The Eye of Two Worlds (DM Cayzle) Monday June 10th, 2002 5:15:18 PM
As the dust clears, it becomes easier to see what has happened. Thomas, Jurgen, the living animals, and the bodies of Ilsidur, Luke, and Sly are all lying between two trees. The branches of the trees reach together and meet overhead. The branches look like they are supporting the length of the dead machine. Together the trees and dead machine form an arch. The arch rests on the floor -- a broken field of earth, broken flagsones, and tiles.
The hands and feet attached to the machine still move a little, like leaves blowing in the wind, fluttering and flexing slightly. Maybe the machine isn't quite dead?
Shiraz is standing slightly to one side of the arch. Looking out into the room beyond, he sees the old ruined temple of Alemi, now blasted to pieces. The ceiling has been blown away. Most of the walls are entirely missing. The floors are cracked and ruptured. Farther out is a wasteland. Above, the sky is dark and cloudy, as it has always been in the Void.
Trace is standing at the other side of the Arch. He can tell that he is in the old Chapel where the group originally rang the bell -- the Chapel in which he saw the crones as the Machine died. But the Chapel is in bad shape -- it too has been blasted, without a ceiling, and the walls have been knocked down. Looking out, he sees several weathered rocks that are around the Arch. Each stone, if you look at it just right, kind of looks like a person. Farther out is a forest, the natural living land around Heranmar. Above, the sky is clear, and Trace can see that it is sunset. As he watches, the sun goes down and night falls. This is not the Void!
Shiraz, in his grief, wants to carry the bodies out of the ruined temple of Alemi. But he sees now that the Temple has been pretty much destroyed. There is no "out" any more -- the churning cloudy evening sky is all he sees above.
Sir Thomas continues to grieve over the bodies of his friends. Pryte stands by and tries to comfort him. Jurgen too is overcome with grief -- and for some reason, with guilt -- but there is not even a horse to comfort the young man.
Sir Thomas Monday June 10th, 2002 9:45:34 PM
Emotions wash over Thomas like a stream that has overcome a beaver's dam with the melting of winter's snow in spring. Thomas stops Shiraz from moving the bodies. "We should pray for their acceptance first" is all he says. He drops to his knees and, still sobbing with grief, he begins to Pray to Alemi. He starts with a prayer of understanding about the situation to his lord and god, followed by words requesting guidance, strength, and mercy. He prays for his friends' acceptance into their respective halls of honor. Ilsidur to Marmathon Dur's, Sly and Luke to their eternal elven home. "They died for the betterment of others lives . . . " Thomas speaks, "they were consumed with our message." He finishes his prayer with the traditional prayer for the good journey of those who have passed. "Lord Alemi bless thee and keep thee. Lord Alemi make his countenance shine brightly upon thee . . . Amen" Thomas finishes his prayer and with tear-streaked, grief-ridden eyes he looks to Shiraz, "now my new friend. My companion of chaos. Fellow bearer of grief. Now we should lay their bodies to rest." Thomas stands and looks for a suitable place to start digging graves. He does not have a shovel, so when he finds such a place he uses his sword, dagger, and hands to dig three suitable holes. He finds suitable grave markers, preferably something of pride to each or with their name for identification purposes. When the graves are complete, Thomas casts the cure light wounds spell and touches Ilsidur's grave. He lays his hands on Sly and Lukes graves and spends his Lay on Hands power on the earth that covers their bodies. "Alemi's protection to you all." And Sir Thomas Hurley begins to cry again.
Shiraz Monday June 10th, 2002 10:56:37 PM
Shiraz looks around the tears streaming down the taur's face have made his fur matted. Seeing the others he walks over to the 3 heros that fell in defense of this town, and even the wold the taur stops for a moment and bows his head reverentialy<sp?>. Shiraz looks up at the heavens and then back at Jurgen, Sir Thomas and his horse, and Trace, then finally back at the bodies of his friends. "Alemi, bless this place, a place once yours and then desecrated, but now it has been washed clean with the blood of heros, of warriors who hearing Imod command us have courage, and courage these three mighty heros showed.Sly and Luke and Ilusidur, these heros of the wold. Let this be there burial ground here in this newly blessed temple of Alemi, in the town that they saved with their lives, forfeiting all the comforts they would have as they grew older and wiser. HEAR ME ALEMI, for I am SHIRAZ the MINOTAUR, friend of these heros, and they deserve as much for they gave themselves for you and all these people, this is what I beseech you." Shiraz loweres his hands that had risen to the heavens in his prayer and looks at Jurgen,Trace and Sir Thomas. "I need help preparing a burial Cairn and removing that infernal machine out of the tree. Who will help me?" Shiraz then pulls a rope from his backpack and goes to look at the machine stying far enough back to not get hi from any tentacles.
Jurgen Monday June 10th, 2002 11:30:04 PM
How could he? If he hadn't used what he had to send the machine into the air, they would still be alive. It grabbed them, only while flailing wildly. How could he? It was his fault. All his fault.
The boy drops his bag to the ground, slowly opening it. Once he finds his pick, he starts to dig a grave for Sly. His hands shake, but he cries no longer. He couldn't cry, he had to look strong. Shiraz the Taur was in tears, Sir Thomas the knight was in tears, Trace was too shocked to move. Jurgen had to help them. He had to forget about himself and begin to heal the emotional wounds of the others.
Taking a deep breath, Jurgen helps put Sly into his final resting place. This was the end for them. A part of him was telling him to strip them down and take what they had, while another was telling him to let them rest. He decided to listen to the second one, slowly covering them with dirt. He whispers an apology to them, before covering the last bit.
He again rummages through his bag, pulling out two bottles of Holy Water. One he pours over Ilsidur's grave, a symbol to who he appeared to be. The second he makes a small hole for, just above the grave. He drops it in, leaving just the cork showing.
"May you be protected, wherever you are..."
Next he grabs a scrap of paper from a leather binding, in Draconic, it reads "Sleep - For those enemies who just won't fall to the ground. Warning: No actual sleep is recieved from this spell, so it is not a sedative." He ignores this, digging a similar hole above Sly, dropping the scroll in, pushing dirt over it with his foot.
"Sleep well my friend, hopefully you'll find who your looking for."
This time Jurgen searches his belt pouch, pulling the Turtle out that he showed before. He looks at it, as if trying to remember something. Something that seems so far away, so long ago... He places it above Luke's grave, near Thomas's headstone. He has it in the ground, just enough so that it will be covered.
"Perhaps there is eternal fun waiting for you..."
He nods his head, not praying just respecting. His eyes almost water again, but he holds it back. No fear. No sorrow. He was to help these people. He was the only one who could help them. He had no pain for himself. No time for it.
"I know no gods. The only prayer I know was written by a mad hermit. Perhaps he knows something that I do not...
Destiny chimes in great tones. Powerful rings the dead way. Entropy bell leads past gods. Beckoning the Lands of Rest."
With that Jurgen looks to the remaining three. Sir Thomas, Divine Knight of Alemi. Trace Jacobs, Man of the Wild. Shiraz The Minotaur, Rarest of Rarities. Who was Jurgen? Nobody.
No! These were a strange band of heros. He would have to be someone. He would have to lead them. Or at the very least, help them. Yes, he was somebody, Jurgen Strumjager, Guide of Chaos! That was his fate. To put the others before himself, no matter what.
Looking around, Jurgen eyes the twitching machine. He pulls out 10 bottles, with an oily liquid inside. He shakes them around a bit, before letting it all out over top of the trees' bottoms. Half of it on each side. He makes sure to cover the visible parts that are at his knee level. He drops the bottles as his work finishes, some cracking while others just hit the ground with a thunk. The faint smell of oil can be detected, just barely.
"Thomas, Shiraz and Trace, I think it best we leave the temple. Ilsidur, Sly and Luke are gone from their bodies. I claim not to know where they are, but they died saving others. We should try to save all we can. We may have stopped the big giant thing, but there is still evil to be undone." He tries to slowly lead the group away from the temple, making sure they are a few hundred feet away before going back.
He then goes back, just close enough to see the bases of the trees. A hundred things go through his mind, before he just pushes it all out. A spell comes to his tongue, letting it begin. The motions of it appear much like a complex dance, slowly gliding along the ground with crisp, graveful movements. His words sound much like a song, twisting together.
[Casting: Flaming Sphere - Target: The Oil At The Bases Of The Trees - Duration: 6 Rounds]
[This post takes place over a few rounds. Sorry if I can't do that. I'm just thinking that we're in the calm, so I can do a bit. If not, sorry.
Jurgen - OOC Monday June 10th, 2002 11:31:54 PM [I see that Shiraz and I both posted at similar times. Well, there is a half hour difference, but I did start my post about an hour ago and am just finishing. What do we do in this case, as our actions conflict. Jurgen will explain what he's doing to Shiraz, if that helps :).]
Trace (Ceil) Tuesday June 11th, 2002 6:09:08 AM
Trace puts branches in Sly's grave (making a little bed of branches), pick up Sly's body and lay him in his grave and crosses his hands over his chest, but doing so trace notices that Sly still has his tattoo (and brighter than ever)? "That's strange?" said Trace,"Sly still has his mark in his hand and Ilsidur does not?" but finishes the grave but instead of a grave marker, Trace plants the sapling. The bury Faithful Luke next to Sly's grave (with beef jerky). "Now it is done, But I wonder?"
The moon rises, and so do other things (DM Cayzle) Tuesday June 11th, 2002 6:41:42 AM A Note From Your DM: Please feel free to post several rounds (or minutes or hours) of action and intention if you like. I encourage it. But if you do, don't be surprised if sometimes I halt your plans in midstream because I judge you'll want to respond to new events. Like this time. But even if you don't get to do your whole plan, I'm very glad to get a feel for what's going on in your PC's head. -- Cayzle
Still greatly grieving, Thomas, Trace, Jurgen, and Shiraz dig graves nearby.
Please note, in case it wasn't clear last post: One side of the Arch leads to the Void. The other side leads to the Chapel at Heranmar, the Entropy Bell Chapel. There is some kind of space-warping magic at work here. The trees and machine together form some kind of dimensional conduit. You now have a way to walk into and out of the Void -- which heretofore was a one-way trip -- NO one ever came out of the Void that you heard of (except Marteaus's army), but now you have emerged.
I assume that you carve the graves from the earth on the Heranmar side of the Arch, since the Void side is more blasted, and besides, who would want to be buried in the Void?
While they dig, Jurgen and Shiraz talk about their desires to destroy this unique passageway in and out of the Void. Jurgen wants to burn down the trees so that no one can ever escape from the Void again. Shiraz wants to divorce the trees from the machine, so that there will be no way to enter the Void from Heranmar for any reason, noble or not.
On the Heranmar side, the living party members see that there are in fact five largish stones surrounding the Arch in what used to be the Chapel (before the roof flew off and the walls mostly crumbled). Roll a spot check vs DC 10 to see that the stones kind of look, at the right angles, like old women.
After the graves are dug, night falls completely, and the moon rises. Jurgen prepares his rememberances and markers. The moon's pale beams fall on the Arch and the bodies under it. The living walk over to the bodies of their fallen friends to carry them to the graves. The hand of Death lies heavily on Sly, Ilsidur, and Luke. The skin of the dead is alabaster white, and that skin is stretched taut over their bones. The hair (and fur) of the dead has changed color in the moonlight -- it too is pure white. The eyelids of the dead have contracted while they lay here -- now their eyes are open. But the eyeballs have rolled up, it seems, because only the whites are showing.
As the living watch, stunned, the bodies of their fallen comrades sit up! And then stand!
Their chests are still and do not breathe. Their limbs all move with slow control. They look from friend to friend with calm. Their eyes are still a pure pure white. They are the living dead.
Sly Foxx and Like Tuesday June 11th, 2002 12:32:38 PM
Sly sits up, slowly look around with sightless eyes. Then stands up along with Luke. Sly walks slowly to his friends and ask Sir Thomas, "Did...we...defeat...it? Did...we...stop...that...machine?"
Shiraz d20=15 d20=10 Tuesday June 11th, 2002 8:13:06 PM
The minotaur looks up suddenly and manages to shake off his surprise (will 15) at seeing his frieds rise and become the undead, but it stops there as he finds himself trembling in rage at whomever has done this thing to 3 heros of the wold. "Where are you cowardly necromancer to raise such heros, show yourself or be known a craven to all when I hang you from your entrails from my entrophy bell!!!!"
Jurgen Wednesday June 12th, 2002 12:39:47 AM
Before he knows what he is doing, Jurgen rushes forward with his arms out to embrace Sly. He hugs the living dead creature, holding tightly. He won't let go, even as he walks towards Sir Thomas.
"Sly! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to kill you. It was all an accident. The tree... I didn't... I'm so glad your ok!" He
[Sorry, for the sloppy post. I've been having some computer troubles.]
Sir Thomas d20=10 d20=13 Wednesday June 12th, 2002 1:45:33 AM
Rolled 10 + 2 WIS = 12 Spot check
Through his tears, Thomas sees the five stones and notes that they appear to possess faces. He wipes his eyes and looks again in disbelief, but before he is able to discern any real detail about the rocks Sly approaches him and his living friends. "SLY!" Thomas gasps in disbelief. Thomas tries to say more, but his voice trails into a whisps of incoherent breathing.
Thomas rises to his feet to meet the young elf. "Sly, your eyes . . . your skin and hair . . . do you feel ok?" Thomas fights his disbelief, like Shiraz fights his own, (Rolled 13 + 10 WILL or + 11 Fortitude = 23 or 24 to save) and this one question is the only one that comes to his mind. And then Thomas thinks to answer Sly's question, he stutters, "yes. Yes my friend. You and Ilsidur and Jurgen destroyed the machine together." Thomas knows the telling is slightly inaccurate, slightly a lie, and some of it he is fudging, but he thinks it the best for all involved to think that they played a crucial role in the downfall of the machine. Mostly, because he thinks they did; maybe Thomas would make a good bard if Uteva would teach him to play an insturment. "I remember Ilsidur finishing his spell, and I felt . . . I don't know how I felt it but I felt your life force going into Ilsidur's body. You protected him from the draining force of the counter-spell. That closed the Void and killed the vampire giant. Almost at the same time, Jurgen swooped under the machine, I saw it out of the corner of my eye as I was trying to heal you and Ilsidur. He did something that caused these two giant trees, trees much bigger than those in the elven forest through which you lead us on the magical road. The trees lifted the machine from the ground and gave the killing stroke to it's working. On it's way up it took us from the balcony and then I remember nothing . . . nothing except . . . well . . . it seems I was mistaken about what I saw when I woke up. Do you feel ok? I have a healing potion in my pouch here. What say you my friend." Thomas treats his friend with caution because of the circumstances of the situation, but he relays the entire story, somewhat embellished for the benefit of some involved, while keeping some distance from Sly. Thomas hardens his emotions to deal with Sly in this state. He does not show signs of grief, but cannot hold back all of the signs of uncertainty and disbelief at what he sees.
Trace and Radiant (Ceil) d20=17 Wednesday June 12th, 2002 3:23:45 AM
(OOC: I don't remember Trace's wisdom bet with his basic roll of 17, Trace is not affraid of Sly}
Trace look at Sly in the arms of Jurgen, but he has to ask his now strange friend. "Little Brother, you are dead, you know? who is your master now? What do you want of us?"
