Lilly watched at the stone she loosed struck her target dead center of it’s forehead, and a javelin thrown by someone else struck the same target and it fell dead through the branches of the tree to slam into the ground.

“Ha,” she gave a short laugh and turned briefly to smile towards the others and return the nod of Uthal as he apparently approved of her accuracy.  She briefly saw that the other guard escaped any harm, so she started up the incline to try and get a better shot at the guard who wasn’t as protected as it thought.  

Moving up toward the guard, she slipped another stone into the sling pocket and once she saw an opportunity she stopped and bracing her hoopak’s sharp end into the ground to brace it for a better shot, and loosed another stone at the last visible guard.

(OOC: Ok, not sure how much she can move and still take a shot, but she will move as much as she can at a slant to the side to try and get a clearer shot, then fire off another shot.  Forgive my ignorance, as I’m trying to learn how the combat works in a rules system. )

No problem. Only had a couple of people submit some character ideas, but still need a couple more.  I will revisit this a little later and hope I will learn more from the BlackTooth Ridge game to help me with my game.  If it get going.  

Hey Hammer!  Welcome back! 

I hope my post gives enough about Lilly's intended actions.  Basically, she going to use her hoopla/sling once she is within range of whomever is a appropriate target.  If you need more info, let me know. 

Lilly had gone along with the group, even though no one really spoke up and said she was welcome to come.  It seemed that they would need the help, as it didn’t seem they had faired too well the last time.  It sounded like they had been outnumbered, but had managed to survive, though not without injuries.  Maybe if she tagged along they might manage to make it through this time.

The ice ‘raft’ had been fun she thought, it had been a wild trip but they had all gotten across and close to the location from where they wanted to approach their destination.

They moved through the forest and they paused as the sentries were spotted by their forward spotters.  She had moved along the right flank of the group, using the foliage to mask her movements.  She wasn’t trying to hide from the group, so any of them could have looked her way and spotted her as she moved, but she was still unsure of this group, and she was used to working alone for the most part.  

Once they reached the spot where they stopped and discussed their plan, Lilly listened and considered their suggestions on how they would approach and take out those sentries.  She didn’t give any suggestions of her own; how could she match the magic some of them were talking about using in this fight.  She would listen further, and if no one asked her to do anything specific, she planned to follow along and look for a place where she could maybe use her hoopak sling for distance attacks.  

(OOC: Still not sure how this will work, so her action will be to follow the main attackers and if she sees a chance to target a sentry, or other enemy, she will use the sling in her Hoopak to strike at them using stones. )

Okay, being new to this type of playing, asking for ideas or to see if things might work.

What if Lilly distracted some guards, wander out as if unaware of them and then ran to try and lure them into an ambush?  She's quite good at taunting people into getting mad at her?   Or do you want something more of a surprise?  It doesn't sound like we have a big chance of sneaking up on them, or am I reading it wrong? 

Let me know what you think. 

Oh wow. We're back. Cool. Now to see what I need to do get caught up. 

So true, Kender don't get invited to anything, which is why they invite themselves. ?

Well, even though no one actually said it was okay for her to join the group, I'm going to assume it was okay.  Even if not she would have probably snuck along anyway. ?

Since my character is basically just tagging along, I'll be waiting till a few other people posts their actions to see how the group wants to proceed.

“Nice to meet you Silver,” Lilly said as she bowed to the Elf, no not quite an Elf, she detected a bit of something else that smoothed out some of the normal Elvin features.  It mattered not to Lilly, she was only here for adventure, and it seemed like she might have some if she decided to join them in their quest.

She listened to the plan to use magic to create a boat, or raft, of ice and use it to cross the river where their adventure would take them.  By the time they had decided upon the plan, she had made up her mind.

“If you are set upon this adventure,” Lilly said as she stepped forward to stand ‘tall’ before the group, “I would join you, if you would have me along?"

