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Shining Force Central Forums > RPG Gallery > Shining Force: The Chaos War Part IV

Posted by: Rusty Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:41 am
((Did 23 damage to the Torch Eye on an AoO before it gets flung away. Just noting that.)) : "Keep fighting! Hal, Sophie, do what you can to heal our wounds. We can't slow down now!" *Alexander rushes to the nearby cyborg, bringing his blade to it.*
((Auras up: Motivate Ardor (+1 to damage), Master of Tactics (+CHA damage [8] to damage on flanks)
Moving NW to the CHAOS thingy.
As usual, this attack ignores 5 points of DR.
PA 8
Attack: 14 + 5 [BAB - PA 8] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] = 29
Damage: 8 [Longsword] + 1 [magic] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Aura] + 8 [PA] = 23))

Posted by: Kaihaku Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:06 am
Sophie stares at the scene around her with frustration, her friends were in danger and hurt and she could do so little to help them. Tears threaten to well up in her eyes as she turns to Caius, "Yes but please be careful..." She chants a quick prayer, beseeching the light for power to end ills and lays a hand on the bloodied warrior.
[CCW: +34 HP]
Coventry grimaces as the massive monster tears into the armored warrior, making a quick gesture even as the unfortunate pilot's limbs are sundered. Though it does not repair the dire damage dealt, healing energy seals the wounds before more blood can be spilled.
[Close Wounds : Immediate Action : +8 HP Liam]
The Doctor tears his attention away from the bloodied and battered heap that was Liam. He then spins forward, narrowly avoiding the massive creature that had so rent the heavily armored warrior and comes to a halt a short distance behind the beast and near the fancy frilly nobleman.
[Tumble: 17 + 21 = 28]
He then blinks, glancing at the nearby prissy noble with a hint of interest, "Wait... Do I know you?" He frowns as if trying to recall, "Huh... Aren't you Lord Fancypants or something from the Empire?" He then shrugs, "Erh...guess now isn't a good time." He makes a sweeping gesture with his hand and his allies find their wounds lessening and that they are lighter on their feet.
[Auto-Defensive Cast]
[Mass CLW: +22 HP : All allies near Coventry]
[Heal Kicker: Gain +5 untyped bonus on Reflex Saves]
Maria arches an eyebrow at the powerful teleportation technique of Viki, "Interesting..." She then glances at the embattled group to the south, frowning slightly, "Looks like they could use some help..." She takes a few steps into a better position and points a finger at the foes to the south, unleashing a powerful bolt of electricity.
[Move into position]
[Power Resistance: 1...+ 14 + 2 = ]
[Energy Bolt(Elec): 51 Electric Damage]
[Reflex DC 24 for half damage]
[Hit the northern golem, robot chaos thingy, and the mutant without hitting any allies.]

Posted by: FreedomJu Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:07 am
((Repost of my action for this round as I had missed buffs and the topic was locked.... Melissa passed her massive damage save by rolling a 19... but failed the REF saves for the grenades.)) Even though she was a veteran of over a hundred battles and injury far worse than this, Melissa still had to grit her teeth together to keep herself from groaning from the sudden pain, thankful once more for her augmentations as she would have had broken bones at the very least without them.
Backing up slightly once more, she fired a duo of gauss projectiles into the stomach of the golem and hoped that that this thing was near destruction. However, her aim was affected by the pain more than she would have liked, rendering her attack less than ideal.
((5' move South-East to the space next to Jess, Full Attack at the golem.
Gauss Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX + Weapon Focus (Gauss Assault Rifle) + Tactical Aid + Elation + Morale
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 15 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 39
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 2 + 14 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 21
Gauss Damage: 3d10+3 + Weapon Specialization (Gauss Assault Rifle)
Attack 1: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 4 + 2 + 2 + 5 = 13
Attack 2: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 2 + 2 + 1 + 5 = 10
Dodge to the Golem.
AC is 26, 27 against the golem
98/166 HP left))

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:06 am
Holzgeist, following the mental commands from his companion, padded quickly to Caius' other side, where Sha'aasta used the wand a second time to heal their ally. "You know, I've heard that girls like scars on a man, but I didn't think you were that desperate." Sha'aasta bantered with him. "Do us a favor. Stop bleeding on Sophie's robe, and go out and tattoo that fellow's backside for us. Just don't lead with your chin again. Right, Johann?"
Johann, however, never said a word, but stared at the towering mutant with an unnerving intensity.
Holzgeist moves next to Caius. Holzgeist is using total defense (+4 AC).
Sha'aasta casts cure serious wounds on Caius. (3d8 + 5, + any applicable bonuses).
Johann prepares an action for when the mutant attacks. If the mutant nearest him has survived, he will cast wall of ice to block the mutant's attacks. If that mutant is dead, he will cast wall of ice to block the attacks of the mutant near Jim. Wall of ice will create a plane of ice 30' wide by 30' tall. It has hardness 0 and 33 hp. Once destroyed, the cold air in that plane will deal 1d6 + 11 hp cold damage to anyone stepping through, no save. The mutant gets a reflex save, dc 21, to disrupt the wall as it's forming.
If both mutants are dead, he will cast scorching ray instead. Three ranged touch attacks, 1d20 + 17 + any bonuses (other than haste). 4d6 fire damage for each ray, no save. He will target the robot south of the nearest drowned eye until it's dead, then turn any remaining rays on the nearest drowned eye.

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:15 am
Varro flails at the Golem, all but one of his strikes going wide. ((Hit, miss, miss. 38 damage before DR)) Hal rushes forward, panting. He looks around and sees no one in dire need of healing, so he turns to the narrow mountain pass and claps, a wall of stone closing it off.
((like so:
))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:52 am
Dagron twists and rends the metal of the gun emplacement, smoke begining to pour from several damaged areas. Sparks fly around sliced wires, but the massive cannon continues to fire, sending a thin beam of energy to strike at the cruiser in the distance compared to the other two emplacement's enormous firepower.
The beams strike the ship and over their comms, the Rangers hear yet more of the vessel's chatter.
"Main cannons and long range weapons are down, sir! We can't return fire!" a panicked voice reports.
"Get the ship closer and prepare to open up with our short range weapons, then. Stay calm, all is not lost!"
"Fire in section F! No response from B Block!"
"Hold her steady! We're almost there!"
The Torch Eye by Alex rockets away from the hero, though he manages to get in a farewell slash. The robot slams into the AA emplacement south of it and explodes, putting a large breach in the gun's armor and destroying the robot utterly.
Okori flits towards the southern Ravager, sending a pair of beams at it that cause the monster to trip and fall over, roaring incoherently as it appears unable to move.
((15 Dex damage drops the Ravager to 0 Dex and paralyzes it.))
: "You've got to be the most useful familiar I've ever seen, Tetsuo! Good job!" Jim calls out to the fox spirit as the behemoth in front of him collapses.
The swordsman near the Ravager then proceeds to rip and tear the monster's guts... Though the thick carapace makes it somewhat difficult.
((+2 hit and damage awarded for this round because Enrick made me lol. Two hits for 24 damage after DR.))
The Heavy Weapons Emplacement vanishes in a shimmering burst of light. Though they probably didn't see it, embroiled in battle as they were, the weapon and its crew reappeared... About five hundred feet in the air and a mile away. Months later, a travelling tinker would find the remains and make enough money from the technological remains to take a well deserved vacation.
The Golem can no longer withstand the terrible pounding it is taking from the relentless attacks of Laeralas and Eve, having been reduced to a stony skeleton by attack after attack. With a final lance thrust to the head and dagger slash to the leg, the great construct finally crumbles into rubble.
: “Hahaha! Can you dodge these pell... er, bullets?” Sheila asks, blasting the Bowrider with four shots that burst out his back.
The centaur looks shocked, blood running out of his mouth before he screams, “GLORY TO THE LORDS OF STRIFE!!!” Then he collapses and is still.
Melissa's shot only manages to crumble a little of the stone off the Golem's side.
Adam begins setting the charges as Villetta does the same for her gun. Square packages are carefully secured into place on the machine's side as detonation devices are primed on the explosives, times hastily tapped into keypads.
Maria's blast of energy causes havoc with the Assault Robot's systems, then creates a large burn on the downed Ravager. The Golem, being made of rock, seems unaffected by the lightning. A large chunk of rock is then cleaved off by Varro's sword, the construct still very much affected by that.
Alex slashes a small breach in the robot's armor thanks to his trusty sword. However a rock wall swiftly shoots into the air between him and his quarry, the hero nearly losing his weapon as the rock scrapes against his sword.
A Cult Knight charges at Merla, but the wizardess casually bats the lance aside with her staff and steps away, dodging the blow.
"Wench! I'll have your head!" the knight snarls.
The other Cult Knight continues to hack and thrust at the illusion, his vigor in butchering even fake innocents disturbing in the extreme. Perhaps moreso than the presence of undead and twisted abominations...
The Ravager bends its head upwards and roars as it leaps up to slash and tear at the birdman above it. Johann's spell goes off as planned, a wall of ice jutting from the ground to curve in front of the monster and block his attack, but the beast manages to disrupt the delicate formation of the frozen crystals. Two claws dig deep into Thavon, a vicious bite only missing because of the protective illusion around the birdman. Blood sprays down to water the cracked earth as one claw finds a vital organ to pierce. Despite the assault, Thavon still flies at the end of the attack, kept conscious by his magical prowess.
((Hit, Critical Hit!, Miss due to Displacement. 134 damage to Thavon. Thavon is at 1 HP due to a nifty spell.))
The Ravager then turns to Hal and blasts him with a stream of bluish-white energy.
((40 damage to Hal, Ref save for half.))
A blinding beam of light lances past Hal's head, missing him by centimeters to bore into the mountainside behind him as an Assault Robot moves up.
Jim turns and fires a trio of bursts at the Golem towering over Melissa. The rounds blow through the already greatly weakened Golem's structure and collapse the creature into nothing more than a big pile of stone. The remaining Golem steps up onto the prone body of the Ravager to swing at the Field Commander. Jim takes a blow to the gut, but his armor, training, and the protective Deban of Jessica keep him standing.
((Hit. 18 damage to Jim.))
One of the Assault Robots turns to Jim.
"Assaulting enemy command unit..." it mumbles as it fires its laser at the soldier. Jim side-steps out of the way, the beam boring into the ground behind him.
((Miss.))
"Assaulting enemy robotics," another says as it fires again on Varro. The beam sears through another layer of armor and Varro takes note of moderate systems damage.
((Hit. 40 damage to Varro.))
Another thin beam of light from a Torch Eye strikes Maria, burning a small wound into her leg.
((Hit. 20 damage to Maria.))
Michael turns and chucks a ball of mystic fire at the robot, lightly damaging it.
Finding a wall of stone blocking their line of sight to their previous targets, the Drowned Eye turn as one and fire on the closest thing they see. Sheila. A wall of lead blasts towards the agent, but she dodges and dances away from each and every burst.
((Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss.))
: "Was that s'posed to hit me or somethin'? Awwwww, tooooooo baaaaaad!" Sheila taunts with a grin as a pair of laser beams from the robots lance toward her. One sizzles past her, but the Torch Eye beam manages to catch her in the side of the ribs. Sheila hisses in pain as she stumbles for a moment, wincing.
((Miss. Hit. 20 damage to Sheila.))
: "Aw man... Well, seven outta eight ain't bad..." Sheila mutters as she holds her side.
Next turn!
Posting Deadline: Sunday Morning.
Map: http://www.shinola.radh.com/guest/Rusty/SFCWIVa4.PNG

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:42 pm
*Dagron blows smoke over the enormous weapon in front of him, becoming extremely impatient with it. Anything else should have been destroyed by now! Dagron continues to rend and tear the gun emplacement, a wickedly vicious bite tearing out more than normal.*
((Full attack again
Bite: 1d20 + 25 = 7 + 25 = 32.
Bite: 1d20 + 25 = 20 + 25 = THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 25 = 10 + 25 = 35.
Claw: 1d20 + 20 = 18 + 20 = 38.
Claw: 1d20 + 20 = 7 + 20 = 27.
Wing: 1d20 + 18 = 16 + 18 = 34.
Wing: 1d20 + 18 = 18 + 18 = 36.
Damage
1d8 + 14 = 7 + 14 = 21.
(1d8+14)*2 = (8 + 4) + 28 = 40.
1d6 + 8 = 5 + 8 = 13.
1d6 + 8 = 1 + 8 = 9.
1d4 + 6 = 2 + 6 = 8.
1d4 + 6 = 2 + 6 = 8.))
*Merla giggles slightly at how easy it was to avoid the charging centaur. However, with her spell still running, she hardly wanted to be within range of this enemy. She takes a step backward behind Caius to better distance herself.*
: Caius, would you please do me a favor and remove this?
*With not another word, Merla closes her eyes, and then Assault Robot begins to lift toward the gun emplacement. Merla's thoughts drifted slightly, however, to the aching burn on her side. There had to be some way to protect oneself from these blasted lasers. Her Protection from Arrows spell hadn't helped. As a defensive specialist, it might just be her duty to research such a spell.*
((Merla makes a 5' step (concentration is only a standard action) behind Caius.
The assault robot NE of the AA gun is being TK'd into the AA gun.
Concentration check: 1d20 + 20 = 9 + 20 = 29. Pass.))

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:44 pm
Enrick's smile widened when the monster collapsed of all its hideous mass into the mud, seemingly unable to move a muscle anymore. : "Feeling of invincibility over..." He muttered for himself, then blinked twice in surprise at his own words, realizing they made no sense at all. He arched an eyebrow then sheathed his lightblade and shrugged, then eyeing the fallen beast mischievously he offered a speech.
: "Um anyhow... It feels so much better to see you in such an absurdly awkward position rather than clawing around. But surely you'll realize that you aren't any more advantaged or helpful as long as you remain sprawlling on your back, which makes you virtually useless. Or at least most would come to this conclusion."
He closed the short distance between him and the monster and leveled his right foot up against its massive arm to let it rest in a hollow spot. He bent down slightly and used this improvised support higher than the ground to readjust his boot more conveniently, and did the same with the left one still speaking.
: "But you see, I like to look beyond the appearences so I won't overlook small details. Even in this posture, you've got some practical use at least, unlike those walking puppets shooting all over the place. Well, off I go!"
Chuckling, the quirky noble turned away and walked back to the healer of whom he had just noticed the presence behind him.
: "Oh pardon me sir, were you talking to me a little while ago? I'm afraid this huge uh... thing whatever it is, diverted my attention to the point I barely caught what you said earlier."

Posted by: FreedomJu Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:15 am
With the golem dead and the monsterous creature seemingly unable to move for the time being, Melissa swiftly shifts her aim at the remaining golem before firing off a pair of hasty shots. Despite not taking time to aim carefully, the Spartan was pleased that they seemed to inflict greater damage then her previous two.
((Staying put, Full Attack on golem
Gauss Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX + Weapon Focus (Gauss Assault Rifle) + Tactical Aid + Elation + Morale
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 15 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 39
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 3 + 14 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 22
Gauss Damage: 3d10+3 + Weapon Specialization (Gauss Assault Rifle)
Attack 1: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 10 + 8 + 6 + 5 = 29
Attack 2: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 10 + 9 + 9 + 5 = 33
Dodge to the Assault Robot to the North East
AC is 26, 27 against the robot
98/166 HP left))

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:39 am
: "It takes a little more than that to take this bird down you massive meathead!" Thavon belted out as his body was only being held together by his own magic. "Speaking of meatheads... How about a little help over here!" Joked birdgish as he moved to the otherside of the giant gelatenous monster beneath him, stabbing at him as he did so.
((Move 5' to the other side of him, only 5' cause I was actually directly above him, not infront of him like the map implies. He should now be flankable.
Attack
#1: D20(17) + 11(BAB) + 9(STR) + 1(Ranseur) + 1(HG) + 1(Haste) + 1(Bless) - 4(PA) = 37
#2: D20(18) + 6(BAB) + 9(STR) + 1(Ranseur) + 1(HG) + 1(Haste) + 1(Bless)- 4(PA) = 33
#3: D20(2) + 1(BAB) + 9(STR) + 1(Ranseur) + 1(HG) + 1(Haste) + 1(Bless) - 4(PA) = 12
#4: D20(12) + 11(BAB) + 9(STR) + 1(Ranseur) + 1(HG) + 1(Haste) + 1(Bless) - 4(PA) = 32
Damage
#1: 2D4(4,3) + 13(STR) + 8(PA) + 1(Ranseur) + 1D6[4](HG) + 1(Aura) = 34
#2: 2D4(3,4) + 13(STR) + 8(PA) + 1(Ranseur) + 1D6[2](HG) + 1(Aura) = 32
#3: 2D4(1,3) + 13(STR) + 8(PA) + 1(Ranseur) + 1D6[3](HG) + 1(Aura) = 30
#4: 2D4(2,1) + 13(STR) + 8(PA) + 1(Ranseur) + 1D6[4](HG) + 1(Aura) = 30
HP: 1/172
AC: 36
Miss Chance: 50%
Due to Wrathfull Healing, Thavon heals half of the damage he just did.))

Posted by: Alpha Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:27 pm
((Ty, you missed out +1 damage to each attack from Alexander's auras)) At Thavon's request for aid in bringing down the ravager, Laeralas immediately starts moving down towards his friend. Tumbling as he goes, he uses up a spell to temporarily infuse his leading dagger with electrical energy. Ending up flanking the enemy with the birdgish, he slashes hard at it.
[Tumble: 19 + 29 = 48...pass. If I need more than one roll, then let me know
Use Daggerspell Mage ability 'Arcane Infusion': sacrafice Bestow Curse in order to add shock to my dagger for 4 rounds
Attack:
1d20(20)...confirm: 1d20(9) + 8(bab) + 8(dex) + 1(focus) +1(encht) - 2(twf) + 1(bless) + 4(greater heroism) + 1(haste) + 2(flank) = 33: confirmed
Damage:
Damage: 1d6(8) + 12(str) + 2(ench) + 2(motivative ardour) + 16(master of tactics) + 4d6(sneak attack) + 1d6(shock) = 51 + 2 shock]
[HP: 102/149
AC: 40
20% miss chance, 3 mirror images]

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:36 am
Stone feet stomping the ground and the repeated sound of gunfire nearby soon called him back to the harsh reality of war. He turned around, looking behind vaguely and let out a big sigh before speaking up again. : "Oh... Right, I suppose we'll have to reschedule this meeting then. What troublesome guests these are. Won't they give me a little break?"
Without a single move, his feet left the ground and he rose smoothly towards the clouds once more, arms crossed in front of him.
: "My bad... It's true that we are the guests here." He continued in a more affected tone, pretending to only realize now, "Better behave accordingly. *chuckle*" He nodded matter-of-factly and looked at the silent man, his feet now at the level of the healer's head, "Well, nice talking to you even for a brief moment. I can already tell you are a nice fellow by the look of your refined healing techniques. So discreet yet so effective. The treatment was much welcomed after this large brute pounded against my back so ruthlessly. In fact, it doesn't hurt anymore and there is this pleasant, lingering feeling of lightness afterward. Simply exquisite! Uh... Enough with my rant, I must be off."
His body was already high above the ground after he was done talking, and still going up as he looked down towards the healer.
: "If I'm not back by the end of the party and you bump into some pleasant gentleman going by the name of Alexander, ask Enrick van Maerglecrow! That's me!" He shouted and smiled widely, then waved him goodbye, only to ascend higher, faster. Once he reached a high enough position that gave him a satisfying view of the battle, he snapped his fingers once. Right away, four phantom copies of himself appeared in the air, hovering at his side and imitating his every motion. The tricky sorcerer then achieved to build up his defenses by calling forth an invisible barrier vibrant with magic for an additional protection. The circlet on his forehead glittered dimly for an instant as he did so.
((Ascends 40ft.
Cast Mirror Image. 1d4+2 = 4 images created.
Use up 1 charge of the Circlet of Rapid Casting. (swift action)
Cast Shield. +4 AC. (Shield bonus)
HP: 91/125
AC: 29
4 mirror images.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:10 am
The Doctor arches an eyebrow at the rapid rabid mutterings of the fruity noble, then nods, "Well, farewell then, lord fancypants..." He turns his attention back to the wounds of his comrades, channeling restorative energy to speed their natural healing process.
[Less Mass Vigor: Everyone in the SW corner gains Fast Healing 1 for 24 rounds]
Sophie frowns as her spiritual elder ignores the orders of their beloved leader and hero, conjuring a stone wall instead of healing wounds. Her eyes are conflicted as she glances at Alexander, but then she shakes aside her doubts and, taking a deep breath, speaks a beseeching prayer that sets off a burst of healing across the field.
[Mass Cure Light Wounds: 4 + 14 = +18 HP]
[Pretty much everyone in the NE corner.]
Maria shakes her head with a frown, looking over the battlefield. This seems to be going well, good, I can conserve my energy. She moves forward a few steps and draws her sidearm, opening fire at the nearby torch eye.
[CORE pistol(+10/+5, 1d20, x3, Ignore all armor and DR]
[Attack 1: 6 + 10 + 1 = 17]
[Damage: 16]
[Attack 2: 8 + 5 = 13]
[Damage: 2]

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:03 am
"By the way, Johann," Sha'aasta said conversationally, "did you know that we're about to be run over by a horse four times our size?" "Poor thing." Johann replied bleakly. "He can't be all that bright, then, if he's bringing himself to our attention."
Johann casts Phantasmal Killer on the centaur. Centaur must make DC 22 Will save. If save is failed, centaur must make DC 22 fort save or die. He takes 3d6 damage if he saves.
Sha'aasta shoots the centaur if it lives, the ravenger if the centaur's dead, and the andoid if they're both dead.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 + any bonuses active since the battle started.
Damage, attack 1: 1d8 + 2d6(holy) + any bonuses active since battle started.
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 + bonuses.
Damage 2: 1d8 + 2d6(holy)
Holzgeist moves and attacks the centaur (if it's still alive).
Attack: 1d20 + 15 + any bonuses.
Damage: 1d8 + 12
Trip attack (If first attack was successful): 1d20 + 27 + bonuses

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:46 am

QUOTE (Wandering Dezorian @ Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:03 am)
"By the way, Johann," Sha'aasta said conversationally, "did you know that we're about to be run over by a horse four times our size?" "Poor thing." Johann replied bleakly. "He can't be all that bright, then, if he's bringing himself to our attention."
Johann casts Phantasmal Killer on the centaur. Centaur must make DC 22 Will save. If save is failed, centaur must make DC 22 fort save or die. He takes 3d6 damage if he saves.
Sha'aasta shoots the centaur if it lives, the ravenger if the centaur's dead, and the andoid if they're both dead.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 + any bonuses active since the battle started.
Damage, attack 1: 1d8 + 2d6(holy) + any bonuses active since battle started.
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 + bonuses.
Damage 2: 1d8 + 2d6(holy)
Holzgeist moves and attacks the centaur (if it's still alive).
Attack: 1d20 + 15 + any bonuses.
Damage: 1d8 + 12
Trip attack (If first attack was successful): 1d20 + 27 + bonuses

((Passed the Will save and took 17 damage from the spell. Took a total of 28 damage from attacks for a grand total of 45 damage. It fails the Trip check exquisitely >rolled a 2 against a 14 for Holzgeist<, and falls on its side.))
The centaur reels back as a terrifying specter appears before it, then stumbles back and over as the Dire Wolf pulls at its leg and Sha'sta pegs him with a crossbow bolt.

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:11 am
Much as I hate to say it, if it passed the will save, it takes no damage from the spell. Meh. Don't these fellows ever fail saves?

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:26 am

QUOTE (Wandering Dezorian @ Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:11 am)
Much as I hate to say it, if it passed the will save, it takes no damage from the spell. Meh. Don't these fellows ever fail saves?

((Usually... But I rolled a 19 in chat. : ( ))

Posted by: Aldur Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:20 am
Michael sighs, taking to the sky and aiming at the torch eye before him, a despondant look on his face. He calls out to the others nearby. "Why does it have to be robots? I mean...they're...so boring. I can't taunt, comment, insult...or be attracted to them."
**
Viletta smirks at the thought of the impending carnage and activates her stealth cloak, moving towards the remaining implacement.
((Activate Greater Invis. Move next to the ball of blue fire.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:44 am

QUOTE (Aldur @ Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:20 pm)
Michael sighs, taking to the sky and aiming at the torch eye before him, a despondant look on his face. He calls out to the others nearby. "Why does it have to be robots? I mean...they're...so boring. I can't taunt, comment, insult...or be attracted to them."

Maria arches an eyebrow, "Well, there are always the undead, they might be more your type." She frowns, "Adam certainly seems to like them."

Posted by: Aldur Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:52 am
"Still not living enough! I mean, rigor mortis has never been my thing!"

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:54 am
*Caius nods with a wry grin, then sizes up his opponent. This would be quite easy. With fleet footwork, Caius lurches to the side, spinning through the centaur's lance-space. A cruel cut is landed quickly, followed by yet another. The wounds left by Johann and his companions are enough to allow Caius to quickly fell it. Still others were in need of aid. Thavon was holding on for dear life, and with a burst of speed, Caius continues his whirling dance of death, and heads straight for the Ravager. Sword blow after sword blow lands on the ravager, some more effective than others. The elf takes a moment to slide under the creature's legs, slashing it on his way back up. Hopefully this would take the foul beast down once and for all.*
((Continue to dervish dance, first around the centaur, then to the ravager. Tumble check to move through threatened squares: 1d20 + 25 + 1 = 3 + 26 = 29. Pass.
To hit.
On1: 1d20 + 14 (BAB) + 6 (DEX) - 2 (TWF) + 3 (Enh) + 1 (El) + 1 (Bless) + 1 (Haste) + 3 (DD) = 20 + 27... THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 27 = 7 + 27 = 34.
Off1: 1d20 + 26 = 12 + 27 = 39.
KNIGHT IS DEAD. MOVING TO MUTANT
On2: 1d20 + 22 + 2 (flank) = 20 + 24... THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 23 = 11 + 24 = 35.
Off2: 1d20 + 23 = 5 + 24 = 29.
On3: 1d20 + 18 = 11 + 19 = 30.
Hst: 1d20 + 28 = 16 + 29 = 45. THREAT
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 28 = 5 + 29 = 34.
Caius will also be using a skill trick to tumble through an enemy square and catch it flat footed on his next attack. Tumble check is 1d20 + 26 = 15 + 26 = 41. Pass. Also, I'm not sure if there's an opportunity to flank with Holzgeist or not on the knight. Tumble checks around mutant pass easily.
Damage.
On1: (1d6 + 3 (enh) + 3 (STR) + 3 (INT) + 6 (DEX) + 2 (El) + 1 (Rusty) + 3 (DD))*2 + 2d6 (Holy) = 1 + 5 + 42 + 6 + 4 = 58.
Off1: 1d6 + 3 (enh) + 1 (str) + 3 (INT) + 6 (DEX) + 2 (El) + 1 (Rusty) + 3 (DD) + 1d6 (acid) + 1d6 (elec) = 1 + 1 + 5 + 19 = 26.
MUTANT ATTACKS
On2: (1d6 + 21 + 8 (flank))*2 + 2d6 = 6 + 5 + 58 + 3 + 4 = 76.
Off2: Miss.
On3: Miss.
Hst: (1d6 + 21 + 8)*2 + 2d6 = (3 + 29 + 2 + 6) + (6 + 29) = 40 + (35) (if crit)

Posted by: Rusty Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:04 am
: "...Thavon! You need to be more careful!" *With amazing speed despite his heavy armor, Alexander rushes forward and lets out a flurry of attacks on the Ravager, observing its movements and cutting deeply into its side. After the attacks, Alexander stretches out his arm at the birdman, who feels some of his wounds heal even from afar.*
((Move to attack the Ravager.
Free action: Divine Might
Attack #1: 18 + 13 [BAB] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] + 2 [flank] = 43.
Roll to hit:
7 [longsword] + 1 [magic] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Aura] + 8 [Flank] + 8 [Divine Might] = 30.
Heroic Surge activated.
Attack #2: 2 + 13 [BAB] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] + 2 [flank] = 27. Miss.
Attack #3: Natural 20. Confirming...16 + 8 [BAB] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] + 2 [flank] = 36 Crit!
Damage: 7 + 5 [longsword] + 2 [magic] + 10 [STR + Elation] + 2 [Aura] + 16 [Flank] + 16 [Divine Might] = 58.
Attack #4: 14 + 3 [BAB] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] + 2 [flank] = 29 Miss.
Haste Attack:
Attack #5: 9 + 13 [BAB] + 1 [magic] + 1 [focus] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Haste] + 2 [Heroism] + 2 [flank] = 34.
Damage: 4 [longsword] + 1 [magic] + 5 [STR + Elation] + 1 [Aura] + 8 [Flank] + 8 [Divine Might] = 27
Swift action: Spend 1 Holy Fury point to use Divine Succor, which heals one ally within 20' for 10 HP. Using it on Thavon.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:06 am
"Oh my god, Liam!" Jessica exclaims in horror as her squadmate is brutally slaughtered. She holds a delicate hand to her mouth for a moment, bitter memories of another war flitting through her mind, then her eyes narrow with determination, "Never again!" She holds out her hands, willing healing upon her comrades as she exclaims, "GiSar!!!"
[GiSar - SW group]
[I forget the dice... Please roll for me.]

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:12 am
Eve shoves upward with her wings, rising way up into the air as she looks for a target. Viki performs her previous action if at all possible, on the closest available target. Sorry, thought I saved enough time but clearly didn't.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:13 am
[Hello, I'm back. ^_^ +41 HP to the SW group]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:15 am
Dagron finally clamps down on something absolutely vital and sections of the gun emplacement explode energy flows undirected through the huge weapon. Small fires and smoke cover the ravaged machine as Dagron shields himself with wings to keep a small shower of debris from hitting him.
((AA gun destroyed.))
Mellissa shoots two small holes clean through the massive mound of rock while Maria does the same to the Torch Eye.
Laeralas rushes forward to slash at the Ravager, but his knife lands a centimeter short of a pulsing vein, dealing little damage.
((You crit didn't confirm.))
Caius rushes forward, driving his swords into first the Cult Knight, then the Ravager in a blur of motion and sword mastery.
"N...no! Not... like this!" the knight mutters before collapsing as his lifeblood drains from him. The Ravager just utters one loud and pained moan before falling down and not getting up, its outer skin a bright red from the many open wounds it sustained before dying.
"Damage exceeding acceptable levels, initiating self destruct..." the assault robot states as Alex charges it and slashes its two arms off. Just then, Merla's telekinesis catches the robot and hurls it towards the AA gun. The Assault Robot explodes in a ball of flame just before striking the weapon, covering the area in fire and activating Viletta's bomb a few seconds ahead of schedule. The saboteur vanishes into thin air as the giant gun transforms into a huge column of flame, then a pile of twisted and melted debris.
The last Cult Knight whirls around at the detonation and looks around, apparently preparing to try his skill on less helpless targets than an illusion of refugees.
: "I'll knock out the damaged robots, everyone else focus on the Golem until it's destroyed!" Jim orders, backing up, turning and firing three precise bursts at the Assault Robots to the north. One of the bursts caves in a badly damaged robot's core while the other two blast off the armor and damage the systems of the second.
((Hit, Hit, Hit. Assault Robot 1 destroyed, and AR2 at 100 damage.))
: "Wow! Thanks for being right where I need you!" Sheila exclaims as a double tap from both her pistols cracks apart the skulls of two badly damaged Drowned Eye near her. She grins. "Two more kills for me... Well... They were already dead, but they still count as kills, right? Wah-YOW!"
A thin beam of light from one of the last Torch Eyes slices through Sheila's side, causing the agent to grimace.
: "That... That was a lucky shot, that's all!"
((Hit. 20 damage to Sheila.))
Another Drowned Eye opens fire on Sheila and she dodges out of the way.
"Target does not match any known enemy profile. Uploading combat data..." one of the Assault Robots says before firing a grenade at Sheila. Sheila rolls out of the way with lightning reflexes, not taking a scratch.
: "My mobility is enhanced, too!" Sheila says, happily.
Adam sets the bomb and runs from the anti-aircraft cannon.
The Golem steps forward and continues to pound on Jim, breaking a few bones as the soldier fails to dodge. Jim grunts and breathes hard as he takes the injuries, but does nothing else.
((Hit, Hit. 30 damage after DR.))
Another beam of light sears Viki as a Torch Eye takes aim at her.
((Hit, 20 damage to Viki.))
Yet another beam sizzles through the air near Dagron, striking the great beast square in the gut and burning his flesh badly. The air around the laser of the final Assault Robot is wavy with heat...
((Hit. 50 damage to Dagron.))
The final AA gun spews out a single volley at the ship in the sky.
Next turn!
http://magic19.homestead.com/SFCW/SFCW4/SFCWIVa5.PNG

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:29 am
*Dagron laughs excitedly as the weapon explodes around him, but then reels when the laser crashes through him. He had felt heat before, and was perfectly comfortable in flames, but this was something entirely different. The hot-headed dragon could only think one thing: "His turn!" Dagron flies over the group separated from his allies by the wall and belches out a super-hot flame over them. "If only they were edible," he thought. *
((Dagron flies over the enemies and uses his breath weapon. The wall should shield everyone on the other side, and Sheila should be out of the blast raidus.
(3d10)*1.5 = (9 + 9 + 1)*1.5 = 19*1.5 = 28 fire damage.
REF DC 23 for half.))

Posted by: FreedomJu Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:45 am
Melissa was glad that Radford's order to kill the golem fit with her line of thinking, though she would have personally preferred if he too had joined in on killing the golem, she wasn't comfortable with her commander ignore the threat right next to him. However, orders were orders and she kept her mouth shut and opened fire.
((Staying put, shooting Golem with Full Attack.
Gauss Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX + Weapon Focus (Gauss Assault Rifle) + Tactical Aid + Elation + Morale
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 18 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 42
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 8 + 14 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 27
Gauss Damage: 3d10+3 + Weapon Specialization (Gauss Assault Rifle)
Attack 1: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 1 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 15
Attack 2: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 10 + 7 + 3 + 5 = 25
Dodge to the Assault Robot North of Melissa
AC is 23, 24 against the robot
139/166 HP left))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Aug 13, 2007 4:21 am
((Ok, Jess is back and I didn't catch it. Up to her if this stays.)) *Targets were quickly disappearing from her line of sight. With a "hmph," Merla moves forward and spots the remaining cult knight. "Something different to try my magic on," she thinks before pointing a short finger at it. The knight feels lightness and an uneasiness to his stomach before feeling himself unwillingly and forcefully drawn toward the smoldering rubble. Maybe this could be a new adage: "Kill two birds with one stone, then chuck another on the fire."*
((Move 45' down. TK the knight at the blown up and burning wreckage of the AA gun.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:42 am
[That action stays. My psion's action to come tomorrow, I'm tired.]

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:20 am
Enrick swirled around into the air beautifully and, upon coming closer to it, eventually set his gaze upon one of the only robots remaining on the field : a Torch Eye. The dashing swordsman stared at it from above and shook his head outraged when it fired at one of the three. Then he exclaimed in a loud voice with exagerated gestures to illustrate his words.
: "Hold it right there, metallic shell servant of greater Evil! Me alive, you will do no more harm to a young and innocent lady! Prepare yourself for here I come!"
His form suddenly ripped through the air in a swooping attack aimed at the unholy machine and he placed his off-hand to the sheath at his side from which the elven lightblade swiftly leaped out. A little more than midway through his dive he flung the weapon back in his right hand and held it in the same fashion as on his first attack against the now lying mutant.
((Dive attack the Torch Eye.
Melee: 1d20 +11 (BAB) +5 (DEX Weapon finesse) +1 (Weapon) +1 (Haste) +2 (Charge) +1 (High ground) = 3+21 = 24.
Damage: 1d6+1 (Weapon) +2d6 (Holy) +8 (CHA) +3 (INT) = 7+10+11 = 28 damage, 10 of which is holy.
HP: 92/125
AC:29 +8 (immediate action to trigger)
4 mirror images remaining.
Dodge to the Torch Eye.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:31 am
((The deadline for posting is Tuesday afternoon, BTW.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:58 pm
Jessica rests her hand upon Jim's shoulder. "Gires!" [13 PP. +33 HP to Jim.]

Posted by: Alpha Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:03 am
Frowning at the wall blocking off most of the remaining enemies, Laeral moves over towards Alexander and Hal. As he does so, he flips a dagger into the air, catching it in the other hand. Now with one hand free, he reaches to his belt and drinks from a healing potion there.
"So uh, where now? The wall sort of obstructs things."
[Move in between Hal and Alex
Drink potion of cure moderate wounds: 10hp healed]
[HP: 112/149
AC: 40
20% miss chance, 3 mirror images]

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Wed Aug 15, 2007 1:02 am
"Looking for easier meat?" Johann bellowed across the battlefield. Sha'aasta chuckled, a low, chilling sound. "A horse and a human just never struck me as a natural union. Let's see if we can't pull your two halves apart. Nature should like that, right, Johann?"
Johann replied with a string of arcane words, as Holzgeist burst into a dizzying charge.
Johann uses his animal link to cast poison through Holzgeist!
Holzgeist charges the remaining centaur. (Again, let's hear it for 80' move.)
Attack: 1d20 + 16 + any bonuses active since the battle started.
If this is enough for a touch attack, centaur must make a DC 21 fort save or suffer 1d10 CON damage from poison. If, by some miracle, he is alive 1 minute later, he suffers 1d10 secondary CON damage, fort save to ignore.
Attack Damage: 1d8 + 12
Trip attack (If first attack was successful): 1d20 + 27 + bonuses
Sha'aasta attacks the centaur with her crossbow!
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 + any bonuses active since the battle started.
Damage, attack 1: 1d8 + 2d6(holy) + any bonuses active since battle started.
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 + bonuses.
Damage 2: 1d8 + 2d6(holy)

Posted by: Kaihaku Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:07 am
Maria smiles slightly as the wyrm sunders the weapons emplacement, then levels her sidearm and fires another round of shots at the robot threatening the southern group. [CORE pistol(+10/+5, 1d20, x3, Ignore all armor and DR] [Attack 1: 17 + 10 + 1 = 28]
[Damage: 8]
[Attack 2: 8 + 5 = 13]
[Damage: 13]
"Young...and innocent?" The Doctor echoes, glancing around the battlefield in shock, "He...doesn't...mean Sheila...does he?" He shakes his head, "I may need to sit down after that..." He stands silently, watching the nearby enemies with a frown.
[Full Defensive]
(I was told Thavon wanted healing. So, I'm going to assume that he lands nearby as I was told to expect him to.)
Sophie moves to the side of the viciously wounded flying warrior, asking the sacred light to bestow healing upon her ally. As she touches his bloodied feathers, she shakes her head in a mixture of awe and reproach, "It's a miracle that you're still alive..." She sighs, "...please be careful, you don't have to stand alone."
[CSW: +24 HP : Thavon]
Frustrated, the cleric shakes her head as her spell of healing does little to end the suffering of her ally. She closes her eyes centering herself, then her holy symbol glows with sacred light as she chants a swift prayer.
[Quickened CSW: +25 HP : Thavon]
Her eyes are troubled even as his wounds further heal. Why am I so weak? Even with the help of the Light...I cannot serve them as I should.
[Not much, but already used the prepared Heal spell. Heh, only now, on the other side, do I realize how much better the Doctor really is.]

