Abandon Hope, Ye Who Enter H-- oops...Wrong Title..! (DM Donna) Monday January 15th, 2001 6:39:40 AM
The laughter seems to surround you on all sides as the party advances into the hallway that spills out into large, round chamber.
Before, most of the stonework was passable, but this well-lit chamber is the handiwork of experts. There isn't a lot of carving or decoration that leads you to believe this--in fact, it is the fact that the walls are as smooth as glass that confirms the opinion.
This brightly-lit room--much like the corridor that leads into it--has a flat, level floor and curving walls. You all get the feeling that you are inside a huge bubble. The impression is heightened by the fact that nobody in the party can tell where the source of the brightness within the approximately 200-foot-round room is exactly.
On the extreme opposite end of the room is a figure from which the rich, warm laughter is emanating. Each of you perceive the person to be the God of War...and he's just exactly as you have always imagined him to be. He beckons you to approach him.
"Come...come, my children..." the bass voice that invites you closer does so in Tauric, "...I want to meet those whom met all the different types of battle I sent you...and triumphed!"
Kale Monday January 15th, 2001 9:20:38 AM
backs up a little bit. "Yeah, all of you go meet him, ill be right behind you all."
Zeoll Monday January 15th, 2001 9:31:19 AM
Pausing in the face of Kale's scepticism, Zeoll thinks to himself for a minute. "Well, the holy totem opened the door. And this is why we're here. Well, let Kale be sceptical -- there's a place for that. But as for me, I believe."
After a slight pause, Zeoll obeys the voice. Bowing low, he walks over to the figure.
Flat-top Monday January 15th, 2001 10:05:00 AM
"Hes right, There was a time when the Minotaur was very good at, There was a time when Cebtaur was good at, and now this puzzle is what the wemics are very good at."said Flat-top, Now Flat-top steps aside for the ones who hold the two heart peices, and the Wemics to come forward.
Kenisha Monday January 15th, 2001 11:43:13 AM
While waiting for the two keepers of the Sundered Heart to enter, Kenisha moves over to Kale and softly says in Minotaur, "Have heart, good Kale. Is it not the way of the Minotaur to confront things and not run from them? Or are you admitting that maybe we Centaurs have it right at least some of the time?" She smiles softly to let him know she does not mean any insult by her words.
Thiel Monday January 15th, 2001 9:08:43 PM
Thiel aproches the figure with head bowed. He drops to one knee and proclaims in a loud voice we have traveled from different lands and from diferent cultures. We who have been chosen. ask of us what it is you want. we are only for the glory of Imod. The dream was not specific but it was clear. Show us the power and the glory of the great Imod so we may bath in its sweetness.
More Hilarity (DM Donna) Tuesday January 16th, 2001 7:46:33 AM
After hearing everyone's various comments, the figure (easily the largest and most powerful of your race that you've ever seen) laughs even harder.
"I see that there are things that I must make clear to you..." he says, "First of all, that...ah...'holy totem'...didn't open the portal--*you* did...merely by having the courage to reach out to the unknown and touch the door. The totem has a different purpose--one young Ashrad Moonseeker here discovered...let me show you." Suddenly Zeoll finds both the button with the crossed swords and his greatsword floating in the air in front of the giant figure, who takes the totem and presses it to the blade.
"I invoke thee!" bids the speaker, and a bright golden glow surrounds the weapon in a brief, sparkly flash. Then only the greatsword remains, and it floats back over to Zeoll. "There...you now possess an enchanted weapon. It will aid you in battle to hit and hurt your enemy." (OOC: Zeoll now possesses a +1 greatsword.) The obviously-more-than-mortal being's eye falls upon first Flat-top and then Kenisha...then takes in the red-robed Kale with warm regard.
"Perhaps one who has fought for his very survival for almost all his life is, indeed, flexible enough to learn the lesson lost in the time of the Sundering." Then the giant Taur looks at Thiel, his head tilting to one side as he regards the humble cleric.
