Interactive Roleplay! : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:35 pm

((I decided on this idea a while ago, and thought it would be good fun. I'll be the storyteller, going through an adventure of a specific person. I'll then leave a hanger at the end of a post, and everyone else posts suggestions on what to do next. I'll choose randomly, and advance in the story as such. So the posts don't get lost in clutter, I'll put the whole story in bold. Feel free to suggest anything, but nothing too insane. This can be either serious or funny, depending on how the story plays out. Be creative!))

Today we follow the adventure of a Dunmer named "Vanas". Vanas recently heard of an old treasure cove near his home town. To get ready, he got his large bag, and donned his leather armor and silver shortsword. Then he ventured off to the cave.

Vanas finds the cave, excited. He enters. He's met at the crossroads of three different paths. Looking at each one, they appear to have strange symbols at the top of the doorways. The left path has what appears to be a carving of a Guar. The middle path has what appears to be a large "X". The right path has what seems to be a symbol of a Deer. Drawing his sword, he ponders which one to enter first.

INVENTORY: Three health potions, five lockpicks, two unlit torches, a steel dagger, a satchel full of bread, and a probe.

WEARING: Leather Armor (No helmet), Silver Shortsword.

What should Vanas do?

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:54 am

Vanas should assume that x marks the spot, and head in the direction marked with the X.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:52 am

Vanas should assume that x marks the spot, and head in the direction marked with the X.

Vanas walks down the middle path. He walks for what seems like forever, the path getting darker and darker. Soon it's too dark to see anything. Suddenly, Vanas trips over something, and falls down a pit!

Vanas lands into water at the bottom, furiously swimming to the top. The area is still pitch black around him. Swimming in many different directions, he manages to grab hold of a ledge. Pulling himself up, he sits on the edge, and opens his pack to get a torch out. He lights it up, and finds he's at the entrance of another pathway, one that was located inside a large chasm with water. He looks into the water, seeing what looks like a large black figure. Scared, he runs backwards into the new pathway.

Vanas emerges from the pathway into a candle-lit room, with a cyrodillic-style brick architecture. The room stretches far, a long elegant rug on the ground, along with tapestries on the walls. On one side of the room is a bookshelf and chair, and the other side is a wall with a large window. Vanas walks up to the window, looking out. All he sees is gravel and dirt. It appears Vanas has stumbled upon a buried castle, or some kind of fort. Strangely enough, the candles are still glowing bright. Someone has been here recently. Vanas looks to the other side of the room, seeing a small wooden door which appears to be slightly open. Vanas looks over at the Bookshelf, seeing various texts he's never seen before.

INVENTORY: Three health potions, five lockpicks, one unlit torche, a steel dagger, a satchel full of bread, and a probe.

WEARING: Leather Armor (No helmet), Silver Shortsword, Lit Torch

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:22 am

Vanas should search for possible exits, and take any he finds -- taking a few of the books with him -- regardless of possible risks that they could present. If he finds no possible exits, he can examine the unusual books on the bookshelf.

Edit: Somehow, I missed the door. Replace what's above with "Vanas should venture through the door, taking a few of the books with him in his inventory."

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:58 pm

Vanas should search for possible exits, and take any he finds -- taking a few of the books with him -- regardless of possible risks that they could present. If he finds no possible exits, he can examine the unusual books on the bookshelf.

Vanas walks over to the bookshelf. Most of the titles he's never heard of before. He takes three of the biggest books which appear to be un-labeled. Being he can't go back to the chasm, and the window is covered in dirt and gravel, he walks over to the door. Opening it the rest of the way, he comes to a long hallway. On the sides of the hallway are what appear to be figures of armored legion men posing with longswords, stretching down all the way to the end of the hall.

Closer inspection reveals they're just mannequins, but the armor isn't attached, strangely enough. Walking further down reveals a right path, near the end is a gloomy light, with what appears to be a silhouette of a man standing next to it. The path in front of him leads to another door, this one closed.

INVENTORY: Three health potions, five lockpicks, one unlit torch, a steel dagger, a satchel full of bread, three large un-labeled books, and a probe.

WEARING: Leather Armor (No helmet), Silver Shortsword, Lit Torch

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:33 am

Vanas should consider than man standing in the gloomy light a threat and attempt to assassinate him

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:02 am

Edit: Never mind.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:38 pm

Vanas should consider than man standing in the gloomy light a threat and attempt to assassinate him

Being that Vanas is no master of stealth, he blindly rushes down the hallway twards the man, sword drawn. He shoves his sword into the figure, a loud cry heard from the man as he falls down dead. When his body falls down near the light, it appears to be just an altmer scholar. Checking his body reveals he's wearing a Robe, expensive shoes, and carrying a silver dagger and scroll of Night-Eye. Vanas looks up at the light, which is a low-burning torch. Raising his own torch, he finds another door in the corner of the area. To his left is a table with a book titled "Aron's Journal" resting on the top of it.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
three large un-labeled books
a probe.