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:44 am
The Birdman glides his way down towards where th group had first started, landing roughly in front of Sophie. As her healing touch goes through birsgish his breathing is no longer as heavy. : "I can't quite thank you enough." Thavon says with a grunt as he cracks his neck in preperation of taking to the air again. "I can only hope that I can become more self reliant in the future."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:50 am
Melissa blows another two holes into the Golem while Dagron raises a great cloud of steam as his fire contacts the water-covered undead. None of the robots or undead manage to escape his fire, all are burnt by the flames, though none fall. Holzgeist rips into the Cult Centaur, then with a sickening sound the horseman is pulled away, leaving the wolf with a mouthful of flesh as Merla sends the knight hurling into the burning wreckage of the AA gun. The cultists' screams are deafening as his already mangled body is impaled onto a jutting metal pole within the fiery wreckage.
: "Time for the finisher!" Sheila says as she fires twice at the Torch Eye and once at the Drowned Eye, finishing both the badly damage robot and the badly damaged undead. Her last bullet crashes into the Assault Robot, damaging it a little. Eve then soars down from the sky to bury her lance deep into the robot. Sparks fly as the magical weapon pierces the machine, though the robot continues to function.
: "Thanks for the assis... Aw man, it's not dead yet!" Sheila complains as the robot stands up straight.
"New threat detected. Melee countermeasures..." the robot mutters, twin blades jutting from its wrists and slashing into Eve. Blood sprays from the centaur as a quartet of precise cuts penetrate her armor.
((Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit. 45 damage total to Eve.))
Maria's shots melt portions of the Torch Eye's armor as Enrick pierces the machine's plating to damage its interior circuitry. A blast from Michael finishes the robot off, the central sphere exploding and the wiry legs collapsing.
Pantherath charges the Assault Robot attacking the main Ranger force, driving his blade deep into its armor. A precise burst from Jim finishes the job, sending the robot sparking to the ground.
: "There... Now for more immediate concerns..." Jim mutters, rolling out of the golem's reach and firing twice at it, twin bursts of gauss fire tearing off more bits of stone from its frame.
((Hit. Assault Robot destroyed. Hit, Hit. 70 damage to the Golem.))
Jessica heals Jim, the commander's wounds sealing shut with a touch.
: "Thanks, Jess. Rangers! We're almost done here! Finish this!"
Adam dashes forward, then dives for cover as a massive explosion rips apart the capital ship gun behind him. He rolls onto his back and grins. "And they said my talent for breaking things would never come in handy..."
Varro dashes forward, cleaving off a chunk of stone from the Golem.
((Hit, 20 damage after DR.))
The Golem retaliates, Varro's armor now at critical status.
((Hit, Hit. 30 damage after DR.))
Next turn!

Posted by: Kaihaku Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:51 am
Sophie shakes her head, her eyes tormented as his own words of self-judgment only serve to illustrate her own failure. She was suppose to support them, hold them when they faltered and she...she was... The cleric shakes her head again, words not coming.

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:01 am
*Dagron hurtles into a nosedive, bellowing at Eve on the way down.* : EVE! BE CAREFUL! *No sooner than the words escape into the air does Dagron's fanged mouth latch onto the assault robot and rend its frame.* ((Charging Dive Attack 1d20 + 25 + 2 + 1 = 16 + 28 = 44.
Damage
1d8 + 14 = 7 + 14 = 21))

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:05 am
Enrick landed gently to the ground, setting his eyes upon the group of three and grinned widely. : "Nice teamwork! I-" He interrupted himself brutally, startled out of his speech by the sound of the golem's fists crashing heavily into the huge robot's armor plating. He stared at the rock colossus with an indignant expression.
: "Huh... This one's got to get on my nerves now. Interupting my banters all the time." Then back at the group with a cheesy smile, "Hahaha! I'll take care of it!"
Lightblade held high, he turned to the huge golem annoyance...
: "Yes! This will be carved into the stone!"
...and hovered forward to charge at it heroically.
((Charge at the Golem
Activate "Don't Let Your Guard Down!". This attack will bypass DR.
Melee: 1d20 +11 (BAB) +5 (DEX Weapon finesse) +1 (Weapon) +1 (Haste) +2 (Charge) = 16+20 = 36 hit!
Damage: 1d6+1 (Weapon) +2d6 (Holy) +8 (CHA) +3 (INT) = 3+7+11 = 21 damage.))

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:43 am
Thavon takes off to the sky, looking for any remaining hostile targets.

Posted by: FreedomJu Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:03 am
While her commander was looking in somewhat better shape, the said could not be said for Melissa's robotic ally with the sad shape Varro was in now. This change in the golem's targets did nothing to alter the Spartan's next action as she emptied the last two rounds in her clip into the rocky construct.
((Full Attack on golem, no movement
Gauss Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX + Weapon Focus (Gauss Assault Rifle) + Elation + Morale
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 11 + 19 + 1 + 1 = 32
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 1 + 1 = 12 + 14 + 1 + 1 = 28
Gauss Damage: 3d10+3 + Weapon Specialization (Gauss Assault Rifle)
Attack 1: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 5 + 3 + 10 + 5 = 23
Attack 2: 3d10 + 3 + 2 = 6 + 1 + 9 + 5 = 21
Dodge to the golem, same AC conditions as last time))

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:25 am
"Hear that? Eve's in trouble." "And we're going to charge to the rescue, chancing death and worse to save a comrade in need? Of course. And the fact that she's female and pretty has nothing to do with your decision, does it, fearless leader? Of course not. I'm going to have to watch you closely, aren't I?"
"Hey, I've been helping out comrades indiscriminately this battle!" Johann argued as Holzgeist started to sprint once more. "I think I've been a model of the worthy ally to all, male and female alike, to those pretty as a summer sunrise and uglier than the southbound end of a northbound goblin, all equally if I do say so myse... what are you doing?"
Sha'aasta stopped waggling her fingers long enough to reply, "I'm trying to decide if I should be sounding the charge on a trumpet, or playing the world's smallest violin for your heart-rending defense in the face of these unjust charges. Of course," she added in a thoughtful tone as the dire wolf rounded another corner, "if you're dumb enough to tell me where I fit into your little spectrum, I'll probably borrow one of said ally's blunt weapons to play percussion on your head with."
Holzgeist moves double quick! 160' move to put him 10' to the west of the assault android bothering Eve. (One square between them.)
Johann casts disintigrate! Ranged touch attack, 1d20 + 17 + modifiers since the start of battle. Android gets a fort save, DC 23. Android suffers 5d6 damage if save is successful, 22d6 damage if save is failed.
Sha'aasta attacks!
Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 + any bonuses active since the battle started.
Damage, attack 1: 1d8 + 2d6(holy) + any bonuses active since battle started.
Sha'aasta's crossbow cartridge is empty, and must be reloaded!

Posted by: BLT Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:31 pm
Caius trots over to move near to the remaining golem. ((moves somewhere about 30'away from the thing))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:22 am
The robot jerks back at Dagron's assault, but ignores Sha'asta's crossbow bolt, which fails to pierce the heavy armor of the machine. The beam has a little more lucky, turning a portion of the robot's armor to dust. ((Nat 20 on the save again. Sorry, WD. : ( ))
: "Enough's enough, I'm going to control-alt-delete your sorry self!" Sheila shouts, aiming her guns at the Assault Robot. A hail of gunfire from Sheila finishes the work the dragon, gnome and centaur had begun, blasting huge holes in the machine and leaving it a pile of scrap.
((All hit, more than enough damage to finish off the thing.))
Melissa and Enrick's attacks on the golem leave a shadow of its former self, huge chunks of stone missing from its once giant body. It teeters and totters, and a final burst from Jim's gun causes the massive monster to hit the dirt and crumble.
Victory!
BATTLE XP TOTALS:
Coventry: 7500 XP
Everyone That's Not As Low Level: 4500 XP.
RP XP TOTALS/DEADLINE XP TOTALS:
Sophie 200 / 50
Hal 200 / 50
Johann 600 / 150
Alexander 300 / 100
Merla 100 / 100
Enrick 700 / 300
Eve 100 / 100
DAGRON 400 / 250
Laeralas 100 / 200
Caius 200 / 100
Thavon 100 / 200
Viki 300 / 100
Coventry 400 / 150
Michael 200/0
Varro 300 / 50
Maria 400 / 150
Okori 200 / 100
Melissa 100 / 250
Pantherath 0 / 50
Jessica 0 / 100

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:15 am
*The assault robot explodes in a barrage of sparks in front of him, and Dagron chuckles, blowing a bellow of steam over its tattered form. The young dragon swoops around in a tight arc, flying over to the crack shot woman and landing somewhat hard in front of her. Some dust blows around getting up near face level. Dagron looks around for a second, then looks at Sheila with his head cocked slightly to one side, his eyes wide as he regards the pretty lady.*
: Sorry about that! Hi, I'm Dagron. You're a good marks-woman. Who are you?

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:59 am
As the android toppled over, Holzgeist stood panting heavily, the strain of three battles in a row showing in his frame. Johann was little better, as he struggled against a sudden wave of exhaustion to as Sha'aasta a question. "I don't think... but..." he wheezed, "are they... ...?"
Sha'aasta, in stark contrast, showed no sign of stress, strain or fatigue as she calmly reloaded her crossbow with a fresh cartridge.
"Them?" she asked calmly. "Nope. They've only just arrived on the planet, and no thoughts about a shield or anything like what you were describing. They're friendly enough, from what I can tell. Her name's Sheila, by the way," she added to Johann, pointing a thumb at their rescuer. "The leader's name is Jim. That stupid looking one over there is Adam, the robot that's sparking over everything is Varro, the mean looking one next to him is..." she continued, calmly pointing out each member of the other team and telling their name to her friend.
"You're sure they're friendly?" Johann pressed, still breathing hard.
"That fight wasn't enough to convince you?" Sha'aasta shot back. "I didn't sense any deception or smugness. Besides, he seems to think he knows all their plans," she added with a sharp look over at Adam, "and as open as his mind is, I doubt they'd be stupid enough to tell him anything at all if they weren't exactly what they seemed."
"Right." Johann nodded in acceptance. "Then we'll let the glorious leaders pow-wow and figure all that stuff out on their own. Meanwhile, I need a drink. Hoy, but my brain hurts. Do you still have that waterskin, or is it with the other stuff?"

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:11 am
The ship is looms even nearer now, fiery smoking breach after breach in the hull visible to those on the ground. The Rangers hear quite clearly over their comms a panicked exchange of the bridge crew to their captain. "Sir! The guns are all dead!"
"What?!"
"Reactor's barely functioning enough to keep us afloat, all weapons systems are down..."
"We have no choice.... We've got to open that door..."
A pause before the voice of the Captain issues forth.
"All allied units evacuate the area out to one hundred yards. We'll use the last weapon we have left."
"Sir?"
"All hands abandon ship! Helmsman! Lock in a course to impact the Logos on that gate! Ramming speed!"
Escape pods begin to fall from the sky like a metal meteor shower as the G.S.N. Logos begins to plummet towards the Gates of Megiddo.
: "They can't be thinking... Everyone! Fall back! Viki, Maria! Take us out of here, at least one hundred yards, one fifty would be preferable! If you can't, then every hotfoot it!"
: "Oh, hi! The name's Sheila, nice to..." Sheila starts to say, then grimaces as she gets the news. "Oh... Uh... Hey, you know that big flying metal thing? It's going to like, crash into that big metal door and probably explode. We should probably get to running. Or flying. Or whatever."
: "Attention all allies! The ship's going to ram the gates! Everyone fall back one hundred yards ASAP! Move!"

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:23 am
"I don't see any houses let alone any yards," Viki stated bluntly, pushing buttons on the commlink several times in no obvious pattern. "So...umm...we'll just go wherever you're thinking of, okay? Okay. Here we go!!!" Viki raised her staff to the sky, focusing on their 'leader' who's name she had already forgotten, letting his mind decide their destination. Her eye twitched, and for a moment she thought she was going to sneeze. Thankfully it passed without incident as she cast her magic.
((Teleportation/Greater Dimension Door/whatever's most useful.))

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:02 am
Sha'aasta's eyes suddenly widened. "Johann! We need to get out of here, now!" Johann didn't waste time with stupid questions, but kneed Hozgeist into a sprint. The wolf leapt forward, all traces of former exhaustion gone. "Wait, what about the the wounded?" he shouted.
"Leave them!" Sha'aasta shouted back.
"No!" Johann shouted with equal force. Holzgeist skidded next to a stop next to one of the wounded soldiers, as the two gnomes lept off to throw him over the dire wolf's back. Sha'aasta leapt up behind the fighter, steadying him as best she could, while Johann transformed himself into a silver-furred wolf. Wasting no time, the two lupines streaked off after their teammates.

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:17 am
: That would be an excell-huh? *Dagron is surprised by Sheila's suddenly and surprisingly fast movement toward her allies who teleport a good distance away. He estimates it at 200 yards, knowing he could clear it quite quickly and with some time to spare.*
: Everyone clear out as far away from here as you can!
*Dagron bellows his warning and begins to fly toward the rangers. His own friends were too dispersed to head toward any of them. Maybe in the meantime he could get to know the other people who were caught up in this battle. Surely both sides had questions for the other.*
((Dagron has a 200' fly speed. Assuming he just double moves, he should be able to make it in a round and a half. If he uses a run action, which he might as well, he's there in less than a round))

Posted by: Alpha Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:16 pm
Laeral sighs in the relief as the battle finishes. That relief is short lived however, as the warning of imminent danger comes in. Sighing in resignation this time, he starts sprinting to safety, the haste spell aiding him, whilst mumbling something along the lines of this being the sort of thing his brother's good at.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:32 pm
[I was going to use Telaport, but I don't think I can. I mean, I have to have a clear description or mental image of where I'm telapoting to.]

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:49 pm
((Erm... you're teleporting out to a max of 200 yards. I think you can see 200 yards away))

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:57 pm
: "What are you waiting for Merla? Get as many as you can out of here!" Thavon shouts to the mage as he flies by at his top speed.

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:11 pm
Enrick smirked as the golem crumbled apart into a pile of inert rocks. He put his rapier back into its sheath and ran a hand through his hair gingerly before he turned to the uncommonly dressed soldier. : "What do you mean the ship is gonna- eh? Who turned off the light?"
Upon noticing a large shadow progressively taking over the empty battlefield, he arched an eyebrow and looked up towards the sky. And he saw it : an immense flying vehicle, big enough to occult the little sunlight there was and charging full speed ahead towards the entrance of Megiddo.
: "Oh.... Well, no panic." He added with eerie composure as people started running away, "Surely we can chat a little while after we're all out of danger. For now..." He looked back at the kamikaze spaceship with a sheepish grin, "Time for a hasty withdrawal!"
The dandy spin-leaped into the air and blasted off again, fleeing as far from the imposing gates as possible, speeding up to the general direction of the telapotated people.
((Take off to the sky. Activate code SRA. Supeeeeeeer Ruuuuuun-Awaaaaaaaaaaay!))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:39 pm
Merla glances upward and Thavon flies over her and nods. "Eve, Alex, Hal, Sophie, come here! I'm going to teleport us away!" Then she says something else, at the top of her lungs, but no one else can understand it. "Atala, get as far away from here as you can, at least 100 yards; farther than that if possible!"
Once her allies gather around her, she shouts a word of power and they teleport away.
Atala hears her mistress' words from her perch about 100 feet away, and takes off as fast as her little furry legs can carry her.
[Atala has a movement speed of 30 feet, and run is your speed * 4, so 120 feet away from Megiddo. ]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:37 pm
Teleporting, flying or just plain running, the various survivors of the assault on Megiddo retreat back from the huge Gate as the massive bulk of the G.S.N. Logos slams into the Ancient base with all the speed and majesty of a falling comet. Like a great spear thrown from heaven, the angular vessel's bow drives into and pierces through the giant adamantine gates of Megiddo. Explosions cover the area, sending a great cloud of dust and debris into the air. A smoky haze settles over the gate area, lit from within by lingering fires as the ship settles in place, the gate of Megiddo buckled inward. A massive breach splits the entryway now. With small fires all around it and jagged metal remnants of the gates and ship jutting around the breach, the entrance appears no less than a gateway into Hell, or a fanged maw of some great dragon...
: "Rangers, check in! Everyone make it out OK? Good job on the teleport, Viki," Jim says, looking around.
: "I'm here, but I ain't happy," Sheila coughs as the dust continues to clear. "Nifty as that was to see, I don't like the idea of all that AA gun work down the tubes..."
"Hey, would you rather it have system failed and fallen on us?" Adam asks. "I mean at least we bought it time to evac its crew and warn us before crashing down... Oh, Specialist Wierzbowski here sir."

Posted by: FreedomJu Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:40 am
The teleportation completly catches Melissa off guard, the elite soldier having never encounted an ability such as that. As she reappears she instantly starts scanning her new surroundings with her weapon raised, despite it being empty, for nearby enemies; finding none she lowers her weapon and observes the crash landing of the ship, keeping an especially sharp eye out for any pieces of flying debris that could be dangrous.
When all the dangerous bits and pieces stop flying around she swiftly starts reloading her weapon even as she replies to Radford's request. [Spartan-127 is intact, awaiting orders.]

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:38 am
Once he deemed to be far enough, Enrick flipped back and flew backwards to witness the most impressive series of explosion caused by the large ship crashing into the gates while he increased the distance between him and this hellish sight. : "Mmm... At least we won't have to ram our way in now. Or figure out another way to enter."
He slowed down and landed straight at a fairly equal distance from both groups and joined his own, standing in front of his comrades shortly after they had gathered from their escape.
: "So... How's everyone?" He inquired with a faint grin.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:49 pm
Merla pulls three potions from her belt pouch and drinks them all, one right after the other. The wizardess turns to Enrick. "I am just fine, thank you for asking." Merla puts her hand over her side, the horrible burn now gone, but her robe still has a hole in it.
"I must do some research when I have the chance. There must be away to protect myself, and others from those blasted lasers."
A gray and black tiger tabby cat, with bright blue eyes walks over to Merla, ignoring everyone else in the group completely. She rubs against the wizardess' legs.
"Hmm?"
Merla looks down and sees the cat, and picks her up. Atala looks to be a bit tired, but no worse for the ware.
"You are safe... Thank goodness."
Atala starts purring.
[CSW: +20 HP, CMW: +10 HP, CLW: +9 HP. Merla is at full.]

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:02 pm
((Chug! Chug! Chug!))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:11 pm
[]

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:45 am
Johann just stared at the rubble, a calm, contemplative expression on his face. He didn't have a clue what that thing was, why it had fallen out of the sky, or what it was doing in the sky in the first place. Most gigantic iron things, at least in his experience, had the good sense to stay in or near the ground, not go galavanting with the clouds. But, hey, they always said war was an eye-opening experience, right?
Sha'aasta was also quietly contemplative, but of the newcomers instead of the shattered ship. Iron and magic were Johann's perview, so let him worry about it. She'd take the opportunity to size up these outsiders instead, and listen to them chatter amongst themselves while the euphoria of surviving another battle slowly washed out of them.
Holzgeist completed the set, quietly eyeing the leg of a fallen foe nearby, and wondering if it was safe to eat. It sure looked tasty... maybe just a nibble...

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:37 am
“What?!” Maria exclaims in shock as the massive warship crashes towards the fortress entrance, “OPEN THE DOOR?!” She seems to be stunned for a moment, then shakes her head in disbelief, “What are they thinking?! Now instead of disintegrating or porting through the door we have to dig through warship wreckage!” The psionic operative stands helplessly, staring at the ship crashing towards the earth, “Radiation…unexploded ordinance…ruptured power cells…”
Then, with a start, she leaps into action, manifesting pure psionic power to bring allies to safety.
((I couldn’t get online for a few days, unfortunately, so this is a retroaction.))
[Teleport allies to Safe Range] (Note: She makes certain to include Liam.)
“Finally, something I can do…” The Doctor mutters with a grin, breaking into a sprint and well clearing the danger area before the blast hits.
”Well…” The psionic operative stares at the scene with a frown, “…if that captain was going for a dramatic finale…that sure was one hell of a fireworks display.” She stares at the scene with an unreadable expression for a moment, then adds distantly, “Specialist Russo, reporting.”
Sophie seems at a loss with this latest turn of events. She nods a thanks dully to Merla, then stares at the exploding ruins of the strange metal weapon that struck from the heavens.
The Doctor stands a good distance from the others, examining his hands with a worried frown, “So dry… I think I need a new moisturizer.”

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:54 am
[So who needs healing?]

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:59 am
"We only arrived on the scene..." Jim says to Merla. "The base was probably warded against teleportation effects, and perhaps the door was too much even for our conventional demolitions..." "Did you see how thick that damn door was?" Adam asks. "I doubt even an orbital strike from the Vagabond coulda blown it..."
"Oh..." Maria replies after a moment, processing this information, "I misunderstood the situation." She stares at the wreckage for another moment, then adds, "Orders, sir?"

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:17 am
Jessica makes her way over to Liam and kneels down beside him. The medic checks for life signs. He is indeed alive, but in stasis. She pulls out a medical kit, and sets Liam's arms to the stumps. "Commander Radford, I have done all that I can for Liam with the medical supplies I have, so he isn't in any danger of dying right now. However, he is going to need to go to a treatment center, which means we need to get him back on board the Vagabond."
[Use GDO Meditech Kit. +30 HP.]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:41 am
Jim reaches up and takes off his helmet, peeling off his gas mask and wiping the sweat from his face. : "For now, I want Jessica to treat everyone's wounds. I'll call for a medevac for Liam. Everyone take stock of ammunition. When that's done, report to me and I'll think of more for you to do. In the meantime, I'm going to contact our erstwhile compatriots in the Black Ops section..." Jim pauses, something occuring to him. "Someone find a representive of that adventuring party we ran into... I'll probably need to talk to them as well."
Adam sighs as he whips out a set of tools and starts towards Varro. "OK, 'bot boy... It's time for your checkup. Ew, you don't look healthy... I'll take my payment in yachts, thank you very much..." Adam jokes as he begins to repair the damage done to Varro.
: "Yo boss, what do I do?" Sheila asks.
:"What I just said, check your ammo and heal... Well in your case, wait for your systems to heal yourself. I don't want to progress until everyone's at 100%..." Jim straps his mask back on, clicking the comm function active as he does so.
: "Sir?" The comm officer of the Vagabond responds.
: "Status report," Jim orders.
: "Ship to ground weapons are down and our inter-D communications are shot. There's extensive damage to the armor, shields, and secondary systems, but nothing we can't fix... We're not sure if we can fix the weapons or comms though. We're going to try, though. You secured the ground site?"
: "Knocked out their AA, but we don't have the base yet. We'll get it, don't you worry. Over and out," Jim toggles the comm channel, bringing up the dropship pilot. "Captain, status of the dropships?"
"We're all fine and dandy around the landing zone. Unloading your gear as we speak," the drawl of the pilot responds.
: "Good. Return to the Vagabond once you're done and get repairs and rest. I think we'll be in this area for a while. Before you do, I need one dropship to swing by here and pick up a wounded trooper. He needs to get back to the sickbay on the ship."
"Can do, chief! Over and out!"
Jim sighs before toggling the comm once again, talking to Sgt. Hale and issuing orders for the other half of the Rangers as well as receiving reports and information from the survivors of the battle, and talking with their C/O.
Meanwhile, a few squads of troops in matte-black armor march towards the breach in the Megiddo gates.

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:59 pm
The Woren scanned the debris with cold eyes, looking only to see how much damage had been caused by the ship's crash landing. Noting Jim's orders, he sheathed his blade and began walking towards the other group. Pantherath found them an interesting assortment of creatures indeed; not uncommon, though, he thought, for adventuring groups, but an alliance this diverse would be a stretch for many worlds.
((Wisdom: 1d20 +6 (wis) = 24. Should be more than high enough, so...))
Stepping directly towards the caped hero, Pantherath said "You are the leader of this group. I am Pantherath, Templar of the GDO. My commander would like to speak with you, as it seems apparent that we both aim to take this stronghold."

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:27 pm
[I'll start healing when I know who's hurt.]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:58 pm
A little while passes before Jim stops his information gathering. : "All right, listen up. It seems that the CO and most of the command staff of the Black Ops team bit the dust during the assault. Their standing orders to their men were to go in and secure the base because, as I said before, it's got mass destruction weapons that may or may not be active. After talking with the surviving squads, they're going to send in a few teams to establish a beach-head and scout a little with infiltration. After they report back, we're going to go in and try to seize the base's command center. We've got an hour or two to prepare, so take a quick rest, then get ready. Hopefully this'll be a quick in and out if we pull it off right," Jim says. "I'm still talking with the survivors and piecing together what happened here. I'll get you more information as I find it."
((You have some time to RP and so forth.))

Posted by: FreedomJu Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:15 am
After making sure that nothing had been lost from her equipment pouches and that her secondary weapon was still firmly attached to her armor, Melissa scanned her surroundings. While she understood the importance of resting, she couldn't bring herself to relax, and if she couldn't relax she might as well try be of some use.
[This is Spartan-127 volunteering to start on a perimeter patrol, sir.]
((Assuming she gets the green light for her patrol, feel free to have your char walk with her and interact if you so wish.))

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:21 am
*Alexander shakes his head as watches the ship crash. What a waste... He turns to face Pantherath and nods.* "Yes, I was hoping to speak with them too. It is especially nice to find allies here of all places." Laeral nods in agreement. "Unexpected though. But not unwanted, of course."
Enrick draws his attention away from the others at the arrival of the cat person. He tilts his head, studying the newcomer attentively and listening to what he had to say.
"Your name?" the woren asked gruffly.
*Alexander nods.* Sorry, I almost forgot about introductions. My name is Alexander Bernhart. Tell your commander I'll be happy to speak with him.
Nodding the Templar asked "What do you know of this base?"
"Probably no more than you do. My company and I have just arrived here. We know that enemies were here, and once we saw the combat for ourselves we knew we had allies here as well."
((More to come. Probably.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:51 am
*Dagron turns back to regard the pending explosion with awe. The explosion was one of the most intense fires he had ever seen, while the destruction was absolutely... conflicting. On one hand, it was incredibly interesting to watch. Sacrifice for the sake of a mission. However, it was sacrifice, and incredibly grim. Dagron sighs, knowing the futility of reconciling duality, accepting it for what it is.
Having flown to the group of strangers, Dagron is similarly shocked to see the strange beings, many more machine than alive. He regards the one giving orders, then hears an mention of Alex's force. Apparently, they hadn't noticed him yet, and he was surprised Sheila hadn't spoken up... and slightly miffed. Dagron flaps his wings quickly, flying over Jim's head.*
: Hi, I'm Dagron. Ask and you shall receive.
Jim appears to be talking to himself in a rather tired manner when Dagron approaches. As Jim sights him, he stops and turns toward the dragon.
: "Dagron? You're the gold wyrmling that scorched half the battlefield, right?" Jim asks.
*Dagron nods excitedly*
: That's me! If you are looking for our leader, Alex, he's back over there... though it looks like the panther... man... thing ran for him already.
: "Nice to meet you, Dagron was it? My name's Jim Radford. I'm the field commander of this unit," Jim says, extending a hand, then withdrawing it as a thought occurs to him. "Ah... right. Dragon. Claws. Handshaking would be awkward at best."
*Dagron drops to the ground. His scales begin to shimmer, then his outline blurs, morphing into the image of a young, blonde-haired child. The new Dagron extends a hand*
"Not at all!" *He grins.* "I met Sheila, too, but it was nothing this formal"
Jim grins and shakes the hand.
: "You can already change forms? Impressive. Yes, Sheila doesn't really care much for manners, sorry to say."
: Enormous, flaming masses of metal flying through the sky to crash land within meters of you can do that, *Dagron quickly responds*
Jim laughs.
: "Ah, but that's a normal day for our Sheila..."
*Dagron scratches his chin*
: You know a lot about us and the monsters. Do dragons and torch eyes and trolls and other things exist where you're from, or how do you know about them?
: "Do I?" Jim asks. "Let's just say I'm well travelled. I am a bit curious as to why adventurers are joining in on the assault of what I understood to be a rather secret ruin, though."
*Dagron tossles his new hair, but as quickly as he changed into his childish form, his body wavers and morphs back into its draconic form.*
: I honestly do not know our true purpose for being here. Your best source would be Alex. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and a grudge against demons and devils. While I know quite a bit of Ancient lore, I only helped get here. I can take you to Alex, if you like.
*Dagron hops into the air and quickly flutters his wings, hovering in front of Jim.*
: "Sure, why not," Jim says, moving forward. "May as well do it now."
*Dagron's hovering suddenly increases in height while he grins, snorts, and lets out a "haha!" while turning around, small tendrils of smoke escaping from his nostrils. He takes off quickly toward Alex, but looking back sees Jim getting quickly behind him. Dagron turns around fully, looking about before apologizing, and then leads the off-worlder to the dragon's own leader.*

Posted by: FreedomJu Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:54 am
Melissa swiftly receives confirmation to start a patrol that turned out to be rather peaceful… for a few moments. "Hey, Mel!" Sheila yells, running up to the soldier. "What's your count?" The power armor clad supersoldier doesn't pause in her patrol as she tries to understand what Sheila was referring too. Eventually she gave up on wasting energy in trying to understand and instead asked Sheila directly. "Count?"
"Kill count! How many kills did you get?!" Sheila asks.
"Zero this battle, but hundreds, perhaps more, in my career," Melissa replies quickly before tacking on an afterthought of hers. "Why does it matter?"
"Hahahahaha, I beat you!" Sheila says, triumphantly. "I got six from this last battle, an' at least five more from the other fights today!"
The Spartan sighed silently to herself as this self-proclaimed rival of hers ignored the question in favor of this 'contest'. She wasn't fond of repeating herself, but at the same time she did want the answer. "Why does it matter?"
Sheila blinks. "You're my rival... I got more kills, so that means I'm beating you at this whole rivalry thing..." Sheila frowns. "Don't you know the first thing about being a rival?"
A long moment passes as Melissa does another quick scan of her surroundings before replying, the patrol being a more important concern than the conversation.
"Why did you pick me however? From what I have seen from UNSC Marines, rivalries normally occur between friends that have known each other for a long time. You and I have only known each other for a month."
“Wha? No, rivalries can also occur when new guys enter a squad! Like when you were assigned to the Rangers!" Sheila says. "I was the only enhanced human 'til you showed up, so now that you're here, I've got to show everyone that I'm still number one! All the movies agree that's how it's done."
"And then it's like your goal is to show everyone that you're better than me and that you're just as much a part of the team an' stuff, and then we either bitterly duel or accept each others as equals after a long and arduous war!" Sheila says. "Happens all the time!"
Melissa thinks about how to deal with this as the situation Sheila was describing was far different than any social interaction that had existed within the Spartans. She herself didn't care for the idea at all, to her it would only serve to be a distraction which was the last thing needed with these kind of combat conditions.
On the other hand, she mused, this unit operated far different than her old one and that it might be best to tolerate it in order to not cause any friction with the group, which could also cause problems. "I feel that this is a bad idea, but I will report my number of kills when the areas become safe if that is what you wish."
"Awesome!" Sheila says with a grin. She swiftly smothers the grin and puts on a stern look. "But I won't be beaten, Melissa! We'll see just how you fancy-smancy Spartans fare in REAL combat!" She then turns and sprints away.

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:37 am
Johann leaves his companions long enough to seek out Alexander, cautiously weaving his way through the legs of the various larger folk milling around. "By the way, Boss," he says quietly, "Your artillery may be sorely lacking if we keep up this pace. I can't speak for the other magical sorts here, but I seriously doubt I have more than one more of these fights in me. Just thought you ought to know."
Glancing around for the safest path, the diviner quickly began working his way back towards his waiting friends.

Posted by: Alpha Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:33 pm
Still standing with Alexander as Johann comes up and informs the hero that he doesn't have much magic remaining, the elf nods in agreement, a frown on his face. "I'm going to have to agree. I've only four spells left to cast today. I understand we may not have much time to rest, but if the opportunity is there, then I'd take it. Otherwise we'll be much more vulnerable in any other fights we might have today, without magical aid."
The elf then looks around, and notices that people have not yet begun to scour the battlefield for spoils. The rogue side of him taking charge, he makes another comment.
"I'm going to check out the battlefield for anything that might be useful to us," he says, before pausing in consideration. "Though the nature of our enemy and the nature of the new arrivals might indicate that most of what's found would likely be better suited for them." He shrugs. "I'll check anyway," he adds with a grin, before moving off.
[Seach check: 1d20 + 18 = 29]

Posted by: Rusty Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:35 am
Jim approaches Alex, Dagron leading the way. Dagron points out Alex and Jim moves forward. "You would be the leader of this adventuring group, then?" Jim asks. *Alex nods to Jim as he approaches, extending his hand.* "Yes, I am Alexander Bernhart, and I see you've met Dagron."
"Indeed I have. That was quite the thing to see when he rained fire down on half the battlefield," Jim nods, shaking Alexander's hand firmly. "My name is Jim Radford. A pleasure to meet you, Alexander."
*Alexander smiles.* "Likewise. It was partially horrifying and partially exciting to see the battle from afar. By this, I mean it's good to see allies even here."
"Indeed," Jim says. "I was a bit surprised to see adventurers here, though. What made you come out this way?"
Alexander: "What else? We learned of the enemies here, and we know this is an important stronghold. The same thing that has brought me to all the other battles in this war has brought me here - to purge the evil that threatens life everywhere."
The Pegasus Knight trotted carefully just inside earshot, casting a wary glance over Dagron's guest calmly. Satisfied with what she beheld, she flicked her neck to the side as she wandered about, seemingly passive.
Meanwhile, indecipherable speech paraded rhythmically over the commlink as the Teleportress tried to hold conversation, though it was impossible to discern with whom.
Jim frowns as a burst of noise emits from his headset, reaching up to adjust the device. "So you've fought these monsters before?" Jim asks. "What do you know about them?"
Johann and Sha'aasta watch the conference closely, Johann with a slight frown on his face, Sha'aasta with a broad grin on hers.
Alexander: "Well, not these specifically...Until just before meeting you, I mean. Mostly we've fought fiends and the like. I can tell you this much, though. Those metal eggs are nearly indestructable.
"Mmmm... So it's these machines, undead and devils comprising the current foe? We fought some mortal forces as well... Thralls of the fiends?" Jim says. "So you don't know much about this place other than it's full of evil?" Jim asks.
Alexander: "That's right. You've heard of the Strife Lords, correct?"
"Only that they seem to be behind some sort of Cult are the ultimate leaders of the forces at this base... Not that much else," Jim says. "Were the mortals we fought alongside the undead and monsters part of this Cult?"
*Alexander replies, nodding.* "Yes, I am sure of it. They were different foes, but they are certainly followers of the Strife Lords. I have no doubts."
"Well, something you should probably know is that this Ancient base houses weapons of incredible power. The reason we're attacking it is because it's critical these weapons not be used," Jim says. "Though I'm very glad you're here, I'm surprised anyone knew about this place before the battle started... I thought this region was rather deserted."
Alexander: "Ancient weapons? So you're here to destroy them, then?"
"Lock them down and make sure these 'Strife Lords' don't use them," Jim says. "From your avoidance of my question, you'd rather not say how you found out?"
*Alexander furrows his brow.* Alexander: "I assure you, I'm an honorable man. Our source is...a shady character, but he's proven to be nothing but fair and honest to us. I trust him, and he led us here."
Jim frowns. "I didn't mean to imply you were less than honorable, I merely thought that you might not want to disclose your source to someone you don't know. I'm sorry if that's what you thought," Jim says.
Alexander: "Ah, sorry about the misunderstanding. I don't know you, true, but I do know your enemy is my enemy. If you really want to know, I will tell you who he is. I just don't see the importance, is all."
"And you really would've found out who I was fairly soon anyway," a familiar voice says as Derrik appears. "So how goes it with my intrepid band of warriors?" Derrik asks Alex, grinning. "I can't help but notice you're all looking rather exhausted. Worn out. Care to buy some supplies?"
Both Johann's and Sha'aasta's expressions harden for a moment as the merchant appears, but quickly relax back into their normal expressions.
Alexander: "Yes, we could definitely use them."
"Well then, I'll sell you healing potions for the normal price, and potions to restore spellcaster power for 500 gold a vial... You'll probably be needing them," Derrik says with a smile. "As for you, soldier," Derrik says, turning to Jim. "I have a business proposal for you."
"Oh?" Jim asks.
"I can't help but notice you're probably going to waltz into the same place my esteemed friend Alexander is waltzing into... I'll gladly sell supplies to you as well," Derrik says.
"We could use some of those potions... We only have items to trade with though. Is that all right?" Jim asks.
"That's fine," Derrik says with a grin.
"Care to introduce yourself?" Jim asks.
"The name's Swiftjoke. Derrik Swiftjoke. I get the feeling we'll be doing a lot of business in the near future, so you may want to remember that name," Derrik says. "Anyway, I'm here to buy and sell, so if you want to do either, please have at it," Derrik says. "Oh, and Alexander?"
Alexander: "Yes?"
"Just a friendly word of advice... I really wouldn't wait too long before heading in," Derrik says. "Now get your potions before they get cold."

