Lunar: Magic Empire Session 24 Log ============================================================ Cast of Characters: Rune as "GM/Narrator, Par, the bush, Leon, Shea, Trevor, and ~Rein" Seath as "Earendil" GORN as "Rein" Hahn as "Kadan" Aes as "Valina" Mia Ausa as "Geint" SOLaike as "Tarrant" Dyne as "Arzel" Ayeye as "Ayeye" ============================================================ GMRune: -------game on------- GMRune: The party stands on the mountainside south of the Nanza Barrier. Shea stands just ahead of you, blocking your path. Kadan stretches his arms, then claps his hands together. "Ahh... another fun-filled day." Valina looks at Shea... Valina: Why... GMRune: Having been denied the death of Leon, the cloaked figure raises her sword and attacks you. GMRune: -----round 1------ GMRune: target: Shea Valina refuses to fight. Shea narrows her eyes, a crafty look crossing her face. GMRune: Shea calls out and her form blurs with incredible speed as she blazes through the party, striking six of the party members! Earendil looks back at Valina. "And what would you have me do? I will not let Leon die, and I will defend myself." Valina: I... I don't know! GMRune: Ayeye suffers 109 damage and falls! Kadan suffers 45 damage! Earendil suffers 52 damage! Arzel suffers 82 damage and falls! Par suffers 96 damage and falls! Tarrant suffers 43 damage! Valina runs... not wanting to face the battle. Valina sneaks back... Valina: Shea? Earendil falls to his knees gasping, "You . . . you . . . I will . . . not let . . . you." while pointing toward Shea. Tarrant is blown back from the slash but quickly regains his balance. Kadan grunts, gripping his side. "Blasted boy isn't worth this..." Shea smirks, looking rather pleased with her work. Kadan throws his axe onto the dusty ground. "Shea, I will not fight you." Shea: Very well then... Valina: Shea! GMRune: Earendil's form blurs as he strikes Shea! GMRune: 1 damage! Earendil: Kadan, we must protect Leon. We made a promise to his mother. Valina: He will be protected... GMRune: Earendil's attack manages to tear away much of the cloak around her body. You can see she is wearing an ornate suit of armor beneath it. Earendil leans on his sword heavily seeing he did no good. GMRune: Tarrant casts Warning on Kadan! The burly warrior is surrounded in blue light. GMRune: Dodge% up 39. Earendil mutters to himself, "I will not fail someone under my protection again." GMRune: --------round 2------ Valina: Shea... please... Valina: Stop... Shea: Look, it's not as though I WANT to kill your friends, but that fact remains that the Empire must fall. Shea: If I have to kill innocent lives to achieve the greater good then I shall. Valina: The empire WILL fall! Valina: But killing those who fight for your cause won't accomplish anything! Shea points her sword at Leon. "The prophecy states that one such as him will revive it. I cannot take the chance on his survival. Valina: But we are not goint to let that happen! Earendil: Shea, there are always ways other then killing the innocent. Shea: Such as? Prophecies are not make merely to entertain the weak. Valina: We took this boy, so that the prophecy won't happen... Tarrant: Your anger clouds your judgement... Open your eyes. Earendil: And those who blindly follow prophecies are bound to stumble. Valina: We are going to send him into a time far from now, so that He will be free of this hell! Valina: He'll be no harm to anyone! Shea cocks her head to one side, eyes glinting. "How do you know you are not merely sending him forward to the time when he can avenge the Empire?" Kadan: Shea is right... we can't take that risk. Mileria cannot know what he will do. Earendil: Kadan! Valina: But is killing him now the answer! Valina: No! Valina: I will not let another innocent child die! Geint glares continously at Shea... looking like she's deciding. Shea hefts her sword. "Well, I think we've talked enough. I ask you a final time, will you hand the child over to me? Geint: ...How..... Kadan glances at Leon, trying to cope with his injuries. "Who knows...? This