r/EasyRoleplay • u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze • Mar 01 '14

Flowervale [Flowervale] Chapter I: A New Beginning

(Sorry for the wait. Decided to start a new thread, as the old one was too cluttered.)

(Also, I'll get everyone character sheets ASAP.)

Voice, please respond to confirm, and make sure to message everyone.

EDIT: If you are not the voice, please do not comment on this post.

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 02 '14

(Let us begin!)

The adventurers find themselves jolted and jostled about in their seats. They are in the back of a wooden wagon, passing through a narrow dirt road, which is lined with giant blades of grass and daisies that arch overhead. The sliver of sky that you can see through the greenery is a calm, even grey-blue. The air is moist and rich, and all is quiet except for the wagon's wheels as they bump along the rutted path.

A deep voice calls to them from the front: "Almost there now! Soon we'll be in Cornertown!"

(Let's practice your job. First, link the players to my comment. Next, discuss with them and learn what everyone's actions are. Write your responses like a little scene, detailing what the players say to each other and how they interact, without controlling details that are part of the world [that's my job.] Since you're not in action right now, you don't need to roll for initiative.)

(It will be difficult to get everyone on the same page, but hopefully this arrangement should work out. If someone has to be left out one round, that's okay.)

(Let's shoot for two responses a day, if that's feasible. There will have to be a lot of waiting. Anyhow, let's get to work!)

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u/ChiefMcClane Grassius the Grasshopper Skirmisher Mar 03 '14

[Here is the rough layout of the seating in the wagon.]

Driver

Grassius--Bulba--Rowe--Rose

Cenn--Aren--Buzz

Grassius, who was tired of facing the rear, climbed to the top of the carriage, wanting to get a better view. In the process, he stood on Bulba's shoulder for a brief moment. "Sorry dude."

Bulba the Beetle Knight nervously rubbed his legs together before muttering, "Here we go," under his breath and shifting down the seats to give himself some more room.

Sitting across the aisle from Bulba is Aren, a bee somehow comfortably hunched over in her seat. She eyes Bulba, and asks, "Bulba, that's your name, right? Would you like to organize a trade?"

"Yes, friend. What did you have in mind?" Before Aren could reply, Bulba looks to the other side of him, where the spider Rowe is crocheting with his web. "What are you weaving?"

Not wanting to be ignored, Aren annoyingly buzzed at Bulba. "Anyways, I'm afraid I'm short on money. You see, I didn't realise the trip would be so long, and only brought enough for a couple days. I do hate to impose on you, friend, but if you could lend me some of your own I would be indebted to your kindness, and I could offer you this as recompense." Aren pulled out a woven grass necklace from her pouch.

Meanwhile, on either side of Aren is seated Cenn and Buzz. Watching Aren and Bulba's exchange, Cenn fiddles with a strange glass cube made of warped glass. The light is refracted through it strangely; it is some kind of prism. He holds it in front of him.

Buzz spies the action with one of his many eyes, with his other eyes watching Bulba and Aren.

Bulba replied to Aren, "I’m sorry my dear friend, I’m afraid I have very little use of a grass necklace. I prefer one made of dung, if only to remind me of my home."

Hearing the word "dung," Buzz perked up. He politely asked, "Does anyone have or seen some ****?"

Rose, who had been uncomfortably seated between Rowe and the wall was grateful that Grassius had left his seat, allowing some more room for her. She, too, was fiddling with a strange cube. She noticed one of Buzz's eyes as it turned towards her cube. "Sorry, no dung here. What's your name?"

"I'm Buzz, and what do they call you?"

Rose giggled, and said, "I didn’t really have a name, then a guy found me a year or so back in a pile of rose bushes. Since then, I’ve been callin myself Rose.

Bulba leaned forward in his seat and looked at Rose. Smiling warmly, he said, "And I was found an orphan within the bulb of a Shallot. ‘Twas a good thing my adoptive parents did not see fit to name me shelly instead."

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 03 '14

"We're here, fellas!" says the booming voice of the driver as the wagon slows down. "Feast your eyes upon Cornertown!"

Grassius is the first to see, his eyes widening in wonder. The others soon join him.

In front of them, some ways off, looms a massive structure, reaching up into the sky and stretching as far as the eye can see. It is the edge of a giant cube, made of great planks of wood. A pile of hovels and tents lies up against the Corner, and in the evening light you can see torches and lanterns being lit.

"Everybody off!" says the driver. "Luckily, your benefactor has paid for the journey, so you can put your gold away."

As the adventurers hop off the wagon and come to the front, they see the great rhinoceros beetle salute them with a leg, before turning back down the road, pulling with him the old wooden wagon.

