Lunar: Magic Empire Session 25 Log ============================================================ Cast of Characters: Rune as "GM/Narrator, Par, the bush, Leon, Journal, Girl, Dryad/Lira, Speaker/Bane, ~Geint, and ~Tarrant" 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: You find yourselves in a dank rounded chamber of of stone. It reeks of mold and a long tunnel proceeds to the southeast. You can hear water dripping in the distance. A strange corpse lies on the ground before you. It appears somewhat human, but its empty eye sockets are incredibly large and the sallow skin around its decaying body is a sickly ruddy yellow. Kadan wipes off his brow and gives a deep breath. Earendil looks at the corpse. "Oh, joy." GMRune: Ahead of you, you see the bright light that sprang into view only moments after you landed. It is just large enough for you to get an idea of what your surroundings look like, but you can't tell exactly what the light is shining from. Leon hugs on to Rein's leg, looking wide-eyed at the corpse. Kadan squints to examine the light. GMRune: The light is far down at the other end of the tunnel. Rein crosses himself and covers Leon's eyes. Tarrant squints to see ahead. Par looks up. Rein: Little late for a heal on that guy, eh? GMRune: The ground through which you fell is several dozen feet above you. Earendil: This is the umpteenth time we've fallen down a hole, when is going to end? GMRune: The tunnel adjoining this chamber appears to lead towards another. But if nothing else, at least it's brighter at the other end. Valina: When we reach the bottom of all the holes ;) Ayeye walks toward the light. Geint is sleeping on Earendil's shoulder. GMRune: The party follows Ayeye down the stone tunnel. The dripping sound gets a little louder and a cold breeze rushes by your faces. GMRune: A dull ringing sound chimes from Valina's gem. Then a hum arises from Arzel's pouch. Kadan glares toward Arzel's pouch. "That blasted thing..." Valina looks at her gem Arzel: Oh great, more statues to fight. :( Geint is waking up. Geint: ? Valina: Wha? Arzel: You want it Kadan? GMRune: Both gems hum, but there isn't a statue in sight. Earendil: Rein, would you care to heal us before anything else finds us down here. Rein: Of course! Valina: Thanks. Rein: Who needs some? Tarrant looks at Valina's gem. Par: Why don't you just heal all of us. Kadan warily avoids the accursed pouch holding the pendant. Rein: Alright... gather close, everyone. Par: Then you can save some of your magic power I think enough of us need it. Rein does his heal aura thing GMRune: Kadan gains 39 hp. Geint gains 41 hp. Valina gains 38 hp. Rein gains 20 hp and is at max. Earendil gains 35 hp. Par gains 19 hp. GMRune: Par is at max too. :) GMRune: The hum from the gems suddenly intensifies for a moment and then abruptly fades altogether. Valina: Wha... Valina: I wonder what that was about. Ayeye: I think that's a bad sign... Kadan stretches his neck and grunts, trying to stomach the energy being flooded into his veins. Rein: Geez... it was just a heal aura... Earendil: The only way to find out is to keep going. Valina: Yea... GMRune: Just as you start to near the light, dark shadows suddenly spring from the shadows and surround you! GMRune: The party is ambushed! Ayeye: I hate the dark! GMRune: ------AMBUSH!------- Kadan whips out his axe with a frightening efficiency! Tarrant turns to his left...then to his back.. Surrounded. Valina: Great! Valina draws... GMRune: Three catwomen appear in front and three geckomen in back. GMRune: Catwoman #1 attacks Earendil! GMRune: attack 1: 19 damage GMRune: attack 2: 21 damage GMRune: Catwoman #2 attacks Ayeye! GMRune: Ayeye nimbly dodges both attacks! GMRune: Catwoman #3 attacks Valina! GMRune: attack 1: miss GMRune: attack 2: 50 damage Earendil: Ouch! GMRune: Geckoman #1 sprays Geint with a blast of water! GMRune: 13 damage! GMRune: Geckoman #2 casts Aqua Blast, dousing Ayeye with a torrent of water! GMRune: 9 damage! GMRune: Geckoman #3 calls up a blast of water, which smacks Valina in the face! GMRune: 17 damage! GMRune: ----round 2------ Valina falls to the ground Valina: Ouch! Earendil: Everybody, try to get the catwomen first Rein makes his way over to Valina, light from a heal spell starting to glow from his hand. Leon is dragged along behind him :) GMRune: Ayeye dashes forward and rakes her claws at Catwoman #2! Valina: Thanks... Leon: Hey! I wanna see the fight! GMRune: attack 1: 1 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 16 damage GMRune: Kadan swing his axe at Catwoman #1! GMRune: attack 1: 89 damage GMRune: attack 2: 80 damage GMRune: Geint casts Wolves' Strength! Geint gains an additional attack! GMRune: Catwoman #1 attacks Earendil! GMRune: attack 1: 21 damage GMRune: attack 2: miss GMRune: Catwoman #2 attacks Kadan! GMRune: attack 1: 9 damage GMRune: attack 2: 1 damage GMRune: Catwoman #3 attacks Kadan! GMRune: attack 1: 1 damage GMRune: attack 2: 1 damage Kadan waves his axe intimidatingly at the feline beast. "I can teach you much about the fighting style of the great panthers..." GMRune: Valina hurls a gigantic blade of air at Catwoman #3! Kadan looks at the cute little paw-marks on his thick armor. "Heh." GMRune: 21 damage! GMRune: Rein stands in from of Leon to protect him and casts Heal Litany on Valina! GMRune: Valina gains 39 hp! GMRune: Geckoman #1 hurls a torrent of water at Tarrant! GMRune: 1 damage! GMRune: Geckman #2 shoots a blast of water at Geint! Tarrant looks at the Geckoman and snickers... That tickled. GMRune: 17 damage! Valina stands up. GMRune: Geckoman #3 tries blasting the crap out of Par! GMRune: 1 damage! GMRune: Earendil concentrates, lifting his hand to the heavens in a solemn plea! A rain of shooting stars fall down upon the catwomen! Kadan shields his eyes from the storm. Rein raises a hand to shield his eyes and wonders where those stars came from... GMRune: 19 damage to each! Earendil looks at his hands. "Okay, maybe magic isn't my cup of tea. " Kadan: Your magical assault seems to be ineffective against the feline creatures. Take up arms! Earendil: Cool effect though. GMRune: Par's form blurs as he dashes through the front row of catwomen! GMRune: 63 damage to each! GMRune: Catwoman #1 dies! GMRune: Arzel surrounds the front row of catwomen in a searing inferno! GMRune: 26 damage to each! GMRune: Tarrant calls up a shower of thorns to strike all his opponents! Kadan hopes Tarrant doesn't consider him an opponent. GMRune: 65 damage to each catwoman and 82 damage to each geckoman! GMRune: ------round 3------- Tarrant points the the opponents "Who's your daddy?" GMRune: Ayeye rakes her claws across catwoman #2! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 16 damage GMRune: Catwoman #2 falls! GMRune: Ayeye attacks catwoman #3! Kadan: Good shot, Ayeye! Are those weapons working out for you? Ayeye: I got one! GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 14 damage GMRune: Catwoman #3 dies! Ayeye: Err, weapons? I completely forgot about them! GMRune: Geckomen are now the front row. GMRune: Kadan hacks Geckoman #1! GMRune: attack 1: 84 damage GMRune: attack 2: 80 damage GMRune: Geckoman #1 is mincemeat! GMRune: Geint attacks Geckoman #2! GMRune: attack 1: 93 damage Rein shields Leon from little chunks of Geckoman flying from Kadan's general direction GMRune: attack 2: 79 damage GMRune: Geckoman #2 dies! GMRune: Geint moves on to Geckoman #3! Geint: Wheee! GMRune: attack 3: 76 damage! Tarrant: Good job Geint... You're one tough cookie.. Speaking of cookies... Geint: You have cookies? =D Tarrant tosses Geint a fish head cookie. GMRune: Valina attacks Geckoman #3! GMRune: 21 damage! GMRune: Rein stays in the back row, protecting Leon. GMRune: Geckoman #3 attacks Geint! GMRune: 38 damage! Geint: Ack. =b GMRune: Earendil wide slashes the back row! GMRune: Geckoman #3 is hit for 54 damage! GMRune: Par hurls a shaft of ice at Geckoman #3! Geint chews on the fish-head cookie a bit. GMRune: 79 damage! GMRune: Geckoman #3 is history! GMRune: -----victory!