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The Menagerie play by post RPG would like to thank both Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for their Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. They made the world that much more fantastic.
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #15 on Jun 19, 2012, 6:54pm »
Look, look, I know you're suspicious, and I...understand it. I should have told you before we left. Even if it wasn't me, I'm still...responsible. I'm kind of...marked, and I wouldn't hold it against you if you left. It was said to both of them, but directed at Kiko. He knew Dominic wouldn't leave, stubborn as he was. He let out his breath and laid against the back of the seat, rubbing his head.
It's not about control, it's about avoiding it altogether. The sooner we get there and back, the better.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144] member is offline
[b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Joined: Nov 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 329
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #16 on Jun 20, 2012, 6:12am »
Dom knew he didn't have much answer for the young man. His inner demons were far less literal than Chaz's. He drew his legs up into a tight lotus, leaning his staff against his shoulder and dropping into the medititive state that he'd been taught. He would Listen. That was one thing he was good at. When he spoke his voice was a little distant.
"Well...I know you love my riveting conversation...but I'll try and let you know if anything sounds funny out there." A smile slowly appeared for a moment "If I start snoring, just give the back of my head a slap..." And then he fell silent, going almost eerily still.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #17 on Jun 20, 2012, 9:14pm »
There was a while of silence, uncomfortable silence, as they traveled. The rain continued most of the day, until the heat of the cloud-covered sun bore down and covered the forest around them in a cover of oppressive steam and fog. Chaz had dozed off, Nikole asleep on his chest.
With the rain stilled, the overbearing quiet of the forest reigned. To Kiko's practiced ears, it might have been too quiet.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Kiko Administrator [M:725:2029:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=378&page=1#8679] member is offline
[b]Walk on the edge and bleed.[/b][0:Running With The Pack][1:Wherever I May Roam]
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 2,126
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #18 on Jun 21, 2012, 3:56pm »
Kiko could not relax. It was not just the carriage, either. Though, being inside the contraption stunted her senses. She should be outside this conveyance. She was regretting the decision to ride with them, too. She should have stayed quiet. She should have given Dominic the information he wanted minus any condition and then followed them without their knowledge.
The two men had joined the little girl in sleep. How was that possible? Chaz’s daughter was young she did not carry any weight of worry on her shoulders. To Nikole her father probably hung the sun and moon in the sky every day. The fact that she was asleep did not surprise Kiko. Dominic and the Blacksmith were another story.
Dominic had been traveling constantly recently. And with the amount of information he had and scrapes he had probably gotten into; she had not asked details, the rest would do him good. Still, she was rather amazed by how quick it had occurred.
Kiko did not know anything about Cathians as a race or very much about Chaz beyond the numerous wild incidents he had been involved in years ago. Perhaps he had grown… into what? A killer? Her eyes went over his sleeping body; his daughter all caught up on his chest.
No. Impetuous, impulsive, maybe even a little insane in his ideas; but not a killer.
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144] member is offline
[b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Joined: Nov 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 329
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #19 on Jun 21, 2012, 5:03pm »
He wasn't sleeping, he was waiting. Dom knew this trip wasn't going to be an uneventful one and sleep was something that could occur later on, in a nice comfortable bed. His back was rod straight, head slightly lowered, breathing even and legs crossed up still. He barely moved, save for the slow in and out of his chest. His ears were as sharp as anyone's especially when he concentrated, and the garb he picked up before making the trip aided even further.
He heard the constant hiss of rain, the occasional roll of thunder, even the skittering of some animals and the flapping of birds. Something wasn't right though. There were no suspicious noises but animals were being disturbed by something. His head turned suddenly, heart suddenly racing.
"Kiko...I might just be getting jumpy, but I have a ken that our departure has been tipped off. Want to go up and check on the driver?" The coachman had been chosen from a trusted source, but anyone could be bought for the right price, and there were scores of ways a person could be compromised. Even if he was clean, one well placed arrow, knife, bolt or magical blast could silence him and leave them stranded.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #20 on Jun 21, 2012, 10:18pm »
The driver didn't seem perturbed, humming to himself. Dom could definitely feel something strange in the forest. A curious lack of sound, maybe. The creatures moving strangely.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Kiko Administrator [M:725:2029:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=378&page=1#8679] member is offline
[b]Walk on the edge and bleed.[/b][0:Running With The Pack][1:Wherever I May Roam]
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 2,126
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #21 on Jun 23, 2012, 2:04pm »
Kiko quickly scanned the countryside or as much of it she could see past the sheet of rain. The ground had become impossible to find, fog rolling down into the deeper valley when the cold rain hit the warmer air. The road was completely obscured. She could only hope the driver was well versed with the route.
