Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Dormouse on 18-08-2016, 05:35:04</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>18-08-2016, 05:35:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a kingdom where everyone was prosperous and happy. Sickness and hunger were unknown, and parents tucked their children into bed at night without concerns or misgivings, knowing another bright, sunny day awaited them tomorrow. All were treated fairly and the king and queen were renowned for their generosity, kindness and wisdom.<br><br>But their rule was in peril, for a witch had secretly entered the court and risen through the ranks to become one of their most trusted advisors. On the eve of a grand ball commemorating the founding of the kingdom, the witch stole into the royal vault and seized the royal regalia, a scepter, crown and ring that held great power. With their aid, the witch placed a curse upon the realm that would change it forever.<br><br>Dark clouds gathered and lightning flashed; the earth trembled and cracked and walls and towers came crashing down. From the remains of the castle rose a keep of dark stone: Castle Grym. The witch was now a Witch Queen, and the once peaceful kingdom became a nightmarish realm where no one was happy or prosperous. For the Witch Queen's curse ensured that only she would have a happy ending. All other denizens of the realm would meet a tragic fate. The only exception was those who received the Witch Queen's mark, a brand that protected them from the curse. <br><br>It has been many years since those terrible events and the Witch Queen still rules uncontested. But there is a prophecy among the people, spoken of only in paranoid whispers, for the Witch Queen's spies are everywhere: That one day a hero will arise who will break the curse and defeat the Witch Queen forever.<br><br>The people are waiting.</em><br><br><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 24pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">PLACES</span><strong></strong></strong></span></div><br><strong>Grym</strong><br>When the Witch Queen first rose to power, her curse encompassed only her castle and the surrounding city (whose name has been lost, and is now known as Grymoire). Over the centuries, village by village, town by town, her curse has spread to cover the former kingdom in its entirety. Only a sliver of land to the south, as well as the island nation of Yamato remain beyond her reach.<br><br>The people of Grym are thrice in servitude to the Witch Queen. They must swear fealty to her and obey her laws. They must pay taxes. And each village or town must provide an annual tribute: their most beautiful youth, sent to Castle Grym. Each year these young men and women are paraded through the gates of the castle, never to be heard from again. Exactly what happens to them is a mystery that the citizens of Grym speak of only in fearful whispers, if they speak of it at all.<br><br>None are alive today who remember the Witch Queen's ascension. As far as anyone can remember, even the longest lived races, the world has always been this way. Each new generation is born into a world devoid of hope, a world without change, a world where time may as well stand still.<br><br>Notable towns and villages include Charity, Patience, Civility, Honour and Modesty. The southernmost town in the kingdom, closest to the free town of Compromise, is Felicity.<br><br><strong>Yamato</strong><br>Defined by the mountains and rivers that divide the land into some twenty small provinces, each governed by a warlord, Yamato is an island nation located off the southern coast of Grym. While the Empress is the head of state, her duties are largely ceremonial. True administrative and military power lies in the hands of the Shogun and his officials.<br><br>Yamato has remained independent and free from the Witch Queen's curse, though recently there has been a series of inexplicable deaths that suggest Yamato is not as safe as once thought.<br><br>The Empress's court is at Nara, inland. The Shogun rules from the coastal city of Kamakura.<br><br><strong>Compromise</strong><br>Named after the agreement between refugees and brigands that created a free town where all are welcome, Compromise is an autonomous town just beyond the borders of Grym. Though the curse claimed the nearby town of Felicity decades ago, it has yet to reach Compromise. Each year the population grows a little more due to refugees from Grym, at least the ones who evade the queen's patrols and spies.<br><br>But many of those refugees are bitterly disappointed, for Compromise is hardly a utopia. Its elite are the merchants, who trade with Yamato, and the smugglers, who trade with ports in Grym. Lawlessness is the rule, and those without fighting skills or the money to hire guards or mercenaries can easily find themselves robbed, enslaved, or worse.<br><br><div align="center">(http://i.imgur.com/yjfPAma.jpg)</div><br><strong>Haven</strong><br>Five days travel to the east of Compromise will bring one to the farming village of Haven. Its people are a motley lot: parents who seek to raise their children in peace; wanderers and free spirits; dissidents and activists who are wanted for treason due to speaking out against the Witch Queen; criminals who have fled the Witch Queen's harsh laws and punishments. The fact that Haven is relatively peaceful owes much to Sophia, the village's mayor who is quick to lend a sympathetic ear and even quicker to lead the town militia in breaking up any disturbances.<br><br>Points of interest around the town include:<br><br><ul class="bbc_list"><li><strong>Duskwood:</strong> The dense, forbidding forest that lies between Compromise and Haven. The trees grow so tall and dense that they blot out almost all light, leaving the road in perpetual shadow. Wolves make their home here, and though the road is regularly patrolled, at times a more dangerous creature will wander in from the Wall Mountains or the Gold Hills. Most dangerous of all are the migrating wyverns that pass through every couple of years, though they generally avoid people unless provoked (their mounts may be another story, however). The Duskwood is also home to an owlbear known to the locals as Bluebeak, as she is often sighted munching on the wild blueberries that grow at the edge of the woods.