The Once & Future Kingdom - DnD 5e [Closed for ZRS]

[SilentSister]

​

The Wyrmberg. A small but pivotal nation caught between mighty empires. For centuries the bastion of freedom and fair trade has stood against its powerful neighbours through the use of canny alliances and political machinations, always ensuring that its continued existence is far more valuable as a strategic buffer than a conquered, rebellious fiefdom would ever be.​

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The Royal Family of the Wyrmberg, whose original name has long passed from living memory, has stood the test of time so far, but in recent days that has changed. The old king is dead in mysterious circumstances, and his bride queen long before him. His only living heir left behind, the Princess Ravara of the Wyrmberg, has only just come of age and many do not believe her fit to take charge of the nation.​

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With the kingdom's leadership in doubt, ambassadors from many of the major nations have descended on the Wurmberg seeking to gain favour with whomever ends up seated on the throne, or whomever stands behind it giving the orders to the puppet ruler.​

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It was a crisp, cool Autumn day, with the threat of snow hanging in the air of the far flung provincial kingdom as the ship finally docked at the harbour. High about, the majestic floating mountain that was the Wyrmberg proper hung suspended in the air, giant chains holding it in place as the mysterious science of the dwarves lifted it above the ground. Few knew the secret of the inverted peak, although many had surmised it was no magic which made the giant rock fly.

For the passengers disembarking however, the wonder of the city had waned over the last few long days of their voyage. Many of those onboard were returning once more to the city, following pilgrimages from small farming settlements and distant towns still loyal to the old rulers of the kingdom to pay their respects to their recently deceased sovereign, but some were travelling there for the first time. Even for them though the peak had become just another part of the landscape, and most were just happy to finally arrive back on dry land, even land which lived under the shadow of such a sight.

Taking his time, one particular individual sat to one side of the gangplank, watching as each of his fellow travellers disembarked as his hand scribbled note into a small, leatherbound book held at his waist. For many this was the first time they had seen the stranger during the long journey as he'd seldom left his cabin on the upper decks. Now that they did, they saw a elegant individual, clearly of elvish descent although his precise race was a little uncertain. His clothes were well maintained, and immaculately cut to his body, although most of them were obscured by the heavy cloak he'd decided to wear while confronting the chill wind washing off the sea.

After a few moments, the individual rose to his feet, and with a nod to a deckhand who was in the process of offloading the passengers' cargo began to make his way down onto the docks. His stride was forthright and certain, while at the same time a small bounce in his step showed him to be more graceful than somer would first guess, and as he stepped down onto the wet dockway he tuned with practiced ease to watch as his luggage was lowered down beside him.

Suddenly from out of the crowd, an individual dressed as yet another dock worker stepped forwards, placing one hand on the strangers as he leant in close to whisper something in their ear before slipping back into the crowd once more. The whole exchange had taken but a moment, and at first there seemed to be nothing untowards to it, but a moment later the stranger turned, his mouth hanging open in shocked surprise as he lifted a bloodstained hand from under his cloak, lifting it up as if trying to understand what he was seeing.

The crowd murmured in surprise as the stranger collapsed down onto the dock, his bloodstain hand outreached as a rapidly growing pool of his precious life fluids spread out around him.

 

[ZeroSic]

From the surprised crowd, a young woman rushes up to the downed stranger. She shouts to the crowd, "Is there a healer here?" as she tries to stop the bleeding with her hands and checking to see if the man was still alive or was he beyond saving. This woman would have been mistaken for a human princess, thanks to her physique being taller and curvier than what is seen in the common elven woman. However her pointy elf ears are a clear indicator of the girl's elven heritage. Following her lead, another woman, this one a green dragonborn in a very revealing red outfit, kneels beside the stranger and tries to help stop the bleeding with her hands as well. A third woman moves her way to the front of the crowd and looks at the bleeding man. Her toned and tan body is being hugged by her short tank top.