------- GMRune: The party earns 39 XP, 39 MEXP, and 78 S. Kadan boogies. Earendil notices that he is bleeding copiously, and falls to one knee. Valina breaths a sigh of relief. Tarrant: Hey, Kadan, do you want a cookie too? Ayeye begins to rummage through her backpack and pulls out a pair of claws. Ayeye: Here they are, I completely forgot about them. Tarrant casts Heal Litany on Earendil. GMRune: Earendil gains 59 hp. Rein: Rein also heals Ear. Valina takes an herb and eats it raw, since she ran out of ymuuy roots. Rein: Or... wait Rein: Should I heal everyone? GMRune: Earendil gains 43 hp. Earendil: Thank you my friends GMRune: Valina gains 20 hp. Valina: I'm fine now Ayeye puts the panther claws in her backpack and uses the lightning claws. GMRune: Rein casts Heal litany on Geint. GMRune: Geint gains 40 hp. GMRune: The party finally reaches the end of the tunnel. A strange sphere of light is hanging from the lip of the tunnel, and it shines down on the group of you. GMRune: Valina and Arzel's pendants (or parts thereof) hum once more for a brief instant as you enter the remains of some sort of laboratory. Valina: Wha? GMRune: The vaulted ceilings here are so high they surely must have pierced the surface of earth as one of the buildings you saw above. The rusty remains of a gigantic collar hang from a chain embeded in one of the walls to your left. Four smaller (although by no means even close to human-sized) cuffs are attached to chains springing from a dull metal flooring which covers a giant square of the lab. Valina looks at her jewel. Earendil: I've never seen a place quite like this before. Earendil: But I have a good idea what this place is used for . . . Valina: .... Ayeye: Anyone see an exit? Valina: What? GMRune: Several smaller human-sized cages line the walls opposite the gray platform. About half of them hold humanlike corpses. The rest are empty. The last of them appears to have been wrenched apart in the efforts of its captive to escape. And escape it must have. For though no warlock corpses line the ground, there are bloodstains aplenty, and smashed beakers and test tubes have been throttled all across the room. A large desk has even been smashed against the doorway in the far wall. Kadan: What is this place? Valina: I don't like it... Earendil: My guess would be this is where Flysse comes up with their hideous creations for the empire. Tarrant takes one of the cuffs and it slips on and off with no effort.. This thing could fit around my stomach... Ayeye: I don't know, but I don't want to be here if that creature is still here. Valina looks for a flouresent green 'Exit' sign! GMRune: The contents of the desk have spilled out on to the floor where bloody boot prints have covered most of the papers. A half-opened journal lies in a puddle of water, most of its contents blurred. Ayeye picks up the journal. Rein: I wonder what they needed those cages for.. Valina goes over to the Ayeye and looks at the journal. Ayeye tries to read the legible parts. GMRune: The first entry you can make out is dated about six months ago. Journal: Sadly, most of our test subjects seem unable to withstand the fusion of their life forces with that of the black dragon we have captured. Virtually all have expired within days of contact with the black dragon's aura. I find it amazing that a warlock can magically wield the aura almost as an enchanted weapon or armor, and yet when even a tiny piece of the aura is truly fused with a human's soul his life force begins to collapse. GMRune: The passage is followed by a huge wad of soggy pages. But then you reach a drier part of the book again. The next entry is dated two months ago. Earendil: Black dragon?! Kadan ignores the manual, and keeps a systematic circular watch around the group. Valina: Ohhh... Ayeye: A black dragon half... Journal: Success! Just when Lady Jera was about to pull the funding out from under us, we've procured a test subject that is actually respnding positively to the dragon's aura! Now even Lady Jera's annoying complaints can't halt Emperor Kargeth's interest in our work. As if breeding better gryphons could best an army of loyal footsoldiers wielding the power of the dragons themselves! Not even the Goddess Althena could withstand such an army. Geint: Well.... it's obvious who the subject was. =b Journal: This test subject is apparently a young priestess. She has been mourning the loss of her healing magic since her fusion with the dragon aura. The pathetic wench doesn't appreciate the power we have given her! It is hard to believe such a young girl, not even full grown yet!, is the beginning of our army. She talks with the dragon a lot when they think we're not listening. Perhaps it is this friendship that allows this merging to take place? Valina steps back. Valina: Ohhh... Ayeye: Who? GMRune: The next few pages are blurred. But then the journal picks up again a couple weeks later. Earendil: Geint, you don't mean . . . Geint: Who do you think?!?!? The one with the armor!! Valina: Shea... Valina: Yea. Ayeye: I never liked her, always trying to get us killed... Valina: She told me about this... kinda Rein's face clouds over a bit and he looks distracted. Geint: Good news is that Earendil doesn't have competition for being a dragonmaster. Bad news is--- well there's a lot of bad news. =b Earendil: Doesn't she have some sort of wings? I think I saw them once. Earendil: Geint, she still has the armor, and I don't think that she is going to give it up easily. Valina: Yea... Geint: Well, yea. That's a part of the bad news. Geint: .... Maybe if I can talk to shade she could explain a bit better.......... Valina: .... Earendil: Now the question is, where is the black dragon the warlocks captured? Geint: ......Did they capture Shade herself? Or does Shade have a child I don't know about... Journal: Somehow the dragon aura has changed our test subject in unexpected ways. She has physically aged roughly seven or eight years and proved to be incredibly competant with the sword. I think we have finally eliminated her freewill. But her attack magic is on the weak side as of now. We are teaching her the arts of spellcraft in hopes that it will improve. Journal: It is a pity we haven't been able to repeat this experiment on other subjects. We'll probably have to employ her as an assassin rather than in the army. However, she once mentioned weeks ago that she had a brother. We will try locating him to test if there is something in their bloodline that allows the transfer to occur successfully. GMRune: The last part you can read out is dated less than a month ago. It is written in rushed, shakey script. Journal: SHE was tricking us! She has escaped her cage and has begun to free the other captives! Somehow she has even freed the dragon, although I can't understand how that has been done! The leapers and smegs have been dispatched to capture her, but I don't believe if they will be enough. What kind of demon have we created?! She's no longer like any mortal... Valina: Way to go Shea... GMRune: That is the last entry in the journal. It is punctuated by a large blotch of dried blood. Rein: Fools... Earendil: Playing goddess always comes out bad. Par: So it would appear. I guess the warlocks haven't spent much time around here since her escape. Valina: Yea.. Tarrant looks over a another paper... Sheep Cloning... "Yeah Right.." Rein looks around the lab for any other clues GMRune: Rein sees the giant shackles that must have been holding Shade as well as the cage Shea had been kept in. GMRune: Besides the cages and giant cuffs, there are still a few scattered vials and beakers strewn across the chamber. Kadan idly kicks some stray glass as he walks, disgusted with the environment. Kadan: What a den of cruel slavery... Leon picks up a beaker and peers into it. Valina: Leon, don't hurt yourself... be careful. Leon shows Valina the beaker. "Look! There's a bug inside! GMRune: Tarrant uses a Starlight. He