 Lilly bowed her head quickly to the Elf named Hornet, as she had to others when introduced, the extra hair hanging from her Topknot flipping forward and back.  “Very Nice to meet you Hornet,” she replied to him with a big smile upon her lips.  When she leaned close, her smile slipped a little, wondering what was his intent.  Seeing that he only wanted to confer some private information, she leaned her head slightly toward him.  

Hearing him speak of ‘finding things’ her smile returned.  She had not known there were others, outside her own people, who had this strange ability.  She smiled and nodded to his suggestion about coming to him if she did not know what to do with anything she happened to find. 

When asked about how she found herself to be in this forest, she brightened up and began, “Well that is a long tale…”  

Luckily for all of them, another one of the party gave her introduction to Lilly.  This one was a tall elf female who gave off the aura of a wizard of some sort.  The Kender repeated her typical quick bow, and they shared a moment of admirable greetings.   Lilly was fascinated by the tiny serpent creature that seemed to be a companion of the wizard.  But for some unknown reason, the creature seemed to not like Lilly; this was a complete mystery to her.  She was hoping she could converse with the tiny serpent, but soon Soledad sent the creature away to vanish into nothingness.  The kender frowned for a moment, but then the party began to discuss their plans for a return to the battle from which they apparently had escaped.  It sounded like the battle had not gone well.  Lilly listened and drank in every detail she could glean from the conversations between the others.  

Lilly’s eyes widened as she saw a Giant lumbering her way from the newcomers.  She craned her head upwards and smiled at the strange person.  At first she thought it was a very large human, but it’s silvery hair and skin that was a whiter shade of pale than any she had seen before.  It’s skin looked like it had markings, upon it’s face and arms, adding further to the mystery.  Even as it bent down to her and offered it’s hand and spoke it’s greeting, she showed no fear of a being more than 2 times her height.

“Greetings to you Nightwalker,” Lilly’s singsong joyous voice replied, “you certainly are the strangest thing I have beheld in a long time.”  She noticed his large hand held out and, fearing her hand would disappear in such a meaty palm never to be seen again, she grasped his index finger with her small hand and shook it.  “It is a pleasure indeed.”

Next she turned away from the Giant Nightwalker, as she saw a Dwarven warrior bedecked with armor, weapons, and quite a bit of finery, bright amulet and rings, approach her.  She smiled as he introduced himself in an eloquent manner.  She bowed to him with a flourish and then shook his hand with a vigorous shake.  

“My goodness,” she said with a bright smile, “royalty here in this forest.  This is turning out the be a rather interesting day.  I am honored, Sir Gerdar.”

Hey Tann - Long time.  I’m glad to be back, I might not have been except that darn cat is awfully strong.

While not yet an official member of the party, I like the suggestion of the shallowing water, or the raft or something to get across this river.  I’ve gone back and read most of the encounter, but I probably missed a lot of details.  Also, while my character can swim, she’s short and even a shallow river can be dangerous to the vertically challenged.

Not knowing the previous battle circumstances, she wont be a lot of help planning your renewed assault, though she could probably be of assistance at some point, if given the chance.   

I await further introductions, and the plan.

Tom - I shortened your name because I was getting my tongue twisted trying to type that.

You can use established D&D characters if it helps you, and it will help me too as it gives me an better idea of what your character can do.  Of course, there wont be any die rolling, and such.  As for the rules, they’ll be more like guidelines than actual rules.

The only character that has expressed a type was an Eldritch Knight, which I’m waiting to fine out what that is exactly.  So if you want to be a Rogue with some low level spell abilities, that will be fine.

Now for the world and situation, I’m not going to draw much attention to that and details.  As far as the characters are concerned, it is their world.  Much like people in the olden days, they only thought of it as the world, most people in our world back then thought the same way.   There are most of the normal Fantasy races, Elf, Dwarf, Human, etc., as well as some stranger ones which are myth to most, but possibly exist.

