(3) Legend of the Elder Souls (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

"Okay. I'll just let you mull that one over for a while, Id. Time to take these guys to the compounds, I think? I could use some rest, either way."

Arna and Trobit are the mute ones, the ones Jacob put his mark on. Krona and Slota are the two that can speak.

When did I put my mark on them?

He meant Sterling.

so the muted have *powers*. Too bad, he never find out what they are. It was my weakness, that made them my property. I won't compound it. Sterling goes about situating his armor. He makes sure he has all of his items. once satisfied, He speaks.

Ok now is the time, we separate. I have kept my word to Mahb. She is safe from the 'gods'.

I have become certain that, if I remain, Neri's behavior towards me will get one or all killed. The only solution I have is to take myself out of the equation. Good luck to all of you. Sterling heads through the wall.

Harry will get his armor back on and properly adjusted.

"Wait up a minute there, I'm going with you. I don't like hanging around with a loose cannon either. " and he will follow Sterling.

Neri stopped in place... and then just watched. "Wait.. what? I'm a loose cannon? You're following the guy who walked into a horde of zombies? Who stuck his hand in a giant bug zapper, then tried to tell Kong to shove one of the villagers in? Who wanted to use Luna as a kite in an area we knew nothing about? Who honestly got mad when I turned the armor into a bomb while -no one- was carrying it? Who kept secrets from everyone here for... apparently no reason? Alright..." Neri sighed. "Good luck with that. I don't look forward to finding that body count when we run across your path in the future... but it's probably for the better." Neri sat down and rubbed his temples. Great, just great. At least it was Sterling that got everyone killed, and not him.

"It doesn't matter. The villagers are no where near safe, yet. There are all sorts of dangerous wildlife on the way to the compound. My idea of protection is actually protecting you, so I'll stick with my promise to aid you." He nodded to Mahb. 'There's just no cure for monster, is there?'

Yes, Meant Sterling, sorry.

Ok, need to know who is going with which group, since we apparently have a split in the groups. I'll make a new thread. I do expect you will pop back and forth between threads, as you'll all be in similar areas and have the same origin point you may or may not head back to.

Luna gave a deep sigh, she knew this was coming but it's likely they all did the way those two fought like children over everything.

She couldn't trust Sterling that would ditch someone for disagreeing with him or she'd be on her own next so her only real options were go alone now or follow Neri none of which had any decent odds of her getting home.

Maybe life in this world wouldn't be so bad, it's not like she had anyone waiting for her at home and at least at the town she knew she'd be safe and have supplies. She grudgingly followed Neri's group.

ATM I belive it's Sterling and Harry; Neri and Luna. No idea on kong's or jacob's yet.

Kong, still on the other side of the wall, has no clue what's happening. He's maybe 100 feet away, sitting on a rock, when Sterling and Harry come back through.

Vat now?

"Sterling and I have decided to get clear of Neri. You're welcome to come along. We're just sick of the bickering. The rest are on the other side and the marked are all there and OK as well. "

Sterling's demeanor has loosened. He seems more relaxed and is smiling for the first time in a long time. We would definitely love to have you. No more tree hugging pacifist crap. If we can't find a way home, we're going to run this planet. You in?

Kong shrugs - he's obviously no pacifist.

Vell, I nefer really intended to run anyting, but damned if I'll run from it. Got plans on vitch vay to head?

Kong gets up and stretches, looking around.

Sterling pulls out one of the last two Cubans out of his pocket humidor. He cuts it into three pieces. He hands a piece to Kong and Harry.

He offers a light from his platinum lighter.

There's supposed to be a military base to the south. I assume they're sending troops north as we speak. It might be worth it to ambush them. Especially if the have horses. Other than that, every direction is unknown. No wrong way to move at this point. So pick a direction, or head south looking to kill Zealots.

Harry will accept the cigar and start puffing away. "Might as well at least see what the opposition looks like. We can decide if they are something we can handle after some recon. "

Agreed.

Neri watched Kong talk with them, and Sterling make the small offering. Clearly Kong was going with Sterling as well. He'd never pegged Kong as the type to want to rule over others... or to allow someone else to do it. So maybe he'd manage to keep Sterling in line. "So, when are you two leaving?" Neri asked the others, looking to Jacob and Luna, the disheartened nature that had been creeping around him for the entire trip seeming to settle on him.

