Anauroch - The Great Desert

[Omen of Peace]

"You slumbered too long. The world has changed. We know nothing of your wars."

[Brainpiercing]

[ooc]

I think you just have to talk this one out, I don't have any actors here, just tag-alongs. Look at it this way:

"The Gamemaster: Guys, please! I want you to roleplay this. Remember you've never met this guy before, the last guys you met tried to kill you, and you're standing in the ruins of an evil, cursed castle. Just act appropriately.
Magellan: Hello, I'm Magellan, a traveling mage. I notice your group has no wizard.
Rogar, the Barbarian: You seem trustworthy. Would you care to join us in our noble quest?
Magellan: Yes. Yes I would. "

It's an incoherent group, game requirement has to overrule character individuality for a moment. Or do you want me to attack you with an outside threat so you have a common enemy? That can always be arranged.

[Sohala]

The two canines and the one of ebony skin, continued to whisper a conversation until a glance from Torgthen silenced them. As a whole they awaited a reply from the giant.

[Brainpiercing]

Fo' Thizzle....

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The giant looks toward the obscured halfling and then toward the greenish dwarf.

"You are too small to be the Makers.  Who are you?  Why have you come?"

[Omen of Peace]

"We are surface dwellers. We stumbled here by chance, following our now-deceased friend.

Who or what are you?"

[Sohala]

Anger flashed across the dwarf's face, "Are you implying something about my height, you…” A small grunt from one of the canines stopped dwarf, who turned to glare at it before turning back to the giant. His face still showed anger, but he seemed to talk in a kinder tone, “We,” he gestured to include those behind him, “are travelers from the other side of the portal. We came seeking raw materials to craft with.”

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

Looking down at Torgthen the creature booms, "Implication: You are not the Makers."

Standing up straight as if at attention it continues.

"Mechano-Arcane Reasoning Construct, Mark Four, Third Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Assigned to Sector Seven Perimeter Defense."

After such a confident string of words it suddenly seems confused.

"I...do not remember what happened..."

[Sohala]

The dwarf huffed, “That mouth full is well and all still doesn’t tell us what you are.” Another grunt came from the canine; the dwarf looks back at it again, “If you want to do this get up here, if not, keep your trap quite.” With a sigh he turned back around, and spoke in a surprisingly polite tone, “What do you remember, cause this place looks like it hasn’t seen all that many visitors recently.”

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The war between the Dragonborn and the Outsiders.  The Makers allied with the Dragonborn.  Called to service. Darkness.  That is all I remember.

[Sohala]

(BP)

Knowledge (History)
T 4+1
D 6
Ha 1
Ho 19

As they have at least some detail, they just might know something.

[Brainpiercing]

Holdamir wrinkled his canine brow. Then he spoke in his melodious baritone, quietly for him, but still well audible, more a sign of awe than of whispering.
'The records speak of a war that was fought here, long ago, between a race of half-dragons, and one of outsiders and constructs from the wartorn plane of Acheron. But I know no details. But then which side did this one belong to? It is clearly a construct, but it seems to mourn the half-dragon. I have not heard of the Makers it mentioned.'

[Omen of Peace]

"All the easier to build yourself a future, dear lad" the halfling proclaims cheerfully. "Why, if you want to attach yourself to someone wise in the ways of the present world, its many civilizations and its intricate rules, I offer my puny self. We can find some minor service for you to perform in counterpart for this tutelage, I'm sure."

Again, the halfling appears earnest and open, if a bit longwinded.

"Let's start with this: we are below the Great Desert of Anauroch, in northern Faerun." He figures that information will be helpful to the portal travelers as well.

[OOC: Bluff check: through-the-roof. Not that he's lying but it's not hard for players to detect a hidden agenda. ]

[Sohala]

Talk of locations gets the dwarf's attention, "Still in the desert you say? Do you have a landmark for where we are?" He let go his shield, but instead of dropping to the ground, it just hung in midair while he reached into his pack. After a short shuffle through it he withdrew a rather large piece of parchment. He unrolled in onto his now floating shield, using it like a table.

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

@ Mael: Yes yes we know, you have a post doc in B.S.  That's what those letters stand for yanno...ullhit, [M]ore hit and [P]iled [h]igh and [D]eep.  

The giant looks up toward the ceiling, seeming to ignore the wheelings and dealings of the small one.  

"This land was verdant and green before I slumbered.  Time has moved on, forgotten us."

It stomps over to the dead Maug and picks up the stone-spitters, examining them.

By the way I finaly found a decent analogue for what the M.A.R.C. V sounds like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvrIFIjTGt0&feature=related

[Omen of Peace]

Mael seems to await more from the giant then, when it doesn't come, shrugs and turns to the dwarf.
"There is some kind of oasis above our heads. I can't tell you much more, I don't know the area well. How did you come to be here??"

[OOC]
I realized a bit late that the portal part was whispered, so Mael did not hear it.

[Sohala]

"Hmm..." Sounded the dwarf, and then as he scanned his paper, "We came through a ring." he said, sounding rather distracted. He makes a few jabs with his fingers at the paper and then asked, "Going to need a bit more information to narrow down which oasis. Which town did you leave from, and what way did you travel?"

[Brainpiercing]

In case everyone (and including me) forgot: we're underneath the "Lion's Eye Oasis". Pretty exactly 90 miles north of Lundeth.

At this point I still don't think I have many valuable things to add while you guys work this out. So... please feel free to continue for now without my interference. I will of course still monitor the thread regularly, and notice any questions you might have, or offer input when needed.

[Thistledown Thurbertaut]

The Marc continues to stomp around taking stock of the citadel and the state of utter abandonment.

When the dwarf mentions the portal he stomps over.

"Ah the portal..."

BP, would the Marc remember something about the portal from the days when this place was still bustling?

[Brainpiercing]

@MARC

The portal was an inherently unstable transportation gateway that had to be maintained using considerable effort. It led to some place in the northern underdark. What was there now, who could know?