You all will not be meeting in a tavern, but I will keep that a secret till the game starts.  What I will need to know is if any of you know one another prior to this adventure.  That will be left up to all of you to discuss and figure out amongst yourselves.

Dragon soul - Regarding spells and the like, I would like to stick mostly to known spells, you can use those from D&D for the most part, Fireball, flame, invisibility, etc.   As for new spells, I would like to hear what anyone has in mind in that regard, but remember this is a mid-level adventure (equivalent Lv , so really powerful spells wont be available at the beginning.

You all can come up with whatever background you want, it’s your characters.  Places, names, etc., are of little importance to me.  In this Freeform game, your characters backgrounds are up to you to decide.  Do what you will, just don’t be ridiculous or crazy and your free to make up what you will.   

Lilly returned the nod to Thäoran, her topknot hair whipping forward and back quickly.  She smiled and her eyes grew wider in wonder as he spoke of things she knew nothing about, but she took it in as much as she could and remained silent.  She didn’t know what an Eldritch Knight was, and didn’t know the Elven forest of which he spoke.  When he spoke of his missing father, concern clouded her face and her smile faltered when Thäoran paused dwelling on thoughts of his father, her head bowed slightly as she waited for him to continue.  When he did, she perked back up as he spoke of missing young farmers, and some place called Vargolg, and a battle that apparently didn’t go too well, causing their retreat in order to survive.  She did not speak but listened closely anything they said about their journey; she was always intrigued with the adventures of others.  

There had been a time, a few years back, when Lilly had sat in an Inn and listen enraptured by the tales of a Human/Elven Bard as he regaled the patrons of the Inn with his songs and tales, and songs of tales.   The Bard made quite a bit of coin that day; enough to feed him, to stable his horse, and pay for one of the nicest rooms at the Inn.  It was only later, maybe a day or so, when she had stopped on the side of the road to dig a bite of bread from her pack, and found a small handkerchief that she wondered how it got there.  Lilly looked at it, faded white, with blue and red thread embroidering the edges in intricate swirls.  It hit her then, this belonged to the Bard; he had told a tale of a fancy young woman that he had a short dalliance with one night, and how she had given him this very handkerchief to remember her by, and as a promise that he would one day return to her.   She did not know how it had gotten in one of her pouches; he must have dropped it and she picked it up to give back to him, but had simply forgotten.  That seemed to happen quite a bit.  Some times she wondered how anyone had any things as all, since they were always losing them.  She tucked it back into her pouch and promised that she would seek out that Bard to return the cherished gift.  Lilly only hoped that she would remember the Bards name…

She was draw back to the conversation and further introductions of the others.

I'm not against characters from having companions, magical or otherwise, but you need you present a character before I would consider it.  So come up with your character first then we can discuss special items.  Of course I would want to know how and why you have your companion, no matter what it is.

Ok, after talking with a few people about how D&D games run, I'm thinking of a mid level game, Level 8 equivalent for those who are used to those rules games.  If you want to use that as a base for your character that is fine.

As for spells, I plan on using the strength of the caster as a basis for how many spells one could cast in a day.  So the more powerful the   spell the more energy it draws from you.  A low level spell would take a little and a high level would take a lot of energy.  That is the way I plan to play the game.  For example, your character’s imid level spell so would tax your energy accordingly, while a powerful Fireball spell would take a lot of energy.  I would keep track of players spells cast and let them know through my post how they were feeling.  You cast a lot of powerful spells, you’re going to drain quickly and have to rest to regain your strength before casting more.

It's kind of like a warrior's strength or endurance would determine how long he could fight or run full out.   I would depend on any characters with spells to have a list of spells they might have in their spell books, or whatever.  Spells they have studied and know they can use, I wont require them to select spells they can use that day, they can use any they know, but once they have exhausted themselves, they would have to rest before they can cast more.  

Anyway, that's how levels and spells will work in my game. If anyone has anything questions on this, let me know.

