TheRPGSite

The sun struggles up over another beautiful day and Dagon is glad in his own suspicious way...

It wasn't easy finding the road out of Osmon. First, it took Dagon a year to discover that the ritual to open the road was written in the stars on only one night of the year. Then he had to wait three years until the skies were clear on that one night. Fortunately Osmon isn't the worst world to spend some time. Unfortunatly Osmon was almost the worst place to spend a few years.

Once away and on the road he only managed a few steps before tripping on an inconveniently loose cobblestone and tumbling off into some unknown dark world.

Amid the sounds of birds singing and squawking, the sunrise reveals an Arcadian land of gentle hills, grassy plains, and copses of friendly trees. Looking closer he discovers the artifiallity of the place: the grass is astroturf, the trees pressed plastic shopping bags, water bottles, and painted styrofoam. Between the seams of the turf he sees that the hills are just mounds of garbage. In the light he sees that even the birds are cheap windup toys.

Unlike Osmon, all signs point to ths world being easy to leave. On a nearby hill, a large neon sign points to the East and "The Way Out" is spelled out in red and green lights.

Walking that way he feels the sudden intrusion into his mind by another being. From his thoughts and memories are pulled out and flash in front of his minds eye. Within seconds hundreds of images of all sorts of worlds cold and warm, wet and dry, inhabited and empty, cross his mind's eye. The intruder is searching for a specific memory, Dagon realizes.

It eventually ends and his mind is released back into his control with only a voice giving a hearty laugh and the words "Thank you, my friend." and the image of a smling Zeus left behind.

The sign did in actuality point towards a cliff face, this one made of real stone, where petroglyphs gave the instructions to find the road and leave this place.

Feel free to write up something of Dagons travels from this point until the beginning of the campaign either in the world of Jorian's Trojan War or anywhere else you'd like.

I scanned through my own memories.  It didn't take long to find/remember what he was looking for.  He had been fixated on certain pneumatic qualities of the inhabitants there.  
"Well that makes sense," And I was about to continue on my way when I saw it.  A discarded bucket of chicken blowing along the astro turf.  The Sky Fathers smilling face on the side.  Just like the last image he sent, his thank you.  I picked it up and considered what it ment.  At first I considered that that image was burned onto my brain, but then I looked around this place.  I considered the way I got here.  This was a cheep place.  Cheep and easy.  Disposable.  Malleable.  I had been diverted into it, my mind probed and discarded far too easily even for him.  But he couldn't keep me here, couldn't trap me.  This places wasn't real enough for that.  I recalled a vist to a shaman named Josphe Camble.  Principle of correspondence he called it, or was it reinforcement?  Anyway, this places was cheep, easy, and empty.  He wasn't here. I doubt anyone else was either if they had been he couldn't have manipulated everything so easily.  But the longer I stayed the realer this place would become.  The effect would be stronger with him.  

I considered his destination.  He could be there a while.  

I started my journey.

I had been out of touch for a while so I was in no hurry.  I travelled a my own pace. Stopping often to visit friends.  I love gossip and rumors and as always I keep my ear open for signs and portents.

Eventually I crossed a blue white glacier and found the entrance to the crevasse that must be there, it was peaceful traveling through the ice.  The river beside me gurgled pleasantly.  When I emerged I new I was in the proper realm.  

My first stop was a Dwarf who had once caught star light in a necklace for me.  A gift for a Naiad who lived in a subterranean sea.  He wasn't overly happy to see me Dwarves don't like surprise visters, you wouldn't either if you were know to craft the most beautiful treasurers in 7 realms.  But Dwarves like gifts, giving and receiving them.  I had a Conch for him.  A gift form the Naiad.  "Listen to this and you can hear her sing."  That warmed his welcome and I spent a night or two in his company.  He loved the conch and spent long hours listening to it, when I left I told him, "if you can talk to her, let me know.  Right now it just plays for you, but if it changes, if you speak and she answers, let me know.  It may never come to pass but if the magic of this places becomes strong, send word to me in the usual way."

As I made my way to my next stop I considered my life choices and how I had ended up a interdemintional match maker.  