"If you join them, then I have things that are of use to know. I've caught on to the way the magic seems to work, or at least I have a theory. Magic is like electricity. We have different ways to put it to work, whether it's shielding, or moving things, or setting things on fire. But ultimately there are two kinds of charge, which I haven't got a handle of distinguishing, maybe more. The God's magic, we'll say is negative, and the Demon's magic is positive. When you put positive to positive, nothing happens. So I can freely touch your brand, your weapon, your armor. But when we try to touch the priest's staff, or their church, it shocks us. The wall is a lot of Demon power, so our power, and our armor, work together to insulate us, they make us non-neutral so we aren't treated as a ground wire. The armor was a lot of god power. When the two touched, sparks flew. I'd appreciate it if you guys let everyone know. Maybe they'll listen to you."

'Is there anything I can do to help you figure things out, Id?'

I don't know vat to expect of a military here, but I doubt ve are prepared to take zem on.

Kong accepts the cigar, and tries it out.

"Like I said, we don't have to fight them unless we think it is possible to win. However recon can't hurt. I'm pretty sure they will come for us eventually, so best to know what to expect. If we can get in a cheap easy shot before they are ready for us, all the better. It's pretty clear we've got a fight on our hands no matter what we might want. "

I zuppose a recon makes zense, zough I'm not particularly goot at zat. I'll follow jour lead, for now.

"Shame that idiot turned the light armor into shrapnel. Would have made scouting easier than this boat anchor. No big deal though, I can always leave the armor off and keep to cover. "

Jacob shook his head at Neri. "I have no intention of going back over that wall right now. I would rather explore what lays on this side along with the village. We will learn more by speaking with the natives than trying to devise a solution to our problem in isolation."

So Luna and Neri are here, the boys over there. A shame; Harry was cute.

"Mahb had mentioned there being other settlements of folk; perhaps they can shed some more light on our situation."

Ok, Harry, Sterling & Kong please report to Group B thread, and let me know what you are doing. Neri, Luna & Jacob, you are staying here in Group A thread. I'm putting the links to both in the top of both, and I plan on keeping the headings of both groups the same, for my ease. I hope there is regular contact between the two groups, as you end up learning more about the world and such, and it'll be easier if both groups are at least able to keep a vague idea of what the other group is up to.

Neri intends to finish the job of escorting the people to safety. Then he's open to suggestions from the other two. Group A link is broken, you need to add an A after '3'. Are we expected to read the other room, or should we keep it unread since it'd be OOC info?

"I don't have magic, I'm going back to our hideout. staying here will just get us killed and following them will get me abandoned."

Luna Started her way toward the compounds they had found at the start of their adventure.

"Might as well give up on finding home."

"Well, at least we agree on getting back to the compounds. That's where these guys will be safest. So I guess that's the direction to head. Sound good, Jacob?"

He looked to Mahb, "I know you don't know how to use magic, but maybe you know someone able to lift a curse? Or know of a way to do it? And... I know it's insensitive to ask, but what happened to cause them to be unable to speak? Maybe, like the brands, we can fix that, too."

Mahb follows along, and snorts. "De priest cut dere tongues out an burned de roots wit a white hot brand." She responds, grunting as the walk begins. "Trobit was tree at de time." She looks at Luna. "Ye kin have me home, if ye want it. Nobody ever miss me back dere. Always easy 'nuff give up 'n die if ye prefer. Krona be happy ta slit ye throat if ye like, she good at it, lot of practice cleanin deer. Won't have ta do fight no more den. Hell, most years, at least one person cut dey own troat in Demonreach. Easier dan breathin."

Krona grins and holds up a wickedly curved dagger for Luna to see. "Maw got it rite, easy death. If ye no kin fite for ye life, ye're wastin air."

Neri winces. "I'm sorry to hear that. I know what it's like to be cut and burned... it's a pretty horrible life. That's why I got out of it. I'm glad I could help to get you guys out of it. Are they able to read and write? Or do they have some other way to communicate? I'll try to convince the god of magic to help me figure out a way to restore your voices, whether you can or not." He looked to Krona, "As for the knife, I could use a haircut, if you'd really like to find a use for it."

