Civilization Thread

>>1292895
>Elves
>Tundra

Sure it might sound a tad generic but at least an Elf will be more relatable then something like a mushroom person.

>>1292895
>Crystalids
>Mountains

>>1292895
>Draconians
>Desert
Reptilian Supremecy quest when?

To kind of speed things up, let's say that we're voting for the three that have been listed. Toss a reply on the one you like the most, and the first to get three (or two, again, /qst/ is slow) will be the one we go with.

Also the internet's being a little wonky, and I've been resetting the router. Not sure how that will affect the ID, so I'll use a tripcode for my handle.

>>1293037
Do we reply if we already posted earlier?

>>1292937
I vote for this.

>>1293092
Well, the sportsman route would be not to vote for your own suggestion under a new ID, but to vote for someone else's. However, things are trudging along at a snail's pace, so as long as one of these has more votes than the others we're gonna pick it and roll with it.

>>1293037
>>Crystalids
>>Mountains

>>1292937
>>1293096
>>1293099

ELVES IN THE TUNDRAS WIN

Alright, everyone, standby for your quest.

>>Crystalids
>>Mountains

>>1293100
>>1293107
Aww.

(We are playing as elves in the tundra... However, because crystallids in the mountains were rather popular after it was decided, we're going to include them as one of the more prominent, interactive races later down the line. I hope this satisfies those who wanted it. Getting the race/location set up is always the most difficult part, and I do like to be fair.)

You are an elf. You are one of the older members of your tribe, but not yet old enough to be considered an elder. You are much like the other males of your race-- Lean, long-haired, face softer in features and yet hardened by many years of physical labor. You come from humble roots, your tribe being gatherers before hunters, and every scrap of clothing and fur on your back has either come from your hands or someone else's hard work.

You have lived in the tundra as long as you can remember, though it was not always your tribe's home. On the coldest nights your people would huddle around bonfires and the oldest members would tell stories of days past-- living in the vibrant, bountiful plains of this land. It was a nice picture, but that's all it was: an idea. How you ended up in your current location... Some of the elders say that demons ran your race out when they took over the lands, others say that religious differences separated the tribe into different locations... It was never agreed upon, and thus remains a mystery.

No matter. There was no denying that this was your home. And to some extent, you liked the cold. The tundra stretched as far as you've ever been. And, as a gatherer, it's quite a distance. However, the harsh environment is not always so cruel. Summers bring with them thick vegetation enriched by permafrost, and the land becomes quite colorful with flora and fauna.

Food never really seemed to be a problem, even in the winter: Precisely the reason you were outside to begin with. A special type of berry grows in the caverns near your settlement, plentiful with enough nutrients to sustain your people even through the harshest winters. It's a small, dark red berry with both sweetness and tartness, wrapped in dark moss that grows on the underside of large cave rocks. Your tribe has dubbed it, the 'Petchta' fruit, named after an old elven goddess of fertility and bountiful harvest. You have just finished with the third and final day of this winter's harvest, along with your team. There are seven of you, including yourself, and after sealing the lid on the final barrel, you tie the crop down to the sleds and proceed to return to your settlement.

(1/2)

>>1293177

Whatever little light was remaining at the end of the day had been muted by the clouds rolling above. Dark, heavy clouds bearing what is no doubt thick snow begin to churn into each other and the wind begins to blow harshly. You squint, eyes stinging as the dust-like layer of snow is blown against your face. The other members of your traveling party seem to notice the change, and you all begin to move a bit faster despite being weighed down by barrels and barrels of food. It's a bit stressful, but nothing you haven't encountered before.

“I think Vetheren is drunk.” A whisper snaps you out of your trance, and you look towards the noise. A familiar, young face looks suspiciously at the elf leading the party. This is Letharos, a new, black-eyed, raven-haired addition to your team. You don't know much about him other than he was one of the louder members to join your group, and he was incredibly proud of himself for finding the location of the richest crop this year. “Look.”

He nods, and you watch the leader of your group. Indeed, his gate seems to be swinging from side to side. He stumbles a bit, shaking his head, and then proceeds to advance.

Vetheren is a bit younger than you, but far more experienced in marking trails and navigating this kind of terrain. You are not friends, but the two of you are on good terms. His parties have never had any issues before, but now that Letharos has brought it up he does seem rather... Sluggish.

What do you do?

A. Continue to follow without saying anything.

B. Approach Vetheren to ask if Letharos' suspicions are true (although you probably won't ask him using those exact words).

C. Berate Letharos loud enough for the entire party to hear. This isn't the time to question authority.

(2/2)

>>1293178
B

>>1293178
>B. Approach Vetheren to ask if Letharos' suspicions are true (although you probably won't ask him using those exact words).

