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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.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #870 on Feb 15, 2012, 1:04am »
Dom did know a song that was just so. Another folktale, though of the type that laments a horrible tragedy. He picked up his lute, beginning to play again after taking a long sip of brandy. The tune was lilting, as many of them were. Intricate without being overly complex and actually quite pleasant. His voice too, now slightly roughed and warmed by the booze, was pleasant too.
It was always the way of these songs, part of a branch of his own heritage of peoples with surnames starting with 'Mc' or 'O', from the green isles or the high mountain valleys in the north. People built of interaction with equal parts ferocity and whimsy, half ogre half fey some said. And this sone was a perfect example.
"Oh cruel was the foe, that raped Glencoe, and slaughtered the house o' MacDonald..." came the lamenting lyrics sung so sweetly. Telling a tale of a lord and his family, his lands and manor who'd stocked for the bleak, snowy midwinter. In those cold, blinding snows came a rival clan and, as was so often the case in these tales, the tone of the story was pitch black. Death, brutality, sorrow, all sung as if they were words for a lover.
His voice had been rock solid all the way through, but the edges of his lashes shone as he played the final bars.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #872 on Feb 17, 2012, 12:21pm »
Chaz had spent the night and some of the morning at Grayell's, recuperating and trying to forget what had happened. He felt better now that he knew Nikole was safe, but there was a creeping discomfort there. Elves didn't forget, and Drow didn't forgive. Anri was too politically entangled to be hurt, her silver tongue too good to find fault in their created story. But he was kind of exposed, and having Nikole there....he regretted asking to take her home. He wondered what he was going to tell Anri...if he was going to tell her.
But some things are more important, he thought. He'd had breakfast at Gray's, but he couldn't impinge on his hospitality for long. The fussy Nikole wanted lunch, and he didn't want to go home just yet. Maybe a tavern wasn't the best place to take an infant, but he didn't have anywhere else to go. He hoped he wouldn't get too many looks askance as he carried Nikole in and asked for lunch.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #873 on Feb 21, 2012, 9:16pm »
Dom was, as usual, seated there playing his instrument. The only time he wasn't it seemed, was when he was on his rambles or getting mixed up in some stupid occurrence that was far far over his head. Either that or walking around slowly with his stick on his shoulder, clicking his tongue and tilting his head like a bird. He heard the cathian enter and immediately smiled to hear the burble of childish stirrings too.
He stood up, ambling over to one of the first people he could call a 'friend' he'd encountered in his short time in Wistvale. Chaz had requested lullabies, and he'd been able to teach one before the little man left on his journey. The delight was doubled knowing what had happened to him, and that he'd gotten away unscathed with his daughter unharmed. Dom didn't really believe in gods all that much, but perhaps something was looking down on Chaz that day.
"Hey there..." he intoned softly, keeping his voice even so as not to startle the child "...is this her? Your daughter?"
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #874 on Feb 21, 2012, 10:13pm »
All through explaining what happened to him the previous night, or what he remembered of it, he had Nikole sitting on the table, holding her gently as he carefully fed her from his plate, smiling at her babbling. At Dom's question, he stopped and nodded, then cleared his throat.
Y-yes. Do you, uh...want to hold her? She likes people. Very friendly.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #875 on Feb 22, 2012, 4:43am »
Dom beamed at being offered to hold the baby. She must have been old enough to not need her mother's teat, as he'd heard that babies were stronger if they were fed on mother's milk. He took the child from Chaz, having the baby placed in his outstretched hands. He nestled her on his lap, leaning into the crook of his arm. Old enough not to need the teat meant she was old enough to keep herself upright.
With the gentlest touch he stroked the baby's arm, letting her grip his finger in that surprisingly strong way that young children have. His fingers moved up to tickle softly at the side of her neck and brush her cheeks as she giggled at the light caress. He studied her face with his fingertips, though Nikole thought it funny to use his finger as a teething ring. He chuckled
"You've a very beautiful daughter, Chaz. Though I suppose she takes after her mother more."
