Blackwater

Color Him Wonderful

2011-10-18T22:52:00.000-05:00

Not all who wander are lost.

(Even if they wish they were...)

Favored Son

2011-10-18T22:29:00.000-05:00

The Blessed and Cursed alike, know...

The Favored Son still walks among us...

But, what answers does the Blackwater hold...

For He that carries the sins of the world?

Whose redemption does he hold?

Yours?

His?

Or those that profess their Love?

Do the Righteous know what they have earned?

Would they want it if they did?

Or must he be something that he is not?

A Man.

Screenshots -- 43 of 'em!

2011-01-26T15:42:00.000-06:00

Many of these are 'repeats' of similar scenes I've shared. But, I'm cautious about showing scenes that are "too far" into the story...lest I give too much away. Additionally, since my re-build, much has changed (notably: the addition of companion portraits!).

The Dweller in Darkness

2011-01-18T03:37:00.001-06:00

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"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

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Who is the serpent slithering amongst the pure? Nyoglu? The Shocoth? What of the Dark Mother or The Blind Prince? How cursed is a land that struggles to name its greatest evil?

Perhaps Hope rests in one already damned.

But, it would be folly to forget: When a lamb is lost in the mountains, they cry out

Sometimes...the Mother comes

Sometimes...the Wolf

Pray for the Mother...When all else fails...Pray...

Field of Blood

2011-01-18T02:02:00.000-06:00

A land that is lonelier than ruin

A sea that is stranger than death

Far fields that a rose never blew in,

Wan waste where the winds lack breath;

Waste endless and boundless and flowerless

But of marsh-blossoms fruitless as free

Where earth lies exhausted, as powerless

To strive with the sea.

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It is not to be thought that the life of darkness is sunk in misery

and lost as if in sorrowing.

There is no sorrowing.

For sorrow is a thing that is swallowed up in death,

and death and dying

are the very life of the darkness.

Still Alive

2010-09-18T10:58:00.000-05:00

After a computer disaster of epic proportions, I'm back in the game. Still trying to catch up to where I was, but I'm determined to finish this project and release it...even if nobody is around to play it.

More content previews & world intros to come.

-Rythorn

Secrets

2010-01-05T19:05:00.001-06:00

The Frozen Wastes...

Largely unexplored...

But, hardly unknown...

Where planned expeditions fail...

Legends and rumors fill the gaps...

What secrets does this strange, alien region hold?

Well kept...we hope.

Broken

2010-01-03T17:38:00.011-06:00

The shrieks of hell

Which none dare tell

Are thrown into the fray

With baleful eyes

Where shadows spy

The Achar guard the way

Balian Wulver - Companion

2009-09-28T19:55:00.001-05:00

Name - Balian Wulver

Class - Paladin

Race - Human (Northman)

Paladin

The road to that once-revered title is littered with the ill-motivated, the mis-guided, and the selfish goals of far too many that were unworthy to bear it. To be a Paladin is to know Sacrifice, Service, and Selflessness. In the dark, corrupt world of Blackwater it is an incredibly difficult task.

Balian has his flaws...many of them. But, he has managed to overcome them. Will that continue? Or will he fall victim, like so many before him, to his own worst instincts?

Strong in Faith & Pure in Mission, his chances are better than most.

Areyn Faust - Companion

2009-09-18T21:03:00.007-05:00

Name - Areyn Faust

Class - Bard

Race - Human (Corin)

Areyn has been known, at very specific times, to get upset. To be more precise, she gets very put-out at the haphazard use of title 'Bard'. The simple entertainers that populate the pubs, taverns, and local theaters of the Blackwater are far-too often awarded a title that she earned through 3 years of formal schooling, 5 years of internship, and an entire childhood of cross-country travel with her parents & their traveling troupe.

Are people not aware what it means to be an honest-to-goodness Bard?:

"An Expert-level of knowledge in arcane lore, alchemy, the properties of herbal cures & confluences, both political & religious history, ancient legend & tradition, martial combat, and the ability to absolutely hold even a hostile audience's rapt attention until the tearful-conclusion of an emotional rendition of "Lord Edwyne's Scaren Papulia" (or, the equivalent there of...if you honestly think you can find it)."

Some people might say this makes Areyn a snob...but, they would be wrong. They have just never had the pleasure of an evening with a true, fully-trained Bard of the Blackwater.

Sibylla Arnulf - Companion

2009-09-16T19:36:00.001-05:00

Name - Sibylla Arnulf

Class - Rogue

Race - Half-Korindi

The Korindi are known as "The Scourge of Bloodsea". The Dark Elves of the Blackwater raid the towns and villages scattered across the tropical coasts of Cypria, raping and pillaging all that falls within the range of their salt & blood-stained ships.

Sibylla's mother was an unfortunate victim of one such raid...and Sibylla was the result. That's all Sibylla will ever reveal of her past, and only then because it's blatantly obvious...the list of non-Korindi that willingly procreate with the Dark Elves is an extremely short one.

You do know that she possesses considerable skill to get into places and 'acquire' things that most do not...and you'd rather have her on your side (paid or otherwise) than hiding in the shadows...loyalty unknown.

Will she be helpful a tool...or a loyal companion? You may never know...until the once-friendly dagger pierces your spine, just below the liver...

(Will you ever really know?........)

Simon Maelcorne - Companion

2009-09-14T19:41:00.004-05:00

Name - Simon Maelcorne

Class - Warlock

Race - Human (Alriq)

Simon was once a Vicar of The Church. As a dedicated, faithful follower, his record was unblemished. When his Wife and Daughter became ill, he never once wavered in his Faith. They would recover...had he not earned favor for his deeds?