(For future reference popular vote on multiple choice decisions will win.)


You look around, and it seems everyone has their eyes squinted and their faces pointed towards the ground to avoid being stung as you had. Letharos seems to be the only one who noticed anything, and to be quite frank it was probably best that way. You hand the new recruit the rope to your sled and walk briskly towards Vetheren. He's even more unstable than before, walking sideways. Eventually, he trips over seemingly nothing and falls face first into the snow.

You quickly rush to him and help him up, his face speckled and brown hair dusted with the white flakes. He huffs and shakes his head, ears flapping with the motion.

“Are you alright?” You ask him, looking over his face to try to read as much of his situation as possible.

“I'm fine. It's the damn land.” Vetheren grumbles, rising to his feet. You look back at the spot where he fell and see a rather large stone sticking out of the ground. You look back on the trail your party is walking and see a rather large collection of rocks and thicker branches lining the sides. “I've been trying to clear a path, but it's still so unstable.”

It seems Letharos' imagination got the best of him-- Vetheren was doing little more than kicking the rocks and branches out of the way so the sleds wouldn't be harmed. And with ice beginning to stick to some of the larger stones, no wonder he was flailing around. “This is the shorter way home, and I walked it earlier this season to clear it out.” Vetheren bites his lip, the skin cracked from the cold. “There shouldn't be this much here. I don't think we can go this way without losing a barrel.”

Your party has caught up to the two of you and stopped, murmurs and questions fluttering around along with complaints of the weather conditions. Vetheren holds up his hands and addresses the crowd.

>>1293234
“This route home isn't clear. It's only going to get worse further in.” He speaks loudly. “Let's turn around and go back to the main road.”

“But the sky.” A voice speaks back, and to follow it a hand points upwards towards the menacing, black clouds. “We can't make it in time.”

“If we get the stones out of our pockets, then we should be able to do so just fine.” Vetheren walks past the group, very mindful of any more stones.

An unsatisfied murmur travels through the crowd, and it's no surprise that Letharos is the most dominant voice. “We're going to get lost if it starts to storm, let's just tough it up and take the shortcut.”

Another retorts. “What if we take shelter for the night and leave in the morning?”

“We don't know how long the storm will last, we can't rely on that.” Vetheren replies.

“I actually like the idea of holing up.”

“That's idiotic. What happens if we get snowed in? We don't have the proper tools for that.”

“It's better than freezing out in the open or slipping and breaking an ankle.”

“It will take less time to go slowly on the shorter trail than it would to go on the regular one, let's just take this route.”

Things are getting rowdy... Even the wind is beginning to pick up. Seems like everyone has a suggestion about what to do. What's yours?

A. Take the long road home with Vetheren.

B. Try the shortcut and take a bit of extra time to be careful.

C. Hole up for the storm and try to ride it out.

>>1293238
(A is supposed to read: Take the long road home, siding with Vetheren. Got a little mixed up.)

>>1293238
>A. Take the long road home with Vetheren.

>>1293238
>A

“Vetheren has more experience than any of us. He knows these roads better than we ever will. I'm with him.” You say a bit louder than you normally would to grab your party's attention. “We need to move instead of arguing, and this path is blocked off.”

The group falls silent, some voices in approval and some not. Still, your team grabs the ropes and begins to turn the sleds around the other way. You think Vetheren might have given you an appreciative nod, but he runs so quickly to direct the group that you're not too sure.

Eventually you make it on the usual trail. A wind as cold as death creeps up on your back and you shudder, burrowing into your furs in a vain attempt to keep warm. Although, the sight of the stone marking the halfway point is enough to encourage you to move faster. You look around, the hills and the trees just beginning to become heavy with ice. You fear it's going to be a difficult winter.

“Look, up there.” Vetheren's voice calls out, and you see your leader is pointing to a small stream of smoke in the distance. “We're close... Light the lamps! Night is almost here!”

A smaller, clearly female elf at the back of the caravan begins to rummage through her jacket's pockets, taking out a small piece of flint and steel. As the team moves forward she hugs the sides of the sleds, reaching for a tiny lantern-- The same on each unit. She strikes the flint and steel several times before igniting it, screwing the top back on and proceeding to the next one to repeat the process. Eventually she stops at your station.

“I think you made a smart choice... Standing with Vetheren.” Her voice is as friendly as one can be while trying to light fire on moving beds in the middle of freezing weather. “I was on a different trip... One led by Ethedrila. We stopped to take shelter and three of the men froze to death. One was her husband.” You're not sure how you feel about this. It comes off as gossip, but seems to be a cautionary tale. The woman screws the lid back onto your lantern and moves up.

