Decidio Decendo Cessi's page

yes; some species to tend to go on and on about it; in detail; as if we were interested.

init 7

Do you think there will be that much sand? I have never been buried before, should I be frightened?

"I am confused; did you not ask us to work with you Kosan; and for Goodman Caer to "get through the wall?" and us to help?

Oh; we want to get through the wall? Durr; you have a pick; if we all work at it I am sure we can pull it down pretty fast; is that what you want?

As you say sister mine, it could turn down a hallway before it gets to us, we shall endevor to watch it; it appears a boiling cloudlike mass of darkness moving very slowly. It is still some 200ft or so away, but coming from Hecate's area

can you see it Prince Llvenoc?

<ponder>

"I see something moving up ahead of us at the edge of my vision some 230 ft ahead, but I cannot make out what it is, if we are doing something; we should do it fairly soon"

Kenembi, can you make one of those mage shelters like Magus do; Leomunds shelter or like that, Fystor is known to make them all the time or you Kosan; do you have an Iron Tower like your legendary brother?

<Blushes>
Maybe it is because I am a fair maiden ripe in my womanhood; perhaps it is love...

Well, dear sister; as non combatants i suppose we are not important to the order, thus I will stand with Astinos; perhaps I can advise lest we gain overmuch trouble.

Dom; do not touch that door!

My Lord; that door seeks to eat his soul with powerful negative energy; only one warded should proceed; ah; now I see why the Wize Baelinor had chosen a cleric of this pantheon to attend.

I have seen something like this before; fall to that door and you will serve the door as a guardian for evermore. Beware my comrades!

Kalona

Dom

to Astinos
"it is as I feared; this is an Event of Importance; probably prophetic, the gods are watching; some will interfere counter and counter and like that; Fate will be random; we are the Key; the event is the Catalyst."

<to Aahz>
"sweet Child Aahz, how many are in our audience, for I and I am guessing all the rest of us cannot see them"

Turns to Astinos after looking at the map:

"The Child's plan has merit; the three of us could probably survive freeing her head, if you could free her legs. It is my thought that she is probaby about 30 or so feet tall; it is said the Greek gods are the size of Titans."

"know that if we do this plan and I fall, my Lord, I did it because you asked me to and for no other reason, and thus we would be bound and your loving call could return me from whence I am stolen if I fall in this battle"

<turns to Aahz>
"you appear to be a six or seven year old child; yet you grasp intricate tactical situations very quickly; what do you see Aahz?"

so, you want us to fly you in there naked as a jaybird, carrying you between us and land on her shoulders while you call your siblings; am I hearing you right <incredulous>

<squeezes Astinos hand>
"yes, something below us; something coming from the North coming this way; aboration beyond comprehension; and other things I cannot place. Farth to the north disturbance."

<turns to Astinos>
"I suppose we should eat well, but the looks of things; we will get no more help from these guild masters; they might even be hostile. One day has passed, things in motion will not stop for us, I feel a convergance of forces"

<turns to the Fox Masked Mage and the Rogue>
I am not sure if this can be salvaged or if the acerbity of our dwarf has shut this door permanently. Can either of you two do anything or answer the dwarf?

"this should be interesting" she says in a fairly flat voice; sits closer to Astinos and puts her head on his shoulder while looking to Kenembi to relate a story.

Astinos reflexively, in a chaste manner, puts his arm around her waist, she snuggles a bit closer.

They both watch Kalona expectantly.

Astinos

Mi'lord Astinos, I believe this place would be a difficult seige; very difficult to sneak around in with so many tracking devices and alert guards, I believe Master Ronin knows his craft well. He seems careful enough to live yet a while longer; most in his situation are usually assassinated by their own captains; curious way to live.

"how can I help? are we leaving. It seems out is no safer than inside, my sister tells me that the skies above the arena are filled with hundreds if not thousands in aerial battles, the Twisted Ones vs vampires, spectres and gargoyles. She predicts that with the arrival of this foglike creature; the Twisted Ones will seize control of this arena in but a few more minutes.

