The Tarin Tales: A Forum Adventure

[Arcisal]

Hello everyone! This is a small gamebook-style adventure within the forum. Follow the links to make your choices. I believe this had never been done before on this forum and it also is my first time doing time, so be warned this is experimental.

In the first post, the next one, you will be greeted with a passage depicting the beginning of your adventure. From there you will be faced with a multitude of choices to make. Some are righteous and some are meant for the meanies or cowards. Nevertheless, there is no wrong choice, only choices that may seem right or wrong in moral terms. There may be some choices that will end your adventure early, although I'm nowhere close to the end!

Before proceeding, please just take into account these few "rules".

• No pressing back! The fun of this game is to make choices that seem right to you, and you alone!
• When you make a decision, simply press on it. It will lead you to the next post. The problem is that is opens in a new tab so I kindly ask, for the sake of the experience of the RP, to close your previous tab.
• For combat, which has not yet been implemented, use a random number generator which can generate numbers from 1 to 30.
• To start, simple click the link at the bottom of this post! (your adventure begins!) Just continue on from there.

And another thing to remember is that...
Please do NOT post on this thread. If you wish to make comments, simply leave me a message!

This is because I don't want any other posts apart from the RP posts. I'll be making a lot of posts which are decisions that will lead to one another.

Thank you and enjoy!

PS. Remember, this is still experimental and under construction!

Oh, and please give me your feedback on my profile not this thread.

So, what are you waiting for? This is where your adventure begins! (Click this to begin)

 

[Arcisal]

The Adventure begins.

The final rays of light pierced through the thick overhead canopy. Just a few more minutes of tiresome travel and your journeys are complete. No mighty quest has lead you to this isolated corner of the Four Kingdoms, but only your grave desire for homely comforts have brought you back to the tiny village that you had grown up in. Tharin, home.

Greenery surrounds the single worn path that lay before you. Bushes the dot with ripe berries and shrubs of distinctive emeralds flag the road, a vague dirt path that can only fit a small wagon. Your quest, to taste the notoriously famous brew, the Hagen’s Howl, rumoured to burn out even the most hardiest or regular of drinkers. You have distanced yourself from your past life to return to your first in order to confirm the rumours for yourself, and possibly best those that have yet to. The winner receives undiluted fame throughout even the most isolated of taverns and inns across the region, as well as a lucrative prize money of a thousand gold, all the money spent on the notorious drink. No one has yet to best the ale, and you have heard of the foul stories and punishing tales of the ale, especially for those that do not have the insides of a gryphon. However, you are ready to take your chances in the deadly gamble, the prize of fame and fortune outweighing the unforgiving results of the brew.

As you force your limbs to continue their mundane function, fatigue and tiredness already setting in after an entire’s day journey without stop and your eyelids getting heavier and wearisome to lift, a loud high-pitched scream of a girl disturbs the passivity and harmony of the forest. The scream is followed by another, but the second being lower and gruffer. The two are not far apart from one another, and sound only like a few minutes away, possibly past the curve ahead of you.

Your fatigue melts away and your eyes snap back into alertness as your senses return to your body. Your years of combat and traversing the lands have rendered you very well capable of fighting. You quickly unsheathe your blade, a keen longsword, as you prepare to face whatever danger lies ahead.


Rush towards the source of the noise
Use the cover of the trees and stealthily advance towards your enemy
Stand your ground in a defensive battle ready stance, waiting whatever foul creatures lurk beyond to arrive
Flee at once

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise.

You bolt towards the distressed screams, blade at hand. Your brow sweats as adrenaline plays it’s part. After barely a handful of seconds, just past the curve, you find two young children, a boy and a girl, fleeing towards you, their faces evident with terror. The two stop just a few paces in front of you, with the girl fearfully hiding behind her friend, softly sobbing for a miracle. The boy, despite his tear-stricken face bravely stands up against you, even after giving your blade a second and third look. Brave.

Let them pass unharmed
Question them
Run past them and press on towards the distressing yell

 

[Arcisal]

Use the cover of the trees and stealthily advance towards your enemy.

You jump into the bushes and slowly advance to the source of the noise. You nimble feet prevent you from tripping over the undergrowth. Take no chances.
After just barely a minute of your stealthy advance, a pair of children, one boy and one girl both past you. You are unable to see them, only barely making out their genders. They have already long gone and you decide that it was not worth chasing after them. Shortly after their flight, you hear another sound. This time, a groan of pain.