(1/2)

>>1293398
Meanwhile, Vetheren has a lamp lit at his side, one brighter than any of the lights on the sleds. It's rather nice to see the light glowing, but flickering a bit more than usual.

You then realize that this isn't flickering light. It's snow. The flakes causing the illusion of unstable light, you call out a warning that the storm has begun. Vetheren confirms this, then begins to shout words of encouragement to push your team to move faster. You've just hit the halfway point at this time. Someone behind you bitterly says, “I knew it.”

At this time, the snow is falling light. There are several options to take.

A. Seek shelter.

B. Continue down the road at the same pace, just fast enough that the barrels will be stable.

C. Panic! Snow! Panic! Panic!

(2/2)

>>1293407
A. Seek shelter.

>>1293407
B. Continue down the road at the same pace, just fast enough that the barrels will be stable.

>>1293407
>B. Continue down the road at the same pace, just fast enough that the barrels will be stable.

“Keep moving!” You shout, adding to the encouragement. Your team trudges along quickly, the lanterns bouncing against the frame of the sled. You can hear Letharos breathing heavier-- The lithe elf doesn't seem to be able to handle the strong work. You grab one of the ropes, helping to pull both his sled and yours.

It doesn't take long for your boots to start to scrape through the building snow, and within ten minutes there's more than an inch on the ground. The snow is falling hard and fast, covering the ground in a thick blanket. Your team can't help but move a little slower, the sleds not having any time to adjust to the quickly falling snow.

“How much further?” You hear the shout from behind you, but there is no reply. Vetheren's lantern is shining brightly, although it's slightly blotted out from the snow. The sky has become completely black, now, just a small tinge of nightly blue peeking through.

“Dammit.” You can hear Vetheren curse above the high, gusting winds. “Stop! Everyone, stop! Letharos, get up here!” The team stops, uncertainty and worry building in their voices. Letharos drops the ropes of his sled and quickly makes his way to the front. You can't make out what Vetheren is telling him to do, but judging by the various gestures and pointing it's more than likely that Vetheren is sending the new recruit up ahead to get help. The idea is confirmed once Letharos takes the lantern and begins to sprint ahead.

Vetheren hurries to the unattended sled, picking up the ropes. “Let's go! No more stops!” He shouts behind him, and begins to pull the sled quickly.

You're not sure how it happened, but after what feels like an eternity of the bitter cold biting your aching muscles a group of elves comes to relieve you of your burden. Surrounded by bright light and warm fur over your shoulders, you come to the realization that Letharos made it-- And another team was sent out to help you with the work. Not five minutes later you see the warm glow of light, as well as more of your people holding metal-secured torches and warm blankets. Applause and cheering rises up as you're escorted into your settlement, and soon an equally warm relief courses through your veins.

You team is escorted into a wooden hut, the only building not made of sculpted ice and stone-- Where most of your tribes homes are akin to igloos, this is a special building made solely for the purpose of storing the fruit for winter. Still shivering from the snow and breathing heavily from the exertion your team shuffles into the building, rewarded by the sweet scent of berries from your earlier harvests.

(1/?)

>>1293700
“Hey, we've got a problem.” You look behind to see one of the barrels had busted, probably from going too hard over a snow-covered stone. Half the contents had been lost, and the container is more or less useless.

“That's fine.” Vetheren sighs, wiping the snow off his shoulders. “I'm not going to lose sleep over half of one barrel. Everything else was transported here just fine.” He looks over the dozen intact barrels being rolled into the building, crowding the area. “Everyone go home. Now, hurry before it hits hard! We can sort out the crop later, but there's a huge storm blowing in and we need shelter.”

You couldn't agree more. You nod and bow to your team, abruptly ending the formalities of a good harvest and quickly make your way to your little hut. Yours is built like a ball into the earth, with an opening several feet above ground and most of the room underground. It's a rather common build for your tribe, and aside from the common buildings most houses were made in this fashion. You climb up the tiered ice and quickly pull open the wood and metal door, sliding into the thin entry, and quickly close it behind you.

It would have to snow five feet to completely shut you inside, and even though the heavy clouds bore a storm you're pretty certain they didn't carry a catastrophe. And even then, you didn't mind. Let the snow shut you in. You're nice and cozy inside your house...