Now, several people have expressed interest but I have only heard from a couple of them on what they want to play.  I hope to hear from the others who were interested.  

Yes, plenty of time.  I think people will need some time to come up with their characters.

As for 'grunt work' since there are no rules to use, then the majority of the work of character creation would be upon the player.  

I suggest everyone have a concept, as Hammer said, and present that to me.  I will ahve questions, and then ask about the character abilities you think it should have, and how those would be used in game.   If most of you have played in D&D style games, this will be similar.  You will have a character with defind abilities, spells, etc.  That part is up to you.  If you have questions about this Free form game, ask away, and I'll do my best to answer them.  

If you have characters you have used in D&D and want to use them, let me see them, I'm not beyond having those characters in my game if it helps you understand the character better.  

This game will be about story telling, and adventure, and I want it to be challenging and fun.   My game is coming along, and I've got the beginning done and moving forward with fleshing it out.  

Any questions, let me know.

Eldritch Knight?  Sounds intriguing. I'd like to hear what makes them different from just a plain old Knight?

I have posted regarding her greeting the new people.  Post away, dont wait for me. 

“There I was in the woods!  And approaching the river I met you.”  Lilly said and looked like she was going to continue, but..

        She didn’t get any further when a familiar voice interrupted the flow of words.   A voice that could belong to none other than Boris the Otter spoke in his usual rapid fire fashion, “of course!  Of course!  One must always be careful of mages; they always have surprising tricks that can do all sorts of interesting things.  Why, once Boris met one with these weird glasses who . . . well, never mind that, that mage isn’t here, but you are!  And such a you!  It was obvious you weren’t half, and no, I have never heard of a two-thirding but that meant you must be something else!  But I spotted it – the stick, you see, it is a give away for those who know what Boris knows.  And Boris has been to more places than just his river.  But this river is a good place and many people come to it!  Which they should since it is such a fine river!  Like my friends from yesterday who did me a good service – you will like them.  And I can say will, because they are right behind those bushes over there!”

                “Come forward friends!  There are times to hide in the woods and fog, but the bright light of the morning is not such a time!  Come, come!”  As the group shuffled out into the little cleared area by the river’s edge, they saw Boris waving them forward.  In front of him stood a small, young lady.  She was just under 4’ tall, thin and with long blond hair that was tied up in a topknot.  She appeared very youthful and was dressed in colorful clothes – patches filling in where other colors faded, and tall leather boots covered her feet.  She held a long staff or stick that had a fork in one end and appeared to have a strap across it – almost like a slingshot.  She looked up with a smile at the large group that emerged from the woods.  Boris continued his monologue, “Come!  I would like to introduce you to . . . “and here he indicated the young female in front of him, “this!”  He proclaimed it almost triumphantly!

Lilly had risen to her feet, and turned to look at the ‘group’ of ‘friends’ as Boris called them.  She showed no signs of surprise or apprehension at meeting new people in these strange woods, she only smiled at them as they came out toward Boris and her.

With her Hoopak still in hand, the sharp end resting upon the ground, she bowed with a grand gesture, causing her hair to whip down and back up as she greeted them.

“Well met, Friends of Boris,” she said with a big smile upon her lips, “I am Lilly Moonwillow, at your service.”   She looked upon them and waited to see if they would introduce themselves to her.

After any introductions were complete, she sat back on her rock and watched them discuss things that she knew nothing about; something about Vile creatures, Vargolg, goblins, and more that she did not quite catch, as she was only half listening.  Her mind tended to wander at times, especially if she was not included in the situation at hand.   She was waiting patiently, apparently so she could continue her conversation with Boris, as he seemed a most fascinating creature.  She was not sure if he was actually and Otter or some other magical creature that chose only to appear as an Otter.  Lilly was fascinated to learn the answer to those questions, when she got a chance to ask it.  For now, she watched quietly and waited while Boris and his friends talked.

Well I don't know levels, but I would think this is not a beginning adventure as the potential danger will be great.  Lets say a middle level characters, not see what that is, maybe someone with rules experience could weigh in on what that might be.  