boy may cause more death and oppression than the current Empire does. Shea, where did you hear this prophecy?" Earendil: He is under our protection, and we will never give him to you! Geint: Wait. Answer this, Shea....... Valina: No... I cannot, Shea... we have to have faith in what we are doing! Shea: From the goddess Althena herself, if that so pleases you. Shea smiles darkly. Earendil is taken aback. "Althena? She would never advocate the killing of a child!" Geint still glares in shock. "Either you're a really good guy or a really bad guy...." Shea: Oh, she didn't tell me to kill him. But she was the one who told me the prophecy. I am seeing to it that it does not come to pass. Geint: Did Shade back you up or somthing? Geint: Why is everything so confusing!!?! Shea: But since you won't hand him over, I'm afraid I'll have to bid you all 'farewell'. Valina: ... Can even the goddess herself know the future? If so, she has a reason! Tarrant: If it is a prophecy from Althena what makes you think you can change it? Shea raises her hand, calling on a acidic storm to form around her. She shouts, and directs the stream of magic towards you! Valina: Why did you save me, Shea? Kadan: Stop! All of you... we won't find out anything if you all stick to your convictions so firmly! At least see what the other is trying to say! Valina: WHY?! Kadan gulps, and stares strangely at what he just said. Valina: Is it not the same!? Earendil closes his eyes, "Dragons of Althena, help us." and prepares for the blast. GMRune: The acid explodes against a shimmering barrier which suddenly forms around you! Geint: ...because of what she's wearing......ACK!! ACID! Geint: Huh? Saved? GMRune: A look of shock crosses Shea's face and her gaze is suddenly drawn upward. Earendil: Huh? Valina looks upward. Tarrant shields his face. GMRune: You see a white-haired young man standing on the rocks above you. Arzel twitches around unconciously. Geint: Huh? GMRune: His gaze is directed towards Shea. "Leave them alone." Shea sputters, glaring at him. Trevor: You would not give me time to speak to you the last two times we've met. I doubt you will now. But please, leave them alone. Shea huffs, her gaze turning with disdain towards the ground. Kadan squints at Trevor. "You again... Hmm..." Shea: Very well, you know I won't fight you. But remember, we each have our own ways of dealing with things. The path you have chosen is not necessarily the right one. Geint is still muttering questions to herself, constantly glancing at Shea. Shea leaps lightly into the air and phases out of sight. Kadan: Shea! Trevor hops down from the rocks and lands easily beside you. GMRune: Ayeye, Arzel, and Par all wake up with 1 hp. Earendil: Thank you. Arzel continues to twitch for a while, then stands up. Trevor: It wasn't a problem. Ayeye slowly stands up. "Where did Shea go?" Trevor: I feel obligated to help you since I've become involved in getting you all together. Kadan: Trevor, you've helped me with information before, and now you protect us. Do you oppose the Empire? Valina just stands there... "Why Shea? What's the difference?" Trevor: Yes, I do oppose the Empire, although my way of fighting is probably different from yours. Trevor: I simply guide when I can. There's not much else for me to do. Kadan: Trevor, why not join us? If we march forth together, I'm certain we could trounce them! We need all the help we can get. We've gotten in serious trouble recently. Earendil: Yes, any help you could lend us would be useful. Trevor smiles. "I'm certain you have. The lands grow more dangerous with each passing day. But I'm afraid I really can't. I have many matters to which I attend to. I have much to watch over; not just your band alone. Kadan raises his brow. "So, other bands of the resistance have taken up as we have? Where are they? We must pool our resources." Ayeye: Kadan, if we are spread out, it will be harder to kill all of us. Valina: ...true. Trevor shakes his head. "No, I'm afraid there are none such as you. Most rebels are now hiding in their bases, poking