Excuse the long post, but since some can't access FB, I'll just put it here, long as it is. I tried to break it up, and I probably missed a few mistakes, but here it is:
Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Roleplay
Ethan (Brynjolf)
Kelsey (Karliah)
The Hunter's Blades: Chapter 1 "Open Your World"
Brynjolf and Karliah had always been together. Brother and Sister, orphaned at 10, were left to fend for themselves on the rough city streets of Luskan. They spent their night sleeping in alleyways and their days stealing and begging to meet basic needs like food and water. This desperate life of crime lasted until they turned fourteen, when they were approached by a man from the Basadoni Guild of Thieves, named Jaxyn. He explained to them that he could offer pay, shelter, and protection, as long as they worked for him and did as they were told. Eager to escape the streets, they made their deal with the devil. They soon found themselves lodged in a rundown halfway house, filled with pick pockets and thugs, but to them it was a palace. For the first time in their lives they had daily food, and beds. They worked for Jaxyn for four years, stealing and intimidating, occasionally killing. On their 18th birthday, they were approached by Jaxyn again. This was strange, as he normally communicated with them through runners and secret drop points. He told them to gather their possessions and follow him.
After gathering their things and finding him outside, they walked with him as he talked. "Today you will be brought before the Guild Master, as is the custom when a Lieutenant vouches for you." he said. They then knew that Jaxyn had put in a good word for them, and their hearts raced. Jaxyn had looked after them for four years now, and he was as much a father figure as anyone they had even known. His confidence in them made them happy beyond words. "Stop smiling, fools." he said, barely suppressing his own smile, for indeed he had come to see them as his children.
"Listen, the Guild Master will test you. If you succeed, you will be welcomed fully into the Guild. You will be given many opportunities, if you continue to work hard you will see your coin purses stuffed full, and your reputation grow in kind." he said. He slapped Brynjolf hard on the back of the head and said "Stop smiling! I'm serious! You don't know it yet, but what you are being given is both a gift and a curse. In the Guild, you will never go hungry again, you will have a warm bed and coin should you desire it. Be warned though, your jobs will be difficult and dangerous, and you will be surrounded by rivals. Rivals who want what you want, money, fame, and power. If they perceive you to be weak, or a threat to their advancement, they will come for you. The Guild does not interfere in such things, the weak will not survive this life, only the cunning and the talented. You may die, but you might also live, and reach fame such as I have achieved."
Jaxyn was a name every person in the city knew. He was feared and respected, so much so he walked the streets openly, knowing none but the most powerful Guilds would dare touch him, and even then he would hear of it beforehand. Jaxyn's network extended over the entire city. In his employ were beggars, thieves, merchants, city watchmen, nobles, even members of rival Guilds. Jaxyn was one of the Lords of the Underworld in Luskan, and had earned that title with hard work and blood. Now he was offering these two that same chance. He had raised them, trained them, and though he wouldn't show it outwardly, he cared for them. Jaxyn had confidence in these two, but still he was worried for them. Many recruit's lives were cut short by a rival's blade. Still, he had done all he could to prepare them, and their fate was now their own.
"Knock on the door three times, then twice, then three times again. You will be asked your names and purpose, do not lie, or you will be slain." he told them as he walked off, leaving them in front of a door. They gazed at the building in front of them, old it was, weatherbeaten and decrepit. It looked as if a strong wind might knock it over. They thought maybe he was playing a joke on them, surely this could not be The Basadoni Guild. Suddenly, the hair on their necks stood on end, they felt as though they were being watched from every direction. The street was deserted, nothing, not even a rat, moved on it. The feeling of being watched grew, they felt danger, and quickly they knocked on the door. A panel slid open, and a man whispered, "Who are ye? Why have ye come?" They looked at each other, still afraid. "W-we're Brynjolf and Karliah, respectively, s-sir. We're here to m-meet the Guild Master." he stammered. The man behind the door laughed harshly, and opened the door. "Jaxyn's brats then? Bah, look like a couple of rats to me." he said, eyeing them critically. "Still, if he says you've got potential, you just might be worth lookin' at." he remarked, and gestured them in.
They couldn't believe their eyes once they looked around. Exotic wood paneled the wall, decorative stone made up the floor. Silk tapestry flowed from the ceiling, and rare incense burned on the tables. Paintings, statues, and weapons decorated the place. Cushions were piled high everywhere, and fine rugs ran along the floor. This was grander than any Palace they had ever imagined, and all of it was hidden behind the facade of a ruined building. They were escorted, wide eyed, to the top floor. Each floor seemed more and more grand than the last, if that were possible. At last they reached the top floor, a single hallway stretched before them, with a single door at the end. The decorations were as grand as all the other floors here, but something was different. Karliah could feel magic in the air, as if a hundred spells protected this place. In truth, it was more than that.