(2/3)

>>1293705
You're standing on the top floor now, which is just a small room with stairs leading down to your main house. You have one of the stone houses, both walls and floors a gritty, rough grey. It's enough space for you, though anymore than two people would be a problem. Walking down the stairs is a series of small cushions set up with some blankets to form a cozy bed, and next to it is a big bottle of brown liquor and several boxes of dried meat and bread. A small corridor leads to your washroom, where you can bathe and take care of nature's needs, and opposite of that room is a hall leading to your storage. Trunks of clothes and tools, papers and writing utensils, journals documenting previous harvests... And not much else. It's humble, it's modest, and it's home. Not to mention it's incredibly warm.

There's a lantern sitting in the small space by the door, along with a striking pad. You don't think it's a good idea to let an open flame run in this poorly ventilated space, but you do need some light. After a moment of fumbling, as your fingers are frozen from being out in the cold for so long, you manage to create a spark, then flame, then light. It's almost surreal to be in your home after the stress and fear of being caught in a blizzard. You'll count the crop when the storm subsides, but now... You feel like you deserve to relax.

You can...

A. Have a snack and a drink.

B. Take a bath and clean yourself.

C. Go through the chests in your store room.

D. Check the weather outside.

E. Go straight to bed.

(3/3)

>>1293712
>A. Have a snack and a drink.

>>1293712
A. Have a snack and a drink.

You sit down on the top step and start to undo your heavy boots. You shrug off the top of your coats that are matted with snow until only your warm underwear remains. Taking the lantern with you, you descend into your home, becoming more and more exhausted with each step. You find your bed easily, pushing around the blankets and cushions until you make a shape that fits with your body.

Almost acting of themselves, your hands drag the amber bottle of booze and a box of dried jerky into your lap and you indulge yourself in a late night snack. Several ounces of dehydrated elk meat and shots of dark liquor later and your head becomes light, your body becomes fuzzy, and you nest down into the bed while cradling your treasures.

You wake up without realizing that you even went to sleep in the first place, but you feel completely relaxed and warm. Usually you would indulge yourself in the morning ritual of bathing and breakfast, but the memory of last night's storm creeps up on you and you decide you need to check the outside world. Stumbling out of your bed you make it to the top floor of your underground home and take care to unlatch the door on top of your home. To your surprise, very little snow falls through the cracks, and the rest of it is pushed off the door as you fling it open. You pop your head through the opening and notice that the sky is a completely muted, monochrome grey. There might be more snow later tonight.

(1/2)

>>1293998
You think it's time to begin the day. After all, there's a crop that needs counting. Sobering yourself up by splashing water on your face and running your fingers through your hair you put on your warmest robes and head for the warehouse.

A few elves are walking around, some children playing in the snow lying in a 6-inch blanket on the ground. It's relatively calm, and you assume most people are inside. The crunching of little shaved crystals underneath your boots makes you smile a little bit, the contrast between the clarity of this morning and the frustration of last night appreciated. You make your way to the warehouse, open the door, and enter inside.

Things seem a lot more clearer in the warehouse than last night. It takes a moment to register, but you realize that all of the barrels have been put away in storage. How late did you sleep? Did that alcohol really knock you out? Your ears twitch as a shuffling noise could be heard towards the back, and soon the familiar face of Vetheren comes into view. He looks at you with modest surprise.

“...You're a little late.”

A. “My door was iced over this morning.”

B. “I slept a little too long after drinking.”

C. “I'm sorry.

(2/2)

>>1294011
B. “I slept a little too long after drinking.”

“Well, I can't say I wouldn't do the same after all that. I slept here overnight.” Vetheren rolls out his shoulders, stiff from the uncomfortable conditions. “It was piling up by the time I was able to leave. I was worried we were going to get more than this, but I think it all came at once.” It's a little strange, talking about the weather like this with this man, but you couldn't put your finger on the reason why.

“Also, I wanted to thank you for standing at my back yesterday.” The elf nods at you. “I was worried we would just get stuck arguing. I know how anxious that kind of weather can make everyone. It helps when more than one person is trying to maintain order.” Vetheren looks over the barrels of berries in the warehouse, going over the inventory once more in his mind. “...I suppose there's nothing to do here. I'm going to go around and see if anyone needs help with anything after the storm. I don't think there's damage, but a few things might be bothered.”

You follow him out of the storage building, shutting the door behind you. A few more people are out in the open, talking with each other and messing around in the snow. You notice that an elven couple enters the icy dome of the common building. You recognize a couple of your group members from the harvest last night walking around some of the underground homes.

You can...

A. Go with Vetheren to see if anyone needs help.

B. Go to one of the common buildings to interact with others.

C. Go talk with the members you see from your team.

D. Go back home. It's too cold for this nonsense.

>>1294213
A. Go with Vetheren to see if anyone needs help

>>1294213
A. Go with Vetheren to see if anyone needs help.

