Hardworthy stops laughing and runs up to you, Bolus. Grasping you by the front of your armor, he insists, "You had to do what you had to do. You're back now, and you have a last shot. Everyone's cards are on the table. Death is all in. Chronus is all in. There's a war in Heaven right over Earth as the Void Beast grows ever nearer. Listen to me carefully Bolus...and take my bloody advice this time! The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Remember those words!" he shakes you.
"Not much more than we knew. Though..." Sinathel looked at the Professor. "Beacons. How many are out there that you know about? Do you have any historical records of them appearing."
I've been messing around with time before this?
I've been messing around with time before this?
I'm not sure that I understand what has happened before or will be happening now or is happening later...that is, if I understand correctly all the times are crossing over and through each other and if something isn't done time itself goes away.
Hardworthy releases your armor and throws his hands up in exasperation. "Every time we do this, I tell you there's no time to explain. And every time, you need an explanation! You Guardians are even more pig-headed than the damned Archaelogist's Guild, curse them!"
"Yes, you have been messing around with time before. The beacon that I discovered in the mountains, that I sent my elf friend Myltharial after, is mucking about in the time stream. Beyond simply sending a signal into space, the beacon appears to have developed its own form of retribution against those who would stop it. I've been able to pin down the effects on the time stream with the help of...a friend, but every time it warps reality to defend itself the warp of reality becomes weaker. That's how HE found us." he points at the mysterious elf warrior.
"Without exception, the past three times you have attempted to shut down this beacon, you have all died, one after another. Bolus, you're always the last one standing, and every time you've hijacked the beacon's own defenses to reset the mission. Last time you did it, I didn't hear from you for weeks. I thought you had failed already. Then I hear tell that you signed up for guard duty in the past, and was sent even FURTHER back in time! Do you realize how F$+!ED we all are if you continue to fail? People like HIM" pointing at Eldar again, "Are FAIRY TALES! They are NOT supposed to exist. I don't know how his presence on your quest will alter the timeline. I can only pray that it involves fewer of you dying this time."
"Death is inevitable. Life is uncertain. Death is constant. But Time... Death does not want Time to die... Without Time, Life and Death too would vanish. The circle will unravel. As one of the Lost, it is my duty to help sort this situation out. Restore the cycle. The Wheel must turn"
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Perhaps a change like Eldar is exactly what is needed to alter the situation enough for us to succeed this time?
Hardworthy winks at the cleric. "You're optimistic. That'll be needed on this trip."
Olivius stands with his arms crossed. This was... straining credibility. In fact, he was suddenly uncertain that this wasn't some kind of psychotic episode. The gods were involved, including Death, but still...
I've failed THREE times? I've gotten three expeditions massacred on that thing? Bolus is shaken by this. Reseting time made it so it never happened? This is insane!
For the first time, Hardworthy's expression softens. "It...gets harder every time I wake up in the past, knowing you'll find me again, and I have to tell you you've failed." His voice is quieter. "That's why you must not fail again. But the danger on this quest is great."
"The valley in which the beacon rests is the very heart of Drakerider Orc territory. The bastards have learned to tame fearsome fire-breathing drakes, as their name implies, and their ferocity in combat is nigh-unbelievable. Their front-line grunts could go pound for pound with Terminus City's Exterminator Squads, the freaks." his voice is bitter and dry.
"I'll take you there in my skyskipper, just like...last time." He turns away from you, staring at his chalkboard covered in calculations grimly.
"Death. Life. And Time are all in now. They do not wish to see the Unraveling happen. I am certain this cycle, you will succeed." he tries to make them trust in their abilities. He wasnt sure if what he said was the right thing. The living was an odd concept now to his mind
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Bolus slumps down on a seat. That probably explains the drake attack. How come you remember this and I don't. And what the hell happened with Mimic Orwell and Temellen in the last expedition? They went straight up crazy. Orwell... sacrificed the members of the unit to power something in the past. Gibbered about controlling time itself.
For the first time, Hardworthy's expression softens. "It...gets harder every time I wake up in the past, knowing you'll find me again, and I have to tell you you've failed." His voice is quieter. "That's why you must not fail again. But the danger on this quest is great."
"The valley in which the beacon rests is the very heart of Drakerider Orc territory. The bastards have learned to tame fearsome fire-breathing drakes, as their name implies, and their ferocity in combat is nigh-unbelievable. Their front-line grunts could go pound for pound with Terminus City's Exterminator Squads, the freaks." his voice is bitter and dry.
"I'll take you there in my skyskipper, just like...last time." He turns away from you, staring at his chalkboard covered in calculations grimly.
