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Post by frost1982 on Feb 15, 2018 21:59:14 GMT
Hey everyone, I'm Conner, I'm brand new to these threads. I didn't know where to post first, the. I saw this section. So my local group is taking the old Battle of Athanc campaign and making it our own so to say. A lot of the same mechanics but we added and subtracted some as well.
Well I used to be a creative writer but the older I got and then had children my creativity kinda left me I couldn't come up with any type of original coherent story line for anything.
My group got together and as a group hashed out the campaign. It was like someone kicked the creative juke box in my head cause ideas just kept popping in my head and I can form a story with it. So I wrote it down.
So please keep in mind this is long and I'm sorry for being this long lol.
I give you my shortish story.
Battle of Athanc: Grymkin Part 1.
It was the 3rd of December where at a designated location a War Council was being brought together. The Council was brought together with one agenda in mind. Determine who has the rights to claim the newly discovered piece of Caen.
A man named Athanc recently discovered a massive piece of land that either rose out of the water or non of the factions new anything about. After making the announcement Athanc died mysteriously. No one knows which faction he belonged to, so everyone is claiming he was theirs.
The Council which is a peacefull meeting was brought together to go over the rules of this impending war. One Councilman was there to announce legitimacy to a terrifying faction.
It was a long journey to the War Council meeting for Councilman Ryan. Whom for his life was devoted as a disciple of Menoth. Ryan was an average height slightly tanned skinned man in his late thirties. He never saw the true face of that unholy false God.
Then one night Councilman Ryan started to get nightmares. He would wake up and claim to see thing leaning over his bed like demon dogs with long tongues, and huge beast who looked like a mummy holding to long blades. No one else in his city would believe him or had the same visions. The next time he slept he claimed he saw a man in armour holding a staff with a sun on it. The man walked up to him and told him you were the one to let all of Caen know the Grymkin were here to seek a dark justice on those whom do injustice. The man then swung his staff to the ground.
Ryan woke up suddenly when he heard a loud clang from inside his house. He shot out of bed looking to see what made the sound. When he walked into his bedroom he found the man from his nightmare standing in front of him. The man was about 7 feet tall with gold and green armor with hints of purple throughout the armor and his weapon. His face looked like a green porcelain mask.
"No you can't be real, I'm still having that nightmare. I just need to wake up." Ryan shouted at the heavily armored man standing there.
"I assure this is no nightmare. Your mind was the last one the old witch needed to break to set us free." The man said in a muffled gravely voice.
Ryan stood there to scared to move, his eyes where closed and tight as they could be. He whispered "who are you?"
The man looked at Ryan and grabbed his face and pulled off the green mask. His skin was pale gray, with glowing purple eyes. He replied "I am called The Heretic, I am the self proclaimed leader of the 5 defiers of Menoth. Together with the defiers our Grymkin Army shall strike down Menoth and serve a dark justice to anyone who causes injustice." The Heretic answered.
"What do yyyyooouuu want from me?" Ryan asked very scared while backing up slowly.
"Councilman, there is nothing to be scared of. I'm here to help you. I'm here for you to see the light, to see the true face of that worthless God you follow. For like you I used worship the very ground Menoth walked on. Then I saw his true nature, and together with 2 other who saw what I saw fought back. He cast myself and 4 others to Urcaen." The Heretic paused for a moment when he heard a scream coming from a neighboring house. "Sounds like one of my servents went to see your deadbeat neighbor." Heretic said.
"What does that mean? Are they all right? Your creature didn't kill them did it?" Ryan asked all nervously
"I told you we are here to serve a dark justice on those whom do injustice. Your neighbor abused his power so my servant named Lord Longfellow went to him for a visit. Judging by the blood I can see through the windows no one is alive in that house." Heretic answered. He motioned for Ryan to walk with him.
Ryan nervously shook his head no then said. "I don't want to die!"
"Councilman Ryan, you have no injustice done. You have my word. I just simple want you to walk with me so I can finish explaining to you our story." Heretic reassured Ryan. He walked over and placed his arm over Ryan's shoulder forcing him to walk with him.
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Post by frost1982 on Feb 15, 2018 22:01:32 GMT
Battle of Athanc: Grymkin Part 2
At that moment when The Heretic made contact with Ryan's shoulder a electric jolt traveled from his shoulder to his brain. Ryan started seeing images in his head as if they were memories he never new he had. Ryan started to feel more comfortable around The Heretic.