</li><li><strong>Gold Hills:</strong> Once prospected for gold, the mines have long since run dry. The abandoned mining shafts have found new life as a home for various creatures.</li><li><strong>Grey Lake:</strong> Due to its proximity to the Ravenwood, only a few foolhardy souls live by the lake. Most of the fishermen that ply the lake in boats live in Haven, and are long gone before dusk arrives.</li><li><strong>Lost Keep:</strong> The tale of the Lost Keep is popular among the villagers. Supposedly, within the Ravenwood is a grand keep so well preserved that it looks as though it were finished only yesterday. And though it's marked on maps, it never appears where it ought; it finds <em>you</em>. Once it reveals itself to a traveler, all paths lead to it, and it cannot be evaded. Or at least, so the stories say. Few who have seen it have returned to tell the tale.</li><li><strong>Ravenwood:</strong> These dark woods are the most dangerous locale near Haven, and are home to many fey. While some are mischievous and some are capricious, others crave the taste of human blood. The locals give it a wide berth, especially after sunset. Beyond the Ravenwood, many leagues distant, lie the slopes of Mount Pelion.</li></ul><br><div align="center"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;" class="bbc_size">CONCEPTS</span></strong></span></div><br><strong>Witch Queen's Curse</strong><br><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/f4h58Nr.jpg)</div>The curse that the Witch Queen has placed upon the land ensures that the only happy ending will be her own. All others will meet a tragic and unexpected fate whether by accident, disease, or violence. However, the queen will show magnanimity towards those who obey her laws and pay her taxes and tribute, and their ultimate fate will be delayed until they reach an advanced age. On the other hand, those who displease her can expect swift and terrible retribution.<br><br>The queen bestows her mark upon her most trusted lieutenants: a tattoo of a sinuous dragon that moves upon the skin, sinuously coiling and uncoiling. Some choose to receive it where it is easily concealed by clothing, while others wear it prominently, upon the cheek or neck. It is said that those who bear her mark are all but immortal, and can only perish by the passing of time or in a moment of great glory in service to the queen.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>19-08-2016, 07:13:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div>Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a young woman traveled the road between the town of Compromise and the village of Haven. It was the morning of the fifth day of a five day journey, and in an hour or two she could expect the forest to recede, and the orchards and vineyards of Haven to lie before her.<br><br><div align="center">(http://i.imgur.com/uhaciS2l.jpg)</div><br>The Duskwood surrounded her on all sides, trees grown so tall that their branches crowded out the sky and left the road in perpetual twilight. What small glimpses of sky she could catch were clear and blue- a perfect summer's day. But beneath the shadows of the trees it was cool as a misty day in spring. The air was rich with the smells of loam and greenery and from time to time a breeze set the surrounding leaves to rustling.<br><br>Legend had it that the breeze was actually the trees whispering to each other; and it was entirely possible that the legend was the truth. For in this land, forests could have a mind of their own, and woe betide those who draw their attention. If Yukina was prudent she would have stopped to pray at the shrines to Desna and Erastil that occasionally lay along the road.<br><br><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/K3cEgtHt.jpg)</div><br>As she rounded a bend in the well-traveled road, she saw a curious sight ahead: a shaft of sunlight falling from a gap in the branches above. It blazed down through the twilight, formed a pool upon the forest floor. And at its center was a stone altar carved with runes sacred to Desna. Its only adornment was a single, unlit candle.<br><br>As Yukina took in the sight, a cerulean butterfly descended through the sunlight and landed lightly atop the altar. Its wings fluttered and then became perfectly still, and Yukina could swear it was looking directly at her.<br><br><hr><br><div align="center"><strong>Valdis</strong></div>By the time Valdis awoke, his father had long since departed for the orchards and fields, leaving him the usual breakfast on the kitchen table: bread, goat cheese, figs, watered wine. The house was small but it was home. A common room with attached kitchen, and three bedrooms. When Valdis had first returned from his travels, he'd found the room that he and Yukina had once shared had been converted into storage, full of dusty, forgotten things. His first chore had been to clean out their old bedroom. His second had been to prepare the guest bedroom for a visitor. When asked why, his father merely said it would be needed soon; and his father was right, as he often was.<br><br>On the table next to his breakfast, his father had left a note reminding him that his sister was due to arrive at Haven any day now, and perhaps he might see her through the remainder of the Duskwood. Of course, such a task would require him to travel through Haven; the farm was on the outskirts of the village. His path would go directly by the inn, where the mayor was often to be found (Sophia, the mayor, was married to Nasir, the innkeeper). Perhaps she had another of the jobs he'd been accepting from her. Two birds with one stone. His father, ever practical, would be pleased.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Calison</strong> on <strong>20-08-2016, 07:29:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div><div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/vhKOAa1.jpg)</div>Life felt oddly symmetrical the closer Yukina got to the edge of the Duskwood. She had been born in Haven, and it was on a day much like this one that she and her mother left it. The idyllic farms and orchards were far behind them past the thick wood on the road to the port town of Compromise. And beyond the sea, her ancestral homeland of Yamato. Now she was retracing the steps of that swift flight, and, like her mother, Yukina stopped by the shrines along the road. The shrines had seemed to not have changed much since Yukina last saw them. The Duskwood, even as well traveled as it was, still contain potent dangers beneath its great canopy; the occasioned prayer to deities of travel and civilization were free and didn't have to take very long--a small price to pay for a safe journey.