S'kiro glanced at the bronzes. He wasn't here to fight and wanted to show that. Granted if need be, he had his stuff near by and easy to call for. With all fairness, he still gave a nod to those riders. They still called for respect, regardless of side. The anger still pushed up at the thought, which he kept in check...For now.
"Greetings, goldrider. S'kiro of Blue Neptanth." The bluerider gave Natai a bow. With a reach up, he gave C'ross a quick squeeze on the shoulder.