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:01 am
Merla walks over to Derrik and looks up at the merchant. "I will need two mana potions." The wizardess pauses for a moment before she continues. "Do you by any chance sell spell components? There is a special ointment I need for one of my spells."
[Ointment for the True Seeing spell, she'll describe it to him.]

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:12 am
((I've burned 88 spell levels so far. At an average of 4.5 spell levels back per potion, I'll need to spend 10,000 gold to reload myself. For slightly more than that, I could just buy a wand of fireballs with 50 charges.)) "Aren't you going to buy any of those potions?" Sha'aasta asked curiously as Johann remained standing, feet planted and a studiously neutral expression on his face.
Johann just shook his head slightly, his expression changing not a whit.
"And why is that, hmm?" Sha'aasta asked expectantly, in a tone many a mother had been heard to use on a petulant child. "Some insistence on doing things the natural way or the old fashioned way? Some worry about the sanctity of magic? Or maybe..." Sha'aasta's voice trailed off as she stared closely at Johann's face. "Oh. I see... Right. Off to our deaths, then, I suppose. Sure you won't change your mind and give us a fighting chance?"
"There's always a fighting chance." Johann points out. "A fighting chance of doing what, I wouldn't venture a guess, but a fighting chance nonetheless."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:44 am

QUOTE (Dark Maiden @ Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:01 am)
Merla walks over to Derrik and looks up at the merchant. "I will need two mana potions." The wizardess pauses for a moment before she continues. "Do you by any chance sell spell components? There is a special ointment I need for one of my spells."
[Ointment for the True Seeing spell, she'll describe it to him.]

"Of course I have such a thing for sale. At the usual price, of course," Derrik says, still smiling.
Jim manages to negotiate a deal with Derrik and the merchant identifies the items salvaged from the Ranger's first battle. He also trades four potions that restore psionic power to the Rangers, all in exchange for the magical breastplate.
: "All right Rangers, listen up. I'm issuing magical equipment to the following people," Jim says as he walks towards the assembled group, holding up a ruby ring. "Jessica, you'll be taking this ring, it protects against fire. If any mages with blaze spells get ideas about targetting our medic, it should come in handy... You'll also be taking these two potions. They restore psionic power. You'll probably need them when we raid the base. Maria, with your penchant for teleportation, you might be able to make good use of this..." Jim says, tapping a deck of cards. "It's a deck of illusions... You're briefed on what those are, right? Have fun with it. You'll also receive two of the potions," Jim turns to two of Sheila's new friends, handing a vial to Michael and a necklace set with amber to Viki. "Michael was it? If you're tagging along, you're bound to get hurt and I don't know if you have any medical supplies on you. In the case our esteemed medic and good doctor can't get to you, here. It's a healing drop. Viki, this necklace should help protect you from physical attacks," Jim then holds up the final item, a silver ring carved with runes. "Sheila, this is yours. It's a ring of protection."
After handing out the items Jim looks over the group.
: "That's all for now. Michael, Viki, and Doctor Coventry, when you have a moment I'd like to talk with each of you."
Summary:
Ring of Minor Fire Resistance Given to Jessica
Ring of Protection+3 Taken by Sheila.
Amulet of Natural Armor +2 Given to Viki.
Deck of Illusions Given to Maria
Healing Drop Given to Michael.
Breastplate+1 of Light Fortification. Marked for sale. Proceeds buy...
All these identifications.
4 Quintessence potions. (Restore 10 Power Points.) 2 given to Maria, 2 given to Jessica.

Posted by: Rusty Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:02 am
"What are your plans now?" Jim asks. Alexander: "We're not done here. We still have to go and finish the enemies off here with you. You didn't think we were just going to leave, did you?" "Not really, but it pays to be sure of things," Jim says, grinning under his mask. "So you're going to try and clear the base out of cultists and undead and whatever else?"
*Alexander nods.* "The enemy needs to be wiped out, and we're not leaving until we accomplish that. Do you know if there are any other forces fighting them here?"
"Not to my knowledge..." Jim says, looking around the battlefield. "I'm still getting all the facts, though. A few psychics have claimed to have sensed something big happen behind the base, so it's possible something happened over there. Anyway, we're pressing on in about an hour or two. You?"
Alexander: "We should be right behind you. It depends on the purchases, but it shouldn't take that long, I think. I may send a scout to gather a bit of intelligence, or at least a good idea of the area. We'll probably have to plan as we heal to save time. If there are any other forces in there, I want to try and make sure they're all right, but to do so we'll have to get in there fairly quickly if at all possible."
"We're waiting mainly on scout teams sent in by the main forces. We ourselves are a seperate unit," Jim looks back to his team. "We're called Radford's Rangers, by the way. I don't know how much of us you saw, but that's our full group over there. Anyway, once we get reports back from the scouts, we'll let you know. You want to coordinate this attack with us, then?"
*Alexander nods, smiling.* "We're both here anyway. If we can work together, we should have a much easier time. This has been a fairly heavily guarded base, so it has to be very important to the enemy. If we take it down...Well, I don't know how much it will help us, but it's obviously important that we do this."
"Considering that the weapons within can devastate whole continents, yes I'd say fairly important," Jim says. "Though as far as we can tell they're having problems restoring the weapons or we wouldn't have gotten this far..."
*Alexander looks shocked at Jim's words.* "Entire continents..."
"Yes... Which is why it's vital this base be taken," Jim says, quietly.
*Alexander nods.* "We'll have to double our efforts. I'll have to make sure my troops aren't reckless. We can't afford any mistakes here."
Jim takes a moment to study Alex before continuing. "Indeed. Which brings me to my next point. If we're going to coordinate, we should probably get a better idea of what each other's forces can do... The main forces are pretty much exhausted securing the outer area. The scout teams and assault teams sent to clear a foothold in the base are all they can spare. That leaves my strike team and your adventuring band."
Alexander: "My force's spells are greatly expended. I hope we can afford enough of those potions to restore our spellpower. A good half of my force uses spells, so you can imagine how important those potions are."
Jim nods. "My forces expended a good amount of magic as well, but we should have enough in reserve to proceed. If not, my forces rely mainly on soldiers anyway. We pack a lot of long range firepower. Yours?"
Alexander: "My force is fairly varied. We have a lot of aerial support, actually, a lot of spellpower, good strong soldiers...We can get around the battlefield quickly through teleportation magic. In fact, one thing we don't have is a lot of long range firepower, which is exactly why we rushed the first group of enemies."
Jim raises an eyebrow. "You use teleportation too? We have two teleportation specialists with our group."
*Alexander laughs.* "Well now, isn't that something? I guess you know how useful that is, then. I'm not complaining. Teleportation can always be useful, after all."
"Agreed," Jim says.
And the two continue discussing tactics for a while.

Posted by: Lord Oddeye Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:50 am
((K, I just want a ring of evasion. If it's not possible then whatever. If you wish to sell the items found in the first battle, here they are : Guns that shoot things x5 Half circlet (mean of communication) x1 That is all.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:11 pm
[2 Mana Potions and the Ointment comes to 1,250 gold. Woot.] Jessica slips the ruby ring onto her finger, and gets back to what she was doing, tending to the wounds of the Rangers. Once she has finished, she walks over to Jim. "Excuse me, sir?" When she is allowed to speak, she continues. "Should I tend to them as well?" the medic asks, motioning to Alex's group.
[Jessica healed Melissa and Jim back up to full. Anyone else that needs healing, tell me, as soon as possible. I know Alex and Eve do, but not exactly how badly they're hurt. Be sure to include that when you tell me you need teh healing.]

Posted by: BLT Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:29 pm
((I know Caius needs some healing, but I don't know how much. He was healed a couple times but the people didn't post how much it was for so I'm not sure how much he got back. He's somewhere between 120 and 130 with 150 being his max right now (until bear's endurance wears off)))

Posted by: Alpha Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:39 pm
((Laeral's down by 37 hp. I'll make a better post when TUM lets me know what Laeral's search turns up))

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:39 am
((birdgish is 59/128 without BE))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:33 pm
[Assuming that Jim says "Yes, help them out too" here is some healing for you guys. Laeral: +41 HP Caius: +31 HP 2 uses of the Meditech Kit for Laeral, and 1 use for Caius. I need to know how much HP birdgish has with BE because it's still in effect, I think.]

Posted by: Alpha Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:43 pm
After quickly moving through the remnants of the battlefield, Laeralas returns frowning to where Alexander, Dagron, Jolly Jim and Derrik are. Noting the newcomers, he nods at Derrik and introduces himself to the field commander. : "Ah, you must the leader of the other Force on this field. Thanks for the help. It would've been hard if it was just us in that battle!" he says with a grin. "My name's Laeralas, though you can shorten it to Laeral if you like," he continues, before turning to Alex.
: "I've checked what's left on the field. Nearly everything was crushed by that..." and he pauses momentarily, searching for an appropriate word. "That object. So anything that we could have traded is now useless. Which leaves us only with what we've found in our last two encounters, which to be honest, isn't much," he says, glancing down at the red card haging from his neck as he does so.

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:54 pm
((See sig))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:59 pm
: "I'm surprised their own medics haven't gotten to it... but yes, of course. If you see someone in need of healing, you should always tend to them," Jim replies to Jessica. : "The same goes for your force. It's a pleasure to meet you, Laeralas. My name is Jim Radford," Jim says when Laeralas introduces himself. After the introductions, Jim returns to his information gathering.

Posted by: Punch Rockgroin Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:08 pm

QUOTE (Dark Maiden @ Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:33 pm)
I need to know how much HP birdgish has with BE because it's still in effect, I think.

((Not enough. Shut up and heal his ass. Just get him to max without BE, it'll be dead by the time we move.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:14 pm
((While I don't want to add another OOC comment, please note that the difference in HP with BE and without BE is the same, so if he's down 69 HP without BE, he's down 69 with BE. DAGRON is down 62, just FYI, though Birdgish is far more injured.))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:25 am
[Calm down, there's no need to get all worked up over it. It doesn't matter what order I heal all of you in. What matters is you're going to get healed.] Jessica walks over to the injured birdman, using the contents of her Meditech Kit to patch up his wounds.
[3 uses, +77 HP. Birdgish is at full. ]
The medic then makes her way over to Dagron, and patches him up as well.
[2 uses, +64 HP. Dagron is at full. ]

Posted by: Kaihaku Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:53 am
The young priestess brushes a lock of her light honey colored hair back beneath an ear, sighing lightly as she tries to gather her wits after the chaotic events of the last hours. She turns her attention to her companions then, whispering a prayer of thanksgiving, "Praise the Light, we made it..."
The cleric moves quietly among her allies, doing what little she can to alleviate their suffering...though she glances worriedly at her friend and elder, Brother Hal, from time to time.
[Claim as needed]
[CLW: +10 HP]
[CLW: +11 HP]
[CLW: +10 HP]
[CLW: +6 HP]
[CMW: +20 HP]
[CMW: +20 HP]
Light, grant me strength... She pauses in silent prayer, her eyes troubled, Tending to your flock is proving beyond me, how can I also tend to a wounded shepherd? She closes her eyes for a moment, fighting back a few tears, Send Brother Hal the strength he needs... Send me the strength I need to complete this task... Her eyes are clouded as she opens them, turning back to glance at her spiritual elder. How can I press on without your wise council?
"Well, well..." The Doctor comments with a unreadable smile, his approach having gone unnoticed by the distraught young cleric, "I didn't expect to find you here."
For a moment, the priestess continues to look towards her elder and makes no response. Then, as the silence hangs in the air, she seems to realize that the comment may have been directed at her and turns with a frown.
Her eyes widen with recognition and disbelief. She holds a hand in front of her mouth weakly. "Alastor?" The young priestess gasps out, taking a step towards him and staring at his face.
The Doctor taps his head in salute, his grin widening, "How do, Sophia?"
"Alastor..." The priestess lowers her hand, staring at him with a mixture of shock, anger and relief, "I...I thought you were dead."
"Well..." The Doctor chuckles as if her comment were particularly amusing, "I was."
The priestess stares at him intently for a long moment, struggling to judge his words. Her eyes slowly soften as she glances over his tattered clothing, "Wha...what happened?"
"Your god killed me." Alastor replies wryly.
"That isn't funny, Alastor." The priestess responds sternly.
"Well..." The Doctor answers dryly, "I didn't think so either..." He glances at the group with a frown, "What are you doing here?" He arches an eyebrow, looking at the young cleric, "I thought you would still be at that church."
Sophie glances away for a moment, replying in a quiet voice, "My apprenticeship ended...and I was released to follow the calling of Light." She frowns.
"Why am I not surprised?" The Doctor replies spitefully, bitterly glancing to the east, "Sounds like the same old..."
"Nevermind that." Sophie interrupts suddenly, staring at Alastor sternly once more, "What did you mean that my god killed you?" She leans forward, stating pointedly, "The Light is your god too...even if you've forgotten that."
"Well, if the Ligh..." The Doctor begins to reply flippantly but then stops at the anger in the eyes of the cleric. He chuckles ruefully, rubbing his head, and replies with a guarded smile, "Three holy warriors of the oh so sacred Light took it upon themselves to personally quell my rebellious and sinful spirit." He gestures to his tattered clothing with a proud flourish, "Of course, freeing the mortal coil of my foul presence did not suffice for them, so they tossed my remains into a river for good measure." He glances towards the sky with appreciation, "Fortunately for me, there are still some kind souls in this world..."
"You have to be mistaken." Sophie replies with conviction, "No servant of the Light would do such a thing."
"Oh, just like how a priest would never put his own interests before the well being of his flock?" Alastor replies pointedly.
"Don't... Why are you bringing that up?" Sophie sighs exasperatedly, "He has nothing to do with this."
"Sure, sure... If you say so" The Doctor waves the point aside, "Though..." He chuckles, looking at her pointed, "Is it really so far fetched that some religious fanatics decided to shut me up?"
"The Light would never permi..." Sophie begins.
"Your Light certainly has no qualms about its servants slaughtering those it deems wicked, why not the irreverent as well?" The Doctor cuts her off, a flash of anger piercing his facade of joviality, "Is one enemy of your religion so different from another?"
"Alastor, there has to be another explanation." Sophie replies in a softer voice, "Holy Knights of the Light do not go around killing people." She holds her hands out helplessly, "They are righteous champions of the people, not murderers."
"Righteous champions of the people?!" Alastor scoffs, laughing scornfully, "Charlatans and hypocrites!"
"Alastor!" Sophie exclaims.
"The heroic saint, clad in gilded armor and bearing hallowed blade, championing the great battle against the wicked..." The Doctor continues spitefully, undaunted, "Lifted from the soiled muck of humanity by divine grace...honored sanctified figures, shining exemplars of deific mastery!" His eyes narrow, "The tales never speak of their weakness, their doubts and fears, their loves... Everything that connected them to the rest of us mortals, every lesson that might have uplifted us, every flaw overcome through personal effort... Denied, flawless heroes emancipated from the imperfections of humanity through divine intervention." His eyes narrow, "Instead of being an inspiration they are a crutch, teaching not that mortals can overcome but instead that we are hopeless, weak, and corrupt without the benign influence of the gods."
"Because we are!" Sophie cries out, "Mortals are hopeless, weak, and corrupt...it's only through the grace of the gods that we able to overcome our base nature." She continues with growing assurance, "Heroes are shining exemplars of faith, not deific mastery, they are what we could be if we could only believe. The gods have no need to master us, they are further beyond us than we can comprehend." She looks at Alastor with concern, "I know you were terribly hurt...but you need stop rebelling against everything. You're just destroying yourself." She shakes her head, "Mortals need faith."
"Beyond my comprehension?" Alastor questions with a cold laugh, his words thick with scorn, "Yes, I cannot comprehend how a good god would allow their clergy to live in opulence while even a single destitute family struggles to survive." His face twists with contempt, "I cannot comprehend how they can preach about love, mercy, equality, and justice... Yet, contrive one of the greatest hierarchies in existence. Bishops and Saints, all one under the Light indeed." He glares at her defiantly, demanding an answer, "If the Light loves so perfectly, then tell me why its devoted servants value religious ideals over suffering people?"
Sophie is silent for a moment, struggling to remain calm. Finally she replies in a quiet voice, "You condemn yourself, Alastor." She sighs sadly, "You call us hypocrites but do you not do the same?"
"As near I recall, I'm not the one who created this world." The Doctor replies flippantly, "I think that being an imperfect mortal I merit a different set of standards than those who claim perfection."
"I never said we were perfect... We are imperfect, that is what prevents us from living up to the teachings of the Light." Sophie states pleadingly, "The implementation is flawed, not the model."
"What value are words without endeavor?" The Doctor counters coldly, his eyes alight, "The greatest blasphemy against your model is the Light itself, filth embellished with sacred charms..." His outrage grows more evident with every word, "What kind of creator makes a world of suffering? Forms creatures dominated by hatred, avarice, fear, lust and despair. A creator that condemns its creations for the traits it gave them? A world of hunger, sickness, death... You know what kind of creator?" He sneers, "A twisted fuc..."
The cleric slaps him across the face, her eyes alight.
The Doctor looks into her eyes grimly, "And you too, Sophia." A vindicated smile slowly crosses his face, "If you strike me after only just a few minutes, is it really that unbelievable that your fellow zealots decided to chop me up and feed me to some fish after a few months?"
I failed...again... Remorse and chagrin written across her face, the cleric stumbles back a few steps, "Alastor... I'm... I'm sorry..." She glances in the direction of her spiritual elder, willing him out of atrophy to come to her aid.
"Throughout my journeys, I've found that human beings are quick to counter words with force." The Doctor replies bitterly, his eyes cold, "People are quick to judge when others use violence but for themselves..." He laughs sharply, "Justified, of course. Always justified." He pauses for a moment, then turns away, adjusting his glasses, "Ideals...peace, respect, love...crumble with just a bit of provocation."
Sophie winces and takes a step forward, speaking apologetically, "Alastor, I lost my temper...but you can still talk to me about anything."
"That's never been true." The Doctor retorts coldly, "Not of you, not of anyone." He sighs and shakes his head, "So, why are you here?"
The young cleric hesitates for a moment, struggling against the urge to fix the situation, and then rests a hand on his shoulder as if to reassure him. She speaks, her voice laced with regret at leaving the old conversation unfinished, "I'm traveling with this band of warriors gathered by the hero Alexander..."
The Doctor arches an eyebrow, turning back to her, "The hero Alexander?"
Her eyes trail to where the hero stands discussing tactics, "Yes... A great man..."
"That does generally seem to be a characteristic of heroes." Alastor interjects, following her gaze.
Sophie rolls her eyes, continuing, "He lost his family to the chaos cult...and he assembled us to stop others from suffering as he has." Admiration shines in her eyes, "He brings so much hope to others even though he's known so much pain."
The Doctor looks at the hero skeptically, then rubs his cheek, "So... Whose that old fat guy over there?" He nods towards the elder priest, "Someone important to you?"
Sophie replies guardedly, glancing at Hal, "He's a priest..."
"Oh, I thought he was some pimp that you had sold yourself to or something..." The Doctor continues thoughtfully, "...but if he's a priest, that's different..." He smiles as if that fact made everything were clear, "He's only out to get young boys."
Her delicate hands curling into fists, Sophie glowers at the Doctor, "You...you just can't make it easy, can you?"
The Doctor replies with a grin.
Sophie exhales deeply, unclenching her fists, "You could learn a lot from Alexander." I know I have... To take all of that hurt and turn it into a force of hope for others...
"Of course..." The Doctor nods in agreement, looking towards the hero, "He definitely could teach me a lot about killing."
Her fists clenching once again, Sophie turns away for a long moment, then speaks in a tightly controlled voice, "...where have you been for all this time?"
"Here and there..." The Doctor replies, looking into the distance thoughtfully, "I've been making my living as a healer...for hire..." He smiles, "Not a bad profession."
"You haven't changed at all." Sophie says sadly, looking at him with tears forming in her eyes, "You care... Despite it all, you care...but you are blind to good. You cannot even accept how you have been blessed and empowered by the very god you blaspheme!!!"
His mouth already opening to deliver a sharp retort, the Doctor suddenly stops. A sad smile appears on his face after a moment, as he adds in a weary voice, "I am blind." He shakes his head with a sigh and looks across the destruction of the battlefield, "...so very blind..."
"Alastor..." The cleric says softly, looking at him with concern.
"Your flock needs attending to, Sophia..." The Doctor replies quietly, his eyes distant, "This battered old sinner can weather the storm alone... Give your energy to those it will help." He pauses for a moment, then a small but warm smile crosses his face, "Even if it is charging to your death on some damn fool crusade, I'm glad to see you again." He looks at her for a moment longer, then turns and walks away.
The cleric watches him walk away for a moment, then lets out a weary sigh. Compared to healing him, helping the others suddenly seems a small task. A smile slowly crosses her face. I always had the strength for this task. I lost perspective...there goes a truly difficult task was. She shakes her head, an awed expression on her face. The guidance of the Light is beyond compare... Her smile widens, joy shining in her eyes. I can handle this.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:45 am
Once Jessica finishes tending to Dagron, she stands up. The medic gets to thinking that gathering all the wounded in one place might not be a bad idea. "Would all that are wounded please gather around me?" [Assuming the wounded gather around Jessica as asked.
Gisar: +39 HP to the wounded peeps. ]
Jessica then puts her Meditech Kit to use on the still wounded Maria.
[2 uses, +51 HP, which should bring her up to full.]

Posted by: Aldur Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:32 am
"Micheal... I'm sorry, I never caught your last name," Jim says, approaching the mystic. "Does it really matter...Jim?" Michael frowned, hoping he got it right. "Not really," Jim says. "Yes, Jim is my name. I'd like to thank you for your help so far. What do you intend to do now?"
"Well, I'll tag along. Sheila and all of you seem interesting. Do you know why? I've been in various storehouses in Saraband...and never seen weapons like yours or the skeletons." Michael raised a brow questioningly at Jim.
"You're not familiar with Ancient weapons and you're from Saraband?" Jim asks. "I thought you were all about this sort of thing."
"I'm from Destonia. And they looked far from ancient to me. Quite new and shiny." Michael frowned at what Jim was saying.
"They do, don't they? You're going to tag along? We could certainly use the help, so we'd be glad to have you. Sheila says you're a competent warrior and I trust her judgment in fighting skills at least," Jim says, taking a moment to study Micheal. "But we are most likely going to end up fighting again and again and again. You OK with that?"
"I don't tire out and unlike the creepy and smelly wizards I don't need to recharge what I do." Michael smirked. "I can blast all day. As well as fly...and a small number of other tricks." He brought his wings out with a flourish. "Mightier than Volcanon, more beautiful than Mitula...Elbesem is my slave. Ah me, it's hard being this good."
Jim chuckles. "Well... You're certainly humble... All right. You can tag along. Blasting and flying... Can you do anything else?"
"Make love with excellence?" Michael winked. "Well...if it's an enemy...I can widen out my blast and make it more effective against undead thingies. I can dispel naturally. And if it's a demon or devil or something...if I can blast it properly, it doesn't get to go back home to it's own wee hellhole."
Jim nods, "Good, good... Those abilities should come in handy. However..." Jim tilts his head. "I'd recommend you not practice that first ability when in a combat zone."
"More than one way to kill an enemy. Well, I'd agree." He snapped his fingers. "I can also see invisible things. And speak any language at any time at all times. I quite like that one. I'm rather diplomatic, despite a mild jaded edge. I also...sometimes know everything about an enemy I've never seen before. Like a flashback, or like it just came into my head."
"Really?" Jim asks, "How does that work?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Michael grins, shrugging his shoulders. (25 bluff.)
"Hmmm... Well it sounds like something we should look into at some point," Jim says, outstretching a hand. "Welcome aboard."
Michael shakes, nodding as he takes the hand. "Strong. I like Strong men Jim. Nice to meetcha."
"Nice to meet you as well," Jim says with a nod. "Thanks for your time. Unless you've got any questions, I have to get back to planning."
"Questions. I have many but I doubt they're needed at the moment. Later maybe." Michael nodded to Jim.
"See you soon then," Jim says, waving.
"Oh you will Jolly Jim." Michael sniggered, walking away.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:17 am
This is a wrong post. It was posted in the wrong thread.

Posted by: Kaihaku Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:46 am
Michael sniggers and wanders over to Sophie, having watched the slap. He waves as he closes in, a wide grin crossing his pretty face. "Well hello there...he try to hit you up?" The priestess turns with a frown, then pauses in surprise at the sight of the figure before her. "Um..." She blinks, "Who are you?"
"Aha! I'm very glad you asked that..." Michael sniggers, gesturing to himself with a flourish, his glorious white celestial wings erupting from his back. "I am...Michael." He bowed lavishly, his wings wrapping around him as he rose again, a serene smile on his face.
Her eyes widen, staring at the figure with surprise, "You...you're an angel?"
He winks, nodding. "Some have called me such. I just like to think of myself as just your average person. So...how about a kiss for the angel?" He looked at her eagerly. "After all...I did fly all the way here from Destonia to help with this..."
"Wait... What?" The cleric replies in surprise, looking at the handsome figure intently, "A kiss for an angel?" She blushes slightly, then her eyes narrow, "This...this is hardly the time for playing games..."
Michael sighs, shutting his eyes. "Can't blame a guy for trying. And kissing isn't a game! Although I do know a few kissing games. This really fun one uses a bottle an-aheh. I doubt you care. So, what do you do?" He looked her up and down, raising a brow.
The priestess blushes once more, then frowns angrily, "Just what kind of person are you?" She looks at him intently, "Wait... You come from Destonia?" Her eyes soften, looking at the young man thoughtfully, "I’m Sophie Alfort… I’m a cleric of the Light from the floating city of Saraband traveling in the company of the hero Alexander."
Michael blinked, and tilted his head. "A priest...? Like...seriously? And from Saraband? I mean wow, I heard they had priests like ours." He grinned again. "Well, how much are they paying you? I bet it must be a big sum."
"Nothing." The cleric frowns at the notation that she require payment, her voice stern, "The Light calls its believers to counter the darkness."
"I see...so what'd you get caught doing to be exiled then?" Michael's grin widened into a full cheeky smile. "I mean, you don't seem like a thief or very promiscuous but looks can be deceiving..."
The cleric winces as if the words of angelic youth hit a nerve, anger flashes across her face, "Nothing! I made this choice of my own free will!"
Michael stared, mouth hanging open. "Well I'll be damned-heh, that's quite funny considering-you're serious? Wow...you're like out of a storybook..."
The cleric frowns darkly, glaring at the angelic lad, "...and what about you?" She gestures to the battlefield, "What did you fly from Destonia to do here...and why?"
Michael smiled softly then, muttering to himself. "So like her..." He frowned, pouting at her questions. "You don't trust me? I'm hurt. As I said. Well, from an early age I was a bit different. I...heard things. Evil...things. And could do certain...less than...celestial shall we say things? Long story short, I had fiendish powers but through the aid of a friend, who ironically joined the priesthood, managed to convert them. White feathers are so much better than leathery scales after all." He held out his hand. "Sorry about before. I thought you were just like the other priests. Didn't mean to offend."
"I..." The cleric frowns, speaking carefully, "It's not that I don't trust you, I don't understand you..." She shakes her head, frustrated, "Eh..." Then she sighs and looks into his eyes, speaking in a kinder voice, "Just..." She shakes her head, "Nevermind... What do you mean like other priests? What have you experienced?" Her eyes are filled with concern.
"Well, the majority of all priests from any large city seem to always be either charlatans or corrupt usually. You have the hopeful acolytes but once they get inducted they all eventually succumb to the power plays of the high court. Saraband looked to be the same when I was there awhile." Michael smiled wistfully. "Out here? The small towns, you can tell the clergy care. Not sure why or what makes them. But they do. And you're with Alexander the Great huh? Pity none of these legendary heroes can do squat in the big cities."
The cleric looks to the ground, sorrow written across her face, "I...see..." She sighs, glancing up at the mountain before them distantly, "How can such great champions counter evil such as this but falter in the face of...their fellow mortals?" She shakes her head sadly once again, "I...wish I had an answer..."
"Well, It has to do with power probably. The more you get the harder it is to remember the lines I think. I'm only seventeen, but I've been travelling the past two years. It's eye opening. You could be the nice person you are now but when faced with all the delights and temptations of money, power, magic...whatever...mostly all just give in." Michael smirked. "And some indulge quite odd tastes."
The cleric frowns, troubled, "That can't always be true..." She shakes her head, unsettled, "Certainly, certainly...the gods intervene on behalf of their people." Her eyes ponder over this troubling matter, then she glances up, "What do you mean odd tastes?"
"The gods huh? Well, I think you've got it wrong. You get your power from them but...it's not like they give you a guide. That's where your own free will comes in. It's easy to be a sheep." Michael chuckled. "I doubt you want to hear lady. It may offend your sensibilities."
The cleric blushes slightly though her eyes are filled with indignation, "Powers are not freely bestowed, the Light holds its servants accountable for their actions!" Her eyes are alight with resolution, "Mortals are weak, corrupt, petty...but the gods provide them guidance and help them to overcome."
"I was trying to say, they give you powers and let you try to do what you believe in with them. I mean, there are gods for everything."
The cleric frowns at this, displeased at the thought but unable to counter it, "I suppose..." She bites her lip for a moment thoughtfully, then looks to the angelic lad once again, "You... You said you were..." She frowns and starts again, "You were born with fiendish powers but overcame them?"
"With the help of a fellow orphan, yup. She's scolded me often." Michael laughed, a merry and youthful sound, “She went to join the priesthood and I went traveling."
"Orphans?" The cleric questions with empathy, looking at Michael appraisingly, before adding, "What god does she follow? Maybe I know her..."
"Elbesem of course. It IS Destonia."
The cleric nods with a frown, "True..." She sighs, "I wouldn't know her then... So, you weren’t just traveling in Destonia before this, you come from there…” She pauses for a moment to consider this, then adds softly, “I've never been to the Empire..."
"It's not exactly pleasant." Michael remarked dryly. And then frowned. "Well, unless you're rich! Then you can do anything!"
The cleric nods with a troubled frown, then she looks up, "Wait... Do you know Lord Enrich?" She continues, pointing out a prissy fellow off in the distance, "He's a noble of Destonia traveling with us."
Michael blinked, frowning. "Can't say as I do though from that dress one...well...I'll...he's very unique seeming?"
"You could say that..." Sophie replies with a soft chuckle, "He is a bit of an eccentric...but he is interested in more than wealth, in fact, I'm certain he's given up a lot to join us!"
"Well he does look insane certainly. I came this way myself because I was guided."
"Guided?" The priestess replies curiously, "By who...or what?"
"The random whispery voices. Who usually help me out when I have questions to do with what some things are or what people are doing. Like everything else they started off sinister but...they're kinda nice now." Michael blushed, looking away. "People think I'm crazy but...I'm never lonely. It's hard...being different."
The priestess shakes her head, struggling to understand, "I...I don't really understand..." She lays a hand on the shoulder of the angelic lad, "...but if you really are what you claim to be, I accept you for who you are." She smiles slightly, "I'm glad that you've found the strength to turn your life around."
"One does one's best." He grinned. "But they are handy. They let me know what certain nasties can do or are weak to as well. Handy things. Kinda like...guardian angels."
The priestess smiles and nods reassuringly, "I'm glad you found the support you need." She removes her hand and looks into the sky, remarking distantly, "We could all use a guardian angel..."
"Mmm. But when does it stop being an aid and start being a crutch I wonder..." Michael sighed and shook his head. "Anyhow...you know dear Alastor then?"
The priestess scowls at the name, glancing in the direction in which the Doctor had departed, "Yes... Well, I knew him...once..." She turns back to the angelic lad, "You know Alastor?" Then she frowns, "Dear Alastor?"
"Sorry. Sarcasm. It appears to rub off. He's very...well...ascorbic?" Michael looked at the direction Sophie was looking in. "He introduced his two lady companions as Prostitutes. I like his sense of humour. Tad bitter though."
Sophie nods with a troubled frown, "That sounds like him..."
"So. You a past sweetheart? Friend? Sister? Lover? One night stand?"
The priestess flushes at certain assumptions on the part of Michael, then replies with a frown, "He's my older brother...half-brother..."
"Oh dear. I pity you."
"This is the first time I've seen him in years..." The priestess replies distantly, "Even if he's more jaded than ever, at least he's alive."
"Maybe you should talk more?" Michael blinked. "Family is important."
"Not to him." The priestess responds with a hint of anger, "Not anymore."
"Well...everyone needs someone. I thought you Light people were all about that?" Michael looked at her, a whimsical smile on his face.
Sophie shakes her head, "I never said..." She sighs and lowers her head, "It was his choice to turn away from us... It's his choice to walk alone, you can't be there for someone if won't they let you be."
"That's true...but maybe...even when everyone else has given up on you..." Michael's eyes darken and he looks down. "...someone who'd be there no matter what. Because whether you choose to or not...you need them."
"I...wish I could help him..." The priestess replies softly, "...but I can't be that for him, I can try, but I have another calling. I can't give it up for one person. Even if he is my brother."
"Interesting. Priesthood or family? Well...there's a choice. I wonder if it's a path thing? Like in the cities..."
"Alastor didn't leave me that choice..." Sophie replies bitterly, "He made that decision himself when he left us, all of his family, for? I was just a novice then..." She shakes her head, "What could I do? Go after him; forsake the calling the Light had given me?”
"You can't serve the light and travel? And what's harder? Staying with the flock or going out and bringing back the lost sheep?" Michael grins. "Well, you're together if only for a while...maybe try to help?"
"How can you help someone who refuses to see the good in the world?" Sophie replies with anger, "He is so blind… He doesn't even see that he's been blessed with divine powers by the Light!" She shakes her head, "Tell me how to help someone who spits on everything pure and holy?"
"You should talk to Uriel. She somehow managed to do it for me..." Michael shrugged at this. "Time, patience and support. Even the hardiest soul would see..."
Sophie shakes her head, "Maybe that was her calling but I don't have the energy and patience to give him my all while he heaps trash on what is most important to me." She looks at the rest of the group, "…and I can't justify sacrificing the well being of the many for the chance...just a chance...of helping the one." She sighs, "I mean, it's not like I'm not going to try but I'm not going to make him the priority in my life."
"Sounds fair enough. Well, I'd better go here...many people, many opportunities. It's been fun talking to you." Michael turned, waving over his head. "But Sophie? I wonder...has he ever been the priority to anyone?" Michael laughed, taking to the sky.
The priestess frowns at this, shaking her head and watching the angelic lad fly forth.

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:57 am
"You know?" Sha'aasta said to Johann as Sophie fended off the second of Jim's men. "I like that girl. She's got spunk. Who knew? I had her figured for a milksop." "Hmm..." Johann murmured distractedly. "And what's up with you?" the girl asked, finally turning to look at her friend. "You've been so focused on the two banner-wavers and the merchant, I doubt you'd notice if another one of those flying boats crash-landed in your rear end. You're a diviner! You're supposed to be aware of things! And people count, too. I bet you half of tonight's dinner you couldn't name a quarter of our new allies. Go on. Name 'em."
"I thought that's why I brought a people expert along with me," Johann parried with a taunting tone. "Isn't that right, Sha'aasta, world traveler and connoisseur of cultures?"
Holzgeist rumbled something, and the seer gave a quick bark of laughter.
"What's so funny? What did he say?" Sha'aasta demanded.
"He's questioning your judgment. With all of the tasty snacks wandering around here, he can't understand why you prefer the scrawniest one here." Johann responded, with a thumb pointed Sophie's way.
Sha'aasta aimed a kick at Holzgeist's side, but the dire wolf just whuffed in laughter and rolled onto his back, inviting the girl to strike again.
"All joking aside," Johann continued in gnomish, while Sha'aasta kicked and battered the furry monster, who studiously ignored the onslaught, "I think we might need to revise our strategy. What was your impression of the newcomers?"
"Cynical, jaded," Sha'aasta replied in the same language, sitting on top of Holzgeist's belly and ignoring the wolfish laughter sounding beneath her, "but above all, lost. I think some of them seem like they want to believe in something, but can't find anyone with answers for their questions. And some of them don't seem to have anything left to believe in. And the rest are so driven by their purpose and by the fight that they've forgotten why they're fighting in the first place. Now," she added in a cautioning tone, "that's having listened to them for five minutes, never having talked to them, and not really knowing their history. So don't trust it."
"No, but it fits in," Johann mused. "I don't think we should bring the others." he added.
"Ever?" Sha'aasta asked, surprised.
"Think it through. What would happen?"
"Combatively cynical, powerful, jaded and possibly unethical outsiders brought into the middle of your farm folk? I don't have a clue what would happen, but it would be very funny. Not good, but funny."
Johann nodded. "I hate to say it, but even if we find the sword and the others, we'll have to keep on the same way we've been doing. Keep them separate, keep them safe, and don't let anyone know. We can always pull them in if the need arises, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said these newcomers were lost. And you don't throw children near a man drowning in the water. It's not fair to either of them."