So we do the opposite of what our instincts say since we have failed so many times before, our have we been doing the opposite each time knowing that we failed and that's why we fail?
Hardworthy rests against his lab table with a sigh. "I've been serving the Hand of Gaia since I was a young boy, Bolus, and I've been studying temporal anomalies for almost as long. I have a signal receiver here that you contact me with using the beacon device. You told me, in detail, every time, how your friends were killed, just before you used the beacon to start over. Each time it got harder..."
He trails off and shakes his head. "As for Orwell...that bastard...he was a self-serving simpleton from the start, barely worthy of the Mimic title. By the time I found out about your assignment to his squad, you had already disappeared, or else I would have prevented it. You missed the date that you wanted to reset to, and you were assigned to defend him, oblivious to your real mission...I'm sorry. It's just luck that you ran into these people and they put you back on track. Or maybe it's a fixed point in the time stream. I don't know."
"I don't know anything about Temellen's intentions either. His motivations are mysterious to me."
He turns to Dambreth. "I'll tell you everything I know about how your previous expeditions failed. Hopefully this time it will make the difference..."
"The Drakerider Orcs have cunning traps laid throughout all of their territory. Olivius, you've died to their traps twice, trying to disarm them. Once to a falling stone...once riddled with arrows from a trapped hallway. The third time you were decapitated, not by a trap, but by one of the big orcs guarding the beacon." Yala turns away, seemingly unwilling to listen to how you perished, Olivius. You see tears in her eyes.
Grimly, Hardworthy turns to his gear, packing it up in preparation of leaving. "Sinathel was once eaten by a drake, the second time she died in the same arrow trap as you, Olivius, and the third time she perished, it was holding back the orcs long enough for Bolus to activate the damned beacon again."
He sighs, and continues. "Dambreth died burning in drakes' flames the first time you went. The second time, the arrow trap did him in along with all of you; their dead bodies were all that prevented the arrows from killing you too, Bolus." he has to stop, closing his eyes in pain at the memory. "In my dreams, I still see your face when you told me how that happened. I have never before seen such pain." He covers his face with his hand. "The third time, Dambreth, you died in battle with a great orc."
"Bolus, you managed to survive the gauntlet each time," he says, bitterly, "But it's all for naught in the end. You rewind time to save your friends' lives."
Eldar looks them over. Keeping silent. This sounded wrong to him. But Death sent him here. So it was obviously important.
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Olivius goes numb when he hears how he has died. To traps? It's almost an insult, but it has the ring of truth to it. Being a thief is half skill, and half acceptance of the inevitable. Capture or death, either way your career will end. Usually by the latter. Still, a part of him was amazed that he remembered nothing of those deaths. The death he did remember had changed him so much that he had a hard time imagining just forgetting it.
He spots Yala's tears and instinctively moves over to put an arm around her. There was something between them, he was sure, but whether it was just professional admiration or something else was hard to determine with all the emotions that come with being told you had more lives than a cat.
It is different this time. he says with all the stability he can muster, We have a second talented thief in our midst.
And that brings something to mind. He draws the Spirit Dagger and shows it to the Professor. What can you tell me about this?
"Let me make an assumption." he looks over to the professor
"Those words have been said before?"
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Hardworthy narrows his eyes at Eldar. "Leave off of it. The girl's been with them the whole time, but she's an X factor. I don't know what happens to her. Bolus won't tell me, any of the three times he's gone."
Yala stares at the Professor, wide-eyed.
An awkward moment passes where no one speaks. Then, the Professor coughs and gestures at the Dagger. "I've been trying to spend my...house arrest time here researching the answer to that dagger's origin, Olivius. I know it's old, older than Yala's tribe certainly by far, according to what I've been able to find. There are illustrations, references to a dagger that altered its destiny with every victim it claimed. But I lose all my bookmarks whenever Bolus resets things..." he shakes his head, grumbling. "I'm close to a breakthrough, I can feel it. I just need to skip the first three books I instinctively want to try."
How do we destroy this damn thing. I think the one in the past was taken out by an entire volcano erupting on it. Can't do the same here. Also is it Temellen that got you arrested and put me on the Terimuns Most Wanted? And can you tell me how to use this thing? Bolus takes out the time halting device he took from Orwell's corpse.
"You certainly won't get anywhere by whacking it with your baton," the professor replies crossly. "But a simple grenade should cause enough concussive force. The orcs in the mountains surrounding the beacon's valley should have some if you're industrious." He coughs, hacking a bit of spittle onto the floor before continuing.
