Acumin's Entrance- New PCs Please Post Here

Lichen · June 5, 2004, 08:50 PM

Acumin was a small town in the middle of the Dolwoods set directly on a large trade route. It had once been a large trade town, but those brightenings were now over. While the occasional trader was still quite welcome, most people didn't find Acumin to be worth their time. However, it's location meant that the town was in the middle of a large and well-used passageway, and Acumin's most interesting aspect meant that traders had long ago worn great tracks around the town. They formed a nearly perfect circle around the town, their tracks deflected by the very thing they were trying to avoid.

For when Acumin had been saved by it's patron Goddess Carmelya, the servant of the goddess had placed a great spell about the town. A practically impenetrable shield that so slowed down all who tried to enter that it would take several hours to pass through the shield. It was clear for the most part, the only visible signs of the great bubble-like spell the occasional glimmer as light hit the spell in just the correct fashion. Then the spell would scatter the light into a small rainbow like a prism, the light display easily visible from beneath the spell.

This clear filmy spell was attached to 5 rocks placed around the town at equal intervals. Each boulder was a large hunk of granite, and on each of them was a large black rune that had been burnt into the rock in such a fashion that there were grooves with each blackened mark.

Crossing through the spell, though possible, was exceptionally difficult. It felt like stepping in thick mud, only the mud was everywhere, and clear. Many people felt as though they were suffocating and it wasn't infrequent that one of the town's military would have to pull out a hyperventilating victim of sudden claustrophobia. For while most visitors couldn't make it through the shield without a great deal of trouble, those labeled as Carmelya's "chosen" could do so without problem. Druids, Rangers, animals, and those who'd devoted their life to the goddess could pass through the shield as though it was thin air. But those who did not hold the goddess at the core of their heart were delayed greatly. It was the perfect defense mechanism - it didn't require maintenance from the citizens, and stopped anyone who could possibly be a threat for long enough for the guards to get to them.

The guards did frequent the shield, taking turns to make the rounds and walk around the city, looking for those who were stuck. Anyone who was able to pass through freely generally made it through without being stopped by the guards; the rangers trusted their goddess's jurisdiction in such matters. Those who did get stuck in the shield were politely asked to hold up their visas while walking through and the rangers would come up to them and check them. Provided everything was in order with the visa and there was no reason for further questioning, travelers were allowed to make their way through.

Secrets :

Ylewain · June 9, 2004, 10:02 AM

Morning, Brightening 1 of the First Cycle of Ioannes
Spring of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era X Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening, the Mageocracy of Julos the Mad

The sight of Acumin came as a relief for Ylewain, having heard of what had befallen on the town, and she had half expected to be welcomed by ashes and desolation. It was obvious the village had not been left unscathed by the war, and even her hazy memories were enough to realize Acumin was much smaller. While Acumin had fortunately not ever been the equal to the big city, this Primus Gaudeo , she seemed to recall there were many more buildings the last time she came. Or was it so? Perhaps Acumin had been but a village during her lifetime, the brightenings of trading long gone.

And was she mistaken, or was the town more lively in her remembrance? This Acumin almost looked abandoned, and even the travellers did their best to avoid the town. For such was the other striking change ; the route circled the town, thus staying clear from something . Of course, Ylewain had heard the rumours of a shield surrounding the town, but she had hardly given them any credit then. She discarded such hearsays as being a deformed tale of an illusionist trick, if anything happened at all, as wanderers were always prone to magnify actual events. Confident in her beliefs, she resumed her walk towards the village.

A few steps were all that was needed to bring Ylewain to a halt. She found she could barely breathe, let alone make herself move, as thought she was entangled in... ropes? The thought was ludicrous even for herself, and a quick glance to the ground confirmed it was mere grass under her feet. She struggled to get moving once more, and slowly progressed inch by inch. She had finally acknowledged the fact that magic was at work, a particularly potent one if she could trust her hunch. Such a protection would be both a blessing and a bane, Ylewain mused, trying to distract her mind. While it would deter most attackers from coming anywhere near Acumin, the same went true for travellers and merchants, or the inhabitants themselves. At last she should find safety on the other side of this shield, she comforted herself, but even such a thought was bittersweet for her.

