Lunar: Magic Empire Interlude 12 Log ============================================================ Cast of Characters: Rune as "GM/Narrator, Gausuton, and Voice/Shea" Seath as "Earendil" Aes as "Valina" ============================================================ GMRune: ---------game on--------- GMRune: The swirl of magic left behind by the White Dragon Wings leaves you not within the safety of T'lain's Spire, but what appears to be the middle of nowhere. It would seem that you are in the middle of a vast wasteland, with only barren rock formations nearby and the hard ground beneath you. GMRune: You also discover that Elanor and Liana are nowhere to be seen. Earendil: What in Althena's name is going on? GMRune: The Dragon Wings sparkle dully with a black aura. Then the light fades. Earendil looks at the Wings. "They must still be affected. I shouldn't have been in a rush to get back." GMRune: A dry breeze swirls by, stirring up a small dust devil that whirls by Earendil's feet. Earendil starts walking forward and looking around. Earendil: IS ANYBODY THERE? GMRune: The small grains of gravel crunch beneath Earendil's feet. As if in answer to his cry, a loud scream is heard! Earendil runs toward the direction of the scream. GMRune: The image of Gausuton holding on to Valina shimmers into view in the desert ahead of you. Earendil: Valina? Valina: AAAAARRRRGGGGGGHh Earendil runs at the warlock. "Get your hands off her!" Valina: Not again!!! Valina: Help me Earendil!!! Gausuton holds out a hand. "Halt, young Dragonmaster, unless you want me to snap her pretty little neck as you try to save her!" Earendil stops dead. Valina: Ahhh... Earendil: What do you want? Gausuton: Don't you have better things to do? Like saving the world? After all, what is one petty little life worth when weighed against the mass of thousands? Earendil: Because I swore that I would protect her. I have a promise to keep. Gausuton: I want this girl. You no longer need her pendant. We've broken into the book so keeping her pendant from us is no matter. Valina: Help... me... Gausuton: So you would doom Lunar to save this one life? Earendil: If I can't save one life, how can I save all of Lunar? Gausuton's mouth pulls into a sinister smile. "And how do you propose to save her now? By charging at me with that sliver of metal you call a sword?" Valina: .... Earendil looks down. "I . . . I don't know." Valina: Help... please... I don't want to suffer anymore... Earendil 's mind starts filling with images of the last time he tried to save Valina. Earendil: No . . . not again. This can't be happening again. Gausuton chuckles. "Yes, go ahead and try. You hear your beloved. She wants you to help her! I'll let you get one sword swing and let's see what you do." Valina: :( Earendil regains his composure. Earendil: Wait a minute . . . how did you know where I was? Earendil: I saw Valina just a moment ago in the Phoenix Cave, how could you have found out where I teleported to so quickly? Gausuton: I did not "know" where you were. I did not approach you, you came here. Valina arghs! Earendil: And how did you get your hands on Valina so quickly? Valina: ... Gausuton pauses. "That is none of your concern. Now will you leave, or shall I have to leave myself?" Earendil: And how will I leave, I don't even know where I am, and the wings aren't to be trusted. Valina: Earendil! Save me please... Gausuton: Then I suppose I shall be going myself. A pity you can't seem to save your "dearest" love here. Earendil: And the two that came with me aren't here. Tell me Gausuton, do you know where Elanor is? Valina: Why can't you save me??? Didn't you promise to protect me... Valina screams loudly. Gausuton fades away and Valina goes with him. Earendil: Because, you are not who you appear to be. I don't believe that you're Valina. Earendil: ALRIGHT, WHO'S THERE? WHO'S PLAYING GAMES WITH ME? GMRune: A moment later, Valina fades back into view, suspended from the air with her head lowered. Her gaze is dark and troubled. Valina: Earendil..... Valina: Do you care for me? Earendil: For the real Valina, yes, I do. Valina: I am real... so you care for the real Valina.... Valina: I am... real Earendil is still distrustful. Valina: Earendil... Valina: If you really care for me... then why do you never eat the yummy roots I cook? Earendil does an anime facefault. Valina: Why ? Earendil: Um well . . . they . . . don't really appeal to me I guess. Valina: They are yummy! Valina: Then why do you not protect me in battles! Why do I always wake up after them?? Earendil: I try, I try. But . . . even as dragonmaster, I don't think I have the power to even protect myself. Valina: Why don't you stand in front of me protecting me from attacks! Valina: Then why did you let Garreth kill me? Earendil: No no. I didn't want him to kill you. I was trying to save you! Valina: He still killed me! I was dead!! Valina: Earendil, if you really care for me.. Valina: Then why do you alway think about elvin girls??? Earendil: Elven girls, what elven girls? Valina: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!! Earendil tries to look innocent. Valina: THEN WHY DON'T YOU SHOW THAT YOU CARE FOR ME!! Valina: WHY DON'T YOU HUG ME! WHY DON'T YOU KISS ME!! WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME FLOWERS!! Valina: Why don't you show that you care for me... Valina: Why do you leave me wondering... Earendil: Because . . . I'm . . . afraid Valina: Why? Valina: ... Valina: Hey Earendil... Earendil: ..... .... Valina: Can you feel the sadness I've felt? GMRune: Valina fades away with those final words. Earendil reaches up at the fading image. Earendil falls to his knees. "Why? Why are you tormenting me with this?" A new voice speaks. "Are you worthy? Is there a single mortal alive who is? Can anyone feel the sadness I have felt? For the man who is before me now must understand the pain that has become a part of my life." Earendil looks up. Earendil: Haven't I suffered enough pain of my own? The voice is female, but strong and deep; a powerful voice filled with the echoes of the ages. "You have suffered pain, yes, but I must be sure of your heart. Now I must be certain of your body." Earendil: Who are you, show yourself. Voice: Prove your heart and skill against me. Prove your that you are worthy to be called Dragonmaster! Earendil: What will you have me do? GMRune: A sole figure fades into view. She has fiery red hair and black wings. Though it has been less than a month since you had last seen her, she appears to have grown in power and majesty. Her eyes no longer reflect anger and hatred, but an iron will perpared for a test. Earendil: Shea . . . Shea: Fight me. Best the black dragon within me and you will earn the Black Dragon Armor you so desire! Earendil: I do not desire it for myself, only for the sake of my friends and Lunar. Earendil: But if fight you I must, fight you I shall. Earendil unsheaths his sword. Shea nods. "Feel the power of the black dragon!" GMRune: The skies darken and a spark of lightning flashes. Shea's form blurs as she takes on the shape of a full-size black dragon. She spreads wide her furred wings and looks down at the almost insignificant Dragonmaster below her with a pair of fiery red eyes. GMRune: --------round 1--------- GMRune: target: Shea GMRune: Earendil casts Star Shield! A barrier of magic forms a barrier around him. Shea laughs. "The powers of the heavens are no match for dragon magic! See what your shield is to me!" GMRune: Shea slams a claw against the ground, sending ripples of power through the earth. Earendil is heaved up into the air and lands heavily on his back! GMRune: 211 damage! GMRune: -------round 2------- GMRune: Earendil uses Power Strike! He leaps high into the air and swings his sword deep into Shea's thick fur. GMRune: 465 damage! GMRune: Shea sucks in a deep breath of air and arcs her head in Earendil's direction. She sprays a huge stream of acid from her jaws! GMRune: 261 damage! GMRune: ---------round 3------- Shea looks condescendingly at Earendil. "Can you feel the sadness I have feel? Have you the empathy to feel for another, one whom you barely know?" GMRune: Earendil dashes forward with a Rapid Cut! He slices the blade of his sword at Shea's leg! GMRune: 135 damage! Earendil: I know the pain of your brother all too well, but how I can possibly know yours? But I do have pity for you. Shea: Pity? Pity for a dragon of Althena? Pity for a priestess of Althena? I do not need pity. If times of need has anyone ever asked for pity? GMRune: Shea pivots suddenly, folding her wings alongside her as she whips her tail around to strike Earendil! GMRune: 86 damage! GMRune: ------round 4------ Earendil: The greatest of the great and the