A/N: Alight, it's here. Just as you, technically, voted for! Also, um, I kind of, really nerded out on this, like really nerded out. Sorry beforehand, I'll tone it down if you want, but I really liked doing it? Maybe one day I'll actually DM/GM an actual game one day, if I had any friends (I am now sad-jk, jk!)
Anyway, enjoy. Please.
RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and the late Monty Oum
RWBY DnD
Prologue
The sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky as a covered wagon crept along a dirt road beneath it. The two brown horses hitched to the cart, on closer inspection were a bit on the haggard side, their ribs showing.
As for the riders, the driver was wearing a faded blue cloak while the passenger wears a cloak in some unknown, muted white and beige palate. Beside the slow moving cart was a third person, walking, in a slightly more maintained, rich brown, leather cloak. They held a staff and had a dagger sheathed on their belt.
(Perception check, DC14, roll result 13; Failure!)
As the driver and passenger grumbled to themselves they failed to spot a cloud of dust in the horizon. Neither, did their third.
Before long the dust cloud became that of a traveling troop of armored men on horseback. Eight of them, in gleaming, segmented, silver armor.
As they came upon the the wagon the lead rider drew up to block the road with one hand raised. "Whoa, there!" He called as the wagon was forced to a crawling stop.
He then strolled up to them on his horse, allowing the three to see the impressive black handlebar moustache and chilling blue eyes he had under the open-face, curved aperture of his helmet. He looked into the back of the wagon from where it opened behind the two, inspecting it.
(Perception roll result: 18; Stealth roll counter result: 18 +5 = 23; Success!)
Then he turned to look at the two sitting there and asked, "Where might you be going today, friends?"
"T-t-to t-t-the c-city, s-sir knight." The passenger replied with a stutter with the driver nodding along before saying as well. "Aye. To th' marketplace fer shore. Got a gud bit o' fabric for sell. Thin' we'll 've much luck amon' th' city folk?"
(Deception check, DC12, Roll result with advantage: 18, 6; Success!)
As they were speaking the other mounted men formed up around them. The leader seemed to rub at his mustache before nodding his head as he replied, "Not sure, friend. But that's not really something I can answer. We of the Lion Guard aren't much for gossip, I'm afraid."
He pointed towards the way they had come has he said, "The city's just over the next rise, though. You take care now, friend. Good luck. We have to get back to our patrol."
He rounded on his men as he shouted, "Mount up!"
As they tore off down the road, kicking up more dust around the wagon, the driver turned and hollered after them, "Thank you! And good luck out there!"
Then the two sighed as they looked at each other before snapping the reins, urging the horses to move again. They did so grudgingly.
The brown-cloaked one remained silent throughout.
/ /
A bit of time later they found themselves before the gates and high walls of the Crown City, Capitol of the Kingdom of Arcadia. After a quick word with the guards stationed there, and a subtle mention of the patrol they had met, they made their way inside.
After a short time within the city's cobblestone streets the driver looked around before lowering their hood, revealing a tawny, straw-like bob of hair and a weathered feminine face and said to the walker, "A'ight, Bobby. Go get us a spot in th' Square. Hurry now!"
The still silent individual nodded before turning to dash off in that direction. "Jus' don' go makin' it too obvious! Don' want to seem desperate!" The driver called after them and shook her head in amusement.
Then they continued on for a bit and a steady pace, the clopping of the horses' hooves the only sound around them as they moved along at a walk. The city was largely dead at this time of day, especially so near to the walls.
Only the truly poor and destitute lived here.
(Perception check, DC12, Roll result: 6; Failure!)
After looking around for a bit the driver then banged on the frame of the cover and said, "A'ight. 'Tis safe fer you ta come out now."
After a moment of silence a slight figure in a faded red cloak popped their head out of the back and looked around. Then they pushed their way through the opening to sit beside the driver as the passenger got off to walk besides the cart after a glance from the woman.
"Thanks, Granny Chiyo!" The small figure said as they sat down and flip the hood of their face, revealing that of a young woman with dark red hair and pale skin.
The woman, Chiyo, merely nodded in return.
/ /
As they came up to the large open space that was the city's Market Square, Chiyo pulled on the reins to stop the horses. They did with a huff and a whinny.
She looked around before saying, "A'ight now. This is as far as I can take ya, girl. Ya be safe now, ya hear."
The small woman nodded before getting down with help from the stuttering passenger. Chiyo watched over them as she did so as she continued to speak, "An' keep tha' hood up, ya hear. Don' go trustin' those Lion Guard fools. The're all in th' pocket of th' Cult."
The younger woman nodded darkly at that as the sun overhead suddenly reflected off of her silver eyes. Then she placed the hood of her cloak back on her head as she said, "Don't worry about so much, Granny. I'm sure nothing will come of it. I just hope that I can find what I'm looking for here in the city before too long."