You can use a character that you made up with the 5e rules if you like, that way you have an idea of its skills, spells, etc.  Up to you.  I will need to know the character's abilities, etc. for the game.  Now I imagine some of you rules people already have characters made and you could use those if you wish.   Whatever helps you and helps me.

 Just don't expect combat and things to be handled exactly the way it would with the 5e games.  I wont be rolling any dice to decide things.  Most of the time, you will post things your character does, or says, but during times of combat, etc.  I will be lettting you know the effects of your efforts, such as damage and spell efffects.  I will know what the opponents that you will face are capable of, and will use that knowledge to determine success or failure.

Just a reminder, this game wont start for weeks yet, if it even starts.  Right now I have time and I'm working on the adventure details, but we have time to work on characters and once that is set for those that want to continue.   The plan is that I will work behind the scenes with each player to work out how each character will come into this setting.  So when the game starts, we will know where you all are at the beginning.

So if you're still interested in continuing, let me know.  You can PM me anything that you don't want the others to know right now, otherwise post your questions here.  At some point I will start up game threads once I know more about who will be playing.

I find the concept appealing. I'd like to hear more about it.  You can PM or email me info if you like.  Thanks

Yep, I'm joining the group.  Nomad and I worked on my introduction behind the scenes. 

I'm sorry if the post was a bit long, I've done longer, and I will have a post up soon to the group, I didn't want to make that 1st post larger than it was already. 

Be seeing you around!  

The day was heavily overcast, the wind was brisk and cold as it howled over the tops of the mountain range making the treetops bend considerably.  Most of the animals were hunkered down against the weather; birds taken to roost, deer gathered in groups in the thick brush, small ground animals had taken to their dens and burrows.  Nothing moved, except... a small covered form was slowly making its way up the mountainside, picking its way through crevasses, between the trees, moving upwards despite the inclement weather.

The form was covered in a cloak of some kind that made it nigh impossible to determine much about the thing; whether it was man or woman, human, elf, or other.  It kept the cloaked pulled tight about it to protect it and to blend in to its surroundings.   Moving ever upwards until finally it topped a rise and glanced up at its destination.  At that moment, the sun found a small fissure in the cloud cover and struck down in a beam upon the precise location of the traveler.  The sunlight struck the face of the figure, making it shine brightly in the sudden illumination. 

It was a small radiant face that peered from the hood of the cloak, not showing much, a sun weathered face, and sharp blue eyes that gazed up towards the summit of this peak.  A faint smile grew upon the pert lips as it saw its destination so near now.  The rest of the face could not be seen as the cloak still covered the top and sides of its head, and with a faint satisfying snort, the person took off again, moving ever upwards.

The figure continued its journey until finally it stood at the base of a rock-hewn tower that jutted from the mountainside almost at its peak.   Finding a small alcove in the rock face, the figure stepped in out of the worse of the brisk winds.   Once there, the cloak was flung away to lie against the wall, and the ‘figure’ was fully visible.   It was a small female humanoid, looking like a Halfling, only taller, a couple inches short of 4 feet, and slimmer.   It has a human-like face, with sharp deep blue round eyes, and high pointed ears much like an elf; its golden blonde hair was pulled up high into a topknot above its head, and held in place by a simple leather strap.

It wore simple clothing, leather breeches and shirt; though there were places where colorful bits of cloth were adhered to it to patch a tear or just for decoration.  About its person, were an assortment of pouches, bags, etc. of various sizes, though most were small in nature.   The only other items of note were two items made from wood that stuck out from they were tucked in between the body and the small sack slung across its back.  One looked like a small whip with a thin flexible shaft, and a long piece of catgut protruding from the thin end, though what was at the end of that line could not be seen.  The figure reached back, removed the other, and let it rest in her left hand.  It was staff-like and close to 5 feet in length, with a metal spear point on one end, and what looked like a Slingshot on the other. 