File: ur in my conid now.jpg (162KB, 705x583px) Image search: [Google]

162KB, 705x583px

>>1292937
>more relatable then something like a mushroom person.
U gotta problem relating to mushroom persons punk?

“Do you mind if I come with you?” You ask.

“Hm? Oh, sure.” Vetheren makes a strange gesture between nodding and shrugging, and leads the two of you towards the residences. Some of the elves are brushing snow off the tops of their homes, others scooping it out from in front of their doors. The ice structures, rounded at the top, seem to just let the snow slide off once it's broken apart. Sometimes you wish your house was like that. You remember two winters ago when an unbelievable seven feet of snow fell and you had to keep going outside to shovel it off your door. But then you remember how cozy it could be in your little home and the thought fades away.

You stop when Vetheren does, looking down to see a young child eating what are either crackers or cookies. The boy looks at you, his cheek full of the snack, then up at Vetheren. Without a word he slinks away and crouches down, walking at a downward angle until he's inside what you assume to be his house.

“Sometimes I think our culture is doing more harm than any outside factors could possibly do.” Vetheren sighs, continuing to walk along the path. “We teach our children to be distrusting of anyone who approaches them, but all its done is create a need to be secluded.” He looks behind his shoulder at you. “You remember, don't you?”

From your memory you assume that Vetheren is talking about the slavers. It wasn't a reoccurring issue. One year a group of humans stormed their camp with torches and spears, killing some of the men and women but taking away nearly all of the young that were born that year. Not three days later your tribe tracked them down and put your arrows in their backs. Some of the children were recovered, but several had already been lost. This was the first time something like this had happened to your tribe, and as of this point in time it was the last. However, just this one incident was enough to leave its mark on your people.

Whatever couples could bear children protected them with their lives. And while you assumed this was a common thing for most parents and their young, there were some children that had never even been outside. At least until they reached their coming of age. You could see how some like Vetheren thought this wasn't a good idea, but you could also see why this behavior was practiced. As of right now, though, you don't feel too strongly either way. You've not even a mate, let alone a child, and have decided to wait until one of those things was given to you before making your own opinion.

(1/2)

>>1296343
Vetheren stops at the borders of your camp, the more broadly built elves guarding the perimeters. “Any disturbances?” He asks, the guard turning to see who the voice came from.

“Aside from the storm last night, none.” One replies.

“We're waiting for our scout to come back.” Another says. “He left two days before the storm hit, and was due to arrive this morning.”

Their tone is rather casual, and you get the feeling that Vetheren knows at least a couple of them on a personal level.

“Where was he going?”

“He was going to Thor'Badur.”

“The dwarven kingdom? What for?”

“Not too sure. Don't think it's for a war, though. We're not friends with them but they've no reason to attack us.”

You're not really a part of this conversation at the moment.

A. Ask about Thor'Badur.

B. Ask about the scout.

C. Stay quiet and just listen to them.

D. Go back to the village on your own. You've got the feeling Vetheren is going to be here a while.

(2/2)

(Apologies for being late, early bed time last night because I wasn't feeling well.)

>>1296345
B. Ask about the scout.

“And the scout left two nights ago? How far is it to the kingdom?” You chime in, their attention falling to you.

“Well, like I said, he should be due to arrive today. But with the storm last night it's hard to tell.” The guard looks up to the sky and purses the corners of his mouth. “It wouldn't surprise me if more snow falls tonight.”

“Which road did he take?” Vetheren asks, voice rather thoughtful.

“Just the main one out, past the western hills. Why?”

“That's one of my roads. I could gather a couple of people to look for him.”

The guards exchange glances. “It's not a bad idea to send out a search, but you would have to go to Thendrin for permission to track one of his scouts. Perhaps not in the summer, but with the weather so dangerous he'll want to know.”

You recognize the name 'Thendrin' as one of the elders, an old elf in command of the small guard and patrol troops. He's a wiry, long-haired man, and from what you've heard used to be one of the more talented archers in your tribe. You remember him as a low-voiced, authoritative figure, one who directed the rescue of the children from the capture. He has a rather prominent home made of ice, shaped into a slightly elevated triangle. It's a bit bigger than most other homes, probably due to his ranking.

Vetheren turns to you. “Well?”

A. “Let's go talk to Thendrin.”

B. “Forget Thendrin, let's just hurry before the storm hits.”

C. “You can do what you want, but I'm going to stay here.”

>>1296902
A. “Let's go talk to Thendrin.”