She turned and started off before waving over her shoulder, "Bye, Granny Chiyo. I hope you, Donny and Bobby take care!"
"Aye! Same t' ya!" Chiyo called back before shaking her head in disapproval as she watched the red cloak figure recede into the distance, praying for her safety.
/ /
As she continued along, moving between others in the crowd, the young woman hummed to herself as she bobbed about. The only thing that could be seen of her slight form was the full lips of her face below the hood itself.
Eventually, the crowd started to thin out and the woman paused to look around.
(Perception check, DC 18, Roll result: 1 + 1 = 2; Failure!) (Also, No Ruby!)
After glancing around and seeing no threats in the crowd the young woman decided to lower her hood. She shook her short, messy bob of hair as she did so and sighed, relieved to get out of the stifling confines of her hood.
She smiled and continued to walk deeper into the city, humming to herself all the while.
/ /
The youngish-looking man stepped out from his home, a large, white-stone building, and blinked as he looked up at the bright light of the sun overhead. He grimaced slightly as he noted the members of the Church walking around before turning to lock the door behind him.
After getting his bearings, he took off towards the shopping district, hoping to find something to eat for later.
/ /
After a bit of confusion, and some unexpected dodging and weaving through the back alleyways of the city she came to what she was looking for: The Upper City and, more importantly, its shopping district, The Ten Rings.
After adjusting her cloak to reveal the off-white blouse and dark brown with red lace corset beneath, she started down the lane, window shopping.
(Perception check, DC 18, Roll result: 20 + 1 = 21; Critical Success) (Woo! First one.)
After a time of perusing the various wares she noticed what a particular shop was selling and zoomed over quickly with an almost childlike squeal. She pressed her face against the glass as she cooed to herself and wiggled her butt like a child.
After a moment as she stood there she sense someone near her and looked over to find a tall blond-hair figure standing there. They were wearing a rich, dark blue blouse with a white ascot, a worn brown jacket, and rich, dark blue pant with a black belt. She couldn't quite see his face due to the shadows being cast but she could tell that he was looking at her curiously by the tilt of his head.
She blushed as she realized what she had been doing and coughed before saying, "Uh, sorry for staring, sir! But, I don't have the money to buy anything!"
The figure seemed to blink at her rapid fire speech before raising a hand pacifyingly as they said, "Not to worry, miss. I was merely curious as to what could have you so mesmerized."
"Oh," she responded brightly before pointing at the item on display in the store's window. "That would be that beautiful Marksman Class, Long-barreled Rifle there. It's positively beautiful to behold, what with the polished Ivory-handled grip, the gleaming steel sights, and black and red painted finish on the Darkwood and iron barrel."
She sighed in pleasure at that even as the man looked on in confusion before saying, "Of course, beautiful, though it is. It's hardly the most impressive weapon I've seen. I could probably make something much more accurate, and much lighter."
"Uh, huh?" The blond-haired stranger responded as he looked quizzically at the young woman still turned away from him. Then he looked at the item on display and almost blanched at the price.
Over ten thousand gold pieces.
He glanced at the woman again as he asked, "And, you say that you can make something better than… whatever this thing is?"
"It's a gun." She replied dutifully and said with a nod. "And, yes. I think I could. Though, I don't have the materials to do so, I'm afraid."
"And those are obviously quite expensive,too, I'm sure." The man said with a sudden grin.
"Indeed, quite so." The young lady returned with an almost snobby tone before letting a grin of her own spread out across her face. She turned to face him fully before sticking her hand out to shake, all while still grinning like a loon, "Ruby Rose." She stated.
The tall man took it and shook it once as he replied, "Jaune Arc."
He then turned and motioned over his shoulder towards what looked to be some kind of cafe as he asked, "Would you care to join me, Ms. Rose? You could continue to explain this baffling concept to me over some tea and toast."
"Why, Good Sir, that sounds like a wonder idea," She returned with as much pomp as she could muster as well as a curtsy before ruining it by grinning and said, "Actually, I am quite hungry right now."
Jaune chuckled at that before offering his arm as he escorted her to the cafe. Ruby took it without hesitation.
/ /
The two sat there and ate for some time as she talked on and on about the different things she could do to make the concept of a rifle better. Jaune dutifully listened on even though most of the concepts flew over his head.
But, he did occasionally put in an insightful suggestion.
Eventually, Ruby had talked herself out of idea and Jaune took it upon himself to continue the conversation, finding himself oddly compelled to do so.
(Insight check: Roll results 1 + 3 = 4) (Dang it, Jaune)
He told her that he was residing in one of the churches up on Monument Hill. At her subtle inquiry he specified that it was The Church of the Twin Gods, the creators of this world, supposedly, and not one of the more influential churches like the Church of Salem. Ruby seemed oddly comforted by that, but he took no notice of it.