Continue on among the trees
Get back onto the path and run ahead

 

[Arcisal]

Stand your ground in a defensive battle ready stance.

You clasp both hands onto the hilt of your blade, ready for whatever may pass through. As you silently await, expecting a terrible beast or foul dark creatures, two young children who look like they have barely entered into their teens, make it past the curve and the second they lay their eyes upon you, they stop right in their tracks. A girl and a boy, the former sobbing with terror behind her companion. The boy, blinking back tears and sobs while putting on a facade quickly and clumsily picks up a large stick that he hefts in front of him in the same manner as you. He readies himself for a battle and his face speaks of bravery while his defiance shows that he would defend his friend till death.

Let them pass through unharmed

 

[Arcisal]

Flee at once.

At the sound of the screams, you run away from the cries of those that might’ve been in need. You bolt away towards the opposite direction, the way you came from and keep running till even your senses and adrenaline are unable to fuel your running.

You have been running for over half an hour, in terror of what might harm you. Your muscles, unable to function anymore without rest collapses your body and you lay beside the road, your eyes finally resting peacefully. The forest around you is not illuminated anymore, as only moonlight barely makes it past the thick canopy. You lay your head against a rock and leave your sword by your side as you drowsily and swiftly fall into slumber.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise > Let them pass unharmed

You give a curt nod to the boy and move aside, allowing them to pass. The boy, for a moment, looks at you confused, but his expression quickly changes to gratefulness as he walks a few more paces forward past you. The girl has already run out of sight. The boy however stops in his tracks, just as you were about to resume your hunt and speaks to you.

“Papa stood his ground! He told my sister and I to run for it, but he’s a farmer and I don’t think he can stand against them! Help him, please.” His voice was clear with distress, on the brink of bursting into tears. “Good luck, and please save my papa.” He gives you one last nod before running off once again to catch up with his sister.

After their figures have disappeared from sight, you recommence your running. And right before the bend, you hear a low groan of pain. The sound fuels the growing rage inside you in which fuels your running into a desperate sprint.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise > Question them

You tighten your grip on your blade and your facial expression hardens. You question the children, who are now trembling slightly at your presence.

“Who are you?” you question gruffly. There was no warmth in your voice.

The girl let out a little whimper while the boy’s face turned deathly pale. Silence came about and the boy looked dumbfounded, unable to respond. You are about to ask again when the girl suddenly comes forward, terrified and paralyzed with terror.

“We’re just children!” she sobbed. “Papa asked us to run! We had to.”

At the sight of the outcry, you let them pass and they bolt away as if you had threatened to steal their lives. Their figures quickly disappearing in the already fading light of evening. You have no time to waste as time becomes scarcer for the children’s father, indicated by a vague groan.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise. > Run past them.

You ignore the children, and continue on. As you near the next curve, another sound greets your ears. A low groan that rung of a deep pain, with the voice of a man. At the sound, you increase your sprint, desperately rushing to prevent the loss of a life.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Use the cover of the trees > Continue on among the trees

You decide to continue to stealthily stalk your prey among the trees, despite the evident urgency shown by the groan. As you near the bend, you finally hear another sound, this time the high-pitched cackling sound of laughter, not of a humans. You instantly recognize the squeaky tone of the merriment. Goblins. At the sound, you increase your pace slightly, just so they don’t get away.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Use the cover of the trees > Get back onto the path

The sound of the groan acts as a trigger. A life in danger! You reveal your position and get back onto the narrow path and at once took flight towards the sound.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Stand your ground > Let them pass through unharmed

At the sight of the pair, a surge of compassion flows through you. You cast them a empathizing look, which at once the boy received well, and made way for them. In turn, the boy gave a small but eternally appreciative nod of his head as the two recommenced their flight. Once they were out of sight, you continue your original intent and at the bend of path, your sharp ears manage to catch wind of a low moaning pain. The sound bolsters your speed as you rush to whatever danger may lurk there.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Flee at once > Continue

Your slumber is abruptly cut short by a sharp bang on the head. You slowly open your eyes and find yourself bobbing up and down in a strict rhythmic pattern. The second you regain your senses, a dull pain strikes through your body. Every limb was sore and stiff from your slumber. You suddenly realise that you are gagged and when you try to move your hands, you are unable to, a dirty rag tied around them tightly. You find yourself on horseback, but at closer inspection, you find that a dark grey fur surrounds the mount you are on. Wolves.