The troll was simpler.  Northern trolls are known for good hospitality, up until they try to eat you.

[[OOC: If you want to keep writing about Dagon's traveling and scheming just let me know when you want me to respond. Or I will jump in if I need to get D somewhere.]]

Nope.  He's done scheming for now.

There were rumours and legends about the troll armies during the time of the northern invasion when Zeus and his allies had to repel strange invaders from the winter lands. Among the invaders was the Great Chief Lakkinnen. Most thought the giant troll was killed by Zeus' Thunderbolt but a few knew of the secret that Lakkinnen was too powerful to be defeated in combat but was imprisoned by the Olympians.

Dagon followed the rumours, spoke with the priests in the temple of Syrinx, read the writings on the temple walls, and made his way through the treacherous tunnels and crevasses until he reached the long-hidden cavern holding Lakkinnen.

The giant troll, at least 20' in height - although his actual height is difficult to tell while he sits hunched on his rock - was imprisoned in a sphere of violet light which pulsed faintly and smaller paths of while light created a tiling of random shapes across its' surface. The troll was gnawing on a lamb leg and looked up in surprise as Dagon entered the chamber.

"So, child of Olympus, you have finally come to deal, yes?" he asks.

I stand for a short time contemplating the giant and his prison.

"Child of Olympus, thats a strange thing to call me. Shall I call you son of Ymir."

I sling my pack off an set up a little cook stove to boil water.  Covering a likely rock with an old fur for a seat.  Always buy your camping gear from an advanced civilisation and your comforts from a primitive one.  

I pull out a wine skin.  "Plum brandy? Its a bit sweet for lamb but..."

The great troll shrugs. "I sense the taint of Olympus upon you and so I name you until proper introductions can be made."


"Brandy, no matter the flavor, would be welcome. I haven't tasted a drop in all the years of this imprisonment. Just water dripping from the walls and Hephaestus' sheep delivery system. Would you happen to know the count of years?" he asks.

Dagon can see that with the glowing sphere there is a long slide coming from high in the wall down to the cavern floor. A lever is attached to one side. It seems that by pulling the lever a sheep is released to slide into the prison. Although where the sheep are coming from and who is loading them from up above is undeducable inside the cave.

"Call me Rook then.  As for years its hard to say, hundreds? More? Its been quite some time, you weren't easy to find. Most think you died."

I throw coffee on the cook stove to perk, and dig some jerky.  If I am here long I think I will make bread.

"How do I pass you the brandy, that glowing sphere looks innocent but I would hate to waste good booze."

There is a light in the Troll's eye. A reflection from the stove or maybe a glint from his thoughts.

"In my hundreds or maybe thousands of years in here I have come to reason that Hephaestus built this place to keep me in. And maybe to keep others of my kind out. But would he have considered that a fellow Olympian would try to break the prison? Back then you all were in accord in the wars against my kind and he wouldn't suspect that one of you would try to enliven my dailiy meal.

"I believe that you could simply pass your hand through the barrier and hand me the drink."

"Hmmm, possible. Let me examine the barrier."

I busy myself making soup, I fill a pot of water, cut up some celery onions garlic and cabbage.  A bit of the jerky and a hand full of grain and set it on the stove to simmer.  I pour myself a cup of coffee and settle on my stone to watch the barrier.  ego

Then when the soup is smelling good I switch my attention to him.  Probe his psychic defenses while he is distracted by the soup and the coffee and the brandy and the freedom.

Lakkinnen's attention is taken by the smells of the food.

"No one could turn down a lifetime of free mutton," the great troll says in a half whisper, "but there needs to be meals of different foods to intrigue the stomach and vitals."

Studying the barrier Dagon can tell that it was created by the Olympians but not who created it. It might be as the creature says and Dagon could easily pass through the barrier but such an action might damage the spell. The troll has the vestiges of a poweful mind but years of isolation and the distraction of the food and drink have made his thoughts erratic and potentailly dangerous to one who would try for direct mental contact.

A touch might damage it?  Then I might be able to disassemble it.  I continue to examine ego with a mind to disrupt the spell.  He I originally though he was going to pull me, now I think maybe the whole thing would unravel at my touch.

