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Onwards and Upwards

Started by Tymewalk, Oct 21, 2019, 03:18:54 PM

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Tymewalk

Out in the distant fields lies the Tower of Ages, a tower rumored to have been built by the gods themselves, filled to the brim with powerful monsters and untold riches. It stands so tall that when looking up from the bottom, it almost seems as if it goes on forever. The tower looms over all of the surrounding towns, and is somewhat of a famous landmark. But one thing shines above it all - it is said that it was built as a trial of strength and ability, so that whoever makes it to the top of the tower would be deemed worthy of the power of the gods themselves - capable of obtaining whatever their heart desires.

For a variety of reasons, this greatly interests you and your party, and you've decided to set out and climb the tower yourselves. You're confident you can make it in and get started on your adventure. Whether you make it to the end in one piece, however, is another story...

The Game
This is a GMed game which uses a d20. Buffs/debuffs are applied based on certain things such as injuries, your element (see The Magic System below), attributes/abilities, etc. I'll try and post turns as soon as possible, once everyone has posted their actions. (If you don't plan to do anything this turn, feel free to say so - having your character look around, talk to someone, or something like that is enough.)

The Magic System
The magic system is relatively basic, but can go a long way in helping you survive.

There are five elements: fire, water, earth, air, and lightning. Each lets you channel small amounts of that element - so small bolts of lightning or bursts of air, for example, can all be fired off at will (provided your current environment allows for that). Of course, they're not terribly useful as those elements alone, so each of them represent a deeper concept connected to their element.

- Fire represents damage and volatility. It's related to strengthening attacks and mixing things up. Control is not an issue at all. Using it offensively results in rapid bursts of damage. Using it defensively is hard, and mostly results in countering attacks rather than blocking them.
- Water represents healing and tranquility. It's related to healing, of course, but also slowing things down and taking it easy. Using it offensively is limited, but involves trying to stop opponents long enough to focus a more precise attack on them. Using it defensively revolves around the same concept, moving smoothly to dodge attacks and stop enemies in their tracks.
- Earth represents protection and stability. It's related to defenses such as walls and armor, and holding your ground. Offensively, Earth is blunt, brute-force damage, like hitting something with a giant rock. Defensively is where it shines - creating magical walls and barriers is no problem at all for Earth specialists.
- Air represents dodging and deceit. Air users can blast air around to move quickly or knock opponents off guard. Offensively and defensively, it revolves around striking lightly but moving quickly. Air uses its low power to its advantage, by striking where opponents least expect it. Air specialists can dodge exceedingly well, and use this to their advantage in all situations.
- Lightning represents precision and careful strikes. Lightning is powerful, but only when concentrated - missing your shots doesn't have a ton of splash damage. Jumping around quickly and aiming carefully is where Lightning specialists work best, hoping to strike only once, but really well.

For these in action, here's how each specialist would likely punch and block an incoming arrow:

- Fire's punch would be quick and strong. It'd be somewhat chaotic, focusing on a blend of strength and speed, at the cost of accuracy. After all, fire isn't a very precise tool - it spreads quickly if not contained.
- Water's punch would be swift and steady. By being smooth, it prevents having much recoil at the cost of damage output. Water users rarely get hurt by their own attacks.
- Earth's punch would be pretty obvious - as if you got hit with a ton of bricks. It's slower, but much, much firmer - it can easily knock people down if they're not prepared to block it.
- Air's punch is the lightest, but also the fastest. It's comparable to a quick slap, but the key thing about Air is that is can be chained together. One slap on the arm might not be much, but try ten or twenty in quick succession - it'd hurt pretty fast.
- Lightning's punch would be comparable to fire, but more precise. It's almost like a mix of Fire and Air - it's not as powerful as Fire or as quick as Air, but it's strong like Fire and precise like Air.