"Not specific..?" the figure echoes. "You think that my bidding you to quest was not specific? You think that my bringing minotaur, centaur and wemic together was not specific? You think that initiating battles of might, magic and wit are not *specific*..?" Here the Taur sighs. "Ah, well...the minotaurs usually are the hardest of the three parts to convince of anything..." Looking at the entire party once more, the imposing figure addresses everyone:
"Answer me my question, then, and I shall answer yours...what have you learned on your quest?"
Flat-top Tuesday January 16th, 2001 12:19:30 PM
Flat-top advances and bows (as only a Centaur can), "What I have learned, surprises even me. All my life I was taught that Minotaurs was the enemy and the evil of everything that went wrong. And You know, Domi, I have never heard of Wemic before. But I learned a lot from them. Sometimes we Centaurs were better on one thing, and other times the Minotaurs were better. The Wemics were better in the thinking of problems. Well, what I'm trying to say is, Oh! Great Domi, is what Kenisha once said at the beginning of our quest 'Don't judge too quickly, and that EVERYBODY has something to teach.' All I want to know now is what is Your Wish, Domi?" Flat-top bows again and whispers to Domi #Thank you for the opportunity back at the doors, when Mordengast almost fell off my back.#
Thiel Tuesday January 16th, 2001 9:24:07 PM
Thiel raises his head and speaks softly. I wish not to queston the great Imod . Mine is not to question, I have spent the better part of my life serving. and it is and will always be as such. My answer is that there are many parts and sides to all that is in the wold. young follows old. Peace follows War. We are all born and reborn In the wold to serve those powers that beget us. I have learned as well that fear and hate travel together. For instance we have feared and hated the centaur since the time of sundering. now that all seems so very distant and far from here.I do not fear nor hate those that travel with me and nor shpould anyone else in the wold. together we conquer all that stand in our path.
Kenisha Wednesday January 17th, 2001 2:33:16 AM
Kenisha steps forward next and bows. "I have learned that knowing the truth and living the truth are two separate things. When I first awoke from the Dream you sent to us, I was afraid. Afraid to tell my fellow Questors what I knew to be true. Afraid that I would be left behind if I did. Afraid to tell them that we would not need to kill the Minotaurs in order to reunite the Sundered Heart.
"But when we were attacked on the beach, I was not afraid. That I might die, I had no doubt, but I knew that I had to help protect those who held the two parts; least they be consumed by the great beasts.
"I have learned that you can not run from your own fears. They must be faced and vanquished if you is to be victorious"
Kale Wednesday January 17th, 2001 5:27:43 AM
"When I was chosen to journey here, I wanted no part of it. The thought of traveling with people I didnt know or trust terrified me. You seem to know my past, so you know what ive endured. But ive learned that not everyone in this world is out to get me. Ive learned that I can trust, and that that trust is returned. It is a good feeling, one I had forgotten." Kale says, though he doesnt move from his place, as if hes embarressed to say what he has just said
And What Grade Are You Three In..? (DM Donna) Wednesday January 17th, 2001 8:30:37 AM
"I learned we could all work together, too," Holleb says, then adds: "Although Mordengast almost got us killed by that eye-monster thing by just walking right up to it instead of sneaking--"
"Honor demanded that we be fair!" the minotaur paladin defends himself hotly. "One does NOT 'sneak up' on worthy foes like a silly centaur!"
"SILLY?" Holleb roars, turning red in the face and moving to stand practically nose-to-nose with Mordengast. Ashrad snorts and places a hand on the chest of each arguer, pushing them apart just a bit.
"We've come all this way and you two still don't perceive where we are...and whom we're with?" the Wemic tells them disdainfully. "I don't know what Tomi could possibly see in either of you--"
"Enough!" the God of War says sharply, cutting all three off. "You three haven't seemed to have learned to change your ways at all...you are locked into a path that will beat you if you don't try to actually *see* what you are looking at!" The deity waves a hand and the three Taurs disappear.
"There--they have returned to their homes, thinking all this to be a dream." he tells you. "You, however, remain, since all of you know better...you remain--as well as the burden Holleb carried..." The glass case that the centaur druid had in his backpack hovers in mid-air.