Posted by: Kaihaku Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:01 am
"Look who we have here, the great mastermind himself..." The Doctor comments irrately as he steps up to the great merchant lord, "Do me favor, next time you include me in one of your expeditions, keep the religious fanatics to a minimum." He adjusts his glasses, glancing over the battlefield with a scowl, "Where are the jackasses now anyway?" Then, his eyes narrow and he looks back at the merchant lord, "What lame excuse did they give you about me? Wait...you did ask them what happened to me, didn't you?"
"It's nice to see you too, Alastor. No, not really, I was a tad busy," Derrik says. "What do you mean, religious fanatics?"
"You know…some people do pretty damn well under pressure…it gives them focus…" The Doctor replies with anger slipping into his voice, "Others…can't handle it and call it quits…" His eyes narrow, "Then… Oh, then…there are those who crack and go freaking insane." He pauses for a moment, then rubs his forehead, "You're just going to have to forgive me for being a little put out… The esteemed paladin trio decided that I was a threat to group morale so gave me an ultimatum…" His words are filled with spite, "Leave the group or leave the mortal coil… I didn't take them seriously until it was too late…" He exhales and covers his eyes, "I mean…shit…I thought maybe the golem would snap but the other two?" Then he lowers his hand, "Then again… I never thought Dicem would wager his soul on an archery contest or that dwarf boy would follow suit throwing rocks since he didn't have a bow…"
"Yes, mortals are a lot of silly little things aren't we?" Derrik says with a grin. "So what did you learn about devils in your time with them?"
The Doctor arches an eyebrow, looking at the merchant quizically, "I don't follow."
"Well... For someone who rails against the arrogance and pride of others, you've some of it yourself, I think," Derrik says with a smile, "To automatically judge in such a fashion... To make assumptions about the failings of others... These are the things you despise. It's very ironic."
"To be lectured on morality by you is very ironic." The Doctor replies with a frown, "...and, I don't give a damn what people say, only what they do. I may make a loud noise but in case you haven't been paying attention, when was the last time I ignored someone in need?"
"You don't give a damn what people say, only what they do. But your companions fought with you for how long? Strove against the darkness for how long? But you judged them not for those deeds but for what they said, no?" Derrik asks.
"Yes, you are in a great position to judge my interaction in that team since you didn't even notice I was gone." The Doctor replies with a scowl.
"I didn't say I didn't notice. I said, I didn't ask," Derrik corrects the young doctor. "But prior to that bloody incident, how did you judge them?"
"You know what... Forget it." The Doctor waves his hand dismissively, "Somehow, I thought you of all people would appreciate me for my contributions...regardless of attitude..." He shakes his head disgustedly, "...but you know, I don't really give a shit right now. I was killed by people I've bled for, brought back to life by a god I didn't even know existed, dropped into a freaking mechanical warzone...and every familar face I stumble across is lecturing me?" He scoffs, then his eyes narrow, "I expected it from Sophia, but thanks for the sympathy and feck you." The Doctor turns and walks away from the merchant.
"No you weren't," Derrik says, before the Doctor can leave earshot, "Think hard on what happened and what you know. You'll find out eventually, but if it'll be worth far more if you figure it out yourself rather than relying on me. As for sympathy, what did you expect? Are you my friend? Have we gone out drinking? Fought together? You're technically an employee of mine. Yeah, I'm sorry you went through hell, but look around. Everyone's going through hell," Derrik says, bitterly. "As a final note, if I didn't appreciate your healing talents in spite of what you say, there's no way you'd have been hired."
The Doctor chuckles, turning around, "Wrong." His eyes narrow, "I'm not your employee, not anymore, and since you made no effort...to look for me...help me...make the slightest inquiry about me...or anything when I suddenly vanished...I never will be again. Employers have a responsibility to their employees." He shakes his head, "…and if you really are out to save the world and not just your own ass, maybe you should remember that the world is made of individuals. You can preach on and on and on ad nasuem about saving the world, but if you aren't going to start with individuals it isn't worth shit." The Doctor laughs spitefully at the merchant's final comment, "...and really…so you only hire people who are useful to you?" He shakes his head, still chuckling, "Did you see some of the people in that group you had me with? You are deluded."
"And you are blind," Derrik retorts. "All right, this the final lesson for me. I can't teach people lessons, I guess. Screw it. I thought I'd try and give you some damn wisdom, but I guess... No. Doesn't matter. How the hell do YOU know what efforts I expended?" Derrik asks. "How do YOU know what I did and didn't do?"
"True, I'm not a DM character so while you know everything about me, its true that I know nothing about you." Coventry replies sheepish. -_-
"Sorry, I forgot that Kaihaku HAS NEVER FIELDED A CHARACTER THAT NO ONE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT BUT KNEW MORE THAN HE TOLD."
...
"And you are blind," Derrik retorts. "All right, this the final lesson for me. I can't teach people lessons, I guess. Screw it. I thought I'd try and give you some damn wisdom, but I guess... No. Doesn't matter. How the hell do YOU know what efforts I expended?" Derrik asks. "How do YOU know what I did and didn't do? You sit there and bitch about being judged, and oh poor me, I can't act like a jackass, when you do it yourself as well. You're as much a hypocrite as anyone else, Coventry." Derrik narrows his eyes. "Do you REALLY think your companions would KILL you over a slight? Ever hear of shapeshifters? Illusions? Oh no, there's no WAY I could be mistaken," Derrik says, mimicking Coventry's voice. "Surely I was right and everyone is out to get me. I don't know what exactly happened, but it's far, FAR too out of line what you're saying," Derrik said. "It doesn't add up."
"You are absolutely damn fecking correct..." Coventry spits out, arms akimbo as he stares into the eyes of the merchant, "I don't know know a thing about you, I use to think I did but you certainly proved me wrong." He shakes his head in disgust, "Somehow, I had the notion that you weren't caught up with putting yourself on some damn pedestal to dispense wisdom and judgement from on high. Now I'm kind of wondering what the hell is wrong with me that I actually thought you were a better man than that... That you gave damn about people and that underneath that rough demeanor you were trying to help them without playing the same old power game as everyone else." He scoffs, "Light, I sure was wrong about that." Then he laughs bitterly, "Screw it, I actually thought you were 'good' under all that..." His words are underlined with an old pain, "But its just an act, just like everyone else... You think I get some kind of turn on by pushing people around and finding out just how ugly they really are?" His words are thick with emotion, "Once, just once, why can't one of you just be what you pretend be?" He pauses for an instant, then continues scornfully, "You...the great enigmatic son of a bitch himself...judge me by what I claim to be?! That's rich...you call me blind..." He levels a finger at the merchant, "You really think I buy all that crap I spit out? You stupid feck." His hand trembles, strong emotion dancing in his eyes, "You want me to spell it out for you, fine... I'm not the epitome of perfection...wisdom...good taste..." He laughs spitefully, hatred twisting his voice, "I'm the corrupt, dirty, depraved bastard..." His eyes narrow, his next words thick with venom, "...but you know, the more I see of the world, the more I try to find something...anything...pure and good...the more everyone and everything looks like me." He glares at the merchant contemptuously, "You know, I've spent all of what...five...six hours with you? ...and you feel that gives you the understanding to feck with my head instead of just telling me what you know... Well, if you wanted to prove that you were as dirty, petty, arrogant, and disgusting as me, congratulations, you succeeded admirable." He sneers, "I would absolutely love to be mistaken, for years I've wanted nothing more than for one of you self righteous asses to actually be right...for once... All I've ever ask is for proof." He shakes his head in disgust, "Proof that you actually give a damn and aren't out for your own gain. Proof that you aren't on some kind of power trip. Proof that you don't return evil with evil." He stands still, speaking lowly, "...and every time I look for proof...all of you end up looking more like me...or worse..." He shakes his head, looking at the merchant coldly, "Doesn't add up? Light, you sound naive, since when has anything in this twisted mess of a world added up. Sure as hell doesn't make any sense, but a lot of things don't make any sense." He rolls his eyes, then scoffs, "Right...I'm whiny brat because I'm upset that I was killed people I'd come to trust... Even if it was some sort of masquerade...I shouldn't feel pain because others feel pain? Hell doesn't hurt because other people are in hell? Suffering doesn't matter if someone is suffering more? You can go ahead and repress all that, I have enough package already, I don't need to stuff more in." He looks at the merchant challengingly, "Instead of calling me a hypocrite for seeing what's wrong in the world, why the hell don't you show me what's right? Or...maybe you aren't really all that different than me?"
"Graaaagh!" Derrik moans, clutching his head. "Of course I'm not that different from you! My nickname is 'Jackass of the Realm' in some areas!" Derrik looks at Coventry. "Listen, as I said, I've learned this from you: Despite my wealth and wealth of information, I'm still no good at being anything like a wiseman. Act all mysterious and stuff? I have my reasons, in this case because I thought that I shouldn't spell things out for you. I've kept tabs on your former group. If they had REALLY done what you'd said, they wouldn't still be paladins. They'd have fallen. They still have their aura of self-righteousnesses up, that means they're still paladins. That means something else killed you. All this mumbo-jumbo I was saying was me imitating the wisemen I've seen in my time, hoping it would work and do you some good. But I can't do it, OK?" Derrik says, flinging up his hands.
The Doctor shakes his head distantly, "...nevermind...just nevermind..." He looks at the ground for a long moment, "I need…" He turns and walks away.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:50 am
"Excuse me, Doctor Coventry?" Jim asks, approaching the doctor. The Doctor looks up from where he had been staring at the mountain with a frown, "Yes?" "Well first of all, I'd like to thank you on behalf of my troops as well as myself for your aid this past few battles," Jim says, extending a hand.
The Doctor arches an eyebrow, taking the hand sullenly, "It's my job...but your healer far surpasses me..."
Jim shakes his head as he shakes Coventry's hand. "Don't be so modest, Jessica's good at what she does, but you're pretty talented yourself. Besides, there are few times when a combat force has 'enough' healers."
"Which brings me to my next point," Jim says. "I would like to know what you intend to do now. I won't lie, we could certainly use another healer, but we'll be heading into the belly of the beast."
The Doctor pauses for a moment, looking to the side troubled then replies, "I just found out about something I need to look into..." He looks up at the soldier, "So, I can't promise...any length of time...but for now I'm glad to stick with you... He looks at the gapping entrance into the mountain, "How long could it take anyway?"
TheUnknownMarine: "Hopefully not more than a few hours," Jim says with a nod. "All right. You do realize that it may very well be worse than all this, though, right?" Jim says, gesturing around.
"Well..." The Doctor looks around at the carnage with a frown, "The scale of this battle surpassed anything I've been in...but..." He smiles slightly, "I'm not a completely newcomer to this kind of thing... Until I'm out of spells, I'll do what I can to hold you together, then I'll run away screaming and maybe that will distract the enemy some.."
Jim chuckles. "Well good to know you've our best interests at heart," Jim says in a humorous tone. "How are you on spells, anyway?"
The Doctor considers this for a moment, then nods, "Not too bad..." He grins sheepishly, "I let your healer do most of the work this time so I could conserve... I don't have much high powered stuff left but plenty of filler. Perfect for crawling around in an ancient fortress, eh?"
"Sounds good," Jim nods. "In sweep and clears it's usually a number of smaller engagements, so after the actual fighting we can probably use you to patch everyone up with lesser magic. Keep the strong stuff in case we run into trouble..."
"No problem..." The Doctor nods, then he arches an eyebrow, "Are you going to divide us up or are we going to file in as a big group?"
"Depends on the interior's layout and what the scouts report back," Jim says, turning to look at the mountain. "We'll probably stick together. I don't know about Alexander's team."
The Doctor nods, then glances at one of the clerics serving the hero with a worried frown, "Well... I guess we'll just see what kind of hero he is."
"I suppose so. In the meantime, welcome aboard," Jim says, extending his hand again.
The Doctor shakes the offered hand and nods, then grins foolishly, "So... I suppose I should ask..." He glances in the direction of Varro, "Who did I just hop aboard with?"
"What do you mean?" Jim asks.
"Where do you hail from?" The Doctor clarifies, "You don't look like republic or imperial troops... Are you the ever mysterious tech knights?"
"Tech Knights?" Jim asks, tilting his head. "That's the first I've heard of them..."
"We're from all over the place. We belong to an organization that seeks out and destroys evil, protects innocents and generally attempts to make the world a better place."
"Sounds good to me." The Doctor nods approvingly, "I think I'm going to take some time out to clear my head, let me know when we're moving out." He frowns looking at the hulk that is the corpse of one of the mutants, "I think I'm going to need all the focus I can muster."
"Roger that," Jim says, nodding. "I'll come get you."
The Doctor nods, "Thanks..." Then he frowns, "Will...that... Erh, the guy in the armor, will he be alright?" He looks to the ground angerily, "I...wasn't strong enough to help him..."
Jim looks at Coventry. "You did what you could. That's all anyone can expect of anyone else, and all that matters," Jim turns towards the wounded soldier. "He should be fine... But it's going to be a long recovery for him."
The Doctor frowns and nods, "I suppose so..." He then steps away, thoughtfully.

Posted by: Kaihaku Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:59 am
"Heya Doc!" Sheila says, walking up to Coventry. "Whassa matter? You look kinda glum." The Doctor sighs heavily, "I feel like I've been staring into a mirror..." He chuckles slightly, "The sight is enough to make anyone glum." Sheila blinks. "Concerned about your looks? You don't look bad, you shouldn't feel insecure."
"Now...now..." The Doctor smiles and shakes his head, "No need to lie..." He chuckles then arches an eyebrow, "More importantly... Why is it that I can't heal you? I've been meaning to work on something to let me heal less...um...fleshy...no...ah, organic creatures..." He nods, "Maybe I can come up with a work around for you as well?"
"Huh? I'm fleshy and organic," Sheila says, pinching her wrists. "Healing spells just don't work so well on me cause of my makeup. Like, the structure kind, not the cosmetics kind."
"I was talking about golems and...eh..." He pauses for a moment thoughtfully, "Cyborgs? That's what you call a robot...with...um... That was human, right?" He sakes his head, "But yeah..." He looks at her appraisingly, "If I can heal a golem, I don't see why it would be so difficult to heal you..." He frowns, "So, what is it about your structure that makes you immune to positive energy?"
"Oh no, it's not that I'm immune, it just has a really lessened effect on me," Sheila says.
The Doctor nods with a hint of amusement, "I noticed…but why is that?"
"It's cause of my..." Sheila starts to say, then stops. "Oh... Aw, nuts, I'm probably not s'posed to say."
The Doctor frowns at this, looking at her intently, "It's a secret?"
"Well..." Sheila says, grimacing. "Kinda? It might be, I can't remember what the clearance level on it is..."
"Hmmm…" The Doctor arches an eyebrow but doesn't press the matter, trying a different approach, "Can you be affected by transformation effects? Like, can you be polymorphed? I was thinking of trying to developing a transmutation healing spell at one point."
"Yeah, but I think I'm resistant... I think," Sheila says. "I'm still getting the hang of the whole thing. I dunno, it might work," Sheila says with a shrug. "I'm not really knowledgeable 'bout magic."
The Doctor nods, then shrugs, "I guess we'll see then…" He looks at the entrance to the fortress, "Um…Jim…he mentioned scouts, who do you think he'll send?" Then he pauses, "Wait… Why does the giant…call him Jolly Jim? Some kind of inside joke?"
"Eh? Oh, Varro's weird like that. He calls people by the name he first hears they have, some defect in his programming. Some jokester told him Jim's name was Jolly Jim before he got transferred here and now it's hardwired."
"Now...that's good to know..." The Doctor replies with a hint of mischief in his voice, "...very good even..."
"Aw geez, whatever it is you're thinking of don't. It's funny at first, yeah, but do you know how tiring it gets when you've gotta hear him say it over and over again?" Sheila moans.
"I've always wanted to meet an Ottafer Willie Ickabar..." The Doctor replies with a grin, then pauses and nods, "Yeah, you're probably right..."
"So anyway, I saw you talking with Alex's healer, followed by slappage. What was with that, if you don't mind me asking?" Sheila asks, tilting her head.
"You need ask?" The Doctor grins, then rubs his chin, "You whacked me around a good deal as I recall." He chuckles, then it fades away mirthlessly and he sighs, "She's my little sister, we have some differences of opinion and...well...I went too far..." His eyes narrow, staring into the distance, "I wish she was right..." Then he shakes his head, "...but I can't justify... No, not telling her the truth." He frowns then, as if realizing that he was thinking out loud and shakes his head, "Anyway, how about you, got any siblings? Just as good at navigating as you?"
"Oh wow, sister?!" Sheila exclaims with surprise. "I thought she wailed on you 'cause you called her a whore or something, like you did with us... Wow... I was way off..."
"Who says I didn't?" The Doctor replies distantly.
"Wow... bad blood in the family, I guess..." Sheila winces. "Sorry for bringing it up."
"You could call me that..." The Doctor replies with a faint smile.
"Ah! That's not what I meant," Sheila says wincing.
The Doctor just shakes his head, "I know...doesn't make it less true..." He arches an eyebrow, "But again, what about you, any siblings gifted at navigation?"
"Eh? Oh, I've got a brother, but he's not a navigator," Sheila says, then smiles. "He's just the best damn warrior in the whole world!"
"Really?" The Doctor arches an eyebrow, surprised, "What's his name?" He looks at Sheila curiously, "Maybe I've heard of him..."
"Er," Sheila winces. "I... I doubt that. But his name's Rant. Rant Durance! He's a legend in the organization!" Sheila says, enthusiastically. "There's nothing he can't beat! Heck, a good chunk of why I joined up was cause I wanted to be strong like him!"
The Doctor frowns, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I always thought that Max Shieldwright was the greatest warrior alive..." Something darker flashes through his eyes, "Him...or one of the Vandals..." Then he shrugs, "Never heard of your brother though..." He chuckles, "Sorry."
Sheila chuckles a little. "Hey, not your fault."
"So, why isn't he here?" The Doctor questions, "This seems kind of important…"
"Oh, he's probably busy elsewhere, always something or someone that needs killing with him," Sheila says, with a shrug.
"I see…" The Doctor replies quietly, looking down at the ground thoughtfully.
"Anyway, being mad at your family sucks, you should prolly fix that if you can," Sheila says with a frown.
The Doctor chuckles and shakes his head, "I'll keep that in mind..."
"Anyway, I hear you're tagging along for a while, so I guess I'll be seeing you around!" Sheila says cheerily. "If you need any nonmagical stuff, Adam might have it. Jess might have extra med stuff. Other than that, ask Jim if you need somethin'."
"Thanks..." The Doctor nods, "See you around."
"Seeya!" Sheila waves as she darts off.

Posted by: Alpha Fri Aug 24, 2007 11:34 pm
Not waiting for an answer from Alexander, Laeral goes over to Enrick. Borrowing his bag of holding, he moves back over to Derrik, and takes out the items, adding them to the other items they'd scrounged from the earlier battles. : "We have some items to trade too," the elf says. "Though I fear it's not enough for what we might require," he adds, frowning.
((Enrick had 5 guns and a headband of some sort + whatever we found from the last battle - I've forgotten exactly what that was though :/))
"Let me see," Derrik says, looking over the items. He nods after a while. "Right. 2,000 for each of the guns for 10,000 total. 500 for the headband."
Laeral's eye's widen slightly, shocked at how valuable the items were. Recovering well, he answers. "Ok, thanks. Just let me go around the casters in our Force, and I'll find out how many mana potions we'll need," he says. "It may end up we need to spend it all on them," he adds with a laugh.

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Fri Aug 24, 2007 11:41 pm
((I know Johann and Sha'aasta searched during part of that last battle. I don't think I ever heard what they found, though.))

Posted by: Alpha Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:11 am
((Merla already has potions. WD said Johann doesn't need any. Same with LO and Enrick. So I'm getting mana potions for Laeralas, Thavon, Hal and Sophie. They resotre 1d6+1 spell levels each. For example, if you get a 3, you can get back a 3rd level spell or 3 1st levels. The remaining money is going to Alexander))
Returning after a short while, Laeral speaks to the merchant again. "Seems not all of us need the potions. However, those who do will be needing a few each. Do you have twelve available?" he asks.
"Indeed I do," Derrik responds, opening his coat to withdraw twelve vials from a large number in an inner pocket.
"My thanks, and the thanks of those who'll be using them," the elf says, paying Derrik the 6,000 gold before moving off to distribute the potions.
((3 potions to each Laeralas, Thavon, Hal and Sophie. Enjoy))
Once he'd given the potions to the casters of the group who needed them, Laeral gives Enrick back his bag of holding before moving back over to Alexander.
"I sold the items Enrick had and bought some mana potions for our casters," he says. "I figured you should be the one to hold onto the remaining money. And he hands over the remaining 4,500 gold to the Hero.

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:30 am
"Sophie, dear!" Hal calls, plodding towards her. "There you are! I thought I'd lost you there for a moment. Are you alright?" The priestess pauses for a moment, then shakes her head with a slight smile, "No, I'm fine…" She glances at the entrance to the forbidding fortress, "How are you?"
"Truthfully, I forgot myself for a little while out there," Hal confesses. "The scale of it, it's easy to lose sight of what the Light put you there for."
The priestess nods understandingly, "I know the feeling..." She smiles wrly, "...but...the guidance of the Light is perfect even if we are not..." She pauses for a moment uncertainly, then adds, "Did you always get on with your brother like you do now? Was he alright with you joining the priesthood?" Then she adds hurriedly, "If you don't mind me asking..."
Hal chuckles, but he looks at Sophie curiously. "No, I don't mind. We had our spats as boys, as brothers will, but we've always been quite close, yes. I think he missed me terribly when I left, but he understood that I had been called. Now, if you don't mind me asking, that's a rather odd question to ask out of the blue. What's on your mind?"
Sophie chuckles sheepishly, "I… Ah, just thinking about my family…" She smiles softly, "Now really isn't the best time to dwell on it." A worried expression crosses her face, "Not with the task before us…"
Hal looks at her kindly. "If you're sure you won't dwell on it, then I'll say no more for now."
Sophie is quiet for a long moment (15 minutes) then sighs wearily, "I... I don't know where to begin...and it just doesn't seem like the time..." She exhales heavily, "It's too much...too much for me..." The priestess shakes her head and looks at the monk (not kung fu monk though), "What about our charges? Johann and his group are working together brillantly but most of the others are just charging in blindly." She frowns, adding apologetically, "I'm not doubting your brother...he's a great leader...just..."
"...Just that it doesn't matter how great a leader is when his orders are ignored," Hal finishes. "I understand your concern, and I share it. But we have braved every challenge, despite seeming scattered. If we can bring order to ourselves then there's no limit to what we can achieve together. This lot," he says, pointing out some of the Rangers, "seems even more diverse than us, and yet they can act as one. Rather distinctive-looking lot, too," he says,
"Have you spoken to any of them yet?"
"Eh..." The priestess frowns at this, quickly glancing away, "I have..." She pauses then adds quietly, "Two of them... An interesting...fellow from Destonia, apparently he was born with fiendish powers but managed to...convert them to celestial somehow with the help of a priestess of Elbesem..."
Hal grins. "Remarkable. I'll have to speak to him before we separate. Who was the other?"
"Eh..." The priestess' frown deepens, "My brother..."
After a moment the friar's expression softens, and he lowers his head slightly in understanding and sympathy. "And, perhaps you and he don't get along as well as you'd like? Perhaps he doesn't approve of your calling?"
"You could say..." The priestess replies darkly, "Though, I don't know that he approves of anything in this world."
"Surely he's not a bad man," Hal says quietly. "Surely he cares about you, and about doing good. Why else would he be here?"
"I wonder..." The priestess sighs wearily, "I wonder how anyone can contiune on for so long without anything to believe in." Then she chuckles, her eyes drifting to the sky, "Though he has always refused to admit it, I believe that it is the blessing of the Light that preserves him, until the day that he is healed."
"The Light preserves us all, even those who won't admit it. We must pray for guidance, and for their salvation. In the meantime, I wonder if I might have a word with him. Can you point him out to me?"
"That might not be the best idea..." The priestess frowns, glancing around worriedly, "He is rather...abrasive..." Her eyes narrow, "No...he's blasphemous and vulgar..."
Hal is silent in thought for a moment. "Angry people often are," he says.
The priestess looks to the ground, replying quietly, "...Alexander isn't."
"Alexander has mastered his anger. He does not allow his hurt to hurt other people. It is difficult, and without the Light I doubt he could have done it. But he has, and he is stronger for it."
Sophie shakes her head sadly, "I wish I knew how to show him that..."
"He'll come around," Hal says, smiling. "I'm sure of it."
"Forgive my doubt..." Sophie replies with a sad smile.
"Don't worry about it. Now, is that him in the giant clanking blue armor?" Hal says, eyes twinkling.
The priestess laughs mirthfully and shakes her head, "No... Hardly..." Her eyes trace over the battlefield, then settle on a lone figure reclining on the remains of a golem and staring up into the heavens, "That's him over there..."
"Thank you, Sophie. Now don't forget to drink those potions Laeralas gave you. I daresay we haven't seen the worst of it yet." And Hal sets off towards her brother.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:33 am
"Hey Maria!" Sheila says, running up. "I heard you were curious about what happened." The psionic operative chuckles and turns to face Sheila, "You heard correctly..." She grins, "So, what happened? Get into any fights? Like I need ask..." "Of course!" Sheila nods happily. Then she grimaces. "But... I had to run away from one. I hate it when that happens... Anyway, I met some neat people, but you saw 'em already," Sheila says. "I actually got shot down over Grans Island, but Viki managed to teleport us all the way over here!"
"Running?" Maria shakes her head with a frown, then scowls slightly, "Ah yes...the magician..." She shakes her head, "I wonder how her chaotic blasts of power compare to my precision and control." The psionic operative holds a stern pose for a moment, then breaks down laughing, "Well, at least it takes some of the strain off me..."
"Oooooh, you two should totally be rivals! Like me an' Melissa are!" Sheila says enthuisastically.
"Melissa?" The psionic operative frowns, "You mean that girl whose pretending to be a robot?" She shakes her head, "You could find a better rival...in me." She grins, pointing to the sky, "I wasn't keeping count but mine is up there."
"What? No way yours is that high!" Sheila says. "Besides, that's not how rivals work, you need to like, have a common thread. You an' Viki both use teleportation a lot. Me an' Melissa are both s'posed to be superhumans. See? But if you want to try and keep up with my kill count... That can be a competition instead of rivalry..." Sheila says with a grin.
"Superhumans?" Maria frowns then chuckles, "Well, you do have to acknowledge that I have a slight advantage in being a manifestor..." She shakes her head, "Wouldn't make for a fair contest, not when I can blast half a battlefield at a time." Then she shakes her head, "Of course, then there was that wyrmling...but anyway, how were you shoot down? Weren't you in stealth mode?"
"We were..." Sheila says, wincing. "They... Found out. Somehow..."
"What?" The psionic operative looks at the agent intently, "Even at the height of its technology, the people of this planet shouldn't have been able to counter ours..."
"I know..." Sheila says. "The only thing I can think of is they whipped out some of that high level magic stuff. Maybe like the Eye of Zeus or somethin' like that."
The psionic operative shakes her head with a dark scowl, "This doesn't bode well at all..." Then she looks at the agent intently, "What did you find out about our enemy? Who are they? You've been on the ground for a bit, what's the situation?"
"Well, I spent most of my time running and gunning... Unfortunately what little I found out you've prolly seen by now. Demons allied with cultists and the like. Those undead are news to me, though..." Sheila says with a grimace.
"Oh! Some news! The Devil Army's formally allied with the Cult. It's not just random demons or anything," Sheila says with a nod.
"Nothing about the cultists and whose behind all this?" Maria queries, "Seems a bit bigger than the standard Dark Sol dance."
"I found out some jerks called the 'Lords of Strife' head the Cult. Three of 'em and they're supposedly gods... I bet they're just some ambitious devils, though," Sheila says.
"Lords of Strife... Sounds more like a title Demons would choose to me." Maria replies thoughtfully.
"Demons, devils, same things," Sheila says with a shrug. "Anyway, I spent most of my time trying to figure a way to get back to the LZ point and running from the half dozen Cornugons they sent after us."
"Tsk..." The psionic operative shrugs with a wry grin, "Guess everyone has a mission like that now and again."
"Yup," Sheila nods. "So I hear I missed out on quite a landing..."
"Indeed, crashing towards the earth protected only by a thin metal shell while the pilot uses our gender as an issult is always a fascinating experience." Maria replies with a grin.
"He did what now? Which pilot? Should I eviscerate, emusculate, or just pummel-ate him depending on the strength of the insult?"
"No worries..." Maria waves dismissively, then grins, "I'll take care of it later."
"'Kay," Sheila says with a nod.
Maria chuckles then cracks her fingers, "So, ready for some pay back?"
"Oooooh, on the pilot?" Sheila asks, grinning.
"No...no..." Maria shakes her head, "On the bastards you blasted you out of the sky."
"Well that certainly works too," Sheila says with a grin.
"Well, there seems to be some serious AA here, seems like a good place to start." The psionic operative nods, "At least, judging from our trip in..."
"Hey, at least you made it down in one piece!" Sheila says. "But yeah, this'll be a good start."
Maria grins, "So, we're just waiting on Jim to get to it..."
"Yep!" Sheila says. "Hopefully it won't be too much longer."
"I'm surprised he doesn't have you running reconn."
"The Black Ops spooks beat us to the punch an' sent their own scouts in," Sheila says. "I still might act as a forward scout when we get past whereever they managed to go, though."
"Ah yes, the ever mysterious black ops." Maria ponders, "I wonder...can you use your family connections to get us some more info on the situation?"
"I'll try if we don't get some answers soon," Sheila says. "Jim says that they promised full disclosure after we take the place."
Maria nods, "Well... I look forward to it then..." She grins, "I think I'm going to go on a fox hunt but, thanks for filling me in, looking forward to giving you a hand in bashing in some faces."
"Good to hear it!" Sheila says, spinning her pistols around. "Seeya then!"
Maria nods, "Sure will."

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:42 am
Sha'aasta sat perched on Holzgeist's belly, listening to Johann speaking beside her and occasionally kicking the wolf beneath her, who took no notice of the abuse. The two gnomes were deep in conversation, but fell silent and looked up as the newcomer approached.
The young priestess steps towards the assemblage lightly, a smile forming on her face as she approaches them, "Ah, hello friends... Resting after the last few battles?"
"Shhh..." Sha'aasta says mischievously. "You won't tattle on us, will you? Our reputations would never recover!"
"Nah." Johann says. "They wouldn't believe her. Everyone knows gnomes are consummate warriors. Rest is for the weak, yar yar yar, kill the evil ones." Turning back to smile at the priestess, he asks curiously, "How about yourself? You haven't exactly had an easy day of it."
"My lips are sealed..." The priestess replies with a grin, then tilts her head, "Yeah, you're all just a bunch of knee biters, aren't you?" She laughs lightly and shakes her head, "No, charging into an army of fiends isn't my idea of a good time but..." She shrugs, "Somehow, I'm finding that dealing with fiends is simpler than dealing with normal mortal folk." She taps her head, "Less confusing..." Then she frowns, looking around, "Well, fiends...and robots...and undead...and whatever those flying things were..."
Sha'aasta shrugs. "You can kill the fiends. Johann always yells at me when I suggest he knocks off a few of the more troublesome knee biters."
"It'll be interesting to see what happens." Johann muses, ignoring his friend. "I think the newcomers are either going to end up some of the toughest, most unshakable allies you could ask for, or they're going to annihilate each other."
"Well..." Sophie pauses for a moment, then chuckles and nods, "I guess I can see that..." Then she frowns, "...but then again...we haven't had the best team work either... I really wonder what some of our swordsmen are thinking, charging in like that..."
Johann frowns. "They were probably trying to keep the enemies away from us. Having seen what those giants did to the fighters, I don't really relish the idea of meeting one up close."
"Actually, I've been pretty surprised by the teamwork so far." the gnome continues. "When a fighter is hurt and falls back, the others support him. We haven't had monsters in our back ranks, and we haven't lost many of our own yet."
"Having see what you do to centaurs, I can imagine they feel the same way..." Sophie replies with a troubled frown, shaking her head as if to clear the memory, "Still though, I wish there was more organization... Maybe I just need to find a way to be faster, I can't seem to reach those in the most dire need."
"Are you worried about getting to them in time? Or about being able to heal fast enough to keep up with the wounds?" Sha'aasta asks curiously.
"A bit of both..." Sophie replies with a tired sigh, crossing her arms, "With people running off in all directions, these short le..." She pauses, looking down at the gnomes, then laughs sheepishly, "Well, these legs of mine just can't quite keep up..." Her frown returns, "...and even if they could, everyone is dashing in different directions..." She shakes her head, "I complain too much, maybe all this is getting to me." She looks at the gnomes curiously, "I don't know much about the group of you, how did you meet up before finding Alexander?" A hint of sorrow crosses her face, "Had the machinations of the Strife Lords reached your home as well?"
Johann shakes his head. "Not yet. That's why we're here. If there's a last stand that's going to hold them, I think it's happening now. And frankly, I'd rather face them with a bunch of you around me, before anyone back home has suffered, instead of risking the chance that you'd fail, and we'd have to face them alone."
"You know," Sha'aasta says, thinking, "I bet you could sweet-talk Johann into letting you ride Holzgeist. Johann's pretty fast on his own, and really only rides him because he's lazier than is good for him."
Holzgeist raises his head upon hearing his name, but sighs as Sha'aasta starts scratching his belly and lies back against the rocky ground once more.
The priestess looks nervously at the wolf, "I'm...not that good of a rider...even on a horse..." Then she regards Johann with respect, "If more people in the world were like you, things never would have gotten this serious." She smiles appreciatingly, "Thank you...for everything..."
Johann shrugs, downplaying the compliment, but Sha'aasta presses her point. "You wanted the team to work better together? It doesn't happen from the top down. It's always bottom up, or that's what he always tells me," she adds with a thumb at her short companion. "You have a problem, we help you out. We have one, you do the same. Anyways, the offer is there anytime you need it, even in the middle of a scrap. As for the other thing you mentioned," she adds, fishing around in her belt.
"Ah. Got it. Catch!" she crows triumphantly, tossing a slender object towards the priestess. Johann catches sight of the wand and squawks. "How'd you... where'd you... but I had that!"
Sha'aasta just smiles and goes back to scratching the wolf's belly.
The priestess catches the object nimbly and looks at it with a curious frown. Her eyes widen as she realizes it is a magical wand…and a quite powerful one.
Sophie glances up with a frown, "...this is an expensive item..." She looks at the gnomes for a moment, then nods, "Right... I have a problem, you help me out. You have one, I do the same." She smiles appreciatively and taps the wand to her head, "Thank you, if you ever need anything, let me know."
Johann, still shaking his head, mutters something to himself about wondering if Sophie, or the gods themselves, could ever help him understand women.
"You'd better not be getting lessons on women from Sophie." Sha'aasta growls, with a covert grin at the priestess. "What was that I was saying about keeping an eye on you?"
"Why not? I'll give him one now..." Sophie replies with a grin, "A man once asked an oracle why women were so complicated...." She winks at Sha'aasta, "The oracle replied that women aren't, they only seem complicated because men are so simple."
Sha'aasta started giggling, while Johann just sighed with exasperation. Turning to the wolf, he said something in a language of yips and whines, and Holzgeist looked up at him for a moment with a glint in his eye, before laying back down for more belly-scratchings. "Traitor," the diviner muttered. "I'm surrounded by women, wolf, fighting a losing battle, and you won't even back me up."
"Gee. Surrounded by women," Sha'aasta said wryly, "what a nightmare. Care to dig yourself any deeper?"
"We could call Merla over." Sophie offers helpfully with a mischievous smile.
"Oh gods," both gnomes said as one.