<br><br>The shrines Yukina had come across thus far were varied as they were many, but most were adored with offerings, however token. Yukina usually did her best to travel light, the pack on her back containing the absolute necessities. At the other shrines she had simply prayed for safe roads and uneventful travel. But this shrine of Desna allowed her to do something more substantial. And when the butterfly graced the Ooagami Elite with its presence, how could she refuse? Butterflies were sacred to Desna--perhaps this was a good omen? From her pack, Yukina fished out her flint and tinder box. With both in hand, Yukina lit the candle upon the altar and knelt before it in silent prayer. The journey had been uneventful thus far; all Yukina wanted was for her luck to hold out just a little while longer.<br><br>Once done at the road-side shrine, Yukina snuffed out the candle with her fingers. She might have left it burning, but she decided to leave it for the next passing soul.<br><br>Yukina dressed for the road: a cloak wrapped around her kept her warm beneath the chilly Duskwood. Sturdy boots clad her feet, hose her legs. Her loose shirt was fitted large to help conceal the chain shirt she had on beneath. For someone hailing from the island nation of Yamato, Yukina would have easily been mistaken for a mainlander were it not for her complexion--and that was the idea, hers to be exact. When she had landed with the rest of the Yamato scouting party she ushered everyone into a tailor's shop to get them more suitable, less conspicuous clothing.<br><br>The other scouts went to investigate the North, while Yukina insisted that she alone go to Haven. That was five days ago, and soon she would be upon her childhood home. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lunar Raven</strong> on <strong>23-08-2016, 01:40:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/yGPfuWU.jpg?1)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">VALDIS (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr-eCmMxkz94WXEOSUy_O8TPm7WuYxrGVfoLUDVKH80/edit?usp=sharing)</span></span></strong><br>NG Medium humanoid outsider (human, native)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +8<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 22; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 16 <strong>|</strong> <acronym title="+4 vs. bardic performance, sonic, and language dependent effects; +2 vs. death effects, energy drain, negative energy, necromancy school spells or spell-like abilities"><strong>Saves*</strong></acronym> <strong>Fort</strong> +3, <strong>Ref</strong> +11, <strong>Will</strong> +5<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 31; <strong>Resist</strong> negative energy 5<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Sleepy, but ready for the day...<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> mwk. buckler, mwk. chain shirt, mwk. scimitar<br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> tear-away traveller's clothes (http://img1.91.com/uploads/allimg/150722/730-150H2113K2.jpg), dawnflower sash (http://www.pathfindercommunity.net/magic-items/wondrous-items/dawnflower-sash) around waist<br><hr><br>Valdis awoke abruptly from the dream he was having, and found it too fleeting to actually remember the details.&nbsp; He only remembered that it hadn't been pleasant, and reflected that it was perhaps a good thing that he didn't remember.&nbsp; Yawning, he did not immediately get out of bed.&nbsp; The years spent training in the mountains with the centaur-ess Chiron had made him doubly appreciative of even a simple bed and the luxury of shelter.&nbsp; Judging from the silence in the house, his father had probably already left – there was no one else here anymore.&nbsp; He could almost see the old ghosts of Yukina and himself running past the door of the room, and even the presence of step-mother.<br><br>Finally swinging out of bed, he reached under his pillow, pulling out a long length of rich red fabric, embroidered with thread-of-gold, culminating in an outstretched angel with wings triumphantly raised at each end.&nbsp; It was a reminder of all those trying times during his days on Mount Pelion, and a call that he had to return to the lands of his birth.&nbsp; The symbols on the cloth belonged to that of Sarenrae, the Dawnflower, who Valdis had adopted as his patron, believing in the message of hope that was the core of the teachings of the Sarenrite faith.<br><br>Going outside, he exulted in the feel of the sun against his skin.&nbsp; Sitting down on a bale of hay, he blindfolded himself with the sash and sat down <div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">in meditation</div><div class="spoiler_body">Valdis is taking the 1 hour<br>to perform the Deific Obedience<br>feat to gain a +2 sacred bonus<br>to Perception checks.</div></div> and contemplation for a while.&nbsp; Only when he was done did he get dressed.&nbsp; Wearing the shirt of chain beneath his clothes had become a necessity in these uncertain times and living so far from bastions of civilisation.&nbsp; Pulling his clothes over it, he strapped his sword and buckler to his back.<br><br>Leaving the house with a lively stride, his eagerness was in part due to the knowledge that his sister was supposed to be due home today after so many years.&nbsp; He wondered idly how much she had changed – certainly he had been surprised by how much some of the girls of Haven had grown in his absence – but of course, Yukina was a different matter and surely not the same; it would be splendid to see family once again.<br><br>Entering town, he first made to seek out Mayor Sophia, if nothing else than to keep abreast with current events and maybe see if there was anything she thought warranted his attention or the village just needed help with.&nbsp; Then, he could be off to meet his sister without delay.