Trace will stand apart from Sly until he gets a answer.
In Shock (DM Cayzle) Wednesday June 12th, 2002 7:12:50 AM
Shiraz loudly searches for someone (anyone) who raised his friends as undead things. But he sees no necromancer.
Sly walks forward slowly and asks if the quest succeeded. Jurgen hugs him and apologizes. Thomas, also visibly moved, reassures Sly.
Luke looks around and doesn't seem to think anything is wrong. He sniffs around the stones that look like people and then returns to Sly's side.
Trace is characteristically straightforward and asks Sly if he knows he is undead.
Ilsidur stands silently, just watching.
The stars twinkle overhead. The living have had a very long day, and they are tired.
Sly Foxx and Luke (the Undead) Wednesday June 12th, 2002 10:00:58 AM
"It was not your fault, Jurgen" Sly tells Jurgen. Then to Shiraz, he tells him "I'm not control by any one, I have my free will." To Sir Thomas "You have? The black robes was saving the town. Trace, my big brother, I'll have to tell you all about it later. Look! Ilsidur is up." Sly slowly motion for Ilsidur to come forward.
Shiraz d20=14 d20=18 Wednesday June 12th, 2002 8:07:39 PM
Shiraz looks around noticing in the process that the stones look like the crones that everyone has told him about. Managing to control himself the taur slows down and looks at the 3 undead. "OK, I am willing to accept you are here but I need to know why?"
Jurgen Wednesday June 12th, 2002 8:19:43 PM
As Jurgen's touches against Sly's skin, he shakes horridly. A chill runs along his back, forcing him to pull away. With eyes of a scared child, he stares at his re-animated friend. Suddenly it hits him. Sly Foxx and Ilsidur weren't brought back normally. They were dead that had a fake life poured into them. And as he heard speech from the undead creation, he knew he was right.
"THEY WERE NOT!" His voice cries out, as he edged backwards. Twice he almost tripped, catching himself just seconds before his head connected with solid ground. "You... You lie! That's not Sly anymore, that's something else! Get away." Without warning, Jurgen changes direction and hides behind Sir Thomas. Then he starts to bring light from the sun itself towards him, he summons it to protect him from these abominations.
"Stay away! You won't get near me! Sir Thomas Hurley, do something! We have to run... But if they came back, then there will be many others."
Sir Thomas d20=17 d20=20 d6=5 d6=1 Wednesday June 12th, 2002 11:12:36 PM
Thomas is very confused, but he knows that to make any headway, Ilsidur and Sly must start explaining how they apear to live, or the suspicion of those who were left alive by the power of the machine must be dropped. Thomas decides to act to force one of the two resolutions to the problem occur. "Jurgen!" Thomas speaks firmly and sharply to get Jurgen's attention, but also to calm Shiraz and Trace (should they have thoughts of acting on their own). Thomas wants the attention of all. "I am going to perform a test. I will prove that by Alemi's divine mercy our friends are alive but changed by the power of the machine. We will find a solution to our suspicions once and for all. Sly . . . Ilsidur, stand together. I am going to call on the power granted to me by Alemi. If you are undead creatures, you will become afraid of me. But if you are not undead then there will be no effect upon you. Be still my friends, I have faith about the result." Thomas positions himself 15 feet from his friends, pulls out his holy symbol, and raises it so that it hangs from his hand facing Ilsidur and Sly. "By the power of Alemi I command you unholy creatures to flee this place. Alemi Sis Baktul Arcadia . . . Beseech Beyeor!" (Rolled 17 to determin HD turning capability = cleric level + 2 - 2 for being paladin + 4 CHR = turn level 11 HD)
[OOC: sorry for the second d20 roll, it is not needed too bad for me]
(Rolled 5 + 1 + 4 CHR + 5 Paladin level (as Cleric of two levels lower) = 15 HD of turning)
When Thomas has another opportunity, he will detect evil from the altered white friends.
"The tests are complete . . . "
Trace(ceil) Thursday June 13th, 2002 3:40:42 AM
Trace just stands there, watching. Hes glade to see his freind again, but Sly has changed. Tarce tells Sir Thomas, "They are not evil, I know because Sly called me 'Big Brother'".
In More Shock (DM Cayzle) Thursday June 13th, 2002 11:35:24 AM
Shiraz asks why the undead Sly and Ilsidur are here, but has so far received no answer, except that Luke walks up to Shiraz and licks his hand with a cold, dry tongue.
Young Jurgen realizes he is hugging a living corpse and freaks out. He backs off fast. He casts a Daylight spell, based on himself, illuminating all in a 30 foot radius. That puts the undead comrades still in shadow. Does Jurgen move forward to shed light directly on his dead friends?
Sir Thomas, convinced that Sly and Ilsidur are not really undead, try to use the power of his faith and god to force them to flee. He fails in that attempt, although he does not know why. Maybe they aren't undead, although they sure do seem to be! Maybe his attempt simply failed. Sir Thomas detects no evil from them, although the Void itself, perceptible through the Arch, remains as evil as it always was (Thomas remembers how the evil of the Void made him sick).
Trace is more accepting of the undead -- although he is also nervous.
The wind blows through the trees on the Chapel side of the Arch.
Sly Foxx and Luke Thursday June 13th, 2002 6:41:11 PM
Sly stands beside Ilsidur and watches his friends go through their fears and tests. Sly tell Ilsidur (Who stands next to him)"Maybe they are tired. . . Maybe we Should let them sleep for a while. . . And we can keep guard."
Trace(Ceil) Thursday June 13th, 2002 6:44:07 PM
"You may not be Evil, But you make me uneasy. I think I'll sleep in the trees tonight." Trace tell them all.
Jurgen d20+6=24 d6=5 Thursday June 13th, 2002 7:41:24 PM
Jurgen watches the divine knight carefully, trying to figure out why his powers did not work. He groans slightly, realizing that neither his magic nor Sir Hurley's was working on their friends. But wait, Jurgen wasn't close enough.
Breathing deeply, he goes forward. His entire body seems to fight against this, but he screams in his head to go on. If they were his friends, the wouldn't hurt him. If they weren't, the light would save him... Hopefully.
When he gets close enough, Jurgen starts to speak a long unheard of tongue. His hands grasp together, then rip apart, then slam against the other. White energy then begins to gather, held only by his flesh. Then, he releases it out in a blast, towards Sly.
[Casting: Disrupt Undead - Target: Sly - Success at AC 24 - Damage: 5]
If Sly was still Jurgen's friend and alive, he would be fine. If he was his friend and dead, Jurgen was releasing. And if he was an enemy? It didn't matter how he was stopped. It was just important that it was destroyed. Undead weren't natural. Undead should not exist. Undead WOULD not exist.
[Jurgen's biggest fear is undead, and in the first mission his friends become one. Somehow I see building a trusting relationship will be difficult. ;)]
Shiraz d20=10 Thursday June 13th, 2002 8:31:03 PM
Shiraz looks at the 3 undead friends at Sir Thomas, then back up and shrugs his shoulders. "Just dont attack us I would hate to have to kill a friend who was already dead."
Sir Thomas Thursday June 13th, 2002 10:29:48 PM
"As I expected; our friends are not undead creatures, but still our friends." No longer having a reason to question why his friends are still alive, Thomas just accepts the fact that they stand before him . . . though Ilsidur's presence still provides some uncertainty because he has yet to move or speak. Thomas lets Jurgen run his own tests so that he will be able to accept the fact as well. While Jurgen is convincing himself Thomas tries to feel the mental link through the entropy bell that they felt before the destruction of the machine. He concentrates very hard. He lets his thoughts wander to the crones, to friends of old, to his family, to his fellows children of chaos, to Alemi, to his hands and the mark they bear . . .
After that, Thomas asks Sly and Ilsidur to recount what they know and remember about the fight. He pulls his shaving mirror from his backpack and gives it to Sly. "I think it's about time you understood why we are acting this way. I'm not sure you understand quite yet."
Sly IS Undead! (DM Cayzle) Friday June 14th, 2002 12:52:04 PM
Sly suggests standing guard over his friends, who are quite tired. Trace replies that he'll be sleeping in a tree, in that case.
Jurgen steps forward, bringing Sly, Luke, and Ilsidur into the magical daylight. None of them flinch. So since Sir Thomas could not turn them, and since the light did not hurt them, perhaps they are really not undead?
But Jurgen's final test is conclusive. He casts Disrupt Undead on Sly, a spell that only affects undead. And it DOES affect Sly. The undead half-elf takes five hit points of damage as a wound opens on his arm. Sly is undead, beyond doubt! Probably Ilsidur and Luke too, most likely.
Shiraz asks the undead to NOT attack -- a funny comment considering it is the living who have acted with hostility, not the dead!
Ilsidur remains quiet, lost in his own thoughts.
Thomas, uncertain, tries to invoke the Entropy Power. He is not sure if he hears a bell or not. But suddenly he notices (no Spot roll needed) the largish rocks standing in a circle on the Chapel side of the Arch -- they DO look like old women. There are five of them, facing in toward the Arch. He senses that they are on watch.
The paladin hands Sly a mirror.
Trace (Ceil) Friday June 14th, 2002 1:57:26 PM
Trace watches the faces of Sly and Ilsidur very closely. This is making him nervous he never, every seen a friendly undead.
Sly Foxx and Luke Friday June 14th, 2002 2:15:31 PM
Sly reels when the spell hits him, but Sly look down at the wound. Them with unseeing eyes, look at Jurgen and ask ". . Why? . ."
As Sir Thomas hand Sly the mirror, Sly takes it and ask, "Ffor me?" Then look in the mirror, "I'm...Dead!...I'm Dead!...The last thing I remember is the Machine sucking the life force out of me, Ilsidur and Luke... I remember it was trying to do the same to you... But every thing went black... What happens now?... I still feel like there is something undone?... Must I leave you?... I'm not wanted or needed any more?"
Ilsidur (undead) Friday June 14th, 2002 10:39:28 PM
Ilsidur breaks out of the trance that seems to have been holding him in place. He looks around at his friends, and shakes his head. "What is going on? I feel...strange, different somehow. I expected that counterspell to drain the life from me, but it appears that it has not."
"I thank my lord Marmathon Dur ... wait, I can't feel his presence! Why am I not more upset about that? I feel power inside me, more power than I ever had before. But where does that power come from? Did my lord die with the other gods?"
The white-skinned dwarf moves forward and looks at all of his friends, both old and new. "It seems we are all safe. That is good. So why don't I feel like celebrating? I perceive everything as if through a haze."
"Sly, what is wrong with you? You seem to look like ... death? What happened to you at the end? I remember you grabbing onto me, and trying to pass me your strength, then I remember nothing after that." He moves up to Sly and takes the elf's hand, and looks at it clasped in his hand. "Your hand is cold ... wait, my hand is white and cold, too. What did that machine do to us?" He looks around at the others, and notices that they all appear to be normal. He sees concern, and worry, and maybe fear? on some of their faces. "Are you afraid of me, of Sly, of us? I am the same dwarf that has been with you through the past year or so, both good and bad. Trace, Sir Thomas, remember the big fight against Void and his brother Bear? Remember the elven tree city where you first met me? Remember us raising that young child from the dead at the gates of Hook City? I remember all that. Do you? Have you been changed, somehow, too? Why are you afraid of me?"
Lasly, he looks around at what has happened to the machine, the gate, the temple, the new arch. "Where are we? How did we get outside the Void?"
OOC: A Present from Kent (DM Cayzle) Friday June 14th, 2002 11:42:16 PM Out of Character Announcement: Kent has awarded every Southern Lights Player 400 gp each because I sent him your character sheets in a timely fashion. I was the second DM to do so -- If I had been first, it would have been 500 gp!
So add 400 gp to your PC sheets! And thanks, Kent!
Cayzle
Sir Thomas d20=7 Monday June 17th, 2002 10:23:56 AM
[OOC: Thanks Cayzle for turning our CS in early/on time, and Kent for the gp!]
"No!" Thomas exclaims to Ilsidur's question, "it is not fear that we feel. We are quite concerned about this result, and what it means. I remember all of that too Ilsidur . . . happy memories mostly. I hope you do not see fear in our actions. We will not attack you any longer." Thomas walks up and hugs Ilsidur. The hug is warm and from Thomas' heart. When it is over he goes to Sly and accepts his mirror back. He then hugs the young, undead elf. "I love you guys. I could not possibly be afraid of you."
Thomas steps back from the undead and tries to help the group remove its focus from the fact that some of them are walking dead. "When I tried to envoke the power of the bell a moment ago in an attempt to help solve the mystery of how and why this paradoxically blessed result came about, I saw that this grouping of rocks looked like the five crones from heranmar. Sly, you were there in Heranmar when they saved us from the mob and told us that we would be curse or cure. Let's go look and see if we can't divine some help from their images." Thomas walks over to the rocks, hopefully with Sly on his heels. He walks up to each rock and inspects it carefully. Thomas tries to match each rock to the crone in his memory. "Sorrow . . . Justice . . . Wisdom . . . Watcher . . . and the one I know as Protection . . . I see your faces, and mourn your loss. If my friends did not die because of your sacrifice, then I thank you. My you rest in peace." (Rolled 7 + 2 WIS = 9 Spot check) Thomas looks for anything unusual about the rocks. Something archaic, symbolic, or significantly unnatural. He runs his bare hand across the rocks to feel their contour. He rubs the tatoo on his hand after each touching of the rock. "We still have the ability to do great things."
Reunion (DM Cayzle) Monday June 17th, 2002 10:34:29 AM
Anyone who touches the five stones feels his tattoo tingle. There is a sense of being watched -- more of being look after and guarded, not spied on.
At this moment, there is a noise at the center of the ring of stones, under the Arch -- and when the group turns around, they see Altemia is there! And in the living flesh, not undead.
Altemia d20+13=26 Monday June 17th, 2002 3:13:48 PM
Altemia stands there a moment, a bit disturbed and disoriented. She sees her friends standing across from her as well as the minotaur who joined them when she left. Something seems to be wrong with Sly, Luke, and Ilsidur, though.
Moving closer, she ignores the others and focuses on those three. Her eyes widen and she turns to the others for confirmation.
"They're dead aren't they?"
As she turns, she notices the arch that she came through and the faces on it (spot 26). She notices the likeness to those in her dream. Turning quickly to her friends, Altemia tells them of her dream.
"My friends, when I left you I fell into an unusual and deep sleep. I dreamed of
the Entropy Bell -- it was ringing. I heard the hum of the evil machine of the Dark one. I felt the gods die. Finally, in my dream, I opened my eyes.
I was standing at the center of a circle --around me stood the five old women that I see in the arch before me.
Four crones speak at once without moving their mouths: "Saviour. Destroyer. Saviour. Destroyer." The fifth one says, "Accursed, you must bring your friends to our sign in Heranmar! You must bring them now! They are almost too late! Late! They must speak with dragons! Seek us in Heranmar NOW! Use the orb!"
So you see! We must hurry! But what are they speaking of with their sign and what is the orb? You can fill me in on what I missed later. They seemed very insistant."
