To Kill an Emperor [CLOSED]

[Ky]

The Sea Land Interregnum is an event I briefly touched upon during the main story of GoSS - at some point in Sea Land's history, the Seastriders (a dynasty of Emperors descended from the empire's magically-powerful founder) were removed from power by the Fawsums (an opportunistic noble family who claimed to be direct descendants of the Empire of Sea Land's first Empress).

This text-based adventure, though, is much unlike the main story and existing sidegames to Geography of SS, and is intended to be a largely self-contained story.

The object of this game is simple: All interested players (that means you, forum users) will control the actions of a single character. I will be the GM (Game Master) who relays the results of your actions to you, and keeps track of the status of this character. The objective of this character is simple: Kill would-be Emperor Faustus Fawsum by any means necessary, as a message to the rest of his family not to betray the will of the people. Fulfillment of this objective will not be easy - the new Emperor has every advantage whereas the player character is merely a greenhorn adventurer. In the likely event that the character dies, a new one will be created with the same objective.

Anyone may join and submit actions, though bear in mind that I prefer formats like "Head north." or "Ready my weapon." or "Cast 'Soul Tear' on the lowly beggar.", not "okay go 2 were da emprer guy is and kill im". Also, I reserve the right to ignore the inputs of trolls or spammers.

If you have questions, I'll answer them as best I can. Anyway, shall we get started?

You awake in your bed, at home. After weeks of preparation, you have collected ten packs of long-lasting food rations that should keep for several weeks, a canteen full of fresh water, the commoner's clothes you are currently wearing, and fifteen pieces of silver with which to buy more equipment.

Your home is rather small, consisting of only one room. The door outside is on the east side of the house.

Hitpoints (your health, which falls when you take damage, abbreviated as HP): 20/20 (full)
Mana points (your magic - used up to cast spells, should you learn any - abbreviated as MP): 8/8 (full)
Silver (your money, spent when buying and received when selling goods with traders): 15

Inventory:
Homemade Food Rations (10)
Canteen (full)
Generic Clothes - equipped

Spells:
None

[Ky]

Tl;dr version - This is a generic text adventure that you can participate in by saying things like "I head east." or "I search the room for supplies.", and then I write the thing

[brainiac3397]

Walk East>Leave House

[Ky]

You exit your house and stand just outside your front door.

You notice that your mother is working the fields just north of you. She glances your direction as you step outside.

There's farmland, trees, and dirt roads around, as far as the eye can see, with the exception of the distant cities and a large gravel road a short walk to your east.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 15

Inventory:
Homemade Food Rations (10)
Canteen (full)
Generic Clothes - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Wave to mother>Say "I'm heading to the market I'll be back soon!">Walk East

[Ky]

She waves back with a smile and returns to her work.

You walk to the gravel road, the directions of which appear to correspond almost directly with north and south. If your memory serves, the northbound path will lead you to the village of Elmwood, while heading south will eventually take you to the industrial City of Granite.

Though this road seems to be a common thoroughfare for merchants, none have currently passed by at this time of morning.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 15

Inventory:
Homemade Food Rations (10)
Canteen (full)
Generic Clothes - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Walk North>Whistle a tune

[Ky]

You walk along the road towards Elmwood, whistling as you go. Now that's a catchy tune!

As you make your way north, you begin to see less farmland and more forest on either side, though you can spot the town on the near horizon.

Strangely, you still haven't encountered any travelers on the road, and no horse-drawn carts have passed you by.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 15

Inventory:
Homemade Food Rations (10)
Canteen (full)
Generic Clothes - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Continue North, with caution>Keep eye on forest

[Ky]

You continue north, ever watchful of your surroundings.

Your caution has paid off - you can see battered merchant carts and a fallen tree blocking the road in the distance, and can barely make out at least one huddled figure in the adjacent brush. This has all the signs of an ambush...now to hope that they haven't seen you!

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 15

Inventory:
Homemade Food Rations (10)
Canteen (full)
Generic Clothes - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Take off Shirt>Tie arms around head>Hide food and coins in thick brush>Find thick branch>Begin walking north whistling totally oblivious to surrounding(a bit loose in the head is what your after)

OOC:FYI this'll be my last. Gotta go to class soon. Hopefully it'll be picked up. If not I'll be back in a few hours

[Ky]

(OOC: I hope someone picks it up too. Also, I'm willing to take suggestions on how to be a better GM.)

You wear your shirt as a headband of sorts and loosen your facial muscles in order to appear less sane. As you discreetly hide your valuables in the brush, you come across a discarded tree branch that could be somewhat useful as a temporary blunt weapon. You holster your makeshift club in a belt loop as though it were a ceremonial sword, completing the illusion that you've completely lost your marbles. Once that's done, you head north with a swagger in your step, seemingly without a care in the world, and whistle loudly. Now that's a catchy tune!

As you near the roadblock, two bandits spot you and yell "Cacaw" as they leap from the brush. (You mentally note that their bird calls are unconvincing.) Four more bandits approach from the other side of the roadblock and vault over it to join their two comrades. Each are decked out in a mish-mash of rags, tanned fur, and scraps of leather armor, and possess various weapons made of rusty iron. You are outnumbered and ill-equipped in comparison.