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>23-08-2016, 04:42:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div><br>The candle burned with a heatless, deep blue flame. When she quenched it, Yukina felt only gentle warmth against her fingertips- no pain.<br><br>And then the circle of sunlight began to shrink, and Yukina could swear she saw branches shift overhead. Little by little the gap in the foliage closed. Sunlight narrowed to a ray, then a dappling on the ground, then a memory like the ghost lights one sees when one stares too long at a flame. The breeze shifted, murmuring through the leaves.<br><br>The butterfly had remained still as a sculpture, but now it took flight, flitting about Yukina's head. Cerulean light spread to surround its wings, dazzling her as it passed before her eyes; and then the light dwindled into the distance as the butterfly fluttered deeper into the forest, away from the road. Yukina could see it turning in lazy circles in the darkness, gleaming like a star in the evening sky.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>23-08-2016, 06:56:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Valdis</strong></div><br>Valdis emerged into bright sunshine beneath a cloudless azure sky. The day promised to be sweltering. Already, he could feel the links of mail beneath his shirt growing warm.<br><br>Two roads converged at Haven: the Lost Road heading north and south, and the Dusk Road heading east and west. The village green lay where they met, an expanse of trimmed grass adjacent to a pond where festivals and fairs were held. Beside the green was the inn. The inn had no name, nor did it need one, for it was the only inn in the village. In the morning, the mayor could often be found beneath the shade of an oak tree at the edge of the green, greeting and chatting with the villagers.<br><br>Peleus's house lay to the northeast of the village, and Valdis soon reached the Lost Road and followed it south. Either side of the road was lined with houses, and not a one looked anything like the others. Haven was a pastiche of people from all over the kingdom and the architecture reflected that. A simple wood and white plaster house reminiscent of the town of Modesty sat beside a stone and timber house that would be at home in the town of Patience. <em>There</em> was a cabin built entirely of logs; <em>here</em> was a house made from sun-dried clay brick. Common was spoken in a half-dozen accents, and the smells of a dozen different styles of breakfast filled the air.<br><br>Mattheus the blacksmith looked up from the bellows and nodded as Valdis passed by. Lyla the apothecary greeted him from her garden, beneath the apple trees that the local children stole from in the fall. Camille was standing before his easel, capturing the morning sky upon his canvas with delicate strokes of his brush.<br><br>Valdis was rounding a bend in the road when two young women with aprons over their dresses emerged from a wood and plaster house. One had hair as pale as straw, the other as brown and glossy as chestnuts. Their expressions brightened when they noticed Valdis in the road. "Good morning," said the darker-haired sister, Thea.<br><br>"Good morning, Valdis," said Agnes. Flash of white teeth, twin flawless smiles. For a moment they held his gaze, and then they passed by him, traveling in the opposite direction down the road, towards the bakery that their aunt and uncle owned. From time to time as they walked, one or the other looked back at Valdis over her shoulder.<br><br>Meanwhile, a dark-haired young man sweeping the path that led to the two-story wooden house across the way glared balefully at Valdis. His name was Damian. He and his father were vintners, and until recently he had been favored with the sisters' smiles. Damian made no move to approach, nor did he speak, but the venom in his glare and the hand clenched into a fist at his side said all that needed to be said.<br><br>Valdis could now see far enough beyond the bend to notice that the mayor's usual bench was empty. If she wasn't there, then she was likely at the inn.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Calison</strong> on <strong>24-08-2016, 07:10:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/vhKOAa1.jpg)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">YUKINA (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cflvujTbe5VYyvr1zZ2VLF8A25wfPfpbFq9akfpnq_k/edit)</span></span></strong><br>LN Medium humanoid (human)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +11<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common, Elven, Tengu<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 21; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 15 <strong>|</strong> <strong>Saves*</strong>[/acronym] <strong>Fort</strong> +5, <strong>Ref</strong> +7, <strong>Will</strong> +7<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 26/26<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Curious<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> longbow, quiver, chainshirt, dagger <br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> Traveling clothes<br><hr><br>Yukina's hand immediately flew to her bow and before she knew it, she had an arrow knocked. The sudden change in the forest was hard to miss and the uncertainty of what it meant was enough to put Yukina on high alert. Her tenseness was undermined by the bright cerulean light flitting in her vision. Flinching, Yukina was forced to unknock her bow, drawing her hand back to rub at her eyes. It took her a moment to readjust her vision.<br><br>She watched the light of the butterfly shrink into the depths of the forest. Yukina peered down the path, to where she was supposed to be headed. How often did her mother tell her and Valdis stories about straying from the marked path? The curious was often unrewarded in those tales. But Yukina could hardly help herself. Her curiosity wasn't without caution. As she started after the dimming light of the cerulean butterfly, Yukina an arrow knocked, and a brought a spell to the forefront of her mind. She didn't intend on being easy prey for the denizens of the Duskwood. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lunar Raven</strong> on <strong>26-08-2016, 01:05:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/yGPfuWU.jpg?1)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">VALDIS (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr-eCmMxkz94WXEOSUy_O8TPm7WuYxrGVfoLUDVKH80/edit?usp=sharing)</span></span></strong><br>NG Medium humanoid outsider (human, native)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +10<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 22; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 16 <strong>|</strong> <acronym title="+4 vs. bardic performance, sonic, and language dependent effects; +2 vs. death effects, energy drain, negative energy, necromancy school spells or spell-like abilities"><strong>Saves*</strong></acronym> <strong>Fort</strong> +3, <strong>Ref</strong> +11, <strong>Will</strong> +5<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 31; <strong>Resist</strong> negative energy 5<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Ah, Agnes, Thea, and Damian... but other matters first!<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> mwk. buckler, mwk. chain shirt, mwk. scimitar<br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> tear-away traveller's clothes (http://img1.91.com/uploads/allimg/150722/730-150H2113K2.jpg), dawnflower sash (http://www.pathfindercommunity.net/magic-items/wondrous-items/dawnflower-sash) around waist<br><hr><br>Along the way, Valdis greeted most whom he saw with a wave or nod of acknowledgement.&nbsp; Amongst other things, his time of Mt. Pelion had taught him how much he actually enjoyed the company of others... though it was also possible he had acquired the desire simply from spending so long with only the company of Chiron for many years.&nbsp; Usually he would have spent a little more time to talk, but being in a hurry, he did not do so today, spending not longer than the fleeting moment it took him to pass by the inhabitants of Haven.<br><br>Valdis put on an especially beaming smile for Agnes and Thea.&nbsp; Whilst he had flirted a little with the comely sisters, he had thus far kept them at arm-length; a pair of roses likely to have thorns unless he could think of a good way to handle them.&nbsp; One such thorn had made itself known in the form Damian.&nbsp; Although he felt the enmity was unwarranted, he sort of did understand and sympathise with the young man and chose not to hold a grudge against him for the anger.&nbsp; Valdis had reckoned that before he came back to Haven, Damian had been the number one prospect for the twins, given his present mood – another indicator that the sisters' fancies might be fickle.<br><br>So he chose to pass Damian by with a smile and wink, as though in on a joke that only he knew about.&nbsp; It rankled a little to know that someone didn't like him, even if only one person – and decided that in the future, he'd find a way to deal with the matter.<br><br>Reaching the bench where the Mayor usually was, he gave a small cluck of irritation at seeing it empty, though it also made him wonder as to what business might have actually called Sophia away from her usual spot.&nbsp; He briefly thought of just going down the road to go and meet with Yukina, but eventually, curiosity over the Mayor's absence won out.&nbsp; Deciding she was most likely at the inn, since it was owned by her husband, it was the next most likely place to find her.<br><br>Straightening his clothes a little for the sake of presentation, he headed off there instead.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>26-08-2016, 07:07:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Yukina</strong><br><br>The butterfly circled until Yukina drew near, and then it fluttered just ahead of her, leading her further into the woods. Twilight deepened, the treetops lost in shadow. Birdsong faded and the only sounds were her footfalls and the rustling of the breeze. The smell of loam grew overpowering. Moss clung to the trees and lichens crusted the rocks. Black shapes loomed in the darkness, and as Yukina drew near she realized they were mushrooms, some taller than she was. The forest here was old, very old. Were it not for her faithful guide lighting her way, she could easily have become lost.<br><br>The butterfly led her across a tree trunk spanning a ravine, and through a bubbling brook whose waters reached Yukina's ankles. It was heading north and east, she thought; and then it veered suddenly, turning to the south. The gloom lightened and she heard birds chirping once more. It seemed the butterfly had brought her back to the road. But before Yukina could wonder why, the butterfly shot forward as swiftly as if she had fired it from her bow, a blue streak that hurtled eastward towards a ridge. It was about to collide with a tree when <em>something</em> leapt into the air in front of it.<br><br>Yukina had an impression of four legs and slavering jaws, and then a fanged maw snapped shut around the butterfly. The light that had been guiding her vanished, but not before she glimpsed a second shadowy figure lurking by a tree; there were <em>two</em> of the beasts near. She heard a low growl, and saw flashes of movement in the darkness as both beasts padded silently through the woods in her direction- sniffing, searching. She believed they had not discovered her, but at this rate it was only a matter of time before they did.<br><br>To her right was a dense growth of brambles. To her left, sprigs of a bush with a strong herbal scent: rosemary. Behind her, the ground rose into a small knoll, and atop it was a shallow depression. And all about her were trees. Some were only saplings while others climbed as far as the eye could see.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>30-08-2016, 03:38:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Valdis</strong></div><br>Damian's scowl deepened. His hands clenched in a deathgrip on the broom, knuckles turning white. He took a step towards the road as if to force a confrontation; and reconsidered, perhaps at the sight of the weapons that Valdis wore with easy familiarity. With a muttered curse, Damian threw the broom aside and stormed down the path to his house. He flung open the door to the wine shop and slammed it shut behind him.