As she was still trying to cross the barrier, a guard headed in her direction and asked for her visa. It was merely a routinary check by the looks of it, since the watch handed her back her papers almost at once. Of this encounter, all that she could recall was that her mind was foggy, focused on the ache in her body, and she certainly failed to produce more than a few words in reply. The guard must have helped her to finish her crossing, and she lazily noticed he did not have the slightest difficulty to make it through the shield. A small part of her quetched that she had not been assister early, but she was above all satisfied to be done with her journey. It was well past morning she surmised, and the sunlight was becoming harsher for her. Thus Ylewain did not linger near the entrance, and made her way towards Acumin as quickly as she could.

Isaac · June 26, 2004, 11:37 PM

Continued from CIR History

Timestamp: Dusk, Dianaria of the second cycle of Ioannes
Summer of Era I in the Celestine Mandate
Era X Post Fractum in the Age of Darkening, the Truce of Demios and the Merfolk

Isaac continued down the path from the caves. It was still a little hard to see; the sun was sitting just over the horizon. It was that position in the sky where looking up would make anyone squint, especially one used to the dark. Still, it wasn't long before the sun had gone fully under, leaving behind streaks of crimson, orange, and gold. He looked around, still in some shallow thought, but now more concentrated on finding some shelter.

Isaac tread slowly and softly, as the sky had now changed to a dark blue, and the colors on everything in the world around him had faded into shades of gray. It wasn't as if the darkness was new to him--in fact it was welcome. His dark red eyes could see much more clearly in the darkness. Still, the idea of it in wide open unfamiliar spaces wasn't exactly a welcome thought. He had no clue what lingered out there, let alone what was dangerous. He picked up his pace a little, eager to find shelter, and constantly holding the knowledge that he could never find his way back.

Soon enough, he noticed some lights just a little ways off. This must be Acumin. Isaac knew of the town. He had heard his parents mention of the town once, although he was dropping eaves at the time. They were speaking of how they wanted to live in Acumin instead of Herozzal. He heard something about the Goddess Carmelyana, anger, and then some mumbling. Isaac didn't know much but a basic description and the fact that it was just outside the cave. Still, he didn't totally know what to expect.

He broke into a fast walk, then a job, then a run, then a sprint, in a hurry to get into the city. And then, he stopped. As if stuck in mid-air.

Isaac looked to his left, then his right. What in Jorel's name is going on? Why am I not moving? Then he noticed a little glint around him. It appeared he was caught in a sort of field. He struggled and it looked like he was moving, but he wasn't making much progress.

Totally confused, his next instinct was to shout. "Help! Help!"

Loudmouth · June 27, 2004, 03:18 PM

Issac

Issac screamed for help. He arose from the ground with not much knowing of what to do at all. As the young vysticci walked towards the town he failed to take notice of the barrier and like surely so many others would do, he was was stuck and unsure at all of what to do. A little cry of "help, help" rose from his scared throat. Time passed, not exatctly sure how long, the elf started feeling very fatigued and tired from just standing there. Suddenly two figures approached him. Just as he was about to black out two figured approached him. They seemed to move through this are of fuzzy existence around him with ease. The last thing Issac could remember was a hand around his neck carrying him into the town.

A few hours later Issac awoke only to find two guards looking down on him with blades pointing at his neck. He tried to moved only to find his hands and feet bound together using a very strong vine.

"State your buisness here vysticci scum."

Isaac · June 27, 2004, 04:47 PM

Isaac had been yelling for what seemed like an eternity. Time seemed to slow down in his fear and every minute seemed like an hour. In fact, he almost yelled himself to sleep. He kept yelling and didn't realize how thirsty he was. His loud screams had drained to an airy rasp, almost a whisper, but still with the same intensity. Out of sheer dehydration and fatigue, he passed out.

-------

"Hunh? Isaac awakened slowly. His eyes didn't seem to want to want to open; everything was blurred. His eyes were still regaining focus after his short slumber. He smacked his lips and looked around him after blinking a few times. Then he realized he could only turn his head upwards, lest he be impaled upon the blade of the swords of the two guards facing him.