gains 20 MP. Valina looks at the beaker. Earendil uses his starlight. GMRune: Valina see a dead sort of beetle inside of it. GMRune: Earendil gains 20 MP. Valina: Ick! Valina is disgusted by the dead bug! Earendil: Afraid of bugs, Valina? Leon looks a little disappointed that Valina didn't like his find. Ayeye: If it was Shea, it's not likely to be around here, right? Par: I don't think so, unless she's following us or something. Geint: I think it's a cool bug, Leon. =) Valina: That's nice, Leon Kadan glares at Par, then glances nervously over his shoulder. Earendil: You would think that she would not want to come back to this place. Leon: Thanks, little dragon! Valina hands the beaker back to Leon. Leon gives Geint a *big* hug! =) Rein: Let's get out of here... I hate this place. Rein looks distracted... Leon sets the beaker down on the floor and gets ready to go with the party. Ayeye goes over to the door and opens it. "Let's get out of here then." Geint purrs. Par opens the steel-lined door near the desk, revealing a narrow spiraling staircase. Par: Well, at least we have a way back up. Rein heads up the stairs hurriedly. Earendil sighs as he heads up the stairs. GMRune: The party follows Rein up the stone stairs. Your footsteps echo dimly around you and you can see the trail of old blood going up the steps. A cool breeze circulates down towards you. Kadan keeps a careful watch to the rear and sides. Tarrant looks up the stairs... then down... then gets dizzy. GMRune: The stairs take you up a great deal, although not as far up as the distance you fell earlier. There is an oaken door at the top of the steps. Ayeye tries to open the door. GMRune: The door swings outward revealing a red carpeted drawing room. A crystal chandelier dangles from the ceiling. GMRune: Otherwise there is little else of note here. Rein: Geez.. what's this doing here? Ayeye slowly walks into the room. Ayeye: I don't think this is where we wanted to go... Earendil: This place is quite a contrast from the lab below. Geint: House Flysse has a lab..... figures. =b Par: Well... they *are* the monster breeders of the Empire. Such labs are especially common among them. Geint: Hmph. Ayeye: Do you think it scared away all of the warlocks? GMRune: The drawing room as a red wooden door at the far end. Rein: This is the house that should be taken down first... Tarrant hopes this place is empty... I really don't want to tangle with some warlocks... Par: Personally I'm inclined to think Nissa should go down first, then Banshee, but that's just my opinion... Rein shrugs, still looking dark Par walks over to the other door and listens carefully. He then shrugs and opens the door. Kadan: Nissa wallows in its own power... Banshee is dispicable, though. I've seen what they do to people. Valina: ... I'd like to see Banshee fall! Valina: I can't wait to see Banshee fall GMRune: There is a hallway just beyond the door that is similarly covered with a soft red carpeting. Paintings of various warlocks line either side of the hall. Earendil: I want to see Protectoriate fall, they were the ones who did most of the attacking at Shelladon three years ago. Kadan examines the architecture with a chilling analysis. Valina: Well, lets just say I hold a little grudge aginst Banshee.. GMRune: The hall and the chamber seem lined with wood dyed in a reddish-brown floor, adding to the redness of the carpet. The atmosphere it creates is hot and oppressive. Earendil looks at the paintings. "Well, there's no accounting for Flysse's tastes." Kadan looks at his clothing underneath his armor. "Hey! What's wrong with red?" Leon grabs Geint and prowls slightly ahead of the party with her. Par chuckles lightly. Geint: Uhhh... hi, Leon. Earendil: Leon, don't go off too far. Leon hugs on to Geint. "I feel like the two of us can take on anything!" Leon looks back at Earendil. "We won't! Besides, I have the little dragon with me!" Geint: Heh heh....... I think you're overestimating me. Valina: Naa... he just likes you, Geint. Geint: =) Leon grins. "You're a dragon! What's there to be afraid of?" Kadan chuckles lightly. The bush rustles softly in Ayeye's backpack, looking a little wilted. Geint sighs, "Stuff like what happened to Shade........" Rein: Can we get going, guys? I hate it here. GMRune: Meanwhile, Leon and Geint head around a bend in the hall just ahead. Ayeye: I agree, I don't want to be here any longer. Leon pets Geint. "We'll make it all better." Geint decides not to argue with Leon, and purrs with content. GMRune: The party continues down the hallway at a slightly faster clip. Leon and Geint come into view again as you round the bend. Ahead of you is a carpeted stairway. You hear some growling sounds coming down from above. GMRune: Leon halts at the base of the stairs, waiting for the others to catch up. Kadan looks up, slowly reaching toward his belt. Rein bolts forward and pulls Leon back. GMRune: There is a snarl and then some barking sounds. An injured yip echoes down towards you. Kadan: Are they torturing animals up there? Kadan clenches a fist. Valina: Great... GMRune: You hear an angry voice bellowing something. And then the barking temporarily stops, only to start up again a few moments later. Earendil: Disgusting, first they mutate animals, and then they torture them. Geint: ...not to mention the dryads.... Leon: Then we've got to go help them! Maybe I can help fight! Rein looks around for someone to make a decision. Geint: Leon..... Ayeye: Stay back, Leon, we will handle it. Earendil: Let me teach you a few things first, Leon, then maybe you can help, but not now. Leon: I don't want to be a kid for forever! Leon grumbles and nods, staring down at the floor. Par: Shall we go on up then? Ayeye: Come on Kadan, we have to stop them. Kadan nods to Ayeye. Geint: Yea!! Animals don't desrve stuff like that! GMRune: The party heads on up the stairs. GMRune: You see a small squarish room. The expensive red carpeting has been extensively chews up, presumably by those three blue-furred wolves sitting by the doorway by the left wall. There is no sign of the warlock that you heard earlier. GMRune: The wolves look at the party and then quickly dart out through the other doorway. Ayeye runs to the door the wolves went through. GMRune: Ayeye quickly vanishes from sight. Valina follows Ayeye. Earendil cautiously enters the door Val and Ayeye went through. GMRune: The party follows them. Ayeye: I think we may have a problem. GMRune: You enter a somewhat larger room than before. You see the wolves have gathered behind a trio of strange vine-like monsters. Kadan follows. Kadan: Er... what is this? GMRune: The wolves' ears are laid back and they're snarling warily at you. GMRune: The vines wriggle in response and wave their long tendrils in your general direction. Ayeye: We are friends? Kadan lowers his weapon and tries to appear non- threatening to the animals. Kadan: Ayeye, get your pet to make peace with the... green creatures. Rein: Got any mystery meat for our friends there, Kadan? Earendil: Good doggies, nice doggies, you don't want to hurt us do you? Ayeye picks up the bush and speaks to it. "Can you talk to them?" Tarrant might happen to have a soup bone in his pack... GMRune: One of the wolves barks in a high-pitch, body lowered near the ground. The bush seems to peer at Ayeye and rustles. Ayeye sets the bush down. "I hope that was a yes." The bush hops out of Ayeye's hands and lands neatly on the ground. It trundles cautious towards the vine creatures, inching one root in front of the other. GMRune: One of the vine creature snaps a tendril at the bush, which yips and stays at a distance. The bush rustles at the vine creatures. Valina: Ha! I didn't know plants could talk! Geint: Must be like that from being mistreated.... Earendil: That's very good, but what are we going to do about the wolves? GMRune: The tendrils wave lightly and the bush rustles again. But it must have said something insulting because the vines seem angrier, if such