She stuck her damp head back into the carriage. She had no idea what the Bard heard, for herself she picked up nothing but the constant smack of rain, the squeaking carriage wheels, and rattling of what was probably their gear lashed to the back of the conveyance.
"I don't know what you heard, Dom. But, if something beyond the rain or our carriage spooked the inhabitants of this area? I do not see any trace of them."
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #22 on Jun 28, 2012, 5:06pm »
((Whoops, sorry guys. I thought that Dom was going to post something, and it just kind of fell off my radar.)) There was a quiet, sudden whistling noise, just under even Kiko's hearing. The carriage rocked slightly, enough to jolt Chaz awake. He looked up groggily, at the head of the arrow sticking out of the wall above his head.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144] member is offline
[b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Joined: Nov 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 329
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #23 on Jun 29, 2012, 12:24pm »
Dom barked "I knew it!" and shoved Chaz to the floor, piling him on top of Nikole. It wasn't perfect, and he hoped he hadn't hurt the kid but she had to get out of the line of fire. His heart was hammering already, ears out to hear if anything was approaching the wagon.
"Keep her covered, Chaz" he almost snarled, angry at whoever had tried to kill his friend, then twisted his head to shout. "Kiko! I'll stay in here with them, jab anything that tries to get in! See what you can do about our unwanted travel buddy!" He hoped the driver hadn't been taken out as he raised himself to a crouch, twisting his staff.
There was a soft sound of metal moving on metal as the blade extended from the haft. He held it across his body, head twisting this way and that. If anything tried to get into the carriage without asking he was going to shove two feet of steel through it.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Kiko Administrator [M:725:2029:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=378&page=1#8679] member is offline
[b]Walk on the edge and bleed.[/b][0:Running With The Pack][1:Wherever I May Roam]
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 2,126
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #24 on Jun 30, 2012, 7:24am »
Kiko dragged herself to the top of the carriage. With her helm down she could see the ghostly forms of the archers weaving in and out of the trees. The driver was dead, a dozen arrows protruded from his back, and it was probably only the distance, and the fact that his feet were braced on the carriage that he had not tumbled from his seat.
The horses were running wild. She was going to have to stop the carriage before she could deal with the archers. Several more arrows went whistling over head that she couldn't be bothered to track. Foolish. This was folly. Kiko snatched up the reins and pulled them back. Thank Kamanari that this was a light conveyance with only a pair of horses. She was not sure she could have handled any more. The Wolf might have been able to calm them. But, all she could hope to do was bring them to a halt.
But, now the mounted archers were catching up to them.
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #25 on Jun 30, 2012, 12:01pm »
The riders did not expect the carriage to recover, and surrounded it cautiously even as it slowed down, hoofbeats muffled by some magic and nearly silent. The phantom shapes in the forests seemed to spread out, heading ahead of them to cut off escape.
Chaz rubbed his head, having barely managed to cradle Nikole in his arm, keeping her close to the floor. He was panicking a little, no doubt about that, the ticking of his heart going faster and faster as he kept his head down. But for Nikole's sake he swallowed it, running a hand through the child's hair as she was jolted awake. He could feel the carriage starting to slow down, and heard Kiko's footsteps on the roof and seat, barely audible over the rough ride.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144] member is offline
[b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Joined: Nov 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 329
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #26 on Jul 2, 2012, 6:33am »
Dom twitched his head this way and that, straining his ears as best he could. His brow knitted in concentration and worry. Finally he came to the conclusion "There's lots of them and I think they want to kill us. That's really all I need to know." he growled.
He risked shimmying over to the carriage window and bellowing up at Yukiko. "If you're planning to stop the carriage, I'll hold the doors! Just make sure you holler before trying to get in or I'll stab you too!" He went back to the centre, crouched, hearing arrows thud into the wood and whistle just over his head. He just hoped they wouldn't think to use fire arrows, or any kind of magical attack.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Kiko Administrator [M:725:2029:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=378&page=1#8679] member is offline
[b]Walk on the edge and bleed.[/b][0:Running With The Pack][1:Wherever I May Roam]
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Female Posts: 2,126
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #27 on Jul 2, 2012, 4:16pm »
Kiko heard Dom's shout, but she was way too busy with the horses. She had found the reins, untangled them from the carriage driver, and gotten a decent grip on them. After that it was just a matter of bracing her feet and keeping them taut. But, the situation had just gone from bad to worse.