But who are these three girls and what are they doing here? For that we need to roll back the clock. Each one of the three had left their respective homes for their own reasons. They were all heading to the land of Wyrmberg. The blonde haired elven woman was Kathleen Burnes, an elf on a journey to see the world. The green dragonborn was Nala Pyrixis, a dragonborn from the Pyrixis clan who, following the tradition of her people, came out into the world to make a name for herself and perhaps meet her Gold Dragon father. The third woman is Kate Cyanwolf, a mercenary who ran into trouble with the mafia in her city and had to flee the land.

Perhaps it was fate that brought them together on the same boat where they met. However, now they find themselves in the scene of a murder or an attempted one. What plans does fate have for the three ladies? Well, that still remains in their hands.

 

[SilentSister]

Reaching up, the stranger grasped at the front of the woman's armour, his bloodstained fingers inadvertently grazing against her cleavage as he did. Pulling her down closer he rummaged beneath his cloak with his other hand before thrusting it up against her. Holding her close the stranger tried to breath out his last words, but all Kathleen could hear were a few gargled whispers as the blood bubbled inside his throat.

In the distance, both Kate and Kathleen hear the sound of guards approaching, while Nala attention is drawn to a strange pendant half hidden under the neckline of the stranger's leather bodysuit.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate looks off in the distance and comments to herself, "Well... it's about time the cops got here." She doesn't attempt to leave she just stands there and waiting for the guards to arrive.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kathleen is not too bothered by the guards. She keeps trying to keep the man alive. She grabs her arms around the stranger and says, "Don't try to talk. The guards are coming. They'll save you. Stay with me, sir!"

 

[ZeroSic]

Meanwhile Nala hesitates a bit. The pendant looks important. Why was the stranger suddenly killed? The guards are going to be here any moment. Nala just stands with mouth half-open as she watches the man slowly die in Kathleen's arms. Nala wasn't the best when it came to acting in situations like these. She had little worldly experience, being somewhat sheltered by her mother growing up. Her inexperience is compounded by having to confront such a situation so shortly after getting off the ship after the long journey.

She thinks about stealing the amulet just to get a better look at it. However, she decides against doing it. Instead she reaches her hand forward and fishes out the amulet from under the man's clothes. She doesn't try to take it, just get a better look and commit the details of the amulet to memory. [Nala - Investigation]

 

[SilentSister]

Quickly Nala pulls the pendant out into the open, examining it closely for a moment. The symbol is unmistakably that of The Inquisition, the peacekeeping organisation sent between the kingdoms to ensure wars are stopped before they can start, or preferably not at all. The organisation often works from the shadows, only revealing themselves when necessary, fighting threats to peace and order throughout the lands.

The crowds part and four guards in shining metal armour burst through, two of them brandishing swords and shields while the two behind them have spears and shields. The one in the lead has golden adornments on her pauldrons, and her general manner suggests she is in command of the small group accompanying her.

For a second she glances over the scene, [Investigation roll = 18] and spots Nala's hand inside the stranger's clothing. "Get away from there!" she shouts, before turning back towards the other guards. "Take these thieves into custody, immediately!"

 

[ZeroSic]

Nala, startled by the assertion steps away from the man. She places her hands in the open to show that she has no intention of stealing anything. She keeps her eyes locked on the guard.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kathleen quickly stands up. Her white armor is now stained with blood. She tries to explain, "Wait, we aren't thieves. The man suddenly fell to the ground and started bleeding. I had to go and see if he was alright." [Kathleen - Persuasion]

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate huffs and says, "Arrest first and ask questions later type of guys aren't you?" She crosses her arms and looks quite irritated.

 

[SilentSister]

While at first the lead guard seemed happy to accept Kathleen's claim, Kate's comment still riled her. "Okay, you're not under arrest, but I'm still taking you in for questioning."

The guard moved around the trio, the two with spears keeping their distance, weapons ready, while the swordsman stepped in closer. "Hold out your hands, please."