a thing is possible. Kadan: Hmm... I don't think that thing has much charisma, Ayeye. The bush squeaks and shakes itself madly, shedding a few leaves in the process. Geint flaps over, a safe distance from the vines. Ayeye: I think it's cute, those funny vines are just in a bad mood. GMRune: Then the vine creatures slow their movements and for the most part sit still. Ayeye: I would be too if I was experimented on. Rein fingers his staff nervously. GMRune: The wolves growl at the vines, who don't respond. The bush pants and trundles back to Ayeye. Ayeye picks up the bush. "Thanks for the help." The bush slurps Ayeye on the face, still panting. Geint: He--hee---hello there...m...mm....mister wolf.. *To one of the wolves* GMRune: The wolf growls at Geint, bearing a large set of pointed teeth. Valina walks slowly and silently... Geint: Eeek! Earendil: I don't think they like you Geint. Geint puffs out. Par: Maybe it's because she looks like a bunny. Geint: I'm too big to be a bunny! Rein: I don't think those things like anything! Geint: It isn't their fault. Almost all mistreated animals are like this! GMRune: The wolves bark and yelp. They skitter away through yet another doorway. Geint: ? Kadan: I would like to give those wretched animals an opportunity to maul their oppressors. GMRune: Par: I guess they don't like us... Earendil: Following them again may not be a good idea. GMRune: The doorway the wolves took is the only other exit from this room. Ayeye follows the wolves. Valina follows. Rein: It sure seems like they're leading us somewhere, though. Earendil: Oh well, here we go again. GMRune: You enter a hallway, and you can see the tip of a blue-furred tail disappearing around a bend ahead of you. Ayeye runs after the blue-furred tail. GMRune: The party sees the hallway appear to end in a dead end. One of the wolves howls and plaintively scratches the blank wall ahead of it. Rein: Eek! Best not to corner them. Ayeye approaches the wolves. "We mean you no harm, we are here to help you." Rein: Or maybe we could steal a pup while we're at it and make them REALLY mad! GMRune: One of the wolves remains facing the door, a second curls up into a ball, and the last is facing the party, snarling. Earendil: I wonder what's on the other side of that wall. GMRune: This last one looks at Ayeye through reddened eyes. Ayeye: Where are the people who did this to you? GMRune: The wolf facing the party barks at you as if in warning. Kadan: Ayeye, when I find those people... Kadan cracks his knuckles. GMRune: The other continues scratching at the wall, whining. Ayeye walks up to the wall. Earendil: Par, can you see any kind of magic passage in the wall? GMRune: The wolves suddenly jerk and growl. They skitter to either side of her to get out of her way. Kadan turns his head away. "I cannot stand to see such a display. The Empire callously spits on everything free will stands for. The are incapable of earning my respect." Par follows Ayeye and lifts his cane and points it towards the wall. He utters a few words of magic. GMRune: The wall glows in a muted gold color. Par nods. "Yeah, there's a sort of barrier placed here. I should be able to lift it. It's probably the way out. My guess is the warlock erected it to keep the wolves in here." Par chants and his cane glows momentarily. The wall flashes, and then whirls away to reveal a small staircase leading up. Ayeye runs up the staircase. Kadan: Devilish trickery... GMRune: The wolves yip and try squeezing by Ayeye and Par to go up the stairs. Tarrant: Not more stairs.. Par smiles. "Well, it's a useful trickery." GMRune: The party heads up the stairs. You enter what appears to be a sitting room. Sofas line two of the walls, and there are couple coffee tables with books and papers scattered on top of them. Rein examines the papers. Valina looks at the books. Ayeye continues through the room. Kadan looks for a copy of Country Home magazine. GMRune: Kadan doesn't find that, although he finds a chunk of someone's leftover jerky left near the books. GMRune: The wolves are long gone, having burst through the nearest doorway at their first opportunity. Kadan: More cheap meat! Kadan quickly stores the jerky. Par: O_o Valina looks through the books... "Hmmm... alchemey... and one romance novel!" GMRune: Kadan acquires Old Jerky. Valina picks up the romance novel. Earendil: Valina, do you actually read those things? Valina: Nope.. never have, never will. Valina picks up the alchemy books. GMRune: You hear a childish voice from the hallways outside the room. Valina: Wha? Rein looks around for Leon. Girl: Ahhh! Someone let the wolves out! There's poop all over my dolly! Leon is standing right next to Rein. Earendil grabs his sword's hilt. "Who's there?" Rein: Oh, whew... Ayeye goes into the hallway. GMRune: You see a young girl appear in the doorway. She looks at Ayeye and then at the others. Girl: Who are you?! Ayeye: Who are you? Kadan stands near Ayeye. Valina looks at the girl... The girl is a little older-looking than Leon and she has a gold snake and dagger symbol hanging from around her neck. Valina: ... Earendil thinks quickly. "Uh, we're the cleaning crew." Rein: What are we supposed to do about this? The girl looks up at the party and begins to back away. Valina: Don't be afraid. Girl: Who are you! I've never seen you here before! Valina: Well... we're kind of new here... Leon: We're visiting! Earendil: We have to dust all the shelves a couple floors above this. Rein whispers, "Go for it, Leon!" Leon looks up at Rein. He has a confused expression on his face. Rein chuckles. "Never mind" The girl takes a final look at you and scampers back down the hallway. Valina: Great... Ayeye: Wait! Valina runs after the girl! Girl: Mommy! The cleaning people let the wolves out and they ruined my dolly! Ayeye runs after the girl. Earendil: Forget her, let's just get out of here. GMRune: Ayeye and Valina easily catch up to her before she even gets ten yards away from you guys. Valina: Now... Valina: Hey... We're sorry! Valina: We can fix your dolly. Ayeye: We don't want to hurt you, we are friends. The girl sniffles, holding up her soiled doll to Valina. Earendil: We can always send the dolly out to have it dry- cleaned. Girl: *sniff* Fix it... Valina looks at the dolly and focuses at the air around the mess... GMRune: Valina somewhat manages to dry-clean the doll. It still smells though. Earendil looks at the girl and begins to feel sorry for her. Valina hmm.... Leon sticks his tongue out at the girl and then hides behind Rein's legs. Kadan feels uncomfortable around the girl. Ayeye: Do you know who...owned...the wolves? The girl glares at where Leon was. Earendil to no one in particular. "She reminds me of Elanor when she was her age." Girl: They're Lord Bane's pets. He's always yelling at 'em, trying to get them to do tricks. Geint: =b Ayeye: Where is Lord Bane now? The girl sniffles. "I don't know. He is always somewhere. Probably down south collecting supplies again." Valina takes her wind comb and combs the dolly's hair, hoping the wind could take away the smell.. Ayeye: Is your mother here? The girl nods slowly. "She's in the living room." Ayeye: Great... GMRune: The dolly still doesn't smell too good. It smells like someone left it outside overnight in the sod. Par: (to Ayeye) Well, maybe we'll get lucky and she won't be there... Earendil shuffles over to Geint and whispers, "How about an Herbal Breeze, it might put her to sleep and make her dolly smell nice." Valina is desperate, and opens up the romance novel in hope that someone sprayed perfume near it. :P GMRune: The romance novel smells, but it ain't from perfume! Geint whispers to Earendil, "I don't know if I wanna do that. She's a warlock, and she sees me. Remember when the other warlocks saw me and I tried it?" GMRune: There is a door at the far end of the hallway and another to one side. That is it. GMRune: The book smells somewhat like the jerky Kadan picked up. Earendil says back to Geint, "That's