The swords were quite close to his neck, pointing straight at it threateningly. Ok, this is bad. Very bad. He focused his red orbs upon the faces of the guards. They were definetly not Vysticchi. Their skin was lighter, for one. Their eyes were different, their ears were different, and their hair was different. They were just plain...different.

Isaac stood up. Well, tried too. His hands and feet were bound, forcing him to stay kneeling on the ground looking up at the guards. Then one of them spoke. "State your business here, Vysticchi scum."

What? Scum? What did I do? Isaac was once again perplexed. His parents mentioned few things 'outside the caves' when he was around, so he knew little of the races and villages outside Herozzal other than they existed. Obviously Vysticchi were not welcome here. But why?

After a second of thought he decided that asking these sort of questions at a time like this would be foolhardy. I s'pose I should start taking things one thing at a time from here on out. But how do I respond to question where even I don't know the answer? Isaac noticed his crimson eyes welling up a little out of confusion and fear, but he sucked it back in. Well, there's nothing else to say but what really happene,d I guess. "I...erm...came from Herozzal. I'm not really sure what I'm doing...I'm wandering I guess. What did I do wrong?"

Loudmouth · July 12, 2004, 05:10 PM

The Two guards looked at each other and began to laugh. "HAHAHA, I suppose you think your playing dumb gets by us now do ya?" they continued to laugh leaving the Vysticchi to merely wonder in a confused state. Perhaps had he been more wary to happenings outside of Herozzal he would understand the very real concern of these two guards. The Vysticchi and Acumin had not had a very well standing relationship at all.

The guard who had mocked him looked at him with an intense hatred. "I say we cut his throat now. Now one would miss him." The other seemed a bit more sympathetic however. he saw the tears swelling in the sides of the Issac's eyes. "No, don't. Lets take him to a holding area." The other looked up to him, his blade still inches from the neck of the Vysticchi. "Why would we even humor the little spy with another moment of life. Each breath is an insult to me."

The nicer of the two guards paused for a moment. He than bent to grab the arm of the other guard. "Let him live, hes only a child and perhaps he can be of use to the town at a later date." The man really had no idea but he didn't want to have the death of the young Vysticchi on his shoulders. The other guard smiled and evil grin and agreed. before the nicer of the two guards could bend to pick up young isaac the angered guard let out a kick right into the mid section of the elf. A surge of pain shot through his body before he could react at all.

With the pain from the kick still lingering, isaac felt himself being lifted up and carried somewhere. The pain became too much for his young body and once again he passed in an unconcience state.

He awoke later in what seemed like a prison cell only it was made completely of tangled vines and plant life. He realized his feet and hands were now unbound however his still had an awful pain in his mid section. Looking around the room it seemed quite bland and nothing much inhabited it but a man crouched in the corner of the cell with his face in his hands.

OOC: Isaac...pick up form this place here

Kalirren · July 21, 2004, 09:38 PM

(OOC: Timestamp (corrected): Imperos 3, 10 PF, just after the Jaedaxian ultimatum.)

Many things go in circles in the world, yet whenever they do they never really are the same upon their return to their origin - every circle is thus a full circle, no matter how fool-ish it may seem. Some circles are large, some small, and some don't even look like circles at all, more instead like the extended, convoluted paths of life, the last certainly being the case concerning one of the elves who was following a small merchant caravan nearing the bubble barrier. She hadn't been to Acumin in a good two hundred patterns, probably closer to two hundred and ten - she knew she had lost count, and didn't really care. It didn't matter, anyhow, and the less there was to remind her exactly how old she was, the better. It was a long circle she had walked, one which many of the lesser races wouldn't even have dreamt of starting. Neither had she at the time - but she had walked it, whether she had planned to or not, and there she found herself so close to her starting place.