<winks at Kenembi>
"Just wait and see what happens if you and my sister ever consimate your desires; for I saw the power channeled in you earlier in the day; perhaps you should beg her forgiveness for your harsh remarks and your callous treatment"

<looks whistful>
We shouldnt maybe do that again until your stronger...<looking at you questioningly>

<looking pensive> anything more, with unexpected results like that might well kill us.

<she chuckles; a sexy chuckle to be sure from a stunningly beautiful woman>
Might burn out the stars and make the sun receed; very romantic.

hmm, something is amiss; I feel otherplanular creatures nearby that were not there before; lots of them; a small horde.

My Lord! she gasps...that was....different; I feel things I have not felt before. That should not have happened; what happened, what was that?

<her face is a bit red; little bit of sweat on the brow, she too is a bit out of breath>

Keep your coat as your metal armor will chill you to the bones; I am not as suceptable to cold nor fire...nor many other things... that you are, that is, those fully human, than I. I see that ice is forming on your armor; rime upon your shield, at this rate we may be frozen solid if we do not move from this place.

It would appear those outside have a short reprieve from our enemies, but that too is but illusion of confidence.

Are you cold, it is not unmanly to be cold; you have but to look into my eyes and hold me; give yourself over to that which is between us; shine like the sun with depth of feeling and thus dispel this glamour of ice.

Perhaps you have other ideas; what say you Lord Astinos? No choice is without danger.

<she c*@*~ her head and looks deep into your eyes inquireingly>

in mindlink too [seems normal to me, life is full of choices the more you make, the more conveluted things become unless you hold very true and close your desires in your heart; you may become lost. Are you to be blown this way and that by the winds of destiny or will you keep a true course my dear Paladin?]

hmm, methinks there are many seals; but only one goddess and one ritual in this time and place; we should save her lest they have a seal from some other source or something of equal value. I say to the Goddess and save this seal for another time. Besides; Bob is the greatest evaluator of relics known; he can access the trophy and tell us if it is the real deal or not.

Will you do this Master Bob; please.

So kind of you to notice Sir Stlithyfiss Fireheart, Duke of Amoloth Plains; it is a kindness to me eyes to see you again; how goes the game.

did Thoronhen get us tickets?

I would see this game <looks at Astinos>

In the mindlink to everyone:
Why are we in line between these two forces; I can feel Thoronhen at the gate; my sister says she got her tickets to enter from Ronin; why did we not ask him for tickets? I would bet all the pickpockets, theives; beggars; bookies and like that all work for Ronin. Why must we endanger ourselves in this line?

Thoronhen, can you use your contacts to get us tickets so we can get out of this line or must I ask Ronin myself?

You are a dear man Astinos, but there is so much; so very much you do not know. Perhaps that is what the prophesy means by "the paladins blinded by their zeal" yet I dont think it is you. The forces of good have not been watchful; they have been slow to act. Base nuetrality and pettiness has cost the world so very much. I have watched the world in various forms for thousands of years and never has it been closer to, as your people say, "hell on earth" than it is right now. Existance is ripping itself apart; the planes of the upper, middle and lower worlds are shifting. There are more, as you say, outsiders in this realm than ever before; we are on the brink of a battle of annialiaton; warfare on a scale you cannot imagine; This entire world you call home is naught but an immense creature sleeping from the last great war, the scale of it all overwhelms me sometimes; even that creature is just a small pawn in an even greater war and so on and so on.

Balfic was once shown by one of the greatest of gods a metaphor of the problem. He saw it; and I saw it through him; but as I am so much smarter than he is, I understand it. This entire thing we call life is naught but madness. Its like a guy a million miles away throwing grains of sand from a bucket to a teacup; the grains of sand that miss are bad events that draw us down; the ones that make it to the cup are events that keep things in order. Granted he is a skilled thrower; but so many things seek to move the cup; change the medium of what is being thrown or throwing through.

It seems so hopeless. We are all just so small; all this posturing and all does nothing but serve destruction; and even if we win, there are no guarantees; no good life to go to; just more and more and more struggle.