Just about the time the horses came to a halt she was looking right into the eyes of a least a half a dozen archers. Dominic could protect Chaz and Nikole, at least for a little while longer. Kiko, on the other hand, needed a diversion and she needed it quick. She was never going to get out of the range of six archers, not to mention the ones that had wheeled off to block the road.
Forget about them Kiko. They are not the issue right now. Even if you could somehow down all of these where would Chaz, his little girl, and Dominic hide? They were a pretty damn obvious target.
Too much time. Too much time. Kiko leaped off the carriage and on to the horse of the closest archer. She used his body as a defense against the other five for those first crucial seconds drawing a silver dagger and jamming it into his throat. She shoved his body to the ground, taking the dagger back with her and keeping her knees pinned tight to the barrel of the horse.
"DOM!"
Kiko reached down and yanked the door open. She spun around with the animal fighting her every step of the way.
"Get them out of there!"
The fog. Maybe it could work to their advantage. Dominic didn't need his eyes to see. If they were lucky; Chaz, his daughter, and the Bard could reach the fog before the archers recovered enough to chase them. Kiko did not look back, she was already galloping toward the next archer, head low against the neck of the horse.
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Chaz [M:18:195:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=395&page=1#5840] member is offline
Charles Hire, Engineer
Joined: Sept 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 522
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #28 on Jul 2, 2012, 7:00pm »
He realized Kiko's plan. He knew better than anyone the effects of smog and steam in hiding people.
Daddy, what--
Shh...kitten, shh.
He hushed her, a hand clamped over her mouth as he reached under his seat, pulling out his pack and putting it on. Detaching the flamer from the knapsack, he regretted having field stripped it, working quickly to put it together. Tubes were clamped down, the firing pedal clicked into place, fuel chamber threaded and screwed in. Goggles lowered, he silently picked Nikole up in one arm, the other holding the shovel-handle barrel of the flamer. Slowly, he elbowed Dominic and spoke in a low tone of voice the bard had never heard before.
A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144] member is offline
[b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Joined: Nov 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 329
Re: To the Overwood « Reply #29 on Jul 3, 2012, 5:16am »
Dom clenched his teeth, growling out his response "Make it quick, I hear them coming." He pointed to the door of the carriage where the fewest men seemed to be "That side, we'll make for the trees. Give us as much cover as you can and then grab on to me, put your head down and follow."
He pushed the door open, gritting his teeth so hard they squeaked. Dammit he'd make an excellent target in that moment, as would the others. Whatever Chaz was about to do he hoped that it was quick and perhaps something that might dissuade pursuit. The clicking and clanking of the device being constructed before the door opened had been interesting. He wondered what the little smith was about to do.
Welcome to The Menagerie. We are a free role playing game with less rules and more freedom. After many years, a couple of hosts and a few different game systems, we feel that less is more. Players get to be truly creative, which in turn leads to more enjoyment in game.
We invite you to join us in crafting our world and look forward to making friends. Should you have any questions, feel free to post in our chat box or ask any of our members or staff.
May you enjoy your stay.
It must be said that this game is the product of continued dedication and friendship.
Grayell: Game inventor and closet basement geek.
Yukiko: Admin and dream-weaver.
Marlena: Admin and promoter extraordinaire.
The Menagerie has enjoyed many incarnations, revamps, reimaginings and renovations and none of it would have been possible without the ongoing support of my friends, the players. Their unwavering loyalty and endless dedication to this project has been stellar.
I would like to thank all admin and staff past and present, in particular Tiberius.
I would like to thank friends and staff no longer with us, and to the few I hold most dear: John, Roland, Alex, Azriel and Jenkins.
Thank you all.
All images are the property of their creator.
Our 2nd site archive with: Total posts 70665, Total topics 1819 & Total Members 86.
...or our first site archive with: Total posts 69401, Total topics 1325 & Total members 145
...OR the very humble start of our game at our friends, www.Heroscapers.com.
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