pinholes into the Empire, but little else. I watch your battles and I watch other... things. Trevor: Now that you are safe, it is time for me to go. I may return and help you again, but that is for another time. Tarrant: What are your motives for doing this? Kadan gives a grunt of confusion. GMRune: Trevor gestures and his form vanishes. Kadan: Drat... he always does that. Coward... Earendil: I think we'll find out in time. Ayeye sits down and tends to her wounds. Kadan suddenly remembers his innards are oozing out big gaping holes in his torso. "Oops." ~Rein offers to heal the party. Earendil: I think Rein has some work to do. ~Rein casts Heal Aura on the party! GMRune: Ayeye heals 28 hp. Kadan heals 33 hp. Valina heals 31 hp. Geint heals 33 hp. Earendil heals 33 hp. Rein heals 33 hp. Arzel heals 33 hp. Par heals 33 hp. Tarrant heals 33 hp. Kadan flexes his muscles and gives a cheesy smile as his wounds are partially healed. Tarrant: Anyone want filled up more? Arzel casts Heal Litany on himself. Valina feels better. ~Rein: I could heal Aura again if people still need it. Earendil: Please. GMRune: Arzel gains 40 hp. Kadan: Er... yeah. I'm still pretty bad off. GMRune: Rein casts Heal Aura again. GMRune: Kadan gains 35 hp. Geint gains 15 hp. Earendil gains 34 hp. Arzel gains 5 hp. Rein gains 28 hp. Par gains 33 hp. Tarrant gains 13 hp. Par groans, gazing hazily to the south. Geint sulks. Earendil: How much farther to your cave, Geint? GMRune: You can see the various manors of House Flysse to the south as you did before. In the distance is a volcano and a shining white spire. Geint: Really close--there! Geint: ....I'm still nervous..... Earendil: Why? It's your home isn't it? Geint: Earendil, you may have competition....... Valina looks at the volcano... "Looks... ummm nice. At least you don't need an oven!" Earendil: Huh? Could you put that by me again? Geint: Did anyone see how spiffy Shea's armor was? Earendil: I didn't really notice. Kadan: Spiffy...? Par looks at the volcano. "Great... I suppose ice magic must really be handy in there..." Kadan looks at his own armor. Kadan: I think mine's spiffier. Geint: That's why I was talking about Shade. Black Dragon Shade. Geint: That was the Black Dragon armor. Valina: Really? Earendil: You mean one of the four pieces of the Dragon Armor? Geint nods solemnly. Geint nods again twice as solemnly. Geint: .....either Shade thinks she'll be a good Dragonmaster or....she..she.. Earendil: I will not let Shea become the Dragonmaster. Her ways are not what this world needs. Ayeye: I'm with Earendil here, Shea shall not be the Dragonmaster! Par nods. "But that may mean that we'll have to hit each of the remaining dragons before she does." Geint: She may have harmed Shade to get it. Although I don't think Shea could kill Shade...there's always the possibility....... Geint looks very very sad. Arzel mumbles something about also being with Earendil, but just wanders around in dazed confusion. Earendil thinks for a moment. "Uh, what happens if the dragons are split on who becomes the dragonmaster?" Tarrant: Hey Geint perk up.. Ayeye: We won't have to worry about that, you have two dragons behind you, we can stop Shea. Leon hugs Geint. "Don't worry, little dragon. We'll make things better!" Geint: Hmm. Maybe it is just that we're split up... The bush rustles in Ayeye's backpack. It would become the green dragon if it could... Earendil: Let's hope she doesn't get to the white dragon before us. Kadan: How long do those bushes live? Arzel: Forever. Geint: Actually, Ear, I don't know what would happen....I'd have to talk to Shade, but first we'll have to go to MY cave and Quark to head her off if she has gotten Shade's. Ayeye: A long time, I hope. Par gazes back to the south. "Well, we'd better hurry on to Geint's cave then. Then Earendil will at least get one piece of the Dragon Armor." Earendil nods. Valina: I hope... The bush bounces happily in Ayeye's backpack and pants in agreement to nothing in particular. Ayeye: Lead the way, Geint. GMRune: The party sets on down the slope of the