I am so very tired. Just hold me a bit so I can rest; then we shall soldier on.

When Astinos comes into the hall; Decidio gives him a tight hug and holds on

<sniff, she whispers> "we're all gonna die arent we"

"Dear Erkholt; those august and esteemed dwarves; Kojan, big brother of our own Kosan; and Belinor Stormwall, High Priest of Holy Donblas
<at the mention of his most powerful god of light and justice, a momentary vision of Illithid, Snakemen, and undead in shrouded ceremonial robes unviels for about 4 seconds; a great evil star is used to smash the dark seal upon the brow of the goddess who is suspended high in the air by ropes and chains; this is the future; how far; only the god knows. As the momentary vision fades, you each feel judged unworthy in heart; but worthy in deed to struggle>

Decidio falters a second then recoveres "are now right above us fighting a battle agaisnt the forces of undeath that we might enter without the eyes of the lords of death in this place; they distract them while we enter the back door."

<Decidio frowns and looks into Astinos' eyes; a tear dribbles down her cheek to her jaw, then she gets up and leaves the table and moves toward the hall>

Tell you a tale you say; then I shall. Know you then of the Geseredi? Then know this and tremble and pale and shake in your mortal bones; for madness and death comes upon the steed of destiny and lo; no heroes her can stay her hand; Behold for that mad woman of magic and necormancy and sheer power of chaos comes this way; thus three mighty Solars join with he who wields the Titan's Band; High Priest Balinor, to enter into battle with her; we must be done with our task and gone before that mad Bioatch with the Bone comes forth unto this spot and senses the Seal and the weakness and captivity of the Earth Goddess; yet all you can speak of is Table this and Table that? This mortal sphere is upon the gallows and you would languish?

Scoff at me will you; here me thus, it is the noble actions of the Cats; One hero named Ishka who is the bane of Snakemen; for over six years the he and his cat tribes have been fighting tooth and nail at each pass from the upper lands in the South keeping the snakemen from reaching and adding the dinosaurs from their armies. thus, as the cats save your continent; help these cats Kenembi and Nebebit, remove the doom that they may save this continent for they are bane to snakes and blood enemies who will not fail.

yet some among the Naga serve good; does not a Naga and to raise you another good snake; the Coatl guard the Well of Life? Know you not the Well of Life, for the that is the conquest goal of both the ghul and the snake gods, and more I raise thee; the armies of Egypt; Elf, Dwarf; and Greece lay surrounding the Well of Life.

Kalona: you definately know of the Coatle though I probably spelled it wrong.

I offer this symbol in return and raise you name and history knowing both lineage and progeny. Many are his human followers who serve with snakes.

Decidio draws a symbol next to yours. (symbol emailed out)

This is the symbol of the elder snake god who did not sleep and infiltrated the human pantheon and who orchastrated the death and dismemberment of the Green Man; in the elder tounge he is called Sutekh.

I raise you yet again and again another piece of the puzzle; it seems the paladins who will soon plague you and bring war the to ghul of the south; are known to have killed the Demon Lord of Gnolls and Ghul, and thus the gnoll priest here sought to raise a new diety or the old using the power of the dying goddess, the star of corruption and the other thus again changing the face of power among the ghul.

"if I may, says Decidio, What have you told us other than your people suposedly saved the world, your party snuck into a snakemen city and saw a excavation that might be some un named artifact and has a pychic hum to it, though not how you verified that. So, we have told you we know some things about the snakemen and two artifacts that are going to be used to kill a goddess and put out the sun. Worse yet; forces of chaos are seeking to break the seals holding back vast choas evil that even the Demon Princes fear.

So we ask you straight Sir Axedous and company, upon death of this very spere of existance; what know you of:

The Green Man?
The two artifacts we mentioned?
Any prophesies of the snakemen,
Why the snakes are on this continent working with Illithids
Why ghouls are in such prime enemies on both our continents and how that happened,
And how might we hide from the snakemen and their gods that we might, like you did, infilitrate their plans here and rescue the goddess and save the world.