 

[ZeroSic]

The three share glances with each other. Then Nala slowly holds out their hands. Kathleen follows and then Kate.

 

[SilentSister]

Tentatively, his eyes never moving away from the suspects in front of him, the guard slipped his sword into the sheath hanging at his waist. Reaching for a small pouch clipped to his belt, the guard pulled out a small, featureless grey stone.

Without giving the women a chance to respond, he moved between them, waving the stone over their hands while mumbling something under his breath that only Kathleen was quick enough to catch. "Bind in light," he murmured, in a drab monotone, as though this was a meaningless well-used phrase he'd repeated a thousand times before.

As he stepped away again, all the guards seemed to relax, as though now believing themselves somehow safe when a moment before they hadn't been. As the adventurers glanced down at their hands, they could see a strange glyph barely visible in the air just above the backs of each hand.

"Let in now be known you are in the custody of the Bergsmen*," the leader of the group began to recite, in the same drab manner as the guard had used a moment before, "Your safety will be ensured by the Bergsmen until such time as you come to face charges. You are bound to the outkeep, and may not leave without permission of the Bergmen. You are restricted from handling weapons of any kind, without permission of the Bergmen."

Suddenly turning away from the docks, the guard leader strode towards a tall, crenellated structure a short distance away, "Bring them," she barked out in her wake, her tone still sounding slightly annoyed at Kate's backtalk.

Stepping up around them, one of the guards1​ leant in closer to Kathleen, and in a low half whisper muttered in her ear, "Best just do as she says, luv. It's been a week and I think she's looking to butt heads with something she can handle."

The guard2​ on the other side of her, standing between Kathleen and Nala, let a short low warning growl escape from her throat. The first guard quickly dodged back a foot before pulling his shield up in front of himself in a professional manner, a sheepish look darting across his face at the chastisement he'd received.

* - name of the local guard organisation
1 - Spearman 1
2 - Spearman 2​

 

[ZeroSic]

Nala looks stressed. She's not sure why they're being taken in when they hadn't done anything. She just looks around at the people and then down at her feet.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate glares back at the captain and says passive aggressively, "Charges for what? For trying to save a man who was dying? Would you just rather we stand by and do nothing then?" Kate lowers her hands and moves them toward her hip.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kathleen was about to protest but the whisper of the guard1 stopped her from doing that. Instead she just nods and moves her hands around in the air, trying to figure out if the glyph restricts her movement or something else. [Kathleen - Investigation]

 

[SilentSister]

The friendlier guard turned towards the boisterous barbarian, smiling in what he hoped would be seen as a pleasing manner, "Don't worry, it's just a thing we have to say whenever we take someone in for questioning."

"'Just something we have to say'?" The other guard snorted with disgust, "The Bergman's Oath is one of the most important civil liberties granted to us by the Crowns. It protects the common folk from Tyranny and Oppression, and ensures the Freedom and Prosperity of All." As she spoke, the guard's eyes gazed off into the middle distance, viewing the Glorious Future Of The Nation which lay just over the horizon.

The first guard shrugged, "If you say so. All I know is they dock my wages whenever I forget to say it, even that time I caught Swanson pissing in the back alley and locked her up for the night to sober up."

Ahead of them, the swordsman turned back for a moment. "Will you two shut the fuck up! We're supposed to be on duty here. Show some decorum."

"Sorry, sir," the two junior guardsmen muttered in unison, before gesturing for the adventurers to please start walking.

While all this was going on Kathleen was waving her hand around in the air in front of her. The glowing glyph seemed to leave a faint trailing the air, but as she clenched her hands, flexing the muscles and testing their dexterity and strength, there didn't seem to be any negative effect on her at all, but her instincts told her there was definitely some sort of limitation in place, even if she didn't know what it was yet.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate rolls her eyes at the guard's speech. She's heard it all before. To protect the common folk from tyranny and oppression? That's a riot. The only protecting the guards in her homeland did was protect the crime bosses and going after those that dared to not let themselves get fucked by the gang's power; metaphorically and sometimes literally. Suffice to say, Kate did not hold the highest opinion of law enforcement. All they do is cause trouble in her opinion.