Nanza Barrier. The whole of the southern badlands spreads out before you. GMRune: As you proceed to the south, you can't help but notice the large corrals which divide up the landscape. It seems like there is a small building adjoining each of the corrals, some of which whose fences stretch as far as the eye can see. In some places it seems that you may actually be inside the steel fencing rather than on the outside. Geint: No! Shea wouldn't have hurt Shade! =D If she wanted the dragons dead, she'd have killed me while she could! Kadan glances around nervously. Ayeye: Kadan, you seem to know a lot about the south, what are these fences? GMRune: Most of the corrals appear to be empty, although sometimes you fancy seeing something shimmering near the ground or a lithe form darting just beyond the limits of your sight. Kadan: I've never been this far south... I always turned back after the air bunnies. Kadan: I suspect these are the imperial breeding grounds, though. Earendil: Geint, the question is, does she have the power to hurt or kill the dragons? GMRune: You see a small beaten path like that made by livestock. It leads up to a small gate which you apparently will have to pass to get through the lands of House Flysse. Geint: I don't thinks so. As I said, she doesn't seem to have the power to kill Shade. GMRune: The gate is old and withered from its years exposed to erosion and the sun. It appears to be unguarded. Earendil: This appears to be the way through. Par nods. "Yeah. I've been through here once before on a short visit. But I was with an escort then." Ayeye tries to open the gate. GMRune: The gate swings open with a rusty groan. Somewhere in the distance you hear a bird cry out. Ayeye: I wonder why this place is so...empty. Earendil: We must be careful, who knows what kind of creatures Flysse has running about out here. Par: I think House Flysse likes luring... test subjects in like this... Valina: Ohh... How homey... This is great. Ayeye: Test subjects? What kind of tests? Par shrugs. "Breeding subjects I would think. Or maybe fodder for their creations." Valina: Only home was more beautiful... ~sigh~ GMRune: The party continues along the path into the barren lands. Dry grass crunches beneath your feet and the earth smells musty and old. GMRune: You hear a hyperactive laughing sound, as of someone rapidly breathing in and out. A strange jackel creature suddenly appears near the fence of one of the corrals. It leers at you, eyes wild and bright and tongue lolling. Valina: Home is indeed better... Valina: See, stuff like that never happened at home! GMRune: It chuckles and cackles, waving a double jointed paw carelessly to one side. Ayeye: Do you think it's dangerous? Earendil: No Ayeye, its a cuddly puppy. OF COURSE IT'S DANGEROUS! GMRune: It snickers, rolls over into the dust, and appears to vanish. GMRune: You hear a frenzied yip, and then all is silent again. Earendil: Then again . . . GMRune: One of the small buildings nears you, a small offshoot of the main path leading up to it. The building looks dilapidated, browned from the violent duststorms of the region, and the windows are boarded up. Leon tenses up and hugs on to Geint. Valina: Ohh... that's nice. GMRune: A faint cawing sound comes from inside. Earendil: Poor wretched creatures. Geint purrs against Leon. Par: I know. Most of House Flysse's creations die. And even those that live aren't always "suitable" for them. Valina: ... Valina mumbles something... Leon: Maybe Geint can help them! Leon: Maybe Geint can help all the animals. Earendil: How? Geint: I can? Leon: She's a dragon. She can do lots of things! Geint: I'm a little dragon, Leon...... but after we get those warlocks I'll save every one! Leon looks a little disappointed. "Okay... I wish we could do it now, but okay." GMRune: You notice a dark circular shape just off the beaten path. It seems about eight feet wide and roughly hewn. Geint: Awwwwwwwwww. Valina goes up to the circular shape... GMRune: It seems to be a portal or lid of some sort, capping something below it. GMRune: The disk is covered with drawings of animals and vines. Earendil: A door to a cage maybe? Ayeye: I think we should leave it alone. Geint: Depends on how easily it can be lifted.... Par: I don't think so. Although it might be. I think most of House Flysse's creations are kept in the corrals or in the aviaries. Ayeye: We should just hurry and drop Leon off, before Shea returns. GMRune: You hear a sudden rustling in the dry grass. Kadan: We shouldn't spend more time around here than we need to. Geint: ...Is that the wind? GMRune: The sound stops, then resumes for an instant. It suddenly parts to either side of you. Geint: . . . . . GMRune: Something glints in the sunlight for an instant. Earendil turns his head. Geint: ...I don't like this! I have the feeling we're being watched! GMRune: The rustling resumes, and three feline shapes followed by three bulky and bulbous ones leaps from the grass and attack the party! GMRune: ------round 1------- Kadan: G'ah! GMRune: target: 3 catwomen in front, 3 archer fish in the back Kadan eyes the monsters apprehensively. Kadan takes a pouncing, agile stance. "I shall... use my well-trained agility and reflexes to help me avoid their blows!" GMRune: One of the roughly humanoid fish creatures eyes Kadan in return. GMRune: Ayeye attacks Catwomen #3! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 16 damage GMRune: attack 2: 1 damage GMRune: Catwoman #1 attacks Kadan! GMRune: attack 1: 9 damage Kadan eyes the tremendous claw blow by Ayeye. "Good shot!" Kadan: Ergh... GMRune: attack 2: 3 damage Kadan oofs. "That was a hit? Wuss!" GMRune: Catwoman #2 attacks Geint! Geint: Epp! GMRune: attack 1: 59 damage GMRune: attack 2: 47 damage GMRune: Catwoman #3 rakes her claws at Earendil! GMRune: attack 1: 21 damage GMRune: attack 2: 16 damage GMRune: Kadan becomes faster! Dodge% up 12! GMRune: Valina's form blurs and she slashes her way through the back row of archer fish! GMRune: 37 damage to each! GMRune: Geint whirls into a dive and rakes her way past the catwomen! GMRune: 88 damage to each! Geint: Yaahaa! GMRune: Earendil's form blurs and he hacks away at the rear row of fish creatures! GMRune: 54 damage to each! GMRune: Archer fish #1 spits at Rein! GMRune: 20 damage! GMRune: Archer fish #2 spit at Kadan! GMRune: 1 damage! GMRune: Archer fish #3 attacks Valina! GMRune: 11 damage! GMRune: Rein casts Heal Litany on Geint! GMRune: Geint regains 33 hp. Geint: Whew. =) GMRune: Arzel hurls bolts of flame at the entire back row of archer fish! GMRune: 31 damage to each! GMRune: Par's form blurs and he strikes the front row of catwomen! GMRune: 50 damage to each! GMRune: Tarrant causes the air to explode with the fresh scent of spring above the back row! The spores inflict 72 damage to all archer fish! GMRune: All the archer fish bite the big one! GMRune: -----round 2----- Geint: =D GMRune: Ayeye claws at catwoman #3! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 16 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 13 damage Geint: Yay. =D GMRune: Catwoman #1 attacks Earendil! GMRune: attack 1: miss! GMRune: attack 2: 29 damage Geint: =( GMRune: Kadan hacks Catwoman #1! GMRune: attack 1: 75 damage GMRune: Catwoman #1 dies! Kadan: Bla ha ha! GMRune: Kadan attacks Catwoman #2! GMRune: attack 2: 72 damage GMRune: Catwoman #2 dies! Geint: =0 Kadan: Gwee hee hee! GMRune: Catwoman #3 attacks Valina! Geint: =b GMRune: attack 1: 31 damage GMRune: attack 2: 36 damage Geint: =( GMRune: Valina sings loudly at the remaining catwoman! GMRune: 12 damage! Geint: Gett'r back for what she did, Valina!! =D GMRune: Geint twirls into a dive and rakes across the remaining catwoman... Valina looks at Geint! Geint: PPppppppppooooiiinnnntttllllessss sweep attack!!!!! Geint: Whee! GMRune: 89 damage! GMRune: The catwoman falls! GMRune: -------victory!