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:36 am
Varro stomps towards Dagron, making no effort to be silent. "You are not a threat," he says flatly. *Dagron, engaged with the other conversations going on, particularly the leaders, turns toward the large robot with a snort. He sees the one he had noticed as he flew over the battlefield earlier, barely avoiding with his flames with a minor adjustment to his flight path. Dagron flies up slightly, adjusting his altitude to be more comfortable.*
"Now that depends on who's asking. I guess you're not, so I'm Dagron. Who are you?"
Varro inclines his head slightly to match Dagron's new height. "Varro," he states. "The strafing effect you used is not a standard ability for dragons of your size and age."
*Dagron tilts his head slightly.*
"It's just something I learned. We don't see giant robots ev-... ok, we do recently, but you know what I mean."
"Your world is technologically primitive, except for ruins such as these of an older and superior culture," Varro says. "It is unfortunate that the forces of evil acquired them."
*Dagron listens to Varro speak, but takes of in a curious way, circling around the robot twice before flying back up to where he was.*
"Dragons have a long memory of the Ancients and their culture. I'm young, but I know quite a lot about them. It is misfortunate, but you are not like what they made. What are you, and where are you from?"
*Dagron tilts his head again, intently curious. His wings flutter a bit faster.*
Varro's head rotates freely, following Dagron in his flight. "Darkness is on every world, and in the spaces between them. But so too is the Light. I am a weapon in its service."
*Dagron's jaw opens slightly*
"The Light? Have you heard of Volcanon and Mitula, too?"
"Your world's gods are unknown to me," Varro says, "But if their ends are the same as those of the Light then I must learn of them."
"You could say, uh... differing opinions on how to get there. There was this time Alex wanted us to attack a certain way, but Johann didn't agree and did his own thing. Alex was mad, but honestly, I think it worked better. It's like that."
*Dagron nods his head excitedly with a grin.*
"Alex...Alex...Alex." Varro murmurs to himself. "Alex is your leader? Is he a paladin?"
"Oh, I thought you met Alexander. Yes, he gathered us together, and he's like a paladin."
"I was scanning the rock face. It is possible I missed him." Varro scans the assembled forces. "Point him out."
*Dagron turns toward Alexander and gestures with a wing.*
"That's him. He had been talking with your leader, Jim, until Derrik arrived."
"Jolly Jim is also a paladin," Varro says, no longer looking at Dagron. "Thank you, Dagron. I would like to speak to Alex before the advance order is given." There is a faint hiss and the robot starts to walk away.
"Uhh, sure. Bye."
*Dagron watches Varro fly off, one person on his mind now.*

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:42 am
A short walk later (though it takes the portly friar a bit longer) Hal is within earshot of the thinking doctor. "Quite a morbid tableau, isn't it?" Far less striking than his sister, the young man appears fairly average as he glances up with a hint of a frown, "Isn't it now?" Notably, his clothing is a bit battered and he wears armor though he carries no weapon nor shield.
"Indeed," Hal says, closing the rest of the distance. "The lone figure, perched on the remains of a foe, face lifted to the heavens...it'd make a beautiful stained-glass window." He stretches out his hand. "Harold Bernhart. Call me Hal."
The young man arches an eyebrow, crossing his hands behind his head and ignoring the offered hand, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, stone heap to stone heap... It would make a fine embellishment in any house of worship."
Hal withdraws his hand, still smiling. "Depends, doesn't it? Why is he alone? How did the golem meet its end? Why does he stare into the sky? It's the context that makes the scene important, I'd think."
"Well, of course, if its in a temple..." The young man replies, "He's alone because the gods empowered him to slaughter the wicked, golems in this case, and he stares into the sky in prayer and thanksgiving." He smirks, "For, the ever merciful gods have made his enemies his footstool."
"I'm not sure that's the only story you could get out of that picture," Hal says. "Suppose he's a pacifist-saint, a man who suffers at the very thought of battle but has to immerse himself in it, because he can't bear the thought of doing nothing. And then at the battle's end he isolates himself from the carnage, seeking solace and elevation in the ruins of the fallen." He shrugs. "But who knows? It's just a picture, after all, until you know the story behind it."
"I had forgotten all those tales of peaceful saints, bringing enlightenment and blessing upon the masses." The young man looks at the priest pointedly, "Yes, I suppose it could be a pained warrior who hates killing yet bathes himself in blood in the name of the greater good."
"Quite an odd group you're with," Hal says. "But then, something about this seems to attract odd groups, doesn't it?"
"They are a strange lot..." He admits sitting up with a shrug, "Secretive...destructive...and devoted to opposing evil... Doesn't sound that different from most people I know." He sighs wearily, "I stumbled across them awhile back and decided to tag along, what's your story? Gnomes of interest to you?"
Hal points back at a dark-haired man in gleaming armor, talking to the towering blue robot. "My brother got us together, after the Cult hurt him. I'm here as the healer, and his advisor. Not long after that a young priestess joined us, and the Light's asked me to guide her for a while. Besides all that, I'm the only one who seems to know how to cook." He chuckles.
"Really now?" The young man pulls a pair of glasses from a pocket and slides them on with a frown, looking at the fat priest appraisingly, "Healer, advisor, and cook?" He chuckles lightly, getting to his feet and brushing off particles of golem flesh, "Delightful... You sound like a regular patchwork saint yoursel..." He frowns then, his eyes narrowing, "...are you wearing perfume?"
Hal looks confused. "No... Why do you ask?"
"You... You smell like..." Then he shakes his head, raising a hand, "Nevermind, so, instead of supporting your flock with sacred healing, otherworldly wisdom, and divine cuisine you decided to come chat with me?" He smirks, "I feel so honored."
"Well, I'm honored that you're honored, thank you. I don't believe I caught your name..."
"Coventry." The young man replies coolly, "Doctor Coventry." He bows mockingly, "Healer, chef, and soul crusher." He smirks, meeting the eyes of the fat friar, "According to some clerics of Mitula, you can add destroyer of worlds to that list."
"Really?" Hal says. "Crusher of souls, destroyer of worlds. Titles like that you'd expect to find on the other side. How'd you manage that?"
"Hardly seems important..." The Doctor replies, "So, your brother is the great hero?" He tilts his head, "I've been told that he is an inspiration to countless lesser men...and your his humble advisor." He chuckles, "You provide him spiritual guidance then?"
"I'm not sure I understand you," Hal says. "I've been following him around for quite a while and I haven't seen many lesser men, much less countless. Have you met someone that I haven't?"
The Doctor shakes his head wearily, "Forget it..." He looks at the cleric irrately, "I've not had the greatest last few days...why don't you get to the point. What did Sophie ask you to come here and teach me?"
"Not a thing," Hal says brightly. "The point is that it's nice to have friends, and I'd like to be yours."
(OoC: hahaha)
The Doctor looks at the priest flatly for a long moment, then shakes his head appreciatively, "Damn, what a performance…" He claps , "You got the friendly neighborhood priest routine down to a 'T'." Then he chuckles darkly, "Unfortunately, I've seen this play before and I already know how it ends." He shrugs, "So sad, too bad… 'Friend', I'm not interested..."
"You sure?" Hal says, still smiling. "I make delightful sticky buns."
(OoC: AHHHHHHHHHH!H!H!HH!!!!!!!!!!!! GET THESE ALDUR-ish THOUGHTS OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!)
"Um...no…" The Doctor stares at the priest blankly for a moment, then he shakes his head, "No... I'm…not interested…in your sticky buns…"
The corner of Hal's mouth twitches. "Suit yourself," he says. "It was nice meeting you, Doctor. I'll see you around."
"Yes..." The Doctor replies with a scowl, "I have this feeling that you'll be popping up a lot from now on."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:47 am
Jim sighed as he closed down his last commlink channel and walked towards where the others were gathering. The sound of stamping feet soon caught his attention though, and he turned to see Sgt. Hale and the second squad jogging to meet him. : "Sir! All dropships are away, and the Black Op boys seem to be able to handle mop up. Orders?" Sgt. Hale asked, saluting.
: "Fall in with the others, I've got a briefing for you. After that, you're to join whatever other forces are assigned to guard the gates and secure our exit path. You'll also act as our reserves in case we need more men for our operation," Jim says, returning the salute. "I'll probably want you moving in and holding the areas we clear as we move in, so be ready to move when I give the order."
: "Sir, yes sir!" Sgt. Hale barks, turning to lead the rest of his men towards the others, whatever words else he said to those troops lost to Jim as the unmistakeable sound of dropship engines overtook all other sound. Jim turned to see the metal ship swooping down nearby.
The dropship kicked up quite a lot of dust as it landed, the roar of the engines temporarily suspending all conversation as the loading hatch opened and a pair of medic stepped out, hastily loading the unconscious Liam on the vessel and continuing the work that Jessica had begun. As the hatch closed, the Basilisk dropship tilted upwards and shot towards the sky like a metal comet.
: "Rangers, form up!" Jim ordered over the commlink as the ship's roar faded into the distance. As the various soldiers, healers, spell-throwers and psions gathered before him, he began to speak.
Ranger's theme: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/638/23
: "I've got new information regarding our current mission. After talking with the surviving Black Ops, I've managed to piece together the general idea of what's happened," Jim says, drawing a deep breath. "The G.S.N. Shadowblade, which..."
: "The 'Blade?! That's the same damn ship that showed up..." Sheila bursts, disbelief on her face.
: "I am aware of that, Agent Durance... as a good deal of us are," Jim says, quietly, but intently. Sheila winces and sits back down, mumbling an apology. "Anyway, the Shadowblade arrived here after receiving some sort of powerful signal... Possibly the same one we received. They were, how shall we say, evasive on what the signal was, but I managed to find this out. The signal is apparently a warning. A warning that some artifact of immense power that was sealed has been stolen from its resting place."
: "What artifact, sir?" Hale asks.
: "That they wouldn't tell me... But from the way they talked about it, it's powerful. Very powerful," Jim states.
: "So the Chaos Breaker got nabbed? Or one of the Jewels of sealing?" Sheila asks.
: "That's possible... It's possible that unlike previous encounters, here they set up some sort of signal ward... But it's also unlikely. And to instill such fear... No. It's got to be something like the Holy Ark. That's the only artifact I can think of that might have such a signal. Barring that, it's got to be something new..." Jim shakes his head. "Anyway, once they arrived, the 'Blade found the world in turmoil. Those cultists... They call themselves the Chaos Cult, have conquered Western Rune and are even now struggling to conquer more. The Castle of the Ancients has risen and expelled a legion of undead Ancients that does the Cult's bidding. The Devil Army and Demon Horde have sent support as well. To make matters worse, the Destonian Empire has taken advantage of the chaos to assault their neighbors in a grab for land and wealth. We're facing a total war scenario, people."
: "So much for an easy in, easy out... That damn ship is like an omen... A harbringer of doom..." Sheila says with a shudder. Determination flares in her eyes. "But it doesn't matter! We'll stomp 'em all flat! Jim, what's the plan?"
: "For now, we take this base. Then we'll find out more from the locals. Our numbers are small... But with our strength perhaps we can strike at the heads of this Cult and help end the conflict that way..."
: "What about the Black Ops? They seem to have amassed quite a force..." Sgt. Hale asks.
: "The Black Ops team only has one battalion left out of eight. They're holing up in the ruins and regrouping once we've taken it. When they've rallied then maybe they could help... But no, most of their strength is smashed. The Imperius is withdrawing from this space, it's too badly damaged. It's falling back to the nearest friendly system. The Logos is unsalvageable, but most of its crew managed to escape. The Shadowblade itself crashed into the Hassan Desert and self-destructed in an attempt to destroy boarders."
: "Insane! What could cause these sorts of casualties to us?!" Hale asks, baffled.
: "Don't underestimate the foe. Don't think we know everything. I seem to recall another battle where these lessons were ignored, and I recall all too well the price paid..." Jim says, quietly.
: "Jim..." Sheila says, sadly.
: "I have no intention of making the same mistake twice. Any questions?"

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:56 am
Maria frowns thoughtfully, leaning over to her fellow psion Jessica and whispering quietly, "Before my transfer in, what happened with this GSN Shadowblade?"

Posted by: Dark Maiden Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:33 am
The very moment that Jim mentions the Shadowblade, Jessica's smile vanishes in an instant. She closes her eyes, memories of that war flitting through her mind. Jessica remains silent for a few minutes, before she finally says something. "I would...rather not speak of it..."

Posted by: FreedomJu Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:34 pm
Melissa has a flood of questions she wished to ask her commanding officer after his briefing, many dealing with things that were of no immediate use but might be handy to know later, but knowing time was short she decided to instead just ask the most pressing question on her mind. As always, she speaks over the communication channels instead of activating her helmet's external speakers. [Sir, what is this 'Holy Ark'?]
"The Holy Ark is a mysterious artifact that gathers and contains evil... It's extremely powerful and unfortunately that's all we know about it," Jim replies. "It's supposed to be in a constantly moving airship of Ancient design."
[Is there anyway to track this airship, sir?]
Jim frowns. "I would hope our sensors would be up to the task... But I'm not sure. Considering the nature of what it holds, it probably has potent shielding against conventional probes."
[Understood, sir.] With her query answered, Melissa quickly does another check of her equipment as she expects the order to move out to come soon.

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:33 pm
Viki paraded around casually, searching for Jim. Then again, casual was perhaps not the best adjective...the girl wandered loosely in a daze, bringing the tips of her fingers to her cheeks every so often as she clutched her staff close to her. Eventually she'd stumble across him, no doubt, and when doing so she spoke simply.
"Um...where's...our headquarters...? Usually I have to wait there. Usually." The Blinking Mage stared expectantly as if the Commander knew exactly what she was talking about.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:52 pm
: "Well, this area here is acting as our field HQ for now," Jim says, looking around the small smattering of crates and supplies landed by the dropships. "Which reminds me, Viki I'd like to thank you for your help so far. Are you going to be tagging along with us further or is this where we part?"

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:58 pm
"Hello there!" a cheery voice calls to Michael, who turns to see a portly man in billowing brown robes trudging toward him. Michael blinked, and waved at the man closing in on him, mentally preparing a few polite excuses as to why he wasn't interested. "Hello to you."
Hal's smile widens, despite Michael's apparent disinterest. "So good to meet you. I'm Brother Hal. Sophie told me quite a bit about you."
Michael sighed. "Oh dear...Well Brother Hal, I don't know what she told you but I'm sorry to say I'm not in that line of work anymore. It's just not my thing." He held up a hand, indicating no interruptions. "Now I'm sorry, but no amount of money can change my mind."
The friar's smile fades a bit. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
Michael stopped, and put his hands on his hips, mouth moving as he considered things. "What did...she say?"
"She said that she met a man born with fiendish powers who had tamed them and turned them into something holy. Am I... did I make a mistake?"
"Oh no! NO! That's me! Nevermind. I merely misunderstood." Michael grinned, extending a hand towards the friar. "I'm Michael. Nice to meetcha. I guess you're one of these genuine priests Sophie has been mentioning?"
Hal accepts Michael's hand. "Genuine? My boy, you make it sound like I walked out of a storybook!"
"I invite you to visit the Cathedrals of the empire." Michael remarked dryly as he shook the Portly Priest's hand.
"So, what brought you all the way out here? You seem to have joined up with the only crew motlier than ours. How'd you all get together?"
"Oh you know. Flying through and shouting Look out at a trio who just appeared suddenly from nothing who didn't notice the demons descending on them. Usual stuff." Michael waved a hand dismissively, a wide smirk on his face.
"I assume it went well, then?" Hal says, with a raised eyebrow.
"Naturally." Michael gestured, his beautiful wings appearing. "I am not unskilled. And we had the psycho gun toting girl, Doctor Morbid and the ditz. So we did ok."
"That sounds like the setup for a joke, doesn't it? 'An angel, a doctor, and a lunatic walk into a bar...'." Hal pauses mid-thought. "Doctor Morbid? You mean Coventry?"
"That's the one. Sister to Sister Sophie." Michael nodded, his wings fading from sight.
"It's funny, isn't it, how a person can be so jaded while their very existence is an example of the power of good..." Hal says quietly, before looking back up at Michael. "So! It's been a long day, hasn't it? Getting tired yet?"
"Nah, I'm used to going for hours." Michael folded his arms, looking up to the sky and then back again. "I believe we're going in sometime soon?" He gestured to the imposing compound.
"I hope so..." Hal says, looking up at the mountain. "I'm not thrilled about the prospect of marching into Mount Doom at half strength, but it's gotten to the point where the waiting's almost worse, hasn't it?"
"Mount Doom huh? Do you have the ring?"
Michael paused. "THEY'RE TAKING THE HOBBITS TO ISENGARD!"
Hal bites off Michael's finger. "THE PRECIOUS! NOOOOO!!!"
geddis the hero: Ah me
"Well, I don't really know. I'm not from these parts. No idea what's been going on. Up my way it's the same as ever." Michael snorted. "Emperor Dominator as I like to call him is attempting his usual game. Take as much as you can as often as you can."
"Well with a name like that, what would you expect him to do?" Hal replies. "Does he have an heir named Hugs-and-pastries?"
Michael sniggered, shaking his head. "Nah. His heir's name is Mageron."
Hal nods absently, before perking up again. "Well! It certainly was a pleasure meeting you, Michael, and you've got a standing invitation to come have dinner with us -- our cook is quite excellent. And make sure to pass that invitation along to Doctor Morbid, won't you?" Hal chuckles. "I better go get ready. Good luck."
Michael nods. "You as well. And I shall. Food is often a tempting thing. And I hope he'll lighten up, or at least something."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:17 am

QUOTE (TheUnknownMarine @ Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:52 pm)
: "Well, this area here is acting as our field HQ for now," Jim says, looking around the small smattering of crates and supplies landed by the dropships. "Which reminds me, Viki I'd like to thank you for your help so far. Are you going to be tagging along with us further or is this where we part?"

"I didn't know you could make headquarters out of a field. Neat! But, I don't really want to play tag," she commented, furrowing her brow. "Are you in charge of the army this time then? I think you're supposed to protect me, so I guess I'll stay close by you, huh?"
She hopped once, clasping her hands together with joy. "I guess if you'll do that, I'll play along with your game of tag, but I don't wanna be 'it' okay? Everyone picks on me."

Posted by: Alpha Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:42 am
[3 mana potions. 3d6 + 3 = 20 - woot AIM was kind Spells regained: Golem strike, shield, mirror image, daggerspell stance, heroism, haste, bolt 1, draconic might] Having consumed his mana potions and feeling extremely refreshed for doing so, Laeralas walks around the edge of the battlefield, searching for somebody to talk to. Spotting Dagron, he walks over.
: “How do there, Dagron,” the elf says as he gets closer. “And how are you doing in the battle aftermath?” he asks.
*Dagron lets out a growl while scanning the area when he is suddenly interrupted. He turns to see Laeral, with whom in a short time had become much more acquainted.*
: "It could be better, as in we could be rushing in to take this base by storm and flame. We are resting and recovering... how much longer?" *Dagron pauses a moment, then grins.* "... and will I be flying you around again?"
: “Well, I do not know exactly how much longer, but I need no more time,” the elf replies. “I’ve been healed up, and much of my magic has been restored via a couple of Derrik’s potions. So I’m ready to go,” he says. A grin then takes his face too.
: “And if the opportunity arises, then I’d say yes! It was most enjoyable, despite being in the middle of a windstorm and battle! Impressive improvisation, I must say.”
: "You always hit hardest when they don't see it coming, haha!" *Dagron sighs quickly, however.* "I detest this waiting. The rangers have interesting stories to tell, for sure. That... Varro.... robot... quite high on that scale. However, there are more pressing issues inside this fortress."
At the wyrmling’s words, a thoughtful frowns replaces Laeral’s grin.
: “Whilst the waiting may be annoying, it’s necessary I think, especially in this situation. I mean, these people appeared out of nowhere. We have no idea where they came from or who they really are. Establishing a measure of understanding is needed,” the elf says.
: “However, hopefully that won’t take too much longer. And hopefully, we’ll be joining Forces when the assault on the interior of the base begins. They certainly appear to have strength of arms where we are lacking. Even though I don’t really comprehend their equipment.”
: “That’s more your area, isn’t it?” Laeral adds, smiling.
*Dagron huffs.*
: "I am perfectly fine finding out more about them in the heat of battle from what we know about them now." *Dagron pauses, looking pensive.*
: "I know a bit of the Ancients, and while I may be able to identify what they use or what we find, I do not know how to use it, not that I would want to. They appear to be from another world, so it's possible they may have items that have never existed here, and that I find interesting."
: “Ah, I see,” Laeral responds, his tone still thoughtful. “It’s truly something difficult to grasp. Or, at least I think so. I mean, I’ve studied the planes, so other places of existence are known to me, but this?” and he waves his hand in the direction of a few or the rangers. “Another world on this same plane? Many perhaps? Up there amongst the stars? It’s…it’s amazing,” he says. “And yet worrying and overwhelming at the same time.”
*Dagron nods*
: "I was surprised to find they know of and even worship the Light. While they do not know of Volcanon or Mitula, or possibly even the Greater Devils, it seems strange that beings who created our world may have also created others."
: “Hmm, that certainly is interesting, and food for thought,” the elf says. “I think it’d be fascinating to speak to several of them more closely about it,” he continues, before a frown appears on his face. “However, this isn’t really the time for that, as you’ve said. Perhaps one of us should go to Alexander and…hurry things up maybe? Once we’re done inside the base, we’d have the time to pursue our interests.”
: “And now I’m getting tired of waiting too,” he adds wryly.
: "And with that, I would agree. Shall we light a fire under him?" *Dagron grins ear to ear, eyeing up their leader.*
: “Yes, let’s,” the elf says, the smile retaking place. And he begins to move back towards the Hero with the dragon.

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:29 am
[2 Mana Potions. 2d6 + 2 = 10 Spells Regained: Magic Missile, Haste, Bolt 2 And... 2 Quintessence Potions. +20 PP If anyone else still needs healing, please tell me A.S.A.P. ]

Posted by: Kaihaku Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:35 am

QUOTE (Dark Maiden @ Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:33 am)
The very moment that Jim mentions the Shadowblade, Jessica's smile vanishes in an instant. She closes her eyes, memories of that war flitting through her mind. Jessica remains silent for a few minutes, before she finally says something. "I would...rather not speak of it..."

Maria arches an eyebrow, but nods and says nothing more. So much for anyone helping me to understand what's going on here.
((I thought you said she was talkative? ))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 29, 2007 3:15 am
[With the exception of things that upset her, she is talkative. This happens to be one of those things that upsets her. ]

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:42 am
: "Wait, what? What do you mean 'supposed to protect?" Jim asks, puzzled. Jim gathers the Rangers for the assault, additionally including Alexander's band of warriors for this swift briefing, for they too might have use for the information he was about to reveal.
: "Allright Rangers, allies. Here's what we know. The interior of the base is well protected, but not quite as well protected as it might be. There are traps in a few places and the same types of enemies we've been facing for the duration of this battle. The Black Ops squad has managed to secure the entrance and the first few rooms on the ground level, but beyond that is anyone's guess. We've lost contact with most of the scouts we've sent in, and others have reported running battles as they try to inch their way deeper into the base to send us more information. We don't have anything too useful yet... But occasionally one of them will manage to send back fragmented maps of their exploration. It's not much, but it's better then nothing. If there are no questions, make any last minute preparations you can... We've moving out in a few minutes."
((The foray into Megiddo will begin tommorrow (Wednesday) night, please make yourselves ready.))

Posted by: FreedomJu Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:12 am
Reviewing what she had just heard Radford mentioned, it seemed to her that they would be splitting up into smaller teams, depending on the eize of the rooms and that it could very well be a long operation. As such, Melissa thought it best to request additional supplies. [Sir, this is Spartan-127 requesting permission to restock ammunation used so far and to secure a medical kit.]
"Permission granted, Melissa," Jim says.
The female super-soldier gives a subtle nod to show her thanks as she moves to gather the mentioned supplies.
((Meliss gains 1 Gauss Assault Rifle Clip, 1 HE grenade, and 1 Medkit))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:52 am
[I went back through the threads, and after Jessica's Gisar, I believe 4 people are still wounded. Alex: Down by 16 HP Eve: Down by 85 HP Pantherath: Down by 16 HP Cobray (Uhh, I think that's Michael?): Down by 16 HP
I did not count Sheila, because of her Fast Healing. Plus TUM never mentioned that she needed healing.
Jessica will drop a Sar on them. +23 HP, and that will bring everyone but Eve up to full. 3 uses of the Meditech Kit on Eve, +66 HP total, brings her up to full.
I also grab some medical supplies. Since TUM said I could grab enough for up to 20 uses, I am back at my full amount of "uses" for the kit.
Someone should really make a table or something with everyone's HP totals. I never want to have to do this again. ]

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:21 pm
((I did that once, but I'm not doing it again, because it was hard as hell to get everyone's max hp. The sig thing works better if people keep it up to date, which is why I date mine))

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:47 pm
[But alot of people don't, that's the problem.]

Posted by: Alpha Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:20 pm
As the group clusters together, the elven daggerspell looks to Dagron. : "Well, it appears the wait is over. Looks like we won't have to 'light a fire' under Alexander now," he says, grinning.

Posted by: Knight_019 Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:30 pm
[color=#CEAA00]: But he looked so cold... *Dagron finishes with a deep chuckle, then flies up a bit and turns toward Megiddo, eagerly waiting to enter.*

Posted by: Dark Maiden Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:14 pm
"It is about time... I was beginning to think that we would never leave," Merla says with a faint chuckle.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:00 am
The full extent of the Drowned Eye presence on Parmecia did not become clear until those opposing them sent raids into the fortified mountain known to the Ancients as 'Megiddo'. The first strikes against the Shadowblade had originated from there, and the GDO expected to find some sort of ruined bastion.
What they found instead was a gateway into the underworld.
Garbled reports from doomed scouts sent in to gather information told horrible tales of Ancient dead risen to life once more, alongside the very forces they had died fighting. Ambush after ambush and trap after trap was sprung as the advance forces fought meter by bloody meter.
Even worse though, were reports from scouts that had managed to infiltrate deeper into the base. Before their demise, reports were sent back of great chambers filled with bodies and necromantic materials, the dead of the base gathered by the Cult forces and ready to slowly wake to join their Lord's global campaign of terror. Sightings of demonic beasts and terrible experiments in the depths of the base only added to the danger.
In the end, seizing the command center was the ultimate objective of any who wished to end the Drowned Eye's threat. Doing so would eliminate the Drowned Eye's commanders, destroy their use of the base's security, and isolate them from each other. Cut off from their commanders and alone, it was hoped that the undead soldiers would be caught in their own trap...
-----
The room behind the Gate of Megiddo is cavernous, massive beyond most things you've seen. Ruined vehicles and robots litter the area and line the walls, some destroyed centuries before in the Apocalypse, others still smoking and fiery from the recent fighting. Dead soldiers, cultists, and undead are scattered around as well, a single platoon of black armored allies present in this first room. They hunker down, weapons trained on any of the passages or entryways leading deeper into the base, their commander nervously listening and looking around.
Two large tunnels made for vehicles lead deeper into the base, as do four doors, two in front and one on either side of the chamber. There is also a lift present. Sheila swiftly dashes up to the lift's control panel and begins examining it. After a few moments, she frowns.
: "Sorry sir, it ain't workin'," Sheila reports.
: "Of course. Nothing is ever that easy..." Jim says with a sigh. "Viletta, be on the lookout for a control console or anything that might have access into the base network. If the network is up, you may be able to hack it. Maria, Viki, will your teleportation work inside the base? There were wards outside, but they were probably to prevent anything from getting in, I think. They might not work in the confines of the base itself."

Posted by: Aldur Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:02 am
Viletta smirked and nodded to Jim. "No maybe about it. No computer can defeat me."

Posted by: Kaihaku Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:44 am
Maria nods, her eyes narrowing in focus, then she nods, "Yes... Teleportation functions but..." She shakes her head, "If the ward functions in such a way, I doubt conjuration effects will work." "Eh?" The Doctor frowns, flicking a finger at a faint red mark on his face and breathing a sigh of relief as it vanishes, "No problem."
[Cure Minor Wounds]

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:42 pm
"Hmmmmm..." Viki paused, placing her finger on her lip as she looked around her absently as if in thought. "Well, I...um...hmm. I...have no idea!" she said, cheeks flushed crimson as she flashed a wide smile. "Maybe! Do you want me to try? I almost never screw up when I'm trying not to. Almost."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:38 am
: "Er, no Viki that's fine," Jim says. "I'm sure if Maria can do it, you can as well," Jim turns to Alex. "We might want to split up at this junction, your team take one path, mine another. Your thoughts?"

Posted by: Rusty Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:26 am
((I'll take some healin'.)) *Alexander frowns, nodding.* : "I don't like the thought of splitting up, especially after we just met up with allies, but it seems we have little choice. We'll split up. However, is there any way we can keep in contact with your group should anything happen?"

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Aug 31, 2007 8:31 am
: "Yes. Here, take this device. Press the button on the side and speak into it to send a message to us," Jim says, handing Alexander a small cylinder. "Good luck and good hunting."

Posted by: DragonmasterDon1 Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:08 am
Hey this is for TUM.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:24 am
: "Rangers, move out!" Jim orders, stepping forward and leading his team through the left-front door. The Rangers pass by a few rooms with obvious signs of battle in them, burn marks from lasers and bullet holes everywhere, as well as the bodies of dead troops and redead skeletons. A scattering of patrolling Black Ops, nervously looking from side to side are all they encounter while they move through a workshop and a parts storage unit before entering a long hall. A single working console is set into the wall, here, the hall going on both ways for a long while. Jim nods to Villeta. "See what you can do with that workstation. We'll cover you."
Jim turns to Maria.
: "Maria, take Sheila, Coventry, and Varro and scout out the northern hall," Jim orders, pointing. "Keep in radio contact, if something starts interfering, pull back."
The northern hall has a grand total of four doors and seems to open up into a larger chamber at the end.

Posted by: Kaihaku Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:55 am
"Field promotion!" Maria chuckles, then nods seriously, "I mean...yes sir." She gestures to the others and starts down the hall, "Varro, take point. Sheila, you can take rear." She shakes her head, "All this power might go to my head, right, let's go."

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:40 am
Sheila suddenly dashes forward and plants herself in front of the others, spreading out her arms to prevent anyone from moving forward. The room at the end of the hall appears to connect to two larger rooms, probably garages from the looks of them by means of a very large passage meant to accomodate vehicles as well as people. A large cargo lift is at the center of the room, while a stairway in the back appears to lead to a windowed observation area. A door in that room is barely visible from your position.
Maria comes to a halt at once, glancing around with a frown, "Details?"
Coventry starts to contiune on, then pauses and glancing around dumply.
"There's four of th' bony ones hiding behind cargo crates up ahead," Sheila says, looking towards the ceiling and drawing her pistols. "But what I'm looking at right now is... that!"
With that, Sheila levels her pistol and fires at a security camera in the room's upper corner. The device explodes into shrapnel. Sheila chuckles. "Hopefully they think my caution was cause of the camera and not me spotting them!"
"Smart move..." Maria remarks staring at the smoldering remains of the camera intently, "...think there are more of them about?"
"There might be, but we can take 'em," Sheila says, grinning. "Come on, blasting undead is always a good way to pass the time while we wait for the others to catch up!"
Her eyes narrow slightly, then she glances back at Sheila with a smile, "I thought there was a giant undead spider or something up there at first... Light, you scared me."
She nods, "Shall we engage?"
Sheila grins. "Let's!"
Maria draws her sidearm with a grin and nods to Varro, "Then...go to it." She takes a step back, clearing the way for Sheila to join Varro.
The Doctor frowns and watches from the side.
Sheila fires off a quartet of shots, blasting apart the skull of a skeleton that was taking cover behind a crate.
((Improved Precise Shot wins the day.))
Maria opens fire, clipping a fragment of create near one of the hiding skeletons.
The Doctor crosses his arms and waits with a frown.
A hail of gunfire greets the GICS agent as she backflips and cartwheels away. "Wheeee! Why the frown, Doc? Dontcha have a sidearm or somethin?"
"I'm a purist..." The Doctor admits, "I stick to what I'm good at...running, quarreling, healing...and leave the dabbling to others." He chuckles, "Usually, once a battle gets going, I'm busy enough anyway..."
((Waiting for Varro's action.))

Posted by: Aldur Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:57 pm
Viletta grins and saunters over to the console, humming to herself as she begins to use it, eyebrows raised at the ancient technology. She giggled to herself, skillful fingers going to work on the console. ((Use Computer: 52. 19+29+4)) Viletta nods as she gets into the mainframe, linking up her own portable terminal to that of Megiddo's. She sits down, sifting quickly through the masses of information. She grins, locating the camera and placements of sentry guns in the facility.
"Let's get rid of these wee buggers then..."
Viletta grins as she shuts down the camera's on the Command Centre floor, humming as she moves up the floors, frowning as she takes a peek around.
"Chief! On floor twelve we have some out of the ordinary things around. Namely mutanty things and...a guy dressed in black with a gas mask...heh. Featuring demons, undead and the usual nasties."
Viletta blinked, looking at her screen again.
"Chief...I have visual confirmation of...living cyborgs. Not undead ones. Shutting down floor twelve defenses. And behind door number eleven we have demons, and undead being the usual nasties...Feck! I think I've been found."
Viletta's fingers seem to become blurs as she speeds up her game, attempting to outdo the Megiddo system. She smirks, breathing a sigh of relief as she evades detection.
"That was close. I think I'm running outta time...onto floor ten. It's a security checkpoint. Robots and those undead. And laser barriers! Nifty! I want one!"
Viletta sets about shutting down the floors defenses, cursing to herself as she's found in the system once more. The skilled hacker grins as she attempts to evade, finding out who her hunter in the system is. Sweat runs from her forehead as system misses her again...barely.
"I don't like this AI. It knows it's job too well. I want to find it and tinker a bit...anyway! Floor nine! Ah...medical area. Looks...deserted, though I suppose Cyborgs, demons and undead monsters don't really need it. Looks like it's been searched recently tho. Oh shit! Shit! Damn thing's got me again!"
Viletta continues cursing quite vehemently as she attempts to shake the Meggido AI from her, however this time it seems as if she's unable to shake it. She slams her fist down on her portacomp and then grins.
"Oh no you don't..."
Viletta smiles as the system's viruses that had begun to attack her line failed, and then sighed as she continued to try to fix the damage, and then gasps as she looks back up at the megiddo monitor she's linked to.
"Chief! Everyone! This isn't good! Look!"
The console at which Viletta was working suddenly displays a picture of a squad of Black Ops running, deep within the base."Fall back! Fall back!" one shouts as a large squad of Drowned Eye and mutants appear chasing them.A brilliant flash of light in front of the troops heralds the arrival of a pair of Cornugons, who look at the trapped troops with glee.
For a moment, the officer in charge looks around grimly. Then the Drowned Eye squad clatters to a halt, a single one of the undead cyborgs firing its weapon at the Black Ops, soon followed by the others as the Cornugon lay into the soldiers with fireballs. The fight soon devolves into a slaughter.
Viletta watches on in horror, her hand balled into a fist as she watches the bloodbath. She curses again, slamming her fist into the ground, shaking her head.
"Lucky creatures... At last they found the peace of death..." a deep voice murmurs from the console. The picture cuts out to show the gas-masked figure from before. "I was like you once. Clinging to life... and... blind... to the truth. But... I was remade deep in the Ancient Castle. The Lords raised me from the depths and granted me control of my army once more... An army to scourge the corruption that is all that remains of our once perfect civilization. The picture of the figure cuts out, though the voice remains. "So come, poor victims of life... We will grant you... peace, in this place."
A different voice then emanates from the console.Well-well-well, well played, hacker. But you can-can-cannot compare to my magnificence," a disjointed female voice says. "I will enjoy-joy watching your demise."
Viletta's eyes narrow and she grins suddenly. "And I'm going to enjoy finding your CPU, and slowly editting it so you can't even function as a trash compactor you piece of shit!"
"Such in-in-insolence... Will not be tolerated," the female voice says, growing deeper for a moment before suddenly getting much higher. "That meat you call a body is easily, easily, easily dismantled. If you value it, you should leave."
"And the hardware you call a body is dependant on other things. At least I can leave this place and function properly outside of this...cold...dead...OBSOLETE facility. I wonder how out of date you are compared to our systems? You poor old hag..."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-hag?!?! You little in-sect! You will be rent apart by our per-per-perfect machines. Die in pain in this place," the voice says before the console shuts itself down.
Viletta grins and laughs as the voice dies away, and puts her stuff away after checking something for a moment.
"Sorry Chief. I've been locked out, so we better be on our toes until we hit level nine...and even then, she's found out we're here. I suggest we move very, very fast."

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:02 am
Without a moment's hesitation Varro charges forward, ignoring caution. He picks up speed before planting his feet together and making an improbable leap over the crates providing cover for the Drowned Eye and landing on his feet behind them. He swiftly turns, brandishing the Varroblade.
: "Cover breached." Before the nearest soldier can react, Varro brings his blade down twice.
((Run 25' forward, make a Jump check to go over the crates and land behind the DE
7 + 20 = 27. Success
3 Attacks, 2 hits. Damages of 32 + 10 holy, 37 + 6 holy. Damage counts as magic, slashing, and good
HP 191/191, AC 30))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:56 pm
: "Good job, Viletta. Let's move on..." Jim pauses as the sounds of combat echo down the hall. "Wait. Gunshots? We'll move up towards Maria's group," Jim mutters as he activates his comm. "Come in, Maria. Status report, we heard gunshots." A cacophony of gunshots erupts from Sheila as Varro cleaves into one of the Drowned Eye. One of the skeletons is rent asunder by the shots, while the last bullet finishes off the barely standing undead near Varro. A single skeleton is left, the dead cyborg firing off a single burst before turning to flee. The burst catches Sheila in the shoulder, causing the agent to yelp and grimace.
: "Luck... Lucky shots won't save you!" Sheila calls back, firing back at the fleeing undead and destroying it.

Posted by: Knight_019 Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:09 pm
*Dagron watches as the other force moves away, and once again, he and the rest of Alex's group were alone once more. Dagron waltzes up to Alex, standing tall, then looks down the other hallway.* : Alex, we need to move now. Someone should scout ahead of us as well, so we know what's coming.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:26 pm
After a few moments in which Sheila secures the area, Jim and the others arrive at Maria's position. : "Maria, why didn't you report enemy contact? I told you to stay in touch," Jim asks with a sigh, looking around. "Well, no matter now. Viletta managed to hack into the systems a bit, but if we can find another terminal, maybe she can do some more, even... Let's try those stairs to the upper floor for now."
Jim leads the Rangers up the stairs to the observation room, a large room with lift controls and monitors for the various systems relating to the lift and cargo-moving equipment. Pausing for a moment to look over the room, Jim motions with his hand. Sheila immediately runs up and opens the door in the back. The door slides open with a pneumatic hiss to reveal a long passage, with three doors on each side.
Viletta spots a security camera hidden in a corner of the ceiling.

Posted by: Aldur Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:32 pm
"Chief. It is a camera in the ceiling." Viletta points at it and waves.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:54 pm
Jim swears and whirls around, firing a single shot that obliterates the camera. Unfortunately it's not quick enough and a warning klaxon begins to sound. "Security alert, floor 8, sector 7-G," a toneless male voice announces. "Intruder detected."
Four of the doors open and skeletons lean out, taking cover while firing with their chainguns. More skeletons lean out from around the hall's corner, taking shots at the Rangers.
((Foes: 10 Drowned Eye. Initiative: 21.
Jim: Initiative: 22.
Sheila: Initiative: 17))
"Damn it," Jim curses, plucking a grenade from his belt and pulling the pin. "Let's try and make this quick!"
Jim rolls the grenade down towards the nearest group of Drowned Eye, but the explosive only manages to damage the cyborgs.
((25 damage to the first 3 D.E.))