- Fire's block would probably deal damage back to whoever shot the arrow.
- Water's block would stop the arrow before it hit anything.
- Earth's block would tank the arrow as a hit, like a suit of armor.
- Air's block would be less of a block and more of a dodge. If an Air specialist couldn't dodge, they could blast it out of the air, albeit very imprecisely.
- Lightning's block would deflect the arrow out of the air.


Sign-Up Sheet
Name:
Appearance:
Gender:
Why do you want to climb the tower?:
Class of Magic: (Pick one.)
Other:

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
(Leave the bottom half of the sign-up sheet as-is, it makes life easier on me.)

Current Characters
Quote from: DaEpikDudeName: Isaac
Appearance: Fairly tall, but he doesn't look strong or well-built (more lanky). Untidy brown hair that always seems to be a bit too long.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Isaac is interested mostly in the tower's history, and he'd like to make some great discovery about its origin. He claims he just wants to further the study of its history and that the knowledge will be its own reward, but really he's in it for the recognition.
Class of Magic: Lightning
Other: Can be quite stubborn at times, for better or for worse.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Quote from: CrazeePiName: Bree
Appearance: Strong-looking, has short black hair with a pony tail
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Bree desires to be the strongest, and hopes become stronger both through overcoming trials of the tower and obtaining the power of the gods.
Class of Magic: Earth
Other: Extremely stubborn, would probably attempt to wield a two handed with one hand no matter how unwieldy it may be.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Quote from: seanbobeName: Lan
Appearance: Red hair and green eyes.
Gender: Ambiguous
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Lan wants to get medicine to cure their brother's illness.
Class of Magic: Water
Other: Is somewhat emotionless and secretive.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Quote from: DarkName: Anhwyl
Appearance: A young woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair, a fiery red, is now streaked with the grey of someone much older. Her frame is lean and slight, her complexion as deathly pale as a corpse. Her eyes that were once blue have begun to lose their colour, fading into a blank white.
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Anhwyl desperately seeks a cure for her curse, and faced with impending death turns to the tower as a final resort.
Class of Magic: Air
Other: Anhwyl was born with a hereditary degenerative curse inherited from her late father. Over time, skin, hair, eyes, and all other tissues slowly lose their colour and the bones begin to weaken. The condition causes increased sensitivity to light, temperature changes, and impacts. Rapidly degrading skeletal integrity results in death before the age of thirty.

Inventory: Leather Cap, Leather Tunic, Leather Pants
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: Hereditary Curse (more vulnerable to impacts, sensitive to extreme temperatures and light)
Quote from: TheLastDinoName: Leonhardt
Appearance: Man who looks to be about 24. A diagonal scar runs from just above his left eye to just below his right eye; a cut from which he nearly lost his sight. His pitch black hair is cut short and neat, and his eyes glow a stormy grey just below. Decade-old burns are scattered around his body.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Leonhardt views the tower as the ultimate challenge in his quest to become stronger.
Class of Magic: Fire
Other: He has a younger half-sister who is a skilled chef. Maybe skill with a blade runs through the family.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Blunderbus

Name: Isaac
Appearance: Fairly tall, but he doesn't look strong or well-built (more lanky). Untidy brown hair that always seems to be a bit too long.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Isaac is interested mostly in the tower's history, and he'd like to make some great discovery about its origin. He claims he just wants to further the study of its history and that the knowledge will be its own reward, but really he's in it for the recognition.
Class of Magic: Lightning
Other: Can be quite stubborn at times, for better or for worse.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
join Fragmented Future to RIDE A TRAIN! WOOOOOOO YEAH, TRAINS, BABY!