"The other half..?" the giant Taur's eyes fall upon Thiel. The floating case opens up as a blossoming flower would, its glass walls peeling and withering into nothingness, leaving only the free-floating Heart of the Stag as the deity looks eagerly to the minotaur cleric, waiting...
Zeoll Wednesday January 17th, 2001 8:41:05 AM
Zeoll stands in awe of the deity and stymied by his question. Momentarily dumbstruck, his mind is a swirl of memories.
He thinks about the dreams, auguries, and miracles that brought him here -- the bird of omen, the hand of water. He ponders the company in which he found himself. He thinks about the challenging and fearsome beings the group faced. He thinks over the puzzles they had to solve.
He speaks softly to the Being before him, in the Taur language common to all.
"Frrom the mirracles that brrought us togetherr, I learrned that the ways of the worrld arre wonderrous, and that the Hand of God is mighty. Frrom each otherr, and frrom the many-eyed guarrdian, we learrned that things are not always what they might seem to be."
"To defeat the acid-worrms we had to fight togetherr. To solve the doorr-puzzle we had to worrk togetherr. We have learrned to be a team."
The liontaur falls silent, feeling that his answer is less than adequate.
Kenisha Wednesday January 17th, 2001 11:16:31 AM
She is sad that three of her fellows learned nothing from their trials. 'From nine to six we go, but still balanced.' Kenisha thought silently to herself.
Looking over at Kale and Flat-Top she had to grin, 'Still there may be hope for the Taur Islands yet.'
Looking over at Zeoll she simply smiles and nods her head. 'Together we will survive. I could not voice that truth because I had already known it. I did not learn it on this journey.'
Flat-top Wednesday January 17th, 2001 11:36:56 AM
."Flat-top stares at the scene before him, noticing nothing or anybody around him. His eyes only on the free-floating Heart of the Stag. "Ahh! Oh! Weenie!" said Flat-top," I am yours to command."
Kale Wednesday January 17th, 2001 7:56:59 PM
after saying his peace, Kale remains silent, waiting to see what the deity has planned
Thiel Wednesday January 17th, 2001 9:05:37 PM
As Thiel sees the other half of the heart suspended in mid air and his companions gone Thiel is awe struck. with hands that now feel as lead bricks thiel fumbles with his pack and finds the half he has to the best of his ability protected and pulls it from the sack which has shelterd it through its jurney. " I return the heart to its rightfull place. " With that he opens the box and sets it on the floor before him.Thiel then backs away expecting fireworks and wedding bells.
Together Again! (DM Donna) Thursday January 18th, 2001 6:42:16 AM
There is no mistaking the smile on the giant Taur's face as the Heart of the Beast is freed from its own case. It, too floats upward until it is level with the first half, then the two artifacts are drawn to each other in a slow but inexorable orbiting kind of dance, each of them whirling around the other faster and faster as they draw closer and closer together, until--
--contact!
At first nothing seems to happen, then the reunited heart begins to glow...faintly at first, but brighter and brighter still until it is as though the sun itself was shining in this underground chamber. Laughter, even more rich and welcoming than previously heard, swirls around you and all present feel the warmth and joy of the being that has brought you here.
"Yes! YES! I just KNEW you could do it!!!" the voice resounds within the chamber as well as in your hearts and heads. "I am Domi...Imod...Tomi...and you are all my children! You have made me proud..!"
The chamber rumbles and the sensation that grips you is that of rushing up into the air as though to a great height--and, suddenly, the chamber you are in seems to dissolve away.
You find yourselves standing atop a large stone dome--in a circular area that is apparently an observatory of some kind, for as you look around, you realize you are in the very center of the new island and that you can see for miles around from this vantage point. To the northeast appears the unmistakeable coast of the Minotaur Isle...and to the southwest the shoreline of Centaur Isle. If you strain very, very hard, you can just barely make out the faint outline of Wemic Isle upon the west-southwesterly horizon, even.
But...something is different, you just know it...
(Everyone must roll a Spot check versus DC 10. Anyone with Wilderness Lore can add a +2 to their roll.)
Zeoll d20+6=8 Thursday January 18th, 2001 8:53:10 AM
[OOC: My +6 on the roll did not help!]