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

((Better format for items))

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:35 pm

Edit: Never mind.

If theres more than one post, I'll choose randomly

(I have a roll system)

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:46 am

If theres more than one post, I'll choose randomly

(I have a roll system)

Yes, but I had been giving "constructive criticism" about that you had waited to see what we would do even when the only plausible solution was to go through the door. Dagoth Gojira, however, posted something with absolutely no relation to the door, making me feel stupid.

Anyways, for my suggestion, Vanas should skim Aron's Journal to see i it gives any clues as to where he is.

I like how you're making everything as if we were actually playing Morrowind or Oblivion.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:26 am

Vanas should grab aron's journal and flee through the closed door, sense the armor will come alive. (uninhabited armor in a hallway always does that, vanas should be genre savy enough to to leave asap.)

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:28 pm

Vanas should skim Aron's Journal to see i it gives any clues as to where he is.

Vanas opens up the journal. It appears to be owned by the scholar. His name is Aron, and he was sent here by the mages guild to try to find ancient texts and knowledge. Most of the entries seem pointless and only describe his excitement, but one entry in particular seems interesting.

-Entry 12-

I came across a strange tablet inside one of the books. I'm not sure what it means, but it appears to be either a symbol of power, or a map. I copied the image of it into this journal in case it becomes of significant importance to me. This place really scares me. Ever since I had set up a little camp down here, I've been hearing whispers from the rooms next to me. I never left my spot, in fear that it's something dangerous. I'm sure everything I need is here, anyway.

Vanas skimmed through the journal to find the picture of the tablet, stopping a few pages after the entry. He can't recognize the symbol, but it does indeed appear to be a map. Vanas rips the page out of the journal, and folds it up, putting it into his pack.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
three large un-labeled books
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

EDIT: Sorry darth, I was a little to hasty posting. I'll give others a chance to post first :facepalm:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:06 am

Vanas should go through the closed door mentioned earlier. Never stay in a corridor with uninhabited armor.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:53 pm

Vanas should go through the closed door mentioned earlier. Never stay in a corridor with uninhabited armor.

Vanas walked back to the previous path, then moved forward to the closed door. Attempting to open it, it is revealed to be locked. He pulls out a lockpick to attempt to open it, but the lock appears to be scorched and un-pickable. Vanas attempts to kick it open, breaking the lock off and making the door swing open on the third kick. The room on the other side is very dimly lit. As soon as the door kicked open, a black figure rushed across the room from the left to the right, about ten feet in front of Vanas, disappearing down the hallway to the right.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
three large un-labeled books
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:04 pm

Vanas should light the torch, draw his weapon, and follow the dark figure. He should be prepared for an ambush, but not a dangerous enemy.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:51 am

Vanas should light the torch, draw his weapon, and follow the dark figure. He should be prepared for an ambush, but not a dangerous enemy.

Everything under "Wearing" is being carried/worn.

Vanas rushes down the hall to the right where he saw the figure move. He runs down further, the hall getting more and more dim. At the end is an open door pitch black inside the room it leads to. When Vanas rushes twards it, it suddenly slams shut.

Vanas attempts to open it, but it feels like there's something on the other side holding it shut. Something heavy. Vanas looked around, raising his torch near the walls, and he came across another door a few feet down the wall from the first door. He opens it, revealing what looks like a storage room with three crates. He checks the crates, finding various food items and clothing.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
three large un-labeled books
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:50 am

He should sit down for a bit and skim through the three large un-read books he took earlier.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:13 am

He should sit down for a bit and skim through the three large un-read books he took earlier.

Vanas walks inside the storage room, closing the door and sitting on the crate. He takes out the three books, opening the first one with a red cover and gold designed border. Upon reading, it reveals to be another journal, but this one of a man who apparently came here fifty years ago. Examination of his writings seems to point to the fact that he went mad inside here, and never left. One entry near the end of the book seems to point at an unnerveing fact about the fort.

"I'm afraid. it's scary, and I don't like it! The darknessss speaks to meee. I swear it's coming. I see it's shadowy figure dart around me. Why won't it come out and play with me? I just want to play. I don't want to hurt you, mister ghosty. They say you're the ghost of an evil king. A king who became a lich. How do you become a lich anyway? Some khajiit told me you eat the heart of a lich, but I didn't believe him. I ate a Nord's heart once, but I didn't become a Nord! Maybe if I follow him further, he'll show me his secrets..."