Joyous Theta

#3
Name: Bree
Appearance: Strong-looking, has short black hair with a pony tail
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Bree desires to be the strongest, and hopes become stronger both through overcoming trials of the tower and obtaining the power of the gods.
Class of Magic: Earth
Other: Extremely stubborn, would probably attempt to wield a two handed with one hand no matter how unwieldy it may be.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None

Seanbobe

Name: Lan
Appearance: Red hair and green eyes.
Gender: Ambiguous
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Lan wants to get medicine to cure their brother's illness.
Class of Magic: Water
Other: Is somewhat emotionless and secretive.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
My joke RPG: Instructions Unclear: The RPG of Memes
My serious RPG: Stop the Spambots!
My offline life: error 404

Tymewalk

Quote from: DaEpikDudeName: Isaac
Appearance: Fairly tall, but he doesn't look strong or well-built (more lanky). Untidy brown hair that always seems to be a bit too long.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Isaac is interested mostly in the tower's history, and he'd like to make some great discovery about its origin. He claims he just wants to further the study of its history and that the knowledge will be its own reward, but really he's in it for the recognition.
Class of Magic: Lightning
Other: Can be quite stubborn at times, for better or for worse.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Quote from: CrazeePiName: Bree
Appearance: Strong-looking, has short black hair with a pony tail
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Bree desires to be the strongest, and hopes become stronger both through overcoming trials of the tower and obtaining the power of the gods.
Class of Magic: Earth
Other: Extremely stubborn, would probably attempt to wield a two handed with one hand no matter how unwieldy it may be.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Quote from: seanbobeName: Lan
Appearance: Red hair and green eyes.
Gender: Ambiguous
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Lan wants to get medicine to cure their brother's illness.
Class of Magic: Water
Other: Is somewhat emotionless and secretive.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
All accepted. I'll start when we have at least 4-5 people.
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Dark

Name: Anhwyl
Appearance: A young woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair, a fiery red, is now streaked with the grey of someone much older. Her frame is lean and slight, her complexion as deathly pale as a corpse. Her eyes that were once blue have begun to lose their colour, fading into a blank white.
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Anhwyl desperately seeks a cure for her curse, and faced with impending death turns to the tower as a final resort.
Class of Magic: Air
Other: Anhwyl was born with a hereditary degenerative curse inherited from her late father. Over time, skin, hair, eyes, and all other tissues slowly lose their colour and the bones begin to weaken. The condition causes increased sensitivity to light, temperature changes, and impacts. Rapidly degrading skeletal integrity results in death before the age of thirty.

Inventory: Leather Cap, Leather Tunic, Leather Pants
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Date registered: Apr 17, 2013, 06:27:41 AM

Dino

#7
Name: Leonhardt
Appearance: Man who looks to be about 24. A diagonal scar runs from just above his left eye to just below his right eye; a cut from which he nearly lost his sight. His pitch black hair is cut short and neat, and his eyes glow a stormy grey just below. Decade-old burns are scattered around his body.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Leonhardt views the tower as the ultimate challenge in his quest to become stronger.
Class of Magic: Fire
Other: He has a younger half-sister who is a skilled chef. Maybe skill with a blade runs through the family.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None

Tymewalk

#8
Quote from: DarkName: Anhwyl
Appearance: A young woman in her mid-twenties. Her hair, a fiery red, is now streaked with the grey of someone much older. Her frame is lean and slight, her complexion as deathly pale as a corpse. Her eyes that were once blue have begun to lose their colour, fading into a blank white.
Gender: F
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Anhwyl desperately seeks a cure for her curse, and faced with impending death turns to the tower as a final resort.
Class of Magic: Air
Other: Anhwyl was born with a hereditary degenerative curse inherited from her late father. Over time, skin, hair, eyes, and all other tissues slowly lose their colour and the bones begin to weaken. The condition causes increased sensitivity to light, temperature changes, and impacts. Rapidly degrading skeletal integrity results in death before the age of thirty.

Inventory: Leather Cap, Leather Tunic, Leather Pants
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Accepted. Just keep in mind you'll be more vulnerable as a result of the curse - I'm assuming you're okay with that.
Quote from: TheLastDinoName: Leonhardt
Appearance: Man who looks to be about 24. A diagonal scar runs from just above his left eye to just below his right eye; a cut from which he nearly lost his sight. His pitch black hair is cut short and neat, and his eyes glow a stormy grey just below. Decade-old burns are scattered around his body.
Gender: M
Why do you want to climb the tower?: Leonhardt views the tower as the ultimate challenge in his quest to become stronger.
Class of Magic: Fire
Other: He has a younger half-sister who is a skilled chef. Maybe skill with a blade runs through the family.

