The Avalon Chronicles

Game Master lynora

As things had settled down for a while, Krays was getting to like the quiet, even though H'Tor's nightmares were getting more vivid, and Whoops was becomming more...ornery. Somethign would need to be done soon. He decides to go see Ephebe to see how she's doing and see if she's up for a trip to the graveyard, when he stumbles upon two familiar faces lying in a heap in the hall way...

"Asch? Amada? What's...?" he sees the arm or what's left of it and decides this is more than he can handle alone. He will cast a message spell to the nurse 'Two students down. Unknown injury level. Hallway, dormitory section A' then stays with them till help arrives...he sends H'Tor to get Ephebe...

Knocks on Ephebe's door...
Assuming admittance
H'Tor will beckon Ephebe to follow him...leading her to Asch and Amada

"Oh. Hi, H'Tor," she said brightly. "Oh...I guess Krays needs me for something?" She grabs her jacket and follows hurriedly in H'Tor's wake.

Dunno if the school nurse/healer has arrived yet...
When Ephebe arrives Krays looks up
"Just when you thought it was safe to roam the halls..."
He looks down at Asch and Amada
"I haven't tried to awaken them yet. I dunno what's wrong but I sent for the healers..."

"Hmmm...." she kneels down and examines them both.

Heal check: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33

Whoops immerges out of the floor moving slowly toward Asch, drawn by the shadow...
"H'Tor..." Krays says with an exasperated sigh
:I know I see her...STAY BACK" he commands the shadow
Whoops hesitates for a moment, lets out a snarl then retreats very slowly
:Sorry Krays...my control over her seems to be slipping...I dunno if it's becasue I'm not letting her feed...or...:
"We'll handle it tonight, H'Tor..." Krays says.
H'Tor nods solemnly

She looks up. "I'm not much good with undead, but I can hit her with a whole lot of positive energy if it becomes a problem. I'll try not to, but if she tries to hurt Asch or Amada, I have to put their safety first."

"She knows I have a seering light with her name all over it if she steps out of line" He growls, glaring at Whoops...at which she visibly shrinks and moves away
"I hope to get some answers tonight, if you're still up for it."

You can tell from the check that their not injured they just appear completely exhausted.

Asch's eye lids snap open as he senses whoops and H'tor a blade forming in his right hand. His eyes focus for a minute before he realizes what's going on. "So I guess it worked...." He pauses as he notices the state of his right arm. "Or at least it mostly worked. Hey guys...so um what happened while we were gone."

"Umm...alot. What happened to you two? Are you ok?"
Extends a hand to help him up, and releases a burst of negative energy meant to heal undead...
9d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 3, 5, 4) = 42

"Wow, not sure where to begin. And it looks like you guys had a rough time of it too. You want some help getting to the infirmary? Or your room? Or a quick lesser restoration...which I'll be casting on Amada I think and not you...no offense, but after all the positive energy they pumped into me, I'm not sure if it's safe for me to cast spells on you anymore and I'd rather find out in more controlled conditions, you know?"

"And yeah, Krays, I'm still up for it. Looks like it's pretty urgent..."

"Yeah...it's...it is."

"Well you remember the ill planned field trip Taron planned. Well when everything went haywire I tried to shadow jump me and Amada to the end. Apparently all that did was pull us straight to the plane of shadows...and while there I did something I promised my master I'd never do. See when I make a weapon I pull pure shadow into the material plane. So to escape I absorbed the shadows instead of holding them in reality. Unfortunate it changed me it reacted with my vampiric half in unexpected ways." He says as he lifts his right arm showing how its changed. "Though its also enhanced my shadowmelding."

He says as he lifts his right arm showing how its changed.

*holds up metallic right arm*

"Well you remember the ill planned field trip Taron planned. Well when everything went haywire I tried to shadow jump me and Amada to the end. Apparently all that did was pull us straight to the plane of shadows...and while there I did something I promised my master I'd never do. See when I make a weapon I pull pure shadow into the material plane. So to escape I absorbed the shadows instead of holding them in reality. Unfortunate it changed me it reacted with my vampiric half in unexpected ways." He says as he lifts his right arm showing how its changed. "Though its also enhanced my shadowmelding."

"...Huh. Looks like this transformation thing is going around....long story. Asch, are you going to be okay?"

Looks at the arm...
"Interesting. Any other side effects?"

"As far as I know I should be ok. Although it does seem to have increased my vampiric half."

"As far as I know I should be ok. Although it does seem to have increased my vampiric half."

"Increased like we're gonna need to start dosing you like we do Uncle Keaton to keep the bloodlust at bay? Or less severe than that?"

"Hmm...so more bad temper or less, then?"
He winks, letting Asch know it was a joke.

"I don't think so...." He says as he checks his teeth with his tongue making sure his canines were normal.

"Hmmm....I suppose more probably."