Altemia turns to look each of her friends in the face. Her eyes slide past Sly, Luke, and Ilsidur quickly and fall to rest upon the tall minotaur. Altemia studies him for a moment and nods, accepting him as the others accepted her so long ago (so it seems), no questions asked.
[Cayzle: Just one note of clarification -- the Arch is made of the former (and still active in a feeble way) machine of the Dark One, lifted by two trees. Outside and around the Arch -- not part of it -- are the five large stones that look somewhat like people. Questions?]
Sly Foxx and Luke (undead) Monday June 17th, 2002 4:07:27 PM
Sly releases the mirror to Sir Thomas. When Sir Thomas walks to the rocks circle, Sly slowly walk behind him. With disinterested eyes Sly look at the rock formation. "There are women, I can fell something but it comes from the middle of the circle." Sly just stands there for a moment then greets her, "I'm glade your back, Little Sister."
Trace Monday June 17th, 2002 4:16:07 PM
"Yes, We have a little problem with both Sly and Ilsidur. But I'm glad to see you back again. I'm sure Sly would say the same. This is getting stranger with every passing hour. I wish these old Crones could talk to us again." Trace tells Altemia, as he leans on his bow.
Shiraz Monday June 17th, 2002 4:41:58 PM
Shiraz looks at the myesterious woman in the middle of the stones and bows slightly, "Welcome back little one, I am Shiraz the Minotaur." Shiraz looks around at the others leaving the undead friends out for a minute, "Now what??" the taur asks to those who did not die. " They were and are of and like us but what can we do to restore our friends?"
Sleep at last (DM Cayzle) Tuesday June 18th, 2002 7:35:27 AM
Just for the record, today has been a Looooong Day! You found the machine, saw the Dark Army, watched people drop dead in the streets, destroyed the machine, and some of you became undead. Frankly, the living among you feel dead with fatigue and weariness. You really MUST sleep. Trace is nodding off. Thomas is slowing down. Even Jurgen is not his usual bundle of hopping energy. Altemia just woke from a sleep, sort of, so she is not as bad off. So you camp out, with the Undead and Altemia to watch.
In the night you all dream, at one time or another, of Heranmar. You are looking down on it. In one quarter, the moon has landed and settled on the ground. The round shape of it sits ON Heranmar. It is white with a flame inside. It is beckoning you.
In the morning, what do you do?
Shiraz Tuesday June 18th, 2002 11:29:13 AM
Shiraz wakes early before the others and rolls up his tent and bed roll and pack it away while looking in he direction of Heranmar. Munching absently on a trail ration the taur sits on the ground and watches his companions sleep then stand sand gopes to Altemia, "Well met agian and glad I am to have another with us. Last night I dreamed of a strange city and its name becomes me to come. What can you tell me of Heranmar?"
Sir Thomas Tuesday June 18th, 2002 12:23:29 PM
Thomas wakes slowly. He usually would be up earlier, but the fatigue from the previous day kept him in his rest much longer this morning. He wakes and prepares to leave. He then prays to Alemi and to the dead Domi - he figures, why not, if Ilsidur, Sly, and Luke can return from the dead certainly a god can with the right influence.
Upon finishing his prayers, Thomas tells the group what he knows. "Heranmar is a small port town. It is the town where all of this Entropy Bell stuff began. It is where Trace and I first landed when we arrived from the northern continent. It is where we met the crones . . . and Sly. It seems to me that Heranmar is where we need to go. I know we should hurry, but I am drawn to investigate this circle further." Thomas walks to the middle of the circle and places his hand on the ground. He tries to 'sense' if something is buried there. If he cannot he will dig a small hole. If he finds nothing he will return the dirt and investigate the crones again. He will walk around each crone and run his hand over the rock as he goes. He knocks on them and tries to push them as well. Finally, when he is satisfied that there is nothing left to investigate about the rock formation he looks through the portal into the Void. "I would like to destroy it because at least a full third of the dark army is prevented from marching on the Wold if we do. However, I don't think there is time for us to do it. Any other ideas?"
Once all of these tasks are done Thomas approaches Altemia, "I am sorry to put welcoming you back on hold dear friend. Welcome back." Thomas hugs her. "You should know the way to Heranmar, it is near Hook City and Threshold, and we went there when we teleported from the bridge in Hook City, if you'll remember. It should not be far, by my recollection, but I think you would know better than me.
[OOC: My phone line went out last night. I hope it doesn't become a problem, but just so you all know.]
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Tuesday June 18th, 2002 3:20:28 PM
Sly was sitting down with his back resting on one of the statues and playing fetch with Luke. When the rest of the party awaken, Sly stands and watches the others. When Sir Thomas is done investigating the circle, Sly will follow him. When all the task are done, and ready to leave, Sly will follow behind the party.
Trace(ceil) Tuesday June 18th, 2002 3:27:54 PM
Trace wakes up, after a fitful sleep. Pack up and eat a little trail food. when everybody are ready to leave, Trace will put one of the left over Black Cloak over Sly, "Now no one will be scared when they look at you. Just thinking of you Little Brother."
Altemia d20+9=25 Tuesday June 18th, 2002 5:24:29 PM
The small elf blushes when Sir Thomas hugs her.
"Oh, yes. Um...Heranmar. I'd forgotten that we were there before. We've gone through so much lately it's all a jumble in my mind."
Altemia watches the undead members of their party sereptitiously (sp?). She wants to accept them as others have done, but their state of being, or unbeing, rubs something inside her the wrong way.
She watches as Sir Thomas examines the arch of stones and the area around them. She is more restless than usual, shifting from one foot to the other instead of standing still.
"Sir Thomas, I don't feel we will learn anything here. I also don't think the crones will let anything bad in from the Void. Can't you feel them protecting us in their way? Besides, it's the arch with the machine that should be destroyed if anything, not the crone stones."
Altemia actually giggles at the words crone stones, a sure sign of her nervousness.
"I really feel we must do whatever we must here quickly and get to Heranmar. The dreams I had before I met up with you and the one last night make me feel so. But where from here is Heranmar? What direction?"
Altemia takes a good look around the area they are in hoping it will give her some clues (Wild Lore 25).
Ilsidur (undead) Tuesday June 18th, 2002 9:32:14 PM
A small smile appears on Ilsidur's face when he first sees Altemia. "Well met again, young lady," he says. "I am ... happy ... you are back, safe."
He watches over his companions through the night, with little to occupy his mind other than his new status. "Maybe I am dead, but yet somehow not dead. This is most strange. I wonder if this is permanent, or merely a transition to something else?" Sometime during the night, he moves over to look at the circle of stones that seem to watch the arch. He tries to get a sense from whatever powers still rest in the stones, to understand if they are trying to send a message, and if they want the arch destroyed. "Will you watch over this opening in space for us, and make sure no evil can pass into this part of the world?"
At dawn, Ilsidur goes into a trance, wondering if there is still power to grant his spells. "Marmathon Dur, I used to pray to you every sunup for you to fill me with your power. I don't fell that connection any more, but perhaps there is still a way ..." He feels some sort of power enter his body, and he recognizes the power; it is the same power that he used in the past to cast his spells. He channels the power into specific spells, and realizes he can cast many more spells and more powerful spells, than he ever could in the past. "I wonder if this is all a part of my new state of being?" He tries to discover where the power is coming from, but so far is unable to tell.
As the group discusses what to do next, Ilsidur says, "I feel that we need to head into Heranmar. Since my appearance frightened you, my companions, so much, I think that Sly and I should wear our hoods up on our cloaks, so that we don't frighten anyone in town. We need to know what is going on in Heranmar, and the rest of the Wold, as well."
Jurgen Tuesday June 18th, 2002 11:56:21 PM
No longer is Jurgen scared thoughtless of his once living friends. Now he is mearly weary of these... guards. They were not friends. They could not be friends. They were thoughtless, lifeless beings and he had to keep himself safe in their presence.
So Jurgen's night was with little rest and even when he did have a chance to close his eyes, he slept lightly with a spell flickering on his tongue and mind, while his quarterstaff was less then a flick of the wrist away. Still, he recieved the sleep he needed ... barely.
When he awakens he goes to a point where he can see all the undead at once, while still mentally focusing his thoughts. He actually goes into a focusing position, his feet behind his head. Then he meditates, renewing the magically energy that he has in his body. And then he is done, after slightly more then a quarter of an hourglass.
His physically body is renewed, so is his magically. But his mind is frayed in knot upon knot. He does not wish to travel with these beings of death. He shouldn't have to. But he deemed himself worthy of risking himself for them, so he would have to stick with them.
"Let us go." The sounds of joy completely gone from his voice, mearly words. Jurgen stands and is ready to leave.
[Sorry about the no-post. My DSL was having problems and I found out it was the computer plug itself. Oh well :).]
The Orb
Return to Heranmar (DM Cayzle) Wednesday June 19th, 2002 6:39:24 AM
Sir Thomas does indeed feel a response when he touches the stones with his tattooed hand -- a throbbing presence that reassures him. Maybe Altemia is right -- maybe the stones will hedge out anything evil coming from the Void.
Ilsidur reports that he got a similar sensation of watchfulness when he investigated the "crone stones," as Altemia has named them.
Aside from the concern over the stones and the Arch, several in the group clearly remain nervous about Sly and Ilsidur. And Luke.
After talking about the town, the group prepares to visit Heranmar. Sly and Ilsidur don robes. Luke goes undisguised, but since no one ever heard about an undead dog before, maybe no one will notice.
Altemia notices the path that leads from the place the Chapel once stood. Steering clear of close contact with other travellers, the Children of Chaos enter the town.
Heranmar is almost deserted! There are many fewer people on the streets than in former days. And the reason is easy to tell -- rumor says that a great army of evil is about four days away! Most of the town's wealthier folk have fled, to sea or away inland.
The group sees a number of street preachers who seem to be heralding the Endtime.
With the streets almost empty, no one challenges the group or looks too closely at the stranger members.
Wandering at random, the Children of Chaos come to an inn -- marked with a sign showing five old women on it. As Sir Thomas opens the door, blindingly bright light spills out, like a dozen of Jurgen's daylight spells. Inside, the bright light comes from a round object, bigger than a person's head, set into the ceiling. Within the object, colors swirl: red, brown, blue, white.
The object is so bright that all must squint to see. But the patrons of the inn -- there are a handful -- don't seem to notice.
A barkeeper calls out, "Like our new light fixture, do you?"
Trace(Ceil) Wednesday June 19th, 2002 8:57:23 AM
Trace enters and puts up his hand to shade his eyes, "Wow! what a bright light? Can you dim it down a bit?" Trace squint his eyes and looks around the room and the people are eating or drinking as if there is nothing strange going on. Trace turn to the rest of the party and ask, "Are we the only one to see this bright light?"
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Wednesday June 19th, 2002 9:12:31 AM
Sly and Luke follows the party, every where they go. When they arrived in Heranmar, Sly keep his head down and neither talk or look at the people around him. But when he enters the Inn, He is struck with the bright light. Sly turns and closes his hood and cover the Luke with the bottom of his cloak. And goes to sit in the corner of the Inn with the light to his back.
Sir Thomas Wednesday June 19th, 2002 9:37:01 AM
As the group walks into town, among rumors of the coming of the Army of Marteus and deserted streets, Thomas notes verbally, "Not much has changed here since the last two times I was here. I wonder if the young followers of Alemi that I helped are still around."
Thomas politely holds the door to the inn of the five crones for all of his companions to enter. He then approaches the innkeeper. "Good day to you sir, and yes, we are fascinated by your new light fixture. Where did you get it? How long have you had it that you consider it new? How did you come by it? . . . " Thomas enters into a friendly conversation about the fixture with the man, trying to discern as much about it as he is able. Once he has done that he thanks the man and turns toward the orb. Allowing someone else to occupy the man's attention with questions of their own if they would like, Thomas concentrates on the orb. He tries to focus his attention on his tattoo as he does directs his mind toward the orb. He mentally addresses the orb, 'the Children of Chaos have come. We seek the council of dragons through the direction of the five crones - Wisdom, Watcher, Justice, Sorrow, and the one without a name. We seek answers and wish to destroy marteus and his army. We are at the mercy of your wisdom." Thomas waits expectantly.
The ORB (DM Cayzle) Wednesday June 19th, 2002 9:58:40 AM
Perhaps in answer to Sir Thomas, a smooth flat voice echoes inside your heads.
"Well, if you can see me, you know what to do, right?"
No one answers immediately.
"I'm surrounded by idiots!" the voice continues. "Listen, here are the instruction, which you should know already!"
The smooth mental voice makes a sort of a throat-clearing sound, which is odd, since there's no actual sound, and no throat to make it!
"ahem. hrrrmpb. how did it go? oh yes." The voice changes as it recites. Come pure of heart and bearing news For Dragons fell and strong and smart. Come stout adventurers and choose To show me that you'll play the part.
Come priest and say a magic prayer. Come mage and dazzle with a spell. Come warrior with strength and flair. Come bard or rogue with tale to tell.
"Hmmmph!" the voice says. "That's clear enough. Now show me what you've got!"
[OOC: Feel free to post a second time today if you like. -- Cayzle]
Jurgen Wednesday June 19th, 2002 3:49:07 PM
Jurgen stays behind the group, treading slowly along their path to wherever it may be. There are those who have left, given up on the town. There are those who have welcomed their fate, giving up on those who could save them. Perhaps that would be best. Not to give up, but to leave. Less people would die, if they could not win... But if they didn't win, the Wold could be in danger. So they had to win. Great, another presure. Not only did Jurgen have to watch out for the Children of Chaos, which he didn't have to, but he chose to. Now he had to make sure that Sly and Ilsidur didn't kill him while he slept. And now this, an army of great magnitude... Great. What next? Did they have to save Alemi themselves?
As they enter the Inn, a stiff laugh comes from Jurgen's mouth. The first sound from him since they left the temple. If that light was to stop anything, it would be useless. Only undead were scared of light and that was proved useless against the three dead who weren't so dead.
As IT] speaks, Jurgen tries to understand it. Long ago he learned to listen to disembodied voices, although it wasn't really disembodied that time, but it served the same purpose.
"I doubt very much that I can dazzle you, with my magic. But I will use it, to prove to you that I am a mage..."
Then his feet begin to move, left to right, front to back, right to left, back to front. Then he begins to say words that actually have meaning, not just the gibberish that his other spells have been. "Up, up, to heavens I'd fly. If I had wings, I wouldn't cry. So let me soar, into the air. Let my body float somewhere." Then he does a strange bow, touching his fingers to his toes. His hands slowly slide up his sides, heading at his head. With that a single word finishes the spell. "Fly..."
And Jurgen begins to float, just a foot from where he previously stood. His feet and hands collide, curling him into a ball. He speaks words, but they are so faint that to hear them would take some impressive hearing. Without warning, he explodes into his normal stance, shouting. "FIRE." And where nobody currently is, a flaming sphere comes into being.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Wednesday June 19th, 2002 5:35:04 PM
Even with his back to the Orb, Sly Stands and speak in his slow tone, "This 1/2 Elf Child of Chaos... is ready to serve,... with magic and sword.(Sly takes and swing a couple of times)But the... problem is,... you see,...I'm already dead. But I'll Fight... until all evil is driven... to dust. One question I... would like to know... is there a chance to... come back to this Wold?" Sly stands there with head bowed, waiting for an answer.