true." Ayeye: Which way is your mother? Geint: But I will try the latter. Girl: That way. GMRune: The girl points to the door at the end of the hallway. GMRune: Geint casts Herbal Breeze on the dolly. It now smells like someone has been spraying it with aerosol. Geint: =b Valina: Nice try... Geint: It's better than before! GMRune: But at least it doesn't smell like wolf poop or sod anymore. :) Valina: True... Ayeye opens the door on the side. GMRune: Ayeye sees a sort of game room. There's a pool table in the center, and another table off to one side with a cluster of mah-jongg tiles on it. Par: Great, the warlock recreation room... Valina looks at the girl. "You can spray some of your mommy's perfume on your dolly to make her smell good." :) Kadan eyes the games quizzically. Kadan: Those warlocks are weird... The girl nods and smiles slightly, picking up her doll. Valina gives the dolly back to the girl. Ayeye: Looks like a dead end. The girl heads over to the far door and opens it. GMRune: The room beyond is full of bean bags and scattered childrens' books. There is a stairway at one end of it and the girl heads straight for it. Ayeye leaves the game room, "Where did the girl go?" Leon points into the other room at the stairs. Ayeye: Oh no, now we're in big trouble... Ayeye heads to the stairs. GMRune: The party follows Ayeye through the children's playroom and up the stairs. GMRune: You emerge into a giant entryway. Three archs leading to other parts of the manor stand in the wall opposite you, and there is one to either side of the wall from which you ermerged. GMRune: There is also a staircase at one end and glass double door to your right. GMRune: There is no sign of the girl. Par: Great. She's gone. What do you want to do now? Ayeye: I don't know, go left? Earendil: Let's just find the way out. Par groans. Kadan: Truer words are rarely spoken, Ayeye. Valina: What ever Kadan says, lets do the opposite! Earendil: Kadan, are you by any chance, left-handed? Par waits for the party to decide what to do. Geint flies left, deciding to get it over with since we'll end up going this way anyways. Ayeye goes to the left. Earendil trudges onward. Geint checks for traps. GMRune: The party heads to the left a bit. However, there is no way to continue straight for very long, and there only remain the arches to either side of you. Kadan flips his axe around in a quick figure-8. Kadan: Nope, right-handed as ever. Rein: Geez, who built this place? Ayeye shrugs and turns left. Par watches Kadan flipping his axe, hoping he doesn't loose his grip on that thing. Earendil: The architect from hell no doubt. GMRune: The party enters a long meeting hall. You see a warlock dozing in one of the chairs, a bottle of wine sitting next to him on the table. Valina: *whispers* Be quiet... Ayeye quietly walks up to the sleeping warlock. Leon tip-toes after Ayeye. He picks up the bottle from the table and looks into it. Ayeye whispers, "What should we do with him?" GMRune: The warlock utters a loud snore and rolls over a little bit in his chair. Earendil: Leave him. Let's go back and try the other way. Valina whispers, "Keep him asleep!" Rein shepherds Leon back from the warlock. Leon lets himself get shephereded, but tries drinking out of the bottle nonetheless. Leon: Bleh! This stuff tastes yucky! Rein snickers at Leon. Valina whispers "Leon! shhhhh..." Rein: Better to let him find out for himself, I figure. Earendil: I don't blame you, this is some cheap warlock made wine. Ayeye takes one last look at the helpless (theoretically) warlock, and walks away. Leon looks at Valina and nods. He then speaks more quietly. "But it wasn't made in a good year. I've had better before!" Rein does an SD pratfall. Valina just looks at Leon. "You drink wine at your age?" Leon tries feeding the wine to Geint. Valina would be passed out after one sip! Leon doesn't answer Valina. Par: We'd better try some other way. This doesn't seem to be the right one. Valina: ...Yea. Earendil head back out from the meeting hall. GMRune: The party leaves the meeting room. There is one more arch at this end of the giant hall. Or you could go back to the middle or the other end of the entryway. Ayeye goes forward, not backward! GMRune: The party enters the other arch. This is a small dining room, presumably for the servants. GMRune: There is another doorway at the other end of the room. Valina looks around. Earendil goes to open the other door. GMRune: There are two square tables here, each with four chairs around them. They are rather plain looking, not even varnished at all. GMRune: The other door swings open with a touch to reveal a smal kitchen. You see a slender figure hovering around a pot. Her movements and quick and graceful, belying any grace a human could ever possess. She turns to you as you enter, fear filling her large eyes. Kadan steps back apprehensively. Valina: ... Ayeye smiles cheerfully, "Hello!" Valina: Don't worry... The dryad hesitantly waves hello in return. Earendil: Don't be afraid, we're not warlocks. Dryad: Not... warlocks? Ayeye looks around the room, "Are you being held captive here?" Valina: Trust us... not them. The dryad nods solemnly, her expression turning a little more hopeful. Kadan: We are most definitely not warlocks. We're trying to escape from this place. Ayeye: Come with us, we are leaving this place. Valina: Do you know the way out? The dryad's face brightens considerably. "You really think you can get out of here?" Earendil: Would warlocks be in a group with a child and a young dragon? Ayeye: Yes, we can, and will, get you out. The dryad smiles brightly. "Thank you. I would be glad to come with you! Yes, I do know the way out. Or at least... *a* way out. But it's guarded... Kadan clasps his belt near his axe. "Guards are irrelevant." Valina: Figures... Earendil: Guarded by what? Warlocks, or some of their creatures? Dryad: The warlocks always guard the main entrance. But there is a way out through the garden if you can defeat the monster that guards it." Earendil: Take us to the garden then. Dryad: I think the garden would be easier to get through than a group of warlocks, but then I am no fighter. Kadan: Good thing you found us! The dryad gestures for you to follow her and she takes you through a sliding door of the kitchen. Dryad: Yes, I really am glad that I have! It's so horrible having to live there for so long... Ayeye follows the dryad, "How long have you been here?" Valina: I understand... Dryad: Time doesn't pass for me as it does for you, but I believe it much be at least one of your decades... Earendil: That long! How did you stand it? Ayeye: A decade? I'm sorry we couldn't arrive sooner. Rein: do you know anything of a dragon that was being held here recently? GMRune: You enter a brownish-green garden. The plants here are not the lush variety of the north, but a hardened breed with thick stems and bulky leaves and fruit. They are arranged in various aisles according to species and size. Valina thinks about picking some fruit. Dryad: I don't know how I lived through it. But my race has been cursed to live side by side with the Empire. I suppose that made it easier for us to survive, though no more enjoyable. Valina picks some fruit and eats it. Dryad: I think I remember hearing about a dragon coming here a while back. I think it was about two years ago. Rein: Val, I don't know if that's such a god idea... Valina: Yummy! GMRune: The dryad leads you through the aisles and then as the foilage parts you see a massive cobra coiled up in front of what appears to be the exit. It flicks its tongue out as you approach. The snake lifts its head and the skin flaps out to either side. Rein: Do it, Kadan. Kadan jolts a bit in surprise. Earendil: A snake, I hate snakes! GMRune: The cobra hisses, tongue darting in and out of its mouth. Dryad: It's it probably easier for you to fight this than a group of warlocks since at least this way you outnumber it. Valina: Well Kadan, you asked for it. Valina: Yea... The dryad steps back a bit to let the party handle the battle. Kadan: Anybody here have a spare mongoose? Valina draws... GMRune: The snake centers in on the party and slowly unwinds its coils. GMRune: ------combat!