The Domains of Iron: Legend of the Old Gods

(Welcome, adventurer! Welcome to the wide world of Terra. Travel across this vast world, discover its hidden secrets, uncover its mysteries, and brave the world conflicts that wrack and torment the nations. Here you'll find societies ran by steam power, clockwork machines, and a variety of energies and alchemy. Here you'll find massive airships that dot the skies, and steam powered battlemechs and other vehicles that race across the land. I hope to embark with you on this incredible journey, and that you have a fantastic time!

Some brief rules and notes before the game:

1. no abuse of any sort will be tolerated, in or out of game
2. no blatant metagaming per se, but please feel free to think logically in character when problem-solving
3. absolutely no murderhobo-ing...like...none. At all.
4. This is a collaborative storytelling venture. Please, feel free to be in character, and be in your character's head! You don't need to be an actor, just make decisions and take actions that your character would take and make!
5. This is a 60% roleplaying style game, with 40% combat/skill challenges/downtime activities.
6. My only hope and desire is that you all have fun, so I will make sure that I do my utmost!
7. I'm slightly rules-light as a DM--not heavily RAW, though they are like important guidelines. If there is something you want to do that is really cool, I will strive to work with you to make it happen!
8. When your party comes into a new area, encounter, challenge, I will type it in this blue text! The rest will be in black text.

WIthout any further adue, let us begin!  Again, welcome, adventurer!)

It is a warm, late spring evening, and the sun sets lower and lower in the west. Brick and mortar buildings that line either side of Market St. and Main, bathe in the waning azure rays. Folks move and bustle by the dozens upon dozens, walking swiftly to their destinations, and making their way home for the day. Carriages both horse-drawn and steam-powered, rush through the cobblestone streets. At the confluence of these two major thoroughfares in Haven City, a lone constable stands in the middle of the intersection, guarding a large clockwork automaton as it waves green and red flags to direct traffic. The loud hustle and bustle continues its tireless journey. Wandering through the crowd, you each make your way toward McConnolly's Pub, the local dive tavern in town. 

Suddenly, the buzzing humdrum is interrupted by the noise of someone pushing against the crowd! A ruckus breaks out partway down the street from the intersection! There is fighting, fists, and legs as men beat on each other! You can hear men and women screaming and shouting as the fracas grows! Suddenly, you see a lone figure dash out from the knot of people, something tucked tightly under their arm! Not far behind him are three uniformed policemen, and a large, armed clockwork automaton! What do you do?

Erruk frowns at the commotion, bushy brows pulling down across his dwarven features. It'd been another day of applying for positions with nothing to show for it, and he'd figured he could budget a few pints at McConnolly's, but watching the automaton in action is certainly worth delaying that first pint.

(Oh, you're fine!)

The figure fleeing the police seems to be a human male, probably somewhere in his 40s, somewhat scrawny, and disheveled. His garb is poor, and his hair matted. 

The police and automaton seem to be chasing after a theif!

Victor leans back against the outer wall of tavern while pulling a cigar from an inner pocket of his duster.  He bites off the end of the cigar and spits to the side before lighting it and looking towards the disturbance with one eyebrow slightly raised in curiosity.

A slight figure dressed in terracotta and black monk’s garb looks up slowly from a small water fountain, from where they were refilling a waterskin. Their eyes take in the scene, pools of piercing jade evaluating the movement of people, and the demeanour of the fleeing potential thief, before reattaching the waterskin to a small pack and, collecting a thin quarterstaff from where it was leant against the stonework of the fountain, they move - without seeming to rush - to intercept the fleeing man.

(Do we know where we are? What province/country?)

A somewhat tall Half-Orc hangs his hands over a spear laid across his neck, laughing and talking to some of the patrons before whipping his spear around and smacking the running thief full-on in the face as he runs past.

(What kind of roll do you need for this?)

Erruk would intervene if the chase is headed towards him, but he perhaps sees someone else from the crowd step in first. He's not much for springing nimbly into action. More 'stomping with great determination'.

Erruk Sparkfist - you note two other figures chasing after the thief: a Wuxian man in terracotta and simple black garb, and a half-orc Paladin of the Conclave of Tarj.

Tobias Abbey - you race after the thief, your boots pounding on the cobblestone, your armor rattling as you give chase! (Don't worry about rolling for anything just yet!)

Victor Grey - you watch as a slight Wuxian man and half-orc Paladin of Tarj race after the thief, along with the authorities. Damn, is that a battle-maton in tow with the police? 