"I say should, because I've never actually destroyed one of these before. Every time we get close enough for you to remove the interference preventing us from communicating, you open the line enough to say you're resetting things, and you'll do it right this time. I pray that this is true this time."
"That thing is a time arrestor. I still haven't figured out how it works, but that monkey Orwell needed a brainless interface, so I assume you just point and click." he scoffs. "There's just the one button on the thing."
Well if I didn't have the smarts to tell you what kept on going wrong right at the end I guess we'll have to find out again. Bolus says standing up to face the others Seems like most of us have done this before but I gotta believe that this time we'll get it right. We have to. We ready?
Elder nods, still covering his face from those around
"Let us begin. We only have a small window of oportunity tp do this. So let us use it to the best of our capabilities"
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"When we get there, before they notice us, perhaps it is best if I reach out to the local People and Spirits first. We may can learn something new before we enter."
Sinathel paused for a moment, before looking at the Professor. "Sir, did I ever ask you to identify on our previous attempts something I had found?"
I believe that there is one difference this time...the fates have been unkind to Dambreth the ranger but now with the hand of the Lady herself on me things may go better this time.
Here's hoping. Right now things seem pretty stacked against us. I mean, I've fought and died with Yala three times now and I done even remember? Fate is cruel.
The gleam of a challenge now sparks in Olivius' eye. He never could turn down a challenge.
But, if I go assaulting a stronghold, I'm gonna need better gear. What kind of time do we have for me to acquire some things?
Well it seems like we need explosives, preferably grenades for one.
I'm going to need some good knives, decent, flexible armor, and several other things...
Olivius seems to not be hesitant to tell Bolus exactly what these 'other things' are.
Sinathel paused for a moment, before looking at the Professor. "Sir, did I ever ask you to identify on our previous attempts something I had found?"
The Professor glances at your satchel where you're keeping your egg, knowingly. "All I can tell you about that is that it's a very good thing you recovered it, and that it's important. I'm unable to say more. Please, keep it hidden."
Hardworthy nods at the rest of you when you discuss preparation. "I have a skyskipper in this observatory's garage, under light guard. It shouldn't be much trouble to get to it, and I can fly you to the market square from there."
Walking briskly, the old man coughs a few more times as he holds open the door for all of you, leading you through the Observatory. Scientific instruments line the hallways you walk through, largely unused and turned off. At the end of the walk through the Observatory you get the feeling that very few of the instruments here actually have seen use in some time.
Hardworthy's face is set in grim lines when he reaches the garage bay door. "There's four guards in there making sure I don't fly away. Taking them down should be child's play for all of you," he glances around at you, "But if they trip the alarm it'll make things more difficult for us on the way out."
There are double doors leading to the garage with small windows in each one that look through to the garage. Peeking through, you can see the skyskipper, its wings folded above itself in parked position, and four guards standing together and chatting casually. Their weapons are out, and held loosely. What do you do?
Are there any other ways in, professor, other than this terribly obvious door?
Gaia may grant me the power to frighten one of the men away. Other than that, I can call of Gaia's blessing to aid you.
Hardworthy points to a nearby staircase. "That leads up to the control room we used to use to operate the garage before the Observatory became less...popular." He coughs again. "You could probably cut the lights and get the drop on them from above from there. Maybe? Otherwise I can try to distract them by trying my garage door opener to open it remotely. Up to you."
Both. Yala and I can handle the drop with my hook. When the lights cut, hit your door opener. The darkness followed by unexpected activity will draw their attention to the door. Yala and I will take out the far two while the rest of you hit the closer two. Priority is to keep them from raising an alarm.
Sound good?
Hardworthy nods. "You guys are the ones in charge, I'm just happy you're sticking it to those goons. No need to be too gentle." he grins at you and Yala smiles back uncomfortably.
Olivius nods and takes the stairs two at a time in the way up. Once at the top he quickly locates the room and the button to kill the power. Or he thinks he finds at least. There are a lot of similar buttons in this place.
Before going through the door Bolus asks for a moment and drops to a knee and brings his dog tags up to his brow. Figure that I know all I'm going to understand about what the hell is going on here. The way forward is clear enough though. Grant me the strength to succeed where I've failed before and destroy this damn beacon as it threatens Terminus and, hell, everything else as well.
What vows are required?
Right before the garage Bolus mutters to himself What here is Evil?
As Bolus kneels on the ground, Dambreth walks over to him and calls upon the Gaia to aid the brave warrior...
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Yala is close behind you, Olivius, the two of you bounding away quickly.