------ Geint: Yaahaa! Kadan does his funk-eh disco victory dance. GMRune: The party earns 179 XP, 117 MEXP, and 75 S Valina: ... Definitely not like home... Par: I don't see how this place can even remind you of home, Valina. Valina: The corrals, that idea kinda sorta did... I don't know, maybe I was having another flashback. Par shrugs. GMRune: ~Rein notices Valina's wounds and casts Heal Litany on her. GMRune: Valina gains 35 hp! Par: Well, do you want to check this place out or continue on to Geint's place and the spire? Valina stands close to Earendil... Geint: . . . . . Valina bumps into Earendil on accident. Valina: Sorry... Earendil smiles. "No problem." Ayeye: Let's continue, I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to. Geint: ...While I'd like to go home... I can't say I'm not curious! Kadan: Just my thoughts, Ayeye. Earendil: I agree with Ayeye, let's head for the cave. Valina: Yea... let's head south to the cave... Geint: Ok. Whatever you guys want. Especially you, "Dragonboy." ;) Valina walks beside Earendil... looks at him and takes a step back. GMRune: The party returns to the main path and continues on their way to the south. As the hours pass, more grayish- brown buildings rise before you, and it looks like you're nearing the heart of House Flysse's domain. Earendil cocks an eyebrow to Geint's remark. Earendil: Valina? Valina: Ummm nothing. GMRune: The buildings loom closer, and through the hazy dust you can just make out the scurrying forms of warlocks tending to their business about their land. Geint considers instagating, but tosses the idea away for now GMRune: The smell of offal starts to reach your nostrils, as well as the all too familiar smell of smegs. Par holds a loose sleeve over his nose. The bush sneezes at all the dust and seems to glare balefuly at the path ahead. Ayeye: Do we have to go this way? Couldn't we walk around the warlocks? Par: Maybe we could. But it's open land all around us. It's hard to keep track of where we are if we stray off the path. And we'll have to do that at a great distance to keep out of their sight. Valina: No... that would be too easy. Leon hugs on to Geint like a furry security blanket. "I don't like this place..." Valina: Yea... the best place to hide is in the least place for anyone to look, right in front of their face. Ayeye: I don't think so, If something was right in front of me, I'd notice it. Geint: Neither do I, Leon. Par: I don't know if how well we can hide though... Neither option is very appealing. GMRune: A distant cry pierces the still air and dark shapes swoop down out of the sky. They don't appear to notice you, but circle slowly down towards the House Flysse manors. Valina looks at the dark shapes.. Valina: You know.. GMRune: They seem to be reptilian and winged, although they seem a little too large to be wyburns. Valina: Naa.. Par: Well, which way shall we try? Valina: Let's continue toward the cave. Par: I meant shall we pass through the manors or skirt around them? Valina: ... through, it is the fastest. Ayeye: Around, it's safer. Earendil: Around, I've had my share of warlock manors. GMRune: The party leaves the beaten path and heads off a distance to the west of the manors before attempting to skirt around them. Geint skirts. GMRune: The earth beyond the path is crumbly, and you slip easily on it. The dirt seems to be falling in on itself with every step you take. Geint skirts AND lemmings! Valina: I don't like this... Kadan seems annoyed with the ground. GMRune: The ground is almost like fine sand now, sifting around your ankles as you progress. Valina: ... I really don't like this. Leon: I know. It smells like cow dump. Geint: I don't mind it. Geint flies around. ;) Earendil wishes he had the energy to swap Geint out of the air. GMRune: You feel a sharp crack beneath your feet. The earth shudders a bit, and then a gaping hole opens below the party! Valina thinks light thoughts... and the air neer her feet lifts her a little bit... GMRune: Valina's thoughts of being light are shattered as the whole party (barring Geint) fall down into the ground! Geint follows. GMRune: The party lands in a dark hole upon a bedding of dried leaves and grass. The entire area around you reeks of earth and moisture. Not far ahead, a light springs into view. GMRune: -------end session------