You try to look up and catch a glimpse of the night sky but the soreness of your neck prevents you from getting far. Underneath the canopy, the place is barely illuminated. Apparently your captors are well-suited to the darkness. You look onto the ground and find that you are not treading on the original path you have been travelling on, but an even more worn and hidden path.

Suddenly, a high wicked voice sounds. “Looks like your beauty is awake!” which was followed by a chorus of laughter. Goblins.

Continue

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise > Let them pass unharmed > Continue

You manage to make the bend before a new sound greets your ears. The threatening sound of a growl. You cannot make out what animal it is, but the sound alarms yourself once more. You stop just before the bend and your mind sharpens once more. This time, you take a precaution. You slowly move yourself just at the edge of the cover of the trees and take a quick glance at whatever lays just beyond the curve.

Goblins. Three of them, all mounted. A beaten and bloodied man lay on the ground, pathetically trying to escape his opponents. A rusty iron blade lies near your feet. So, this was the little children’s father. The three goblins were apparently too preoccupied with their prey, taunting and playing with it, to notice you. All of them wielded wicked curved blades of steel. One even had a long sleek spear still untouched on his back. Their mounts were growling even more, hungry to feast on their prey. You have not much time as the goblins slowly start to surround the poor man.

Charge at them and attempt to save the victim
Creep back into the trees and try to strike at them there

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise > Question them > Continue

Your sprint finally takes you to a bend. At once, you stop just before it, in fear of revealing your presence to a potential enemy. You cautiously take a look just around it and at once was grateful for the precaution. Three full-grown goblins, all mounted on battle wolves. A man lay bloodied and bruised, without a weapon. You find a rusty blade lying just at your feet. At the sight, your rage suddenly boils to a near uncontrollable state. Barbarians! The goblins have almost cornered the man and the wolves are growling to signal their impatience and hunger.

Charge at the goblins
Try to strike at them from your current position

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards the source of the noise > Run past them > Continue

As you near a curve, you slow down your pace as silently as possible. From there, you peer past the foliage and manage to spot three mounted goblins, well-equipped with wicked blades. It seems that a whimpering bloodied man is their prey that they toy and taunt with glee. An iron sword lays near where you stand and at another glance, you can see the greenskins closing in on their victim after their mounts impatient hungry growls. You have not much time as the light of day becomes increasingly scarce. Goblins have better vision at night than most common humanoids.


Reveal your position and attack them
Use the cover of the trees to slay your opponents

 

[Arcisal]

Use the cover of the trees > Continue on among the trees > Continue

You finally arrive at the source of the sound. The gruesome sight of three wolves feasting upon what looked like a man while three goblins watched their mounts devouring their meal in glee. They jumped and laughed and a sadistic festivity had been enacted throughout the atmosphere. You almost felt sick, but you definitely felt angry. A rage boils up inside of you as you continue to see the awful sight.

Attack at them from the cover of the trees, throwing your knife at them (To be continued)
Jump out and ambush them (To be continued)
Flee immediately (To be continued)

 

[Arcisal]

Use the cover of the trees > Get back onto the path > Continue

Your sprint is finally ended by a bend. As you edge closer to it, you take a precautious peep before carelessly showing yourself. You find that a small group of goblins, thee in total, have been toying with a helpless man, beaten and bruised. He lay on the group without a blade, which you find at your feet, a rusty iron longsword on the ground away from the man. The goblins, mounted atop vicious wolves have been taunting the man, a sight which angers you even more. The goblins, at the sound of their mounts hungry growls, decide to end their playtime and are slowly converging on their victim.

Attack at the goblins from the trees using your throwing knife (To be continued)
Jump out and surprise the barbarians (To be continued)
Run away (To be continued)

 

[Arcisal]

Stand your ground > Let them pass through unharmed > Continue

You sprint is cut short by your immediate reaction to slow down on the bend. Upon finally stopping just before it, you take a peep at what lays beyond the curve.

Three goblin wolfriders, all armed with wicked curved blades. One even had a massive spear, strapped upon his back. The greenskins were toying with their victim, a poor human man, bloodied and bruised. The man was unarmed and at further inspection, you see his blade, a rusty longsword, laying just a few paces from your current position.