Shiraz d20=20 Wednesday June 19th, 2002 8:32:23 PM
Shiraz looks at the orb puzzled for a minute then as the orb speaks he recalls<Int nat 20> that orbs were to be scattered by the Gold Dragons to be used as communication devices. Walking up to the bight orb and holding his hands in front of his eyes the huge taur begins to tell the story of what has transpired in the past day or so. " Well, mighty dragons who hear me from afar" Shiraz looks around and mangaes to look embarassed at what he is doing." We have destraoyed a machine that was sucking the life out of people, managed to close the void trapping most of the vampires in the void however it came at a cost almost unbearable as we lost our good cleric Ilusidur and our faithful Sly and Luke to the machine, then by some wonder I refuse to even think about they are here but dead and not evil either." Shiraz says the bit with an air of finality. Looking towards his party he asks" what did I forget?"
Altemia Thursday June 20th, 2002 3:54:11 AM
Altemia, not quite certain what to make of the orb, follows the lead of her friends.
Speaking to the orb in her mind, she pats her scimitar and sickle, "I carry both weapons and inner power. I am ready."
At the end of that, the elf casts Barkskin on herself, not wanting to alert the other patrons of the bar to what is going on. Then looking at Jurgen, she realizes they probably already have a really good idea that something is happening.
Sir Thomas Thursday June 20th, 2002 9:35:31 AM
Thomas runs through the rhyme in his head while he listens to his friends begin to fulfill its request. Jurgen casts the magical spell, a dazzling sight for sure; Sly performs a sword dance, beauty innate in his elven heritage gives a sense of drama, stylish and striking; and Shiraz, a warrior of strength, carries the news of the last few major events. Thomas knows what is missing and steps forward to provide it.
"Dragons of wisdom hear our call. I am no bard, nor a rogue by any means. However, I would share a story with you. You must know that we will play the part." It is now Thomas' turn to clear his throat. Thomas wonders what happened to Uteva, knowing that she would tell a much better story; then he begins.
"I was raised under the banner of a proud family, a noble heritage, and this story of ages past, when knights were abundant and strong enough to protect from any foe.
'Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the line!" he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismayed? Not tho' the soldiers knew Someone had blundered: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.
Hordes of evil to right of them, Hordes of evil to left of them, Hordes of evil in front of them Volleyed and thunder'd; Storm'd at with arrow and rock, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred.
Flashed all their swords bare, Flashed as they turned in air, Sab'ring the evil there, Charging an army, while All the World wondered: Plunged in the fire's smoke, Right through the line they broke; Goblins and Giants Reeled from the sabre-stroke Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not - Not the six hundred.
Hordes of evil to right of them, Hordes of evil to left of them, Hordes of evil behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with arrow and rock, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade? Oh, the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made! Honor the Light Brigade, Noble . . . Noble Six Hundred!'
[OOC: Adapted from Alfred Tennyson's - Charge of the Light Brigade]
A tear makes its way down Thomas' cheek as he recites the age-old poem that he hopes to also be his legacy when his final decsion is made.
"That is the burden we will bear. That is the part we will play. Ours not to reason why; Ours but to do and die. We will fight this army of Marteus. We are determined to be saviors. Hear us dragons. Hear our call."
Lastly, Thomas casts a cure light wounds spell and touches the orb.
Trace (Ceil) Thursday June 20th, 2002 10:45:54 AM
The Ranger steps up, with his bow. "I'm am called Trace, and a Child of Chaos. What ever Sir Thomas has said, Well that goes for the rest of us. I also am ready." Then steps back.
Ilsidur (undead) Thursday June 20th, 2002 1:11:57 PM
Ilsidur watches his companions step forward and address the globe of light, and try to impress it with their abilities and prowess.
Something tries to stir inside his body, where his heart is supposedly located, as he listens to Sir Thomas recite his poem. "Sir Thomas, you have done us proud," he says. "Uteva could have done no better."
Then he steps forward and addresses the globe. "What good am I to you: a walking dwarf with no life, a priest with power, yet no god, no-one to answer my prayers? But if I can do something to stop the powers from creating more like Sly and myself, I will do what I can." He summons the power from within himself, and creates a ball of light beside the glowing globe.
The ORB (DM Cayzle) Thursday June 20th, 2002 2:01:26 PM
Strangely, the patrons of the tavern don't seem to notice the characters or the Orb.
Shiraz has an intuitive sense that he is right, but that his words have not yet been heard as he speaks them -- the Orb had not yet been activated when he spoke.
But then, after all have had a turn, the Orb brightens and then dims.
In response to the Children of Chaos, the Orb speaks again with its mental voice. But this time the smarmy tone is gone, and it is very serious.
"Well, done, Adventurers! You have proven yourselves. So speak now, each in turn or all through one. Know that your words will reach the Dragons, especially the famed and noble Valdor, as soon as you speak them."
"Think well on the news you have to give, and hold back nothing. Even small details -- trivial to you, perhaps -- may prove the key to the defeat of the Dark One."
"If you wish to speak among yourselves, feel free. When you are ready, say the words 'Hear us, oh Dragons,' and whatever you say next will be heard."
"Be careful, though, because words once said cannot be unsaid."
The Orb dims as it waits for the trigger phrase.
Sir Thomas Thursday June 20th, 2002 10:58:11 PM
Quick with his desire to report to the dragons, Thomas pulls up a seat at a table with enough chairs for all. "Ok friends," he speaks when have been seated. "I think the best place to start is with everything since we entered the Void. In my opinion everything else is of little consequence to defeating Marteus and his army. Here's the way I see the outline of the report.
Teleported from Hook City in Southern Continent during riot after deathof Domi.
Arrived in void.
Told of trouble from dark temple in town across from desecrated temple to Alemi.
Entered Temple of Alemi to gain vantage point to observe temple of Marteus.
Found unholy machine used to suck life from people.
Attacked machine and clerics attending it.
Were beaten back because the machine had unknown defensive and magical capabilities.
During retreat we were swept up in a mob and climbed the city wall. Faced with a massive and evil army. Could only watch as the Vampire giant opened a rift in the Void and held it open as the army marched through. He obviously activated the machine we had sought to destroy, and many of the towns folk died an unnatural death.
Sought help from Mattric, a cleric of a now dead god of ?????, who offered helpful information about the town and the machine.
Formulated a better plan and made another attempt to destroy the machine.
called forth the power of the Entropy Bell (which we might note we still don't have full control of and would accept any helpful pointers about its use - i.e. power words, methods of control, invokation rituals, etc etc.
Ilsidur cast the counter spell and that was the force that actually destoryed the machine. However, during the fight, Jurgen used magic to sprout two giant trees that lifted the machine up into the air. As it died, another rift was opened to the Void. It still stands upen, but is guarded by the five Crones of Heranmar.
Ilsidur and Sly were killed by the machine (along with Luke, Sly's dog), but miraculously were walking dead when we emerged from the Void. How is that possible? They retained all of their traits, characteristics, and memories that they possessed in life, but it seems that blood no longer courses through their veins . . . nor does it need to.
We received a message to contact the dragons and now here we are doing just that."
Thomas looks around the group, "What did I miss that you would like to add. Remember, the orb said to include everything, so whatever details I have left out of my recounting you all need to help add." Thomas sits and waits for his friends to chime in with their memory of how the last two or three days played out.
Jurgen Friday June 21st, 2002 1:37:58 AM
As Sir Thomas speaks, Jurgen notes all of this in his mind. Someone would have to say it all to the orb and he wanted to be it. Even though he had been there for only two days, he knew exactly what the group know.
"The disappearance of Willim and Uteva... Remember that too. Don't forget Luke. Oh good, you didn't. Oh yeah, there is still a rather large army headed this way." Jurgen doesn't have much to add, but will speak up quickly is someone begins to say the command words for the dragons to hear them.
Trace Friday June 21st, 2002 8:12:52 AM
Trace listens very carefully, then comments "You have the whole story as far as I see it. I have nothing to add." Then sits down again.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Friday June 21st, 2002 8:29:06 AM
Sly not wanting to get up and see the bright light, will comment "Sir Thomas and Jurgan has covered every thing that I can remember. Except we (Ilsider and Sly) have lived through the machine. The machine has no mind, it does what it is build for. And yet we have free will and can remember things, like your who are with pumping blood. So the machine was doing what it was build for. Would you ask the dragons as to why these black Robe Cleric Saving as many people as they could? Or Sacrificing as many people as they could? That weigh heavy in my mind."
Ilsidur (undead) Friday June 21st, 2002 7:29:02 PM
Ilsidur listens as Sir Thomas recounts the events of the past while.
"You seem to have covered most of the situation. The only things that I would add are: (1) the spell cast by the evil priests that allowed them to pour their essence into the machine was called 'Pour Life', (2) Even though I am 'dead' and my god is 'dead', I still receive power that allows me to act much like I did when I was alive, including spells, and priest-like powers, (3) The five crones have been turned into statues, but still contain some kind of presence, (4)We are the Children of Chaos, and appear to have some fate tied to what is going on in the Wold.
[OOC: Clay, maybe you could look back through the posts, and sum up all that we have been told about being the Children of Chaos. That information might help the Dragons interpret our part in this situation.]
Shiraz Friday June 21st, 2002 8:42:46 PM
Shiraz looks around silently watching the others as they talk about the report and what to include. "Dont forget my arrival, and Altemia's rearrival, those who left and why as well," the taur says softly lost in thought.
OOC sorry for no post yesterday as I was having a crisis sorry (
Discussion (DM Cayzle) Friday June 21st, 2002 8:48:54 PM
"Talking is thirsty work!" The barkeeper startles the Children of Chaos.
He takes orders and gets you drinks.
"You can have anything in the house, so long as it's water or ale. And I don't recommend the water," he says with a snort.
He gives Sly and Ilsidur a second look, but says nothing.
After serving anyone who is thirsty, he then leaves you in peace.
[OOC: Talk it over if you like, friends, and then tell me what it is you say to the Orb. -- Cayzle]
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Sunday June 23rd, 2002 3:20:33 PM
Sly tells the others, "I'm ready to fight this evil being, just tell me where and when." Sly lifts his head and winches at the bright light. "Being only half dead and half alive is no way to exist. Might as well do what the Bell calls us for." Them puts his head down again.
Trace(Ceil) Sunday June 23rd, 2002 3:28:42 PM
Trace watches both Ilsadur and Sly, then look to Sir Thomas, "Well Tom, your the man with the words. You talk to them." But fell a little anxious but deep down in his soul he knows that it is the only way. And wonders when it will end.
Sir Thomas Sunday June 23rd, 2002 8:45:43 PM
Thomas looks quizical as he mentally adds the items his friends think relevant to the list. "So then can we agree on this list?
Teleported from Hook City in Southern Continent during riot after death of Domi.
Arrived in Void.
Told of trouble from dark temple in town across from desecrated temple to Alemi.
Entered Temple of Alemi to gain vantage point to observe temple of Marteus.
Found unholy machine used to suck life from people.
Attacked machine and clerics attending it.
Were beaten back because the machine had unknown defensive and magical capabilities.
During retreat we were swept up in a mob and climbed the city wall. Faced with a massive and evil army. Could only watch as the Vampire giant opened a rift in the Void and held it open as the army marched through. He obviously activated the machine we had sought to destroy, and many of the towns folk died an unnatural death. Somewhere in the chaos of the moments two of our group, Willim and Uteva Nerine disappeared. I don't recall exactly when we recognized they were not specifically with us any longer.
Sought help from Mattric, a cleric of a now dead god of ?????, who offered helpful information about the town and the machine.
Formulated a better plan and made another attempt to destroy the machine. Altemia, one of our group decided not to be part of the second attack. Shiraz, a friendly minotaur and fellow Child of Chaos, arrived from a long journey to find us. He was drawn by the power of the Bell. He helped us in the fight against the machine.
Called forth the power of the Entropy Bell (which we might note we still don't have full control of and would accept any helpful pointers about its use - i.e. power words, methods of control, invokation rituals, etc etc.
Ilsidur cast a counter spell to the spell used by the evil clerics, called Pour Life, and that was the force that actually destoryed the machine. However, during the fight, Jurgen used magic to sprout two giant trees that lifted the machine up into the air. As the machine died, another rift was opened to the Void and three of our number were gripped by the unholy, magical arms of the machine. They seem to have lost their lives as a result, but paradoxically they walk as if living. They even carry their old memories, mannerisms, and powers as divined from their chosen gods of worship. (Do the Dragons have any input on this situation?) Additionally, the new rift still stands upen, but is guarded by the five Crones of Heranmar, who seem to have been transformed into stone statues. However, their presence as guardians of the portal is strongly felt by us, the Children of Chaos. Altemia met back up with us.
Ilsidur and Sly were killed by the machine (along with Luke, Sly's dog), but miraculously were walking dead when we emerged from the Void. How is that possible? They retained all of their traits, characteristics, and memories that they possessed in life, but it seems that blood no longer courses through their veins . . . nor does it need to.
We received a message to contact the dragons and now here we are doing just that.
Throughout this message we have, on numberous occasions, mentioned the title Children of Chaos. We assume, in all of your supperior knowledge and wisdom, that you know of the Entropy Bell and all of the significance that the position holds. If not, speak up and we will do our best to help you understand.
Additonally, we have a point and a question to raise. First, the machnie was mindless. It simply did what it was built for. Our fallen friends who act as though living lived through the machine for a short time ad they seem to understand its inner workings. Second, Why . . . or maybe how, or both, were the black robed clerics able to save . . . or sacrifice all of the people of Abandon?"
[OOC: Fell free to cut and paste the list into your own posts and help write our message to the dragons.]
DM Cayzle OOC Monday June 24th, 2002 8:09:19 AM
You guys go ahead and keep posting until you are ready. My next post will be after you give your message to the dragons. Remember the activation phrase is: "Hear us, oh Dragons!"
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Monday June 24th, 2002 1:04:15 PM
"Sir Thomas. . .I have nothing to add."
Trace Monday June 24th, 2002 1:06:07 PM
"Neither do I, So let's talk to those Dragons" Trace pulls Sly hood down.
Shiraz Monday June 24th, 2002 3:55:18 PM
Shiraz looks at the bartender, "Ale for my friends and I please." Shiraz turns around and looks at Sir Thomas "I an only attest to what it is that I know and from my arrival to now it seems accurate."
Jurgen Monday June 24th, 2002 9:21:08 PM
A small smile crosses Jurgen's face. Sir Thomas had the information, but refused to say it. Jurgen knew most of it and wanted to. None others wanted to... Oh well.
"Now we're supposed to say 'Hear us, Oh dragons' then talk? Uh oh! Um... I'm not ready... Uh." He stutters mindlessly for a couple of seconds, then begins with what they had decided to say.
"This all started when the group teleported in, from a place called Hook City, after Domi died. Arriving in the void, which I still have no clue about, they were told of something in the temple. They went to the Temple of Alemi, to see what was in the Temple of Marteus. I think they were the Children of Chaos then, probably.
They found a machine that sucked the life out of people. Attacking the clerics, and the machine itself, they were beaten back. This is where I come in! I saved everyone. My heroic efforts did it all.