"What will you do when you leave this place, spawn of Ymir?  Storm crows are gathering at a place called Illium.  The gods go to war and I would have a boon from them."

"Serve me on the field and I will free you."
Ego gain eye contact, probe? If he agrees I lay a light compulsion, I have the Idea that its easier to dominate someone if they say they will do the thing you ask.

"It would be good to stretch my legs again and to taste the blood of a god..." The Troll mulls the idea over in his fractured mind.

"If we were to lose I doubt that I would get such fine accommodations a second time...but the chance for vengeance and to lead my brethren into battle again...."

He still continues to weigh his options while sniffing more often and longer at the smells from the soup bowl.

"What gods can you promise me? It's for Zeus and Hephaestus that I'm saving my greatest wrath. Who else will be met at Illium?"

Promise you?  What can you promise me.  Or perhaps you like not being able to stand up straight.  I promise you grapes and olives and man flesh.  If you wish to cower in your cell for another thousand years you have my permission.

The troll guffaws.

"Good point, good point," he concedes, "But I don't think you would release me out of the goodness in your heart but, rather, you want to make a deal. I'm more likely to agree if you can give me the god-flesh I desire. Man is such a poor substitute for fine god and the greater the god the better the feast!"

Dagon notices that the troll is eyeing him over and slightly drooling.

"Enough talk!  You would almost think I don't trust you."

I stand stretch, roll my shoulders and neck like I'm in a Bruce Lee movie.  

"Come get your soup."

I reach one hand into the barrier and try to take it down.

As Dagon's hand passes through the mystic wall the spell collapses with the sound of breaking glass just as the Troll had deduced. The creature grabs the offered food and drink greedily and finishes both in a few seconds. He then spends a few minutes streatching and trying to work the knots out of his back.

"Oooohh. It was almost worth being penned in like that just to feel this good once freed," he says. "Now get me more of that food and let's work out the details of our agreement."

I watch with disappointment as he emptys the last drop of brandy wine from the skin.  I pull out another skin, and take a long squirt before I hand it over to him.  

"Let's head for the surface.  Or at least put some distance betwee us and this place.  Come with me to the plains of Illium, we'll raise a force and fight for the highest bidder.  It makes no difference to me if the city stands or falls.  The signs point to a great gathering of immortals, and I would have a boon from the Olympians."

"Lead on and if Zeus' children are there then maybe the gods will show his face! Unless he is too scared, that is!"

The troll laughs as he follows Dagon through the caves.

Once on the surface, they find themselves in a pleasant hilly vale. A village of pale, short people tend to large flocks of sheep. At the edge of the village is a large mechanical clock which counts down the time, below it is a trapdoor. A small pen of sheep is located next to it.

"These are the folk I have to thank for feeding me all these years" Lakkinnen exclaims. "Watch them for me while I get my belly full for the first time in many a generation.

He breaks through the wooden posts of the pen and begins grabbing the sheep and taking large bites out of all he can get his hands on. The townspeople notice this and begin to flee.

"Stop them from leaving, will you; I still need to show my appreciation to those who kept me imprisoned for so long," he says through his bloody, gore-covered mouth.

Stop them from leaving he says.  He better not eat them too.  That seems a poor repayment for a life time of service.

I look around for a leader.  Someone with the courage to stay, or someone who's knees are too old to run.

Of courage you see none but of old legs you see many. Lakkinnen sees the oldtimers too and bounds towards them, tongue hanging out and leaving a trail of saliva.

Dagon notices that this land and people look Nordic but in the town is a large temple dedicated to Hephaestus.

Striding towards the nearest.

"Why do you run?  Do you not recognize your god?  How many generations have you sacificed sheep to him? Here he is."

"That is no god but the Devil himself!" the man cries. "We fed him only to avoid his wrath. Oh, what did we do wrong to be fed to his endless hunger?"

While grabbing at the stones of the temple wall he falls to his knees.

"Help us, stranger! Fight against our cursed demon!" he begs.

Hold! Son of Yimir.  These people have not wronged you.  They will not sate your thirst for vengeance nor your terrible hunger for the the flesh of heros and godlings.  