How do you answer? Answer thus and plan open as you may; and I will answer this thing for you. "how might Aexidous strike a bargain with the dwarves and not be thus crushed under the might of paladin god slayers.
Answer thus Sir Bueregard and I will answer you thus " what is the source of the snakemen's magic"

as for the dark; well, no one knows more about the dark than Mighty Balfic Graa, our benefactor; thus Namaste could query anything of Him for your benefit Sir Axidous and party.

<privately in mind link to Astinos, "maybe that will shake thier calm demeanor, I think they know as little as we, but the secret of thier ability to hide from magic is paramount; seek this of all things>

in mindlink: hmm, I think perhaps we go about this the wrong way; I am thinking of the cats and cat games. I think perhaps we should dangle a few morsels of information in front of this Axinos; he is very full of himself; consider this; I smell elf on him; wood or wild, that is interesting; use what we know and what you can glean; polish it up like a bauble and present it like a jewel.

<her voice like pure spun gold and honey; lustrous and silken though seemingly unaware of either her nearly diefic beauty or husky voice which cuts right into your very bones, though she is demure and does not look you in the eye; you cannot help but have your heart speed up and a catch in your throat to what her full attention might unveil>

I am known by many names; names long past use for me, my current name is Decidio Decendo Cessi in the language of this place and time. So tell me if you would of these snake eaters, a tale to inform and amuse. If we are to battle snakes; one cannot help but wonder if they be worthy allies or not.

Who are these Tribes of the Snake Eaters? They are unknown to me.

"As you wish my Lord"
<moves very close to Atinos; her eyes get soft and a bit glazed; she begins to touch and carress Astinos; running her fingers through his hair. As she does; all that she touches becomes clean and shiny; refreshed as if new; a slight wind blows which spreads his cloak out behind him and has his hair do the Fabio thing. She gives you a slight barely touching kiss on the lips unless you back away.

[Astinos; you are refreshed and reinvigored; all pains and feeling of any suffering just gone; you wounds if any still exist; you just dont feel them.]

"I hope you are pleased"

{M.L}Where forth do our companions go? we know not when the others will arrive; but thus do we look weak with our numbers lessened; not good to present ourselves thus to those of dubious standing; we must show strength for strength. Lorm Dragonheart could appear at any moment; Teleport Mass is instantaneous. And again; without the respondents hear to directly appeal for the removal of the Doom; how art they to gain reprieve?

We must be presentable; as if unconcerned that we who serve good stand among such evil; for thier corruption we have but little concern. Kalona, you are wise, perhaps you are truely a spirit guide for the youth of mortals, your view of good and evil mirrors my own and seems to be that which is; though all may be naught but that of a dream of some more powerful agent.

Sir Astinos, I seek your permission to lay hands upon your person; to address your condition that you be presentable as a shining example of your piety. Doth thou grant unto me this permission?

and mayhap they may give you news of your Southern Bretheren, noble dwarf

The southland has been nearly conquered by the Ghullords and the Snakemen, if they are from the south and not attached to either; it would be good to hear news of the region; how goes the war; what has been encovered about the plots of our enemies, has the great alliance gone to war or do they yet sit and ponder their enemies while the Ork fight and die. If the Sun is captured or killed; the snakes and ghul grow stronger in the Dark; for all mortals everywhere; this must be avoided lest mortal hearts fail.

I know some of what she says; she speaks true on this matter
<arches an eyebrow>

No; I dont know about this game; that is more Iunius' area of knowlege. She may not show it; but my sister is still quite hurt by some in this group.

I smile at Llvenoc's valiant words

To Decidio mentally:
** spoiler omitted **

I am seated right next to her and as I send my thoughts I keep my attention on the sword.

to Astinos

To Astinos:

Decidio Decendo Cessi wrote:

*gasp*

<looks toward the doors as color drains from her face>

"oh my"

Mentally : What is it Dear one?

*gasp*

<looks toward the doors as color drains from her face>

"oh my"