We were retreating and we saw a HUGE, GIAGANTIC, Thing... It was you know... not living. Anyway. It was bringing a very massive army through a hole in the void. There wasn't anything we could do. We really could use some help, because I'm the only really brave, smart, wonderful and amazing one. Some lady started yelling about how I'm a Child of Chaos. I was just trying to help her, 'onest.
Mattric, a divine guy, helped us out. That's when Uteva kissed me... She said she didn't mean to, but I think she did. The others tried to fight over her, but I was the one who got kissed. See! I'm the best!
We got a new plan. This time, with me. I made the idea. Altemia left. This really strange thing, I mean minotaur, came along and joined the group.
Being the Children of Chaos, we used our Entropy power, from the Entropy Bell. We still need to know more about both, so if you can think of anything at all that could help us or teach us...
Ilsidur, the dwarf person, cast the counterspell to Pour Life. That was the spell that fueled the machine. That killed it. BUT! I, being really smart and awesome, made two tree's shoot out like a crossbow from the ground. This flung the tree into the air.
When the machine died, the giant did too. Because the rift closed on him, splitting the thing in two. There is still a lot of an army here though, probably wanting to kill.
Three of us died. Ilsidur, Sly and Luke. Now their back. But really creepy! I don't wanna even go here them. I get all gittery. But they are somewhat normal. They even have their same mind. Even Ilsidur can use his divine magic, which is really funny. You see, his god died. He died. Can you tell us anything you know about that? The rift is still there, but 5 stones protect it. Yeah... Confusing.
This strange glowy orb told us to tell what happened. The group says it'll tell the Dragons. Who are the Dragons? I'm kind of a dragon! It's so much fun!
Oh yeah! Altemia is back. She was a big chicken. Left for the fight, came back when we finished.
Throughout this message we have, on numberous occasions, mentioned the title Children of Chaos. We assume, in all of your supperior knowledge and wisdom, that you know of the Entropy Bell and all of the significance that the position holds. If not, speak up and we will do our best to help you understand.
Additonally, we have a point and a question to raise. First, the machnie was mindless. It simply did what it was built for. Our fallen friends who act as though living lived through the machine for a short time ad they seem to understand its inner workings. Second, Why . . . or maybe how, or both, were the black robed clerics able to save . . . or sacrifice all of the people of Abandon?" Jurgen shakes, both vocally and physically. That ending bit sure didn't sound like him. He hated quoting from someone else. He looks around to the group, motioning for them to add anything they want. If nothing, he finishes it off cheerily.
"Bye! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. I am Jurgen. A Child of Chaos. Dabbler in the magics. Leader of the Children of Chaos... Really, I am. Yeppers, just me."
Sir Thomas Monday June 24th, 2002 10:06:17 PM
A highly offended Sir Thomas rolls his eyes and allows Jurgen to finish his soliloque to the dragons. He has many rebuttals to Jurgens self-enthralled meanderings through the recounting of a life that only a fool or one who has lost their mind could have lived. Thomas clears his throat and very calmly begins to address the dragons himself. "Well good dragons, I shall fill in the holes that our wonderous, self-centered, and self-proclaimed leader has conveniently left in the story. We are the Children of Chaos. We have been so for many many moons, all it seems except Jurgen, who only just became one and seems to be our leader. Our title came about when we accidentally allowed the Entropy Bell to ring in a small church outside of Heranmar. The Five Crones - Wisdom, Sorrow, Watcher, Justice, and the one who is unnamed - warned us not to let it ring and also that we would be curse and cure once it had been rung. We developed a tattooed mark of a spiraling circle on our hands, and with it a power that we are still trying to understand. IF you could help us understand the workings of the power of the Entropy Bell that makes us the Children of Chaos we would be greatful and use it to fight the evil that marches on the Wold.
Additionally, the 'Huge, Gigantic thing' that our elegant and fearless 'leader' has so eloquently described was a machine of some sort. I am not familiar with its construction or workings, but it was made of metal . . . as a sword is made of such . . . except it had joints and moving parts. It also had human hands attached to it by some magical means so that they could move freely and independently as an arm moves about the shoulder. It had the ability to steal souls. Souls that did not want to be taken. As we were in the Void, which seems to be an alternate but parallel world of a sort, it stole all of the souls of the inhabitants of the town of Abandon . . . all except ours and the clerics of the machine. Our friends who seem to have given up the ghost without dying lived through it for a short time and they seem to think that it was not alive at all. but that instead, it performed the duty that it was built for.
The actions of Jurgen seem to have allowed for a second portal to the Void to remain open. The machine reamins suspended in the air by the trees Jurgen magically sprouted and a portal exists underneath it that seems to allow free passage to the Void and back. However, the five crones seem to have been transmuted into rocks. Though they seem to be inanimate objects now, we Children of Chaos can feel their presence protecting and guarding the portal. We are not able to discern whether they protect its use or whether any can pass through it. Which brings up the point that there is still a massive army of Marteus in the Void trying to pass into the Wold. The portal may need to be distroyed to keep our world safe."
Thomas looks at Jurgen when he makes the end of his address to the Dragons. "All of the rest of Jurgens tale seems to be accurate enough not to comment on. However, I will add that Altemia is no coward and Shiraz is no beast. No more than our friend Jurgen anyway. It was through the efforts of the group that we all stand . . . in whatever form we stand . . . today. We tend to work together in a sort of democracy when the situation allows. We overcome obstacles together, or not at all, and we call ourselves the Southern Lights. We seek your wisdom and advice in formulating a plan of action so that we can add our strength to the defensive efforts of those in the Wold. There is an army of Marteus that seems to be marching through the Southern Continent and we sit directly in its path. Oh great and wise dragons, we beseech you to offer whatever help you can. We are honest, loyal, and determined to be savior rather than destroyer." Thomas offers a slight, respective bow to the group to show that he is finished speaking and wishes someone else to add to the telling if such additions are needed or desired.
Altemia Monday June 24th, 2002 11:21:34 PM
Knowing that others there are more elequent than she, Altemia allows them to speak for her to the wondrous Dragons. As Jurgen tells his version of the tale, Altemia's eyes open wide and her mouth starts to drop. Not taking her eyes off him, she starts to take her head. Unable to believe some of what Jurgen is saying, she almost starts to laugh. Until he comes to the part of her cowardliness.
Altemia hisses and starts to reach for her scimitar when Sir Thomas starts to speak. Taking slow breaths to try and calm herself, Altemia listens to his story for the Dragons. At his insistence that she is not a coward, Altemia looks over at him and catches his eye. Smiling, she winks at him before moving to stand near Jurgen.
Completely calm now, although still angry, Altemia takes hold of Jurgens arm and pulls him away from the rest of the group.
Lowering her voice so as not to be heard through the orb she says, "Look here little brother. For you must be so, since you bear the same mark as the rest of us. Otherwise, after that performance you just pulled young man, I would not call you brother. I am no coward, nor is Shiraz a beast. I am angered by your words and your actions, but I do not and will not retaliate against another of my group. Neither will I let you walk over me. You are young, I am 134 years old. Young for my kind, but much much older than you. Be careful little one to not make enemies among your friends by your words and actions.
From what I heard of the fight in Alemi's temple, you did well. As did the others. Everyone who was there did well. Some lost their life...sort of. I, myself, do not feel comfortable around Sly or Ilsidur, not even Luke. But I will not hold it against them, nor should you. You must try to overcome your feelings toward them, as I am."
Realizing that she has said much more than she ever had to any other member of the group at one time, and much more than she had intended to to the boy, she blushes slightly and moves back into the group to stand next to Sir Thomas, leaving Jurgen alone.
Jurgen Monday June 24th, 2002 11:49:16 PM
Jurgen listens to Sir Thomas and as he does so, a grin slinking across his lips. He mouth, opening and closing it a couple of times, stretching. This was the funnest thing to do. Not like fighting, that got boring fast. Dodge, Dodge, Use Magic, Run, Dodge. Joking around though, that was worth spending time on. Lots of time. Although lately he'd just been bugging people. Maybe it wasn't so fun when others didn't like it.
As Altemia pulls him away from the group, Jurgen curses in his head. Uh oh, not good. He did something wrong, didn't he? She was really angry. Not just 'That was not a good idea'. No, it was the 'I would have killed you' kind of angry. He tries to say something defend himself, but finds himself stuttering and kicking at his feet.
As Altemia walks away, he finally gets the guts to say something. As uncoherant as it is. "I didn't mean... I just... I'm sorry." Then he just sits himself down in at a table, a few feet from the group. He wanted to be alone, but might have to do something still. Maybe he'd have a chance later. Hopefully.
Sticking a hand into his pocket, Jurgen looks around for something. Nothing in particular, anything really. Finally he remembers a key feature to these pants. Invisioning cheese, he pulls his hand out. And there it is, a block of cheese. Probably not as good as the Ale that Shiraz got the group, but something nonetheless.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Tuesday June 25th, 2002 5:23:26 AM
"Jurden, Come sit next to me and listen for a while." Sly tells the Young One, "I know you woun't like it, but Little Brother, Maybe you'll think next time you speak."
Shiraz Tuesday June 25th, 2002 9:49:16 AM
Shiraz glowers atr Jurgen and walks over to him quietly, "I am many thing boy, a bull a man but a beast, I am nor will I ever be BEAST to anyone. This fine group of people may allow you to get away with speaking before you think but I will not, I think you need more instruction in the art of civility, but at the moment the best I can give you is advice and here it is, Be still the fluttering tongue in your mouth and let those who are older and wiser speak first defer to those who have been here longest then speak up." Shiraz strides away angry at himself as much as Jurgen who is just a child, "I shouldnt be so hard on him," the others can hear him mutter softly followed by a snort and "Beast indeed...Huge, gigantic..."
Jurgen Tuesday June 25th, 2002 9:04:37 PM
Looking at Sly, then Shiraz, he begins to appear puzzled. He called Shiraz a beast? He said strange thing. Oh well.
At Sly's beconing, Jurgen does nothing. Not because he didn't like Sly. Well, not orginally. Yet now he was undead. That was something Jurgen could not take.
The Orb dims (DM Cayzle) Wednesday June 26th, 2002 10:18:09 AM
After Jurgen and Thomas speak, the Orb says, in its mental voice, "Your message has been sent. The Dragons will contact you." Then it dims until it is no more bright than the light fixture it is pretending to be.
The group talks, having a little food.
Not much happens for a while.
It might even seem a little anticlimactic. It is mid-afternoon.
[OOC: I think this is a natural place to pause and give out experience points. You undead folks are a special case -- I'll send you e-mail. Also, if you want to nominate anybody for especially good heroism or role-play, please e-mail me. Thanks! -- Cayzle]
Everybody Dies
Trace(ceil) Wednesday June 26th, 2002 3:55:20 PM
Trace orders some food and a tankard of ale. Then trace notices that Sly is not eating anything,*That's odd,* Trace thinks to himself, *Sly is usually always hungry? * But he cannot resist asking Sly, "Sly your not eating? Any thing wrong?"
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Wednesday June 26th, 2002 3:59:49 PM
Sly is just sitting there, listening to the others talk, when Trace ask him a question, he answers "I'm not hungry."
Sir Thomas Wednesday June 26th, 2002 11:58:01 PM
Thomas looks around the group. "I wonder if we should make plans to leave, raise a malitia to fight the coming army, or just wait to see what the dragons have to say. I'll see about getting rooms for the night, that way at least we'll be rested because I'm still a little fatigued from our adventures in the Void." Not usually one to admit tiredness or fatigue, Thomas shrugs that burden aside to set a wise example to try to get the group to relax and recooperate together.
AFter renting a couple of rooms for the group, THomas comes with some water and lunch to the table. He puts the food in the middle for all to share and sits while drinking his water. "So Sly, Ilsidur . . . do you think you'll ever try to make your way back home? I have been thinking about going home to see my family . . . assuming all things positive of course." After poorly dodging the thought that his family may have perished at the hand of Marteus' army Thomas quickly changes the subject. "So Shiraz, where do you hail from? I know you came at the beckoning of the Entropy Bell and the fate of being a Child of Chaos, but was there any other reason you left home? Tell us about your family and friends. How long did you search for us? . . . Trace and I are from the Northern Continent." Thomas tries to spark a little conversation by sharing some of his feelings and history.
Altemia Thursday June 27th, 2002 12:39:51 AM
Altemia joins the others in food, drink, and conversation.
She keeps quiet although she positions herself near Sir Thomas and away from Jurgen. Her anger at him is not gone, but it is deminiting. Slowly.
Jurgen Thursday June 27th, 2002 2:48:00 AM
As quiet as the room may seem, Jurgen's mind seems to be shouting at him. Lots had gone on over the past two days, rushing through his mind like a crossbow bolt. Yet he could barely process it all. When he was at home, Josephine had him write every day. It didn't matter when he wrote, just as long as he told what happened that day. She said it would help him. Maybe it did... That's why he was feeling so strange.
Or maybe he was feeling strange because he was in an unknown place, far from those who loved him. He barely knew who these people were. Sure, they were heroes. There was little doubt about it. Even heroes have their flaws. Sometimes they were just as twisted as the enemy they fought so hard to destroy. Here, it would seem, that Ilsidur and Sly were creatures that brought death. Yet they didn't. Jurgen's magic was brought about because somewhere, long ago, a dragon was part of his family. But he did not kill or hurt.
So heroes had to be stronger then that, but Jurgen knew that he was nothing like these... Children. It was funny. He was the only Child among them and he was the only who could not be helpful. He hadn't killed the machine, that was Ilsidur. He hadn't thought of the plan, that was the group. The only thing he had done was save a woman, who died anyway. Some legendary figure, to go down in the history books. The names that would be remembered were Sir Thomas Hurley, Divine Knight. Sly Foxx, Deathless Warrior Mage. Shiraz, Great Taur. Trace Jacobs, Nature's Fist. Altemia, Pure Courage. And Ilsidur, Divine Reaper. And who was he? Jurgen, Annoying Boy.
Walking over to the barkeep, Jurgen asks for a few sheets of paper and something to write with. He thanks the man, giving him 3 gold for the stuff and begins to write.
Dear Josephine,
Hello. I'm sorry mom. I do not know what happened. I was in the cave, after it fell in. I knew that sitting there would be the best thing, you'd find me eventually. If I had gotten lost, that would have been pretty bad.
Well, I kind of did get lost. Something touched me and gave me this mark. I'm told it's a mark saying that I am a "Child of Chaos". That basically means that I've got to help these people save people. I don't know if I can, but I am going to try. I really wish you were here. It is very hard for me. I will write as much as I can, but I still don't know how to get this to you.
Love, Jurgen
The Barkeeper (DM Cayzle) Thursday June 27th, 2002 6:22:04 PM
The proprieter is happy to rent out a few rooms. "Most folk are running away, so I'm glad to have you brave souls under my roof!"
Then he notices Sly and Ilsidur and gives them each a long look. He returns to the bar without saying a word.
