Perception ....
There is nowhere for the gyrocopter to hide from the all-seeing eyes of Gojira....
The King of Kaiju blasts the buzzing, dragonfly-like gyrocopter with a beam of fiery red force capable of disintegrating the vehicle.... If not for the globe of force that protected the gyrocopter and it's pilot!
The intense heat and devestating force did not penetrate the globe of force surrounding the gyrocopter, but it did send the globe and vehicle hurtling away along the path of the beam....
Koran spends the majority of his free time alone in his makeshift lair on the outskirts of his tent.
The other fierce ones receive several worrisome comments on his reclusive-ness from the navajo often mentioning him talking to himself or returning to his tent covered in blood or carrying the corpses of huge wild beasts. A growing pile of large bones is carelessly thrown behind his tent.
AAAAIIIIEEEE!!!
Dr Yamamoto gripped the controls of the gyrocopter and squeezed his eyes tightly shut as the vehicle spun and hurtled in a river of red flame and concussive energy that would have disintegrated the gyrocopter and himself had he not previously engaged the limited force field he'd invented and installed on the vehicle....
He fought to regain control.... Profession (pilot) succeeds!
The gyrocopter escapes the path of the lethal beam and comes about to face the monstrous head of the Kaiju rising above the churning sea....
Dr Yamamoto brings the gyrocopter into range and tries again to exert mental dominion over Gojira....
Dominate monster (DC 30) from the Kaiju Sensei device....
Will save vs DC 30 dominate monster succeeds!
BBRRRREEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRKKK!!!!
No mortal shall control the mighty Gojira!
RRRREEEEEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRKKK!!!!
Gojira will destroy!
The King of Kaiju hurls firebolts from the glowing spines along its back, but again, the globe of force protects the gyrocopter and it's pilot from certain destruction....
Only one more chance! If it doesn't work again, the Kaiju Sensei will be depleted and must recharge! I will have to retreat....and Gojira will.... NO!! It MUST work this time!! It MUST!!
Final dominate monster attempt for the day....
Will save vs DC 30 dominate monster succeeds a third time!
YYYYEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRKKK!!!!
I said NO, fool!!
The King of Kaiju begins to swim with tidal-wave-generating strokes toward the islands of Japan....
Dammit! NOOOO!!! I have....failed! W-what have I....done!?
Dr Yamamoto watches in horror as Gojira, completely out of his control, swims toward his homeland, where it will no doubt wreak utter devastation until it can be brought under control! The mad scientist begins to weep....
Out of the starboard side of the cockpit appears the taunting ogre mage....
BWAHAHAHAHA!!! How swiftly, and how epically, you have failed, Dr Yamamoto!! How does such a dire failure taste, my favorite mortal clown!? TEEHEEHEEHEEEE!!!
Damn you to hell! You're not even REAL!!.... I.... I can fix this! *Sniff!* Yes! I know what to do!.... Gojira is King of the Kaiju, so of course his will is strongest.... The others will be easier to dominate! And with them under my command.... I can minimize the damage caused by Gojira by distracting him with the others.... Yes! It can work! It MUST work!!
Trembling, Dr Yamamoto pilots his gyrocopter toward land, soon outpacing the colossal swimming form of Gojira below....
Worried by Merlin's answer and unwilling to sit around until he finds a solution, Allison finds a quiet room in the castle where she can begin preparations to seek answers.
She begins to draw an elaborate spell circle on the ancient stone floor and places tallow candles at key points before sitting in the center and beginning the incantations that flow into her mind through her mythic powers.
(In Old German) Loki, I call out to thee. Guide my path once more...
Loki, What is the source of this unease Merlin and I have detected?
true answer
Who is responsible?
true answer
Where must we go to find it?
true answer
What is this monster's weakness?
true answer
Will you grant me aid to defeat it?
true answer
Are there more immanent dangers to the earth than this?
true answer
After hearing the words from Loki, source of her divine might, Allison feels more resolute. More importantly, she is relieved to finally know what is happening.
(In Old German) Loki, I call out to thee. Guide my path once more...
Loki, What is the source of this unease Merlin and I have detected?
The Lord of Monsters has wakened....
Who is responsible?
A sage and craftsman of Nippon.... A creator of dangerous artifacts....
Where must we go to find it?
To the Islands of Dawn.... The Land of the Rising Sun....
What is this monster's weakness?
A well-sung song....
Will you grant me aid to defeat it?
Aye, fair Allison.... I shall tell thee where to find the Tarnkappe.... The Cloak of Illusions! The foul necromancy of Cthulhu has restored to life after many long centuries the monster Grendel, and has set this monster to guard the Tarnkappe within an ancient barrow mound in Saxony.... I shall guide thy quest by causing an aurora of reddish flame to dance over this barrow in the dark of night!
