Lunar: Magic Empire Session 53 Log ============================================================ Cast of Characters: Rune as "GM/Narrator, Par, the bush, Jarrek, 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 exits the village of Mertyl, heading towards the thickly forested regions to the northeast. Jarrek, Ayeye's brother, continues to accompany the party. Ayeye: Jarrek? Jarrek turns to look at Ayeye. "Yes?" Ayeye: It would probably be best for you to stay back with the village. I'm sure they'll need you. Jarrek shakes his head. "You still don't have your memory back though. You're my sister. I have to try looking out for you at least a little bit. Besides, a pendant bearer has been captured, and she can't be allowed to stay in the warlocks' grasp." Earendil stays at the front of party but keeps to himself. Ayeye smiles slightly. "I can't be responsible for you getting hurt also... Besides, Kadan is here, we'll rescue the pendent bearer, we've done it before, and return the staff to your village." Kadan nods smugly. Par follows behind Earendil, but at a distance. He seems a little worried over the would-be Dragonmaster. Tarrant lags behind the party. Geint finally realises why Earendil would be upset. ;b Geint: =( Jarrek seems perturbed. "Are you certain, Ayeye? I really don't want you to get into anything you and your friends can't handle." Earendil decides to chug four starlights. Ayeye nods. "I'm certain, we'll be all right, we almost always end up all right." Geint flies over to Earendil but doesn't do anything. "Can... I sit on your shoulder?" GMRune: Earendil gains 80 MP! Earendil: Please, let me be alone. Geint: ...Okay. I'm sorry. =( Geint flies slower, letting Earendil go ahead of her as the party walks. Arzel draws his hood up over his head. Jarrek turns to go. "All right then, Ayeye. I'll go. But take care of yourself this time. I don't want to see you again without you recognizing me." Geint: =\ Jarrek leaves the party and heads back towards Mertyl. Ayeye grins, "Don't worry, Kadan will be with me." Kadan nods reassuringly to Jarrek. GMRune: After hours of travel, the party arrives in a curious glade. There is a large square formed by eight marble slabs lying on the ground around a central pillar of a similar stone. The pillar is in the shape of a cylinder, but one side appears to have been planed flat. Par pauses to look at the stones. "What do you guys think of this place?" Geint: I wonder what it means... Earendil puts his hand out and touches the central pillar. Geint: Could it be some sort of power sorce or something? =b Kadan: Superstitious nonsense. Geint: =\ GMRune: The marble pillar feels warm too the touch. Not as though the sun has warmed it, but as though its heat comes from within. Arzel remains quiet and keeps his gaze on the ground. Earendil: Hmm, it's warm. Earendil: Is this the shrine? Par: Maybe. Take a better look at it. Geint flies up above it to see if she can see anything from above. Geint hmms. Geint flies to something. GMRune: Geint has flown to the flattened side of the pillar, to the right from the direction the party is facing. Geint seems interested in something. Ayeye: If this is the shrine, then where are the warlocks? Geint: ....hmmmm...... Earendil: Hiding, perhaps. And if they are, we should heal ourselves before they attack us. Geint backs up. Geint: There's some writing! Geint: And a picture of a pegasus! Ayeye: Can you read the writing? Arzel walks over to where Geint is and tries to read the writing Geint: I have to get farther away! You guys come over here! Tarrant looks at the writing. GMRune: On the flat side of the pillar you can see a bronze plaque. It is roughly retangular and green with age. A carving of a winged horse rears above what appears to be set of directions. The forest around you suddenly seems extremely quiet. Kadan: That's... a pegasus? GMRune: The plaque reads: Dance the griffon and o'er the stag Health to