The door opened as they approached, and before them sat a rather ordinary looking man. Most of his room lay in deep shadow, so little could be seen besides him and his golden chair. He stood up, and they bowed their heads and knelt as they were instructed by Jaxyn to do here. "So, you are the children Jaxyn has told me of. Yes. Yes, perhaps you will do. How long have you worked for Jaxyn, young ones?" he said, his voice flowed like water and his demeanor was gentle, but he spoke with a tangible feeling of authority. "Four years, Lord." Karliah managed to say. "Indeed, four years, and according to Jaxyn, you are more than common thugs. According to him, you would make excellent additions to the Guild. I wonder at that." he said, and sat back down.
He let them stew in the silence and they became even more uncomfortable. What should they do? What should they say? Their doubt gnawed at them, until at last Karliah spoke up, "Excuse my speaking out of turn, Lord, but Jaxyn said you had a job for us?" The man laughed, he stood up and eyed them again. "Very good, you have initiative. I like that. I don't need beggars here, you see, I need people who can act on their own intuition and get the job done, efficiently. So yes, I have a task for you. If you should return successful, you will have my favor, and I will welcome you to my Guild. If you should fail, well, lets just say you won't have to worry about much of anything after that. The dead seldom worry about anything, I hear." he said, giving the threat time to sink in. "Go see Boreal, on the bottom floor. He is the contact for the lower level members of the Guild. He will give you your task." With that, the Guild Master bid them to leave, and they did so quickly. Down the stairs they went, wanting to be away from the powerful man, and ready for their job. Boreal was easy enough to find, and they stood before him, ready for the details on their test.
"OK kids, it's simple. A former Guild member, Mercer, stole something dear to the Guild Master. He ran off and left the City before we even knew what happened. The Guild Master wants Mercer found, and wants what he stole returned. It will be your task to find Mercer, and retrieve the item. What you do to get the item, and what you do to Mercer, are of no concern to the Lord, Mercer's days in Luskan are done. None will hire him if he were stupid enough to return. Our informants say Mercer booked a ride with a Merchant last week, that Merchant is back in the city now, and that is the only clue you will get. Now go, if you aren't back in a week, we will have to assume you failed, and you will be killed." he said matter of factly. Their blood ran cold, just what have they gotten themselves into? They found the Merchant easily enough, and with a little intimidation, he told them everything he knew of Mercer. Two days out of Luskan Mercer jumped the caravan, and took off into the hills East of the road. The Merchant never saw him again.
They started on the road that day, and two days later they found the hills the Merchant spoke of. Luckily for them, it hadn't rained in a few weeks, and Mercer's trail, though worn, could still be discerned. They followed his trail throughout the afternoon, until finally they found something interesting. "Black blood, Goblin most likely" Brynjolf said, tasting the blood on his fingertip. "It seems Mercer was ambushed, and got more than he bargained for" Karliah replied, finding a sword matching the description of Mercer's blade. "Let's see where the tracks lead." She said, and they set off following the trail. The hills dropped off, and they could see a cave entrance not far away.
"There, that has to be our Goblin hole." Brynjolf remarked, pointing to the cave. "Lets rest up afore we enter. You take first watch." Karliah replied as she unfurled her bedroll. When night fell, they crept into the cave. The cave was damp, and it smelled foul. Water ran down the walls, and puddles formed here and there on the floor, along with piles of rubbish and filth. Rats ran to and fro, digging into the garbage piles they called home. They crept along, recalling all of their training in silent movement, and like a whisper they passed through the first tunnel. here it forked, left and right.
They heard footsteps, and snarls, coming from the right path. They sat in the shadows, waiting, until last they could see the creatures approaching. They were short, no more than four feet tall, hunched over and walking with a crooked gait. Their eyes flashed red, and their razor sharp teeth shone in the torches they carried. Their pale skin was blistered, and they smelled horrible. After a few moments they stopped, directly in front of the pair of rogues. They began to argue in their guttural language, and Karliah looked to Brynjolf, communicating in their secret hand code. What should we do?, her hands flashed. Kill them, we can't risk them circling back on us, and we will have the advantage in surprise., he responded. With that, they drew their weapons, which made no noise thanks to their oiled leather sheaths.