Are there more immanent dangers to the earth than this?
Nay, none more dire....
After hearing the words from Loki, source of her divine might, Allison feels more resolute. More importantly, she is relieved to finally know what is happening.
A grim look spread over Allison's face.(German) Grendel? That creature from Beowulf is real? Intriguing.
Allison bowed deeply before the apparition of Loki before her as the image before her faded away.
She blew out the candles and rushed to inform the others of what she learned.
(English) It seems zat some immense monster has been avoken in Japan. It seems logical to take a team zer to stop zem; however, I need to head south to Saxon... a task of great importance to me has revealed itself. It seems zat ze vorkings of Cthulhu have resulted in ze return of Grendel. Any volunteers vould be greatly appreciated, but it seems zat clearest threat is in Japan...
"Grendel? I would very much like to test my skills against a creature that challenged the legendary Beowulf..." Sieg says, a small smile cracking his face.
Grendel, huh? That sounds like its right up your alley, Sieg.... Anyway, I'm in, Dr Jones.... I wouldn't mind trying the Sword of Sif out on the legendary Grendel....
Radsworth considers the assignment.
"I'm ready when the rest of you are. I do not expect Grendel will be much challenge for any of your martial skills. The monster however... that one intrigues me."
Sehr Gut! Und danke schön, my fellow Fierce Ones, Allison said with a mix of excitement and gratitude. I appreciate your support on dis quest. And it seems zat ze sooner we leave, ze sooner ve can refocus our efforts on ze monsters in Japan.
Derrik clasps a gauntleted hand on Allison's shoulder from behind reassuringly " It is our duty to help the world anyway we can. You have proven yourself of our trust so we must support you. Though I will have one caveat; That if this threat that reaches Japan starts to Rampage.. that we send some of us to handle that as well... At least to cause a Distraction "
He grips his newly glowing Dawnbringer and taps it against his thigh " Grendel should not be too much of a problem.. but we can never be too careful.
The Fierce Ones leave the Black Forest and head over to the region long known as Saxony for the Saxons, an early Germanic tribe of barbarians that dwelt in the land. Using magical flight, they sweep over the lonely hills and low-lying marshy areas, searching for barrow mounds. Because Loki had promised to set a magical beacon aurora over the barrow where Grendel and the Tarnkappe could be found after nightfall, the Fierce Ones have waited for the sun to set in the west before beginning their search in earnest....
At around 9:45 PM, a reddish, flickering glow becomes visible, dancing over a dark hilltop....
There she blows, mates!
MJ points at the distant red glow....
Flying closer to the barrow mound with the dancing red aurora atop its crown, the FOs perceive that the mound lies within a reeking bog, fringed with cat tails and tamarack and covered with lilypads....
This barrow mound is much larger than most of the others seen in Europe....as though it were the grave of a giant.... A dark, cave-like opening in the north face of the mound rises about 10 ft above the surface of the bog, and is nearly 10 ft wide....
MJ flies down to the bog and sinks in up to his waist before his feet touch the muddy bottom....
Waist deep.... And f#*%in' cold....
With his newly acquired ring of freedom of movement, MJ wades through the water as effortlessly as if he were walking on dry land....
As long as you stay within 30 ft of me, I can give you the same freedom of movement that Mikey's ring gives him.... Better yet, I'll cast the spell on Derrik, Koran, Sieg, and Yingzen--I prepared five, so I can get one of you casters, too.... Who wants it?
Daisy begins casting freedom of movement on the martials--Derrik, then Koran, then Sieg, then Yingzen, and finally one other....
A beastly fetor wafts from the cave mouth entrance.... In the glow of the FOs light spells, countless bones and skulls of humans and animals can be seen piled just below the surface of the bog near the entrance....
Hovering off the ground thanks to his Extended Overland Flight spell, wrinkling his nose in disdain.
"I appreciate the offer Daisy, but Chesterfield and I shall not be joining you in that mud."
Oh, thank heavens! That is an odor I suspect is particularly difficult to remove from my fabric.... Of course, prestidigitation always seems to clean up any mess, however malodorous....
A familiar and hated sound reaches Grendel's keen ears....
The voices of men....
He rises from the grisly feast he was making of a half-eaten deer carcass, smearing blood and gore over his ghastly face with the back of a brutish, tree trunk-like arm....
GRRRRR.... Grendel habe hunger fur mannfleisch.... Grendel mochte mannblod trinken!!