the eagle, life of the sky. Down it dives to attack the intruding wyrm Whilst the stag flees the bear, will ye save? The lion roars; come the owl, herald of death, But naught can the unicorn see The gate to me Shrine open. Geint: ...... Ayeye: What does that mean? Geint blink-blinks. "It's an annoying puzzle is what it is. ;b" Par: ... Maybe it's a set of directions. Arzel looks at the set of directions. Ayeye throws her hands into the air. "Can't anyone ever use simple compass directions?" GMRune: The directions are carved into the bronze. There doesn't appear to be anything remarkable about them. Par: Ideas, anyone? Geint: Well..... it talks about eight animals.... and there are eight people in the party right now. *Counts* .....would that have anything to do with anything? =b Geint: I can't think of anything else... Geint: Well, eight members. ^_^ Tarrant: Well It seems to me that we first need to find a griffon and a stag. Ayeye: All I've got is the bush, and I don't think it mentioned bushes... Par: Maybe it has something to do with those marble slabs around here. Geint flies over to Arzel. "You have any ideas? =\" Arzel: Maybe... Geint: =b Arzel walks over to one of the slabs and looks at it. GMRune: Arzel sees a unicorn engraved on it. It's rearing as though in a sturggle with an invisible enemy. Earendil looks at another slab. Arzel hmmms. GMRune: Earendil sees a carving of an eagle. The eagle's depicted in agony, with blood flowing from a deep wound in its chest. Arzel goes back to the plaque and reads it again. Tarrant: Hmmm. Earendil: Health to the eagle . . . one can't possibly heal a stone slab. Arzel looks around for a griffon slab. GMRune: Arzel finds one at a corner of the square of marble slabs. Arzel checks if it can be manipulated. Griffon---Stag-----Eagle | | | | | | | | Bear Pillar Unicorn | /\ | | flat side | | | | | Wyvern----Lion-------Owl Tarrant tries to climb onto the griffion slab to dance on it. GMRune: The griffon slab does not appear movable. GMRune: Tarrant dances on the slab. The party hears a "click" sound. Geint: O_o Tarrant: See, now I do not look so stupid do I? Arzel: Dance on the stag too? Earendil: Tarrant, try jumping to the stag slab! Earendil: No, jump over it I mean. Tarrant tries to jump over the stag but fails terribly... GMRune: Tarrant lands heavily into the face of the stag on top of the slab. No click sounds. ~Rein: Maybe if someone else more athletic did it... Geint: ..Well... I can fly... =b Earendil looks over at Kadan. Kadan: Oh... what? You people only respect me for my athletics? Kadan shrugs and prepares to take a running leap at it. Kadan jogs a few meters and lunges himself over the stag tablet. Tarrant: And for your efficientness. GMRune: Kadan sails over the stag slab with room to spare. Nothing happens. Geint: ....... Geint: Hmm.... Kadan: Hmm... Ayeye: Maybe you have to dance over it... Kadan stands on the griffon tablet, does a little boogie, then leaps from the griffon tablet over the stag tablet. Geint: Well, uhmm... Maybe it means you dance on the griffon and--yea, what Ayeye said! GMRune: Kadan lands safely on the other side of the stag tablet. The party hears a satisfying click. Geint: ^_^ Geint: Now... cast heal on the eagle! Arzel: health to the eagle? someone wanna cast a litany on the eagle? Earendil: And heal me too while you are at it. The bush pokes out of Ayeye's backpack and slurps Earendil instead. Earendil: Wait, I have a better idea. Par: What? Earendil: Yeck! Perhaps its time for a salad, I think. The bush smiles and pants, settling back into Ayeye's backpack. Earendil: Does everybody need healing? Ayeye holds the bush defensively. "You stay away from him, you sorry excuse for a dragonmaster!" GMRune: Everyone in the party sports at least some kind of injury. Earendil ignores Ayeye's comment. Earendil casts Blue Dragon Heal on the party and the eagle. GMRune: The party is restored to full health! The