Solivala gets to work on building his clockwork tower whenever he has time. He can often be found moving thru the school carrying beams of various metals over each shoulder, something that no creature of his size much less a drow should be able to do with such ease. His orbs and clockwork watch pushing and sometimes jabbing people out of the way. Soon most learn to clear a path, those that don't find the tiny watch to be a vicious combatant using a long clock hand as a tiny sword and its own chain as a whip. When given a clear way the watch walks before Solivala "eyeing" everyone while the orbs form a congo line behind Solivala letting out the occasional chime as they shift to one side before lining up once more.

Solivala is treated as a huge creature when wielding anything dispite his low str.

"I don't think so...." He says as he checks his teeth with his tongue making sure his canines were normal.

"Hmmm....I suppose more probably."

"So....should we help you guys to your room then? Krays has a bit o an errand to tend to just now, and I told him I'd go with him....I mean, if it's okay with him, you can come along if you're up to it...."

Shrugs
"I have no idea how this is going to go, so I don't know if more people being there would hurt or not..."
Thinks for a sec
"...but if just H'Tor's presence sets you on edge, how will you react to Death itself?"

"Giant skeleton guy with a scythe huh? No I think for now I'll pass. My love we are there now time to wake up." He says and then whispers to Amada causing her eyelids to flutter open she still seems dazed and Asch helps her up. "Well let us know how your errand goes." Asch says as he and Amada head off.

Smiles as the two walk off...then looks at Ephebe
"Well then...ready? I'm kind of nervous..."

Smiles as the two walk off...then looks at Ephebe

"Well then...ready? I'm kind of nervous..."

"Yeah, I'm ready...and it's gonna be okay. Being a Champion of a personified concept...it's kinda weird sometimes. I mean, it's not like it comes with a manual or a church or any kind of established authority figure who can explain what's going on. But sometimes it's actually pretty awesome. Other times not so much, but you kinda have to take the bad with the good. Anyways, whatever happens, you don't have to face it alone, 'kay?"

She waves goodbye to Asch and Amada and led the way to the exit and the shed where the skimmers were stored.

"It's quite a bit of a hike to the graveyard from here, so I think we should minimize the risk and 'borrow' some quicker transportation."

Follows Ephebe to the skimmer shack...
"Wow, I've wanted to ride one of these since I saw them when I got to Agartha! But...go easy..." he says.
"H'Tor, you two wait here. I'll summon you to me when we arrive."
H'Tor nods...

"Okay. No worries. I don't drive like my mom. Or Jimmy. Normally these are single person transport only, but I'm light in this form and you're small, so I think we can get away with it."

She pushed the start button on the nearest hoverbike and it rose off the ground with a gentle hum. She carefully pushed it out of the shed and closed the door behind her.

"Okay, hop on."

Once he was settled on the back of the seat she got on and made a quick check of the controls.

"Okay. Hold on tight and if I lean a certain direction, lean with me."

And with that she hit the accelerator and the bike zoomed forward over the landscape.

Follows her instructions to the 'T', looking around in amazement.

After a mostly smooth ride, minus the almost crashing into a hill and a gatepost...and a rock...and a tree...and a cart...they finally arrived at the graveyard.

"Sorry, about that, Krays," she said sheepishly. "The balance was a little further off than I expected."

Looks a little shaken...
"Ummm...yeah! I still prefer dragonflight though, no offense."
Surveys the grave yard, spotting a central statue
"That looks like as good a spot as any." as he points.

The graveyard was dark except for moonlight. And quiet. Exceptionally quiet. The night seemed just a little colder and the town seemed to recede into the distance until it vanished from view altogether. There was just darkness and the cold light that illuminated the marble and granite stones set in orderly rows.

"Ummmm....I think it already started to work....maybe we should head for that statue now?"

"Ok..."
When he gets there he calls out "Come to me, H'Tor"...and nothing initialy happens...then after a short delay he appears. Krays looks at him askance and H'Tor retrieves from inside his robes the pack Krays has set aside but had forgotten to bring, with candles, a clean robe, incense, etc. Krays smiles, as H'Tor playfully hit him in the shoulder.
He then reaches into this robe again and pulls out a very confused Whoops.
"OK...I got a 'good' robe, some incense, candles some chalk for a circle if necesary, and my component pouch, in case I missed anything.
What now?"

A little retcon post there...makes more sense this way

H'Tor and Whoops both went very still as they reached the statue, almost looking like statues themselves. The ground in front of the statue ripples and changes, becoming a set of stairs leading down into the ground.

"Er...I'm pretty sure that's an invitation..."

Looks to Ephebe
"Wish me luck..."
Swallows hard, then gets a determined look, and heads down

"Good luck! I'll just wait for you here..."