The two had reached the front door of the house when it opened up revealing a a huge bulking man. The figure standing outside the door was 10 feet tall his skin was the same light gray as The Heretic's face. He wore a dark gray executioner mask. He wore the same color shorts as his mask. The figure's hands were locked into a gibbet. The gibbet had spikes all on the top of it. On each end of the gibbet had two blades facing up. Swinging bellow the gibbet on both ends were two steel cages.
Ryan froze and started to get real nervous again. The Heretic looked at Ryan and told him. "Yes Cage Rager is very threatening, he will not harm you."
"Are those skeletons in those cages?" Ryan asked pointing to the two cages hanging under the gibbet.
"Yes, this beast of a man was a nightmare of The Wanderer, he hates being contained. So the cages represent that containment and the beast represents that false idol." Heretic answered Ryan while the two of them walked outside.
The electric jolt had gotten stronger the longer contact was being made. Ryan didn't view these beast as monsters or didn't have the nervous feeling anymore. When the two of them got to the street, the rest of Heretic's Grymkin Army converged on to his location.
"You see Councilman, we all have a story. These beast over here are the manifestation of the 5 Defiers nightmares, such as Cage Rager, the gorehounds, skin and moans and the frightmare." Heretic explained while pointing to the beast all grouped together. Heretic continued. "There are the Hollowmen they are the unliving soldiers who would rather run from a fight. So my friend William uses his lantern to search out and find these cowards and condemn them to eternity under his control. Next to them are the Dreadrots. They are a group of farmers who were very rotten. The stole, cheated and destroyed the crops of their neighbors and of their own families. So for those acts of injustice a mutated pumpkin took the place of the farmers head. He has been collecting other farmers and turning them into his dreadrots." The Heretic and Councilman Ryan walked past the two units that were pointed out.
They were heading down the street towards the town saloon which had purple light coming out of the windows. Ryan looked to his left and saw five pigs sitting on top of men. He looked back at Heretic about to ask when The Heretic spoke first with his arm still around Ryan's shoulders.
"Those are the piggybacks, those pitiful men have done numerous awful crimes against their fellow man. Now they will spend eternity carrying the weight of their crimes on their shoulders."
Heretic and Ryan made their way to the front of the saloon. Leaning against one of the post stood a man wearing a long trench coat that looked very elegant and royal. The coat looked to be made of the finest silk, in a rich purple color. He had on black gloves they appear to be clutching something under his coat. His face was purple and looked to be made of porcelain. The tri corner hat looked to be made of the same silk also in that same rich purple color. He let go of what he was clutching under his coat to tip his hat to The Heretic. When he did he revealed part of his skin, the problem was it wasn't skin. The part Ryan saw was skinny and fury. The man looked at Ryan and spoke. "Councilman Ryan, it is a pleasure to make your aquantice. I am Lord Longfellow." He said very prim and proper.
"Longfellow here, hunts down proper characters that think they're above the people they hurt." Heretic said. "A few things about Longfellow, he has never lost a duel to a living person. If he shows up to see you, don't run he will catch up to you. Finally like the rest of the Grymkin he is a living nightmare." With that Heretic motioned over to Lord Longfellow.
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Post by frost1982 on Feb 15, 2018 22:04:44 GMT
Battle of Athanc: Grymkin Part 3
Longfellow removed his hat and porcelain face to reveal his true self. For Lord Longfellow is the ultimate nightmare and 6 foot spider. His coat slide off his torso and his six arms stretch, four of his arms are holding dueling pistols. With his two free arms he reached and slipped his coat back on followed by his mask then hat.
Ryan saw this happening and didn't flinch for the connection that Heretic has on him is stronger and he has no fear. The two of then walked passed Longfellow and into the saloon. It was there Ryan saw a little girl wearing a purple and green dress, her black hair in two ponytails. She was throwing a fit that she couldn't get a glass of milk. She screamed out "dolly" when suddenly this huge hulking creature walked up behind her. The creature had light gray skin with black fur. It wore a green porcelain mask on top of it's head and dark grey shorts with suspenders. The creature had symbols scared on its body that were glowing purple. The creature slammed it's massive fist down on the bar and demanded to get the child some milk.
On the other side of the saloon a man was walking back and forth. He was about 6 feet tall wearing a dark grey trench coat with a hood on it covering his head. In his right hand he held a staff with a hanging lantern on the end. He walked up to The Heretic.