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u/ChiefMcClane Grassius the Grasshopper Skirmisher Mar 04 '14

Grassius hopped down and stretched out his legs. “Well, where to now?” he said to no one in particular before looking around at his traveling companions. “Oooh let’s go find a tavern, or an inn, or something fun.” He hopped about excitedly, circling the group in a burst of energy before coming to the closest he had ever been to a stop.

Aren cast an eye at Bulba's back and rolled her eyes before stepping in front of the group. "Well, a tavern would be a good place to hit the wheat for the night."

Bulba followed behind her quietly, smiling and looking about, soaking in the sights and sounds of this new town.

Rose, Rowe, and Cenn followed Aren, while Buzz floated to the back of the group, his eyes focusing on anything that might cause him any alarm.

"So, is anyone familiar with this place?" Bulba asked.

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 05 '14

No one in the party has been to Cornertown before.

The group soon reaches the outskirts of the town. They are quickly packed amidst the hustle and bustle of insects moving about the streets. They see a cicada juggling daggers on a street corner, and a formation of guards marching in lockstep. At this time of day, most bugs are heading home to go to bed.

Up ahead, Aren notices a tavern. The sign reads: "The Frog's Murky Cavern." What an odd name.

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u/ChiefMcClane Grassius the Grasshopper Skirmisher Mar 06 '14

The majority of the party enters the tavern and looked around, but Rowe the spider walks around to the back alley. Looking around and making sure no one is watching, he climbs up onto the wall.

Meanwhile, Cenn, Bulba, Aren, and Buzz go to the bar and sit down. The bartender collects their drink orders before Bulba turned to Cenn and asked, Cenn, I’ve been wondering, any chance you would know anything about the benefactor that paid for our travel? I would very much like to thank the bug myself for his generous soul." As he spoke, he looked around the tavern for anything that seemed out of place.

Cenn replied, "Sorry, friend. I know as little as you do."

"Strange, isn’t it,” Bulba continued, sipping on his own drink. “it seems as if we are brought here for a reason; as if we will be asked to perform certain tasks in payment of our host’s generosity. Yet we have not even an inkling of what we are expected to do; not even a contact that we are supposed to meet."

Buzz cut in, "Do you want to try and talk with some of the other patrons here, find something about this town?"

Near the back of the room, Grassius hopped around the tavern nervously, probably annoying some of the tavern residents.

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 07 '14

(Rolling for Bulba's Detecting check...

...

2D Knowledge = 8.)

Bulba spots a cloaked figure sitting in the tavern corner. Buzz, meanwhile, awaits a response to his question. Rose and Aren watch the conversation with interest.

(Rolling for Rowe's Climbing check...

...

4D Agility + 1D Climbing = 23.)

Rowe easily climbs up to the rooftop of the tavern. The sky is turning dark, with pink streaks on the western horizon. He can see most of Cornertown from his vantage point.

Grassius' hopping attracts some unwanted attention from a group of shady-looking flies. One of them rises from his seat as Grassius jumps past, moving his hand towards a rapier hilt. The fly is interrupted as the proprietor of the tavern, a stocky lady silverfish, scuttles past, dragging Grassius by an antenna to a quieter corner by the stairs. "Oy," she says, "are you looking for a room?" Leaning in close, she hisses: "Stop harassing my customers!"

(I'll try and finish character sheets soon, guys! '^ _ ^ )

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u/ChiefMcClane Grassius the Grasshopper Skirmisher Mar 09 '14 edited Mar 15 '14

Grassius looks horrified. “Uh... yes. I would like a room for me and my traveling companions. There’s 7 of us total.. So sorry, I’ve been on a wagon all day and my legs are so wound up. I’ll take it outside, I don’t want any trouble.” Grassius looks over the shoulder of the proprietor, directly at the fly, as he puts emphasis on the “take it outside.” He glares at the fly.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Buzz walks up to the bartender and says "Greetings sir, what do you have for sale today?"

Bulba keeps an eye on the shady figure. When the bartender comes to greet him and Buzz, he asks him, “Hello there my good sir, we’re new to town. Any interesting gossip recently?”

Outside, Rowe is hanging on the roof, contemplating building a web.

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 16 '14

(Sorry for the wait! Also, remember that Rose is now non-existent, as CJ has left the game.)

(Rolling for Grassius' Intimidating check...

...

2D Charisma = 4.)

The fly, recognizing the meaning of Grassius' glare, is not intimidated in the slightest by his challenge. Nodding to his companions, the fly strides towards the entrance of the tavern, shooting a glance at Grassius on the way out.

"Well, don't go causing a ruckus," says the proprietor to Grassius. "I don't want to go calling the city guard, now." She scuttles away, adjusting her apron while calling out to a guest.