She was seen walking up to the caravan leader; a few words were exchanged, then were valedictions. With the fluidity of a seasoned housewife the elf returned to the wagon beside which she had been walking and gathered her things from it as few as they were. A few coins, a carefully hidden note, and a set of clothes were all that she toted with her in an unremarkable shoulder bag as she parted ways with her escort, waving one last farewell, them proceeding around the hamlet, her directly into it. Calmly she walked, casually brushing aside her long amber hair. Her steps seemed controlled in a manner that spoke of past dignity even as she strode in the plainest and most drab of clothing. Perhaps it was the early morning moisture and coolness that was getting to her - Majora had barely risen to the point where somewhere in the sky there could be found the same sullen blue that Carmelya had used to paint her eyes, and further towards the twilight could be seen the shade of her skin, a bit too darkly blue for pure Medonian origin, of which she indeed was not.

She thought she heard something besides her slightly worn shoes rustling in the dew-tipped grass of morning. It sounded as if someone were calling her - not necessarily her, she thought, but there was almost no one else in sight, and a great deal of morning peace to disturb. She halted, and looked around, and saw a young human boy who couldn't have been older than twenty scrambling in her direction. "Wait up!" shouted the voice, now closer. Throwing the fool a supercilious glance that could be felt even at their distance, she kept walking, albeit slowly, also having changed her angle so as to make it easier on the poor fellow to catch up. She recognized him from the caravan - he was the one who told tall tales at the campfire every night for the girls.

"Missed the Acumin turnoff, eh?" shouted back the she-elf in nigh-accentuated Charismean. She waited until they were finally within reasonable conversational range before continuing. "That should show you not to spend so much time gawking at nubile young women over the light of a campfire at night. Makes you too drowsy to do good thinking in the morning. Especially when your thoughts are all flooded with Amelia right now..." The youngster appeared abashed. "Is it that obvious?" he asked, meekly. "As a-glisteningly clear as an icicle in winter," came the semi-sarcastic reply. Bested, he thought.

The two walked awhile longer in the morning before either uttered a word to the other, the human seemingly darting like a fly around the elf, who didn't seem to mind, if she noticed at all, as he kept respectable distance - but it would have been foolish to suppose that she was unintentionally oblivious. He, meanwhile, was taking his time to examine the true freak of nature that was walking before him, or so he thought her to be. "What's your name, anyhow? I never caught it."

The elf deigned to turn her head in his direction. "Who I am and what I call myself really is none of your business, young man, although you may call me Kalirren." It was then the young man's turn to look supercilious, or rather, however as supercilious as it was possible for a human to look, so silly it was that it brought quite an honest smile to Kalirren's face. "Yes, my name is Kalirren." she offered amidst suppressed laughs. "Aye, well, mine's Aidan." He offered a hand, which she took only after a few moments' worth of hesitance, and even then only lightly so. Had she been younger she would have been vain enough to wash it in the first pond she saw afterwards.

"What's so funny about your name, Kalirren?" asked Aidan as he walked with her then, less flightily than before. "Nothing really - it's just that when one gets older one learns a way to laugh at almost everything." She turned to look at him, then down to the ground in front of her, then back again. "It's either that or one becomes insane with senility. Some prefer that, you know. I think it's avoidable and would choose to avoid it if I were you." Goddess forbid. "Better to be the village idiot than not to be able to laugh at him."

She had only averted her eyes for a moment, but when she turned she found her travelling companion more than a few steps behind her, his hand still stuck in mid-gesture even as his eyes betrayed a somewhat different message. He had struck Carmelya's wall and was quite stuck in it. "Aidan, quit acting and get over here," she ordered as she strode up to him, annoyed. "What?! Quit talking and help me out of this, you silly elf!" came the even more annoyed reply. "Silly elf? I'll show you who's being silly now..." Like a mother who had put up with enough, she grabbed his outstretched arm and pulled with all her weight, just failing to wrench it out of its shoulder socket in the process. Surprised at the supernatural, her first instinct was to offer profuse apology, apology that was quickly cut short by a peeved Aidan telling her to try pushing from the back, complaining about his arm in the process.

The two struggled for a good few minutes before a ranger found them. It was a human man, a bit burlier than Aidan was, wearing an outdoorsman's outfit on his person and a stern expression of displeasure on his face. Before either Kalirren or Aidan knew what was happening, he was upon them, demanding to see their visas and travelling documents. It wasn't the typical example of everyday Acumin hospitality, but it was in a way understandable - to see a half-Vyssie and a human walking in together, and the latter be retained by the wall instead of the former, was an unsettling experience indeed. The she-elf presented her papers and answered a few tersely posed questions before she was summarily shooed off over her protests. Within a minute she had lost sight of Aidan, whom the ranger had calmed, and wasn't looking particularly forward to the welcome she was probably going to receive in the town itself.