Looks back and smiles, then continues down

The stairs get narrower and darker as they went down, the worked stone changing to rough earth. Just when it seemed as if the tunnel would end altogether it opened out into a brightly lit mausoleum made entirely of black marble. Across the expansive floor there was a mirror, it's bright silver surface oddly out of place here.

Looks around taking in every detail, as you never know what could end up being important...then cautiously approaches the mirror, looking it over as well...

As he steps in front of the mirror a tall skeletal figure appears in it. It is dressed in voluminous black robes and has an enormous bone scythe leaned against its shoulder. It is drinking tea daintily from a jet black china teacup with a matching black saucer.

"AH. THERE YOU ARE. I WAS STARTING TO WONDER IF YOU HAD CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT VISITING."

The voice was not so much loud...it simply took up all of your attention and could be felt as much as heard. It was cold and final and warm and dark. It was not a voice to be ignored.

Squints at the intensity of the voice...
"Ahh...umm...no, some things came up that required my attention, is all...I don't know how much you see that goes on here..."
He absent mindedly scratches the back of his head, and looks around awkwardly...
"So...umm nice to meet you...sir? Lord? Boss?" His shoulders sag a bit "I'm sorry I don't know the proper etiquette for this...you must me terribly disappointed...But I have so many questions..." He says almost pleading...

PAY NO ATTENTION TOT HE DEAD MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

Death sighed.

"IT'S THE VOICE ISN'T IT? EVERYONE'S INTIMIDATED BY THE VOICE. NO, NO, DON'T GO. SIT DOWN."

A plush black chair slid out of the floor knocking Krays off his feet.

"NOW LET'S SEE..." He began to speak in a strange sing-songy voice.

"THERE WERE FIVE MEN GOING TO CHURCH AND IT STARTED TO RAIN. THE FOUR THAT RAN GOT WET AND THE ONE THAT STOOD STILL STAYED DRY. DO YOU GET IT? IT'S A BODY IN A COFFIN AND IT'S PALL BEARERS."

He looked at Krays blank expression and his shoulders slumped a little.

"MORTAL HUMOR HAS ALWAYS ESCAPED ME I'M AFRAID. ALSO, I BELIEVE MY JOKE BOOK IS SEVERAL CENTURIES OUT OF DATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE USE OF HUMOR WAS A GOOD WAY TO 'BREAK THE ICE'. CLEARLY, I NEED TO THINK OF AN ALTERNATIVE. PERHAPS WE SHOULD SKIP STRAIGHT TO THE QUESTIONS."

<blink blink>
"Ok...well...first off...what am I? To you, I mean. H'Tor has told me very little, just that you intervened...it seems you unlocked something in my mind and suddenly I'm an accomplished necromancer..."

"AH YES, THAT. I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE CHAMPION? WELL, PROBABLY NOT MUCH. TIME ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D CALL CHATTY. THOSE OF US SUCH AS MYSELF OR TIME, DREAMS, MADNESS, FEAR, LOVE, HOPE...THESE CONCEPTS ARE TOO BIG TO BE CONTAINED BY ANYTHING SO LIMITED AS A DEITY. AND YET WE INTERACT WITH MORTALS SO OFTEN THEY HAVE GIVEN US SHAPE, CONSCIOUSNESS AS IT WERE. WHILE SOME DEITIES CHANNEL OUR POWERS WE ARE BIGGER THAN THAT. WE DO NOT EMPLOY CLERICS AS A DEITY MIGHT, THOUGH THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A CHAMPION AND A CLERIC. A CHAMPION IS A MORTAL CONDUIT CHARGED WITH TAKING CARE OF THOSE ANNOYING THINGS THAT WOULD USURP OUR POWER OR WITH KEEPING OTHERS OF OUR CIRCLE FROM GAINING TOO MUCH POWER OVER THE OTHERS. WE HAVE VERY STRICT RULES GOVERNING OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND THE CHAMPIONS ARE SORT OF A WAY TO WORK AROUND THAT SYSTEM. YOU ALREADY KNOW THE CHAMPION OF TIME. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR TIME AND DEATH TO BE ALLIES, YOU KNOW."

Nods
"Ok...I understand. Do you have a book or code of conduct I am to follow? I wouldn't want you to regret your decision..."
Pauses
"Umm...a follow up question...what about me made you choose me for your champion? I know I'm...better...in a lot of ways that a normal kobold, but...why me?"

DREAMS, MADNESS, FEAR, LOVE, HOPE...

>.>

"THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS ALREADY A PART OF YOU. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND MORE AS YOU GO. ALSO, WE WILL LIKELY HAVE MORE OF THESE LITTLE CHATS AS THINGS GO ALONG."

"AS FOR WHY I CHOSE YOU...I WILL CONFESS TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SENTIMENTALITY. YOU ARE THE REINCARNATION OF ONE OF MY FORMER CHAMPIONS. HE DIED TRYING YOU MIGHT SAY."