wound on the stone eagle vanishes. With a savage cry, the stone eagle animates, though it stays within the boundaries of its stone slab. It seems to be diving towards the wyvern slab. Kadan gets behind the eagle slab and tries to push it towards the wyvern slab with his shoulder. Earendil is taken aback. "I didn't expect that." Ayeye steps back from the slab. "Reminds me of certain nasty cave paintings..." Geint: Whilst the stag flees the bear...? GMRune: The slab gives slightly. GMRune: The party hears a low growl from one side of the pillar. Geint: Aha! Geint flies quickly to the growl. Geint: Uuhh... we have to choose something to save...... but what? Tarrant: How about the pegasus? GMRune: The bear slab has begun to animate in a similar fashion to the eagle. It runs without progressing towards the stag. The stag has also begun to move, and flees without leaving. Earendil: We must save either the wyrm or the stag. Geint: Yea.... but....... Geint: Who? =b Geint: ...What about the lion and the owl? Is that after or during? Par: Well, I don't hear any lions yet... Earendil: Save the stag because it is the closest thing here to a pegasus? Geint: Wait... it has to be more than that... Geint: ...Uhm....... Ayeye stares at the odd, animating, pictures, transfixed. "How... unusual..." Geint: ...........Shoot! I have it in me somewhere! Earendil: Something just occurred to me. Geint: What? Earendil: What if the warlocks are waiting for us to solve the riddle for them. Tarrant: Well... I can take a walk around the perimeter. Anyone care to join? Earendil: I will go with you. Geint: ...I wanna try and figure this out... Par frowns. "I dunno. But it seems like someone's been here before." He points at the wyvern slab. Upon closer inspection one can see a set of wounds on it, seemingly like fresh scars. Geint: Wait... would that mean they got it wrong or right?? Obviously, they didn't save the wyvern. Tarrant walks with Earendil around the perimeter. Geint: Does the other one have scars? Geint: The stag? Geint looks. GMRune: The stag looks fit, and running like a champion. Geint: Hmm... Geint: Well... does it seem like whoever came here failed or went in? Geint: If we can figure that out, we have our answer. GMRune: The bear growls with frustration. It sounds almost sick. GMRune: Tarrant and Earendil don't find anythiing out of the ordinary. The whole area is absolutely still, save for the cries of the animated stones and the party's own movements. Par: Well, should we decide on something while Ear and Tar are out patrolling? Geint: .......Maybe we should just save the wyvern.... I don't think anyone went in before us...... but I'm being hopeful. =b And also, it's the one that is hurt. Geint: ...What should we do, though? =\ ...And how do we save a picture? Attack the other? Par: Worth a try... Ayeye: How do we attack a picture? Anyone have an eraser? Geint: =b Geint: ...how about a water spell. ;b Par: Someone apparently tried stabbing. Tarrant: Dang I knew I should have learned an erosion spell. Geint: Hmm. Maybe anything would work... Ayeye: Stabbing? Stone? That's got to hurt... Geint: Well, should we try saving the wyvern? Don't yell at me if it's wrong, you guys aren't saying anything. =\ Par: Go ahead, Geint. It's at least worth a shot. Geint: However, if we are wrong, we know someone else is in there. Tarrant: Okay. Save the wyvern Geint: And if they're in there, they're obviously better puzzle solvers than us and we don't want to mess with them anyways. ;) Tarrant: Par, what do you think? Ayeye: Maybe we can toss a riddle at them and attack them when they try to solve it then. Geint: Wait... we'd be attacking the eagle we healed! Par: I'm wondering if we're interpreting the riddle correctly... Geint: Well, maybe that's how he got hurt in the first place. ;b Geint: But still... Ayeye: At least we were nice enough to heal it first. Geint: =\ Earendil: But the wyvern looks like it