Posted by: FreedomJu Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:26 am
((I had said in chat that Melissa would have had her Energy Flechette Gun out, so yeah. Anyway, she has 19 INIT.)) Melissa frowned at her failure to notice the camera, but the frown was quickly replaced by a neutral expression as she quickly pivoted to point her weapon at a group of skeletons and fires twice. As soon as the blasts leaves the barrel of her gun she immediately ducks and moves off to the side a little to hopefully avoid some of the enemy fire.
((I would like to tag the three Jim got with his grenade provided her gun can hit all three. Then Melissa does what she can to avoid enemy attacks.... which more or less translates into Dodge to the nearest skeleton.
Energy Flechette Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 = 18 + 18 = 36
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 = 6 + 13 = 19
Energy Flechette Damage: 7d6 fire
Attack 1: 7d6 fire = 23
Attack 2: 7d6 fire = 29
These attacks bypass whatever armor the DE have.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:26 am

QUOTE (TheUnknownMarine @ Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:26 pm)
: "Maria, why didn't you report enemy contact? I told you to stay in touch," Jim asks with a sigh, looking around.

Maria frowns and nods sheepishly, "Sorry Chief, I didn't want to bother you over four skeletons..."
Now...
Maria opens fire, scoring a beautiful hit on a skeleton.
[Attack: 20...+...=hit]
[Damage: 12]
The Doctor shakes his head at Sheila, "You really are troublesome... You should consider not getting wounded if I can't heal you."

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:43 am
Johann's voice also sounded from around Alex's knees, though his form was invisible to normal sight. "Gotta agree with the flying fireball here. Sounds like our allies are being hit down the hallway. Are we gonna help 'em, or do we start down a different road?"
Sha'aasta, meanwhile, lay stretched out on top of Holzgeist, for all appearances asleep.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:33 am
((Modding and moving since I know Vox and Aldur don't care so much for this sort of combat...)) Melissa's shots sear into the undead, causing gouts of steam to sizzle from their oddly soaked bones. A grenade detonates in the midst of the already wounded three skeletons and sends bone shards everywhere as the undead are defeated.
((Villetta uses a H.E. grenade. 27 damage to the three undead, finally knocking them down. Please mark it off, Aldur.))
Varro charges forward and drives the Varroblade into the nearest surviving undead, cleaving off a few ribs. The undead doesn't react.
((Hit. 20 damage.))
"Full squad, shipborne hostiles advancing along 7-G's primary hall," one skeleton warbles into a radio. "Request activation of reserves."
Pantherath attempts to call down the power and beauty of the Light to turn undead, but is baffled as the power fails him.
Gunfire splatters all around the Rangers as the remaining undead open fire. Sheila dances, somersaults, and cartwheels around, managing to avoid all three bursts aimed at her. Jim does a shoulder roll to avoid a pair of bursts aimed at him. A pair of bursts simply bounce off Varro's heavily armored frame as Okori arrives only to dodge a stray burst. The Doctor finds himself also dodging out of the way to avoid being hurt. Suddenly Jessica screams, a trio of bullets slamming into her. Melissa's forceshield is automatically engaged as she too is struck. Maria's finds herself hit as well, along with Pantherath and Michael.
((Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit. 25 damage to Jessica. 30 damage absorbed by the shields, 11-5(DR)= 6 damage to Melissa. 26 damage to Maria's shield. 42 damage to Pantherath. 32 damage to Michael.))
: "See? Lucky shot, I told you!" Sheila says as she returns fire with gusto, blasting apart one of the undead Ancients.
((Hit, Hit, Hit, Hit, Miss. 100 damage. Drowned Eye defeated.))
Foes: 6 Drowned Eye.
Next turn.

Posted by: FreedomJu Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:46 am
As she has done dozens of times in her past, the Spartan shoves aside the light pain from her newly gained wounds and swiftly fires upon another group of skeletons attacking her unit. However, be it because of her lack of her experiance with her current weapon or some other cause, her aim is incredibly poor compared to normal.
((Full attacking the group of 3 Drowned Eye....
Energy Flechette Hit: 1d20 + BAB + DEX
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 + 8 = 4 + 18 = 22
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 8 = 1 + 13 = …
Confirm: 12 + 13 = 25
Energy Flechette Damage: 7d6 fire
Attack 1: 7d6 fire = 32
Again, Dodge to nearest DE))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:18 am
((I am considering making combat freeform for the most part in Megiddo, since it's the combat portions that seem to be dragging so much. Only a small set number of encounters would actually be fought out using d20 with this method, the rest would be pretty much stat-free describe the battle and RP things. This may serve to speed the game up and make it a bit less grindy for this portion. Thoughts? This was not posted in the OOC thread due to it having a comment by me up there already.))

Posted by: Cyrus Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:54 am
[Rusty plez delet k thx]

Posted by: FreedomJu Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:04 pm
OOC: I'm all for freeform combat.

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:06 pm
Freeform is sweet because it will let me neatly ignore the fact that I have hardly any spells or scrub-worthy ammo left

Posted by: Dark Maiden Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:10 am
[Freeform sounds good.]

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Thu Sep 06, 2007 1:26 am
((Pantherath started off as a character in a freeform RPG... just let me know when he's going back to his slaughter-worthy ways.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:28 am
"Dagron, would you mind staying ahead of the group? Your knowledge of ancient things will be useful here, which makes you the best scout for this task?" Alexander asks. *Dagron pulls his head back inquisitively.* "I do not believe I am as well suited to stealth as some others, but as you wish."
Exploring the ruins of Megiddo, Alex's team beats back repeated patrols from the undead, eventually stumbling on a large vehicle storage depot. Ruined and wrecked conveyances of the Ancients litter this massive room. A large lift dominates the upper corner. The static-dotted chatter of the Drowned Eye is easily heard by the experienced adventurers as several of the undead soldiers patrol the area.
*Dagron looks over the ancient equipment, trying to make sense of what he can.*
Sha'aasta and Johann crouch lower on Holzgeist, Johann curiously scanning the various objects around the room, while Sha'aasta watches for their leader's reaction.
((There's a squad of twelve Drowned Eye.))
All listen into the radio chatter of the Drowned Eye, but only Alex and Johann actually make out the drowned out murmurs.
"Floors 30, 29, 28, all have been overrun, forces have pulled back. Incursions into the labs have also begun. We're losing ground," one of the skeletons informs his compatriots.
"Current orders?" one skeleton asks.
"Hold this position for now. Don't let them take the lift at any cost," the other skeleton replies.
Boss? Your call.
*Alexander eyes the nearby lift. Hmmm... He whispers silently to Johann.* "Think you can do anything to incapacitate or destroy them?"
Johann nods, and whispers back, "A web spell?"
"That sounds like it would work well enough. Dagron, do you think you could lift one of those vehicles?"
*Dagron grins.* "You read my mind." *Dagron begins extending his wings, slowly, but in anticipation of wrecking some skeletons.*
Johann waits for the signal from Alex, then mutters quickly to himself, gesturing with an arcane wand. Webs suddenly sprout from the walls to engulf the main force.
Webs engulf the skeletons as they immediately begin looking around.
"Hostile forces in vicinity, engagement protocols now in effect," one mutters in its watery voice.
The two other groups immediately begin searching around the area. They draw closer and closer as they check ruined vehicles and shadowed corners.
*Dagron leaps into the air, over the heads of his allies, flying into the room. Moving for one of the vehicles he could easily lift in the air, he grips onto it with all four taloned claws. He swings around with it, aiming for the nearest group of drowned eye, then flings it, sending it tumbling and turning toward them.*
One of the skeleton turns and darts to the side, evading the metal missile as the wheeled machine crushes two of its compatriots. It immediately opens fire on Dagron, only to have the bullets bounce off the dragon's scaly skin.
"Hahahaha, steeeeeeeee-RIKE!"
Johann gestures, and a column of flames leaps up hungrily, blotting out the forms of the second group.
Hal rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, whistling.
"Care to join in, folks?" Sha'aasta asks curiously towards the rest of their allies."
*Alexander lunges forward, charging at the nearest undead, bringing his sword to the closest foe.*
Great gouts of steam rise from the skeletons as the flame engulfs them, slowly moving out of the column with blackened bones and melted implants. Dropping ruined weapons, they draw hand axes and charge at the gnomes.
*Dagron wheels about, beelining for the drowned eye that had opened fire upon him. His claws wide open, he aims to give the skeleton a similar ride about the room.*
"Ahh!!!" Holzgeist wheels about, leaping away from the skeletons as he tries to use his speed to stay out of range.
A barrage of fire opens up from the webbed undead, lines of gunfire opening wounds in Alex's side as well as Hal's. The skeletons stop running and throw one of their two axes each at the sprinting wolf.
The agile canine dodges the attacks as the axes rebound off a nearby treaded vehicle with heavy armor. Alexander slices a skeleton's skull in two while Dagron snatches another and drags it into the air.
*Dagron launches his carried cargo into another vehicle at high speed, dashing its body off the ruined, metal remains.*
"Hal, do you have anything left?" *Alex calls as he engages in melee with another skeleton.*
Holzgeist continues to dance away from the skeletons, as Sha'aasta starts unloading arrows from her crossbow into one of her attackers. Johann gestures, and... nothing seems to happen. (Wall of force blocking the webbed foes from the team)
Alex and Dagron make short work of the last two skeletons, while bullets ricochet off an invisible wall seperating the group from the main skeleton force.
"Say when, Boss." Johann says grimly, watching the struggles of the skeletons behind his spell.
Sha'aasta, meanwhile, has hopped off the wolf, and starts sifting through their belongings. "Let me know when you're finished playing," she says, tapping an arm bone against a rib to see how musical the sound is.
*Alexander heals minor wounds on both himself and Hal before nodding to Johann.*
((Editted from original transcript, since Hal was injured, not DAGRON))
Johann grins viciously, and lets the spell drop. "Now!" he shouts.
*DAGRON roars, flying by the immobile undead and torching them with a hellacious blast of fire.*
The web and the undead light up in a collosal blast of steam as their soaked remains are torched. A hail of gunfire returns at Dagron, the skeletons damaged by still functional. A lucky shot manages to pierce Dagron's hide, a bullet ramming into his leg.
*Dagron roars once more in pain.* "I'll crush your skulls in my teeth you skeletal mongrels!"
"The bulk of our forces here are gone, we don't have any reinforcements," one skeleton says, still speaking as if submerged under water.
"We can't allow the lift to fall into their hands. Destroy the control systems."
"No!" Johann shouts, "DAGRON! Where are the controls?"
*Dagron blazes with incredible speed toward the nearest vehicle, then wheels around and launches is at them before they can act.* "I cannot see any!"
The ancient machine slams into three of the skeletons, crushing them under its weight.
"FINISH THE REST OF THEM!" *Dagron yells in rage. Dagron looks around again for a control panel, but can't see anything yet.*
Johann gestures, and a hail of ice floods the area where the survivors have congregated.
Another skeleton falls to the magical assault, leaving two remaining.
*Alexander rushes forward to aid his allies in defeating the final enemies.* "Let's end this quickly!"
The remaining two stand and turn, opening fire at a small pedestal of metal. Alex's charge destroys one of the undead before it can finish aiming.
*Dagron charges forward at the remaining skeleton, launching it into the lift door before biting down on whatever remains.*
A hail of bullets strike the pedestal and cause it to
erupt in a shower of sparks and shards of glass. Dagron bites down on the last skeleton's ribs, lifting it into the air and shaking it from side to side before dropping it down, lifeless once more.
The pedestal sparks and smokes as silence falls on the large room.
Sha'aasta, who had been cheering the various light shows a moment before, suddenly quiets down. "Guys, I don't think we wanted them to do that."
*Dagron looks over the panel which had been shot up, trying to determine if it still remained operable. However, he finds it to be completely destroyed, and while he knew what it was, he had no knowledge of how to fix it.
Dagron slams a clawed fist onto it, then looks about for another control panel, hoping they had backups in the event of a malfunction. In his search, however, he comes up empty.*
Johann, meanwhile, stands at the bottom of the shaft and looks up.
*Dagron throws the vehicle out of the way, clearly angered, then throws open the lift door and looks up.*
The shaft seems to climb far up the mountain, at least 120'.
Johann scrambles out of the way as Dagron nearly steps on him.
"Sorry, Johann. I'm a tad... angry."
Johann checks himself over. "Still breathing. Don't worry about it. I should've learned by now."
*Dagron huffs, sending black smoke up the shaft to mix with the console's smoke.* "It looks like I might have to fly some of you up at a time with Eve, or I can take a few of you to the next floor and see if there's a console there so we can all go at once."
Sha'aasta continues to search through the enemy's gear. These things would work themselves out, after all.
Most of the enemy's gear was smashed, melted, or destroyed by the team's assault. Shas'sta finds a few neat trinkets that shine or look interesting, trophies of a sort, but nothing that has a function.
Johann casts another spell, and Holzgeist begins to lift off the floor.
"I'll carry who I can carry... say you, Hal, Alex, and Sha'aasta. Can Holzgeist get the rest?"
Before long, the group is off and up the shaft. It is a long climb, but they reach the next opening at the 12th floor. A large, metal door blocks the way, but Dagron rips and pries it open with little effort. They all enter the floor, looking about, wondering what they would find here.
((Everyone gains 200 RP XP.
DAGRON, Johann, Sha'asta, and Hal gain 400 for figuring out they can fly.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:27 pm
Sophie follows behind the others with a troubled frown, one which only grows more troubled as the group moves deeper into the ruins of the Ancients. Whispering prayers to the Light, she moves amongst her allies following the vicious battle healing their wounds and doing what she can to bolster their spirits with a kind smile...a smile whose warmth she has trouble feeling in this place of death.
She looks up the shaft with a frown, listening to the pondering of the wise and powerful, but having nothing worthwhile to add.

Posted by: Wandering Dezorian Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:00 am
The team is in a large storage depot. Large metal containers are lined against the walls, while a single passage leads from it. There is also a hatch in the ceiling from which a metal apparatus protrudes. "Johann," Alex says gruffly while visions of Chozos dance in his head, "Scout ahead."
Johann sighs and nods, and quickly vanishes from sight. He moves quite stealthily, but he stubs his toe and curses under his breath once in a while.
Johaan moves through several rooms that seem devoid of any life or activity, large rooms with strange machines and debris everywhere. The gnome stares at the machines for a moment, trying to fathom what their purpose is.
'If nothing else,' he thinks to himself, 'I should be able to make an illusion of them to show DAGRON later'.
Johann can't think what the machines do, save for a series of cranes in the ceiling which he conjectures must be for carrying things to the lift. He finally comes to a room with rows of very large metal tables, tools and unidentifiable devices strewn around like so much rubble. Also present in the room are about eight robots: 2 humanoid, 3 floating clawed ones, and 3 of the quadrupedal ones with orbs. They are quite active, moving around the room and welding parts together, attaching things, and gathering devices.
'This might be a bit of a challenge...' the gnome thinks to himself. 'Guess I shouldn't keep the others from sharing in the fun.' Quietly, he turns to rejoin the group.
Meanwhile…
"Someone's coming." Sha'aasta says quietly from her perch on Holzgeist's back. A moment later, Johann reappears.
"Saw some stuff. It's pretty empty for the next few rooms, but I'll admit, all this ironmongery is confusing to me." the gnome says without preamble. "Last time I tried to explain this stuff to you folks, I got tripped up on these 'guns' and 'robots' of yours. So maybe this time it'd work better just to let me show you what I saw."
Dagron listens to the Gnome's report. "If it's clear, I can take a look and see if anything looks familiar."
"I'll go one better." Johann replies. Quickly, the wizard gestures, and part of the warehouse suddenly reforms into an smaller replica of the room beyond.
Caius watches the illusion with mild disinterest.
Quickly, the illusion shows the layout of the rooms beyond, including details of the machines he had noticed, and ends with the robots moving around their workshop.
"Any ideas what that was all about?" Johann asks curiously.
"More of them? How boring.." Caius comments on the robots. "And they spray that black gunk everywhere when you cut the wrong places," he whines, "it's awful stuff."
"And they never react when you stab them. What's the fun in stabbing a bad guy if he doesn't even bother to notice it?" Sha'aasta agrees.
"There does not seem to be anything we've not seen before, though the rooms appear to be testing areas of some sort," Dagron muses.
"What are the big machines for?" Hal asks.
"Any chance they're weapons?" Johann asks.
"I can't tell. They're beyond me."
"Oh," Hal says, looking crestfallen.
"They haven't figured out enough ways to pop holes in us already?" Sha'aasta asks sourly. "They need more?"
"Right!" Hal says, brightly, looking to Alexander for orders.
"So here's a question." Sha'aasta asks curiously. "Does the big guy here melt everything into slag, or do we want to save some of the toys in that room to investigate later?"
"Johann, how many people can you make invisible?" Alex asks, not taking his eyes off the screen as he keeps missing the timing on his shinespark.
"Not many." the gnome admits. "Truth be told, I've just been using this ring so far. Why do you..." Johann starts to ask, but then realizes his leader has already disappeared into the depths of Brinstar.
"Just need one..." Alex mumbles, emptying his super missiles into Kraid's fat head. "You...Dagron...take point...melt things...we'll mop up--YES! EAT THAT, YOU GREEN BASTARD!"
"So I'm guessing the answer to my question is slag?" Sha'aasta presses.
"I can't use any of that stuff. Can you?"
"Depends on how much it sells for." Sha'aasta points out. "Of course, it might give us an idea what sort of plans they're making here. And weren't we supposed to be finding some sort of superweapon that would crack the world? I've always heard that bombs and fire don't mix."
But Dagron just shakes his head, knowing that none of the devices in the illusion were weapons.
After much exposition, including an epic battle between space marines and garden gnomes…
Dagron, curious, carries on into the next room, hoping to get a better look at what lies within.
Johann and Sha'aasta leap onto Holzgeist and draw their weapons, and follow Dagron, the walking fireball.
The party moves through the rooms, until at last they come upon the room occupied by robots. The machines immediately take notice of the group and cease their resource gathering, dropping piles of circuits and machinery to charge weapons and aim. The Torch Eyes blaze with inner light and lines of thin, searing energy slice through Caius and Dagron, lightly wounding them.
Sophie winces as the two are hit, taking a step forward then pausing, glancing around with a frown.
"Ahhh!" Caius yells, a little more from surprise than from the pain.
Johann gestures and a blazing inferno engulfs the robots, causing smoke to roil from their innards and their armor to glow red.
His eyes narrow and he starts to hustle forward at the metallic monstrosities, as he approaches he slows a bit and takes a few intricate dancing steps before going into a cartwheel. As he landed his scimitars flicked out of their sheaths and one cut through the nearest monster. Caius sidestepped and made another low slash with the other. He continued to circle it, slashing repeatedly.
"Now what?" Johann growls as Caius wanders into the path of his next spell.
"You could always cook him." Sha'aasta points out. "Isn't survival of the fittest supposed to be a druid ideal?"
"We're gonna have to work on you." Johann grumbles, weaving his hands once more. A thin, green ray lashes out to strike one of the torch eyes.
Caius' swords slash through the heat-softened metal with ease as he slices apart one of the Torch Eyes. The other robot falls as Johann's swift spellcasting causes it to fall to dust. A rain of explosions then knocks the assembled party to the ground as a hail of grenades fires from the Assault Robots.
"Initiating code Alpha. Intruders targetted," one tonelessly states. "Destroy the enemy."
Johann and Holzgeist twist and leap to evade the worst of the bursts, but Sha'aasta yelps as explosions burn her skin.
Dagron flies overhead, raining hellfire down upon the mechanical enemies in the vicinity
The Metal Claws then swoop down, slashing at Sophie and Hal with their metal claws.
"That's not fair!" Sha'aasta wails, "They were supposed to swarm and kill Caius, not us! Aren't robots supposed to be intelligent?"
The armor of the robots glows brighter as Dagron adds his fire to the onslaught.
"A machine's only as smart as the person who built it," Hal says, cheery despite the blood loss. He steps away, and with a wave of his hand the wounds of the force are gone.
"That's still not..." Sha'aasta's whining suddenly cuts off in a watery sounding burble as the girl's figure suddenly melts into a black puddle. The black ooze wavers for a moment, and you could swear that if it had eyes, it would be glaring daggers at the remaining gnome, before it slithers towards the metal claws menacing the priests.
Sophie lets out a muffled cry, stumbling back as blood...her blood...splatters across her robes.
Dagron flies back around, and he sees Sophie in danger. He roars viciously, flying quickly toward the metal claw, catching it from behind. With his claws, he attempts to pry the metal monster apart.
The black ooze rears up to engulf the robot menacing Hal.
Dagron grapples the floating automaton and slowly begins to pull apart its upper portion, the robot's claws flailing widly against the hard scales of the wyrmling. Shaasta engulfs the remaining Steel Claw which begins to dissolve under the potent acids coating the ooze. However, immense pain wracks Sha'asta as she engulfs essentially a red hot piece of metal. The Assault Robots fire again and another cacophony of explosions throws the assembled warriors to the ground.
The ooze ripples for a moment, then flips away from the claw, shimmering back to the gnomish girl in midair. "AIIIII!" Sha'aasta screams, the pain from the superheated metal adding to the wounds from the explosions.
The Metal Claw, horrible burnt by acid and fire, stuggles to maintain its floatation.
"Sha'anna!" Johann shouts, as Holzgeist leaps forward to the wounded gnome's side.
Having produced an opening in the tough carapace of the Steel Claw, Dagron proceeds to continue prying, only now beating back the claw with his wings while tearing and biting into the exposed sensitive parts of the mechanical creature.
The Metal Claw cannot put up a fight for long and collapses into a pile of parts as Dagron continues the assault. Caius, acting like a man possessed, leaps on the last Metal Claw and slashes it in his frenzied dance, not stopping until long after it has ceased function.
Sophie holds a hand over her wound, praying for healing and closing it with sacred energy. She frowns at her blood stained robes, then looks around sadly.
Johann grabs the wounded girl and lays her across Holzgeist's back. Saying something fiercely in a language of barks and whines, he turns to lash at one of the humanoid androids with another disinigration ray, as Holzgeist quickly lopes away from the fight, bearing his wounded comrade to safety.
The Assault Robots turn to Dagron and fire upon the beast with blinding beams of light from their arms.
Having just saved Sophie's life, Dagron wheels about in the sky once more, then flies toward the next nearest opponent, attempting to grab it by the head with his large talons.
One of the beams goes wide as Johaan's spell catches the robot just in time to turn it to dust. The other robot is snatched up by Dagron, but in reply, it turns its laser up and fires point blank full blast into the beast's belly.
Dagron snaps at the assault robot in his claws, then flies full speed at 200 ft/6s and launches it into a wall or other nearby large, metalline structure
"Dagron!" Sophie exclaims as the young wyrmling was viciously assualted, the priestess starts forward chanting words of power only to grow silent as the bold beast slams his attacker into a wall.
The robot slams into the wall, shattering off its outer armor. The machine staggers to its feet though, and slowly begins re-aiming as sparks fly from it.
Sophie sighs unhappily, "Oh, why can't you things just die..."
Unimpressed by the robot's pitiful attempt at intimidation, Dagron beelines straight for it, but no sooner does he begin moving, he belches a line of flame right into the assault robot's now unshielded body. He follows the flame all the way to the body, keeping it hot and intense all the way to the body so that he could inspect remains once it was slag. What parts are not melted to the floor, Dagron latches on with his fangs and throws them about, kicking any away that land near him. Content, he then flies back toward the group.
"I feel better now."
The last foe destroyed, silence falls on the room.
Sophie heals everyone to give Hal a break.
Johann glares around at the ruins of the enemies for a moment, then starts to jog towards back towards the hallway the team had entered from. A few minutes later, he returns, leading Holzgeist and the wounded Sha'asta back to the team.
"If you'd be so kind?" he asks the two healers, gesturing to his friend.
Sophie moves swiftly to the side of her friend, whispering a worried prayer and holding healing hands over the vicious wounds of the young lady gnome.
The girl groans as the pain leaves her, opens her eyes, and smiles at Sophie. Then she notices Johann.
Hal moves forward with surprising speed, leaning over Shaa'sta, coincidentally putting himself between her and Johann. "How are you feeling?"
"I'll transform her into an ooze. She won't mind! She can go touch the burning-hot metal I've just fireballed!" she starts, then finishes with, "Oh, I'm feeling rather homicidal right now. How about you?"
Hal waves a hand over Shaa'sta's face like a hypnotist. "I'm feeling rather chipper, actually."
Sha'aasta's eye's cross for a moment, then she turns back to Hal. "Always good to keep a bright outlook, isn't it?" she says in an oddly detached voice.
"That's the spirit!" Hal says, before he turns away, looking askance at Johann.
Johann doesn't notice the look, his eyes remaining fixed on Sha'aasta. Relief, mixed with worry and fear, stand out in his expression.
Participants gain 200 XP for roleplaying.
The forest gnomes gain 100 XP for formatting such a cool chat.