“If we need to get permission, then we should, right?” You ask Vetheren, who nods in return. The two of you say goodbye to the guards, then walk back into town. A few more people have come out to inspect the weather conditions, then quickly go back inside. Your tribe seems a bit more on edge than they usually are.

“Just up ahead.” Vetheren points to the angled abode of Thendrin, the snow crunching softly under your boots. Only when you get closer to the building do you notice that the outside is etched in what appears to be a runic language? Or perhaps it's just incredibly detailed decorating. If it is a language, it's one that you have never seen before. The ice is carved at the top of the house in the shape of an old elven god, with wings on his back and a bird's face. You recognize this depiction as Ket'Rolan, the god of sunrise. This deity is usually portrayed as an idol to bring about favorable weather and growth. He must have slept in a little bit.

The protective door, a stone and wood fixture, has been opened. A light blue cloth trimmed with silver crosses gently flutters. From inside the house you smell the scents of sweet fruit and smoked meats... It's a pleasant scent. Vetheren looks at you, almost like he's asking for permission, then steps forward and pushes back the cloth without looking in.

“Elder Thendrin? It's Vetheren, the harvester of this season's crop.”

At first you hear nothing. Then, a deep, tired voice calls out. “...Come in.”

The two of you exchange glances, then step into the house and take care to pull the curtain behind you. You see a small tie on the entry frame, and look for a matching one on the cloth. Sure enough, there is one, and you make sure to fasten it shut. Once you're able to look into the home you're almost taken aback by how ridiculously well-crafted it is. The ice inside is magnificent, smooth and glittering despite the lack of sun. A table carved out of thick ice is in the center, bearing the embossed image of a huntsman chasing down an enormous elk, his bow raised and his feet outstretched into a sprint. You look up and see that the back part of the house has been cut off with a rich, dark blue silk cloth. You assume that must be his more private quarters. Your eyes trail back to the living space, furs of all different animals lining the ground and resting on low pillars.

>>1297307
You would like to look around some more, but there's no time. The man called Thendrin shows himself from behind the back curtain. He's much thinner than you last remember him, long, silver hair hanging to his waist. His back is arched into a bit of a hump, body heavy with age, and his hands are rather worn and spindly. “And you are Vetheren, yes?”

“Yes, Elder.” The elf next to you bows. “I won't take much of your time... We've just heard about the scout that was sent to Thor'Badur. We didn't get his name... He had been traveling on a route I am very familiar with, but has not yet returned. Which is why I'm asking for your permission to send out a small team to look for him, with my guidance.”

You watch as the old elf listens, locking eyes with Vetheren. It seems to worry your team leader a bit. You can hear him talking faster and faster with each word. Once the elf's grey eyes turn to lock with yours, you can see just why that uncertainty plagued Vetheren. Those eyes are incredibly intense, and you almost feel as if you're this huntsman's prey. The deep, raspy tone of his voice does little to ease those concerns.

“The scout's name is Maethre. He's one of our more experienced scouts.” Thendrin turns, sitting with a groan on one of the fur-laid pillars. “He knows the weather and he knows the roads. I really don't see the need to send out a search party, especially with the season growing colder.”

Vetheren looks to you.

A. “The weather is precisely why we need to send out a search team.”

B. “Maybe we should just forget this, Vetheren.”

I smell a plot hook.

A. “The weather is precisely why we need to send out a search team.”

>>1297312
>B. “Maybe we should just forget this, Vetheren.”

>>1297312
A
fuck you Thendrin

(I'll try to be a little more brief so things will move a bit faster. I do enjoy giving players lots of options, though, and having many routes to take.)

“The weather is precisely why we need to send out a search team.” You interject. “We can't abandon one of our own in the middle of a blizzard.”

Thendrin looks between the two of you, then lets out a low, growl-like hum. “Very well, if that's what you want. But you need to take at least one more person with you for safety.” He walks over to a small box in the room, and upon opening it the same smell of fruits and meats comes wafting out. “As well as some weapons for your defense. You two do know how to hold a bow steady, don't you?” You've had some experience with a bow and arrows, and even though you're no master like this man was you can certainly hit your target. Vetheren nods.

“Alright.” Thendrin takes out several dried slices of fruit and then sits at the ice-carved table. “My men are usually in the public dome on their days off guard duty. Unless you'd like to bring someone else along.” He waves you away, and you and Vetheren leave with the same uneasiness.

“...I know where they keep the ranged equipment for common defense.” Vetheren says, shattering the awkward silence. “It's just in case of an emergency, so we won't have to bring out any special weapons. As for the third member...” He trails off, thinking to himself. “...I suppose we should try to find one of Elder Thendrin's men. They're well-trained in these situations.”