After that the talk drifted to what Ruby was doing in the city.
She told Jaune that she was looking for a specific type of shop. She pulled out a silver rose emblem with a massive crack running through. "This was my mom's, " she said by way of explanation. "It was broken when she was ki-died. I, it's all I have left of her. I wanted to see if I could get it repaired."
She stroked the surface of the emblem sadly for a bit and said as Jaune remained silent. "I was told once, that it was magical in nature. I wanted to see if there was a place that could restore it." She looked up at him then, her eyes beseeching, "Do you happen to know a place like that, Jaune?"
(Persuasion check (Ruby Rose) dice roll: 4, Will save (Jaune Arc) dice roll: 4 +3 = 7; Persuasion fails)
Jaune looked at the young woman before him in silence and sighed, rubbing at his face, remembering such faces from his past, and felt, nothing. No emotion. No anger. No sympathy.
Then he thought to himself. She seemed like a good and honest person, but her bargaining skills were something to behold. He supposed that he could still help her, even though her heartfelt plea mattered not at all to him.
It was, after all, the Right thing to do.
Finally, he said somewhat grudgingly as she continued to look at him imploring, "Look. I know a place that might-And, I stress-might be what you're looking for."
Ruby squealed with sudden joy. That made him smile.
Then he took out a quill and ink and wrote down an address on a napkin he found as Ruby perked up at his help, grudgingly though it was. He handed it to her, holding on before she would snatch it away as he warned her, "Listen. This place, the guy that owns it, they're pretty shifty. And, it's in a bad part of town. You be careful, you hear?"
"Okay, Jaune. And, thank you." she said as she read over the address, committing it to memory. Then she stood up and place the hood of her cloak over her head and started away before immediately coming back and kissing him on the cheek, saying, "Thanks again, Jaune. You're a lifesaver."
Jaune watched her go in silence, a blush and a grimace on his face as she departed. He sipped from his tea without bothering to wipe away her kiss, his blue eyes suddenly dark as he remembered things from the past that were best left forgotten.
/ /
It was as she was making her way back from the arcane tinker's shop, oddly named The Melodic Cudgel that Ruby felt it. Like someone was watching her, following her as she was making her way through the back-end alleyways.
(Perception check, Roll results: 16 +1 = 17; Success!)
She paused, her hood up, as she glanced around. That's when she noticed several figures slowly creeping up on her from all sides.
Seven in total. All in red and black attire.
She turned, trying to find an escape route, before dashing through a narrow opening in a cramped, closed off corridor. Her pursuers followed.
(Acrobatics check, dice roll result: 15 + 3 = 18; Success!)
(Acrobatics check, dice roll results: 9, 14, 13, 6, 12, 12, 5; Four Successes!)
Four made it through the narrow opening behind her before the stack of strewn about materials fell over blocking the path.
She sprinted as fast as she could through the confusing, twisting corridors, hearing her pursuers behind her all the while. Eventually, she made it out to a main thoroughfare, and quickly looked around for some place to hide.
(Perception check, dice roll results: 20 + 1 = 21; Success!) (Woo! Go, Ruby!)
After pausing to look around she found an darkened, insert in one of the buildings to her left. With the sounds of footsteps closing in behind her she dashed into the enclosed space and tucked herself in, placing her cloak and hood about her as much a she could to hide her form. Just in time, as four of the men following her rounded the corner then.
Unable to see her the foursome split into two pairs and began to search for her. As two of the red and black clad figures came up towards her hiding spot, she tucked herself in further and held still.
(Stealth check, with advantage, roll results: 10, 13 + 3 = 16, versus Perception check dice rolls: 1, 13; Perception failed)
As they began to look towards her, one of the two slipped in a puddle. He fell with a cry of surprise, splashing the other with the vile liquid. His compatriot hissed at him in disgust, "Saul! You shit! I just got my uniform cleaned since the last offering. Come on, man!"
"Sorry," the other said, mollified before getting back up.
"Hey! You two find her yet?" One of the others called back. "We can't have lost her! The Goddess Salem requires a sacrifice. And a Silver Eyes is just what we need. Find her! Now! Or, else you'll be the Sacrifice today!"
The two nodded emphatically before rushing off.
Ruby paused, tensing for anyone else to come back. When no one did she sighed and placed her head on the wall with a whimper.
After all these years of hiding she had been discovered. In the Capital, no less. And worse, it was by Salemites. The very ones she had been tried to avoid since she got here.
The absolutely worse thing for her.
So stupid. Now, what was she going to do?
Who could help her. Who would help her now?
Her eyes lit up as she remembered a certain blond. "Jaune," she whispered as she turned and fled as quietly as she could.
Towards Monument Hill.