Posted by: Cyrus Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:25 am
Maria shreds apart a Drowned Eye even as a hail of gunfire from Sheila and Jim blast apart another two of the creatures. The Doctor glances up at the giant armored...robotic warrior, "Huh, not too bad, you just kind of stand there and look tough?" He frowns, "Sounds like a good career...how are the benefits?"
Varro does not reply, choosing instead to charge forward, rearing back and slashing several times at the drowned eye.
KingKai279: Bully.
VoxPVoxD: Doc Coventry or Teddy Roosevelt?
KingKai279: Could be both.
The fox pants as he hides behind a crate, having, in quick succession, been left behind by his host, ran through many creepy, metal-shod corridors, and been shot at at least twice.
Varro slices apart another of the skeletons, the bullets merely bouncing off his thick armor. "Unacceptable losses sustained, falling back," one of the skeletons mutters, tossing a smoke grenade and retreating down the corridor along with his surviving ally.
"Tsk..." Maria shakes her head, sliding her sidearm away, "First time for everything, skeletons worrying about acceptable losses." She tilts her head, glancing around with a frown, "So...much for fodder..."
"These can't be normal skeletons..." Jim murmurs. "They were actually using tactics. Most just charge in and fight..."
"The skeletons spoke like soldiers," Varro states, peering through the smoke in vain. "It is likely they were soldiers in life. Elite soldiers."
"So, you answer her but ignore me?" The Doctor mutters with annoyance, "Just like Gil..." He sighs.
Hearing the undead platoon tramp away, the vulpine peeks out into the hall, making its way to his owner, whom he looks up at, pouting inbetween deep breaths.
Varro's head turns a disconcerting amount to face the Doctor. "You are speaking to me?"
"Not anymore." The Doctor tilts his head at the smoke.
Varro turns his head back without another word.
"Ah, there you are." Maria says in a relieved voice, then she shakes her head, "Where did you run off to?"
KingKai279: (Yes, YOU ran off, not ME, it was YOU.)
KingKai279: >.>
cyrus v 2877: (Pfft. You knew I was gone, you just chose to leave me.)
KingKai279: (I had to go kill lots and lots of cybernetic undead)
cyrus v 2877: (Always with the excuses. ]= [ ]
"Orders?" Varro asks.
"I doubt these living quarters have anything of use in them, and we can also check back later. We'll press on through these halls until we can find a way up," Jim says. "Move out."
Varro moves out.
"You....you left me," the animal speaks incredulously, trying in vain to catch his breath. "I was...starving...and you left me."
Maria blinks, clearly taken aback by this, then knees down and picks up the weary vupline. Holding the fox, she glances at the rest of the team moving out, then turns back to him with a worried frown, whispering softly, "Starving?"
"I...I know, it feels weird to me, too," he admits. "Haven't made myself a body in a while, and I forgot what it felt like. Seems like it was a bad...a, a bad...I need to lay down."
The psionic operative stares at him in concern, cradling the animal, "Oko....Te..etsuo..." She looks towards the remains of the skeletons with a frown, "I'm sorry.." She turns back to the fox, "Is there something I can do to help?"
"Could I...rest in your head? I think I need a little en...ener...this living stuff takes a lot of you, doesn't it?" He then topples over, apparently having fallen asleep.
Maria nods worriedly, pressing her forehead aganist the head of the fox and closing her eyes.
A mental whisper floats through Maria's mind, saying Thank you, before drifting into silent slumber.
The team advances deeper into the base, taking out patrol after patrol as the base's inhabitants try in vain to stall their approach.
Finally they come across a large common area with a stairway leading up in the back. The common area itself is littered with refuse and the occasional sack of supplies... Around the stairs stand a group of cultists, who have made camp in this area of the base. A pair of centaurs level huge crossbows at the group as blue-skinned Dark Dwarves heft their axes. A quartet of swordsmen in chainmail guard a trio of elves in black robes. "You won't advance a step further, whelps!" the lead mage shouts. "You'll die here, sacrifices for the Lords of Strife!"
Maria shakes her head at the assemblage, looking at Sheila questoinally, "This would be the mysterious cult then?"
"That'd be them," Sheila nods, twirling her pistols around.
"I somehow doubt that," Jim says, drily. "You're out gunned. We've made it this far and I doubt you have the ability to stop us. Surrender now and you'll live."
"We cannot fail so long as we are blessed by the Strife's Lords... Your souls are MINE now..." the mage hisses.
The centaurs then fire their crossbows, twin explosive bolts slamming into the squad. Jim and Sheila dodge out of the way, rolling to prone positions and opening fire. The two equine archers stagger back, numerous holes perforating their bodies. With a loud clomp they fall. The swordsman shout as they charge at Varro and the dwarves dash for the others.
Okori... The psionic operative frowns, glaring at the mage irrately, "Oh, shut up." She points a palm at the mage, the air around it pulsating, then unleashes a powerful blast of sound.
Varro regards the charging fanatics impassively for a moment, squaring his legs and holding up his sword. He thrusts it out when the first elf closes, impaling him on his own momentum. The second closes, jabbing in futility with his sword at Varro's plating. Rather than back up for a sword strike, the robot hops a few feet into the air and lands with a crack and a squelch on the swordsman. The final pair flank the robot, tensing for powerful thrusts. Varro leaps again, timing it so the two cultists run each other through, and slump down into the viscera of their fallen companions.
VoxPVoxD: ((how was that))
VoxPVoxD: ((I'm not good at this))
A crackling storm of lightning cascades down on the group as the mage chant in unison. Sheila and Jim reel back as the lightning strikes them. "Gah! You'll pay for that!" Sheila cries, firing on a mage with both guns after rolling into a kneeling position. "I HATE being shocked!"
Maria stumbles back, grasping at the vicious burns.
Despite his agility, Coventry is unable to evade the blast of lightning, taking a vicious hit. He frowns then with a flourish unleashes healing upon the group.
Jim doesn't say anything, merely levelling his gun at the another mage and pulling the trigger. A hazy shield forms in front of the spellcaster, but the gauss proppelled bullets simply smash through it. The mage falls with a gurgle as Sheila's barrage slays the other. The lead mage staggers back as a terrible wound is blasted in his side. He glares at Maria. "What... What spell was that?!"
Melissa unloads two full blasts with her energy flechette gun, burning apart the dwarves as they approach her.
The psionic operative stares at him with evident anger, "I'm running low on patience..." She tilts her head, "Surrender now or you'll be joining your undead cohorts."
Not seeming to hear Maria, Varro leaps forward, bringing his blade down on the remaining mage.
The mage opens his mouth to respond, but before he can say a word, Varro's sword cleaves him in two. "Damn it!" Jim shouts as he double bursts the last remaining two dwarves into corpses. "What the HELL was that, Varro?"
"Low probability of surrender, high probability of subterfuge," Varro states, wiping his blade off on the robe of the halved wizard.
"That may be, but you don't strike when someone propose that the enemy surrender!" Jim says, angrily. "Maria was ready to cut him off if he tried anything and we might've learned something at the very least..." Jim shakes his head. "Now he's just another corpse..."
"There will be more," Varro says, although from the context it's not clear if he means prisoners or corpses.
"Jess, use your medkit and heal everyone... Coventry, reserve your magic until we get in trouble a little more serious," Jim says with a sigh. "This is far from over."
KingKai279: "I thought he was reaching for a gun." Officer Varro admits sheepishly.
VoxPVoxD: Varro sprinkles crack on the mage
Looking over the carnage, the Doctor nods distantly, "No problem..."
Maria sighs heavily, rubbing her forehead and staring at the ground.
Jessica moves among the group, healing their burns from the magic.
In short order the group presses on, moving up the stairs to the next level, the Medical Ward. All they manage to find there, though, is dust and corpses. The level abandoned, the group is able to swiftly advance.
VoxPVoxD: we should totally have one of our CW2 characters branch off and run into these guys
VoxPVoxD: how far away is Zook
VoxPVoxD:<_<
KingKai279:"DEMONS!" Cedric smashes Varro!
Moving up another flight of emergency stairs, the Rangers make it to the 10th floor, the Tertiary Security Station. Fighting through fortified positions, robots, and determined skeletal soldiers, the team manages to clear the level and grant Villeta access to a security terminal before moving on. The Rangers find themselves in a room with a sealed blast door blocking the way. Deactivated turret guns line the walls, all taken care of far in advance by Villetta's hacking.
"Adam, if you would," Jim says, gesturing. Adam steps forward with a grin as he produces a fusion cutter from his toolbelt. "With pleasure," he says as he kneels down and begins to cut through the thick metal door.
Maria arches an eyebrow, then shrugs and leans aganist the wall to watch the fireworks.
The Doctor frowns at the rows of turrents, glancing around worriedly.
Sheila closes her eyes and crosses her arms. "Hey... Anyone else hear that?" The GICS agent asks.
"No," says Varro.
"Eh, you say something?" The Doctor glances up, distracted.
Sheila frowns. "Like a... I dunno. Muted speech and movement... I think..." Sheila's arms fall to her sides and she draws her pistols. "Behind the door."
Varro raises his sword. "Hostile?"
"Probably..." Jim says, checking his GSAW. "That's a go!" Adam says, standing up and deactivating the cutter, a neat rectangle now cut into the door. Adam rears back and kicks the door with all his might, the rectangle falling into the room beyond with a loud clang.
The room beyond is horrible.
Son of MadDog1: ((Nifty!))
Drying blood splatters over cold metal surgical tables. Not ancient blood, not black, long spilled blood. Relatively fresh blood. Row upon row of surgery stations glisten with freshly red knives and piles of machines and device lay close by...But the true horror is in its occupants.
cyrus v 2877: Beatniks.
Son of MadDog1: Democrats.
VoxPVoxD: Ron Paul.
TheUnknownMarine: Bob Dole
TheUnknownMarine: METAL GEAR
They were human once.
cyrus v 2877: Rusty, Lance, and Bolt.
Now cool gray metal devices stained at the edges with red jut cruelly from their bodies. Mechanical frames cover them, and limbs have been replaced with robotic counterparts. Steel plates studded with optic sensors replace their eyes, while other implants are strewn about their flesh like metallic boils. Shreds of peasant garb still cling to them, a testament that these were people once. They stagger forward, some extending blades and others guns from their arms. A voice emanates from the ceiling.
"Do-do-do you like my pets, insects?" the AI asks.
Varro scans the ceiling briefly but in vain. He looks towards his leader for orders. "Jolly Jim?"
The psionic operative stares at the tortured beings in cold horror, fighting back a gagging reflex. "Bitch..." Her eyes narrow dangerously, her words thick with emotion, "You die today."
The Doctor stumbles to a stop, falling behind the rangers, his eyes staring at the stumbling forms in horror, he breathes quietly, "...those...people...are still alive..."
"I..I... took away some of their imperfections... Much of their fau-fau-faulty flesh has been replaced by peeerfect steeeeel," the AI says in her erratic voice.
"You hunk of junk! I'm going to tear you apart with my friggin' HANDS!" Sheila roars.
Jim looks over the cyborgs, an intense look on his face. "EMP weapons. If we can knock out the machines, maybe we can save a few..."
Melissa remains quiet, her mind however is busy, not only with figuring out how to react when combat started, but also with anger at seeing people turned into mindless slaves.
The AI laughs mockingly. "Sa-sa-save them? They are mi-mi-mine now... If their machines stop, they die. If they cannot fight any longer, they die. And even if you managed to find a way around that..."TheUnknownMarine: "I tol-tol-told you. I took away part of their imperfections... I replaced their poor, useless free-free-free wiiiiiill with programming... Programming I made."
"Maria..." Jim says in a strained voice. "Probe them. See... See if you can still find their minds."
"I...I don't have any empathic powers..." Maria states unevenly, staring at the horrors with strong mixed emotions.
Maria...I think I can try something...
Jessica frowns, "I don't either..."
Are you awake? Do you have the strength?
I'll be alright. I'll be quick about it, if I'm right.
Maria nods quietly, to no one in particular.
With that, the spirit exits the Maria's mind, appearing before her as he stares at the controlled people. Within moments, he flies at one of them, trying to wrestle control of the body away, but the innocent resists, showing that a soul still resided in the now deformed shell of iron and flesh. He pulls back, escaping to the safety of his host. I think they're still themselves..Just not in control. I can't imagine what that must be like. Be careful.
The psionic operative then breathes out, "Oh god..." She is silent for another moment, then adds, "Th...they...are still in there..."
"The time for talk is over! Go, my puppets!" the AI crows as the cyborgs advance, some opening firing with their implanted guns. "Shit!" Jim yells, throwing himself to the side to avoid a burst of gunfire. He pulls a blue marked grenade. "EMP if you have it! If not, try and disable rather than kill them!"
The vague outline of a shield shimmers before the psion, glowing a gentle white before dissipating.
Jim chucks the grenade as Sheila switches out her current clips for EMP rounds and resumes blasting. The grenade detonates, cascading blue energy covering a numer of the cyborgs, though it fails to fell them.
With the combination of her energy shields and armor plating, Melissa knows she is capable of taking more punishment than several of her comrades, and as such swiftly moves up slightly before cutting loose with her weapon, fiery cones of plasma blasting out of the barrel.
Varro drops his sword, stomping forward and attempting to catch one of the undamaged peasants in his arms to hold them still.
Varro catches one of the cyborged peasants and holds him even as it futilely blasts him with its gun at point blank range. Mellisa fires on the cyborgs, causing them great damage as they stubbornly advance.
"..." Maria takes a step back, glancing around almost feverishly, then she claps her hands together and spreads them forth unleashing a crackling wall of electricity blocking the advance of the tormented peasants.
The peasants advance through the wall, not stopping for a second even as the energy ravages their cybernetic bodies. One mutters even as it swipes at Mellisa with an energy blade, "Kill me... Please..." Sheila's shots manage to cause one of the cyborgs to collapse, Sheila wincing as he hits the floor. "Uh... Uh Jim, his vitals aren't there anymore! I... No! I... Did I kill him?!" The cyborg in Varro's arms runs out of ammunition for its gun, a dull clicking heard from its before it suddenly detonates, knocking the large robot onto its back and making a huge dent in its frontal armor. Jim curses. "EMP doesn't... Don't think about it, Sheila! Later! Standard rounds, aim for their weapons, try and knock out their armaments!" The AI laughs maniacally in the background.
"We cannot save them," Varro says as he gets to his feet, his voice tinged by static. "The AI has a self-destruct trigger in them." He bends down and picks up his sword. "We must aim to kill."
Melissa swiftly ducks, her shields shimmering at the near impact from the potentinally deadly weapon. Rolling a short distance away, Melissa aims her weapon at the cyborg that attacked her and opened fire, careful to avoid allies.
The Energy Flechette bores through the man/machine and it collapses to the floor, inactive. Two more cyborgs with energy blades jutting from the stumps where hands used to bear leap at Varro.
Maria stumbles back a few more steps, her eyes narrowing in frustration...then flash with power, a blast of concusive force striking one of the cyborgs attacking Varro.
Growling in reply, the woren's blade swung in a wide arc, aiming to knock back any of the cyborgs not bisected outright.
Energy and gunfire splatter against Melissa's shields while Jim's blast armor deflects a trio of poisoned darts away. Pantherath's sword slashes deeply into the cyborgs around him as one raises a wicked circulating sawblade and bring it down on the beastman's shoulder.
Varro flails his blade about, striking indiscriminately at the peasants.
The combined attack brought the Spartan's shields down to a dangrous level, which prompted the soldier to focus more of her attention on dodging attacks rather than shooting her own. She does however manage to get off a single plasma blast at a pair of nearby cyborgs.
Jim carefully aims at a nearby cyborg, firing a trio of bursts that take off its blade arm, the gun attached to its hip, and a shoulder mounted laser of some sort. Bereft of its weapons, the robot charges the commander and detonates, which Jim barely avoids by throwing himself to the side. "Damn you..." he mutters, looking at the ceiling. "Damn you..." Sheila fires a volley of shots at the cyborgs, aiming to destroy the weapons on them save one each.
Her eyes still filled with anger, Maria follows her commander's stare to the ceiling, her eyes narrowing and triggering a blast of concussive force.
"...vi...viki..." Coventry gasps out after watching the scene in silence for a long moment, "...can you send them away from here?" He glances at her with deadened eyes, "If...if we could get them free of her influence...with some time..."
Maria's blast causes a large operating lamp to fall from the floor and pin one of the cyborgs to the ground. It explodes afterward.
"The area is shielded..." Maria replies with biting anger. "We can't teleport out."
"Son of a BITCH!" Jim suddenly roars. "Adam! You've got your jammer?" "Yeah, but..." Adam begins.TheUnknownMarine: "Use it!" Jim shouts. "Use it now!" Adam fiddles with a device in his backpack and a low humming fills the area. "What.... What are you doing?!" the AI shrieks. "Immobilize or take out their weapons!" Jim shouts. "Quickly!" The cyborgs seem momentarily stunned.
Radford's orders required Melissa to switch weapons in order to obey, and once she had done so she selects a pair of nearby cyborgs and begins picking off their weapons with accurate gauss rifle fire.
His growl softening to a glare, Pantherath slammed the massive blade towards one cyborg's weapons, then shoved forward with his shoulder in an attempt to knock them down.
"Adam..." Maria asks as she steps over to one of the cyborgs, "...can we remove whatever that thing is using to destroy them?"
"I hope so, Mar... I really, REALLY hope so..." Adam says, checking the gauges on the jammer.
Coventry steps over to one of the cyborgs, laying a hand pulsating with strange energy on its torn flesh, then he begins to recklessly tear free the implants hardwired into the peasant.
The Doctor tears free a collection of machines and blood freely spills from its body, but some of them are on too securely for him to rip off with his bare hands.
Varro hunches down and begins to imitate Coventry, not trusting his sword for this kind of surgical work.
Varro easily rips off most of the implants, but there are some, like the frames or skull implants that simply cannot be removed. Sheila and Jim continue to fire, immobilizing cyborg after cyborg while the others work until with Melissa's help, they are all neutralized. "Jess, don't let them die!" Jim orders. "Adam, Villetta, analyze them! Stat! Stop ripping out their implants until we know what we can take out without killing them!"
"I know what I'm doing..." The Doctor replies with cold anger, not necessarily directly at Jim, standing with his hands bloodied, "I'm using a spell that delays death..." He tilts his head at the commander, "We can undo the damage done by removing those...things, if we move quickly..."
"Um...commander, I have a question." Jess asks in a bothered sort of voice, "How do I save their lives?"
"All right..." Jim says, quietly, but intensely. Adam?"
"Yeah, yeah... One second..." Adam says, examining one of the cyborgs. "All right, got it! Explosive charge in the chest cavity! I can remove it assuming Vil here can disarm it!" "And the other implants?" Jim asks.
Jess frowns and moves quickly, opening her medical kit and setting to work skillfully to keep the peasants alive.
Adam shakes his head. "I say leave 'em for now... Anything that isn't a weapon or blowing them up won't hurt to leave in until we can operate on them in a place not being run by a computerized DEMON." "Remove anything that looks like communications implants for receiving or sending signals..." Jim says, quietly. "Yessir," Adam says as Jim slumps against a wall with a sigh. "Pantherath... Use what healing you can. Help them stabilize them after their 'operation'."
"Jolly Jim?" Varro says questioningly, his blue hands slimed red with blood.
"Yes, Varro?" Jim asks.
"You seem unwell."
"I'm fine," Jim says, distantly. I've... seen worse."
"Very well," Varro says.
"You... man-man-managed to save some... Ingegengenious... But I still made you kill a few... How did it feel to kill some poor-poor-poor-" Sheila growls and fires her pistols twice, blasting apart a pair of hidden speakers in the walls. "Bitch," she spits.
Coventry slows his bloodied work at this, a weariness spreading over his face, he steps to the side and watches with resigned eyes as the experts set to work, studying their motions.
Jess moves skillfully from victim to victim with the help of Adam and Pantherath to remove the indicated devices.
After watching them for some time, the Doctor does what he can to assist and carries out the same procedure for his sole patient, primarily helping in sealing the wounds of those who already completed operation.
Jim switches on his commset. "Field Commander J... Oh, damnation..." Jim switches it back off as he stares at the jammer, still in operation. "When you're done and have them all sedated or whatever...Tell me so I can order Sgt. Hale to get his ass up here and medevac these people."
Maria stands in a corner of the room, watching silently as the operations contiune.
Varro stands in the middle of the room, blood dripping from his hands, awaiting orders.
"So how did the jammer help anyway?" Sheila asks, quietly. "The AI was sending the destruct signal wirelessly..." Jim says, quietly. "With no physical connections to anything the AI had, it had to have been doing that..." Jim takes off his gas mask and wipes his brow. "It could've had the bomb go off through programming or something else... But I had nothing else to go on, so I had Adam flip on the jammer to see if it helped any."
Sheila rubs her upper arms as she looks as the remains of some of the fallen cyborgs.
The spirit inside Maria's mind is silent, looking on through her eyes, a slow current of dread and grief from him lapping at her conciousness.
"Maria, we're going to be here for a while," Jim says. "I want you to take Sheila, Coventry and Varro and scout ahead while we continue here. I'll contact you when the jammer is shut off... Until then you'll be on your own, so exercise caution."
Varro picks up his sword, looking over to Maria and awaiting orders.
"Maria, take this," Jim says, reaching into a pouch and withdrawing a get of glasses. "They're HUD glasses. With them you can view the camera feeds from anyone else with a mission recorder, much as I can. Here, Viki, you take one too. With these, we can have you teleport to anyone's location when they need it, since you can see their surroundings and all."
"Right." Maria replies quietly, still shaken, taking the glasses and glancing at her group, "Let's go."
The Doctor holds his hands out in front of him, speaking a few quiet words, and pure water springs from the very air. "Out... out damn spot!"
"Is this a dagger I see before me?" Sheila mumbles.
Varro offers Coventry all the perfumes of Arabia to sweeten that little hand.
KingKai279: So, now that we did the foreshadowing, we should go meet Gail.
The scouting team moves deeper into the level, blasting apart a patrol of the skeletons before entering a room much like the one with the poor peasants...Only this one contains a trio of Vrocks, with new, glistening metal devices secured to their flesh.
"Oh, bullshit," Sheila says, looking at the Vrocks. "Cyberdemons... and me without a BFG..."
VoxPVoxD: /run rip_and_tear.exe
"The vaunted technology of your Ancients merged with the raw power of demonic blood!" one vrock caws. "We now are granted power by the same civilization's tools that we sought to crush! The irony...It's almost as delicious as your blood will be!"
Maria comes to a halt, her eyes narrowing as she speaks quietly into her communicator, "Enco... Oh right, jammed." She lower her communication, "You picked the wrong day to... Oh forget it, just kill them." She thrusts a hand toward, unleashing a potent blast of electricity at one of the modified demons.
Varro lunges forward, gaining speed and momentum, swinging his sword in a wide arc...ten inches over the demon's head.
The spectral animal shifts back into view, chanting and gesturing before drawing a circle in the air. The area around the Vrocks pulses, and for a moment, it seems even the air slows.
The Doctor steps to the side, still rubbing his blood stained hands, then speaks a word of mirth lightly... "Rusty."
The Vrocks begin moving as if in slow motion, as the fox's magic affects them. One of the demons squawks as the devices on it shudder and fry out.
"Diediediediedie!" Sheila shouts, pumping five shots into one of the Vrocks. One of the bullets strikes the creature in the head. Sheila whirls around in a frenetic dance of motion as bullet after bullet slams into the Vrock. The creature shrieks terribly as the assault nearly slays it outright... Nearly.
One Vrock charges at Varro, while another springs at Maria, the wounded one pounces at Sheila. Varro easily parries the blow of the first demon. Sheila dodges hers by an inch. Maria is caught by the claws of the beast she fried. However, the attack rebounds off her force field.
Maria scoffs at the demon, her eyes filled with loathing, "No speeches?" She shakes her head, unleashing another blast of energy, this time kinetic in the form of sound waves.
Okorisuo reaches out at the demon assaulting Maria, his paws meeting resistance with the creature's flesh, then passing through, grasping more of the ethereal force he is made of.
Varro slashes again, this time driving the blade deep into the fiend's center mass.
The demon in front of Maria squawks as it is wounded and drained. "You... You are not WORTHY of my words, maggot!" it hisses in Infernal.
Sheila finishes offer her foe with another volley of shots, even though the creature manages to dodge three in a show of superhuman dexterity. The Vrock fighting Maria ceases speaking just in time to lash out with a pair of claws, then bite into Maria's shoulder while slashing at her legs with its talons. Varro's opponent bites on him in vain, unable to pierce his armor as his talons screech uselessly off his thick metal plating. Then the demon jumps back and a glowing field of power surrounds each of its claws. It then lays into Varro, sparks flying with each contact as the claws melt the robot's armor.
Maria lets out a pained gasp, biting back a cry as the fiend lays into her, stumbling back she glares at the fiend spitefully, spitting out, "Dites-l'à Lucifer quand vous obtenez de nouveau à l'enfer." Blue whisps of energy smoke from her eyes, as she thrusts a hand forward sending a frigid blast into the fiend.
"What's that mean?" the Vrock wonders just before a solid block of ice encases his head, neck, and upper body. The Vrock collapses, then explodes into a pile of sulfurous dust.
Varro ignores his structural damage, cutting two more gashes into the Vrock.
Sheila empties her remaining clips into the last demon. The cyberized monster turns to face her just as Varro slashes at it, driving his blade deep into the demon and ripping and tearing its guts out. The monster falls to dust with one last shriek.
((Everyone gains 1000 XP.+200 XP for roleplaying.))
"There... Got 'em all..." Sheila says, reloading her guns. "Everyone all right?"
"Minor structural damage," Varro notes.
Maria shrugs, brushing the demon dust off her shoulder cooly. The Doctor frowns, stepping over to the psion and touching her lightly, sealing her wounds.
The familiar discorporates, vanishing from sight.
"Well then... I guess we've got to move on," Sheila says, gesturing. "Upward an' onward n' stuff."
Seconds later, the spirit reappears next to the cobalt blue combat robot, tapping him lightly with a glowing paw before once again disappearing. The melted portions of the armor reseal almost completely.
"Isn't that my line?" Maria asks in an oddly detached voice, then she glances around at the equipment, "Make a note to destroy this place later." She then nods and leads the team on.
Varro turns, but Okori vanishes before he can see the spirit. In his sightline, he sees only the Doctor tending to Maria. "Thank you," he says before they move on.
"Oh right, sorry boss," Sheila says with a wince.

Posted by: Kaihaku Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:03 am
"I remember this room. The left two doors are to a workshop and an ammo dump. The third leads to a control room, then the emergency stairs down." Sorel looks wearily down the maze of corridors that seemed to have no end. "Well?" he asks. "I don't even know what an 'ammo dump' is..." Cedric states wearily, looking at the robot, "This is your world Ancient, you lead the way."
"Follow me," Gilliam says, quietly. The cyborg leads the group through a room filled with smashed glass screens and odd devices, floating orbs of steel and crushed monoliths of perfectly smooth metal or stone. Past the room is a long stair, which Gilliam begins to trod down. "The next floor houses the teleportation laboratories..." Gilliam says. "It's... been a while. You might want to prepare yourselves for the worst."
The worst? Sorel thinks. There's comfort in that. It means nothing worse is coming. "Very well," he says, looking about at the others.
"...I cannot speak for you..." Cedric states grimly, glancing at his hammer, "...but for Faralon and myself, experience has taught us to always prepare for the worst."
The stairway finally ends at another door, which Gilliam opens to reveal a long hallway, covered with dried blood. Skeleton after skeleton, pile of bones after pile of bones litter the halls and the adjoining rooms.
Deep rends in the metal walls and ancient blast marks tell of a great battle that once shook these ancient corridors.
Gilliam trods forward, seemingly ignoring the carnage.
Ombligo shields his eyes from most of the scene, even though he had grown accustomed to the horrors of war.
Cedric follows, his eyes tracing along the piles of skeletons only to ensure that none of them were animated.
After a while, he stops at an odd device embedded into the wall, tapping at protrusions in it.
Faralon, in turn, holds his nose, the stench overwhelming.
Sorel's eyes linger on the long dead, and he grows paler, but he says nothing.
After a few minutes, Gilliam speaks. "I've managed to deactive the security locks on this floor, so the lift can get here if we need it... Give me a moment to search the subsystems here...
"Good..." Gilliam says. "They haven't even tried to repair the equipment here... Too badly damaged."
Gilliam finishes whatever it is he's doing shortly after and faces the others. "I've finished. There's nothing on this floor that needs our attention, so we should simply move to the stairs."
The paladin nods, glancing around the piles of bones and stepping towards the robot.
Sorel glances at Cedric before following the cyborg.
The cyborg trods forward, halting once in a while to look around before continuing.
Finally the group arrives in a very large chamber, a great arched gate of steel and crystal dominating the center of the room.
Wires hang from the gate, and sections of it are missing, burnt out, and shattered all at once.
does it look anything like the portal Sorel destroyed
Cedric tilts his head, glancing back at the source of most knowledge, "Faralon, thoughts?"
Faralon: "I...can't be sure, but this looks like it could've been been used as a portal. The shape certainly indicates it, and I can't imagine what else it could be."
"Of course it's a portal..." Gilliam says, quietly, looking up at the object. "That accursed thing is what started it all..."
"A portal to..." Cedric lets his query trail off, his face unreadable.
"Anywhere. Everywhere," Gilliam says quietly. "That was the theory."
"What was the reality?" Sorel asks in a hoarse voice.
"Hell," Gilliam states. "In the end, all that came from the dreams of the people who designed that device was a nightmare that consumed the world."
"This... This is where it all started... and ended," Gilliam says, quietly.
"So, uh...that's bad," Zook says.
"Does it still work?" Cedric asks distantly, looking at the burn marks and cracks.
Sorel looks at Cedric. "You cannot..."
"No. As I said, all the equipment on this level is beyond repair," Gilliam says, looking at the monolithic gate. "This... This was the first thing I checked."
"Good..." The paladin nods, then he arches an eyebrow, turning to Sorel, "Cannot...what?"
Sorel's eyes narrow slightly, but he looks away. "No matter."
"This gate... was to be the pride of our civilization. We already gates that spanned continents, had teleporters that could take you from Guardiana to Protectora in a second..." Gilliam says, staring at the machine.
Ombligo floats over to the gate, looking at it. "I hate to say this, especially at this moment, but we really need to finish up here. Everyone else is pressing on and relying on us to finish this. I'm sorry."
"This was to span stars and worlds..." Gilliam shakes his head at Ombligo's words. "Yes... you're right. Let's move on."
Cedric slowly turns away, his eyes locked on the gate, then starts after the robot.
The group moves on, advancing deeper into the base. After breaking through two manned barricades designed to halt their advance, the group arrives at the twenty first floor.
"This is a security floor, if we find the main control station for this level, I can speed up our little journey considerably..." Gilliam says as he peeks around the corner from the stairwell.
"As you'd expect from a security control level, the whole area is under tight guard..." Gilliam says, pointing out a number of automated gun turrets from the safety of the stairs."We'll have to hit hard and fast."
Sorel looks down at Ombligo, and then over to Cedric. "We are ready."
Faralon smiles, holding his bow. "I'm happy to say I have just the bow for such devices."
Cedric turns to Faralon, trust in his eyes as nods, "If you can provide us some cover from those...weapons..." He glances back into the hall, "This will be much simpler."
"Then let's begin!" Gilliam says, moving out of the stairwell and into the hall, firing a salvo of minute rockets from the new launchers attached to his legs. Two of the gun turrets fall to ruins as explosions engulf them.
Two more gun turrets in view whirl around to pepper Gilliam with bullets. The robot staggers back a little as his armor is riddled with dents.
Cedric shrugs, rolling his eyes at Faralon, "Or we can forgo tactics..." He rounds the corner, readying his weapon and dashes fowards, bracing himself for the injuries he was about to receive.
Sorel steps forward, murmuring to himself as a bolt of lightning lances between the two turrets that had fired on Gilliam.
The turrets go up in a blaze of smoke and sparks as Sorel unleashes the fury of nature on the machines.
Gilliam points. "This way!" Without further ado, the cyborg dashes down a corridor, gun blazing to take out another turret as it pops out of the ceiling.
Cedric pauses for a moment, waiting for the others to pass him, then takes up rear guard and follows.
Faralon readies his bow to shoot at any active turrets.
As Gilliam presses forward, Cedric hears the clatter of skeletal feet on metal.
"Faralon, Sorel... Assist the Ancient..." He comes to a halt, turning back the way the group had come, "Ombligo, hold here with me."
Just as soon as Cedric speaks, a squad of eight Drowned Eye round the corner and drop to their knees, opening fire on the paladin and the magical creature.
Ombligo: "Ahh!!!" Ombligo sends up a magical shield of force that stops the bullets.
A trio of gun turrets flip down from the ceiling and wall panels as Gilliam advances. The Ancient's gun blazes and two of the guns detonate under the barrage of bullets.
The third fires a thin green beam at Gilliam which slices deep into the Ancient's armor.
Faralon fires a pair of arrows at one of the turrets.
Sorel turns around, conjuring a windstorm in the narrow hallway that blocks the fire of the Drowned Eye.
Faralon's magically enhanced arrows slice deep into the turret, causing it to spark and shut down.
The hardened paladin barely flinches as the weapons fire strikes him, instead tightening his grip on his hammer and channeling inner energy, his strength visibly increasing.
Ombligo's form crackles with electricity as he sends a Lightning Bolt flying down the corridor at the Drowned Eye.
A pair of Drowned Eye shudder as the bolt strikes them, the collapse into unmoving piles of bone at Ombligo's attack.
OOC VOX: I'm sorry, I really can't stay awake any more
The Drowned Eye sling their guns as the windstorm envelops the area, drawing handaxes and charging at Cedric instead.Meanwhile a trio of Drowned Eye assemble to bar Sorel and Gilliam's way, but a laser blast from the cyborg swiftly sends them flying.
Cedric begins to smite them royally with his great strength and mighty hammer, taking what hits come.
"Almost there..." Gilliam mutters as he spots a large door in the distance.
The skeletons prove no match for Cedric in hand to hand combat as he smashes them apart one by one.
A blast of lightning from Sorel fries the last automated defenses around the security station as Gilliam begins to tap at a panel next to the door.
With no more reinforcements forthcoming, Cedric finds himself free to rejoin his compatriots. The Paladin nods to Ombligo, then starts after the others.
"Good... As I hoped. No one thought to change the codes," Gilliam says, as he finishes and the door slides open.
Inside is a single Drowned Eye, which Gilliam dispatches with a double burst.
Besides that, there is a large array of monitors showing different parts of the base. Consoles and workstations also fill the room.
Gilliam seats himself at one and grunts as the chair collapses under his weight. "Right..." Gilliam mutters as he stands. "Old habits..."
Ombligo curiously looks at the monitors to see if he can find any of his allies on there.
Cedric glances around the room for a moment, then steps to the doorway and watches down the hall with a frown.
Ombligo spots Gail's group steadily advancing down into the base.
OOC: Gail suddenly gets the strangest feeling that some with tentacles is watching her.
Gilliam continues working at the station.
Ombligo bubbles with excitement as he watches Gail's group advance. He follows the other monitors to see if he can find anything else of interest.
Ombligo's attention span not being the best, he only manages to catch a glimpse of Ashathel's team also working its way downward.
"Almost done..." Gillliam says. "Security locks on the lift are gone now. All floors opened. Working on shutting down... Huh. That's odd..."
Faralon: "What is it?"
"Well, I was working on shutting down all the security systems, guns and traps and the like, between us and the command level..." Gilliam says. "But it looks like another hacker is beating me to the punch."
Faralon: "What?? I don't suppose Zook would be..." Faralon cuts off mid-sentence as he approaches the monitors as well, trying to look for Zook.
Faralon: "I don't see him. Maybe Zook knows a little more about machines than I thought."
"Well..." Gilliam says, metal fingers tapping at the keyboard. "Zook looks like he managed to shut off exterior sensors, but this guy's working from the ground floor... Level 7. He can't be Zook."
Gilliam gives a metallic chuckle. "He's good, whoever he is... He's wreaking havoc with the systems enough to draw the base's AI's attention... Good... That means I can work unmolested..."
"There... That should make our trip a lot easier..." Gilliam says, finishing as he steps away from the console. "We can continue now."
Faralon nods, puzzled, wondering who this 'mystery hacker' is.
Cedric nods, puzzled, wondering why the others were making such a big deal of this 'hacker'… It certainly must be Ashathel, HACK and SLASH!! "Can you hinder these damn undead or assist the others?" Cedric questions from his position by the door, then he sighs and shakes his head, "If not, let's go."
Not long after that, Gilliam gives the word, and the group begins to depart. Just before leaving the room, a bit of familiar movement catches Sorel's eye. He turns. On one of the many monitors he sees the tiny figure of an ordinary-looking man, his mundane appearance made remarkable by the fact that his hands and clothing are smeared with blood. The old man's eyes widen.
It cannot be...
His gaze fixes on the screen. There is no denying the resemblance. Alastor. Sorel's eyes linger a moment longer on the screen, before he looks down at the shattered skull of the tormented dead.
: "There is no shortage of ghosts in this place," he whispers, giving the monitor a final look before he leaves the room, catching up with the others.
Gilliam motions and the group continues along. "I did assist," Gilliam says. "All those gun turrets and other such automated defenses should be offline for about an hour... Far more than enough time to reach the command level."
Cedric shrugs, not really understanding what the robot was talking about, but assured that what could be done had been done.
The group moves through darkened corridor after darkened corridor, inching closer to their goal.
Sorel frowns, staring out with sharp eyes, "I see something but I cannot hear it...strange."
Sorel sees movement down the corridor, while Ombligo hears whispers all around.
"Hello? Jarell? Frank? This... This isn't funny..." a pleading voice says. "Where... Where did everyone go?"
Cedric marches on.
"Wait...Do you guys hear that? Whispers...everywhere."
The paladin pauses, glancing back with a frown, "What is it?" He arches an eyebrow, "Whispers?"
"Yeah...someone asking for 'Jarell' and 'Frank'. They're looking for them."
Sorel shakes his head, "I hear nothing...but I see something there." He gestures down the corridor.
A softly glowing transparent image of a man in odd clothing walks down the hall, nervously looking around and shaking badly before disappearing.
"Jarell and Frank?" Cedric arches an eyebrow, glancing around and detecting evil.
Faralon: "That looks like a ghost." Faralon says, simply, subconsciously thinking back to Damas.
Cedric is unable to detect anything, though his senses are somewhat obscured by the tremendous evil that has seeped into the very bone of the mountain.
Gilliam pauses for a moment, then continues forward.
Cedric listens intently.
Everyone hears some speaking further down the hall.
"It's too much... I'm sorry honey. I'll be lucky if you even get this message, if someone finds me..." a male voice says.
Slowly materializing down the hall, another apparition appears, in the same uniform as the other ghost. He holds a pistol in one hand.
In the other hand is a small metal box, which he holds to his mouth and speaks to.
Cedric frowns but continues on.
"I'm just not that strong... I saw them take Geril and Brightson already... I can't let that happen to me. I'm sorry... Good-bye."
The ghost then drops the metal box and puts the pistol to his head, pulling the trigger and collapsing to the floor even as his form decorporealizes.
Where the ghost fell is a skeleton with a partially shattered skull, rusted pistol still in one hand.
The ghost's re-enactment etches sorrow onto Sorel's face.
Cedric continues on, his grip tightening on his hammer.

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:07 am
placeholder

Posted by: Rusty Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:15 am
Alexander's group stands in the ruins of a large laboratory on floor twelve, licking their wounds after the last battle. However time stops for no man, so the group is soon on the move again, pressing deeper into the lab complex. Overruning another group of robotic enemies, the warband reaches a single large door with a simple switch nearby. The door easily reaches a height of sixteen feet.
*Alexander looks at the door, and then at the switch.* "Do you think there could be a trap here?" *He asks to no one in particular.*
"Is that a rhetorical question?" Hal asks, brightly.
"Open it and fight out," Caius says, grinning.
Alexander: "Thavon, can you try and determine if this thing has any magical protection on it?"
Hal looks over at Alex, and waits for him to order someone to pull the lever.
*Thavon shakes his head. Alexander nods and approaches the switch.* "Okay, everyone stay alert. There's no telling what's behind that door."
*Alexander flips the switch, watching the door.*
As the switch is flipped, the door slowly opens, revealing a large chamber with another door at the end. In the middle is a huge boxy-looking robot attached to many machines. It appears to not be online.
*Alexander enters the room cautiously, looking directly at the huge robot.* "What is that thing...?"
"It's an Ancient robot which guards this place..." Sophie explains softly, her eyes narrowing, "It is heavily armed but I don't know much more about it..." She glances at the wyrmling, "Dagron?"
Alexander: "Wait, if it's heavily armed...why isn't it doing anything?"
The large blast door slides down and clicks into place behind the group.
Sophie frowns, shrugging helplessly, "I don't know..."
"It appears to be asleep," Hal says, before turning to look at the closed door. "Oh, that can't be good." A bit of dust gets into Hal's eye, and he rubs furiously, tears forming. "Drat it..."
A few lights on the robot slowly begin to light up. A faint humming can be heard from the robot, growing in intensity.
The friar's eyes clear, he looks at the robot. "Oh dear, that really can't be good..."
Alexander: "It's alive! Quick, everyone, strike it down!"
Caius pauses for a second, "What's alive? what are you-" then realizes and quickly draws his swords, moving forward.
The sound emanating from the machine grow louder. Finally the robot stands to its full height on its back-bent legs, panels flipping open on pods attached to its side, revealing weapons.
Caius moves forward, slicing at the robot several times. However, only three attacks hit.
Hal moves to stand behind Alex.
Alex slashes into the robot, managing to damage it lightly.
Dagron hovers over the robot, landing a strong bite.
*Thavon flies forward, driving a good dent into the robot.*
The robot turns towards Thavon and opens fire with two pod-like weapons. Streams of energy lance towards the birdman. Thavon squawks as four streams of blue light sear through him, melting his flesh in several places and leaving him crippled.
Alexander: "THAVON!!!" *Alexander attacks with a flurry of sword swings, but despite his rage, Alexander doesn't manage to do much to the titanic robot.*
Hal runs over to the downed birdman, attempting to heal him. "Damnit!" he curses. "The bone's still broken. I'll cover him."
Dagron lays into the robot, a whirlwind of teeth and claws on other harmful dragony bits.
Hal drags Thavon to a corner of the room, shielding him from the robot.
Caius continues his quick attacks, dancing around the robot.
Four streams of light once more burst from the robot, though two only manage to hit the walls. The only two burn into Alexander, causing him great pain.
((Alexander takes 60 damage total.))
Alexander: "Sophie, cover me!" *Alexander says before casting a powerful Bolt spell. The robot begins to smoke and spark.*
*Dagron grows tired of this robot's relentless attacks and unceasing stamina. With a deep inhale, Dagron empowers a blast of fire not witnessed often before. The flames run hot, but swirl and spiral as they barrel toward the robot below. Even after the main flames dissipate, licks of flame dance and flicker about the robot's form.*
Caius attacks relentlessly, three attacks hitting this time, causing the robot to slow more as the damage is more apparent to its battered frame.
One stream goes off target, but the rest strike Dagron, wracking him with pain.
((90 damage total to Dagron.))
*Dagron reels in the sky against the robot's counter attack.* "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT GRIEVANCE!" *Dagron blurts in rage. Suddenly, he becomes a flurry of teeth and claws, and with a spin, he batters the mechanical monstrosity with a torrent of wings, fanning the flames still covering the robot before they die away.*
The robot shudders, then collapses. Shortly after, portions of it explode.
((500 XP to all characters involved.))
*Alexander exhales sharply, then shakes his head at the fallen robot.* Alexander: "I'm glad that's over with. I hope Thavon's all right...He took the worst of it." *He then turns to the others.* "Hal, stick with Thavon. Sophie, help carry him. Unfortunately we can't slow down and take a rest. We have to continue." *Alexander flips this switch, getting into a fighting stance just in case the group finds another machine...The stairs up greet his eyes instead.*
((100 XP to me.))

Posted by: Aldur Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:48 pm
Viletta finds another terminal and hacks into it, managing to disable a smattering of camera's in the command centre but gets expelled once more from the system as she fails to disable the teleportation pads. "Path-path-pathetic attempt, hacker..." the AI says as Viletta is ejected from the system.

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:11 am
Zook, Telanna, and Gorrik set off not long after the others depart. Gorrik is uncharacteristically silent. But after a short while, Telanna breaks the silence. "So, what is it you do, exactly?" Zook looks up. "I'm sorry?" "Well," Telanna says, "I'm not sure what exactly it is that you do. I've seen you giving orders, and flying around in that giant metal...thing, but I'm still not exactly sure what you do."
"Oh," the tinker says, slightly irritated. "Well, that must be bothersome." He doesn't say any more.
Telanna glares at the little man, but doesn't press further.
Pressing deeper into the base, Zook's team eventually makes it to floor 21. After a brutal battle with the robots set to guard it, the team stands before a long corridor of metal doors. Zook runs his hands along the door, examining it carefully. He finds that next to each door is a security keypad. There is no visible hinge or handle for the doors themselves.
"Hmmm...." Zook mumbles, checking on and around the keypad for any sign of how to tackle it.
"Are you lost?" Telanna says, smirking. "You want me to go find a guide?"
Zook waves her off impatiently, and Gorrik watches the exchange in stoic silence. He enters a few random numbers, but to no avail. A bit of motion catches the corner of his eye, and Zook turns to see that one of the nearby keypads is sparking. He reaches out to examine it, and winces as the thing explodes in his hands, painfully sending shrapnel into his skin. However, the door slides open.
"See?" he says, sucking on the tip of his finger. "I knew what I was doing. Can't rush these things."
The room appears to be a storage area for suits of powered armor. Several deactivated suits of the armor are strewn about, badly damaged. Zook grins with glee, and rubs his stinging hands together.
"Jackpot!"
He scavenges about, tossing a slew of useful-looking spare parts into his satchel.
((Found - Power Armor Parts))
After that, he sweeps about, scanning the shelves, and comes up with a small box containing four power cells designed for use with powered armor.
((Found - Power Armor Power Cells[4]))
After another few minutes of rooting, Zook is finished. He stands abruptly -- bumping his head. He rubs the bump, looking up at what he had struck. A dusty suit of power armor stands over him, in much better condition than the others. He rubs his eyes.
"Oh boy, oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy..." He mumbles like this for a few minutes before he looks disparagingly at his own satchel, and then hungrily at Telanna's Bag of Holding.
"Wouldn't fit," he thinks, still staring at the bag on Telanna's waist.
The druidess gapes at the gnome. "Pervert!" she shouts.
"What are you babbling about?" Zook says, pulling a grease pencil from one of his pockets and scrawling something untidily on the chest of the armor.
((Found - Power Armor. Come back for it later))
Zook spends a few minutes fiddling with the other doors in the armory, to no avail. Eventually he gives up, and along with the others heads down to the 20th Floor.
The Archiving floor is devoid of enemies, leaving row upon row of computer systems and huge containers with file after file standing. Unfortunately, it seems that most of these systems and files were wrecked by the fighting that took place here so long ago. It takes a while, but Zook finds a working console that has a search function.
He taps out a few keywords, trying several combinations of "devil", "strife lord", and "end of the world". He spends a little while reading through several increasingly dull prophecies, but eventually he finds something that catches his eye. The words seem hypnotic on the screen, and he begins to read them out loud.
"When the Dragon is sealed and the devils still unrevealed, there will appear a new foe.
Wrapped in shadows until it be too late, they will infect this world with strife and hate.
The lost sheep flock to the false shepherd, who bears not a crook but a whip.
The heroes of old fall, some to the grave, some becoming thralls.
The Dragon's Castle is risen, but not with his escape in mind.
The Devil's Tower is still a prison, but its powers will be tapped in kind.
The lure of evil is made clear, and darkness corrupts all it touches.
The trusting queen tries to save, but in doing so dooms her kingdom.
The young prince is brave, but by being so looms his end from.
Heroes die and heroes fall, even the gods are held frozen in their halls
Who can say there is hope for us all?"
The gods, the kingdoms, the guardians of the seal,
All try to drive back the invader and are struck with wounds that may never heal.
But the scattered elements unite, and slowly the world remembers its might.
The hatching godling and the wandering sealer stand to strike a blow for the light.
Heroes both old and new come together and forge an alliance true.
And through that, all will be made right."
((Found - Prophecy))
"'All will be made right'," Telanna says, unsettled by the stillness of this place and Zook's trancelike cadence. "Well that's something, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Zook mutters, tapping out a few more queries, on the members of the Guardian Eye Elite he knew to still be active: the Swarm, the Shade, and General Fasher.
The Swarm is a sorceror that specializes in summoning and controlling vast hordes of minions, hence his name.
The Shade is an assassin that specializes in striking a single deadly blow, then vanishing into the chaos of combat. He bears twin artifact blades forged for him by the Mage Council of the time. One of these blades is Bane of the Traitor, a sword meant to slay those mortals that had joined the Devils in their mad conquest. The other is Death of the Servant, a sword meant to slay the abominations and magically created monsters the devils used as fodder and shock troops in their war.
General Gregory Fasher, the commander of the unit, was a famous psioncist, a wielder of a type of 'mind magic'.
"What the hell? 'Mind magic'?" Zook says incredulously. He taps another name into the command line, this time "Colonel Gilliam Thornton".
The archives only have a listing for a Corporal Gilliam Thornton, one of the military personally assigned to guard the base.
The computer displays a picture of a dark haired young man in a military uniform..
Zook stares at the picture for a moment, and then presses a few keys, requesting a printout of the file. A slot at the base of the terminal obliges, and Zook passes the sheets into a thin yellow folder he'd found on a desk at the entrance of the floor.
((Found - Personnel File[Cpl. Gilliam Thornton]))
Sifting aimlessly through the archives, Zook notices there aren't any past a certain date. He sorts the entries chronologically and opens the last file to be entered into the database.
The most recently dated archive is a report that the first tests for the Class XN Transdimensional Gate were due to begin on floor 27, the Teleportation labs. It lists the scientists involved and orders for all base personnel.
The tinker racks his brain, and comes up with memories of a few of the names in the list - as notable in their respective fields, but nothing of any great significance. He sighs, deactivating the terminal. "Let's go," he says to Telanna and the still-quiet Gorrik. The team exits and moves down to the training area.
The Training Facilities are interesting to walk through, malfunctioning VR simulators and holofields dominating most of the level, though a few shooting ranges are also present as well as an obstacle course.
Looking for books, Zook find a few manuals on power armor repair and weapon repair, as well as a basic field guide that includes sharpshooting tips. He stuffs them into his bulging satchel and moves on.
((Found - Ancient Tactical and Repair Manuals))
The Hydroponics floor has been made into a huge reanimation area for undead. Piles of corpses litter the floor, while the few functioning rooms with water and growing food in them are used as quarters for necromancers. Here, they can eat, sleep, and work nonstop as they raise an army for their masters...
Zook brings a fist to his mouth, struggling to hold back the urge to vomit. Telanna shakes uncontrollably at the grotesque sight. Gorrik is silent and thoughtful.
A few of the necromancers are still on the floor, hard at their profane work. Luckily, none are particularly suited to combat and the floor is easily taken, if rather disturbing to walk through.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:19 am
They had fought long and hard, but at last the warriors of the new Shining Forces arrived at the very heart of the Ancient base... the command center. Seat of the Apocalypse: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/6677/40 Vast walls with glass panels on them that show ever shifting displays and incomprehensible walls of text and diagrams cover one end of the room. Massive monitors and displays are everywhere, while the Eye symbol of the Ancients still remains proudly emblazoned in areas that remain untouched by screens or machines. The floor, ceiling, and parts of the wall are carved from a glossy blue stone that seems to shine in the light shed by the row upon row of electric illuminators in the ceiling above. Two shallow pits with seats and control consoles stand to either side of a large platform with odd equipment on it as well as control panel after control panel.
: "Good evening, my guests... I bid you welcome to our now humble abode, I assure you we'd be giving you a far more splendid welcome were we up to the glory of our past..." a humanoid figure in a gray trenchcoat like uniform says, at the other end of the room. His feet float a few inches off the ground and his voice seems to emanate from the very walls as he speaks.
: "I commend you for reaching this far... But pointy metal sticks and hedge-wizard spells can only get you so far..." Fasher, for that is indeed who he is, states. "You stand now where the old world ended and your pathetic imitation began. You stand now at the very gate between armageddon and peace... And more..."
Power crackles around the figure's hands as he stares at you.
: “You now face the most powerful practitioner of psychokinetic and telepathic powers in the Ancient world!"
Gates of Armageddon: http://www.shinola.radh.com/guest/Vox/gate.mp3
Map:
Groups currently present at the battle: Zook's. Cedric's. Ashathel's.

