The One Man RPG 4

[Death Dark]

     Due to the recent server wipe, the original copy of 1MnRPG4 has been lost.  Fortunately, we were six posts in.  So, now, we begin anew.  But first, a brief history of the One Man RPG series.

     The One Man RPG series is a, well, series of topics over a number of years that have featured me, Death Dark, as the "dungeon master" or "game master," essentially taking the role that the computer would in an RPG system, and Sepuku as the lone player.

1MnRPG -- The first of the series was featured here, at FSnC back in the day.  Put simply, it was a masterpiece into the art of horror and gore that ended due to ragequit on Sepuku's behalf (he was completely justified in this action).  It has, fortunately, been lost accidentally to a cleanup wipe.

1MnRPG2 -- As an apology to 1MnRPG, I put Sepuku into a new world of Fantasy to hang out with cute girls and an amusing mage named Ores.  However, the story devolved into a steaming pile of blegh as my writing skills were poorly developed at the time.  I'm actually sad to see it there because it's so bad and has my name on it, but I can't simply deny the past.

1MnRPG3 -- The third installment was hosted on a site known as "Level 7," being the seventh level of hell.  It was a site oriented to "alternative adult themes," but we had a small area to start a new game much in the same smell as 2.  Level 7 is now gone, the site completely deleted.  I know, as I was the one who made and ultimately destroyed it.

1MnRPG4 -- After being sparked by seeing someone reading 2, I noticed I had a large number of great ideas and concepts that I never fully visited or fleshed out.  After seeing this, I was inspired to begin again.  So, here we are.


     Your eyes drift apart, allowing the sunlight to pour in and unveil the world before you.  You watch a ladybug crawl to the tip of your nose and take flight, calling your gaze to the grass on which you lie, and the dirt road just beyond.  Reluctantly, you force yourself to your feet, feeling as though you had done this before.

     The wind blows across you, the cool breeze soothing you, bringing calm into your mind.  Across the road, beyond a sea of grass flowing in the wind, runs a river, providing a border for a thick forest, and picturesque mountains beyond, their white peaks resting amongst the clouds.

     The wind gusts at you, causing the forests to sway with it, and you turn to avoid its abrasion on your face.  Down the road, to what was once your left, is a sparse forest, perfect for hunting.  You notice, now, the large stone wall that had run behind you, its shadow just shy of looming over your resting place.  Along this great wall sits a single large set of doors, cracked as if left open for someone.

(1d20)

[Sepuku.exe]

(1d20:9)
I'll head to the wall and go inside. I've had enough of this nature crap.

[Death Dark]

    You try to open the doors more, but with all of your strength, you can barely get the open one to budge.  It's enough to see you through to your goal, if barely.  Once inside, you find the town to be in decay.  Most of the houses are in good shape, good enough to enter, but bodies litter the streets, torn open or apart in some vulgar fashion and simply left to rot.

     You see no movement apart from smoke gently wafting up from some houses which had caught soft flame.

(3d20)

[Sepuku.exe]

(1d20:10;1d20:13;1d20:14)

I'll probably regret this, but let's check out the nearest body.

[Death Dark]

     Which one?  You pick one at no particular pattern and kneel beside it.  The skin is cold, but the wounds aren't smooth.  The edges are jagged and torn.  The man appears to have no valuables on him, but a wooden board sits just off his left hand, as if he were carrying it.  The board appears to have been broken at one time, leaving a length similar to a handle on one end.

     Your investigation is interrupted by commotion coming from a building further into the town, near the fountain.  From what you can tell, it's the sound of a scuffle.

(1d20)

[Sepuku.exe]

(1d20:20)

I'll pick up the dead guys improvised weapon and go check out the fight.

[Death Dark]

     As you draw near to the house, the door explodes, sending splinters and planks scattering.  A body rolls across the ground, apparently the cause of the destruction.  You can't get a clear view of it before it ignites in the sunlight.  It writhes around for a short spell before it turns completely to ash.

     The building still houses commotion.  You hear a shrill, gurgled growl, and turn to see something inside pounce on someone.  The person, who you can barely make out, throws the shadow off himself, bringing a silver broad axe around.  The building shakes as the blade dug into the wall.  It is only now that the figure notices you.  He wrenches his weapon from the wall, shoulders it, and strides outside.

     He is smaller than you'd expect, in both height and musculature.  Surely doesn't look like someone who'd wield such a hefty weapon.  He is equipped with armor, but most of it is leather, with metal adornments on the shoulders, lower arms, thighs, and feet.  You're drawn to his emerald eyes as he brushes his dark hair out of his face.  Its structure, and the fair nature of his skin, seems to hint at something more than meets the eye.

     "Hey!"  You both turn to see a woman approaching the two of you.  "Finally someone else alive."

     The woman's presence is bold -- it sends chills down your spine.  Her blue eyes gaze in what is almost a glare from amongst her vibrant red hair.  It flows over her black tanktop, likely to the back of her brown, leather pants.  Her hands are adorned with fingerless gloves, plated on the back, and rest on the top of her belt on either side, her fingers dancing across the hanging straps.  These hold what appears to be a pistol in its holster and a canister with a cord hanging from it.  From the back of her belt, two handles extend, as if of swords.

     "Who are you guys?  You from 'round here?"

     The boy speaks up, though a surprisingly girly voice comes from him.

     "I am.  I don't know about him; I haven't seen him before."

[Sepuku.exe]

"No, I'm just passing through. What's going on here?"

[Death Dark]

     "Ha!" the woman shot.

     "What's going on here?" the boy asked.  "Couldn't you manage a little bit more respect?"

[Sepuku.exe]

"Ok fine then. You won't tell me, I'm out of here."

I turn and walk away from the two, back towards the door I came through previously.

[Death Dark]

     "Wait," the woman interrupts you.  "You really don't know?"

[Sepuku.exe]

I stop walking away and turn towards her.

"No, I've been in this town for about 5 minutes."

[Death Dark]

     They both give you a suspicious look.

     The woman answers you, "It's not about what's going on here -- it's about what goes on everywhere.  This town was attacked last night, the creatures broke through the gates.  We tried to fight them off, but most of us lie in the streets.  Do you not know of the ghouls, the wretched, that wander the earth in its dark places, hiding their faces from the sun?  Where are you from?  How did you get here?"

[Sepuku.exe]

"Umm... I don't know. To all of that. Where are we, exactly?"

[Death Dark]

     "Tallenheim.  The rest will have to wait.  We need to handle time-sensitive matters for now, notably finding survivors and gathering useful equipment, food, and similar items.  Can you help with this?"