When his Wife and Daughter's condition worsened, he held fast. He knew that his own understanding and reasoning was insufficient. Surely, there was a "Plan". He hoped...he knew that it included the full recovery of those he Loved most.

When his Wife and Daughter laid on their deathbeds...seemingly taunting the very Faith he knew had to prove True...doubt crept in.

It started small...a simple question: "If I am not worthy...who is?"

It grew to RAGE as he laid them both to rest.

If the FAITH that he had dedicated his Life to could not deliver his family back to him...he would have to take matters into his own hands...

...Dark Magic, the promise of Power...HOPE for the return of his loved ones...led to only one thing...

The DAMNATION of his Soul...and Incredible POWER.

Yet, it was not powerful enough. His wife, his daughter...remained dead. His new-found power...useless. The only thing he wanted, the only reason he had not ended his own life...Gone. Forever.

Damned to Eternal Torment...Damned to never have those he loved, returned...

He turned back to The Church. He turned back to what he knew...Faith...Belief...maybe he could right some of the wrongs he had committed in his selfish acts...maybe he would see the that some things happen for a reason...

Maybe there was Hope.

Maybe there was a Chance.

Maybe there was REDEMPTION...

Maybe.

Screenshots

2009-05-26T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Beginning

2009-05-18T18:41:00.000-05:00

You are a piece of the person have have been...

When everything is over and everything is clear...

When everyone is older and no one is here...

You will remember their lies bleeding onto the ground before you...

Into that Dark City, many have passed but none returned.

Therein walk only daemons and mad things that are no longer men.

The streets are white with the unburied bones of those who have looked upon the Horror that reigns over that city.

You shall see that at which dogs howl in the dark, and that at which cats prick up their ears after midnight.

If you go mad, it is mercy! Pity the man who in his callousness can remain sane to the hideous end.

Darkness has a call that’s insatiable.

Light has a call that’s hard to hear.

However...Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things...

And no good thing ever dies.

Sins of the Past

2009-04-18T13:16:00.001-05:00

The Achar sing that War reveals the true character of a land…

Some would argue that’s a high cost for such self-discovery…

The Blackwater is far from immune to such games played by Kings, Queens, & Warlords…

She boasts her own share of Heroes…

…Villains…

But, mostly those that History does not conveniently label for scholars’ debate…perhaps for the best.

For some, undoubtedly, would have great issue with others praising their acts.

And others would see their own “crimes” as not only necessary…but laudable.

But, who would be worthy to judge? Most own guilt heavier and more eternal than any person could ever assign…or relieve.

Such is War.

The Lamp of Athalgas

2009-02-16T15:36:00.000-06:00

"Red lips are not so red

As the stained-stones kissed

by the freshly-dead..."

"Rolling and rolling there

Where gods seems not to care;

Till the fierce Love they bear

Questions why a man should dare..."

"To listen to your voice, so rare,

Gentle, and morning-clear,

As theirs whom none now hear..."

"And though your hand be pale,

Paler are all which trail

Your cross through flame and hail..."

"Weep, you may weep,

for you may touch them not..."

"For in the end, they too, shall rot..."

"Wars color the gaps between..."

"Tales of Love that few have seen..."

"But, in the end, why do we fight,

for what is ruined...

even though it's right?"

Fairy Tales

2008-12-31T23:57:00.000-06:00

The stories of their courtship are legendary...

Her love a gift worthy of a kingdom...

Her death a crippling blow to even the strongest of men...

How many could subdue their own worst-instincts...

...when they learn the truth of her hidden horror?

None.

"He Who Should Not Be"

2008-10-17T08:56:00.001-05:00

His age-old betrayal was the most damaging, for it was born of hate and jealousy...

It led to the fall of great kingdoms and widespread tragedy...

His punishment? A metamorphosis into a horror that haunts and flows upon and beneath the land...

A dark liquid whose very touch can mean death at best, or the total submission of your will at worse...

New and terrible creatures rise from the deep, dark places he now inhabits...

While others have heeded his silent, nefarious convocation and worship him in secret, vile rituals and sacraments...

He is now known as Nyoglu...He Who Should Not Be.

His presence lends the land its most common moniker. Though, its origin was long-ago forgotten. Most mistake it for the native waters that inhabit the landscape. But, some know the true source...He is the Blackwater.

The Blind Prince

2008-10-14T19:14:00.000-05:00

His betrayal still stains the Blackwater.

His followers are legion. His fall from grace a catalyst.

He sees what most cannot.

The Blind Prince watches...and waits.

The Shocoth

2008-09-18T02:29:00.001-05:00

The Shocoth taunt the Blackwater, deep within their hidden sanctuary...

Their nature remains mystery, their purpose hidden...and their origins a matter of esoteric debate.

Only two facts remain undisputed: Their names (Khamul, Zduhać, Amared) and the paths of carnage & ruin that follow them...

The Dark Mother

2008-09-15T04:56:00.000-05:00

"The Dark Mother mourns the living," The Voices whisper. Their questions taunt the restless. "What crimes has she commited, demanding such pennance?" The living do not hear her cry for help.

Her chamber is so peaceful...so quiet...and she hates the silence.

As the Achar Sing...

2008-09-14T05:15:00.000-05:00

"He has spoken. Speak the Truth, before the Darkness and before you stumble on the dusky paths while you Hope for the Light. For he journeys into Deep Darkness and turns it into Day."

Intro

2008-08-24T00:12:00.000-05:00

This is a blog for my in-development Neverwinter Nights 2 Campaign: Blackwater - Mourning Glory.

More posts and information to come.