"I don't want your home and I've fought so far, no point in giving up now.

Krona smiles. "Sure, can cut hair. But no use knife for that.." A straight razor appears in her other hand, the blade flickering out as it pops open. The blade glitters in the dappled light. For a small village girl, Krona seems to be able to use her knife and hands and straight razor very well.

Neri laughed. "Kind of ironic. It's like you've been waiting to kill people for a -very- long time, and here we've brought you behind the wall to keep you safe. I think you guys are safer than -I- am. It's also ironic that I have the price of a haircut in my wallet, from back home." He pulled out his wallet, which had his ID, social security card and a few dollars of paper money out, and revealed the contents. "I'd bet it all doesn't mean a thing, here."

"They spoke of a possible other town on this side of the wall. Perhaps we should look for it? We could walk in a direction until we reach high ground or a river, and use that to locate it."

"Um... I think that the people in the compounds... don't really know where they are. Though I -do- agree that once we get to the compounds we should explore. People were in way too much of a hurry to get out... no offense, Luna. If we knew more about our surroundings before we left, or about the people, we might have been able to prevent what happened, at least in the way it happened. If Sterling weren't a lying, secretive fool, maybe Jedia and the others wouldn't be dead right now.." Neri shook his head slowly. "No, we need to figure out everythign we can before we return to the outside world. Hopefully they'll be smart enough to stop in the village and at least -try- to get people to come here. They should have an Elder selected by now, right Mahb?"

Mahb snorts. "Cain't select an Elder wit out de damn priest. Ain't no people on dis side of de wall. Dey be people on de odder side, but be demonspawn..." She trails off, and then laughs. "Hah! Me be demonspawned already. Me be priesteefied if me know bout dem. Dere be church soljers west of Demonsreach, Demonbane Fort. Dey be in Demonreach by mornin, burn it to de ground. Put ever'one to death first."

Krona looks over Neri's bits of nothing, and shrugs. "Look like trash. Whoever drew on paper be good, but weird drawings. Picture of you be good, but don't make you look good."

"Makes me look a lot younger though. The picture was taken a year ago. You could say I aged -very- ungracefully." he said with no lacking in dry humor. "Aside from cutting people, what do you guys like to do? Once we get into town that might help you figure out where you want to stay."

Krona shrugs. "The old priest, he say me be whore when me be told what me do in village. Demons need whores?" She asks, sounding curious.

The old woman snorts. "New dead priest say Korna be cleaner of piss barrels. Demon got piss barrels? Me be too old now, used to make clocks. Carve wood."

The mute daughter makes a few motions with her hands, chopping, stirring, tasting, ladling, and handing an imaginary plate to Neri.

"I'd say Sterling could have used one. Dude is crazy uptight... and between you and me, I think he thinks women are property anyway. But... no, I don't. You're good at cleaning dear, right, Krona? Mahb said you were. There's a lady who comes through every now and then with Deer. You could probably go along hunting with her, if you can figure out where she goes when she leaves. I'm sure the tavern could use you if you really preferred the former. As for making clocks, you could probably get Harry's place to make you the parts, though good wood won't be as easy. I'd definitely appreciate some degree of moving parts in town though. And as for cooking, the tavern could use that, as well. I'd suggest you try out Sterling's place for clock parts... but those things that run all over the walls creep me out."

Luna would stay quiet unless directly spoken to during their trip back to the compounds, she thought about trying 'her' compound once more when they arrived.

On the way back to the compounds, Neri would do his best to fill the apostates in on what had gone on to bring them there. Starting with the apparent dying, then working through the zombiefest, the murals, the gems, the trip to the compounds, the conversation about 'Age', lighting the volcano, the deer, the horse, interactions with Id, moving through the wall, tethering Luna, entering the village, meeting the peacekeeper, and finally attacking the priest's staff.

"I wasn't out to kill the guy. I was out to break his toy that let him hurt all of you. I thought it was like our weapons, and maybe if I -broke- it, he'd lose all of his power, and it'd free you guys. Not from being his slaves, mind you. I didn't know you were his slaves at the time, just that he was hurting everyone. I'd guessed wrong, it looks like, but I had the best of intentions. Anyway, doesn't matter. What do you think of all that? Do you have any idea of why all of that worked the way that it did?"