<br><br>A short walk brought Valdis to the inn. One of the oldest structures in the village, it had been built at a time when only amateur carpenters were available, and the craftsmanship showed. The front door was crooked, the windows differed in height, and the entire inn leaned a bit precariously to the left. Inside, the dark wood support beams were awry, the hallways not quite straight, and the floor creaked. An optimist would say the inn had character, while a pessimist would have any number of disparaging comments to choose from.<br><br>Valdis opened the door and went inside. It took his eyes a moment to adjust, for the windows were still covered by gauzy curtains. The common room was cool and dim. Nasir had been a sailor before he'd been an innkeeper, and the decor reflected his earlier profession. A nautical lantern, belaying pins, a section of sailcloth, a town of Compromise flag (a yellow hand clasped with a green hand upon a field of ocean blue), and lengths of rigging adorned the walls. A cutlass was mounted above the hearth, along with its companions- a collection of knives from towns across the kingdom.<br><br>Valdis became aware of a person standing at the bar, staring down into an empty cup as though lost in thought. Sophia was diminutive, nearly a full foot shorter than Valdis. In the time he'd been away the mayor had hardly seemed to age at all- a worry line or two, and a single strand of grey hair that she hid in her otherwise sandy-hued braid, and which Valdis's sharp eyes had picked out almost instantly. She was dressed as usual, leather jerkin over a shirt, trousers, leather boots.<br><br>Sorrow and grief were writ upon her face, emotions Valdis had never before seen her express. At that moment Sophia looked up. Sorrow became surprise, and then her expression slid into something more familiar, bright-eyed and optimistic. "Just who I was hoping to see," she said pleasantly. "Good morning, Valdis. How is your father?" Her smile seemed forced.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lunar Raven</strong> on <strong>01-09-2016, 00:17:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/yGPfuWU.jpg?1)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">VALDIS (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr-eCmMxkz94WXEOSUy_O8TPm7WuYxrGVfoLUDVKH80/edit?usp=sharing)</span></span></strong><br>NG Medium humanoid outsider (human, native)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> <acronym title="+2 from Divine Obedience feat.">+10*</acronym><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 22; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 16 <strong>|</strong> <acronym title="+4 vs. bardic performance, sonic, and language dependent effects; +2 vs. death effects, energy drain, negative energy, necromancy school spells or spell-like abilities"><strong>Saves*</strong></acronym> <strong>Fort</strong> +3, <strong>Ref</strong> +11, <strong>Will</strong> +5<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 31; <strong>Resist</strong> negative energy 5<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Wondering what's on Sophia's mind.<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> mwk. buckler, mwk. chain shirt, mwk. scimitar<br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> tear-away traveller's clothes (http://img1.91.com/uploads/allimg/150722/730-150H2113K2.jpg), dawnflower sash (http://www.pathfindercommunity.net/magic-items/wondrous-items/dawnflower-sash) around waist<br><hr><br>Taking a quick look around the inn for anything of interest, Valdis quickly straightened his clothes and tried to bring a semblance of order to his hair – in front of Sophia, at least, he wanted to maintain an air of presentability.&nbsp; She was looking a touch older, but had managed to weather the years remarkably well, perhaps even better than most.&nbsp; That said, it was unusual, at least to Valdis, to see her in a state of sadness, which made him wonder just what had happened to bring this unhappy state upon her.<br><br>Seeing as how she changed her manner upon seeing him, Valdis politely affected not have noticed her grief in case it might embarrass or mortify her.&nbsp; He kept a distance between them so that she need not crane her head up to look at his face – more a matter of respect than anything really.&nbsp; "Father is... well, as always," he said with a smile and shrug.&nbsp; "An occasional complain about the weather. Something or other about this and that – the usual.&nbsp; In other words, I believe he's doing well."<br><br>Leaning on the counter, he looked about for Nasir to order a drink.&nbsp; "How about you, Mayor?" he asked solicitously, as the mood felt inappropriate for the light flirtations he'd usually throw around.&nbsp; "Is everything alright?&nbsp; Anything I can help out with?"<br><br>As long as it wasn't something too time consuming, Valdis felt he would be happy to oblidge, and if it was... well, even if it delayed his meeting with Yuki, a request coming from the Mayor was not something he'd brush aside so easily.&nbsp; As a woman and as mayor, her life couldn't be easy and Valdis felt it somewhat of obligation to help her out in what way he could.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>02-09-2016, 05:34:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Valdis</strong></div><br>"I'm glad to hear Peleus is doing well," Sophia replied. She smiled politely, and this time the emotion seemed genuine. "We don't speak often enough these days. I really must make an excuse to stop by the farm."<br><br>But when Valdis inquired about her own well-being, her smile faded slightly. "I'm well, thank you," she said. Her eyes followed Valdis's gaze as he looked about in vain for Nasir; the innkeeper appeared to be absent. Strange, for Nasir delighted in greeting visitors and his customary post was behind the bar, where Sophia was standing.<br><br>Valdis noticed a calculating look in Sophia's eyes, as if she was weighing his intuition against the ill tidings she was reluctant to disclose. The mayor was known to be canny; pleasantries weren't the reason why she had been mayor for the past 12 years. Finally, Sophia breathed a soft sigh. "But I'm afraid the morning hasn't been pleasant. There are some matters we really should discuss. Why don't you have a seat while I make us tea."