Posted by: FreedomJu Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:48 am
OOC: Just a heads up to those who might not know, I have control over Gorrik and Laika for this battle. If ya spot errors or have anything to point out, let me know. ((Gorrik charges that robot to the left of the group about 30' away. Dodge to the same robot. I'm pretty sure that brings his AC up to 30 against that robot.
Attack
Axe: D20(18) + 13(BAB) + 6(STR) + 2(Axe) + 2(Charge) = 41
Damage
Axe: D10(2) + 5(STR) + 2(Axe) = 9))
((Laika rages and charges the robot on the right flank about 30' away.
Fearsome Fury Intimidate result is 33
Attack
Claw: D20(20) + 12(BAB) + 7(STR) + 2(Charge) = 41
Damage
Claw: D8(4) + D6(3)fire + 6(STR) = 13
Laika now has 174 HP and 20 AC))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:04 am
((Posting deadline is Saturday Night.)) "Sir? I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstandin-" one droid gets out before Gorrik cleaves his axe into it. The robot detonates, engulding the dwarf in a hail of shrapnel and fire that tears into his skin.
"I'm sorry sir," one of the other robots says as he explodes the moment Laika lays a claw on him.
((41 damage to Gorrik, 20 damage for Laika who made the save as the two Service Droids blow up. Evasion does not apply.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:13 am
*Aurik takes a moment to gauge the height of the large robots' weapons and the fragility of the robots that exploded on Gorrik and Laika. He calls out to Volcanon and his blistering fires of the forge. While invoking his deity's might, he presents a tiny cube of stone, then throws it in a trajectory heading between the two servant droids. In mid-air, it glows slightly, then vanishes. The area rumbles, then stone forms from mid air, creating a wall ten feet in height spanning between the two ziggurats. The wall attempts to entrap and destroy the servant droids as it forms.*
((Aurik casts Wall of Stone here
The wall of stone is 10' high and 2" thick. The wall has 30 hp and hardness 8. The wall can be broken with a DC 24 STR check. I'm presuming that the wall extends to the edge of the ziggurats, since they both extend into the squares adjacent to the wall's edge.
The two robots caught within the wall's area are entitled to a DC 20 reflex save or are entrapped in the wall. Should they be destroyed as the wall completely encases them, it continues to fill in as normal.))

Posted by: Rusty Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:44 am
*Faralon looks about through the battlefield, noting the robots, particularly the CHAOS robots. He squints his eyes, muttering to himself.* : "Where it all began and where it will end..." *Faralon casts a spell but no effect happens just yet.*
((Casting Harmony. Going defensive after casting.))
---
*Ombligo waves his tentacles in circular motions in front of him, then twirls around in a circle as those around him begin to shake with extra energy.*
: "Don't worry, everyone! I know help is on the way. I saw Gail's group myself!"
((Casting Haste on the following: Cedric, Gabriel, Gilliam, Ashathel, Aurik, Kria, Langston, Graigus, Telanna, Tanis, Faralon, Ombligo, and Farain. Lasts for 13 rounds.))

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:07 am
((Those last 2 Adam-bots are trapped, just fyi))

Posted by: Kaihaku Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:24 am
"Fool..." Cedric shakes his head, "This is nothing but a grave and you, just a corspe that forgot its place." He shifts his hammer to the side, "You have no right to this world...no, this world is not the pathetic ruins that your race left it, it has been restored to something beyond you." His voice lowers, "Since you so love this stinking pit of death and decay, I promise that it is here that your remains will be entombed...this time for eternity."
The Paladin pauses then for a moment, staring at the stone wall newly sprung from existence, then nods approvingly, "Well done, Aurik." He nods to the wall, "Ombligo, Sorel... Put your lightning to good use aganist those warmachines..." He then jogs heavily towards the stone wall, following it and using it to provide cover.

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:14 am
Fasher laughs, a deep, dry sound. His voice grows louder, filling the room and the halls beyond. : "Beyond us? You babbling little fool... Beyond us? The world you live in is a hollow parody of our greatness... Where are the cities that reach the sky? The vehicles and gateways that allowed anyone to visit any other place on the globe if they wished it... Where are the grand universities and the research centers?" Fasher's tone grows angry as it speaks. "Where are the communities searching for enlightenment? Where are the mortals building a better tommorrow? WHERE ARE THEY?!" Fasher's voice booms. "You want to know what I see?! I see an endless cycle of war, famine, oppression, and ignorance when I look at your pathetic societies. I see a thousand years in which you could've rebuilt and reclaimed the birthright of humanity wasted in squalor. I see huddled masses praying to deities for deliverance instead of seeking the light within themselves! I see a people that once teetered on the brink of godhood now reduced to scrabbing worms... I see death."
: "Even Saraband's vaunted steam engines had to come from a remnant of my civilization, sold to your people from a Vandal of all things... You didn't rediscover it. You didn't do anything. We sacrificed everything for you... Everything of ours we destroyed to halt the Devils and their monstrous Dragon. And this is what it turns out our sacrifice was for..." Fasher hisses. "Your little toy castles and towns are a mockery to what came before... An insult on the billions of graves that were piled to raise you above the firestorm that engulfed everything else... An insult I shall not stand for..."
As the other teams move towards their objectives, Fasher's voice reverberates through the halls as the base's loudspeaker system sends his words all throughout the ruin.

Posted by: Knight_019 Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:21 pm

QUOTE (TheUnknownMarine @ Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:14 am)
The vehicles and gateways that allowed anyone to visit any other place on the globe if they wished it...

*Aurik's head implodes upon learning that the world is round.*

Posted by: Alpha Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:22 pm
((I'm passing control of Tanis to Kev for when I'm not around to make deadlines. Blast away, good sir.)) With the copious amounts of robots in sights before the fatespinner, he weaves a spell of electricity in the air before him, lightning crackling from his fingertips. Extending one arm out, he discharges the growing current in the air, and it races towards the right metal titan, just in sight over Aurik's wall. The bolt doesn't stop however, and instead arcs to both the CHAOS robot above it and to the other titan too.
[Burn two level spells to cast Chain Lightning. Use 2 fate points to boost the DC
Primary damage (right titan): (12d6 x1.5[robot]) + 4(warmage edge) = 69 electricity damage
Secondary damage (left titan and CHAOS): (6d6 x1.5[robot]) + (4 warmage edge) = 40 electricity damage
Reflex save DC26 for half damage]

Posted by: Rusty Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:11 pm
: "I can already tell why your world failed. You grew arrogant. YOU created what you see before you. YOU turned the world into what it is today. We were born into this world, but you created that great collapse that destroyed your own world. But I shouldn't even waste my time trying to reason with you. You work with the Strife Lords so I can't really trust you to be sane."

Posted by: Tarethen Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:39 am
"From broken bunks and endless doors, only to be confronted with another battle here," the centaur muttered under his breath. "I just want out of this place and into some fresh air, but to do that..." he lifted his bow, pulling out arrows as he took aim at an armored skeleton in the distance.
((Attacking armored skeleton 75' East. Yay for haste:
Attack 1:
1d20: 1... Fu--
Confirming critical miss...
OnlineHost (10:28:10 PM): IzzyandTento999 rolled 1 20-sided die: 20 Yay~
Attack 2:
1d20: 19 + 6(bab) + 6(dex) + 2(bracers) +1(haste) = 34.
Attack 3:
1d20: 9 + 1(bab) + 6(dex) + 2 (bracers) + 1(haste) = 19.
Attack 4:
1d20: 8 + 11(bab) + 6(dex) + 2(bracers) + 1(haste) = 28.
Damage 1:
2d6: 1 + 4 + 6(str) + 1 (magic) + 1 (bracers) = 13.
Damage 2:
2d6: 2 + 6 +6(str) + 1 (magic) + 1(bracers) = 16. ))

Posted by: Kaihaku Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:25 am
En route... "Huh, sounds like somebody hit a nerve..." Maria ponders aloud at broadcast echoing down the ancient halls, "I wonder who beat us to the punch, think it was Alex or the black ops?" The Doctor listens with a frown, his eyes troubled by dark thoughts at the broadcast.
The psionic operative pulls two glowing blue vials from an inner pocket, looking at them reflectively, "At least we get a chance at whoever is pulling the strings behind that computer..." Her eyes narrow angrily at the memory, then she downs one of the vials stiffly.
[+10 PP]
Maria tosses the remaining vial to the Doctor, who catches it with ease, glancing at her questioningly. The psion shrugs.
Coventry smiles, then drinks the vial commenting, "Ah... Mana, my favorite flavor."
[+5 Spell Levels]
"I prefer strawberry myself." Maria replies, "...though in this case I'll settle for bloody revenge..." She then corrects, glancing at Varro, "...I mean justice."

Posted by: Aldur Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:58 am
Kria looks sadly at Fasher after flying into the air, looking down at her armour and then at the General. "And so yet another is tainted by that vile Dragon. Then...like, I have to stop you as well! You're gonna get set free from this bargain basement version of existence! You've never even bothered to go outside and see the world you so loath have you!? Like, have you felt the wind on your face!? Have you seen the smile of another person? Another living person? Like, I bet you haven't you hateful old ghostie! Can you even remember what it's like to love your own existence!? No! Get ready bastard! YOU'RE GONNA GET WRECKED!"
Kria flew into the air with a challenging snarl, shadowy wings propelling the Catfolk high into the air, as she spots her target. She smiles at him, waves and then with a fun little flip, blasts the maniac general with acidic eldritch power.
((Vitrolic blast: 17+7+6 = 30 ranged touch. Hit I would assume. Ignores any and all SR.
Damage: 36.))

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:18 pm
: "Righteousness is the locus of revenge and justice," Varro states with an odd inflection, as if he were reciting from memory. He makes no further comment as the Rangers march on towards Floor 13. --- Sorel looks askance at the domineering paladin.
: "I do not have any more lightning spells." Instead he plants his staff on the ground between his feet, and green sparks begin to swirl around him. They spin so rapidly that they form a single aura, that grows so brightly it is difficult to look directly at Sorel.
((Engaging aura, any undead within 10 feet take 1d4 damage))
---
Zook joins his comrades in implausible mid-battle speechifying, his tone starting off weak and gradually growing more confident and angry.
"Well, Gregory, I'd say we're better than you in a fair number of ways. For starters, while I can't speak for anyone else, I've never been so beaten by a pack of two-bit devils that I thought I had to nuke my entire civilization rather than admit I wasn't good enough. I've never been so ashamed of my own impotence that I had to kill every man, woman, and child in a torrent of fire rather than face the consequences of my failure. I've never been so stupid and arrogant as to rip a hole in space-time just to see what's what. I've never gotten drowned by the sheer incompetence and malice of the people I called allies. I never got turned into the undead bitch of a rockhead, an eight-eyed nutcase and their spooky big brother. You failed. Your civilization might have measured up, it might have been a beacon to all the worlds. But you ruined it, you, Fasher, with your arrogance and your weakness and your stupidity. You were tested against the worst the universe had to throw at you, and you couldn't measure up.
"So, by all means, Greg, swell with pride at the awesome might of Metapha. Then stand still and watch us clean up your mess."
((Move to the square east of where Laika is on the old map. Fire once at the bottom right Drowned Eye. To-hit 32, Damage 21 + 9 holy))

Posted by: Arcdragnbreth Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:50 am
"I like to think of this wall as a symbol of your inability to reason with us, Fasher," Ashathel said, moving into position north of the destroyed drone. Targeting another robot, he let loose a rust-red ray in it's direction. ((Move to the spot 2 squares north of the eastmost Adam-looking robot and cast Ray of Deanimation on the Chaos-looking robot.
Ray of Deanimation: 1d20 +14 (bab) +4 (dex) +3 (greaves) = 29
Damage: 11d6 = 37))
<}----{ Ashathel }----{>
(O) 135/135 HP
(O) AC 24 (19 touch, 20 flat)
(O) Song of Celerity: 1/1
<== Spells ==>
Lv 0: Detect Magic [2]
Lv 1: Magic Missile [3], Enlarge Person, L. Orb of Sound [4]
Lv 2: Blur, Cat's Grace, Fox's Cunning, Blast of Force
Lv 3: Bolt 1 [3]
Lv 4: Ray of Deanimation
(}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{)
Making a beeline for the construct just attacked by the bladesinger, Gabriel swung his greatsword downward with extra force.
((Atk: 1d20 +15 (bab) +7 (str) +1 (wpn) -5 (pa) = 22))
<}----{ Gabriel }----{>
(O) 186/186 HP
(O) AC 20 (13 touch, 17 flat)
(O) Rage: 1/2
(O) Primeval Form: 2/3
(}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{^}~~~~{)
Holding his staff in front of himself protectively, the monk moved ahead, setting his sights on the Drowned Eye soldier that would no doubt start sniping at the force soon.
((Move to the spot 2 west and 1 north of the Drowned Eye in the southeast corner. On the defensive.))
<}----{ Graigus }----{>
(O) 124/124 HP
(O) AC 25 (touch 22, flat 22)
(O) Stunning Fist: 8/8
(O) Hybrid Form: 2/2

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:14 am
Tanis' lightning crackles on the machines, the robots unable to escape the mage's wrath as electricity overtakes them. Kria's blast of acid somehow becomes less potent as it strike Fasher, even though the attack does sear away a portion of his jacket. Revealed underneath is glistening bone, pitted by Kria's acid.
Zook's bullet and Farain's arrow both slam into the Drowned Eye, but the undead stands firm.
"You'll have to do better..." it warbles in the odd watery voice of the Drowned Eye. "You'll never face our like again."
: "Little gnome..." Fasher hisses. "Where you there during the Apocalypse? It was nuclear fire or signing away the world to the Devil Kings and their ilk..." Fasher chuckles. "Though perhaps in the end it would've all been the same... You stand there and mock me, little gnome, but there was no other choice to be made. Everything would've been consumed by fire either way... I merely chose mankind's fire to that of the Enemy."
: "No... There was a chance. There was always a chance!" Gilliam shouts back.
: "A chance for our world to be annihiliated instead of merely reborn!" Fasher shouts at Gilliam. "You remember how it was... Wave after wave with their infernal magics... Those traitors flocking to join their side with those possessed by Gizmos turning our own works against us... The cities that fell one by one to their unrelenting power... To save the handful we had left, yes, I burned the world! And for that choice you condemn me! Pathetic! That choice is all that gave you any future at all!"
Gilliam darts forward and behind one of the ziggurats, using it as cover as he leans out to fire his chest laser at the immense robot behind the stone wall.
((Hit. 43 damage to the Heavy Assault Robot.))
The robots and Drowned Eye at the further end of the room open fire on the stone wall, blasting apart chunks of it in a blazing inferno of energy beams and gunfire.
: "Ah, let's see... A dwarven paladin... Stout of body and heart? Please. You're nothing at all... You're just a little speck in the world, in the shadow of the mountains around you... You're nothing..." Fasher intones.
Gorrik hears a cacophony of voices in his head and is beset by a chorus of voices condemning him and all he's ever done. Then he feels a tremendous presence within his head, dwarfing him in his own mind. The dwarf suddenly collapses, unable to summon the will to lift a finger and trembling badly before his mind cannot take it anymore and shuts down.
((Ego Whip. Gorrik takes 18 CHA damage and is unconscious.))
A bright lance of light sears into Cedric's side as an Assault Robot fires its laser at him.
"Target confirmed: Enemy Commander," the robot states as takes cover behind a control booth.
"How dare you insult the Metaphans!!" the rightmost Drowned Eye shouts as it fires wildly at Zook, the agile gnome manage to dodge aside.
"Should've stayed at home, girl. This ruin is no place for women or children..." another Drowned Eye intones as it fires at Telanna. The bullets cut deep into her bark-colored skin, wracking her with pain.
((Hit, Miss. 36 damage to Telanna.))
"The paladin..." one of the Drowned Eye murmurs, firing at Cedric. The gunburst ricochet off the aura of protection provided by the paladin's magical artifacts.
The Swarm murmurs words of power and a shimmering sphere of force wraps itself around the squirming sorceror.
A missile streaks from the back of one of the titanic robots behind the stone wall, arcing into the air before slamming down into the middle of the group's combat formation.
((36 fire damage to Sorel and Faralon. Farain, Tanis, Telanna, Ombligo, and Ashathel save and take half damage. Langston, Zook, Graigus, and Aurik evade.))
The other Heavy Assault Robot turns and fires at Gilliam and Cedric through one of the gaps in the stone wall. A laser beam slices the air from its belly at Gilliam as twin chainguns spew death at Cedric.
((Hit, Hit, Hit. 30 damage to Gilliam. 67 damage to Cedric over two attacks and before DR.))
The eastern Assault Robot sparks as Ashathel's ray strikes it, though Gabriel's blade merely clanks off its armor.
: "Inability to reason with you... Oh no, my young elf. I think you'll find I'm quite persuasive when I want to be..." Fasher says, chuckingly deeply. "Isn't that right?"
Ombligo, Langston, Farain, and Faralon nod their agreement as their eyes glass over and they feel their wills being pushed to one side.
((Quickened Telepathic Dominate Person: Sorel passes. Faralon, Ombligo, Langston, and Farain all fail and are Dominated.))
Next turn!
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5051/megiddocommanda02arf1.png
Those dominated by Fasher receive a new save at a +2 bonus this round, as he's ordering them to do things against their good natures.

Posted by: FreedomJu Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:47 am
((Laika charges the DE in the bottom right corner. Attack Claw: D20(10) + 12(BAB) + 7(STR) + 2(Charge) = 31 Damage Claw: D8(6) + D6(3)fire + 6(STR) = 15
If I hit, DE must pass a Will check of 15 or be shaken until Laika is taken out of combat or goes somewhere else.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:48 am
((Deadline: Monday Night.))

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:05 am
Sorel grits his teeth as the explosion envelops him in searing flame. His hands, badly burned, cling tightly to his staff, which shows no signs of damage. He watches Gorrik crumple under Fasher's mental assault. He can't save Telanna, who staggers backward, bruised, burned, and bloodied. He feels the General invading his own mind, and Sorel finds the prospect of giving over his will to Fasher almost seductive.
But he cannot.
Sorel pushes the dominator out of his mind, panting with pain and exertion. He sees that his friends are not so lucky. Ombligo, Langston, Farain, and Faralon go slack, and he can tell their minds are not their own. Aura shining more brightly, he steps forward.
: "You are doing it again. Men. Women. Children. How many more must you kill until you can rest, Fasher? How many more have to die? I will not allow it. I cannot allow it." His aura shines still brighter. "You have borrowed power you did not ask for, you were forced into a life you could not want. No one deserves that. You were forced to decide between destroying our world and allowing it to be destroyed. No man should have to make that choice. You have earned sadness, not ire. You have my pity, and my remorse. And we will give you what you could not give yourself, what you could not give your world. We will give you peace."
Sorel is standing before the stone wall, directly upon the seal of the Ancients. He seems to be at the heart of his own emerald sun, which swirls and pulses with its own heartbeat.
: "Alastor is alive," Sorel says suddenly, his expression fixed and distant. "I saw him." Sorel's aura pushes at some invisible boundary, threatening to burst.
And then it bursts.
A thousand sparks fly out into every corner of the chamber, each like a tiny star. They hang there, in stillness, for a split-second before they descend. They fizzle harmlessly off of the bodies of the robots and undead. But they sink into the forms of Sorel's allies, his friends and his child.
Sorel sinks slowly to the ground, the color rapidly draining from his face as the light leaves his eyes. He speaks in a voice barely above a whisper, words no one can hear but himself, words to a woman in another world.
: "I promise you."
Sorel collapses onto the stone tile, but every living being in the chamber is left with the warm and unmistakable feeling of being loved.
((Sorel activates his special, Embrace of Nature. Everyone gains an untyped +5 AC and +8 to saves. Sorel loses his Vow of Poverty, and drops to the ground unconscious.
Other actions forthcoming.))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:24 am
Langston and Farain shake their heads, the mental influence fading from their minds as Sorel's presence forces it out. ((Pass and pass on second save.))

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:46 am
Zook opens his mouth to reply to Fasher, but he's interrupted by Sorel's speech. His eyes water when he tries to see the old man at the center of the aura, and he blinks the tears away in time to see the aura burst. The sparks fall onto Zook, and with them the sense of protection, like a warm embrace. He quite forgets what he was arguing about, and with a renewed sense of focus and purpose, fires three times at the Drowned Eye.
((Attack the same DE, three hits. Damages: 22 + 12 holy, 22 + 4 holy, and 19 + 3 holy))
The bullets tear into Telanna's skin, and she screams in pain, stumbling back against the cold stone wall. She coughs, and her mouth fills with the coppery taste of her own blood. She looks up to see Sorel looking down at her with sadness and fear in his eyes. Sorel is badly burned himself, but turns and hobbles slowly toward Fasher at the center of the room. Telanna hears his voice, but the words are muffled by her frantically beating heart.
The sparks fill the room, and then descend. They reach Telanna the moment Sorel hits the ground. She moves to crawl toward him -- for just a moment, quite forgetting both her injuries and her anger -- but pain flares throughout her body and instead she backs slowly into the doorway, taking cover to heal herself.
((Move 2 squares right and two down. Cure Moderate Wounds on self, restoring 22 HP))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:55 am
Gilliam rolls over and fires at the Assault Robot in front of Cedric. A torrent of lead pours forth from the chaingun, blasting off armor and weapons systems and leaving the combat machine sparking, smoking, and shaking on its mechanical feet.
: "Finish it... Paladin..." Gilliam says as he takes cover behind the ziggurat.
((Critical Hit! Hit! Hit! 100 damage after DR to the Assault Robot. Gilliam moves 5' to the left.))

Posted by: Kaihaku Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:55 am
Cedric stomps towards the damaged warmachine in heavy charge, wacking at the metal monster with his mighty hammer. [Attack: 16 + 28 - 5 + 2 + whatever = High] [Damage: 33 + 3 Elec + 2 Sonic]

Posted by: Alpha Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:56 am
As the flames wash over him, the warmage mutters a few words under his breath, ignoring the others splashes of bantering conversation flying around. : "Fire, fire. It's always fire," and he begins to mutter words of power, but stops before almost immediately. Instead, he lifts up his newly acquried staff of defence, and activates it, a slight blue glow enveloping him and his surrounding allies.. Once done, he moves off to the right, so the group isn't so clumped up.
[Use the Shield of Defence to cast Shield of Law. Everybody within 20' of Tanis gets:
1) a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on saves. This applies for all attacks.
2) spell resistance 25 against chaotic spells and spells cast by chaotic creatures
3) blocking of possession and mental influence, just as protection from chaos does
4) if a chaotic creature succeeds on a melee attack against a warded creature, the attacker is slowed
Then move 5 spaces right and 3 up.]
((Oh, and just wondering. Is Bear's Endurance up?))

Posted by: Knight_019 Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:49 pm
*Aurik nods to Tanis, then sees his talents are needed elsewhere. He begins to move and sees Sorel go down. In a rush, he almost runs toward Sorel to help him, but as the feeling of protection washes over him, he calms and realizes there is nothing he can do for the man now. Instead, Cedric had been severely injured. Unable to risk running out into the open, Aurik takes cover behind the metallic structure to his left. Peeking from around it, he points his hand toward his leader, and a pure white ray, crackling as though with electricity fires toward him. No damage is inflicted, however. Instead, the wounds covering his body close.*
((Aurik moves to the space to the right of the top-right square of that metal thing.
Cast Reach Spell Cure Serious Wounds.
3d8 + 15 = 7 + 1 + 8 + 15 = 31 damage healed.
Healing Kicker (Aid) used: Cedric is given an additional temporary 13 hp, a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 morale bonus on saves against fear effects, which doesn't really help him.))

Posted by: Rusty Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:45 pm
((Natural 1. He's controlled.)) *Faralon looks with cold eyes. His soul has been ripped from him for a moment so that he may follow the commands of the very enemy he sought to kill just moments ago. He no longer had any control. Nodding to Fasher, Faralon draws his bow on the robotic ally, Gilliam. His bow fashioned specifically to deal great damage against constructs, Faralon decides his best course of action to aid Fasher would be to slow down or take down Gilliam.*
((Rapid Shot on Gilliam.
Attack #1:
2 + 7 [9 BAB - 2] + 4 [DEX] + 1 [haste] + 3 [magic] = 17. Miss.
17 + 7 [9 BAB - 2] + 4 [DEX] + 1 [haste] + 3 [magic] = 32. Possible hit.
Damage: 6 (arrow) + (4 + 5 = 9) (bane) + 3 [magic] + 1 [STR] = 19.
2 + 2 [4 BAB - 2] + 4 [DEX] + 1 [haste] + 3 [magic] = 12. Miss.))
*He fires, though his arrows fly clumsily. He speaks in a fairly monotone voice.*
: "Oops."
===
((Ombligo barely passes the save, thanks to Sorel and Tanis.))
*Despite Fasher's strong will, Ombligo manages to overcome Fasher's ability thanks to to magic, but mostly thanks to Sorel...Seeing Sorel collapse to the ground, tears well up in Ombligo's eyes. Not now...not again! Ombligo's form crackles as he sends a devastatingly powerful Lightning Lance into one of the massive robots behind the wall of stone. A second flies into it as well as he sends the third, less focused Lightning Lance towards the Chaos near it.*
: "Sorel!!!"
((Lightning Lance on the Titanic Robot (The left one, assuming this is the one he can see. If I can see the Chaos behind it, toss the last Lightning Lance at it. If I can't see the Chaos but can see the Drowned Eye, target that instead with the last LL. Otherwise, all three on the Titanic Robot that Ombligo can see whilst not floating too high. Ombligo will move if he has to.) As the spell is a lightning based spell, Thunderbolt kicks in to add sonic damage and another save.
#1: (These are all ranged touch attacks)
Natural 20. Confirming...Natural 20. o-o Confirming...19 + 6 [BAB] + 2 [DEX] + 1 [size] + 1 [Haste] = 29. Upgraded critical!
Impact damage: (4 5 4 5 6 6 3 6 4 = 43) (Cannot be halved through the save)
Electricity damage: (6 4 5 5 1 2 2 5 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 3 2 2 3 3 6 1 3 5 5 4 3 1 2 1 = 85) (CAN be halved through the save)
Thunderbolt damage: 12 sonic damage
FORT save DC 23 to halve the electricity damage only.
FORT save DC 23 to negate Thunderbolt's one round stun effect.
#2:
18 + 6 [BAB] + 2 [DEX] + 1 [size] + 1 [Haste] = 28. Hit!
Impact damage: (2 5 3 = 10) (Cannot be halved)
Electricity damage: (2 5 2 1 5 5 4 3 3 2 = 32) (CAN be halved)
Thunderbolt damage: 4 sonic damage
FORT save DC 23 to halve the electricity damage only.
FORT save DC 23 to negate Thunderbolt's one round stun effect.
#3: (Possibly on Chaos or Drowned Eye, depending on who is visible. Preference on Chaos.)
5 + 6 [BAB] + 2 [DEX] + 1 [size] + 1 [Haste] = 15. Possible hit.
Impact damage: (5 6 3 = 14) (You know the drill)
Electricity damage (1 3 4 2 6 3 4 1 1 6 = 31) (Yup)
Thunderbolt damage: 4 sonic damage
FORT save DC 23 for possible halving
FORT save DC 23 to negate possible one round stun))

Posted by: Tarethen Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:27 am
Farain fired upon the drowned eye again. ((Hasted yada yada Attack 1: 1d20: 10 + 11(BAB) +6(DEX) +2(Bracers) +1(haste) = 30. Attack 2:
1d20: 9 + 6 (BAB) +6(DEX) +2(bracers) +1(haste) = 24.
Attack 3:
1d20: 12 + 1 (BAB) +6(DEX) +2(bracers) +1(haste) = 22.
Attack 4:
1d20: 8 + 11(BAB) +6(DEX) +2(bracers) +1(haste) = 28.
Damage:
5 + 7 = 12
4 + 7 = 11
2 + 7 = 9
8 + 7 = 15
AIM is le shit. ))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:48 am
The Drowned Eye takes a light claw swipe to its ribcage as Laika charges it. Graigus then hurls himself at it, pounding away with blow after blow too swift for the naked eye to see. Bone crunches under the furious assault as the Drowned Eye's ribcage cracks in. Then a hail of huge arrows ends the combat as Farain splits the undead's skull with his shots.
Gabriel swings his huge sword as Ash dashes up beside him, glowing Ancient sword already ready. Between the two, the already damaged Assault Robot soon falls.
His first target already destroyed, Zook turns and unloads on the undead to his left. Kria adds her own power to the attack and eldritch energy blasts apart the cybernetics on the undead while the bullets break bone. Soon the skeleton is nothing more than a pile of bone shards and metal scrap.
Cedric charges the Assault Robot, and with one sweep of his gigantic warhammer, smashed in the chest of the machine. The robot collapses, a sparking, smoking mess.
Sparks fly from Gilliam's frame as the magical arrow from Faralon embeds itself deeply in Gilliam's armor.
: "So... Getting others to do your dirty work again, eh Fasher?" Gilliam roars at the undead psychic.
: "Just because you didn't have to be mind controlled to be manipulated into serving my ends shouldn't make you mad..." Fasher replies with a chuckle. "Some people are just naturally suited to follow orders..."
Ombligo's first two lightning bolts slam into the Heavy Assault Robot, but the third strikes the stone wall instead, blasting a portion of it away. However, two lightning bolts are more than enough. The titanic machine heaves a metallic groan as one of its mechanical legs sparks and melts, then collapses onto the ground, motionless. The other Heavy Assault Robot responds by firing its twin gatling cannons at Kria, and its belly-mounted laser at Ashathel. Bullets tear into the catwoman as a thin beam of light slices through Ash's leg.
((Hit, Hit, Hit. 30 damage to Ashathel. 25 damage to Kria.))
: "What do you think a circus animal can do here?!" Fasher incredulously shouts as Langston collapses, twitching.
((Save failed. Langston takes 12 CHA damage and is unconscious.))
: "An impressive display the old man put on... But even such a touching gesture won't save you here in this heart of darkness..." Fasher whispers as Ashathel and Gabriel feel something invade their minds. Ashathel is able to rally his strength of will with aid from Sorel's magic, and with a mighty mental heave, he ejects Fasher's mind from his own.
Gabriel isn't so lucky, and soon the same glossy eyed look that came over Faralon is on the barbarian's face.
((Quickened Telepathic Dominate Person: Ash passed his save and Gabriel failed. Gabriel is dominated))
A searing beam of light splits the sky and strikes Ashathel as one of the Torch Eyes locks onto him.
((Hit! Miss! Hit! 30 damage to Ash.))
"Witness the power of the Metaphans!" shouts one Drowned Eye as he raises his chaingun and opens fire on Graigus. The agile monk is able to avoid one of the bursts, but the second catches him in the side.
((Miss, Hit. 27 damage to Graigus.))
"Flying target out of cover. Adjusting aim... Firing..." two of the Assault Robots murmur as they raise their laser arms and fire twin beams of searing light at the warlock. Kria's magical trinkets protect her from the first, but the second shot burns her side painfully.
((Miss, Hit. Kria takes 35 damage.))
More heavy weapons fire from the back of the room blows away more of the stone fortification Aurik summoned.
A Torch Eye beam pierces clean through Cedric's gut as the machine locks onto the paladin and fires. Pain wracks Cedric even though he is able to go on.
((Critical Hit! 40 damage to Cedric!))
"Target their healer!" one of the Drowned Eye calls out as he and another of the skeletons open fire on Aurik. Though the magic items he wears are sufficient to block two of the bursts aimed at him, one more pierces his protection and wounds him.
((Hit, Miss, Miss, Miss. 35 damage total to Aurik.))
((Whoo, some high rolls this turn.))
Next turn!
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8213/megiddocommanda03azq6.png
Deadline for posting: Wednesday night.

Posted by: Knight_019 Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:32 am
((... I am seriously going to start taking the map and drawing my moves for you.))

Posted by: FreedomJu Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:30 pm
((Laika charges the DE to the north of him. Attack Claw: D20(5) + 12(BAB) + 7(STR) + 2(Charge) = 26 Damage Claw: D8(1) + D6(5)fire + 6(STR) = 12))

Posted by: VoxPVoxD Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:50 am
Zook wheels around, hopping forward a bit and planting three shots accurately in the frame of the CHAOS-model he can see through the gaps in Aurik's wall. ((5' step northwest to put me east of Langston, then 3 shots at the Chaos. All hit. 26, 26, and 19 damage))
Telanna pulls herself to her feet. She sees Cedric at the fore of the fray, heavily wounded. She runs forward, averting her eyes from the unconscious form of her father, to lay her hands on the paladin's back. A soft white light spreads from her hands and some of Cedric's pain fades.
((Move to the square west of Cedric. Cure Moderate Wounds cast. 22 HP restored))

Posted by: TheUnknownMarine Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:56 am
: "Someone stop the elf, he's being controlled!" Gilliam shouts as he opens fire on the leftmost Drowned Eye. The skeletal cyborg drops to one knee after the gunfire shreds most of his body. Miraculously the undead isn't destroyed yet and shouts at Gilliam.
"Your end is near, traitor!" the skeleton roars.
: "You should've joined us, Gilliam! The world has nothing for you now, just as it has nothing for us! It's just a hollow mockery of what we dreamed of. An insult to our civilization's sacrifice!" Fasher bellows, as sparks fly from Gilliam's badly damaged form.
: "You haven't seen this world as I have! I spent the time inbetween travelling all over this world... There is hope shining in the darkness even now!" Gilliam counters. "And besides that, this is all your own handiwork! YOU killed our world!"
: "Must I repeat myself?! Our world was already dead... I merely made sure that there would be another world after ours... With all the great cities ash, and only a few scattered bastions and camps remaining what other choice could be made?!"
: "If you claim that you aimed to ensure a new world, then why you reject that new world?!" Gillaim roars.
: "Because this world is as dead as ours, only in a different way! It's stagnant, hopeless! With the tools at this base I can make another one... Give this planet another chance..." Fasher states.
: "This planet will never have a chance if you keep knocking its civilization down everytime you don't like the way things are going! That's the way of science! Each success bears with it a thousand failures, but the only thing to do is keep trying!"
: "Don't you see?! That's exactly what I'm doing! I'm trying again, because the first result was a failure!" Fasher says, laughing madly. "Cultists, Kingdoms, Empires, Republics, all the powers of this world are the same... They'll stay the same. It's time to reset things..."
: "No... That cannot be..." Gilliam says, steel in his voice.
: "It already HAS been..." Fasher says, a touch of madness still in his tone. "Do you think ours was the only civilization to come before? Do you remember the Thanas ruins with its ageless monument of diamond? Do you remember what the scholars unearthed at Duniel? Well, for each of those, there were a thousand others you haven't heard of, Gilliam Thornton..."
: "What.. What are you talking about?" Gilliam asks, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
: "Defeat me and you may yet see... It doesn't matter who pulls the trigger to the dead man, Gilliam. I wasn't the only one to send fire from the heavens and reduce the world to ash..."

Posted by: Aldur Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:49 pm
Kria snarled, not sure if it was the fact she was ignored or because of the pain ripping through her. She pointed again at the undead general. "That may be so, but I'm gonna make damn well sure you're the last one who ever tries it!" Her hand unleashed a powerful blast of eldritch energy, the green light crashing into Fasher.
((Vitrolic blast:
18+Kria is insane mods lolz = hit.
Acid damage due to last shot: 8
Damage this turn: 26.))

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