Brynjolf readied his two short swords, and Karliah gripped her Rapier, nervous but ready. Karliah started the battle, thrusting her rapier through the back of the middle Goblin, the wretch clutching pitifully at the blade protruding from it's chest. Brynjolf followed suit, putting one sword into the next Goblin's stomach, and the other through it's chest. It crumpled as he withdrew his blades, lifeless. The last Goblin had barely turned around before the rapier slashed it's throat, it's attempted scream coming out as nothing more than a gurgle.
Deeper into the tunnels they went, silent as death and black as shadows. The right tunnel had been a dead end, sleeping quarters it seemed. The few Goblin's they found never woke from their slumber, their black blood spilling from their throats. They doubled back and crept down the left corridor, which became wider as they progressed. Eventually it became an open space, and in the middle a small fire burned. Four Goblin's sat around the fire, playing Dice it seemed. Occasionally a Goblin would give an angry shout, apparently losing whatever it was they were playing for. You get the two on the left, I will get the two on the right Brynjolf's fingers flashed. He readied a dagger, and Karliah drew her shortbow. With a flick of the wrist, the dagger went sailing into the Goblin's neck, the creature rolled around and held it's throat, trying desperately to stop the flow of it's blood onto the cavern floor. Karliah's arrow found it's mark,. and burrowed deep into another Goblin's chest, piercing it's heart and killing it.
The other two Goblin's drew their daggers and jumped at the Rogues. Karliah dropped her bow and out flashed her rapier, parrying the Goblin's wild thrust. She thrusted the rapier high and low, the Goblin barely keeping up against her skilled routine. Every thrust forced the Goblin back, until it tripped over it's dead companion and fell to the floor. Before it could get up, or raise it's dagger, Karliah's rapier plunged into it's chest, killing it. Brynjolf fared just as well, and even toyed with the wretched Goblin. He took up a defensive posture, and pretended to be off balance and open to attack. The Goblin gleefully lunged in, expecting an easy kill. In one fluid motion, however, Brynjolf had spun around the Goblin's blade, and grabbed the Goblin's arm. Just as fast, he brought his other hand around and grabbed the Goblin by the throat, his grip cutting off the creature's breath. It gasped and desperately tried to claw him with it's free hand, but every attempt was weaker than the last. The Goblin's eyes glossed over, dead, and Brynjolf dropped him in a heap to the floor.
The Rogues continued down the tunnel, and it branched once again. Straining to hear, only the left tunnel seemed occupied. They crept into the left tunnel and saw five Goblins in the room the tunnel opened into. Two were at the back, flanking a wooden door. Two were playing Dice, and one was eating. This will be tough, we can't take them all by surprise. Karliah's fingers flashed. No, but we might be able to take two, and then three versus two we still have the advantage. Goblins don't put up much fight, it seems. his fingers responded. Karliah nodded and pointed to the two near the door. Brynjolf nodded and drew another dagger. The arrow streaked by the Goblin's fire and slammed into the chest of one of the door guards. It sank to it's knees, holding the arrow, dead. A second later, a dagger flashed by and stuck into the other guard's shoulder, it dropped it's weapon and howled in pain and anger. Damn it, I missed. Thought Brynjolf as he drew his blades and rushed at the Goblin's playing Dice. To their credit, they were up fast and had their weapons drawn in time to meet his attack. A short sword and a dagger they wielded, and they parried his initial attacks. Brynjolf worked his blades left and right, one for each opponent, trying to disrupt their balance or find a weak spot in their defenses. He found none, and soon the Goblins put him on the defensive. They came from both sides, high and low, in tandem and coordinated. He parried furiously, and all he could hear was the resounding clang of the colliding blades. He had to do something fast or he would be overcome, and he would never see inside the Basadoni House again. He leapt back and dropped one of his daggers.
Karliah, emboldened by her kill shot, leapt at the eating Goblin like a wolf. It barely managed to get it's shield up to stop her thrust. It drew it's dagger, but it had no reach against her rapier, and it was forced back. The shield took blow after blow, and the Goblin stumbled, back against the wall. Karliah rained blows down on her foe, and the Goblin's knees buckled. She made a high thrust, and the Goblin raised it's shield, but no blow came. It was a feint, and as soon as the shield was raised, she kicked the Goblin in the stomach. and it lurched forward, helpless. Her boot caught it's chin and it slumped back against the wall. It put it's hands up in a feeble attempt to keep her biting blade at bay. The rapier went through the Goblin's hands and pierced it's chest. She turned, just in time to see the Goblin's rush after Brynjolf as he dropped his dagger.