Lilly Moonwillow, smiled as she looked about the valley below the mountain before she turned back to kook over the rock-face with a critical eye; after a few moments, she seemed to find something and her smile grew broader.  Reaching into one of her small pouches at her waist, she removed a few small tools and crouched at the face of the wall where it was flat.  Lilly had learned from some old maps, that there was a secret entrance to this Wizard’s abode, and she was determined to find out what it was that the mage thought was so important to lock away way up here in the mountains.

Wizards were strange, she thought so anyway, and they had their secrets; what she could not figure out is why they always insisted on locking them up.  Locks were an abomination, if you did not was people to have access to something, why even put a door there.  It just did not make sense; of course, not a lot of people did make any sense.   She shrugged and then laughed faintly as she hear a tiny click as the lock, concealed in a tiny hole, was released and the wall before her moved slightly to reveal a hidden door.  Yep, no sense at all.

She stowed her tools away, the reaching out pushed the door inward with her right hand.  Seeing nothing but a dim passage ahead, much bigger than it needed to be for her small stature, she stepped inside to see what lay ahead.  

It took some searching, as the passage was dark, and she had to rely primarily on her natural ability to see in dim and dark places, but eventually she came upon another hidden doorway.  Since this passage did not look natural, and it did not have any branches, she assumed it had been made some time back as an escape passage.  Escape? From what? She wondered.  This door was easy to open from this side, as there was a simple lever here that could be triggered from a hidden switch on the other side.   With a click, it opened and pulling upon the door slowly she peered beyond.

Lilly had heard from villagers nearby that a wizard lived here and she had always found them fascinating.  She had encountered them from time to time, and they all seemed so mysterious; this only piqued her curiosity.  They had never found her company appealing to them, and they never let her hang around to see what it was that they did.  She always wanted to know if the stories were real; the wonders that others said they could perform.  Shame, if some of them had taken her up on her desire to travel with them, then she probably would not be here now to check things out for themselves. 

The villagers below did not know much about this Wizard, but he did not seem to bother them, and none of them ever ventured near his mountain retreat.  She on the other hand, was too curious to not check him out when he as so close.  She had climbed up here, having ‘found’ a cloak that would keep her from the worse of the winter storm that was rolling in now.  It was not snowing yet, but it felt like it would at any minute out there.  Therefore, she had struck out as soon as her mind was made up; it was lucky that she happened to find that cloak when she did. 

Now, as she peered into the room from the tunnel, she felt a little let down.  It was a room higher up in the tower no doubt, but it was dull and dingy, and the smell of chemicals burned her nose and eyes.  Shelves lined several walls, all containing dusty books of various sizes, and old moldy looking scrolls.  There were several large wooden tables about the room, all covered with flasks, containing liquids of different colors.  Everything seemed to have no order to them, none that she could make out. 

As Lilly made her way further into the room, her disappointment showed upon her face.  She had been hoping for something wonderful, exciting, something grand, but this was nothing but a dusty old room full of junk.  As she walked about looking hopeful, she did not notice that the sunlight coming through the high windows in two of the walls was starting to fade.  Night was coming early because of the heavy overcast sky outside, but she still had enough light to see the contents of the room.  Unbeknownst to her, small objects here and there on tables, ‘fell’ into her pouches, nothing large, just small items, where her gaze did not even pass.

Lilly was about to give up but noticed that something large rested by one of the solid walls.  It was covered with a large thick black cloth, like huge drapes of some sort. Maybe here was something worth her time.   She reached out with her free hand and tugged at the cloth and it fell away with little effort to lie on the floor.  She gapped in surprise; it was a large oval mirror over 6’ tall set in a wooden frame which held it upright.  Yeah it was just a large mirror, but the thing, which caused her surprise, was that it showed the room behind her, but she could not see herself standing in front of it.