Inventory: Leather Tunic, Leather Pants, Leather Cap
Status: Healthy
Abilities/Attributes: None
Accepted.

That makes 5, so I'll go ahead and start in just a bit.
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Tymewalk

The group of five stands in front of the large tower.

The massive behemoth looms over the party, giving everyone a strange feeling as they walk up. It's exactly as intimidating as the rumors said it would be, the doors giving off a faint, menacing aura.

Collectively, the group pushes the large double doors, and they swing open, the light from the outside shining brightly on the dimly lit interior. A few torches line the walls, giving the back half of the room a faint yellow glow.

First Floor

Stepping in, the party can see the well-worn path leading into the room. At the end of the path lies a pack of four tigers - clearly the guardians of this place, no doubt. As they begin prowling towards the party, it's clear that they've seen many an adventurer before. The tigers prepare to lunge as the doors slam shut and the room seems to get warmer, reinforcing that the adventure truly has begun - and hopefully, will continue on past these vicious beasts.
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Dino

"And so it begins," Leonhardt says with a grin. He waits for a tiger to lunge before shooting fire at it while dodging.

Blunderbus

"Resistance already, huh?"
Isaac prepares to try and dodge any of the tigers that attack him.
join Fragmented Future to RIDE A TRAIN! WOOOOOOO YEAH, TRAINS, BABY!

Seanbobe

Lan braces themself, preparing to send a spray of water at anything that moves toward them suddenly.
My joke RPG: Instructions Unclear: The RPG of Memes
My serious RPG: Stop the Spambots!
My offline life: error 404

Joyous Theta

Bree stands her ground and prepares to punch a tiger out of the air.

Dark

Anhwyl hangs back, keeping close to the door and allowing the others to engage first. Meanwhile she scans the room, looking for escape routes, potential weapons, or dust and debris on the floor.

If there is a torch nearby, she takes it from the wall.
Date registered: Apr 17, 2013, 06:27:41 AM

Tymewalk

Quote from: TheLastDino"And so it begins," Leonhardt says with a grin. He waits for a tiger to lunge before shooting fire at it while dodging.
Quote from: DaEpikDude"Resistance already, huh?"
Isaac prepares to try and dodge any of the tigers that attack him.
Quote from: seanbobeLan braces themself, preparing to send a spray of water at anything that moves toward them suddenly.
Quote from: CrazeePiBree stands her ground and prepares to punch a tiger out of the air.
The four tense themselves up, preparing to fight. They lock eyes with the tigers briefly, the tension only breaking when one tiger launches itself straight at the group, right towards Bree.

Leonhardt: 3

Leonhardt attempts to blast the tiger, but in the sudden break in tension, seems to stumble and miss completely. The plume of flame coming from his hand is enough to knock him back, but thankfully doesn't injure anyone else.

(No roll for Isaac, no tigers are attacking him.)

Lan: 3

Lan does the same, but similarly misses, stumbling backwards into Leonhardt as the water splashes down on the pair.

Bree: 17

Fortunately for the pair who seem to have fumbled, Bree stands her ground, and slams her fist straight into the oncoming tiger's throat. The force is enough to send the tiger flying a moderate distance away, landing on the ground with a loud "whud".

The other tigers stare at Bree, and then at the pair lying on the ground, and begin making their advances. If they weren't angry before, they certainly are now.
Quote from: DarkAnhwyl hangs back, keeping close to the door and allowing the others to engage first. Meanwhile she scans the room, looking for escape routes, potential weapons, or dust and debris on the floor.

If there is a torch nearby, she takes it from the wall.
Anhwyl grabs a torch from the wall, being careful to avoid the ongoing fight, and searches around for any clues.