Shiraz Thursday June 27th, 2002 8:39:34 PM
Shiraz sits at the table and offers Thomas half of whatever the cost of the rooms and lunch was. "I am a minotaur and as much as I can remember about my family, growing up and my friends I can't seem to remember much else. I have vague memories of traveling and searching you all out but I cant seem to remeber how long or what cities or anything else it was as if I was on a mission to get here as quickly as I could." Shiraz pauses for a drink of water, "even now sitting here my curiosity seems to be tempered for answers to the questions we put to the Gold Dragons, but I know 1 day I will return to my family, until then you all are my family even rash little one like our Jurgen." Shiraz says the last with a smile a reaches one large hand over and toussels the young sorcerer's hair.
Sir Thomas Friday June 28th, 2002 1:04:36 AM
"Interesting," Thomas remarks in response to Shiraz' comments. "I have never been on such a quest. I have always remembered to look at my surroundings . . . maybe I should have been a bard." Thomas chuckles at the last statement knowing his calling was the knighthood of Alemi. He declines Shiraz' offer for money with a polite, "No thank you. We purchased the rooms with the group's money. You payed your share." Thomas continues to try to bolster morale and group unity with more small talk and friendly conversation. "So, Altemia, I have forgotten. Where are you from? I know you came to us in Hook City, but I don't remember every having conversations with you. Tell us a little about yourself?" Thomas quickly turns to Sly and whispers, "You haven't been doing your job little brother. You are supposed to be my small talker and scout." Thomas smiles and winks. He realizes that now would be a good time to talk to Sly about being a squire to the knighthood. Thomas had meant to mention it many, many days ago but had neglected the notion with all of the happenings. Although, maybe it was a good thing because Thomas didn't know Sly's outlook in his current condition . . . he has been very quiet. He would wait to talk to Sly. "Ilsidur, do you or Sly have any new input into your new condition after having been this way for a few days? I don't intend to be mean spirited, but I would like to become familiar with it, as I'm sure you would, so I will better understand how to accomodate your needs and desires and such."
Trace Friday June 28th, 2002 4:50:25 AM
(ooc: hi all, after $130.00 in new hardware, one month of argueing with the phone company and a new isp, I am back on line. with head bowed down and one knee on the floor I give my deepest thanks and appreciation once agian to ceil for keeping Trace alive. Sorry to talk to you in game but I have new isp and basicly a new computer as well. My new address is jtbar77@aol.com. Again, glad to be back and hope to be posting real soon. Ceil, just let me know when to hop back in.)
[Well, I think it would be fine for you to hop in right now, right Ceil? It is very good to have you back, Ted! -- Cayzle]
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Friday June 28th, 2002 7:55:20 AM
Sly picks up his head and looks toward Sir Thomas," I have no home any more, my family is all gone. I have nothing left but our quest." Sly just sit there with unseeing eyes.
Calm before Storm (DM Cayzle) Friday June 28th, 2002 5:31:09 PM
The Southern Lights enjoy the chance to catch up and chat for a bit. Well, "enjoy" might be a bit too strong a word for the undead members of the party! But in any event, the group talks into the night, waiting for the response of the Dragons. At last they rent rooms and sleep for the night.
[Events should pick up on Monday -- just two weeks until the End! -- Cayzle]
Altemia Friday June 28th, 2002 9:27:08 PM
Altemia pauses a moment before answering Sir Thomas and takes a drink.
"I'm sure you noticed them while you were at Hook City. The moutains near there, I mean. That's where I'm from. I went to Hook City to find to find help for my people. You see, they were going missing and not leaving any clues behind."
A shadow passes behind her green eyes.
"I wonder what has happened to them now with everything that is happening in the Wold. Are they still there? Are they alive? Do they worship Marteus now? I hope to find out the answers to those questions someday. I want to make sure they are okay. I also worry about Tara and Kevil. I hope they are doing well by themselves."
Without waiting for an answer from any of them, Altemia stands and makes her way to her room. Calling back over her shoulder, she says, "I'll share with Sly, Luke, and Ilsidur."
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Saturday June 29th, 2002 6:51:23 AM
"I or should I say We for some odd reason don't need sleep." Sly tells Altemia,"But! Little Sister, I will keep watch for you."
Jurgen Saturday June 29th, 2002 4:47:02 PM
As he finishes his letter, Jurgen carefully wraps it up and pockets it. He smiles, feeling a bit more relaxed then before. As this happens, he realizes that there was little to do but wait now. He couldn't be a help if he was exausted, so he goes up to his room and prepares for bed.
Little was going on with him now. He had gotten something off his chest, even if it had done nothing. It was well worth it. And with weary eyes, he falls asleep on his bed.
Trace and Radiant Sunday June 30th, 2002 12:51:36 AM
Trace continues to enjoy the chance to sit and eat and drink at a table instead against a rock in a rain storm. He perfers the outdoors than the rooms of a city but a break is a break. He takes a drink of his wine and listens further on the current situation.
Sir Thomas Monday July 1st, 2002 9:15:45 AM
Thomas prays, then sleeps, then wakes and prays again. He meets the group in the common room in the morning.
Dragon Dream (DM Cayzle) Monday July 1st, 2002 9:59:15 AM
That night, your first at the Inn of Five Crones, you all have a magical dream. You know it is a magical dream because all of you are there and can see and interact with each other -- even Sly and Ilsidur, and they are undead! And you know it is a magical dream because your tatoos are throbbing.
In your Dream, you are all gathered in the circle of five stones, and the Arch of the Ruined Machine is behind you. It is supported by Jurgen's two trees, and the hands on the machine wave feebly. It is stormy, and clouds and lightning roil the sky. A Gold Dragon flies out of the storm and lands near you. It is beautiful, huge, majestic, and powerful! It speaks.
"Thank you for your information, which we have been glad to receive. The news you bring is crucial. But first I have answers and information for you."
As lightning flashes, the dragon explains. "There is a way to defeat the Dark One. First, to beat Marteaus, it is known that all the adventuring groups of the Wold must become undead." The dragon looks at Sly and Ilsidur congratulates them. "You have acted as leaders to inspire others in this."
"Second, the undead adventurers must travel to the Lands of the Dead. The place you call the Void is also known as Kosh-Marr, and it lies close to the Lands of Dead. And in the Land of the Dead, the Undead cannot die. THAT is the secret truth that can save the Wold!"
"Become Undead and then go to the Land of the Dead. Your mission is clear!"
Then the Dragon has questions: "First, how do you use the Arch to become Undead? Second, are you all willing to use the Arch to become Undead? Third, would you help others do the same, if we sent them here? Fourth, would you then be willing to travel into Kosh-Marr and from there to the Land of the Dead?"
The dragon looks at the Children of Chaos and waits for answers. You know you are all still dreaming, but you know that your dream is also Reality, and your words will be heard. How do you answer?
[Feel free to post more than onceper day in order to answer questions. We are near the end, and I will brook no delay! -- DM Cayzle]
Shiraz Monday July 1st, 2002 1:24:52 PM
Shiraz bows low before the magnificent dragon and looks at his companions. Stepping forward the taur looks the dragon in the eye and smiles briefly, "To answer your questions, First I dont know how the arch works if our finger wiglers know," Shiraz pauses "come here Jurgen and tell us if you know or have an idea how." Shiraz the says rapidly " Yes, Yes, Yes to the others we are here to help and help we shall, by the time the other groups get here we will hope to have figured out the arch and its workings"
Altemia Monday July 1st, 2002 1:26:22 PM
In her dream, Altemia stares in wonder at the huge dragon as it speaks to her. The truth of its words hit her hard. Become undead? She had to become one of the things she loathed above all? She was just beginning to come to terms with Sly and Ilsidur and now she had to do it, too?
She walks away from the dragon to think for a while. Coming back, there is a grim look upon her face. She nods once to the dragon.
"I will become an undead and travel to the Land of the Dead."
She pauses a moment before continuing to answer the other questions the beautiful dragon asked her.
"I was not with the others when Sly and Ilsidur and Luke became undead. I am not certain how the arch does it. I do know that the machine pulled their lifeforce from them as Ilsidur was casting the counterspell. Perhaps walking back through the arch will do it, or perhaps someone will have to cast the counterspell to Pour Life again, with everyone touching. If others besides our small group here wish to help fight this evil, and they choose of their own free will to become the undead, I will help them with their choice."
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Monday July 1st, 2002 2:43:16 PM
Sly is sitting by Altemia bed, with his eyes half close. He is waiting for when the others wake up and then he and Luke will follow the live ones. Them it seem as though in head there's a vision of a Gold Dragon. He was speaking to the troups. He walk to the dragon, "I'm ready to cross to the Land of the Dead, And do what the Children of Chaos do best. Fight for the Wold."
Then turns to the other (who are still alive) and tells them,"It does not hurt."
Trace and Radiant Monday July 1st, 2002 3:39:50 PM
Trace feels a numbness about him as he speaks not really hearing him self but speaks just the same. "I will be with my friends and if becoming undead is the way to defeath the evil the pleagues this wold then undead I shall be."
Sir Thomas Monday July 1st, 2002 11:44:00 PM
When the dragon lands, Thomas shows it the deepest respect. He humbly bows low, then returns to his full height and asks a question of his own, "what is your name mighty and wise dragon?" Thomas concentrates in an effort to detect evil from the dragon. Upon confirming his gut feeling that the dragon is good, or at least to the best of his identifying ability that the dragon is of good intention, Thomas agrees to all of the questions without hesitation.
"Kind and goodly (dragon's name). I bind myself in the honor of Alemi by giving my word that I will do what it takes to save my family, my friends, and the Wold from the monster known as Marteus. I believe I know how the machine works to make people undead. When it touched me it tried to rip my soul from my body, but I held to tightly to this shell. I believe that if we touch the hands of the machine then the goal will be realized. I will try . . . " Thomas begins to remove his armor. Once he has it off he grabs some rope and begins to climb one of Jurgen's trees. Once he gets close enough he touches one of the hands of the machine. If it tries to take his soul and make him undead, then Thomas lets it.
Jurgen Tuesday July 2nd, 2002 1:03:41 AM
Jurgen's dream were not comforting at all. Nightmares of things that Jurgen could not confront while he was awake. Things of death. Of people who were unknown, that he would probably spend a long time with. Sly and Ilsidur, deathless. As it appeared, anyway. They weren't to be feared. If anything, they were to be pitied. They would forever live, without the final release. No emotion. No feeling. This was as close to eternal damnation as these two would ever go to. He was learning. Finding out things that he did not truly know. Dreams sometimes teach... Nightmares do too.
Slowly, another dream creeps in on Jurgen. This one is not the same though. It's different. It's real. He could sense the group. He wasn't there, at least not with form. Yet he could stretch around wherever they were, completely. He was in no place and in every place. It was all open to him. He would have smiled, if he had lips. The Jericko must have felt this, complete and utter freedom. It wasn't power that Jurgen looked for, it was a chance to fly on his own. This was what it would be like. This is how he wanted it to happen.
The dragon flies, from a storm of chaotic life. And Jurgen realizes he is now with a form. He is himself, body right there. Seeing the dragon land, Jurgen bows down on his knee. It was a figure to be worshipped, in itself. Just before he is told that he must die, he knows it. It wasn't a psycic power. Not at all. It was just his knowledge coming together at that time. Maybe his freedom would never come, now that he would be dead with two of his friends.
But doubts cross his mind, as they would any person who had nothing save his life itself. He was speaking words against this creature, without thinking.
"Why must we die? Did Marteus not take on Domi alone? And what will happen when we destroy him?! Will we rise to god-hood like the Dark Lord? Who will replace the Wold that is disappearing? If three gods remain and we kill another, will the remaining two accept this? We are mortals with knowledge of something that can destroy any of them. They will not let us live, will they?" He smiled faintly. "But then again, we won't be alive anyway. So what would it matter. Gargul can't steal our souls, nor can Alemi punish us. Everything we've done up to that point would matter not. Whether you were faithful or not. The elves will not see their Land of Eternal Sunset. The dwarves will never see the Great Dig. Eternal death, in exchange for the Wold that may end up being destroyed anyway."
Jurgen gets Altemia's attention for a moment, a twisted smile on his face. It seemed that he was the one who was a chicken. Altemia was willing to do this without a doubt, but he had so many fears. He was afraid to die. He was afraid to fight. He was just afraid. But now he had to be strong. He had to stand up to the darkest things in his heart, himself.
"Looks like I'm the one who'd run from a fight..."
He looks again to the massive golden figure, strong and powerful. His eyes are closed as he again thinks. What would stop someone else from doing the same thing, later on? What would stop another fool such as Marteus, from destroyed the gods again.
"How will we close The Lands of the Dead? I will not let this happen again. If I have to seal myself in this Dead Land, just to close it, I will. Too much suffering and pain comes from war. And when it's the gods themself... Never again can this happen. If the Jericko is the only one left standing, so be it, but I will not let this happen again." He stands firm, feeling power in his words.
Then to answering the golden dragon. These were important questions, probably best left to be answered by the rest of the group. But Shiraz believed he could do it, so he would at least try.
Gathering his thoughts for a moment, he sits. He continues to sit while Sly and Trace agree. He sits while Sir Thomas climbs to the deadly machine. Then it comes to him, as quickly as a bolt from the storm.
"It isn't the Arch that makes Undead. The Arch itself is probably just a gateway to Kosh-Marr, which is a gateway to The Land of the Dead. Those who choose to die, for the Wold, should come here to enter it. I believe it is the machine that creates undead. Possibly, this is how the Arch could do so. The Arch has been infused with the power the machine held. Perhaps..." He takes a deep breath, holding his hands over his eyes. There was so much to lose. So much that he would never get to see or do. At least emotionally. Physically he would be Jurgen, but if he became Undead... "Why should I die? I have lived for a decade and a half, but you ask me to give up the only thing that I have now. I have yet to live life. I have so much to see, to do. My world may have been ripped away from me, but my life is still my own. Is it not?" He scratches at his tattoo, not because it's itchy but because it's there. "But perhaps the Wold will die if I do not do this. Perhaps the Wold will be sucked up into nothingness. Is one, highly annoying, boy, going to make a difference? You could have me wait here, to tell a tale of those heroes who gave up everything to save people they did not know. But you won't. I have two choices in this matter, do I not? Become undead and save the Wold. Or die. You can't afford somebody telling Marteus before the raiding party arrives."
He pulls out his dagger, tossing it from hand to hand, toying with it. "Call me a coward. Call me a foolish little boy, but I would rather have this," He cuts his palm, letting the blood slide down. "then death." He wipes the dagger on his shirt, putting it away. He holds his hand open, towards the dragon, showing his blood falling to the ground.
A Faint Solution [CDM Jerry and DM Cayzle] Tuesday July 2nd, 2002 12:03:18 PM
Sir Thomas senses great good. He then tries to touch the machine lifted up by the trees to form the Arch. But his hand passes through it, and he remembers he is still dreaming. Perhaps in waking life ...
Jurgen asks many questions, but there is no spoken response. Instead, the gold dragon changes into the form of a tall, muscular half-elf. He's in his mid- to late-thirties, shoulder length light brown hair with deep blue eyes that are absolutely piercing. The eyes seem to change shades, but you're not really sure. He is a couple of inches over six feet and weighs well over two hundred pounds, but there is no fat on his frame. Despite his size, though, he moves with a confident and graceful step that belies his large frame. He's wearing a mithril chain shirt with a gold 'V' emblazoned on the right shoulder. He carries a large mithril shield with a 'V' in gold on the front of it. He has several weapons visible but what catches a warrior's eye is the jeweled hilt of a long sword, with the visage of a dragon carved along the side facing forward.