Though she has no intention of drawing her weapon right now, she feels that were she to try it, something bad will happen thanks to the glyphs. Meanwhile Nala is looking tense and unsure of herself.

Despite their hesitance to get taken in by the guards for what they believe is no good reason, the three girls quietly walks with the guards. Nala is holding her hands together in front of her. Kathleen is walking normally though much slower than the stride at which she usually moves at. Kate still has her arms crossed and continues to glare a hole into the back of the female guard's head.

 

[SilentSister]

As they made their way towards what was most likely the dock's guard post, the small group were intercepted by a couple of other guards. These were dressed differently than their compatriots however, with leather armour and short skirts around their waist which seemed to be covering a collection of small pouches, stoppered flasks and herb sacks.

"Where's the victim?" One of the newcomers asked, throwing a disdainful eye towards the adventurers as she wrinkled her nose with distaste. The girl was shorter than most of the others around her, but still too tall for a gnome. Without pointed ears or any other stereotypical features she was likely a human, but perhaps her heritage had a little gnomish in it as well, or perhaps even goblin.

"Back that way," the lead guard replied, turning back to point towards the tall ship was still in the process of unloading. "I can't be sure, but I think they may have stabbed him. I didn't see a weapon drawn though, so magic may have been involved."

Continuing on Kathleen suddenly got the impression that the group was being followed, but as she glanced around all she could see were the crowds of dock workers going about their business. With a similar sense of fashion shared amongst them, which at best could be described as 'shabby chic', it was difficult to recognise anyone as they all moved with purposeful strides about the docks and wharf.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate interjects to guard captain's assertion with heavy sarcasm, "Gee, you're right! Maybe we stabbed him for no reason what so ever. If only there was a large crowd you could have asked for their testimonies before jumping to the first thing that came to your mind and calling it a day." Kate has a sneer on her face as she says this.

Nala looks up at the guard captain says more frantically and less aggressively, "We didn't stab the man. We saw a crowd gather around a man that was bleeding to death on the floor. We rushed in trying to stop his bleeding!"

Kathleen on the other hand doesn't say anything. She seems a bit distracted. She keeps looking around trying to see if she can spot anyone among the crowds that might be following them. However she fails to discern anything concrete. She doesn't see anyone following them but she can't shake the feeling. She mumbles to herself (the guards if they are close enough might be able to overhear it), "Maybe it's just my imagination?"

 

[SilentSister]

Reaching the door to the guard post, the lead guard turned and shot an angry glare at Kate, seeming to ignore Nala's interjection in the process. "Be warned. We could just as easily charge you with resisting arrest or disturbing the peace right now, but we have more important matters to deal with." With that the leader turned away, disappearing out of view inside the building.

Stepping up the friendlier guard turned to face Kate, smiling nervously as he did. "Look, please just cooperate. We're investigation the crime as best we can, but with so many people around things could quickly turn into a mob. It's best we get you somewhere safe, in case that guy had friends who think you're guilty and decide to return the favour, if you know what I mean."

Sighing heavily, the other spear carrier turned her gaze away. "Listen, you stupid barbarian, you're not under arrest. We just want to ask you a few questions to see what you know about what just happened." Her tone was slow and steady, almost insultingly so, as if she was talking to a small child or a simpleton, and her attitude was almost mockingly relaxed all things considered.

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate snaps back at the other spear carrier. She starts, "Oh~ You-" Before she can finish however, Kathleen gets between her and the guard with a quick burst of fast footwork. She raises her hands to make herself "wider". She says, "Kate, please! Let's not fight right now. Let's just see what they want." Kate starts to say, "They can't just-" but Kathleen cuts her off again. "Kate! Look now's not the time to start a fight. I get that you're pissed off and rightfully so and that you don't think too highly of law enforcement but let's leave that for now. Okay?" Kate just huffs and looks away.