She moved in front of the mirror, raised her hand and waved, but she was not visible.  Feeling no trepidation, she reached out slowly to touch the mirror surface.  As soon as her tiny slender finger touched the ‘glass’ it gave off a blast of energy which flung the tiny figure across the room to bash into a table sending glassware flying to crash noisily to the floor.  Lilly rolled off the table and shook her head, she would probably have a bruise or two from that, but she seemed unharmed.  Her eyes fairly bulged as she looked to the mirror; it still was not showing her, but not it was not showing the room.  It looked like the glass had disappeared, and in its place was an oval of scintillating colors swirling and flashing.  She gapped at colors beyond anything she had ever seen, some of them beyond her ability to comprehend or describe.   Yet beyond the sudden blast at the start, now it was silent as the grave; the swirling colors did not make even the tiniest of noises. She was slowly walking towards it when the silence of the room was suddenly torn asunder by a hideous shriek. 

Lilly whirled and saw a shadowy form of pure blackness was standing in the doorway; she had not heard it open, yet there it stood.  The shadow was tall and humanoid in appearance, but there were no clear features, except for large red glowing eyes that blazed at her.   This thing was probably some type of protector of the Wizard and the noise had alerted it to her presence.  While this thing’s shriek would probably freeze some other beings in fear, she just smiled slightly as the rush of excitement leaped into her heart. 

While she did not usually court violence, it did still cause exhilaration to course through her tiny body.  When the ‘Shadow’ thing leaped forward towards her, she was not there when it arrived.  Leaping to the side, she rolled and used her tiny form to slide beneath a table, which barred the thing from reaching her.  She was not sure, but since the thing held no weapon she could see, it probably would harm her with a simple touch; she had encountered such creatures in the past and knew it was best to keep her distance.

The thing only howled again and moved quickly to move around the table; apparently, it was solid enough, she thought, that it could not pass through solid objects.  This knowledge gave her an advantage, it chased her and she used the tables, and other furniture to keep it out of reach of her.  It only howled in frustration and continued to chase her.   She knew she could not keep that up, and looked about as she kept out of its reach.  She saw that the secret passage had closed since she entered, that left only the windows, too high, or the open doorway.  She considered rolling towards and darting out the door, but she did not know the layout of the tower, and there still might be a wizard here.   There was one other way, if she was right.

Coming out of another diving roll, she saw the ‘mirror’ to her left, she was not sure, but she thought perhaps this might be a better way out.  She had heard of magical portals that wizards used at times, and this to her looked like it just might be the genuine article.  Only one way to find out.  Ducking underneath another lunge at her from the guardian, she took off straight at the ‘portal’ and dove at it with all her strength.  Either she was right and she would come out somewhere else, hopefully outside this tower, or she would crash into a solid surface and be rendered unconscious where the creature would undoubtedly kill her.

With a cry of excitement, Lilly few into the scintillating colors and through them, she experienced a tingling sensation all over her body, before she hit solid ground … somewhere.   She landed hard but absorbed most of the impact with a roll and came to her feet and whirled about to look behind her.  Nothing.  No portal, no guardian creature.  Nothing but a forest, which seemed to be everywhere around her.  She took a slow turn as she became aware that she was not in any forest familiar to her.  The season here was wrong as well, it was not winter here as it was much warmer than where she had been.  She looked up into the forest canopy and could not see much of the sky, but while it was overcast, what light she could see seemed off somehow.  She shrugged, and first looked one way then another; her keen hearing picked up the sound of water somewhere to her left.  She could refill her water bag and then decide where she was going after that.  Perhaps she could see more clearly if it was a river, where she could see the sky and get her bearings.

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Lilly is walking through the woods towards the sound of running water.  Eventually the woods open up and she is confronted by a river.  It is about 60' wide or so (You are a bit upstream of the ford they have been talking about.), seems to be pretty deep here and has a reasonably swift current.  But the river moves along happily and Lily moves forward to fill her water bottle.  When her water bottle is full she pauses, sensing that something is watching her.  She slowly looks up and sees . . .