Was this what Vanas just saw? Frightened, Vanas closed the book and threw it to the side. Opening the next one, a rather old tome with a green cover, reveals it to be a large book of strange riddles. Upon examination, all of the riddles are pointless, but one seems to mention the fort.

"In the ruins of a place unheard of, there lies a secret cove full of treasure and love.
At the end is a gate, but this gate is passed through the solving of a predicament.
What is so fragile that when you say it's name, you break it?
If you refrain from saying it's name, you will be granted passage."

Vanas tore this page from the book, then closed it and threw it with the other one. Vanas then opened the third book, which sadly appears to just be a hand-written version of N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!. Vanas keeps the book, assuming he can sell it for some gold later. Vanas opens the door to the storage room, walking back over to the slammed door. Vanas peers at it, and it's been opened a crack. Vanas attempts to open it again, and it swings open with ease.

Vanas raises his torch, seeing a dim room with a small statue. The statue appears to be that of Molag Bal, but it's features severely damaged to tell for sure. In front of the statue is an altar with a bowl of water, next to two brightly lit candles. To the left of the statue is another door. Vanas hears what sounds like a whimper, and looks over at the corner next to the door. In a small basket is what appears to be a young scrib, nibbling on the last of it's bread crumbs.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet
Written copy of N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!
Copy of Riddle

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:35 am

Pick up the scrib and ask it what to do next.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:49 am

Pick up the scrib and ask it what to do next.

Vanas lifts the scrib out of the basket by it's underbelly, then casually asks it for advice on where to go next. The scrib just stares blankly, saying nothing.

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet
Written copy of N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!
Copy of Riddle

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:48 pm

Tell the scrib you'll kill him if he doesn't tell you. If he doesn't tell you, don't kill him, instead, ask him to be your friend.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:27 pm

Tell the scrib you'll kill him if he doesn't tell you. If he doesn't tell you, don't kill him, instead, ask him to be your friend.

Vanas examines the scrib closely, before threatening the scrib with death if he doesn't get the info he needs. Unfortunately, the scrib continues to stare blankly, even tilting it's head. Vanas sighs, scratches the back of his head, and shrugs.

He invites the scrib to be his friend, to which it replies with it's normal stare. Vanas takes out his steel dagger, cutting the cloth in the basket and forming a type of leash, tieing it around the scrib's neck and letting it back onto the ground.

STATUS:
Healthy

MOOD:
Content

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet
Written copy of N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!
Copy of Riddle

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch
Scrib on Leash

((Added status and mood

))

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:20 pm

No, edited out. Stupid me.

EDIT2: Ah well... It worked fine.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:20 am

OOC: I suggest adding another Status update called "Sanity". It would get worse the longer he goes without human contact, and the more atrocities he sees.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:40 am

He should take some of the food in the storage room and then continue reading the books in the room with books.
I hope you understood what I meant.

I like your interactive roleplay, very interesting...

Vanas returns to the storage area, grabbing various food items from the crates. He then walks back down the hall, taking a left back into the first room after the chasm. He returns to the bookshelf, examining the other titles. Most of them were normal books you'd expect to find in a library. Vanas' scrib perks his head up at a book on the lower shelf, carefully biting it and pulling out onto the ground. Vanas raises a brow and picks it up, inspecting it.

The book seems to be the records of guardsmen within the fort. He flips through the pages, wondering why his scrib would pull this out, when he realizes one page has a strip of jerky wedged in. He reads the page, seeing a hastily scrawled note next to it.

"Verklund,

Remember to feed Slungs. He eats a lot, and doesn't get much food in that sinkhole you call a pool. He's possibly the only slaughterfish in all of nirn to reach such a great size, and the overseer will have our heads if it dies under our watch. Oh, and don't tell anyone, but I overheard a couple guardsmen talking about a rumor that there is some kind of special trinket on the bottom of his pool. I don't know who's suicidal enough to try and get it, but It's just a rumor I heard. Anyway, feed him. If you don't have food, throw yourself in as food. I won't have him die on me.

-Benevir"

Vanas shrugs, pocketing the note and feeding the jerky to his scrib. He glances back at the hall to the chasm, hesitant to even attempt to go back. Vanas looks through the other books, finding nothing of interest. He takes the few he believes are worth a fair amount.

STATUS:
Healthy

MOOD:
Content

SANITY:
Normal

INVENTORY:
Three health potions
five lockpicks
one unlit torch
a steel dagger
a satchel full of bread
a probe.
Aron's Journal copy of tablet
Written copy of N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!
Copy of Riddle
Two Sides of the Coin
The Black Arrow, v 1
The Wolf Queen, v 2

WEARING:
Leather Armor (No helmet)
Silver Shortsword
Lit Torch
Scrib on Leash