Home, apparently, just simply wasn't going to be the same after two hundred-odd patterns.

Shatogtar · August 3, 2004, 02:18 PM

TIMESTAMP: Summer of Era X
In the Age of the
Darkening

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Shatogtar nervously aproached the village of Acumin, grasping the deed to a small one room hovel, his most prized possession. Not knowing how the people of the town will react to a half-Orc (an ugly half-Orc at that), he decided to take his chances anyway and slowly make his way to his 'home'.

As he entered the city limits, he felt something was slowing him. The air became thick, heavy, and he gasped and wheezed as he made his way forward. The terrain was grassy, mostly, but it felt like trudging through mud. His feet were heavy and he could barely walk. Puzzled, he attributed it to fatigue (after all that walking, he's bound to be tired) and carried on. As he walked forward, it became more and more difficult to move. He gasped, and fell to the ground, coughing and wheezing.

'Muuuuuhma!', he cried and raised his arms to the sky, cursing his foolishness and hoping that whatever is causing this won't kill him. Fragments of his life, the life he left behind, flashed before his eyes: his mother, who loved him despite the fact he was the product of rape, his father, Gogg Ratface, a short and weak Snaga, the Orcish whelps who kicked him around just for fun... He remembered their voices, their developing tusks and their guttural laughter. 'Dobat! Dobat! Get up lil' peck! Get up lil' peck!', he could hear the echo in his head. Slowly, he got on all fours and began crawling.

'Rrrrngrrr... Lil' peck getting up!', he roared, and crawled on, determined to pass this field of energy. After over two hours of aimlessly wandering, he collapsed on the ground again, completely exhausted.

'Thissiz it. Gunna die.', he muttered before losing consciousness. He woke up an hour later, and with great difficulty continued on. Finally, after hours of agony, he came to a small one room hovel - his new home.

'Home...', he gasped as he slowly stood up (he could no longer feel the protective field) and looked upon the ruinous little cottage.

Aerynth · October 23, 2004, 10:30 AM

Steping out from the clearing of the woods from the north, Aerynth could see the town his uncle had told him so much about. Drawing both of his blades holding them out directly in front of him, he kneels down and looks for any movement between him and Acumin's gates. After watching for a few minutes, and is fairly positive that none of the undead beasts are lurking around rests his blades and stands up.

Walking towards the gates he notice's a strange aura like glow, it can only be seen from time too time but after hearing about the undead in the area, its enough too make him quicken his pace. Now at a jog Aerynth heads into the city.

Cheshire · October 23, 2004, 08:33 PM

As Aerynth paced quickly across the clearing, he heard a snapped twig to his left. Upon turning, the Jagari noticed two male humans, one too old and the other too young for guards. They were dressed in green robes with chainmail cuirasses thrown over the top. These were no warriors, but they wielded swords and longbows. They hailed the Katta as he passed.

"Hey! What is your business? We accept you as a friend, since you have passed through the spell unhindered, but we are very shaken since the undead and vysticchi destroyed our village."

They eyed Aerynth's blades, still drawn, and the older of the two rangers slid his hand slowly closer to his own sword. The motion was practiced, though much too obvious for someone with much combat experience. Aerynth could tell he was at least on par with this guy for combat, but what about the younger? Could the Katta take two? Did he need to? They said they accepted him as a friend.

Aerynth · October 23, 2004, 10:33 PM

Aerynth halts his jog and listens to the Rangers. Taking a quick glance at Older Rangers hand moving towards his sword, he shifts his view directly into The Rangers Eyes. Speaking soft but clearly as he lowers his swords into the straps on his back.

" Serale, I am Aerynth. My Uncle has told me of the attack here in Acumin. He grew up here in Acumin, and has been praying for the city ever since he got news of the town being attacked... His prayers is the only help he can offer now unfortunatly, him now being too old too travel, let alone fight. But he sent me too assist in any way I can.