<br><br>Valdis had his choice of tables; the inn rarely had guests except in the autumn after the harvest or in late spring after the rains, when most trade took place. Locals wouldn't be arriving until lunchtime.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Calison</strong> on <strong>06-09-2016, 07:10:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/vhKOAa1.jpg)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">YUKINA (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cflvujTbe5VYyvr1zZ2VLF8A25wfPfpbFq9akfpnq_k/edit)</span></span></strong><br>LN Medium humanoid (human)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +11<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common, Elven, Tengu<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 21; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 15 <strong>|</strong> <strong>Saves*</strong>[/acronym] <strong>Fort</strong> +5, <strong>Ref</strong> +7, <strong>Will</strong> +7<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 26/26<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Determined<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> longbow, quiver, chainshirt, dagger <br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> Traveling clothes<br><hr><br>The lighted journey the butterfly led Yukina on was nothing short of fantastical. Never had she strayed off the road that cut through the Duskwood--if she had known what lay just beyond the path, such as the towering mushrooms, she may have found reason to explore when she was younger. But there was a reason she, her brother, and all the children of Haven had been warned away from entering the Duskwood. And that very reason literally devoured her guiding light.<br><br>The shadowy outline of the creatures was enough to give Yukina pause, but her training kept her rooted. She cast her eyes about, quickly taking in her surroundings. Already she found pieces of the environment she could leverage. She had prepared a number of spells earlier that day--one of which would have easily given her an escape. ...but she couldn't think to live the butterfly to digest in the belly of one of these beasts. Yukina couldn't deny the help that it had been, nor the circumstances of its appearance. In Yamato, butterflies were other thought to be souls of the departed, nevermind the significance they had to Desna.<br><br>Yukina had a plan already in mind. And it started with creating a distraction. Muttering under her breath, Yukina reached out in front of her and <div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">intoned a spell</div><div class="spoiler_body"><em>Ghost Sound</em></div></div>. A sound of rustling would emanate from the bushes around the creatures. Hoping her ploy worked, Yukina would duck behind the bushes of rosemary--with any luck it would serve to mask her own scent front the beasts. She observed the beasts trying to discern through the low light what they were doing. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>09-09-2016, 05:04:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div><br>As the beasts drew nearer, what was hidden by the gloom was now revealed to Yukina's sight. Padding towards her were two of the largest wolves she had ever seen. Standing three feet at the shoulder, they had to weigh more than a solidly built man. One's fur was black as night, while the other's was grey as fog. Cruel fangs lined their jaws; cruel eyes searched the forest for her presence.<br><br>Yukina intoned her spell, muffling her voice as best she could. The black wolf remained oblivious, but she saw the grey wolf's ears perk up.<br><br><em>Both wolves rolled Perception checks (DC 20): one success, one failure</em><br><br>The grey wolf stared in her direction, fangs bared, a low growl rumbling from its throat. Then rustling came from behind the wolves, and both turned about to face the new threat.<br><br><em>Both wolves rolled Will saves to disbelieve the Ghost Sound (DC 13): both failed</em><br><br>The wolves' eyes met, and it appeared to Yukina that the black wolf was looking to the grey wolf for direction, as if the black wolf were a soldier and the grey wolf was a captain. The grey wolf raised a forepaw and pointed in the direction of the rustling; the black wolf nodded its head in reply. The black wolf circled the bushes, moving away from Yukina, while the grey padded on silent feet towards the rosemary bush, almost directly at her.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">The grey wolf is the one that swallowed the butterfly, and is 40 ft away from Yukina. The black wolf is 60 ft away. If Yukina acts now, she will get a surprise round. I haven't included a map since the encounter is so simple, but I'll add one if it gets more complicated.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Calison</strong> on <strong>09-09-2016, 06:52:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/vhKOAa1.jpg)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">YUKINA (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cflvujTbe5VYyvr1zZ2VLF8A25wfPfpbFq9akfpnq_k/edit)</span></span></strong><br>LN Medium humanoid (human)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +11<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common, Elven, Tengu<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 21; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 15 <strong>|</strong> <strong>Saves*</strong>[/acronym] <strong>Fort</strong> +5, <strong>Ref</strong> +7, <strong>Will</strong> +7<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 26/26<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Determined<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> longbow, quiver, chainshirt, dagger <br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> Traveling clothes<br><hr><br>If it weren't for her training keeping her tongue in check, Yukina may have cursed aloud at how huge the wolves before her were. But she kept quiet, as quiet as she could as her rouse half worked, separating the wolves. They could have been closer together, Yukina thought, but she felt like she could still deploy the spell she had in mind for the situation. Her eyes focused on the area between the wolves, right at the center of it--it might have been a stretch of the spell's limitations, but she was willing to risk it to keep both wolves apart.