smallest of the small will always have times at which people feel sorry for them GMRune: Earendil leaps high into the air with a Power Strike! He scores a large chunk of flesh in Shea's shoulder. The black dragon bellows! GMRune: 441 damage! Shea: I don't need pity! This world does not need pity! Is your pity that which gives you strength? GMRune: Shea again slams a clawed hand to the ground, sending ripples of earth to hurl Earendil into the air. GMRune: Earendil takes 223 damage! Earendil staggers for a moment. GMRune: -------round 5------ Shea: Magintna tested you for the bond between friends. Canth tested you for your compassion. Quark gave you the trial of cunning. Make no mistake! This is a test as well. Earendil: I can only imagine what you must feel, to have both your human side ripped away as well as your dragon side. GMRune: Earendil casts Blue Dragon Heal! The ethereal image of Canth appears above Earendil. Canth spread his wings to shower Earendil with healing energy and then vanishes. GMRune: Earendil gains full hp. Shea: Imagining... Yes that helps, but that is only part of your problem. GMRune: Shea lunges forward and swipes at Earendil with both her claws! GMRune: attack 1: 70 damage GMRune: attack 2: 46 damage GMRune: -------round 6------ Shea: What must you feel in yourself to feel pity for another? Earendil: . . . . worth? Shea: Aye, but it is much more than that. GMRune: Earendil attacks Shea! He nicks her leg! GMRune: 37 damage! Earendil: Valina loves me. Elanor loves me, but I never asked myself if I loved myself. Shea: No one wants to be pitied, yet what have you done to me, to yourself? Can you feel the emptiness, the sadness, within you? Shea lifts her claws, poised to strike them against the ground once more. Earendil: It's like a part of me is missing. Earendil: I've tried to ignore it. Earendil: I constantly blame myself for everyting that goes wrong. Earendil: How will I be a dragonmaster if I don't feel up to it? Shea: It is not a matter of how. Do you? Earendil: Valina tried to tell me. Elanor tried to tell me. My parents tried to tell me. Earendil: Only now does it become clear, I am the one to become Dragonmaster. Others only dream of it, but I am actually doing it. Shea nods. Shea: Do you feel any better about yourself now? Earendil looks Shea in the eyes. "I am worthy to become Dragonmaster." Earendil: I don't care what others say or think. Earendil: I finally see inside myself what everybody else saw all along. Shea nods approvingly. The skies clear as she dwindles back to her hybird form. Now, rather than wearing the Black Dragon Armor, she holds in it her hands. Earendil looks at the armor. "But first, I must ask you a favor." Shea: You are a man to be respected, Earendil. But a man is only as strong as his own self-worth. You must remember that. Shea: What is that? Earendil: Grant me your forgiveness. I have disliked and distrusted you for so long, but now that I know who you are, I feel ashamed for feeling that. Earendil: I am a knight, I must have honor as well Shea lowers her head a little but smiles. "You are forgiven. I know I have been stubborn and headstrong to you in the past, but it has not been easy to reconcile my two selves. I must apologize for the trouble I have been before." Earendil: Then I forgive you and thank you as well for teaching me a valuable lesson. Shea: You are welcome. Shea offers Earendil the Black Dragon Armor. "Now here. Take this and use it with my blessing." Earendil takes the Armor and puts it on. GMRune: The Black Dragon Armor glows and Earendil learns the new spell "Black Dragon Sadness"! Earendil: T'lain said that I have to go to Quark to purify the Shield and the Helmet, is he correct? Shea: That is correct. Quark will know how to fix them. Do not fear that the White Dragon Wings are corrupted, however. I used their power to bring you here so that I could test you. Earendil: Elanor and Liana? Shea: They are suspended right now, in a pocket dimension if you will. They will reappear with you once you go back to T'lain's Spire where your friends are waiting. Earendil nods his head and holds up the White Dragon Wings Shea: I will see you again before all this is over. Earendil: I look forward to it. Earendil wills himself to T'lain's Spire. GMRune: Earendil vanishes in a swirl of white light. GMRune: -----------end session-----------