Meanwhile Nala is just staring at the whole scene of Kate, the spear-wielding woman and Kathleen. She's not sure what to say right now but if the guards say that they aren't in trouble, that's good. She feels reassured about their whole situations. Just a few questions; nothing to worry about.

 

[SilentSister]

"Hurry up and get inside," Growled the spearwoman, getting impatient. Thrusting her shield forwards, she slammed it into Kathleen's back... [Melee attack =16] ...and forcing her to take a step forwards, bumping into Kate roughly. Luckily both women remained on their feet, although Kathleen had to grasp at Kate's clothing to maintain her balance, accidentally pulling the tank top aside as she did to momentarily expose her friend's chest.

For a second all the guards can do is stare at the display in shock, but after a moment's pause the nicer spearman quickly turned his head away, eyes peering into the heavens as a rich red tinge burnt across his face. The swordsman standing nearby raised a hand to his face, trying to cover up an amused smirk with a cough as he in turn began to examine the cobblestones beneath his feet with obvious enthusiasm.

The spearwoman just smirked playfully, her eyes roaming over the exposed flesh with obvious appreciation for her prisoner's fine physique. After a second she stepped forwards, offering a hand to Kathleen in way of apology. "I'm sorry, I just..." she mumbled, "Look, please just get inside, okay?"

 

[ZeroSic]

Kate's large shapely breasts pop out of her top. The sudden sequence of events leaves Kathleen a bit stunned, making her forget to let go and thus, leaving Kate's round breasts out for people to see. If Kate was as pale as Kathleen was, she would have turned bright red from embarrassment and anger. Kate simply pushes Kathleen away and fixes her top. She doesn't say anything further but she keeps her fists clenched. Nala looks away, not wanting to stare and make her friend feel even more uncomfortable.

Kate storms off into the guard station wordlessly. Kathleen follows behind the merc saying, "Kate! It was an accident! Sorry!" Kate is now angrier than before and the fact that she is quiet is a key indicator of that.

Nala is the last to enter. She walks in after her two other companions enter. She keeps her head down and gaze on the floor as she enters the guard house.

 

[SilentSister]

​

Stepping through the doorway, Kate found herself inside the small structure. The walls were made of what looked like simple but sturdy stone, cut with an expert hand long enough ago to show signs of wear at the edges.

In the room ahead there were several small desks against the left-hand wall, mostly covered with bound ledgers and rolled parchments, and a middle-aged gnome with a pair of spectacles halfway down his nose seemed to be drifting between them almost at random, as far as she could tell. Behind the desks several large windows looked out over the harbour, heavy storm shutters fastened securely above ready to be pulled down when needed, but for a soft, chill breeze washed in, carrying the scent of the sea.

On her right was a large cage which took up most of the length of the chamber, its door hanging open with the keys dangling precariously from the lock.

Just to the left as she entered, Kate immediately spotted a rack of weapons, including several swords, maces and even a crossbow, but none of them seemed to be of any exceptional worth at first glance. Next to that were several armour stands, most of which were empty, apart for one which held a suit of armour similar to the ones worn by the guards she'd already met, but scaled down to gnomish size.

At the far end of the room was a desk noticeably larger than the others, and also faer more organised. A large tome lay open in the centre, with a small glowing orb hanging nearby, shining light down over the pages. A pen was resting in the dip between the open pages, and a small inkwell had been placed on top of the book as though someone had been in the process of writing when called away.

A separate armour stand and weapon rack stood behind the desk, and from where she was standing Kate could see a gold trimmed suit hung haphazardly in place. Behind them was an open door, the opening leading into another, smaller room but from where she was standing Kate couldn't make out any details of what lay beyond.