Spare them.  Let them continue to provide you with lamb as they have done so for so many generations.  Teach them how you have been wronged and they have been tricked into being a party to your imprisonment.

You are here before them with righteous wrath and bountiful generosity.  And the Lame god is far away.

How long since he has been seen here old timer?  Does he even remember this place?

Thinking I doubt my comparative theology is going to make a difference. I should not to go looking for monters unless I am ready to become monstrous.

Looking around at the ravenous Troll and the fleeing villagers I prepare myself for a bit of unpleasantness.

[[OOC: Sorry, I must have missed replying to your last post. I read it but must have been distracted before replying.]]

"Seen? Never in all my years but he speaks to us through the idol in the temple! But there is no time for this talk when the beast is slaying all he can find!"

The villager runs off down to the shore where a few of the quicker people have begun to push their small fishing boats out into the water.

The troll saunters towards Dagon casually sucking on a shinbone sticking out of his mouth with the foot still attached. It lets out an enormous belch and pats its stomach.

"Not bad, Not bad. A few quick bites to wash the mutton taste out of my mouth. I'll bet you that they kept the best sheep for themselves and only send down the old and diseased. It's not easy getting respect when you are a troll."

He finds a large wood log and sits watching the people below.

"Dozens of people all trying to get into a couple small fishing boats. Such fun to see then fight and cry. Gives me a moment to sit and digest then I can go take those who were left behind. With a couple of good sized rocks I should be able to sink the boats too; get me some brined supper that way. Can't say that I am patient or skilled enough to season and marinate them myself."

Looking at Dagon it realizes that it has made some sort of faux pas.

"Err, if you were hoping for some yerself then go pick out a few and set them aside. There will be room enough around the fire for both our spits."

"I think sinking their boats is a poor repayment for a thousand years of sheep.  I can make you a stew or a roast if you are still hungry.  No peasant flesh.  It makes you week and rots the teeth.  The feast is on the plains of Illium."

"Illium, eh? I have been away from things for a long while so he name means little to me...I vaguely recall something about Skamander and a wall."

The troll is uncertain, caught between the poor, but immediate, eating in this village and the promise of better, future food.

"How about no more eating here and let me sink one of the boats? Y'know, for fun?"

"Why don't we tear down Hesphetus's temple instead? "

"A fine idea! And these fools may have stored all their gold in it!"

"Excellent.  And since you ate all the sheep, I get all the gold."

I head that way.  

(Ooc.  I don't care if I end up with any gold. We don't have to play out dividing it.)

"Yes, I ate the sheep. And if you had you would have realized that they were not worth one golden coin between them."

The temple is small and rustic but once Dagon's eyes adjust to the darkness he sees a large number of statues of the gods, more of Hephaestus than the others, and some fine gold and silver chalices and other votary objects. Behind the alter are racks containing books and scrolls.

I search around for something to drink.  "Seems a shame to let such fine goblets go to waste."


I sit cross legged on the alter with a book in my lap, a big one or an old one.  
"Ugg, the day started out so well, and now I'm reading.  There might be way to open a shorter road.  Or a insightful story of the early days of the temple, or a emergency actipn plan incase the Devil Troll Lankinnin breaks free and eats all the sheep."

The troll smashes his way towards a niche containing a large number of two foot high statues of various gods. Some he smashes, others he uses to scratch his back, other he takes in pairs and plays with them as action figures fighting eachother. Hera's legs get broken and fly across to where Dagon sits. Pallas' head flies across the room to land in a guttering candle.

Dagon's perusal does find some useful information about how to perform the ritual that would open a way to a Road.

While reading a loud, echoing voice rings out:

"WHO ARE YOU TO COME AND DESTROY MY PEOPLE AND DESECRATE MY TEMPLE?"

The voice seems to come from everywhere in the temple.

I put my finger to my lips for the troll, and make my voice sound like Peter Lorre.

"Doctor Henry Jones.  Raider of fine Antiquities and defier of false gods.  Thank you for this very fine wine oh lame and distant godling."