As the thieves prepare their ambush, Bolus takes a knee once more. You take the following great vows upon yourself:
Truth: to see lies, one must clear oneself of them. No lie or half-truth or lie of omission may pass your lips; dedicate yourself utterly to the spirit of Honesty.
Valor: The villains you are assailing are powerful indeed, to have driven your party asunder in the past. This time you must suffer none of them to live.
As you rise to your feet once more, you feel a sense for where the beacon is; far to the mountains in the northeast.
Up above, Olivius and Yala reach the control room, with big windows leading down to the garage floor proper. There's a big red button with a lightning bolt; that's probably it. Yala gives the signal to the Professor as you slap your palm down on it.
The lights cut out suddenly in the garage, and the only light source is from the suddenly opening garage door that Hardworthy triggered. The guards turn around, confused and drawing their weapons.
Bolus: You sense evil intentions from the guards beyond, though not powerful evil auras. These guys are henchmen-level Evil.
Dambreth: Your connection is strong for his sake, but you may Bless no more until you've communed.
Eldar: That depends on what tools you have at your disposal with your kit; as a Fighter, you're almost always ready for action at a moment's notice. Just do what you would do, in this situation. :)
Sinathel took a deep breath and focused, remembering the vines and plants that made up her jungle. Thinking of herself being made up of those various plants.
The cloaked shadow and smoke creature moves in, his sword appearing in his hands, one can see it is also not of this world. In a smooth motion, almost no sound he rushes forward at the two guards. His cloak bellowing from the speed. Now one can see more of his body, skin stretched over bone, rags that are tattered, a skeleton with a skin on
"Death has come for you" he says in his normal, whispy voice. No yelling. Not a cry or threat. As if it is natural, simply stating the truth.
With an upward slice he attacks the closest of the two threats
Lol.... :P
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Just before the lights go out, Olivius secures a second section of rope to something sturdy. He then finds something heavy to push over and shatter the ceiling.
The button is pushed, the piece of equipment falls, and the ceiling disintegrates into a rain of glass pellets. Seconds later, Olivius is descending from above. He wraps his cloak over his hands to prevent rope burn as he slides down.
Sinathel, your URL doesn't work, but I found this.
The lights cut off and the garage door begins to open. Sinathel bursts through the open doorway, but for the first time, she falters. Here in Terminus City, where steel and iron form the world around you, you don't feel as connected to the natural world as you formerly did. You shapeshift into the form you desired, but your form is weakened by not having any solid earth to dig your roots into. Scrabbling weakly for purchase on the ground, you push your horrific body into the garage.
The elf named Eldar brushes past you. Without regard for tactics or patience he charges in, swinging his weapon emotionlessly.
However, before he gets close, the guards, alerted to his presence by Sinathel emerging through the doorway, turn on him and fire their weapons! Two of them hit you and you take 2d6 Stun damage.
Bolus: Roll Volley to represent how accurately you're pointing the thing. It doesn't actually fire projectiles, but you do need to aim correctly.
Olivius: Roll Defy Danger: Dexterity with a +1 from the rope you're sliding down. The danger is being injured by falling glass or dropping too hard to the floor.
Bolus preparing to rush in himself is taken aback when matters overtake him. Well this aint the best of starts Putting away the Time Arrestor Bolus moves in to take one of the grunts out hard and fast.
He hits but manoeuvering clumsily around Sinathel and Eldar robs his charge of a lot of his strength.
Dambreth goes charging into the fray swinging his weapon...a small stick...yelling at the closest guard Run you fool from the blazing sword of soul draining! as he call upon the power of Gaia to befuddle the mind of the guard.
Dambreth's spell successfully confounds one of the men in back who had just fired upon Sinathel. "I'm not getting paid enough for this!" he shouts, turning tail and fleeing out the opening garage door.
The other 3 remaining guards, battling off Bolus and Eldar and giving as good as they get, look at each other briefly in confusion.
One of the guards, the one Bolus just struck, drops his one injured hand to his side as he grasps his weapon in his other hand, blasting you with it. Roll Defy Danger to not take 1d6 stun damage, Bolus. After firing at the Guardian, he glances at Dambreth. "The bloody elf's a spellcaster! Bring him down!"
Dambreth, two of them are firing at you while the third is focusing his efforts on avoiding Bolus' swings. Defy Danger or take 2d6 stun damage!
Meanwhile, Yala and Olivius fall through the broken ceiling on the rope that Olivius strung. You take some minor but painful cuts, 1d4+2 damage, but you land safely, with Yala just behind you. She shakes her head hard, and a few shards of glass fly out of her hair. "That was fun! Let's not do it again," she quips, and draws a small dagger to defend herself.