------ Valina: I hate snakes... GMRune: target: giant cobra Rein picks up Leon and moves well away. "There's no WAY that thing's getting near Leon!" GMRune: Ayeye attacks the Giant Cobra! GMRune: attack 1: 22 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 48 damage GMRune: Kadan swings his axe at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: attack 1: 93 damage GMRune: attack 2: 91 damage Kadan: Boy... these monsters are certainly getting soft and squishy! GMRune: Geint claws at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: attack 1: 98 damage GMRune: attack 2: 90 damage GMRune: Valina is in the back row and uses her starlight! Kadan objects to a flying pink kitten, no matter how strong, doing more damage than a 6'7" human male. GMRune: Valina gains 20 MP! GMRune: Rein keeps Leon in the back row. GMRune: The Giant Cobra suddenly lashes out with its tail! Its tail wraps around Kadan, immobilizing him and causing 1 damage! GMRune: Earendil's form blurs and he strikes the Giant Cobra with a massive blow! Earendil: Kadan, can you still breathe? GMRune: 71 damage! Valina: Kadan! Kadan: *gasp* GMRune: Par hurls a shard of ice at the Goant Cobra! GMRune: 89 damage! Kadan: Stupid... *gulp*... snake... *choke* Kadan: Watch it, Par! That almost frosted my hair. Par cringes. "Sorry, Kadan! I'm just trying to get you free you know!" Valina: Kadan, whats wrong with lightening your hair once in a while? Kadan likes his hair burnt sienna, thank you very much. GMRune: Arzel surrounds himself in white light and hurls it in a giant beam at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: 50 damage! GMRune: Tarrant conjures up a vine which whips the side of the Giant Cobra! GMRune: 92 damage! GMRune: -----round 2------ GMRune: Ayeye claws at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 43 damage GMRune: attack 2: 23 damage GMRune: Kadan is immobilized. GMRune: Geint claws at the Giant Cobra! Kadan grumbles and looks up the sky. "I know..." GMRune: attack 1: 96 damage GMRune: attack 2: 84 damage Kadan appears to be more frightened by Geint than the cobra. GMRune: Valina sings at an ear-splitting pitch at the Giant Cobra! Kadan ducks for cover! GMRune: 48 damage! GMRune: Rein is dancing on the clouds in fairyland. Rein: Yay! Whee!!! Earendil draws his sword. "Don't worry Kadan, I'll make sure to keep the blade from any thing important on you." Valina: May I join you! Rein spins Leon around wildly. GMRune: The Giant Cobra hisses and spits poison at the back row! Rein: But of course! Leon gets a big sweat drop on his head. Rein: THE HIIIIIIIILS ARE ALIIIIIIIVE.....!!!! Earendil: With the sound of MUUUSICCCC!!! GMRune: Rein and Valina are poisoned. GMRune: Earendil slashes at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: 55 damage! GMRune: Par hurls a shard of ice at the giant cobra! GMRune: 90 damage! GMRune: Arzel shoots a bolt of flame at the Giant Cobra! GMRune: 51 damage! GMRune: The Giant Cobra hisses and writhes like mad, squeezing Kadan a bit as well, before it finally collapses motionless to the ground. GMRune: Rein and Valina each suffer 5 hp of damage. Then the poison leaves them. GMRune: -------victory!-------- Valina: ... Valina: I hate poison! Kadan: Ergh... GMRune: The party earns 52 XP, 9 MEXP, and 75 S. Ayeye runs over to Kadan, "Are you alright?" Valina: Has a bad after taste! Kadan gets up and dusts himself off. Kadan cracks his neck. "Yeah, fine. It's nothing." Earendil: That was kind of easy for a warlock guard monster. Valina: Too easy if you ask me! Ayeye: Where is the dryad? The dryad is still standing in the garden, just a little behind you all. Dryad: Great! You guys were able to defeat it! Ayeye: We defeated the monster, you can leave now. Ayeye: Do you have a name? Earendil: (to the dryad) Ok, now how do we get out? The dryad bows to the party. "I must thank you again." Dryad: My name is Lira. Ayeye: Lira, thank you for your help. Lira points to the exit the cobra was guarding. "This leads out to the corrals. We should be able to climb over the fences near the southern end since they are rather low. Valina: I hope the girl fixed her dolly ok... Rein: Lira, do you know anything about a dragon that was being held here recently? Par: Speaking of which, we'd better get going before her mom finds out about us. Earendil: Agreed Par, we can talk about the dragon later. Lira: I heard one came about two years ago and that the warlocks wanted to experiment with it. That's about all I know. Valina: Yeah... don't want to get mommy mad. Rein: Ok. Valina exits. Kadan: This place makes my skin crawl anyway... There is nothing for us here. I believe we have larger prey to hunt. GMRune: The party exits the garden and you find yourselves once again in the familiar brownish terrain of the southern badlands. You can see the southern fencing in the distance. Like Lira said, it's lower than the usual sort and you probably could climb over it without much difficulty. Valina climbs. Leon frowns and chucks away the wine bottle he had been carrying. Valina: If I can do it, you can! GMRune: Valina struggles a bit, but she makes it over. Leon climbs over remarkably easily. Earendil heads up and over the fence. Kadan gives a simple vaulting flip over the fence. Ayeye tries to climb over the fence. Rein hops over as well. *** GMRune has set the topic on channel #lunarrpg5 to Badlands - 135 MEXP - 519 S Kadan checks to make sure Geint made it over ok. Lira easily vaults over the fence. ~Geint flew over just fine. ;) Kadan then checks to see if Par snags his fancy schmancy robe. Par glares at Kadan but manages to climb over without tearing anything. Lira: This is where we part. I want to go back to my home to the north. I wish you luck on your journey! Valina: Thanks. Earendil: Good luck to you as well. Ayeye: Goodbye. Lira bows to the party and waves good-bye. She then darts easily across the landscape in long gazelle-like strides. Kadan eyes Lira somewhat suspiciously. Valina: Is there ANYBODY you trust Kadan? Kadan: Huh? I didn't say anything. Ayeye: Geint, lead the way. GMRune: You can see the volcano, Geint's home, is much closer now than it was before. And so is the white spire not far from it. The path you left earlier is not far to your right. Kadan: Anyway, where I grew up, you don't get very far by trusting people. Valina: I saw you... Earendil: Let's see if we can't get detoured this time. Valina: Yea.. ~Geint pridefully flaps her wings and leads the party back to the dirt-trodden path. "If I remember correctly, there's a village not far south from here. We might be able to take a break there." Kadan kicks up some ash and dust from the trail. "I hope these sidetracks end up being worthwhile, Earendil." Valina: Good, we'll need it. Par: In a way they are necessary. Though we really should get these pendants to prevent Kargeth from using the Serpent Staff, a Dragonmaster would be an invaluable asset. Valina: True... Valina: Not to mention I would like my pendant back. GMRune: The party trudges through the dreary landscape. Night comes and goes. And then you see a few small houses rising in the distance before you midday the following day. Earendil: Besides, we'll need the support of the dragons and Althena to defeat the empire. Valina: ... Kadan tries to conceal a snicker at the mention of Althena. GMRune: The party approaches the village. There appears to be a large crowd gathered in the town square. GMRune: The crowd is for the most part stationary. It seems like they are listening to someone. Valina sneeks up to the crowd. Kadan takes a moment to empty some stones and dust from inside his boots. Earendil tries to listen to what the speaker is saying. Ayeye tries to see who the speaker is. Speaker: As you know, these are hard times for everyone around. The Empire only demands what it knows you can give. Valina: ... Somehow I don't think I am going to like this. The speaker agrees to be a burly dark-haired man in armor. Three robed men stand to either side of him. Valina: ... Speaker: We have been very tolerate of allowing you to grow as many crops as you do, so it should be no great hardship for you to provide us with some of it. After all, you are living on our land, and you *have* to rely on us for protection from the native monsters of the region. Rein looks around, trying to gauge the reaction of the crowd Valina: ... Yea right! GMRune: The crowd seens very tense and perhaps anxious. Earendil thinks to himself, "Native my ass, created is more like it." Valina: So the empire can get free food, and free slave labor! Rein: Let's stage a counter-demonstration. Speaker: We expect you to hand over the following items from your stores. 