He caught the dagger with the toe of his boot, spun around, and kicked out with his foot. The dagger flew into the lead Goblin's chest, and before it could recover his swords followed, carving a neat X on the Goblin's belly. It howled and rolled on the floor, soon to be dead. The remaining Goblin came in fast, but with two blades to its one, the Goblin couldn't make an opening. Brynjolf regained momentum in the fight and worked his blades like a whirlwind of steel. The Goblin barely kept up it's parrying, and it's blade was forced higher and higher. Brynjolf dropped low and thrusted both blades into the Goblin's belly, and it dropped it's sword. As the Goblin fell to it's knees Brynjolf caught it's falling blade and with a twist, severed the Goblin's head from it's shoulders.
They both looked up, remembering the Goblin Brynjolf wounded but failed to kill with his initial dagger throw, but it was gone. A smear of blood was on the wall, and a trail of blood drops lead back to the tunnel they entered from. Brynjolf wrenched his blades from the dead Goblin, and moved to the door in the back of the room. Karliah kept watch on the tunnel, and Brynjolf picked the simple lock with ease. Karliah moved into the room, and Brynjolf took up the position of the former guards, keeping watch. A chain scraped across the floor, and Karliah saw a man shielding his face with his arms. His clothes were ragged, and he was bloodied. His flesh was cut many times, and bruises covered him anywhere his ratty clothes didn't. "Who are you?" Karliah asked. "Mercer is my name, and thank the Gods you're not a Goblin." the man replied, his voice hoarse and strained. "Don't be thanking me yet, Mercer, traitor of the Basadoni Guild." she replied with a cold smile. Mercer tensed, and he curled into a ball, expecting blows to start landing down on him any second. When they didn't, he peeked out at this strange woman and said, "So, a dog of the Basadoni has come for Mercer's head. I knew I shouldn't have ditched that merchant back on the road, but I feared he would find…" his voice trailed off, he tensed again, as if he knew he said too much. "Find what you stole? About that, let's make a deal, there's no reason we can't be civil. You give it to me, and I let you live, how's that?" Karliah replied, enjoying the moment of power she had over him. He laughed, a pitiful croaking, and looked at her. "How merciful of you, m'lady, but it seems I cannot help you. I no longer possess that which you seek. However, if you were to unchain me, I could tell you where it is." He suggested. Seeing no other alternative, she picked the lock on his chains and helped him up.
"What you seek is being kept in the possession of a Hobgoblin, the leader of this ragged band, and the one responsible for these wounds. He is in the back, behind a locked door, where the Goblins dare not go. Now, if you'll excuse me…" he said, but Karliah put her rapier's tip to his throat, and held him fast. She pushed just a little, until a bead of blood formed on her blade, and she leaned in close to him. "If you're lying, I will find you. You have no friends, no contacts, no refuge in Luskan. If you double cross me in any way I will hunt you down, Mercer, and I will make you think your current lodging to be a paradise." she hissed. He shuddered, and she let him go. "One other thing, generous lady, I am going North, to Crestfall, if you ever find yourself there, look me up. I may have risen in fortune by then, and could repay your kindness." he replied, and hobbled into the tunnels. "Well done, it seems we have but one obstacle before us now." Brynjolf said with a smile, truly impressed with her intimidation of Mercer. "Yes, let's finish this." she replied, and they found themselves back at the fork in the tunnel, and they crept down the silent right path. The lock proved no challenge, and they entered what appeared to be a large cavern. A single Goblin lay dead on the floor, hacked to pieces.
The only warning they received was a whoosh as a javelin barely missed Brynjolf's head, shattering against the wall behind him. With a sharp growl, three Hobgoblins charged them. Nearly 7 feet tall, muscular, and no strangers to combat, the Hobgoblins held every advantage, and their ambush was well coordinated. The rogues found themselves being pushed back, facing three scimitars acting in unison. Back to back the rogues fought, two against Brynjolf and the biggest of the Hobgoblins against Karliah. Steel clanged on steel, and sparks flew as six blades collided in a whirlwind of death. Brynjolf managed to work his enemies' blades out wide, and with a spin and a twist, he kicked one in the stomach and slashed the other in the face before it could parry. The Hobgoblin fell to the floor, clutching it's face and howling in agony, it's blood running over it's hands. He was left off balance, and the kicked Hobgoblin barreled into him, tacking him to the floor.
Karliah faced off against the biggest of the brutes, and by far the most skilled. It came at her with measured steps and careful slashes, trying to find fault in her defense. A single slip up could come at the cost of her life, she knew. She parried and her sword groaned under the barrage of the Hobgoblin's scimitar blows. Soon, it was working her blade up over her head. She knew this move, it was Brynjolf's favorite technique. How many times had she seen this routine? She knew what was coming, a low thrust into her exposed belly. She had to think of something, and fast, or she would die.