has been attacked but the stag has not. Par: Maybe the eagle was injured because of the wyvern though. Maybe its seeking revenge... Geint: Well, that's obvious... and since we're supposed to like the eagle enough to heal it... Geint: We should attack the bear. ^_^ Ayeye sighs, "Are we trying to come up with psychological profiles of drawings now?" Kadan: Shall we press the eagle and wyvern stones together? Par nods. "It works well, enough, Geint. Let's try it." Geint: Ok! *Claws the bear. "Time to put you out of your misery!!" GMRune: The bear coils back from Geint's attack. You get the sensation that what you're doing is right, but not completely right. Something else needs to be done... at the same time. Geint: ....Wait.... uhmm... Geint: Should we kill the wyvern, too? Kadan: Yeah! Geint: If it's so bad? Kadan whips out his axe and walks up to the wyvern slab. Par: Guess that answers that question... Geint: It seems to have been attacked before..... uh oh........ That mey mean someone IS in there! Kadan: Ready, Geint? Geint nods. Geint kicks the Bear's arse. =b "NOW!" Kadan: Hieee-yah! Kadan hacks away at the wyvern stone. GMRune: The click sound reveberates through the air, twice as loud as before. A mighty leonine roar shakes the air, rocking the party and even the marble pillar with its ferocity. Above you, the party can see a white owl fly over the glade. It takes a perch on a nearby tree. Geint: O_o Funky... *Looks for a lion.* Ayeye: What was next? Geint: Now we can't see the exit, but it's here. Geint: ...It seems. Par: The lion roars; come the owl, herald of death, Par: But naught can the unicorn see Par: The gate to me Shrine open. Kadan: Umm... is this good or bad? Geint: Hmm... Geint flies up to where the owl is. ^_^ Kadan: Who could have solved this puzzle before? Ayeye: Where's the unicorn? GMRune: The owl fluffs up its feathers and looks pointed at Geint. GMRune: The unicorn slab can be found opposite the flattened side of the pillar. Geint looks down. "Sorry. =\" GMRune: The owl relaxs and turns back to look at the party. Kadan: ...but naught the unicorn can see... A ha! I believe I have an idea that may answer two questions. Ayeye tries to follow the unicorn's gaze. Par looks at Kadan. "What?" GMRune: The unicorn's gaze seems to be turned towards the pillar. Kadan: Ayeye, the unicorn's gaze is directed by the light. But as the unicorn sees, the shadows cast by the trees and stones record and observe all that transpires. Geint decides her idea that the owl was the one who saw the exit is wrong. "Nice talking to you, though." Kadan looks at the ground. "I'm going to try to see if I can figure out what happened before we got here. Perhaps I'll be able to deduce who was here, and how they solved this puzzle." Ayeye looks at the unicorn and then up to Kadan. "What?" GMRune: The owl coos to Geint as she leaves. GMRune: Kadan seems to enter a trancelike state. Geint flies down. Ayeye waves her hand in front of Kadan's face. "Hello? Hello? Great, first he spouts some confusing gibberish, and then he completely blanks out on me!" Kadan's forehead tenses. "There's a... man... in a... he's... he wears the armor of Banshee." Par tries to resist chuckling but fails miserably. Kadan: He was just here... it's fuzzy, but there's someone he's holding by the arm. She's small... Earendil: Valina! Kadan: It's so dark, I can't make it out... I think it's... Garreth... Geint: That's not good. =\ Geint: We got to get in there! Kadan's hands slowly glide up to his face as he holds the two sides of his mask. Kadan: Ah, I see. So that's how he entered the shrine. All I need to do is... Arzel: Garreth..... Kadan: The Unicorn shall see no longer! Earendil: How Kadan? How? GMRune: Kadan shapeshifts into his massive pantherman form. He gestures fluidly towards the unicorn statue, bathing it in darkness. He then reverts to his human form. GMRune: A rumbling sound erupts from the pillar. The