Zeoll, overwhelmed by the presence of his god and by the miracles around him, senses the world as if all were new. Something unusual is going on, but all he can tell is that wonders are in the air.
Kale d20=3 Thursday January 18th, 2001 9:33:09 AM
confused by the sudden movement, Kale fails to notice anything
Flat-top d20=16 Thursday January 18th, 2001 11:12:11 AM
Flat-top feels funny, after all Centaurs don't go up in the air without a platform. But when the chamber melts away, and he (Flat-top)find himself standing on top of a Lookout. Flat-top find the view so beautiful that he is speachless. He points to the northeast and"OH! OH!Looo..."Then he pointed to the southwest and"HUMA! HUMA!. Then he turns to the west-southwest and ask,"Thats new? But look a brand New Island."
Kenisha d20+3=14 Thursday January 18th, 2001 1:22:22 PM
(OOC- I forgot that I have Wilderness Lore so my roll is actually 16, my bad)
Kenisha is as giddy as a foal as she looks all around; prancing from one side to the other grinning. She's even so bold as to give Kale a hug and Zeoll a kiss on the cheek.
Then she stops as she notices something odd.
Thiel d20=12 Thursday January 18th, 2001 5:24:46 PM
Thiel is as flipped out and confused as a minotaur can be. H sees all the wonderful sites that a good always offers. and in his confusion thiel thinks he sees something more. maybe its the rumble of hunger once again.
And What to Wondering Eyes Should Appear... (DM Donna) Friday January 19th, 2001 7:37:13 AM
The vista from the observatory is breathtaking--especially since, to all who have made their Spot checks, you notice that the three Islands that make up the Taur Isles now have land bridges connecting them to this newest island.
"My dear children," the rumbling bass of the god's voice breaks into your reverie, "You are standing in the midst of the island that will serve as headquarters to you--my chosen ones. This island will serve as a physical confirmation of the bridge you all will be the living embodiment of...the bridge between all Taurs.
"Once upon a time, I sought to create the ultimate warrior race--one skilled in all aspects of war. Thus was born the Taur. I do not possess omniscience, however, but immortal power. I did not realize that the different perceptions of combat could fracture my vision of one perfect warrior into many different warriors...thus was born the Minotaur, the Centaur...and the Lion-taur, whom is called Wemic." A gusty sigh sounds from the deity.
"My Heart was torn asunder because I thought I had caused irrepairable damage to the Taur, weakening that perfect warrior race...but you have shown me that I did not weaken the Taur, but made the Taur stronger through diversity. Now it is up to you to prove that all three aspects of Taur can unite in spite of their differences...that all three make up a nigh-unbeatable force for good in the Wold."
When you turn to look at Domi/Imod/Tomi, you no longer see the epitome of your own race, but a large humanoid with a flowing mane and tail reminiscent of a Centaur, a broad face and upper body built much like a Minotaur, and the solid structuring of sinewy and powerful, tawny-furred lower body of the cat-pawed Wemic.
"Behold the form of your ancestor race," the god of War bids, "And know this: Bridge Island is to be your stronghold to keep and protect, as you are the first of the separate parts of Taur to begin realizing your true potential. Only those who believe that all Taurs may unite as brothers-in-arms and be a force for good in the Wold may perceive the land bridges leading to this place. Those who have the courage to walk those bridges will have earned the right to reside here with you and to keep watch over the reunited heart that will remain here."
Kale Friday January 19th, 2001 9:38:44 AM
"Well, I certainly didnt expect this to happen when I woke up this morning." Kale mutters to himself as he tries to disentangle himself from Kenisha's embrace
Zeoll Friday January 19th, 2001 10:40:01 AM
Zeoll immediately thinks about how a combined army of Taurs could wipe all hell hounds from his people's homeland and avenge the massacre of his clan. But he quells his thought. "It must be as Great Tomi wishes it to be," he thinks.
*If the deity is still present*
Zeoll looks to the immortal, bowing low and giveing voice to his question. "Patrron and Lorrd, you want us to 'prrove that all thrree aspects of Taurr can unite.' How arre we to do that? What is our firrst mission?"