You agree, and both of you head towards the common area. An opening has been shoveled clean from snow, and inside the dome-d building you can smell the aroma of sweet ale and smoked meats. You enter a little more eagerly, and find that despite the storm a fair amount of people have shown up. There are several of your tribesmen, grouped around a small fire and drinking mugs of fruit wine. You catch sight of a few guards off-duty, telling stories and sharing experiences. You also see a few of your own team from the night before, including Letharos who has a grin plastered on his face and a half-eaten chunk of elk meat in his hand.

You decide to approach one of these two groups first.

A. Approach Thendrin's men.

B. Approach your own team.

>>1297751
>A. Approach Thendrin's men.

>>1297751
A. Approach Thendrin's men.

I have a question which is when are we going to do more civ like stuff. Right now it looks like we're mostly just doing small time stuff. Not that I have a problem with this excellently written personal quest but I expect more stuff like making decisions affecting the whole village.

>>1298155
(It will start after you go out to look for the scout. What you're doing and what you're about to do will earn you enough influence over some... perhaps not with others... to be able to make decisions on a grander scale for your tribe. I wanted to be able to show things from a personal level, show the interactions, and show how things have developed. And to also show how things will present themselves technically in the future. But I know this is already very long, so I will shorten it down to just the most important parts.)

You and Vetheren walk towards the are where Thendrin's men are sitting. It takes a while for them to notice you two, but once they do they stop talking.

“Hey, you're two of the harvesters. I brought you into town last night.” One of the more 'burly men... Well. As 'burly' as an elf can really be... Spoke up. He points his mug at Vetheren. “None of you got hurt, though, did you?”

“Thank you. And no, no one was injured.” Vetheren nods in an appreciative gesture. “We're... Well. We're actually planning to go out again tonight to look for a scout who may have gotten lost in the storm.”

They look among themselves for a minute before the man speaks again. “Oh, right. Maethre. Well. I don't know if that's...”

“We got permission from Thendrin to go looking for him.” Vetheren interjects. All glance at each other again before nodding.

(1/2)

>>1298896
There are three men wearing the armor of the guards here.

There's the man Vetheren was engaged in conversation with...Jet black hair pulled into a tight tail behind his head, but eyes brown and rather playful. Upon further inspection you notice a hilted sword at his side and a smaller dagger on the opposite hip. His hands are much larger than either of his peers', and judging by the amount of empty mugs on his left side, but absolutely no sort of blush on his cheeks, you could assume he has quite a bit of stamina.

The man in the center is far taller, lithe, and is carrying a fancifully decorated bow on his back. From appearance and your assumptions alone, you think this might be a family heirloom passed down. He's holding a bread-folded piece of some type of red meat, and you notice that his hands aren't gloved. His fingers are long and slender, and his armor hugs tight to his lanky arms. For a second he locks eyes with you, looking you over with an icy grey gaze not dissimilar to Thendrin's, then smiles and turns back to Vetheren.

And the last man at the table... Is hooded. He hasn't said a word this entire time, but despite not being able to see any of his features you do notice two things. First, he has a long, thin rapier-type sword at his side. And second, the right arm of his coat bears a golden, embroidered buck with grand antlers. From your experience as an elf, you know that this is a crest to honor those who have hunted and killed some sort of exceptional prey. Matter of fact, you remember a rather large feast of roast elk and venison about two weeks ago. Was that because of this man?

A. Ask the first man if he'd like to go with you.

B. Ask the second man if he'd like to go with you.

C. Ask the third man if he'd like to go with you.

(IMPORTANT: Remember, you and Vetheren will be carrying the same ranged weapon of average quality. You two are also the same weight and height, and even built about the same. Consider that when making your decision.)

(2/2)

File: village map 1.png (390KB, 750x900px) Image search: [Google]

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(I made a quick map of your village, as well. As time goes on more places will have more titles when you discover them. Also, the red dot shows where you are currently. Aside from the two watch towers at the top of the page, unlabeled structures are either residential homes or unknown areas.)

>>1298896
Got it, thanks.

>>1298899
A. Ask the first man if he'd like to go with you.

“Would you like to come with us?” You look straight at the man on the far right who had initiated the conversation. “Thendrin said we needed to take more than two people.”

The three look between themselves again before he nods. “Well, why not. As long as we make it back before we're smothered in snow. And besides...” He grunts, pushing himself up. He's a little taller than you might have imagined. “I mean... It's one of our men, so it wouldn't be right not to do something. I'm Kelik, in case you need to know.”

“Vetheren. Let's be off quickly.”