flat side gives way, splitting straight down the middle. The two halves slide to either side, revealing an arch hidden between them. Rather than seeing the other side of the forest through the arch, there is instead a pool of swirling blue light. Earendil: Valina must be somewhere on the other side of that portal. I'm going in. Ayeye shrugs and steps though the pool of light. GMRune: The owl hoots loudly, then a second time. And a massive figure emerges through the light. Easily taller than even Kadan, the creature boasts a torso of a snake- haired woman and the lower body of a serpent. Earendil steps through. Ayeye bumps into a large figure. GMRune: The creature blocks Ayeye and Earendil from entering and raises a massive sword in each hand. Ayeye jumps back and looks up at the figure, "Oh, sorry, didn't see..." GMRune: The medusa snarls and attacks the party. Again the owl hoots, for a third and final time. GMRune: -------round 1------ Earendil pulls out his sword. "We have to remove this thing to get to Valina." GMRune: target: medusa Ayeye looks over her shoulder at the rest of the group. "Did the directions say anything about...this?" Par: Maybe Garreth made some improvements...! GMRune: Ayeye attacks Medusa with her spear! Ayeye: Must have got this one out of the bargain bin, I always heard just looking at them turn you to stone... GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 3 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 10 damage GMRune: Kadan attacks Medusa! Medusa is aligned with earth! GMRune: attack 1: 1 damage GMRune: attack 2: miss GMRune: Rein stands ready. GMRune: Medusa glares at the front row! She casts Petrify! Geint: ;b Geint covers her eyes. GMRune: Ayeye resists. Kadan resists. Geint is turned to stone! Earendil is turned to stone! Geint falls down. She is now a statue covering her eyes. =b GMRune: Arzel casts Fire Breath! A gout of flame roars from his mouth as he blows the fiery conflagration at Medusa! GMRune: 160 damage! GMRune: Par casts Ice Sword! A large spike of ice forms in the air to skewer Medusa! Tarrant passes Arzel some Zantac 75 GMRune: 224 damage! GMRune: Tarrant casts Vine Scourge! A tendril of plant life erupts from below the ground to lash out at Medusa! GMRune: 321 damage! GMRune: ------round 2----- GMRune: Ayeye attacks Medusa! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 3 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 12 damage GMRune: Kadan uses Tactic! He looks incredibly efficient! Kadan moves to the back row, equips his Silver Bow, and attacks Medusa! GMRune: attack 1: 147 damage GMRune: attack 2: 156 damage GMRune: Rein casts Soft Litany on Earendil! Earendil is restored to flesh and blood! GMRune: Medusa attacks! GMRune: attack 1 on Earendil: 70 damage GMRune: attack 2 on Ayeye: 219 damage GMRune: Ayeye is knocked unconscious. GMRune: Earendil bleeds a little bit on Geint's stoned form. GMRune: attack 3 on Earendil: *critical* 184 damage GMRune: Arzel casts Fire Breath! He spouts a tongue of flame at Medusa! GMRune: 141 damage! GMRune: Par casts Ice Sword at Medusa! GMRune: 233 damage! GMRune: Tarrant casts Vine Scourge! A plant tendril whips the Medusa! GMRune: 311 damage! GMRune: -------round 3------- GMRune: Kadan attacks Medusa! GMRune: attack 1: miss GMRune: attack 2: miss GMRune: Rein casts Revive Litany on Ayeye! Ayeye awakens with 57 hp! GMRune: Medusa attacks Geint! Ayeye slowly stands up and stares at the medusa in awe. "It...it actually hit me..." GMRune: attack 1: 208 damage GMRune: Medusa attacks Earendil! GMRune: attack 2: 100 damage GMRune: Medusa attacks Geint! GMRune: attack 3: *critical* 331 damage! Geint is knocked unconscious and turns back from stone to flesh. GMRune: Earendil raises his sword high and executes a flying leap at Medusa! GMRune: 231 damage! GMRune: Arzel casts Fire Arrow as Par casts Ice Dagger and Tarrant casts Thunder Bolt! Their powers combine to form Heat