/ /
Jaune Arc was just coming out of the abbey after an long and rather boring day of doing nothing. Once again, no one had come to pray to the Gods, and he doubted anyone would. The Partriarchs were fools for thinking anyone would willing be caught praying to anyone other than Salem herself. Especially, in the Capital itself.
The center of worship for the Church of Salem in Arcadia.
He sighed and rolled his shoulders as he turned to lock up before heading off again. He was looking forwards to a late dinner when he was met by a most curious sight. And, an alarming one at that.
Ruby was standing there, her hands on her knees, panting. Her blouse and leggings were coated with sweat and grime, and her already nappy hair was a mess. She looked like she had run a mile, too.
"Ms. Rose?" He said with concern as he stood there, frozen. "Are you al-?"
"Hide me!" She gasped out as she stood up. Terror in her eyes.
"Wh-what?" He asked, confused.
"The Salemites! They're after me." She said as she ran up and clutched at his chest. "You have to hide me! Please!"
He stuttered and coughed at her proximity as he looked down at her in shock and confusion. She looked up at him, imploringly.
"Please," she whispered. "You're my only hope."
(Persuasion check (Ruby Rose) dice roll: 13, Will save (Jaune Arc) dice roll: 8 +3 = 11; Persuasion succeeds)
He swallowed and glanced around at the plaza where all the other deities' churches were at, and especially at the Church of Salem. And, noted the activity that was taking place there. Then he wrapped an arm around her, hiding her from view with his voluminous robes, as he said, "Okay. Follow me. Quickly."
He quickly led her into the church as he shut and locked the door behind them. He then sat her down on a pew and told her to wait as he got up to make some tea. He then went into the back and began gathering supplies to brew the tea. As he did so, he also gather a knapsack of supplies for her before he donned his armor and hid it under his vestments.
Then he returned after brewing up some tea.
He offered her a glass, saying, "Here. Not as good as the one you had earlier. But it'll do you some good, I'm sure."
"Thanks," She replied with a small grin and sipped at it even as she shivered from fear.
He waited for her to calm down some more before asking her what was going on. She told him about being chased after leaving the store. Of hiding. Of more running. Of searching for help, for him.
He listened in silence.
"So," he started after thinking it over as he sat opposite of her. "Why are members, Cultists, of Salem, after you?"
She shook her head as she said, "I don't know! I heard a pair of them say something about Silver Eyes and Sacrifices."
(Insight check, dice roll: 4 + 3 = 7) (Boy, he's either dense or far too trusting of cute strangers.)
Jaune looked at her for a moment then sighed and rubbed at his head. He so did not want this right now.
"Well," he said as he leaned back and looked towards the ceiling. "That's not good. Can't say that I know that much about the Church. Other than that it's the State Religion."
(Religion check, dice roll: 18 + 2 = 20)
"Wait," he then muttered as he remembered something from his religious studies. "Silver Eyes. Shit."
He closed his eyes tightly and sighed heavily, before he opened them and looked back at Ruby. She stilled as she noticed his look. She swallowed nervously, "J-Jaune?"
"Silver Eyes," He repeated stoically. "Said to be demons, born of pact witches, according to the Church of Salem. Monsters, all of them. Sent to destroy her and her progeny, the Grimm."
He stood and shook his head as he continued. Ruby looked on in fear and trepidation. "The number one target for the Church and its agents. And I have one in my home, after I spent years trying to keep out their way."
"Nothing for it, I suppose," He sighed and rubbed at his face as there came a banging at the doors of the abbey. Ruby jolted at that and looked back before turning face him again. She began to edge away from him, prepping herself to flee once more.
"Go," he motioned to her as the doors crashed opened and a bunch of the red and black garbed Cultists stormed in, their face covered by shining white masks. "There's an exit hidden in the back beyond the kitchen."
"Wha-what about you?" Ruby asked as she looked to the cultists with fear.
In answer, Jaune drew his sword and said, "I'll hold them off."
Then he started forwards.
A/N: Sorry for pulling a Matt Mercer on you guys, but I wanted to save the fight scene for next chapter. After all, Jaune and/or Ruby might die and that would suck! So, let's save that for next chapter, ey?
essiter out, friends!
Thought I'd go ahead and show you the Attributes of our two current characters, as well as their DnD Backstories (Which will be fleshed out as the story progresses):
Jaune Arc: Str: 17, Dex: 10, Con: 16, Int: 16, Wis: 12, Cha: 15; Haunted One
Ruby Rose: Str: 14, Dex: 16, Con: 12, Int: 14, Wis: 10, Cha: 15; Folk Hero
I tried to make the characters as similar to how they might be in Volume 1. Jaune, is surprisingly strong but not dexterous at all as well as being pretty smart (even if he's not the best with women ;). Meanwhile, Ruby is fast and agile, but due to her age (Or, in this case, sheltered nature) isn't the wisest of people.
I'll be introducing more of the characters as time goes on and I'll show their starting stats, too.