Then in Wemic he adds, more quietly, "Great Lord, you know the secret desire of my heart. Could not a crusade against hell hounds serve to unite the Taur in common cause?"
*If the deity has gone*
"Well, fellow Taurr, how will we discharrge ourr mission? the Immorrtal told us to prrotect this place and unite the Taurr. How can we do that?"
"I think that forr now secrrecy will prrotect Brridge Island, since only the initiated can crross the brridges."
"Do we need to go out and prreach to the people the trruth we learrned here? How can we unite ourr folk in common cause?"
Flat-top Friday January 19th, 2001 11:30:32 AM
"OH! Great, Kenisha, you give Kale a hug and Zeoll a kiss. What about me, I saved your pretty hide too. I even listen to what you were saying about given the other fellow a chance and all that stuff. But I must admit you were right," said Flat-top, He turn to Kale and shake his hand, saying "I would like to learn some of those moves of yours, like picking a lock if you know what I mean." Flat-top trots over to Zeoll and shakes his hand, asking "What are you going to do now? After all you are a Priest of the God of all of us Now? Do we protect this spot? How can we tell if only the good comes accross those bridges? Only Zeol and Thiel are Priest and Cleric and they have to stay here?"
Kenisha Friday January 19th, 2001 12:41:02 PM
Kenisha laughs at Flat-top then canters over to him and gives him a hug too. "There, happy?"
Listening to the discussion she thinks about it for a moment. "I suppose that sinse only those who are open to the notion of a united Taur can see the bridges we could watch for a bit and see if there are any already out there willing to take the trip on their own. That way we will have fellow guardians of this sacred isle. Then we could go out to each isle and preach to the masses as it were.
"But at the very least, we must first figure out how we mean to go forward. Laws, accomodations for living and work, and things like that."
Divine Redecorating (DM Donna) Monday January 22nd, 2001 7:22:08 AM "My beloved children," the God of War intones, "You have already accomplished the first mission that I sent to you--the reunion of my sundered Heart. All that needs doing from now on is that you lead by example, following your conscience and doing your best...together." The tall Taur turns and nods to Kenisha.
"I wouldn't put you through all this and then not have a place for you to stay...behold!" Here the deity waves a hand at the south end of the observation point. There you see a set of wide, circular stairs spiraling downward. "Follow the stairs down to see the rest of Hearthold, here on Bridge Island."
Kale Monday January 22nd, 2001 7:58:51 AM
doing what the man says, Kale begins to walk towards the stairs, excited about exploring this new island
Flat-top Monday January 22nd, 2001 11:52:25 AM
"Look,Kanisha, Kale is afraid you going to KISS him." said Flat-top. Then after listening to Domi, turn again to Kenisha. "I'll follow you down the stairs and explore this new Bridge Island. Are you coming, you minataurs and wenic?"
Thiel (A Taur) Monday January 22nd, 2001 7:50:53 PM
(OOC) Couldnt post on Friday server was down. Thiel Decides at that moment that he will consider hiomself a taur from that day forward.He looks to his new friends and says " lets get to it the truth has been shown to us we must unit our races or all our races will suffer. we are strong and wise separate but together we are unstoppabl. this Island is only the beginning. "
Zeoll Monday January 22nd, 2001 8:44:20 PM
Glad to explore, Zeoll joins the others and explores Hearthold.
Kenisha Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 1:33:30 AM
Grinning from ear to ear, Kenisha nods to Flat-top and the others as she heads down the stairs. "Let's see the wonders of our new home, Taurs."
Entering Hearthold (DM Donna) Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 8:16:00 AM
Descending the stairway, the party finds themselves in a beautifully-carved dome-shaped chamber whose curving walls are divided into four sections, three of which have fifteen-foot-wide doorways. The sections with the doorways each have a single figure carved in it--a Minotaur, a Centaur and a Wemic. The fourth panel features a carving of all three races bearing arms and looking like a united force versus whatever they may be facing.
Directly in front of this section is a pedestal with a large glass case on it. The case is highlighted by a ring of fire that comes from a Continual Flame spell, illuminating the newly-reunited heart.