"DISTANT!? DISTANT, YOU SAY, YOU WRETCHED, IMPUDENT, DEFILER OF THIS SACRED SITE?"

The temple begins to shake, dust falls down from the high beamed ceiling. A few of the statues fall and break upon the flagstone floor, although Dagons notices that none of Hephaestus' topple.

"LONG HAS THIS CREATURE BEEN IMPRISONED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD AND NOW YOUR WANTON INTERFERENCE HAS LET IT LOOSE!"

The troll squuezes himself into a corner of the temple, his eyes darting about in fear. FRom outside the roar of gale force winds batter the village.

Hephaestus is an artificer, if he can see and hear in this room its becuase he built some thing.

I cast about with my eyes and EGO for some kind of device, probably a statue.  When I find it I cover it some how, maybe with an urn, vase or cloth so he can't see us.  

Then I start to change form.  

"All tremble before the great and powerful OZ, you don't scare me you distant, gimp.  Hows Aphrodite, never mind I'll as Ares.

Once I cover the spy device (assuming I can find it) I climb up into the rafters of the temple to ambush.

Most of the statuary has fallen from the shelves and niches and broken on the floor. Of the few that remain all are of Hephaestus. While covering them Dagon can see the dust on the floor swirling about and collecting near the centre of the chapel floor. The gales continue outside blowing braches, leaves, and more dirt which also joins the collecting mound.

"SPAWN OF THE NETHERWORLD, HADES SHOULD HAVE DROWNED YOU IN LETHE WHEN YOU WERE FIRST BORN! I WILL NOW CORRECT HIS OVERSIGHT."

Flames from the torches set into the walls leap into the growing pile of dirt and the pile begins forming into the shape of Hephaestus.

You know best about things that should have been drowned at birth.  Unwanted, Unloved! Misshapen and Fatherless!"

I finnish changing, a massive dimond back Naga winds up into the rafters.  Head down, within easy striking distance of the mound.  

Well I have succeeded in making him angry.  Not so sure about that plan now, at least he's not going for help.  I wonder if I can drop part of the roof on him.

"Get ready troll.  We've burned our ships behind us now."

The troll is still too fearful to do more than throw bits of the broken statues toward the rapidly solidifying dirt-and-fire god. The dirt continues to flow into the god and he increases in size reaching a mighty hand towards Dagon.

"YOUR IMPUDENCE MUST BE PUNISHED!" he roars.

"Troll, the only way out is through, if you huddle in the corner which ever of us lives will surely kill you."

Last time I trust a priest from Syrinx.

As the hand reaches toward me I strike with a serpants swiftness and try to sink my fangs in to the hand or forearm.  But evasivly its more important that I not get grappled than that I tag him now.  Then I slither higher into the rafters.  Preferably on a load bearing beam.  He's bigger than I thought.  If there is a decoritive gargoyle I can push on him that would be great.

The troll continues to stay in the corner grabbing at whatever lies on the floor and throwing it at Hephaestus. His aim is good and Dagon notices that the objects do not pass all the way through the god but become imbdded in the dirt body. Each hit seems to cause a minor slowing in the god's solidifying.

Dagon's strike results in his jaws clamping down on the viscous dirt giving him a mouth full of mud and generating a hiss from Hephaestus. The solidifying of the arms reverses and some of the leaves and branches fall off the limbs and down to the floor where the are again drawn into the god. The arm that was bitten is in a damaged state so Heph can only use one arm to attack for the next few moments.

Among the rafters are numerous wooden statues of the gods most of which are from Dagan's extended family with a few others that must have been taken from some other pantheon. Many Hephaestus idols are in the mix. The crystal eyes set into the statues glint and sparkle in the torch light and seem to stare at Dagon.

The successful attack on the arm has inspired the troll to give more help in the fight. It crouches down then springs onto Hephaestus' back tearing great handfuls of dirt and branches out of the god.

He's not even here.

Coward. Hiding behind a construct of mud and leaves.
Your manhood is as shriveled as your leg.  

I grab the nearest Idol of Heph and smash its eyes out on a beam then hurl it down at the construct.  Then grab another and do the same.