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #876 on Feb 22, 2012, 11:54am »
There was a long moment of hesitation before he dared let her go; still kind of reeling from last night, he didn't want to let her go. But he trusted Dominic to be gentle, and reluctantly let her leave his arms. He held her naturally enough, and Chaz let out a small, muffled breath of relief despite himself.
Seven months already. Takes after her mother, yes. Good thing, too. Nikole babbled and reached for Dominic's face, transfixed on his eyes uncharacteristically for a child her age. Chaz hesitated, realizing what that meant.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #877 on Feb 22, 2012, 1:44pm »
He leaned in closer, having felt the girl's arms moved and understanding what Chaz was saying. He closed his eyes partly, knowing a stray finger might poke him, but going to be able to mitigate it. Anyway, it was unfair for him to have touched the little dear's face and not allow her to touch in return.
Of course her touch was clumsy, soft and prodding, roaming near his eyes. His voice came in a soft murmur, everything about him as gentle as a mother might be. He remembered his own mother, how he'd touched her face so many times after he'd played and felt her smile. "They're not scaring her are they? I don't want to upset her. No I don't. Gonna grow up and be a brain-box like your pa? Or maybe a beautiful princess like ma?" He addressed the child in the words many a cooing crone might, but he didn't modulate his voice to the ululating singsong that girls favoured. He talked straight to everyone, man and child.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #879 on Feb 22, 2012, 8:35pm »
Dominic chuckled low in his chest as the girl in his arms looked upon him like one of her own, at least in her own babyish way. He supposed that the odd colouring of his eyes, as he'd been told, could be construed for something from another race and he'd also heard his parents say of distant Elven heritage, though thoroughly muddied now.
"I think I'm a bit too square faced and broad for that Chaz, though I suppose the eyes don't look human. And the kid wouldn't know that I couldn't see." He rocked the babe back and forth slightly for a while, feeling rather honoured that his friend would allow him to hold her, but sensing that Chaz would be agitated if separated too long.
"Here, you'd better take her before she decides to do something adorabe like spit up or mess on my lap." he said with breezy levity, handing Nikole back to her father.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #881 on Feb 24, 2012, 7:20pm »
Dominic tilted his head, obviously intrigued. He moved his hand slowly to catch one of Nikole's wriggling feet and play silent little counting games with the toes to make the kid giggle.
"A project? And you need me? Want to start a music group or something? Publish a book of tall tales? I'm not really much good for anything else." He grinned in self-deprecation and sipped his drink.
He'd taken a thorough shine to the little engineer in the time he'd been in Wistvale, and was beginning to feel he was becoming a closer friend.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #882 on Feb 25, 2012, 11:59am »
No no, nothing like that. He paused a moment to wipe Nikole's face.
She had all these...toys and things back home in Overwood. Music boxes, dolls, that kind of thing. I'm making a few things, but one of the things I want to make her is a mobile.
He vaguely put his hand in the air, mimicking a hanging object.
Like with things hanging on it. I wanted those things to come from friends. You know...so she knows...who you are, even if she can't really understand.
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: The Menagerie Tavern. « Reply #883 on Feb 26, 2012, 10:39am »
Dom frowned slightly and scratched at the back of his head. He thought for a while and then realised something. Something he'd taken for granted as inconsequential before now. Something that a person had told him in his early days of busking for coin. He reached into a pocket on the inside of his coat.
"I don't really have much, just my travel pack, the clothes on my back and Prudence. But maybe you can make somethin' of these?" He opened his palm and produced his little 'collection' of picks. He'd made most of them, been given a few, and kept the very best ones for regular use, but he could spare his old ones easily. All of them were roughly the same size and shape, a rounded triangle, but each was made of something different. One was bright steel, another was copper or bronze, another still was either black glass or obsidian. One even looked like a filed down tooth of some kind.
"All kinds of materials there, but I got no idea if they'd look good or be suitable. Yer welcome to 'em though." He grinned, offering them over.
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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