Reaching into his pack Aerynth gets out a flask of water, and a deed. Aerynth hands the rangers the deed, and then take's a large sip of water. While putting the flask back into his pack, he speaks again.

Has every building been destroyed, or did they spare some? This was my uncles home a long time ago, he gave it too me so I can have somewhere too stay while I assist in helping Acumin get back on its feet.

Aerynth smiles faintly, and waits for the rangers reply.

Cheshire · October 23, 2004, 10:57 PM

The older of the two rangers relaxed at Aerynth's words. The katta seemed nice enough, and he intended to help out. The barrier had not stopped him, so it must have been fine. He frowned a little when he mentioned the destruction, replying.

"Well, sir Katta, there are no buildings left except the Inn. We rebuild quite a bit, after Carmelya saved us. The city is quite natural now. We've stopped logging and a fountain springs fresh water all year round. No evil can enter. We are truly Carmelya's chosen."

He cleared his throat, a little dry from speaking, and motioned for the Jagari to follow him.

"Just follow us back to town, and we'll discuss this property issue."

Aerynth · October 23, 2004, 11:13 PM

Making sure his swords hilts are well positioned for a quick draw if needed, and a slight adjustment too his pants and hes ready too go onward.

Aerynth hasnt traveled this far too turn back, he hasnt much choice but too follow the two Rangers in too the town.

Kiesam Girhaldson · December 15, 2004, 04:35 AM

5th Brightening of Melora
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XI PF of the Age of the Darkening

Sam's wanderings had led him around the Empire. Anywhere that was far from the coast had beckoned him. He'd never had a chance to leave home, and with his home long gone, he found himself unable to truly settle to one place. Everywhere he went, his father seemed to follow him, peace seeming to fade before his eyes. Despite his distance from everything that was familiar, he could not escape the memories of his parents. The mountains, with their snowy peaks and bitter cold, had done little more than give him mild frostbite. He was hoping that perhaps he would soon find some place where the memories would not be so vivid, but he feared that perhaps they were something only time would dispel.

In the meantime, he was low on supplies and in need of a soft bed on which to sleep. The tiny town in front of him, though odd, likely had such for him to purchase. So despite the strange glimmering of the town, Sam dismounted his tired gelding and proceeded to walk into the village.

Or, at least, he tried. The instant he touched that glimmering air in front of the verdant town, he became stuck as if he'd fallen into tar. Frowning, he pushed his foot forward, using all the force his body could provide, discovering that it led only to a slow forward movement. The horse, however, nickered at him and put it's head down to graze, seemingly unconcerned at Sam's sudden miring in clear air. Grunting, Sam continued trying to walk, unable to think of any other solution to this strange phenomenon. Backwards wasn't a pleasing option, and the fact that the very air pushed him out made Sam even more determined to push back in. He'd gotten about 5 feet when a Ranger found him and told him that the forcefield was a protective spell that would merely slow him down. The ranger's words weren't terribly reassuring, despite the explanaition. They caused a tinge of pain; his father had been a ranger. Despite this, Sam pushed on, leading his horse (who continued to graze contentedly all the way through, unperturbed by the field). The darkening had fallen by the time that Sam was through... but he'd made it, and so with a bit of weary satisfaction he headed off to find himself the local inn.

S'Lon · February 19, 2005, 03:42 PM

Thera, sixth brightening of the third cycle of Melora,
Spring of Era II

S'Lon waved farewell to the Naturan ranger who had shown him the way here and watched as the man slipped back into the Dolwoods leaving not the slightest trace of his presence.

S'Lon studied the village and noticed curiously a slight shimmer in the air where the sunlight caught what appeared to be a huge dome. It was like nothing he had ever seen before and wondered if it was related to something that had amused the other ranger on the way here.

Eventually he shrugged and decided that it wasn't going to become obvious by itself and so he walked into the village heading for a building that he guessed was going to be the Ranger Hall. Certainly it seemed a relaxed place and even the guards of which there weren't many ignored him other than a casual wave. He pushed the visa back into the oilskin pouch where it lived and continued on into the village. The strange shimmer in the air would have to wait for an explanation it seemed.