Hephaestus screams in pain and suddenly diminishes in size shedding much of its dirt and foliage. When it is about man-sized the shrinking stops and it appears less like the god and more like a normal man. One of its arms strikes out towards the troll and grabs him by the throat. The other arm, now unable to reach Dafon in the rafters, is held in a position of guard against futher attack.

"Even when slightly diminished I am more than a match for this pathetic troll" it yells.

The troll's face is turning a deeper shade of green as he struggles to break the grip.

I grab another Heph Idol.  While coiling menacingly above him, and start applying Ego either through the Idol, or directly through eye contact.  

I shouldn't have come, it was a trap.  I don't know this Godling.

"You are the one that imprisoned the beast for a thousand years instead of just killing him.  Seems like a waste to me.  Poor Hephestus, so clever with his hands but so stupid."

Zeus couldn't kill Lankinnin, how am I able to? It must be a trick.  I'm out numbered and right where he wants me.

After sowing doubt, (and hopefully before he kills the troll) I coil above him and come down like a tonne of bricks.  Aiming to bite, knock him off his feet, and death ciol him.  Once we are in physical contact shifting the comtest to ego should be easier.  I sure hope I am ranked higher than him.  :D

"So powerful that his strength could have been used by us when it was needed," the creature rasps as it continues to shrink.

The mind-on-mind force that Dagon brings to bear on the creature weakens and distracts it enough that the troll breaks free of the grip just before Dagon crashes down upon it. The last of the dirt sloughs away revealing a 3 foot tall mauve imp strugling to break free of the naga-coils.

"It's over. Free me," it manages to gasp before the coils squeeze its chest tight.

My coils continue to tighten on him.  Squeezing until he turns a deeper shade of mauve.  I let up before he passes put, but if a rib cracks thats ok.  

I continue the ego assult as well.  I want to dominate him, over whelm his defenses and pull all his secrets from his mind.  

Who are you?  Where is Hephestus?  Tell me everything.

[My goal here is find out everything I can about this place, the troll, and links between this place and Olympus.  If its worth it I will also leave a heavy compulsion on this imp, I still need allies. If I don't trust his loyalty after the interagation and compulsion I will feed him to the troll. You can write some of my lines for the interogation if you want, in the interests of smooth play since you know my goals]

It's begging stops when it can no longer breathe and there is the sound of cracking bones. Dagon feels that the creature has a powerful mind but not so strong as to resist his mental probe. From images and memories brought forth he can read that the imp was summoned by Hephaestus and bound to this temple in order to keep the people cowed into continuing the feeding of the imprisioned troll. The imp was also commanded to attack the troll if he ever escaped his prison. Extra enchantments were laid about the temple but all have been destroyed from battle.

Loosening his grip Dagon asks the imp "That was quite a performance considering you were imprisoned too."

"It was the geas," the creature gasps, "Hephaestus had me bound body and soul to this building."

I loosen my grip, both on his body and his mind.  

"Tell me Imp.  What will you do now that your Geas is broken, and I have set you free?  And how long till Hephestus finds out what has happened here? Is he linked? Does he check in on you often?"

The imp rubs his aching ribs while he speaks.

"The boss would stop by every couple of centuries or so to see what was going on and make a few repairs. I don't know when he will learn of this because nothing like you has ever come around before. And who the hell are you anyway?"

The troll grabs the imp by its thin hair and holds it up to eye level.

"This was the thing keeping me in prison all this time," it guffaws while poking the imp, "Howsabout I eat it in revenge?"

I strike forward.  Wrapping him in my coils and (hopefully) pulling him off balance.  I lay the full strenght of my Ego and my Might against him.  Its time to establish a hierarchy.

"How about I eat you?"  I intone while looming above him my snake jaws unhinging, my cavernous maw gaping opening large enough to swallow the troll.  

(Hands are free to catch his hands if the escape my coils. Ego overwhelming him with my strenght and majesty.)

"I freed you from your prison Troll.  I defeated the Imp in the heart of his strenght.  I Daygon have the plan and the drive,  you both will be my leutenitents, together we will lay these worlds at our feet.  But do not cross me and do not challenge me again our I will tear your arms off and swallow you down."