Shock! GMRune: Medusa is hit for Medusa is hit for 956 damage! GMRune: ------round 4------- GMRune: Ayeye attacks Medusa! GMRune: attack 1: *critical* 5 damage GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 17 damage GMRune: Kadan attacks Medusa! GMRune: attack 1: miss GMRune: attack 2: 159 damage GMRune: Medusa attacks Ayeye! GMRune: attack 1: 216 damage GMRune: Ayeye in knocked unconscious. Kadan reaches back to grab another arrow. "Ayeye, look out!" GMRune: Medusa attacks Earendil! Kadan: No! Kadan: Rein, please help her! I... I can't let her get hurt again like that...! GMRune: attack 2: *critical* 247 damage GMRune: Earendil is knocked out. GMRune: Back row is now the front row. ~Rein: Okay, okay, Kadan! GMRune: Medusa attacks Tarrant! GMRune: attack 3: *critical* 73 damage GMRune: ~Rein casts Revive Litany! Ayeye awakes with 57 hp! GMRune: Ayeye awakens to find herself in the same row as the conscious characters. Kadan looks extremely relieved and puts his feet together, closing his eyes with a rare concentration. "Ayeye... I promise you won't be injured again..." Ayeye stands up again, shaking her hand to clear it. "I really don't like this thing!" GMRune: Arzel casts Fire Breath! GMRune: 177 damage! GMRune: Par casts Ice Sword! GMRune: 213 damage! GMRune: Tarrant attempts to cast something but fails! GMRune: ------round 5------ Kadan folds his fingers together in front of his nose while whispering a bizarre litany under his breath, his face twisted with a confused determination never seen before. GMRune: Ayeye whirls around, lifting a hand as she chants the words to a spell! A spear of ice appears beside her and with a motion, she hurls it at the Medusa! GMRune: 111 damage! GMRune: Kadan utters the words to a spell and gestures towards Ayeye. He casts Blur Litany! The outline of Ayeye's being shifts, making her difficult to see! Kadan steps forward and points his palms at Ayeye as rings of transparent light exude from his body, then focus on Ayeye, making her appear muddled and rippled. GMRune: Ayeye's Dodge% increases by 25! GMRune: Rein casts Revive Litany! Geint awakes with 57 hp! Ayeye holds and indistinct hand in front of her face. "Neat trick!" Geint looks up. "What's this blood on me? It isn't mine..... =b" GMRune: Medusa casts Petrify! Geint: ... GMRune: Ayeye resists. Kadan resists. Rein is turned to stone! Geint resists. Arzel resisits. Par Resists. Tarrant resists. GMRune: Arzel, Par, and Tarrant combine to form Heat Shock! GMRune: 1015 damage to Medusa! GMRune: ------round 6------ Geint: Cool. O_o Tarrant: Kadan chop her head off. Kadan: The blasted creature comes from the soil itself. I can't cleave it off! GMRune: Ayeye casts Ice Spear! GMRune: 92 damage! GMRune: Kadan uses Holy Water on Rein. Nothing happens. GMRune: Geint attacks with Wolf Strike! GMRune: 331 damage! GMRune: Medusa attacks Ayeye! GMRune: attack 1: miss GMRune: Medusa attacks Kadan! GMRune: attack 2: 66 damage Geint flies back to her spot. ^_^ She makes a little yaaa-haaa noise. GMRune: Medusa attacks Ayeye! GMRune: attack 3: miss GMRune: Arzel, Par, and Tarrant cast Heat Shock! GMRune: 1004 damage! Geint oogles again. O_o GMRune: Medusa dies! Arzel: Yay! GMRune: --------victory!------- Geint does a little loop happily. ^_^ Kadan twirls around on one toe, then thrusts his fist into the air repeatedly. Tarrant: Watch out her face can still turn you to stone. GMRune: The party earns 549 XP, 162 MEXP, and 200 S. Ayeye watches as the neat blurring effect wears off. Kadan covers his mouth, his face turning red with a severe sense of shame and hopelessness. "I'm sorry, Ayeye. I... I have to go..." Tarrant: Who needs healed? Kadan runs off into the forest. Geint: I think I do... =b Earendil weakly raises his hand. Tarrant: Uhh... Nature boy come back. GMRune: Rein and Earendil wake up with 1 hp each. Arzel wasn't hurt. :P Ayeye pauses and runs after Kadan. GMRune: ---------end session---------