The three of you make your way to the garrison, and you find little resistance taking just the regular bows from the armory. You have a feeling it wouldn't have been as easy if one of Thendrin's men wasn't with you. After a few minutes of finding the right weights and lengths appropriate for both you and Vetheren, you're off.

If the sky had any tint of blue to it the day would be nice. It wasn't too cold, and the light breeze that was sweeping down on the tundra had come to a halt. The snow on the ground was left to glitter against itself, crystallizing on the trees and flaking off before sliding down the rocks' smooth surfaces. It was quite beautiful.

“Stop.” A whisper from Vetheren halts the two of you in your tracks, though Kelik seems to have found a patch of icy ground to struggle standing upright on. Vetheren crouches to the ground, hand hovering over but not touching a thing. “...It was dark last night, and I didn't notice it before, but now I see it. Someone's been covering up the trails we've been making.”

“Covering up our trails? Why?” Kelik arches a thick eyebrow. “And who?”

“What tribes are out here besides our own?” Vetheren says, more or less thinking out loud to himself. “The dwarves... Ursine.” The word falls off his tongue breathlessly. “We need to keep moving.”

As if it were a testament to his warning, you hear a loud crack to your left. Kelik instantly unsheathes his sword, wrapping his hands around it and snarling. You and Vetheren follow suit, although a bit clumsily, moving behind him and drawing your arrows. “We've had problems with them before.” Kelik's voice becomes stronger, more commanding, and for a brief moment you feel like you're going to be alright. That is, until three Ursine carrying mauls and bearing their fangs come lumbering out of the thicket. They're nearly eight feet tall compared to your paltry five-foot-nothing. One of them growls lowly, and you hear the semblance of something that sounds like language.

But there's no talking back to them. The three obviously see you as a threat and they will wipe you out.

“Stand behind me!” Kelik's voice booms. You decide that's a good idea.

(Please stand by for battle information.)

File: vetheren and kelik.png (685KB, 1125x555px) Image search: [Google]

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(So I was just going to type this out, but it got too hectic and I made a graphic. Let me explain how this works. Just skip whatever's in the paragraphs if you don't need/want an explanation. Go ahead and look at Vetheren's side, that's the one I'll be using in the example. Vetheren's weapon stats and attacks are also the same as yours. You currently have no specialization. You will earn one later down the road.

Below the names are what's currently equipped and any ammunition/off-hands on the character. To the left of these details are the base HP that your character begins with. This is the initial HP and only the initial HP. To the right is a random weapon bonus rolled with a 1d6. I do have records of how I got these bonuses, but I won't post them unless someone asks to see them. In this case, Vetheren (and you, for the sake of brevity) has a +5 bonus to whatever you roll for him.

In the case of Kelik, who is allowed to attack twice per turn, the highest roll and the second highest roll will be taken. Kelik is allowed to use any of his attacks twice. Kelik also has the special ability to ignore the buffs of whoever he is fighting. In this case, the Ursine have a +2 buff to whatever they roll plus their random weapon bonus. If they attack Kelik, their +2 buff is forfeit.

You will be rolling a 1d20 to determine who does what. The highest roll is chosen. In the event that someone rolls a 20, it will be a critical hit (+5 to damage). If two people roll the same number, no matter what that number is, both damages will be applied. But if you roll a 1... Just. Don't roll a 1. Only one player may roll per turn. I will take the highest roll, then do the math and provide the results.

These abilities will be applied on a grander scale as the game progresses. If you have any questions, just ask me. Battle begins next post.)

File: vetheren and kelik.png (688KB, 1125x555px) Image search: [Google]

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>>1301438
Man I am just not on it today.

Updated post with information like hp and bonuses. Apologies, everyone, I have a memory problem.

File: ursine.png (278KB, 268x1366px) Image search: [Google]

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Your battle information: You and your team are facing down a troop of Ursine. You are wielding a shortbow with 24 arrows. Your attacks are... Quick shot (1d4 + 5) and Aimed shot (1d8 + 5, with 1 turn charge).

Racial: Elves are quick, even in combat. The elves will always attack first. You and Vetheren will also receive a +1 damage bonus because you are using bows.

Racial: The Ursine have a +2 buff to their damage due to being territorial.

Rolling order: Player, Kevik, Vetheren (just went alphabetical this time)
----

The Ursine bear their fangs, spittle trailing along their teeth as the hair on their backs begins to rise. You make the first move, your bow poised and an arrow at the ready. You see the Vetheren has yet to follow suit, but Kelik is crouched and ready to pounce.

It's your move.

From which direction did the slavers attack from By the way?

>>1302402
(You attacked the slavers at the north east of your camp. You don't know if that's where they originated, however.)