Nameless Wuxian Monk - you begin gaining on the petty thief, your footfalls nearly silent as they easily pass along the Alwynian cobblestone. 

Tharteas - (please make a melee attack roll!)

Attack: 18 Damage: 6

The butt of your spear connects with a loud CRACK against the would-be thief's nose. He gasps out a yelp as his head whips back. Losing his footing, he flips backward, and lands hard on his back with a THUMP! 

“Whoops. Where ya runnin’ ta mate? Ye could hurt yersel’ dain that. Oh, hullo officers. Just helping this gentleman up. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s ye chasin’ im fer?”

Tarteas asks, extending a hand and trying to look innocent. He puts his spear across his shoulders again standing somewhat relaxed but eyes darting and studying the situation.

(As an aside, the monk’s head is fully shaved, and their gender is unclear from first glance)

The monk comes to a halt a little distance away from the thief, leaning on their quarterstaff - unusual for being crafted from bamboo rather than hardwood…

’What did he steal…?’ they ask, voice soft and accented, eyes constantly flickering around their surroundings, but standing relaxed.

As the thief comes to the ground, and as those who gave chase are catching up, you hear the quick footsteps of a young woman in heels striving to catch up to the lot of you. She is clad in a corset and jade green dress, an equally jade green parasol in one white-gloved hand, the other holding her dress. Her hair is fiery red, and her eyes are bright blue. 

Soon, the police and automaton catch up as well. 

"Well, bless my soul," says the young woman in a mild eastern Manchent drawl (think southern accent), panting and out of breath, "if I wasn't sweatin' more 'n' whore in church on Sunday," she takes a few more breaths, "I'd be madder 'n' a wet hen!" 

One of the policemen and the automaton approach the downed thief, and the other two approach you guys (who had given chase) and the young lady. 

“And no’ te be rude, but who are you?”

Tharteas asks of the East Manchent woman, clearly not trying to be rude or offensive, but still a bit tense as he uses his hands to gesture at her, showing off a dark brown bracelet in the process.

The young woman, holding her parasol in her underarm, and running her hands daintily through her red locks, turns to you, Tharteas, responding. "Oh, my stars! Well I declare a complete travesty! I apologize for not being proper! The name's Ruby Pennington, at your service mister! I do apologize for my impropriety, but this here scoundrel," she exclaims, pointing at the would-be thief, "snatched my handbag from me, and it ain't no ordin'ry purse, too say the least! Why," she says, her hand absently resting on her cheek, "I was merely transporting some valuables for my employer, until this RAT grabbed away!"

She steps her booted foot in the cobblestone, her ire palpable. The policeman approaching you and her stops a few feet away, a notebook in his hand, and speaks. "Sir," he nods to you Tharteas, "ma'am," he addresses her as well, "please tell me what happened, in a much detail as you can."

((OOC: the rest of you who gave chase, when you post, will also be addressed by the authorities. Also, feel free to interact with Miss Ruby!))

“Well, pleasure ta meet ya Ms. Pennington, if I may ask what was in that purse?”

He then turns to address the officer;

”I dinnae catch much o’ what was happenin’, just managed to catch this guy in the face with me spear at just the righ’ time. Good thing it wasn’t the other end eh?”

"Pleasure's all mine! As for what was in the purse: it's mainly mine and my employer's business, but if you must know, it's a ring of very fine gold make, with a red ruby gem settled all nice 'n' snug in the center. Apparently, it's from some bygone era, long forgotten, and mysterious...it's all cattywampus to me, but I do what I'm told, sho nuff!"

She surveys you and the officer, her blue eyes observant and curious. 

The officer smiles slightly at your quip, Tharteas, scribbling notes down in his notebook. "Yeah, we can thank Tarj for that one, for sure. Crime's been rising somewhat in these parts for the last couple years. I'll say this much though," he flips the notebook closed and pockets it, "the armed populace sure keeps it all at bay. Thanks for stopping this guy!" He tips his officer's cap to you, and turns to Miss Pennington. "Ma'am," he tips his cap to her as well, "we'll get you your bag right away, after a quick inspection."

(For our Nameless monk and Tobias:)

An officer approaches the two of you, standing over the downed thief, and pulls out a notebook. "Officer Gerald Sutton, gentlemen. Please, tell me everything that you saw. Best detail you can."

The two of you also notice the coming of the young woman in the green dress. 

The monk nods to Ruby, and the 2 police officers, offering a (very slight) bow.

’I saw the thief running, with some disruption behind them, and thought to offer my assistance. It proved not to be necessary on this occasion…’ they nod to the half-orc then, followed by a slight smile.