"Stand and deliver!" the meanest-looking sonofabitch among them demands. A few of his fellow bandits feel uneasy about your appearance.

Your 15 silver pieces, 10 homemade food rations, and full canteen are safe in the brush.

You are slightly thirsty. You are slightly hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped + modified
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[Ky]

(OOC: Come on, guys, try it. It's fun. What have you got to lose?)

[Subb]

(OOC: Do I just pick up where the other person left off?

[Ky]

(OOC: Yep, pretty much.)

[brainiac3397]

Say "Deliver and stand!" with a creepy smile

(OOC:HAH! Too late Sub. Look who's the 6in now)

[Ky]

Pick a number between 1 and 10

[brainiac3397]

7

[Ky]

Player response: 7; desired response: 6; difference: 1; result: marginal success

The brute looks at you menacingly and opens his mouth to speak; however, he does not say anything. Instead, he turns to the bandit next to him and mutters, "Uh, this is supposed to be the part where the guy gives us money. What am I supposed to say to that?" The skinnier bandit shrugs.

"Yeah, well, uh, listen up," says the brutish bandit. "You can go about your business, but don't tell anyone what we're doing here, got it? Or, uh, uh, yeah!"

With that, the six bandits chatter between themselves and slowly return to their positions in the brush alongside the roadblock. You can continue north unharassed.

Your 15 silver pieces, 10 homemade food rations, and full canteen are safe in the brush a short distance to the south.

You are slightly thirsty. You are slightly hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped + modified
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Continue North to Village> Put shirt back on>Upon arrival report the bandits(I'm assuming a militia will form to beat the suckers?)

[Ky]

(OOC: That it will, probably. Read on.)

You vault over the roadblock and continue heading north. Along the way, you put your shirt back on.

It isn't long before you arrive on the outskirts of Elmwood. It is a frontier village established in a large clearing between dense woodlands, dotted with log cabins serving as homes and businesses, countless wooden barricades roughly surrounding its perimeter, and even a few crumbling stone walls near a small stone fort on the far northeast side of town.

You inform the first guardsman you come across that the bandits have established a trap along the main road to the south.

He nods gravely and says, "Yes, some game hunters told me as much early this morning. I'd like to clear them out, but we've been hard-pressed to keep the peace here ever since the disappearance of Emperor Eustace Seastrider a few months ago. We just haven't had enough guardsmen to simultaneously defend the trade routes and prevent rioting within the town."

You left your 15 silver pieces, 10 homemade food rations, and full canteen behind in the brush along the road south of you.

You are thirsty. You are hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Suggest "Why not tell townspeople that the bandits plan to sneak in here and rob them, and ask them to defend themselves? Instead of rioting against the guards, they can riot against the crooks that threaten their very lives?"

[Ky]

The guardsman mulls it over.

"Well, yeah, I suppose that could work," he says, "but that would run the risk of some of them getting killed. Still, it's a better plan than waiting around for something to happen - if you want to see it put in action, I'd start by bringing it to the attention of the Captain of the Guard. You'll find him at the derelict fort, can't miss it." He points to the aforementioned fort in the northeast corner of the town as he says this. He starts to resume patrolling, then turns back to you and adds, "Oh, and stay safe, citizen. These are dark times."

Though the road to the south of you is gravel, the streets become a mix of gravel and dirt within the limits of Elmwood. There appears to be a tavern and a small marketplace directly to your north, though there's nothing you can buy there without the silver you left behind. There is also a path northeast that would take you straight to the fort.

You are thirsty. You are hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Walk NorthEast to Fort>Find Captain of Guard>Present idea to defeat bandits>Ask for some water and food

[Ky]

(OOC: Feel free to join anytime, guys.)

You walk along the northeast path and enter the fort.

You locate the captain in the main hall, identifiable due to his distinctive cape and ceremonial longsword, and relay your idea to him along with a request for supplies. Unlike the other guard you talked to, he does not appear to be the friendly sort.

"Great," he grunts. "Just what we need, another outsider telling us how to do our jobs, and begging us for food, no less. See, I'm the one who comes up with the plans here, and we're doing just fine so far. We might lose a few days' trade, but I'm sure those bandits will pack up and leave eventually if we keep a strong guard presence in the town. And as for your request for free supplies...hell no. Get lost!"

You're starting to see why the guards are worried about rioting.

You are thirsty. You are hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Travel to Tavern>Listen to hear of riot rumors

[Ky]

You leave the fort and head southwest into the town. In what looks to be Elmwood's town square, you find a building called the Shrouded Hedgehog Tavern, and enter.

The innkeeper eyes you as you walk in. Of all the gossip among the drunken townsfolk gathered there - including that regarding those bandits you encountered earlier - you have not yet overheard any talk of rioting.

You are quite thirsty. You are quite hungry.

HP: 20/20
MP: 8/8
Silver: 0

Inventory:
Generic Clothes - equipped
Makeshift Club - equipped

Spells:
None

[brainiac3397]

Take a gamble at getting something to eat/drink with "Anyone want to hear of how I fooled those bandits on the way here? For a drink and some bread, you'll get a lovely story!"

[Ky]

Pick a number between 1 and 6

[brainiac3397]

2