"You said it wasn't going to take this long. You know how much I don't like to stay in on place." The man said.
The Heretic looked at the man and then to the young child. He looked back at Ryan. "Councilman let me introduce you to my two allies against Menoth." He said with hatred in his voice when mentioning Menoths name. He motioned over to the young girl. "This young lady is called The Child and her personal protector Dolly. She is rather rude and hates being told no. She was the first of the 5 defiers to be casted out by that false prophet." The Heretic said. He then motioned to the man pacing in the room. "This man is called The Wanderer. He was cast out after he escaped Menoth's walls. Wanderer hates being contained and the thought of being restrained or caged," Heretic points back at Cage Rager. "Gives Wanderer nightmares."
The Heretic spoke a little bit more the entire time still making contact with Ryan. After the life story of the Grymkin, Ryan looked at The Heretic and asked. "What is it that you need me for? How come you're keeping me alive?"
The Heretic paused for a moment he looked at both The Child and The Wanderer, the both gave a nod. The Heretic looked at Ryan. "We need you to represent us. See the reason we are back from Urcaen is because of the Old Witch of Khador. She felt a great war was coming and she didn't have faith in her Khadorian army to get the job done and protect her. So she made it possible for the year between Caen and Urcaen to be opened for us Defiers to come through." The Heretic answered the first part. He finally broke contact with Ryan. "So what we need is to be recognized as a legitimate faction in this war over the land Athanc had discovered. As far as keeping you alive it's simple you've done nothing to warrant our attention. However heed this warning if you agree to represent doesn't auto save you. You cause any injustice and the Grymkin will come for you." The Heretic concluded with a serious and threatening look.
"So what do you say Councilman Ryan? Will you go forth and tell the world of Caen that the Grymkin are here for good?" The Heretic asked as he stood tall next to The Wanderer and The Child.
Ryan looked down at the floor to think about things. He could walk away and they will leave him alone or he could walk and they will kill him. He thought about it for a few minutes. When he finally looked up at the three of them his eyes had a shade of purple glow coming off of them his pupils had been replaced by a crow skull and a upside down sickle. "I will let the whole world know and cleanse Caen of all the injustice." Ryan answered with a devilish grin on his face.
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Post by frost1982 on Feb 15, 2018 22:07:31 GMT
Battle of Athanc: Grymkin Part 4
Ryan made his way out of the saloon. He stood on the top step which was able to overlook the crowd of Grymkin beast and nightmares. He waved for everyone to get closer. "My name is Councilman Ryan. When the War Council meets in a few months I will unleash you all on to them. Their injustice will be yours to have. Their nightmares will fuel you. Caen will know the Grymkin are here to stay." Ryan shouted to the crowd. They got as lively as the could for being unliving or nightmare feared monsters. Ryan then turned back to The Heretic who stood behind him watching him give his speech. He asked. "Is there anyway of getting me to the meeting in style?"
The Heretic knew what he was looking for so he called upon the Death Knell. Up the hill comes this busted old wagon/cart being pulled by a mostly dead horse and a driver with no face only glowing eyes. The wagon had four coffins in it plus the heads and bodies of numerous corpses. The wagon had two lights that gave off a purple hue, which to victims is calming, to allies boost their toughness. Ryan saw the Death Knell and looked back and gave a thumbs up to The Heretic.
It was the 3rd of December the day of the meeting, a few council members arrived a head of time. They were standing outside the building when they kept hearing blood curdling screams coming from the west. The screams where getting louder and closer to the location then all went silent. Two of the Council members hurried back inside leaving only Councilman Adam 1 of 2 who represent the Skorne Empire.
Adam listen to see if he could hear any more screams. All he could hear was the trollop of horse shoes on the road. Then he saw it. It terrified him. He was to scared to even scream. Everything around him went silent, all he could hear in his terrifying state was the bell the driver was holding.
The Death Knell pulled up to the location and Councilman Ryan who was sitting next to the driver jumped off the wagon. Ryan saw the Councilman Adam was frozen with fear. Ryan waited for the Death Knell was out of site then approached Adam.
"Councilman Adam. Councilman Adam are you alright?" He asked while shaking Adam by the shoulders.
Adam snapped out of it, looked around didn't see anything or hear anything but Ryan. Adam looked at Ryan. "Yeah I'm good. Did you see that wagon that was here?" He asked Ryan a little confused.