10 bales of hay, 6 bushels of grain, 3 casks of ale... The speaker drones on down a long list of food items. Valina: That's what I am thinking, Rein! Valina yells, "DON'T DO IT!" Kadan: All work has dignity. These people deserve better. Valina: ...oops. Earendil: These people can't spare all of that. Kadan: Let us not be hasty, though. We must assess the situation accurately before we act. The speaker stops, and the crowd parts a bit as they turn to look at Valina. Valina: I think I acted on instinct again... Valina: FIGHT FOR WHAT'S YOURS! The speaker glares at one of the villagers demanding, "Who are those people!" Kadan slowly slinks away from Valina. Rein: Umm.... Par gets a sweat drop and starts thinking of sinking into the ground. Earendil covers his face with his hand and mutters, "Valina, we must work on your temper some more." Valina: These people need to be free! GMRune: The villager mutters something and shakes his head in resposne to the warlock's query. Valina: I figured now would be a good time to start! Valina: I AM NOT OF THEM, THOUGH I FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS! The speaker fumes and jerks his head at the party. "Get them!" Rein: Great Althena.... Valina draws! Rein: I just wanted to hit the inn.... Valina: Sorry, I couldn't resist! GMRune: His aides march towards the party. Strange creature appear to the side of each of the warlocks. The shapes are translucent and dark, which an icy chill flowing from their bodies. Valina: I just hope these vilagers help! GMRune: -----combat------ Rein: Oh no... should we fight or run? GMRune: target: front row - 3 ice shades, back row - 3 warlock scouts GMRune: Kadan casts Surround! Valina: Fight! GMRune: Kadan, Ear, Par, and Geint appear behind the warlocks! Ayeye: I say let's attack! Kadan: Earendil! Strike at the warlocks. They are the most dangerous. Valina: *blink* GMRune: Ayeye attacks Ice Shade #2! Valina: Geint! Show those ice freaks your flaming breath! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 56 damage Kadan casts "Summon Irate Pitchfork-wielding Villagers"! GMRune: attack 2: 23 damage GMRune: Kadan hacks at Warlock #1! Kadan tries to look over the opposing warlock's shoulder to get a look at Ayeye opening up a cold six-pack of whoop-ass. Valina yells to the villagers: if you fight, you will have freedom! GMRune: attack 1: 89 damage GMRune: attack 2: 80 damage GMRune: The villagers don't move worth squat. They just sit and watch. Kadan makes a forward lunging attack, hoping to overwhelm the opponent. GMRune: Geint claws at Warlock Scout #1! Kadan casts "Summon Irate Pitchfork-wielding Villagers Level 2"! GMRune: attack 1: 90 damage Kadan: Hah! Kadan no longer objects to Geint inflicting ludicrous levels of damage. GMRune: The warlock dies! GMRune: Geint attacks Warlock Scout #2! GMRune: attack 2: 88 damage Valina: Way to go Geint! ~Geint cheers and twirls in the air! Kadan holds his axe level to his chin, stands tall, then points down at the fallen warlock with his axe in a condescending manner. Rein: What a bunch of lazy fools... maybe we should be fighting them. Valina: Yea, let's do Rein! GMRune: Valina's form blurs as she strikes a long sweep across the back row of scouts! Valina: ... Kadan: All right, Valina! See? I told you our strategy would come together! GMRune: 43 damage to each! Valina: Ha! You didn't even want to fight! Valina jumps for joy! GMRune: Rein attacks Ice Shade #1! Kadan lowers his head in a conspiratory manner and pats his fingertips together. "Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design..." GMRune: 19 damage! Kadan: Woo hoo! Way to go, Rein! Your technique is improving. Just put a little more elbow grease into it next time! Rein: That's what you get, evil-doer! GMRune: Earendil's form blurs as he slashes deeply into Warlock Scout #2! Earendil cocks an eyebrow at Kadan's remark GMRune: 61 damage! Kadan is glad Earendil is learning the benefits of deep cuts. GMRune: Ice Shade #1 hurls a beam of darkness at Earendil! Valina: Rein, lets work on your insults! Earendil: Did that hurt, oh too bad! GMRune: 37 damage! GMRune: Ice Shade #2 aims its dark beam at Rein! Valina: Communication is important in a fight! GMRune: 23 damage! Valina: Rein, watch out! Valina: See? GMRune: Ice Shade #3 shoots a blast of darkness at Rein! GMRune: 32 damage! Rein gets out his flashlight... Valina: If you must torment your enemy, do so wisely! Valina: That's what you need Rein! Valina: Ear, how are you feeling? GMRune: Warlock Scout #2 casts Pulse Ray, striking Valina with a glaring white light! GMRune: 19 damage! Valina: HEY! Kadan instinctively shields his eyes from the glimmering shine. Earendil: I'm fine thank you. I prefer to dispatch my enemy in a more silent way. Valina: Normally, so do I. GMRune: Par's form blurs as he strikes Warlock Scout #2! GMRune: 63 damage! GMRune: Warlock Scout #2 dies! GMRune: Warlock Scout #3 cass Mana Theft on Geint! GMRune: Geint looses 16 MP. GMRune: Arzel hurls a bolt of flame at Warlock Scout #3! GMRune: 31 damage! GMRune: Tarrant casts Spore Pop on the front row of Ice Shades! GMRune: Ice Shades are strong against Plant! GMRune: 31 damage to each! Kadan wishes he was in the same row as Tarrant so he could politely konk him. GMRune: ------round 2------- GMRune: Ayeye claws at Ice Shade #2! Rein: Okay, Kadan, help me out with the insults. GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 46 damage Kadan nods to Rein. Kadan looks at Warlock #3. "You stinky pile of fuming monkey puss!" GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 56 damage Rein: I think I get it.... GMRune: Kadan attacks Warlock Scout #3! GMRune: attack 1: 79 damage GMRune: attack 2: 99 damage Valina smiles at Rein GMRune: Scout #3 is street chow! Kadan raises a brow at Ayeye, slowly acknowledging that her technique may exceed his. GMRune: Geint claws at Ice Shade #1! GMRune: attack 1: 86 damage GMRune: attack 2: 85 damage GMRune: Valina's form blurs as she Wide Slashes the row of Ice Shades! GMRune: 53 damage to each! Valina: Take that you cold hearted fools! Kadan: Hmm... could use some work. Try talking about their mothers. Valina: Really? Valina: How is 'Your mothers were cold hearted fools for bringing you up!' GMRune: Rein's form blurs as he jams his staff right through the midriff of Ice Shade #1! Rein: I hurt you, you stupid poopy-face bad face-head things! Kadan: Excellent, Rein! GMRune: 38 damage! Earendil shakes his head at the taunting and readies a spell. Ayeye: How about "Die you lumbering piles of slow- witted night?" GMRune: Earendil calls down a massive bolt of lightning on Ice Shade #1! GMRune: Ice Shade is weak against thunder! 88 damage! GMRune: It dies! Earendil: Ahh, my gamble worked. Par applauds! Valina: Yea! GMRune: Ice Shade #2 hurls a bolt of darkness at Geint! GMRune: 23 damage! GMRune: Ice Shade #3 hurls a blast of anti-matter at Ayeye! GMRune: 14 damage! GMRune: Par's form blurs and he strikes Ice Shade #2! GMRune: 73 damage! GMRune: Arzel hurls a beam of light at Ice Shade #2! GMRune: Ice Shade is weak against light! 