An 8' long giant otter.  The creature is sitting on some large rocks about 20' away and watching her intently.  She is quite sure it wasn't there when she arrived and she didn't hear it arrive.  As she starts to stand the otter speaks!  "Well, now this really is a curiosity!  Here I was, just being Boris and doing Boris things while enjoying my river and along comes . . . you."  Here he pauses and his nose twitches a bit and he stands a bit taller to pear down at you from various angles.  "But just what does it mean to say that you are you?  At first glance I would have said the you that is you is a halfling you.  But . . ."  And here he shifts around more to get a better look, even moving to the bank and up a log.  "But you are not a halfling!  Not by half!  Or, not by those ears anyway!  And you are a bit more than half a man which means you can't really be just a halfling, can you?  Hmm . . . Are there Two/thirdings where you come from?  Hmmm . . . . This is a puzzle.  And so young looking in your way.  But not . . ." and here he quickly moved within 5' to peer at your face, "no, no, no.  Not young by those eyes.  Well, younger than Boris and younger than many but not, as it were, young.  A youngling.  No."  Hmmm . . . "Actually . . .like a halfling, but not a halling.  Young looking, but not young. And that stick!  A pointy end and a strappy end!  Oh, my!"  The creature practically spun in a circle!  "Yes!  But, what are you doing here?!"  

At this point he paused.  "Well, where are my manners.  And here you are having arrived at my river and all and I haven't even said anything!  Well, I guess I have actually said a lot, but most of that was really just to myself.  I haven't said anything to you!  Welcome to the Hreusen River, the River!  The river of Boris and I am Boris, of course!  Welcome little one!  How did you arrive at Boris river?"

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Lilly’s eyes grew wide upon seeing the largest otter she had ever come upon, and that it was talking to her.  She stood up slowly, so as not to startle it, and listened in fascination as it went on … and on… and on.  She opened her mouth a couple of times to respond to its questions, but was cut off as the Otter continued.

Quite a loquacious fellow, she thought.  She continued to smile, and showed no anxiety as it came close and looked her over closely.  She just sat back on a rock on the riverbank, and waited for it to finish.  As she eagerly watched and listened, she thought about how she had encountered a couple talking animals in the past; once a large stag spoke to her and helped her find her way.   Then there was the time that rather nasty ferret lead her into a dungeon, supposedly in search of some fantastic treasure, only to be lead into a trap of the ferret’s master.  She had escaped that time easily, as they did not know whom they had been messing with then.  However, an 8’ talking otter, was a new one for her; one should was determine to cherish.  When it stopped talking, she waited a few seconds to make sure it was not going to start up again before she spoke.

“Well Met there Boris,” she said in greeting with a nod of her head, “it is a pleasure to meet you.  I am Lilly Moonwillow and you are correct, I am not a Halfman, nor a two/thirdling.  Is that even a thing?  Well no matter, I am a Kender, and I find myself wandering in a forest that is strange to me.  Not only do I not recognize the woods, but the light here seems different.” 

As she said that she looked up towards the sky and squinted a little; causing her pert little nose to wrinkle in contemplation.  She shrugged and turned back to the otter.

“Well now,” she continued, “I think I have answered your questions regarding what I am, and now as to how I got here.  That is a tale to tell.”   She smiled and began to tell the large otter, Boris, everything leading up to her arrival here.

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(OOC: A post to the group will be coming soon!)

Ok, fantasy adventure it will be.   It's fine with me.  

If those who have posted are still interested, start working on your characters backstory, race, class, etc.  you can use DND as a guide in that respect.  

This isn't something I'll be starting right away, we have time to work on these and if you want you can PM me to keep things private about your character.  

We'll work things out before we get started and I'll get to work on how I want this to proceed.

Thanks for the interest.  

Edit: oh I should ask you to post here what class you want to be?  We don't want an entire group of dwarves warriors, or do we?