Slowly and quietly he speaks -- and you have the sense that he is somehow talking not just to you but to others as well.
"He who has heart to fight against the evil that threatens, must hear my words. I am Valdor, the Dragonstone. Leader of the Dragon Consortium and the Gold Dragons. Friend to any who oppose the Usurper and brother to any who have taken up this fight.
Not so long ago, I told you all it had begun...and so it did. Many have found ways to triumph against the armies threatening and many have died trying. These days and weeks have been hard and has seen many good people slain for no reason but a lust for power.
My friends, it is time for us to strike back! Not at the armies, or Marteaus's clerics now, but at the very God himself. As most of you know by now, a God can be defeated and even killed by mortals. There is no easy way, but it can be done.
The Usurper has taken the fight to our God's lands and only in the Lands of the Dead, can a God be defeated by a mortal. The Dragon Consortium has concluded, with the evidence produced from many of you hearing my words, that there is only one way to enter the lands of the dead. This is by becoming that which we have all fought against or heard many horror stories about. We must become undead creatures if we wish to enter and fight the slug Marteaus.
There are two ways known at this time to accomplish this. The first is by eating a souleater. It is a slug rare and hard to find. We have arranged for it to be available at The Catacombs and therefore at all businesses in their network. Simply go to the nearest magic or general store and check if they have a Catacombs connection. [In gameplay we go to the Catacombs Board after entering a store in character.] There ask for the Dragon Consortium Discount when buying anything else. Do this while in a private shopping room to avoid being overheard. Eat what you buy. It is very painful. Be prepared.
The other method of becoming undead is to enter the lands that Marteaus has created called Koshe-Marr. Once there, you must enter through a gate and come back out. It is a new gate and part machine. That's all we know of it's description. Going through the gate will turn you undead. Return through the gate and escape Koshe-Marr.
Only by becoming undead can you enter the Lands of the Dead and retain your ability to strive and quest.
The next step is to enter the lands of the Dead. We know of only one means to do this at this point in time. Seek out a place called the Parting Tree in the northern part of the Badlands. It is South of Culverwood on the main Trade Route heading west from Edenmoor. It should be just a day or so west of Edenmoor and before you get to the Emerald Kingdom. In ten days hence, any who would dare to make a difference must come there to an Inn called the Hidden Viper. From there we will journey a short distance to the Gate through which we will enter the lands of the dead and take out this would be God who has caused us such grief.
It will soon be over and there will be many in need of help. We are all brothers and sisters who take up this fight and must support one another no matter the outcome. If you cannot do this vile thing, I surely understand and ask you to help the others we leave behind. I take no one who isn't sure of themself in this action. Bring your hearts and your courage. Be strong for the end is near. Have Courage!"
Then he looks right at you, and you feel that his words are for the Southern Lights alone. "Make sure you know how to use this device to become undead. It may be that you will be joined by others. Be ready to help them! But do not delay in entering Kosh-Marr before it is too late"
His voice slowly disappears on the wind and as you think it's gone you hear once more, but very faintly, " Have courage..."
You are all awake, in the Inn of Five Crones in Heranmar, and it is morning.
Shiraz Tuesday July 2nd, 2002 3:34:33 PM
Shiraz awakes no longer sluggish or unsure and bounds downstairs after settling his armor and weapons in place. "Kind sir would you put a breakfast on for my friends and I? I fear it may be a while before we are able to eat well again and I would have 1 last hot meal to celebrate my life and theirs." Shiraz then stands at the window and looks out, "so beautiful in peace, all this war and terror need be stopped." A single tear runs down his face, becoming lost in his fur. Shiraz turns and pays the innkeeper and then sits waiting on his friends as they all arrive Shiraz bades them, "Sit and eat. Let this be the meal that we et in celebratrion of each other and the next step. Today my family eats with me and I with them." After breakfast Shiraz looks around, "well, lets be off." as he walks out the door.
Sir Thomas Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 1:01:12 AM
Thomas eats breakfast with his friends and thanks Shiraz for the wonderful meal and the celebration. He then goes and saddles Pryte-Honos. "We all know what we must do. Let's head for the portal." Thomas leads the party back toward the portal.
Trace and Radiant Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 2:58:29 AM
Trace enjoys what he belives to be his last meal and then heads off with Sir Thomas yet agian to face unknown dangers to defeat evil wheere it may lie. Trace is content with his given life to do good and hopes that it will serve him well for what god that looks to claim his soul if shall parish for good since his god Mittri has left the wold.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 8:03:49 AM
Sly was not asleep but in a daydream like state. When the dream is over, he look first at Luke and tells the dog. "Well, Luke, It begins." Sly look to Altemia and sees that she is about to awaken. "I'll meet you down stairs." He tell her and not waiting for an answer, walks out the door. He goes down stairs and stands by the door. Waiting for the party to finish breakfast. When to party is ready, Sly and like will follow them to the portal, because that where he's going.
Altemia Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 10:22:18 AM
Altemia wakes up alert from her trance and nods at Sly as he leaves. She sits on her bed with her head in her hands, elbows on her knees, contemplating what she had agreed to do. She was going to become like Sly and Ilsidur.
She sighs heavily and picks herself up off the bed and begins to get her equipment together, looking it over to make sure everything is there and in good condition before heading downstairs.
Altemia makes her way downstairs and joins her friends to break her fast. She says not a word to anyone, just nodding when spoken to or ignoring the speaker altogether. If anyone looks into her eyes, they see the look of someone trapped and haunted.
Shiraz Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 11:25:46 AM
Shiraz looks over at Altemia as he leaves the inn, "Join me dear lady, I would have a word with you as we walk." Shiraz holds the door until Altemia joins him then as the others range out further in front of him he looks at her. "I sense the discomfort in you, remember that you need not do this we can or I can fight for you and you guide others to us." Shiraz pauses, "Valdor said do not go if anything would cause you to not do your best."
Jurgen Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 3:40:47 PM
"Have Courage..." Those words pierced Jurgen more then any others. He was to be brave, without failure. He was to die without asking why. Now he understood what it was like to be a knight, to give everything that one could give before living for himself. He still didn't want to do it, he wanted to live. Yet it seemed he wasn't being given a choice.
"Darnit! Let my life be my own!" Jurgen's shouts are loud, but seem frantic and rushed. As if he was still dreaming. The night was over, but Jurgen wasn't ready to accept his fate. There had to be another way.
"Have Courage..." But was it courage to accept death as the only fate, or cowardice? Was it power to be able to die and live again, or weakness? Jurgen didn't know these things, they were for the wise to ponder. He only knew that he wished not to be gone from this life. In the end, though, he knew what he would have to choose. That wouldn't stop him from trying to change it. What it all came down to, was the question of whether life was precious enough to sacrifice, to save another. Again, Jurgen tried to answer this. All he knew was himself.
Slowly sitting himself down on the edge of the bed, he closed his eyes and began his spell meditation. Today he would just think, prepare his mind for the magic that he might have to use today. What if his magic was hampered? But no, Ilsidur seemed just as able to use his magic, and his god was gone. So Jurgen would be ok. Or at least he would be able to use his inborn talents.
As he finished, Jurgen looked to the clothes he had worn last. The note he had written to Josephine was slipping out, hanging on by a piece of string, catching the paper loosly.. He moved his hand forward, to grab it, but too late. The paper fell harmlessly to the floor. Was that what life was like? Mearly hanging on by a thread, ready to break at the slightest breeze. You could strengthen the tie, giving it that much longer. Yet in the end, it all came down to the same thing. A fall to the ground.
He carefully picked it up, pushing it back where it belonged. As he looks over his clothes, he shakes his head. This wasn't what he wanted to wear to his death, but all he had was gaudy clothing. Good for entertainment, not for somber. Pulling out his black robes, he slipped them on. These were fit for what would happen.
He walks downstairs, ignoring whatever food they were served. He didn't want a last meal, whether it was that or not. He sits outside, while the group eats. His hood drawn over his face, he almost starts crying. Then he holds it in. As the group leaves the building, he stands, dusting himself off.
"Are you sure?" He questions, to the group as a whole, as they walk. "Do you want to die? I ask you this, not as a foolish boy, but a concerned child. Be sure you are ready to die, before you go at this. You are to do only your best and if there are doubts in your head, then will not do your best. If you want to do something before you die, then you have a last chance quickly. Live like you wanted to, if not only for a moment. Because if not, your sacrifice has all been for naught."
[I've been having some horrible internet problems, and my posting has been kind of delayed due to it. It may be fixable, but I do not think so before I leave. I'll continue to attempt my posts, but I do not know if they will make it. I already made a post yesterday, but it appears that it didn't make it.]
Return To The Arch (DM Cayzle) Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 9:23:37 PM
The Children of Chaos awake from their dream of revelation. As they gather for breakfast, it is obvious that all dreamed the same thing. The atmosphere is dour, although some try to put a good face on things.
There are some who are eager to talk on the trip out of Heranmar, and some who prefer silence.
The group finds the ruined chapel much as they left it. The chapel mostly broken. The five stones in a circle. And of course, the Arch of the machine, held up in the middle by two thick trees.
The hands of the warped machine flutter as if in the wind, but there is no wind.
Sir Thomas Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 10:33:44 PM
Thomas is silent as the group travels to the gate. His is not an angry, unsure silence; instead it is a silence of purpose. Once the group arrives at the gate, Thomas smiles. "It has been entirely my pleasure to know all of you. I am going to climbe the tree and touch the arms of the machine. If something goes wrong, know in your hearts that I love you all as friends. Even the young, quick tongued Jurgen; maybe a better description is especially Jurgen. Do not be so hard on yourself. Life is hard, that's what makes the afterlife so enjoyable . . . assuming we make it." Thomas removes his armor and kisses Pryte-Honos on the muzzle. He climbs the tree and touches one of the dangling hands of the machine.
Shiraz Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 11:13:08 PM
Shiraz watches Sir Thomas climb the tree, if it works then he will touch the hands as well if it doesnt then Shiraz will atempt to cros the archway.
Ilsidur (undead) Wednesday July 3rd, 2002 11:28:53 PM
Although Ilsidur did not sleep at all through the night, he experienced the same visions as the rest of the party. In the morning, he looks at his friends, and says, "Take heart, friends. Although I feel different as a result of the transformation, it isn't so bad. I still feel the same way for all of you that I have in the past. I just experience 'life' as if through a thin fog. My feelings in general aren't as strong, but they are still there. And I can only hope that this transformation doesn't have to be permanent."
He follows the party back to the site of his and Sly's 'death'. He prepares to help any and all as they go through what he has.
Altemia Thursday July 4th, 2002 2:56:46 AM
Altemia walks next to Shiraz. When he finishes speaking, she smiles up at him, but the smile is shaky.
"I said I would do it, and do it I will. I gave my word."
The minotaur can hear strength in her words but also fear.
When they reach the arch, Altemia tries to stop Sir Thomas from climbing the arch.
"There's no need. Remember what Valdor said. Just walk through and come back. He said that should do it. And then we have ten days to get somewhere I've never heard of."
Altemia stops herself before she begins to babble. Staring at the arch, at each of the crones, at her tattoo, she begins to shiver.
Taking a deep breath, Altemia walks through the arch.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Thursday July 4th, 2002 6:43:15 AM
Sly and Luke next to him, will stand next to the entrance of the arch. He watches the others as they do what ever they have to do, also watches Ilsidur walk through the arch way and Sly then tells the group "This is the part you have to do by your self. If you need any help, I'll be just inside the arch. See you in a little bit." Then Sly and Luke walks through the portal behind Altemia.
Forsaking Life (DM Cayzle) Thursday July 4th, 2002 10:52:39 AM
Altemia's investigation quickly reveals that you can walk through the Arch to return to the Void, and then you can just as easily come back -- but doing so does not make you undead.
The holy warhorse is visibly upset, and snorts and paws at the ground.
So Sir Thomas grasps a hand of the Machine.
Note that although the middle of the machine is raised up about 15 feet by the trees, the machine sags down at the ends until it touches the ground. That's why it's an arch. So Thomas does not have to climb a tree to reach the machine.
Standing next to one side of the Arch, Thomas grasps a hand -- one of the robotic ones. He immediately feels a chill draining as he loses life energy. At first he could pull away, but he does not. As it absorbs his life, the mechanical hand grows stronger, grasping firmly and pulling Thomas close. All the hands in reach grab Thomas, and maybe it is just as well, because without those hands, the paladin would probably fall down.
Pryte-Honos leaps over to the Arch next to Thomas and leans against the machine as well, letting the hands grab the horse's mane, legs, and head. The warhorse is also drained.
After about a minute or an eternity, both are released, and fall to the ground. The paladin and horse have become pale -- skin, hair, and eyes all turn completely alabaster white. Their skin attains a stretched, dry look.
They lie there, dead.
Shiraz was planning to do the same, if it worked. But did it?
Jurgen Thursday July 4th, 2002 3:22:40 PM
As the paladin falls, Jurgen watches carefully. Death had sunk into the man, drained his life... To feed some dead machine. It was strange, watching the lifeless body of someone who apparently had cared for Jurgen. This was different then when Ilsidur and Sly had, they didn't have a choice in the matter. Sir Thomas actually grabbed onto the arm, letting himself be drained. How could Jurgen not, if a man of divine power and faith in the gods, was willing to become something he'd spent his entire life eradicating.
"He will become undead in a few moments. It took a while for Sly and Ilsidur to change, it will take a while for him. Perhaps you two should start. I think... I think I'll stay here and guide the rest of the people who come. Both through death and the gate. You can get a head start, then I'll bring them. Unless you want to wait for the rest of the groups." He carefully sits down, avoiding any fallen rocks. Quietly, he mutters to himself, not saying words but remembering his spells. He's nervous, shaking slightly.
Shiraz Thursday July 4th, 2002 7:32:25 PM
Shiraz looks at Sir Thomas and his horse and takes a deep breath, "Well here I go, hopefully to help save the wold. May Imod bless me." Shiraz quickly grabs on of the hands and tries to invoke whatever power of chaos he has as he is lead into undeath.
Altemia Friday July 5th, 2002 12:53:03 AM
Altemia returns through the gate, angry that it didn't work and that she would have to work up the courage again. Shaking her head, she moves quickly up to the machine's arms hanging down and grabs one before the anger leaves her without the courage to go further.
Understanding Jurgen's hesitancy, Altemia does nothing but smile at the boy before she closes her eyes and grabs the machine.
Becoming Undead (DM Cayzle) d4+9=10 d4+9=13 d4+9=10 Friday July 5th, 2002 6:59:10 AM
As Trace, Jurgen, Sly, and Ilsidur watch, Altemia and Shiraz walk over to the machine. The hands eagerly reach out and grasp them, and in a short while they join Thomas in death.
====================================
Altemia, Shiraz, Thomas (and Prytte) are still lying there, but to get the ball rolling, you can start the conversion process.
HOW TO ROLE PLAY BEING UNDEAD:
Your character has risen from the dead. You are undead. You retain your memories, personality, and alignment -- YOU ARE NOT EVIL.