<br><br>Popping out of cover, Yukina knocked and fired an arrow at the area between the wolves. Whistling through the air, the long strands of fabric seemed to coalesce around the arrow head, eventually wrapping it in a tight ball of silk. The bolt of cloth struck the ground--and exploded into a thick blanket of <div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">spider's webbing</div><div class="spoiler_body">Spell Cast <em>Web (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/w/web)</em>, radius 20 feet (hopefully ensnaring both wolves). Spell DC is 14 I believe.</div></div>.<br><br>Now exposed and out in the open, Yukina was already pulling another arrow from her quiver and mentally preparing herself to cast another spell. She was close to the road, relative close to town; she didn't need to kill the wolves, not necessarily, but she needed the grey one to cough up her guide.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Initiative</div><div class="spoiler_body">Result: 9 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=94245) ...welp.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dormouse</strong> on <strong>11-09-2016, 23:45:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Yukina</strong></div><br>Yukina's aim was true, the arrow falling halfway between the two wolves. Gossamer strands reached out to ensnare trees, shrubs, stones, and both wolves. The grey wolf yelped in surprise as thick webbing caught its limbs and in its fur, lifting the wolf from the ground. The black wolf was quicker to react, crouching low and avoiding nearly all the strands.<br><br>The webbing hung in the air, suspended between the trees, quivering as the grey wolf thrashed and snarled. So dense was the tangle that the black wolf was almost lost to Yukina's sight.<br><br><em>Both wolves rolled Reflex saves (DC 14): grey wolf failed, black wolf succeeded. Both wolves have 5 feet of webbing between them and open space.</em><br><br>Then the grey wolf began speaking. Its voice was a low growl, the lupine equivalent of a whisper; but it could not have accounted for Yukina's keen ears. She understood perfectly as it spoke in the Common tongue to the black wolf. "Go! We must find him before MacLeil!"<br><br><em>Yukina rolled a Perception check (DC 15): success.</em><br><br>Yukina had heard of such creatures before, wolves as intelligent as humans and capable of speech. These were worgs, allies of the Witch Queen. She often sent them to patrol the borders of her realm, where they hunted anyone attempting to escape to the free towns. But there had never been worgs, or any other of the Witch Queen's creatures, within the Duskwood. While the forest was home to many dangers, the Witch Queen was not one of them. At least, until now.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">The wolves rolled a 6 for initiative, so Yukina gets to act first. Nice use of the web. <em>Makes note to self to have enemies spread out next time.</em>&nbsp; :-)</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time (in Pathfinder)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Calison</strong> on <strong>14-09-2016, 08:05:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/vhKOAa1.jpg)</div><strong><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">YUKINA (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cflvujTbe5VYyvr1zZ2VLF8A25wfPfpbFq9akfpnq_k/edit)</span></span></strong><br>LN Medium humanoid (human)<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Senses:</strong> normal; <strong>Perception</strong> +11<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Languages:</strong> Common, Elven, Tengu<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>AC</strong> 21; <strong>touch</strong> 16, <strong>flat-footed</strong> 15 <strong>|</strong> <strong>Saves*</strong>[/acronym] <strong>Fort</strong> +5, <strong>Ref</strong> +7, <strong>Will</strong> +7<br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Hp:</strong> 26/26<br><strong>Mood:</strong> Determined<br><strong>Equipped Gear:</strong> longbow, quiver, chainshirt, dagger <br><strong>Currently Wearing:</strong> Traveling clothes<br><hr><br>The hairs on the back of Yukina's neck rose in realization when she heard the grey wolf <em>speak</em>--these weren't wolves at all, but <em>worgs</em>. She couldn't say she had encounter their ilk before, but Yukina had been told plenty of what she was likely to encounter when dealing with the Witch Queen and her forces. From the sounds of it, the pair may have been looking for something, someone. Gods above, if she knew they were servants of that damnable hag, Yukina would have worked to make sure neither of them would escape today--but it looked like, for the moment, that one of them would.<br><br>Well, she would just focus on what she could do--dispatching the wolf before her. Training her eyes right for worg's core, aiming to strike square in the stomach, Yukina <div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">poured a bit of her energy</div><div class="spoiler_body">Swift Action to give +2 Enhancement Bonus. 7/8 Arcane Pool points remain</div></div> into her bow. As she did so, Yukina intoned a spell--what would start out as a bead of dew floating at the tip of her arrow transformed quickly into a sloshing orb of water. Firing the arrow, Yukina watched as the liquid orb leaped ahead of her arrow, drawing the moisture of the forest as it went; the worg would find itself being hit with a veritable torrent. If that wasn't enough to get it to cough up the butterfly, Yukina's arrow was to arrived swiftly after.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Combat Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body"><em>Hydraulic Push</em> (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/hydraulic-push) Bullrush attempt:Result: 12 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=94471)<br>Attack Roll: Result: 25 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=94472)<br>Damage: Result: 9 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=94473)<br><br>Edit: Realize I forgot to add a +1 to the bullrush attempt for what it might be worth--used +2 for my INT bonus instead of my +3 after getting the mental prowess thing sorted out. </div></div>
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>