The floor doesn't seem to be that dusty, although it has its fair share of grime, likely from the travelers who come here often. Claw marks can be found scattered around the stone flooring.

Off in a corner, Anhwyl can see a rusted sword. There's no telling how long it's been there, or how useful it might be, but it's better than nothing.
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Blunderbus

Isaac stays back, and fires a bolt of electricity at the tiger Bree hit.
join Fragmented Future to RIDE A TRAIN! WOOOOOOO YEAH, TRAINS, BABY!

Dark

#17
Anhwyl skirts around the edges of the room to the sword and picks it up, passing the torch into her off hand. If the downed tiger is nearby, she attempts to finish it off with a thrust to the neck. If not, or if the others have already taken care of it, she circles back around to the safety of the group.
Date registered: Apr 17, 2013, 06:27:41 AM

Seanbobe

Lan prepares a small wall of water to act as a shield.
My joke RPG: Instructions Unclear: The RPG of Memes
My serious RPG: Stop the Spambots!
My offline life: error 404

Joyous Theta

Extremely confident after hitting the first tiger, Bree speaks up. "OI, YE THREE WANNA GO FOR A ROUND TOO HUH?" she shouts at the other three tigers, "DON'T CHA WORRY, I'LL STAND STILL FOR YA." Bree creates earth around her feet in order to stop her from moving as she gets ready to do some more tiger punching.

Dino

Leonhardt scowls and repeats the action.

Tymewalk

Quote from: DaEpikDudeIsaac stays back, and fires a bolt of electricity at the tiger Bree hit.
Isaac: 16

The bolt of electricity manages to shock the tiger, leaving it completely incapacitated. There's no way it's getting up, at least, not soon enough for it to be the group's problem.
Quote from: DarkAnhwyl skirts around the edges of the room to the sword and picks it up, passing the torch into her off hand. If the downed tiger is nearby, she attempts to finish it off with a thrust to the neck. If not, or if the others have already taken care of it, she circles back around to the safety of the group.
(The downed tiger is taken care of. Anhwyl is now standing behind the rest of the group.)
Quote from: seanbobeLan prepares a small wall of water to act as a shield.
Lan gathers some nearby water from the ground to form a bit of a floating blob. It doesn't have any particular shape or form, but it can be manipulated to try and slow down any incoming attacks.
Quote from: CrazeePiExtremely confident after hitting the first tiger, Bree speaks up. "OI, YE THREE WANNA GO FOR A ROUND TOO HUH?" she shouts at the other three tigers, "DON'T CHA WORRY, I'LL STAND STILL FOR YA." Bree creates earth around her feet in order to stop her from moving as she gets ready to do some more tiger punching.
Bree raises the earth around her feet, locking her in place as the tigers prepare to make their move.
Quote from: TheLastDinoLeonhardt scowls and repeats the action.
Leonhardt: 1

Unfortunately for Leonhardt, he loses his balance upon trying to throw the bolt. He misses completely, the bolt of fire hitting Lan's shield from behind and boiling up some of the water with a sizzle.

Drawing the tigers' attention, one of them lunges at Lan, while another heads for Leonhardt, and the third one heads for Bree.
Whosoever holds this banhammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of moderaThor...
he/him | Text Based Games Forums Discord Server | Just Dance 2014 | (つo.o)つ It's Kirby!
back on the road, back down the road, downtown, i don't have courage but i have something else - and it's more than words

Seanbobe

Lan blocks with the shield and tries to dodge.
My joke RPG: Instructions Unclear: The RPG of Memes
My serious RPG: Stop the Spambots!
My offline life: error 404

Blunderbus

Isaac runs towards Lan, hoping to punch the tiger if it gets stuck in the water shield.
join Fragmented Future to RIDE A TRAIN! WOOOOOOO YEAH, TRAINS, BABY!

Dino

"Tch," Leonhardt spits. He attempts to dodge the tiger.

Joyous Theta

Bree gets ready to punch another tiger out of the air.