However, your blood does not flow. Your heart does not beat. You do not have hormones or any of the usual physiology. Emotionally, you have no adrenaline, no great swings of mood or emotion. Your greatest loves are now more like affection. Your deepest hates are mere distaste. You are not afraid. You are calm, mostly. You still have intense feelings, but they are mental, not from the heart. Your hair, skin, and eyes are white. Your skin has a stretched look. You move when you want to, but otherwise you are very still -- no fidgeting, no idle movements. You are not hungry or thirsty or sleepy. You LOOK undead -- it would take a disguise check to pass as living.
You are a free-willed being. You can do anything you want to. You can talk, cast spells, and communicate fully. But you are not as emotional as you were. You feel drained. Why do you still exist? You are not sure. But you can definitely talk freely.
If you want to role play that your voice is slow, or monotone, or deep and tomb-like, you can do so! Feel free to role play. You are undead now, but you are still a full character in the game. You can post just like always. And you are still yourself with your same personality; you are still loyal to your friends. But you don't feel as deeply as you used to. Be yourself. an undead version of yourself! By the way, you have full hit points and full spells. You can feel negative energy inside you that has healed you and filled your spell slots. It is an uncomfortable feeling.
RULES FOR MAKING YOUR NEW UNDEAD PC SHEET:
As you feel dark energy fill you, you realize that somehow it has overfilled you, and you are now more powerful then you ever have been.
Thomas, you are now 10th level. Altemia, you are now 13th level. Shiraz, you are now 10th level. DO NOT TRASH YOUR CURRENT PC SHEETS -- Keep them backed up.
Then reduce your Charisma by two. For your Con, put "--" because undead have no Con. Then reroll all your hit dice, with 12-sided dice (reroll ones). You get no adjustment for Con, either plus or minus.
Give yourself a +1 Natural Armor class bonus (or boost your existing bonus).
Add +2 to your Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks.
Make a note of the special attacks and qualities you gain. Your DM will tell you what those are, but they will definitely include these: Undead are immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and necromantic effects, and they ignore mind-influencing effects. Undead are not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, ability drain, or energy drain. They have no Constitution scores and are therefore immune to any effect requiring a Fortitude save (unless it affects objects). An undead spellcaster uses its Charisma modifier when making Concentration checks. They have darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
In addition to these ability, Thomas and Shiraz each gain four specials and Altemi gains one special. Choose the specials from this list:
SPECIALS
(the Save DC for all special attacks, if needed, is 10 + 1/2 your HD + your Wisdom modifier.)
Cause Wounds (Sp): You can spontaneously cast an Inflict Light Wounds spell at will, using your own negative energy to do so. The number of points inflicted are subtracted from your own total. These inflicted points can also be used to cure another undead creature. Note: You also gains the disadvantage of death's aura. You are very cold to touch and smell faintly but clearly of decay, giving a -2 on all Chr-based skill checks.
Drain Touch (Su): Your touch (melee touch attack) deals 1d6 points of temporary ability score damage to a living foe. You can choose which ability score (Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Chr) is affected. You cannot choose both Paralyzing Touch and Drain Touch.
Frightful Moan (Su): You can moan as a standard action. All living creatures within a 30-foot spread must succeed at a Will save or become panicked for 2d4 rounds. This is a sonic, necromantic, mind-affecting fear effect. A creature that successfully saves against the moan cannot be affected by your moan for one day. Note: You also gain the disadvantage of sunlight sensitivity. You lose one hit point per round of exposure to sun (including Daylight spells).
Paralyzing Touch (Su): Any living creature you touch (melee touch attack) must succeed at a Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. Remove paralysis or any spell that can remove a curse can free the victim (see the bestow curse spell). The effect cannot be dispelled. Anyone paralyzed by you seems dead, though a successful Spot check (DC 20) or Heal check (DC 15) reveals that the victim is still alive. Note: You also gain the disadvantage of weapon sensitivity. You take double damage from silver and blessed weapons.
Slam Attack (Ex): You have a slam attack in place of an unarmed attack. Use the damage values in the table below. Monks and creatures with natural attacks retain their old damage ratings or use the values below, whichever is better.
Note: You also gain the disadvantage of being repelled by holy symbols and mirrors. Such items keep you at bay, like a vampire -- you cannot come closer than 15 feet.
Spider Climb (Ex): You can climb sheer surfaces as though with a spider climb spell. There is no disadvantage.
Turn Resistance (Ex): You have +4 turn resistance. There is no disadvantage.
FINALLY
Please send me your new undead PC sheet so I can go over it.
That's it -- easy!
Trace and Radiant Friday July 5th, 2002 3:25:36 PM
Trace feels dread in what is about to happen but steps up just the same. He reaches up and grasp the machines hands giving himself over to death. As life is taken from him you hear whispers of a prayer to his dead god Mittri.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Friday July 5th, 2002 4:06:24 PM
Sly reenters, and advances to make sure that Sir Thomas, Shiraz, Altemia and Trace are going through the process of becoming undead without any trouble. He will lie them on their back with their arms cross on their chest, with their armor by their side. Then will stand guard until they awaken. Sly will gaze over to where Jurden, all the time keeping silent.
Jurgen Saturday July 6th, 2002 1:28:32 AM
"How am I supposed to do this?" He looks up at Sly, with pleading eyes. He expects someone to do this for him, but no. Some how he had to touch the machine. Slowly he stands, looking straight at it's nearly living arms. Closing his eyes, he whispers a prayer to Gargul, asking him to guard his soul from harm.
Then, he charges straight towards the limb, screaming wildly. He would have found it funny, if he wasn't trying to kill himself. He tries to turn, but finds himself propelled by his own momentum. And he touchs the thing itself, his life draining from it.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Saturday July 6th, 2002 2:28:22 PM
Sly still looking at Jurgen, then tell him (in his own slow way), "Don't worry, Little One. I'm here to help you." Stand there and watches him as Jurgen charges in to the limb. "I forgot to tell them that they have to deiced to do this and it must be their own free will. I'll tell them when they wake up." Sly will lay Jurden beside the others and puts his armor and weapons beside him. Them wait for them to wake up.
Shiraz Saturday July 6th, 2002 9:39:35 PM
Shiraz awakes suddenly and starts to scream, then abrubtly stops. "hmmm wonder why I cared?" Shiraz asks himself in a low voice. "Sly?? Where is my armor and swords? and How are the others?"
Shiraz 12d12(6+6+10+8+5+6+10+12+1+3+1+5)=73 2d12(2+9)=11 Saturday July 6th, 2002 9:44:13 PM
OOC Hope its ok to roll my new hitpoints here if not sorry guys. Rerolling ones. )
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Sunday July 7th, 2002 12:54:20 AM
Sly lifts his head and slowly replies, "Next to you, Shiraz. Right next to you."
Jurgen Sunday July 7th, 2002 2:17:46 AM
As he rushes towards the limbs, trying to turn away, Jurgen knows in his heart why he ran. He would be scared, trying to pull away. Yet he couldn't. Even if he had truely tried to stop himself, his soul would have known this and held him back. That was important for Jurgen, though. The feeling that he was in control. That even if he was about to die, he could change his mind. He wouldn't, but the chance was what gave him courage.
Whether or not this courage would be useful in the end, would be up to him. In whatever form he was in. If he was a powerful creature of death, or a young boy filled with life. It wasn't the form, or how you felt. It was what your soul held. You couldn't change your soul, by mear wish. You had to do so with actions, with motions and showing you wanted to change.
Awake to Death (DM Cayzle) d4+9=13 d4+9=12 Tuesday July 9th, 2002 12:55:16 PM
The Southern Lights awake at sunset (except Sly and Ilsidur, who are already awake) and all are undead.
As night deepens, you all sense that there is nothing left for you here in the living Wold. The Gold Dragons made your mission clear. You must go to the Lands of the Dead, and to get there, you have to pass through the Void.
The Arch beckons. Peering through the Arch into the Void, you see the shapes of walking figures far in the distance.
------------------------------------------ OUT OF CHARACTER STUFF:
Trace is 13th level and gets one special undead ability. Jurgen is 12th level and gets two.
If your animals join you, (and it is up to you) then they also become undead, but do not gain any levels. They do get to reroll their hit dice, etc. Contact me if you need help.
Let me detail the basics for the End of Wold play.
Most of the other adventuring groups are converging onto one board on Wednesday or Thursday for passage all together into the Lands of the Dead. We (and a couple of others) are finding our own way, through the Void. We have to pass through by Friday. That won't be a problem, though, I expect.
After Friday, Woldian Play online shuts down. Jerry says I have to close this board at 11:59PM this Friday, july 12. Any posts made after this time will be deleted. The Southern Lights will resume after the Year of Ascension ends -- on Monday, July 22.
The Loot and Booty board and the Red Wyrm Inn board will be open for the duration.
The Endgame will take place from Saturday, July 13 to Sunday, July 21.
There will be three online chat versions of the Endgame, on Sat, July 13, Sun, July 14, and a two session longer game on Monday and Tuesday, July 15-16. If you want to sign up to play in one of these (via AOL Instant Messenger), then get over to the Loot and Booty board now and sign up!
The actual Woldcon will be from the 18th to the 20th. Ted, Wade, and Ceil will be representing our game -- so do us Southern Lights proud, you guys!
After the Southern Lights game resumes on July 22, there will be changes -- changes that you will, I hope find interesting to explore. The entire week of July 22-26 will consist entirely of out-of-character discussion of how you want to adapt to the changes and what you want to do with the next adventure. It will really be up to you. Jerry says, after being forced in certain directions during this whole time, now you have the chance to do whatever you want. Just let me know so I can make up a module for it!
Please ask any questions you have!
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Tuesday July 9th, 2002 2:14:59 PM
Sly look around, "every body awake? . . . Ready To travel?" Sly points to the arches "If every body is ready . . . Let's go. . ."
OOC Extra from Cayzle Tuesday July 9th, 2002 2:21:56 PM
Please note this new ruling from Jerry: Do to confusion and some complaints, I'm changing one thing on the template. I apologize since this ruling will cause some of you to have to redoo your undead character sheet.
I hereby announce that all undead WILL ALL be 12th level. No variance. Everyone is 12th level.
Remember, there is no need to do all the work to convert your character if you are not playing in the endgame.
Note: That also means that you get to have TWO special undead abilities chosen from the list.
Shiraz Tuesday July 9th, 2002 5:36:23 PM
Shiraz quietly dons his armor and shrugs, "I am ready"
Trace and Radiant (undead) Wednesday July 10th, 2002 2:08:48 AM
(ooc: if the end game will not be palyed at the wold con then I wont make a new chacter sheet. right?)
Trace rises and looks at himself and the sacrfice that Radiant has made as well. He feels that he should cry but cannot. Still unsure of what to do he rises and waits for the others.
Cayzle OOC Wednesday July 10th, 2002 7:09:38 AM
If you are not going to WoldCon AND not playing in a chat game, you do not have to make an undead PC sheet.
Into the Void Again (DM Cayzle) Wednesday July 10th, 2002 2:10:31 PM
Led by Sly, the group passes through the Arch and into the Void.
There are remnants of the evil army milling around, but they steer clear of the Arch. Mostly the evil creatures, dragons overhead, and packs of ghouls seem to think that the undead Children of Chaos are just another confused unit of the Dark Army.
Not knowing where to go, the group just walks and walks. Night turns to day. At last, the group seems to reach a borderland. It is similar to the border you saw before. It is misty and hard to look at. As you try to walk toward it, you find yourselves walking the other way. The border seems determined to keep you out.
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Wednesday July 10th, 2002 2:34:44 PM
As they walk along, all the time watching for anything or any one (live or dead) who would have stop them. Sly and the other arrives the group seems to reach a borderland. They all look alike, it is misty and hard to look at. Sly tries to walk toward it, but he find ourselves walking the other way. The border seems determined to keep us out. Sly turns and ask "Now what do we do?"
Shiraz Wednesday July 10th, 2002 3:39:18 PM
Shiraz looks out then turns and looks back, at teh new border, "I dont know but I bet we better find out"
No! Not the Parting Tree! (DM Cayzle OOC) Thursday July 11th, 2002 7:40:03 AM
Hey People! Our group is NOT going to the Parting Tree on the Catacombs board! Don't post over there -- that means you, Ceil! Sly is in the Void, looking for some way to enter the Lands of the Dead!
Sly Foxx and Luke (undead) Thursday July 11th, 2002 10:04:21 AM
OOC:"I'm sorry!"said Sly. "I better hurry and find a way out."
Altemia (undead) d20+11=28 d20+5=22 Thursday July 11th, 2002 2:08:45 PM
Altemia looks slowly around her and her friends. Her eyes on the ground, she looks for clues about their trail and how to get in (Wild Lore 28). She also tries to get a better look at the border (Spellcraft 22).
The Final Hurdle (DM Cayzle) Thursday July 11th, 2002 5:11:45 PM
The border of the Void is tough to figure out. It seems bigger than it is. That doesn't make any sense, but it is the best your minds can do to wrap around it.
Up close, the border is a foggy area, and if you enter the fogbank, you think you are going straight, but you end up walking out where you walked in. Altemia tracks her own footsteps, and her path is straight, but it leads in and then out of the fogbank.
Will our heroes pass this final barrier? Can they use their spells, their abilities, their wits to figure out how to pass? Will the Children end here in Chaos?
Altemia's spellcraft suggests to her that this is a border between dimensions, a planar boundary, at which space is warped back on itself.
[OOC: It's today and tomorrow to get this show on the road, so post as many ideas as you can! Try everything, because this is the last chance! Post as often as you like. You are all undead, and that means 12th level, so remember any new powers you might have, as well as old ones! Get those thinking hats on! -- Cayzle]
Sly Foxx and Luke(undead) Thursday July 11th, 2002 5:50:49 PM
"Hmm! We seem to be stuck!" wonders Sly."It look like every time I go in there, I walk strait but come out in the same spot. I wonder what would happen if I made a left turn and walk? Ofcourse I would be wearing a rope so not to get lost! What do you think??" Sly look at the others.
Shiraz Thursday July 11th, 2002 9:41:55 PM
"Hmmm, interesting I wonder how big this place is if we keep getting turned around? I know here you tie this rope on and I will hold it as you go out I will add line till maybe we can find away across."
Altemia (undead) Thursday July 11th, 2002 11:02:04 PM
While Shiraz and Sly work on their idea, Altemia stares at boundary and the tracks. Shrugging her shoulders, she turns her back to the border and begins to walk backward into the barrier.
On the Way to the Lands of Dead (DM Cayzle) Friday July 12th, 2002 11:56:56 PM
Sly wanders off into the mist, tied to a rope. Altemia also walks into the fog, with no rope. Shiraz feels the rope go slack, and pulling it back, sees that it is no longer tied to Sly.
One by one, with no other real option, the Children of Chaos follow into the fog. They wander, seeking through pure will to enter the Lands of Dead. You all lose track of each other in the fog.
-------------------------------------------
You wander for a long time, or so it seems. The ground is smooth bare earth underfoot. You can't see more than five feet away. After a long time you feel something tugging on your hand -- the hand with the Entropy Tattoo.
Following the tugging hand, you find yourselves in the Lands of the Dead.
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