Mahb and Krona obviously think Neri is insane by the time he finishes his story, that or lying. No roll required on sense motive. They have the same look on their faces that two cops would have as Neri explained the same story back in his original world "Dunno why it was dat way."

The trip back is surprisingly uneventful. They see a few mutated creatures along the way, but for some reason, this time they avoid the group instead of attacking.

Once back to the clearing (which takes a couple of days, during which the locals will answer questions, if asked), the locals balk at entering. "Demonholme! Don't care if me am demonspawn, not goin' in dere." The old woman says firmly, not budging from the tree line.

"Id says he thinks there might be a village to the south... which means on the other side of... Demonholme... I guess. Thanks, Id. I was planning on doing a full sweep of the compounds before heading out, but I'll take the advice of the guy who has a volcano that makes maps on its own. Speaking of, Id. Do you think you could use me, with your memories, to help make a better map for us? I'm sure things have changed since you were here, but mountains and rivers mostly don't move too much."

He looked to the women, "Why exactly do you not want to go in, by the way?"

He seemed to be doing better, as time has passed. It doesn't matter that they don't believe his story, it at least let's him know that this is far removed from par for the course. Besides, maybe he was insane. It'd be the best explanation yet for all the craziness. Maybe Sterling represented his father. That'd explain why it bothered him so much when he was bridge off when he was right, and thrown under the bus when he was wrong. Well, actually, he was pretty sure that'd upset just about anyone.

He looked to Luna and Jacob, clearly thoughtful. "I've been trying to figure out why Kong and Harry left. I can better understand why Sterling did. I was always in his way... same reason a criminal doesn't want to be around police. Kong just didn't want to bother with the wall. But... Harry's decision makes no sense to me. All I have to go on is that he thinks I'm a hot head. So he follows the guy who would rather get everyone killed than listen to a different opinion... and a guy who may or may not have splattered a dog across the pavement. Speaking of which, was that Kong or Sterling..? Kong seems like a loose cannon, but Sterling seems like the type to carve up an animal for no reason."

"Sterling has his reasons, and he's not dumb. I had an ex like him years back." Maybe that's what I dislike him so much. "He just has no regard for the feelings of others. He's a sociopath. Prideful to a fault. You wouldn't know it because he's bright enough not to be wrong so much though."

Jacob looked to the women with them. "He was upset you were with us, even though his mark may have been on you. He doesn't like the responsibility. Much like a father leaving his wife before a child is born, he likes experimenting in the moment but would rather eschew the bad consequences. For better or worse though, we can't afford that kind of absenteeism here - from responsibility or common sense. It can get us killed."

His curiosity heighted, Jacob takes a look at the mute, Arna. "We'll have to cook together if we can fell some food. For now, let us explore the town and make sure there is no danger."

BTW Neri/Jacob/Luna, you are fairly certain there's no village south of the lake, as you all went that way (remember you encountered the deer south of the lake). You've also been west and east of the central lake...

Mahb snorts. "Ye be sayin he be a man." She says, and laughs, both of the other women smile.

I thought we came from east of the lake. Heh, it's been a while. Neri will still go to search around there, regardless of believing there isn't anything. The basin is massive, after all... and they might as well start somewhere.

"Id says we can try to make a map, if you guys will give me a moment to go look?" If no one objected, he'd head for his home-away-from-home... and let Id take the driver's seat on forming the lava.

On the way "Id. Are you feeling alright? You seem a lot less sure of yourself. Usually you'd have ignited my nerves a few times."

Edit: How many days have passed? Neri has some natural healing to do :P

He speaks to that voice in his head like it's a person.

"A very ill-mannered one, maybe; not all men are the same." This wasn't the time for that converstaion though.

"Go ahead, Neri. I'll keep our new friends company."

Sense Motive DC 15 or Heal 15 or Int Check DC 20 from Neri

If taking 10 is allowed, dc 15 heal is covered. Otherwise, I'll go ahead and roll.

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"If we aren't staying I'm going to get some things, since the others aren't coming back they won't need anything from they homes." Luna did the same as neri leaving Unless Jacob objected, despite her talk of taking from the others she headed to her home first, she'd only spent a short time there and decided to try again.