Rolling on the floor they wrestled, both having lost their blades in the initial crash to the floor. Brynjolf punched out, catching the Hobgoblin on the chin, but it did little other than anger the much larger creature. Brynjolf caught a knee to his belly,.and the wind was knocked from him. He gasped for breath and weakly held up his arms as the Hobgoblin pounded him with a torrent of punches. He rolled to his left, dislodging the creature, and he crawled like a worm to try and escape. He had reached the mutilated Goblin when he felt a heavy boot slam into his back. He cried out and managed to roll onto his back. The Hobgoblin stood over him, raising it's retrieved sword high, ready to slice him open. He kicked up, out of instinct and defiance, and caught the creature in it's groin. It howled in pain, knees buckling, and grasped at the pain between it's legs. Brynjolf rolled to the side to avoid it's desperate slash. Up on his feet, and with a short sword he grabbed from the dead Goblin, he squared off with the recovering Hobgoblin, both knowing this next round would be the last.
Karliah frantically searched her memory. She replayed every sparring match with Brynjolf over and over, trying to remember how she could defeat the technique that was about to claim her life. Too late, the Hobgoblin pushed her rapier so high she almost lost her grip on it, and she fell backwards, open to the killing blow. It howled in triumph and crouched to deliver the deadly low thrust. Down swung the rapier, turning inside the thrusting scimitar and forcing the blade down to the floor. Karliah had twisted, and transferred the momentum of her off balance stumble to her blade, parrying the attack, leaving their blades crossed. She didn't hesitate, it all came back to her. The day she found a counter to the low thrust. With the Hobgoblin's blade lowered and held fast by her own, she kicked out, and caught the creature on it's chin. It's head snapped back at the force of the kick, and her rapier traced a clean line across it's throat. It fell to the floor, wide eyed and gurgling in it's blood.
The Hobgoblin came on strong, but it's attacks were less coordinated, demoralized at the sight of it's leader dying. It was distracted, and few could afford such a thing against a skilled swordsman like Brynjolf. In weaved his remaining blade, cutting a line past the Hobgoblin's sword arm and towards it's chest. The creature managed an upward slash, batting his blade away, but it's scimitar was raised high now, too high to come back down in time to counter the thrust aimed at it's heart. It slashed down desperately, but the thrust was only a feint. Brynjolf grasped the Hobgoblin's sword arm at the wrist as it reached the peak of it's attempted parry and twisted it as he spun behind the creature, breaking it's wrist. It howled and dropped it's blade, arm pinned behind it's back. Brynjolf kicked it behind the knee and shoved with his shoulder, forcing it to it's knees. He let go of the creature's arm and yanked it's head back, then drove his blade, down to the hilt, into the creature's neck. A swift kick left it sprawled on the floor, dead.
After recovering their lost weapons they searched the bodies. On the Hobgoblin leader they found a strange key, cold to the touch it was, and heavy. There was a crumpled paper also, which upon further inspection was revealed to be a page from Mercer's journal. It read:
6/16 1138
At last, it is mine. The thing I have so long sought to attain is finally mine. I swiped it from the fool while he slept, passed out drunk in the lower rooms he was. I have waited a year for this chance, for none could enter his upper room without being detected. Finally mine! One of the four keys required to open the gate to Nebaron, lost city of the High Elves. That bloated fool never knew what a treasure he had, but I did. As soon as I saw it I knew. I must go at once to the Mage's Guild in Luskan. Perhaps they can divine the location of the other keys. According to the legend, when one has all four keys, they can enter Nebaron's Moon Gate, and once inside, who knows what treasures will be found? A fully intact city of the High Elves. I will be rich beyond measure from the spoils! All will bow to me, even that fool Basadoni. For now I will depart this place, and hide the key. Then I will return to Luskan and seek answers to the remaining riddles.
They both read the note and exchanged worried glances. How much did the Guild Master know, they wondered. If he truly did not know, then this could be the most important, and profitable, discovery of their lives. However, if he did know the key's purpose, and heard of their trying to discover more about it, he would be displeased, and that could cost them their lives. Their minds were filled with doubt and intrigue when at last, they reached Luskan once again, and with a day to spare. They didn't speak on the way to the Guild Hall, and after using the code at the door, they entered and proceeded up the stairs, and were once again lead to the Guild Master's door. What they would reveal, and what would happen next, they did not know. They braced themselves and entered the darkened room.
presents his Intimidation Doubled contest entry.