122 damage! GMRune: Ice Shade #2 is DEAD! GMRune: Tarrant calls down a bolt of lightning on Ice Shade #3! GMRune: Ice Shade is weak against thunder! 202 damage! GMRune: -----round 3----- GMRune: Ayeye attacks Ice Shade #3! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 52 damage GMRune: attack 2: 26 damage GMRune: Ice Shade #3 bites the dust! GMRune: -----victory----- Valina: YA! GMRune: The party earns 15 XP, 50 MEXP, 45 S. Valina yells to the villagers "See! We can do it! So can you!" Earendil wipes his sword off and sheaths it. Rein: Oh... ouch... The speaker glares at the party. Speaker: Who the hell are you? Leon hides behind Rein. Earendil: Just some passers-by. Kadan: This world is crying out for a cleansing touch. We answered. Valina: Who are you!? GMRune: If looks could kill, the party would probably be dead by now... Rein: We were just... joking. Or something. Speaker: Do you not know who rules this land? I am Lord Bane of House Flysse! Kadan blinks. Twice. Earendil: Oh, the monster man. Kadan: G'ah? Ayeye: Your Lord Bane? The Lord Bane? Ayeye raises her claws and gets ready to attack. Rein: What have you done with Shade! Bane: Yes, THE Lord Bane! And what sort of tramps are you? Answer me before I make these villagers pay in your stead! Kadan: You are the one who authorized all those wretched experiments below? You captured and brutalized people and animals? Ayeye: We met some of your pets, and I will bring you to justice for what you did! Valina: We are those who stand up against the evils of the empire! Earendil: How many people died in your experiments, how many suffered in agony all for what you call the glodry of the empire? Bane snarls. "Rebel upstarts I take it." Par: Um... guys... We *might* not want to fight this guy with all these people around.... Kadan: Don't be nearsighted, Bane. If you oppose us, you also earn the wrath of the thousands standing behind us in Vane. Bane chuckles. "Thousands? I wouldn't even guess at even a few dozen being there to back you up. The resistance has no foothold in House Flysse's domain. And they have yet to dare to even trifle with us!" Earendil mutters, "That's what you think." Ayeye: We dare! Bane smirks, thrusting back his cape. "So, you really think you can fight me?" Kadan tries to shuffle his way over to Par. Kadan whispers. "How much do you know about this guy?' Par is shaking his head from side to side. Ayeye runs to attack Bane. "We can try!" Rein picks up Leon and tries to blend in with the crowd. :) Par: I know that he is more powerful that I care to face. He is one of the more powerful warlords. Leon: The hell?! GMRune: ----combat!------ Rein: Watch your mouth, kid. GMRune: target: Lord Bane Leon points at Geint. "She said it first!" Kadan: Ayeye, don't be foolish! This may not be our moment! Bane easily smacks Ayeye aside as she rushes at him! Earendil: We've won our battle for the day, the time to fall back has come, besides there is another way to get him, but later. Rein: Yeah well... she shouldn't have said it either. Kadan hands Rune an index card for guard smeg. GMRune: Bane casts Spore Pop on the back row! GMRune: Rein is hit for 183 damage and knocked out! Par is hit for 138 damage and knocked out! Arzel is hit for 174 damage and knocked out! Tarrant is hit for 137 damage and knocked out! Rein: Uhhh... Rein: Sucks. Valina: Okay ... fall back! GMRune: Ayeye manages to claw at Bane! GMRune: attack 1: 1 damage Kadan: I'm on it... GMRune: attack 2: 1 damage GMRune: Kadan defends Ayeye! GMRune: Geint attacks! GMRune: attack 1: 1 damage Earendil: Where are the dragons when you need them. GMRune: attack 2: 1 damage Kadan: Fight hard! I bet he's almost dead! GMRune: Valina makes a break for it, but trips over a loose cobblestone and falls over! Valina: Hey! Earendil: Kadan, false optimism is not welcomed at this time. GMRune: Rein is dancing on the clouds in Fairyland. GMRune: Earendil defends. Valina: Who put cobblestones there! GMRune: Par is dancing on the clouds in Fairyland. GMRune: Arzel is dancing on the clouds in Fairyland. GMRune: Tarrant is dancing on the clouds in Fairyland. Valina gets up and runs! GMRune: ------round 2------ Bane smiles mirthlessly. Kadan: Everyone follow my direction! I think I can find an escape before he... Earendil looks at the dragon ring. "Some good this thing has done so far." GMRune: Bane attacks! He skewers Ayeye for... a VERY unsightly amount of damage... 261 damage! Ayeye falls! Valina: OKAY, EAR! I'm with you! GMRune: Kadan strings all the unconscious people together and gets everyone to follow is lead! The party flees! Kadan makes a lasso out of his spare rope. "Take the fallen corpses in tow!" GMRune: Kadan blitzes the hell out of the village! Earendil runs at warp 10.1 Bane just laughs as you leave his sight. He doesn't bother pursuing you. Valina runs with the aid of the wind. GMRune: Finally the village lays at a distance, and Kadan's technique wears off, allowing you all to slow your pace back to walking speed. Valina: Great... we need a place to rest. Rein makes like a sausage link. Leon looks around. "Geez. Don't we need to heal these people?" Earendil: All right! From now on, we shall keep our anger toward the warlocks in check no matter how strong it is. UNDERSTOOD? GMRune: Ayeye, Rein, Par, Tarrant, and Arzel wake up with 1 hp. Kadan: I hope he enjoys his laughter... because that was the last victory he shall have over us. Rein: What hit me.... Kadan kneels down and tries to help Ayeye hold her head up. "You okay, there? Can you see yet?" Valina: Yea... I wonder if those viligers will even talk to us? Ayeye: I think so, did we get him? Earendil: Valina, Ayeye, I hope you will control your impulses in the future. Yes? Valina kneels next to Rein... "Are you okay?" Kadan chuckles. "Yeah, Ayeye. We shredded him into ribbons. Heh." Valina: Hmm.. Valina: Well, it got me out of 2 big messes already. Par groans. "I feel like one of those dragons just sat on me..." Rein: Uh.. not really. Kadan wonders where the group would be if it weren't for his powerful coward magic. Rein: D'oh! Earendil: Let's just find a place to sleep for the night and decide what to do in the morning. Valina: I've got some herbs... Kadan looks at Ayeye's injuries with concern and responds to Earendil's comment. "Agreed." ~Tarrant: I can do some individual healing if you guys need it. Valina: Yea... it's been a long day. Ayeye: Are we near any beds? I need some rest... Valina: Only in that village, and I don't think I want to go there again. Par looks around. "It looks like it's gonna have to be the hard ground. I doubt we can go back into town..." Earendil: I think the best we'll be getting tonight is the grass. Valina: Ohhh well... Valina: I lived on the gound and in the trees for long enough, and it got me this far. Kadan snuggles up against a sizable scrub bush. "This is good enough for me..." GMRune: The party sets up camp to rest and recover from their ordeals. Ayeye lies on the ground and immediately falls asleep. Earendil: Hey Leon, come over here for a sec. Leon comes up to Earendil. "What?" Rein passes out and heals as hard as he can. Earendil: Ever learn to use a sword? Leon shakes his head. "No. But I want to learn!" Earendil: Here, let me show you something. Par konks out on the ground. "Zzzzz...." Leon watches eagerly. Earendil looks in his back pack and takes out a very small sword. Earendil: Here, this is the sword that my father first gave me when I started to learn swordsmanship. Valina cleans a small spot of grass rests.. Leon nods solemnly, looking at the sword. Earendil: Since your going to be going off to a strange place, I think it might be wise to teach you a few moves to go along with your magic, they might come in handy some day. Leon's beams. "Thank you!" Earendil: Get some rest now, you start learning tomorrow. Leon nods again and curls up on the ground, hugging on to Geint. Earendil leans up to a tree and falls asleep. GMRune: -------end session-----