The wolfriders have begun to encircle their prey, with the mounts growling with a resounding hunger for flesh.

Charge at them
Attack them from the trees

 

[Arcisal]

Flee > Continue > Continue

Your journey was one that was unknown to you, but after what seemed like hours being hefted about like a sack, your captors finally halted at a campsite which you had never known before, despite this place being your childhood home.

You are lazily thrown upon the ground, your binds still as tight as ever. From there, you can see that the goblins took refuge in a small cave, with primitive camps surrounding the place and the remains of a bonfire in the centre. Elsewhere, you can see smocking racks and sacks of grain around. The occasional spear and blade can be seen lying around, not far from a goblin. Massive wolves have been hitched to a post. Several of them sleeping lazily.

The ropes that bind you are suddenly cut loose. But before you can make your escape, two goblins, an odour of dung and decay clinging onto them, manage to subdue you and usher you to a small makeshift cage bodily. You can see that several others are also placed in the same manner as yourself in different cages. An armed goblin wielding a long spear stands guard.

Speak to the other prisoners nearby.
Examine the cage that holds you.
View your surroundings.

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Let them pass > Continue > Charge at them

You take a deep breath and try to calm your mind. Your training and experience slowly comes back to you. Adrenaline begins to pump back frantically into every part of your body once again. The sullen rage that has been growing inside you from the injustice can now be released. You charge.

The goblins have almost surrounded the man by the time they see you, but your interruption was not expected. You manage to take a swing at one of the goblins, as it turns around, but you miss, striking his mount instead. The wolf lets out a pathetic whimper as your blade cuts through its shoulder. The rider lets out a nasty snarl, one of rage and dismounts and prepares to face you. His friends, both mounted have decided to slowly encircle you as well, just as they have to the man.

Meet your opponent! +14

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Let them pass > Continue > Creep back into the trees

You decide that it would be wiser to attack from the cover of the trees. You try as quietly as possible to step over the undergrowth and make as little noise as possible.

Please roll now

If you rolled 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, click here.
If you rolled 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, click here.
If you rolled 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, click here.

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Question them > Continue > Charge at the goblins

You brace yourself for the battle and clear your mind once more. Taking one last look at your opponent, you say a swift prayer and charge at the brutes, sword in hand.

Before the goblins can react fully, you have already struck one of them down, swinging your blade at his temple. The blow was an instant death and you manage to quickly finish off his mount before it can react. However, the other two are now on their toes, they know that they aren’t up against some village militia. The goblin with the spear sheaths his blade and now wields the long spear, knowing very well how much of an advantage he has over you. The two now slowly approach you menacingly. You brace yourself to meet them.

Please roll now

Strike at the blade-wielding wolfrider! +18
Strike at the spear-wielding wolfrider! +23

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Question them > Continue > Try to strike at them

You control your rage and decide to stay at your current position. Three mounted wolves all at once are already pushing the limit of your ability.

You draw a small thin blade, a throwing knife. While not as good as you were before, you reckon that you can at least wound on of the goblins before they approach you. You try to clam your senses, despite the bloodied man nearly out of sight, and take careful aim.

Please roll now

If you rolled 1-10, click here
If you rolled 11-20, click here
If you rolled 21-25, click here
If you rolled 26-29, click here
If you rolled 30, click here

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Run past them > Continue > Reveal your position

The wolves have almost encircled the man. In a quick, and rash, action, you jump out of your hiding place and call out to the goblins. You honestly did not know why you did that, perhaps the intuition of saving the man, but now, you are faced with three mounted goblins, menacingly approaching you.

Please roll now

Brace yourself!
Strike at the nearest goblin. +21

 

[Arcisal]

Rush towards noise > Run past them > Continue > Use the cover of the trees

Three armed goblins mounted on ferocious beasts are too much for you. It would be suicidal to attack them face-to-face. However, you decide that you can use the foliage to your advantage.

Nimbly stepping over the undergrowth, you manage to find a well-hidden position before the goblins have begun their feast. However, time is already running extremely scarce for the man. Quickly taking out your throwing knife, you calm your mind and take aim.

Please roll now

If you rolled 1-10
If you rolled 11-15
If you rolled 16-25
If you rolled 26-30