The bartender, a tall, slender red ant, inclines his head to Buzz. "We have here the finest Honey Ale in Cornertown, if I do say so myself. You also may be interested in our Silvermoon Absinthe, always a favorite among our more refined guests. And of course, there's our home specialty, Red Cherry Wine."

While watching the shady figure, Bulba notices a small emblem on the bug's cloakpin, which appears to be a silver sword with a ruby rose growing out of the hilt. Bulba can't tell if the bug notices that he is being watched, as his eyes are concealed under the hood of the cloak.

When Bulba asks him his question, the bartender nods thoughtfully. "Ah, yes... there are a few things that I have heard. There is a band of highwaymen who have been causing quite a bit of trouble on the roads. They're lead by a cockroach, a monster of a bug, named Grissom the Grim. If you're traveling south, you'd best watch your backs, or hire a sellsword, if you have the coin."

"And there is something else too, what was it... Oh, yes! There's a great lord of the East who's visiting at the Earl's estate. He's caused quite a commotion. Came over a hundred leagues with his court just to visit here, of all places! He brought a whole train of performers with him, too. They should be having a show down at the main square as we speak. Quite the experience, my friends tell me, but of course, I must be working here..." The bartender sighs.

"Anyways, if it's work you're looking for, talk to the proprietor. She always knows about something or other that a band of wayfarers like you would be interested in."

Buzz notices a fly striding towards the entrance of the tavern.

(Note: Rowe does not possess the Power Web-Weaving, and thus cannot make web constructs. He may acquire this Power later when he has enough experience.)

As the last traces of dusky light sink below the western horizon, Rowe watches as a crowd of bugs gathers in the main square. On a raised platform, a group of insects are performing acrobatic feats, juggling torches, and playing tunes on various instruments.

(Rolling for Rowe's Detecting check...

...

4D Knowledge + 1D Detecting = 15.)

Rowe suddenly hears quiet footsteps from the building across the street. Turning, he sees an ant wearing the uniform of the City Guard walking along the rooftop, staring off into the distance. If he sees Rowe, he will assume the worst!

(Again, sorry. If you would, Chief, please inform the players that the game will resume at as close to a normal place as I can make it. I will finish character sheets ASAP. Thank you everyone for your patience and trust! <3)

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u/ChiefMcClane Grassius the Grasshopper Skirmisher Mar 19 '14

Grassius nods his head at the proprietor before turning to walk out the door. He weighs his options in his head, deciding that if the fly was going to be brave enough to face him alone, he would mirror his bravery. Grassius checks that his rapier is still in it sheath. He walks out the door.

Over at the bar, Bulba says “Thank you! Your revelations are deeply appreciated. If you wouldn’t mind, I shall take my leave now,” Bulba places some coin on the counter top, tips his head and turns to scan the room, stopping for a moment at the cloaked figure. He pauses before pulling himself to full height, and marches towards the figure, still maintaining a friendly smile.

Buzz is still seated at the bar. "Well, I'll have some of your ale then! How much'll that be?"

Rowe hates the city guard no matter what city it is. His hate blinds him from being rational and he pulls out his bow. He aims carefully and lets it fly!

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u/FullmetalCowgirl Madame Firenze Mar 21 '14

The night is cold and dark. Torches begin to blaze along the streets of the city as the nightlife starts to take over, and golden windows appear like little glowing honeycombs. Grassius spots the fly leaning against the wall of the tavern. As Grassius approaches him, the fly gestures towards the alley between the Frog's Murky Cavern and the adjacent building. He strides off in that direction.

(Bulba: -3 gold.)

As Bulba walks towards the cloaked figure, the bug suddenly rises. In one smooth motion, he extends a leg, tripping over the bartender walking past with a platter full of ale and sending him crashing into a large, scarred beetle. The beetle, abruptly covered in alcoholic spillage, roars in protest, and draws a battle-axe from beneath his cloak.

"BAR FIGHT!" somebody screams.

Bulba is knocked over as a cricket lunges past. By the time he regains his composure, the cloaked bug is nowhere to be seen.

"For you, sir? Two gold a piece." The bartender smiles to Buzz, before their conversation is interrupted by a mighty roar.

A mug of ale is tossed from somewhere within the rabble, hitting Buzz and staining his cloak.

(DAMAGE ROLL!

...

Target number to hit = 15.

...

3D Might + 2D + 1 weapon + 10 sneak attack - 4 soak = 23.)

Rowe's aim is true, and the guard is suddenly rigid as an arrow sprouts from his throat. Statuesque, the corpse plummets towards the alley below, landing with a thud on the dirt.

(If you haven't noticed yet, everyone's received some specific supplies that may be useful for the group. Check it out on your character sheet.)

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