"No man, I got here and saw you standing here. I talked to you and you seem off in your own little world. You sure your okay? You seem tired, you getting enough sleep?" Ryan asked again.
"Yeah well maybe I don't know. I saw something I would see in my nightmares. Anyway lets get inside." Adam answered. He turned and was making his was inside. Ryan followed suit with a devilish grin on his face.
Shortly there after most of the Council members had arrived. Attending the meeting were: Councilman Fred of the Trollbloods, Councilman Jeff of Circle of Orboros, Councilman Keith of Cygnar, Councilman Andrew of Khador, and Councilman Adam of Skorne. Councilman Dustin the other Skorne Empire representative, Councilman James of Protectorate, and Councilman Shane the representative of Gatormen could not make it to the meeting.
This being a peaceful meeting forced the Councilman to be civil with each other. Ryan just stayed back and kept to himself. He overheard some of the other council members trying to figure out who has the best chance of taking the land. Someone made a gesture towards Ryan and asked about Protectorate. Ryan just grinned.
Councilman Jeff got the meeting in order, he started to go over a few things. He went around the room to see if anything worth talking about from each faction. He kept the beast with beast and machine with machine. He got to Ryan and asked him what's new from Protectorate.
Ryan looked up and started to grin. He looked around the room and saw that all eyes were on him, he knew this was the moment.
"Things for Menoth are about to end." He said
There was a lot of confusing in the room, members talking amongst each other while staring at him.
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Post by frost1982 on Feb 15, 2018 22:09:00 GMT
Battle of Athanc: Grymkin Part 5
"You are all wondering what I'm talking about aren't you? Well Menoth can not escape his fate, for the Defiers will come and collect on his injustice." Ryan exclaimed while walking the room.
However it was something Ryan said that perked up Councilman Andrew's ears. He recognized the word Defiers. He remembered hearing about them from the crazy Old Witch who lived deep into the woods. She called them a certain name he was trying to think what it was.
While Andrew was thinking and remembering, Ryan was still talking. "You see my fellow Councilmen, heed this warning for any injustice you shall cause or your faction shall cause my nightmares will find you and they will serve a dark justice. For I now am and represent the..." Ryan said threatening.
He was about to reveal the faction name when Andrew blurted it out. "Grymkin!" He yelled with excitement and then dread.
Ryan looked at Andrew cocked his head, produced a evil grin. "You know of us Khador? What am I saying of course you know of us. It was your Old Witch that brought us to Caen in the first place." Ryan said while walking up to Andrew.
"Why would she do that?" Andrew asked kinda nervously.
"Well according to The Heretic, she had envisioned a great war coming and she thought Grymkin needed to be there." Ryan answered. He turned from Andrew and walked back to his seat. He sat down then said. "So the Grymkin are here and they are to stay. You have 2 choices either recognize us as a legitimate faction or ignore us and we will haunt your nightmares and just do what we please."
The rest of the Council didn't need much time to deliberate. Councilman Jeff made the decision. Grymkin was in. They can fight for Athanc like everyone else. Only 1 stipulation the Grymkin until this is over need to let any injustice done alone. After this battle that stipulation goes away.
The rest of the meeting was rather tiresome. The final decision came down like this. Each faction will get a piece of land on Athanc to set up shop. The deploy their armies from their capital.
Councilman Ryan was excited that when he got back he told the whole faction the great news. They however didn't care for the stipulation. Ryan talked it over with The Heretic and he felt that was a unnecessary stipulation.
"Look Heretic it's the only way I could get us in. Besides we take over villages and land in sure there will be so wrong doings then. It will be our village the Council can't stop us on that." Ryan said trying to make Heretic understand.
"Fine, so be it." He said angry. "Wanderer Child we need to mobilize." He said.
A few weeks go by and The Grymkin get settled into their new capital. The Heretic calls for The Child and The Wanderer to meet him in the new war room. There was a giant round table that contained the map of Athanc (of what they knew of at least.) The Child and The Wanderer walk in and stand on either side of Heretic.
"You two have your orders. You know what to do. One of you head south towards Skorne. One of you head north towards the Trollbloods. Claim any land along the way." The Heretic explained while moving pieces on a giant map. He looked up and shouted "NOW GO AND BRING TERROR TO ALL!"
A week went by and Heretic got word from the two defiers he sent out. He wrote down orders to send out. The one to the north head east 1 click. To the one in the south head into Skorne territory.
Up next the battle reports. Hope you all enjoyed this creative story.
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