(OOC: everyone must make a Spot check versus DC 10; I'll be emailing a diagram of the room proper ASAP, but suffice it to say that the Heart is on the North section of this chamber; the Centaur, Wemic and Minotaur sections are east, south and west respectively. The spiral staircase is in the southeast corner of this spherical room.)
Kale d20=15 Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 9:55:42 AM
Kale walks up to the minotaur figure and says. "Ill go this way." but pauses for a second as he notices something(made spot check)
Flat-top d20=15 Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 11:07:00 AM
"Taurs, Taurs...I like that new race." said Flat-top, "We will call ourselves Taurs..." Flat-top follows Kenisha down the stairway and into the tall beautiful dome-shape chamber. Flat-top looks around in wonder and stands in front of the Centaurs Door. "Look, Kenisha, the doors are so beautiful. Let's take this one." Flat-top is about to open the door(for Kenisha of course) when he spots something.
Kenisha d20+3=23 Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 12:20:52 PM
(OOC- OHMYGOD! *LOL* I got a natural 20 on that roll!)
Kenisha ponders the doors then moves over to the panel with all three races on it. She murmurs almost to herself, "Seems a bit silly to me that we split up by 'race' at this point if we are all to be Taurs..."
Then she notices something.
Thiel d20=12 Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 2:56:58 PM
Thiel decides that he would like to take a closer look at the pedestal with the heart. as he approches the altar he notices something.
Zeoll d20+4=18 Tuesday January 23rd, 2001 5:40:11 PM
Zeoll looks closely at the heart, bowing slightly before it. Then he looks at each of the graven Taur figures in turn.
Are there actual doors? Or archways? Are the figures carved on the doors?
I Left My Heart... (DM Donna) Wednesday January 24th, 2001 7:44:41 AM
The chamber is dome-shaped with a flat, level floor and a flat, level ceiling. The bas-relief of the carved figures actually adorn the segmented walls themselves--the doors do not have that kind of carving on them and are made of solid wood, bound by shiny steel. All three sets of doors are actually double doors, and none of them have locks, though they all may be barred from the inside of the room if one got something to bar the doors with.
Those making their Spot checks and/or directly gazing into the glass case with the artifact in it see an amazing sight: the reunited Heart of Domi is beating! Once more, the deity speaks, temporarily halting anyone's intentions to exit the chamber just yet:
"Now, my children, I leave you to explore your new home," intones the voice of the God of War, "I leave you with the charge of keeping Hearthold safe for all who hope, and for all who are willing to fight for Good. Know that, for as long as my Heart beats, Domi...Imod...or Tomi, if you prefer--" here the voice of the deity chuckles briefly, "--*I* shall always be with you to aid you in your war against ignorance and prejudice. Fight well, my children..!"
The warmth of Domi's sentiment lingers long after the sound of the echoes of his voice fades away.
All that is left to hear is the strong, sure beating of the Heart, and all that is left to do is...
...pick a door--any door...
Kale Wednesday January 24th, 2001 9:33:53 AM
"See ya later." Kale says as he goes through the door with the minotaur figure over it
Flat-top Wednesday January 24th, 2001 11:48:19 AM
"Hey! Kale! Don't you think we should stick together? Don't you think it is dangerous? OH! Well" Flat-top turn and bows at the beating Heart." And prays "Praise be to you, Domi. And please help me." Turns back at the door that Kale had taken and follows him.
thiel Wednesday January 24th, 2001 8:23:22 PM
"ITseems that Kale has chosen our direction lets go. before he steals all the glory!"
Zeoll Wednesday January 24th, 2001 9:36:47 PM
"I am surre it is safe, or Lorrd Tomi would not have told us to explorre," said Zeoll. After a moment's thought, he added, "At least, somewhat safe!"
Then the liontaur opened the wemic door and peered through, although he did not yet enter.
Kenisha Thursday January 25th, 2001 1:00:58 AM
Feeling impish, Kenisha quietly sneaks up behind Zeoll and shouts, "Boo! Just kidding my friend. Shall we check out this door together?"
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