Derrik nod to Daisy. " You have gotten much better at preparation and insight since I have first met you, now your mind matches your beauty. True progress is always a good thing to have. I thank you for the magicks.. Otherwise I would be jumping.. alot. " He steps into the muck, Both weapons drawn and radiating with his own magicks. Able to sense and perceive small hints.. though at this point dreading his heightened abilities due to the stench.
Daisy blushes at Derrik's compliment, smiling....
Thanks, Derrik.... I figured it might come in handy when Grendel starts getting grabby.... I recall from high school English Lit--that's kinda his thing, right?
As soon as the FOs enter the dark tunnel that leads into the hillside, the presence of dimension-warping magic becomes apparent to all....
Like a giant bag of holding, the interior the FOs are now exploring is obviously too large to fit within even the larger-than-usual barrow mound on the outside....
A cavern opens up before the FOs at the end of a 30-ft long tunnel, approximately 10-ft wide by 13-ft high, flooded with waist-deep bog water.... The tunnel does not ascend out of the water, and the vast cavern beyond, approximately 40 ft by 50 ft, with a 30-ft-high ceiling studded with stalactites, is also flooded to waist height, at least as far as 10 ft out of the tunnel....
A strange, greenish phosphorescence dimly lights the cavern from glowing fungal growths and patches of moss growing on the wet walls, and the light from the FOs' light spells dances in the facets of crystals embedded in the walls here and there....
More heaps of human and animal bones, some seeming exceedingly ancient, are piled about the cavern floor, some breaking the surface of the waist-deep water by a few feet....
A charnel death-stench mixes with the beastly fetor to create a noxious reek in the air here....
Derrik shakes his helmeted head and shrugs with his Pauldrons " I unfortunately would knot know, I read the tales of Beowulf to be sure, but I was never good with English classes, I hated writing papers and essays. But the fact you remember such is commendable.. Regardless, we would be hard pressed without your help.. remember that anytime you feel weak..but don't overexert yourself. "
Meanwhile, in a gyrocopter speeding over Okinawa....
Okay.... Mosura is normally summoned by the song of two fairies.... But my Kaiju Dehibernator should do the trick as well.... And Mosura is known to be of benevolent nature.... At least in comparison to Gojira.... With Mosura's aid, perhaps I can also subdue Rodan and then, together, we can stop Gojira from destroying everything....
Locating the vast grove of bamboo he was seeking, Dr Yamamoto slows his gyrocopter to a hover and activates the Kaiju Dehibernator.... This time, he changes the settings with the turning of dials, and instead of a rhythmic throbbing, the cone-shaped projection on the device emits a hauntingly beautiful melody and harmonic frequencies....
"Thanks, Daisy, but I think I'll float. We can share the load on the Freedom of Movement though, if you like, so you can save your spells for healing if needed? Or I can make everyone Fly, one."
"It is true, Grendel likes to scoop men up and tear them apart. Though the legendary Beowulf turned this tactic against it, ripping off its arm and later vanquishing it! It is a great story. The other two tales of Beowulf are as well, though I'll always remember the story of Grendel above all."
Koran walks in front of the group always prepared he nods to Daisy as he walks through the waist high mud. Excuse me, knee high mud.
Grendel roars a savage greeting:
WILKOMMEN, MANNFLEISCH!!!!
Initiative
The hulking, troll-like form of Grendel greets you at the center of the cavern....
Initiative
Initiative
If you thought Beowulf was bad by himself....
For some reason, Mikey Jay instinctively glances at Sieg as he speaks the ancient name....
Wait til you try him with a bunch of equally badass buddies....
Sieg cracks his knuckles.
"This should be interesting."
Derrik simply exhales and readies his weapons
" Does it need to die or do we simply need to get an object. I think It may need some disciplining. "
Meanwhile, in Okinawa....
The ogre mage oni appears, hovering in a lounging position, his monstrous face beaming with glee....
OHOHOHOHOHO!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Has your brain tumor made you forget that the Kaiju Sensei must be recharged, Dr Yamamoto? HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Dr Yamamoto gasps in realization of his demented lapse of memory....
He immediately shuts off the Kaiju Dehibernator....
DAMMIT!! Curse my brain tumor! Curse my faulty memory! I cannot control Mosura with the Kaiju Sensei, because it must be RECHARGED! Maybe it's not too late.... Go back to sleep for a little while longer, Mosura! Please!!
Deep in hibernation within a massive cocoon in the bamboo grove, a familiar tune reaches Mosura's antennae.... It stirs.... It awakens.... It listens.... But the music stops.... So it drifts back into peaceful sleep....
Dr Yamamoto watches the bamboo grove fearfully for several minutes....
Hehehehe.... You should get some sleep, Dr Yamamoto.... You aren't thinking clearly.... Hehehehe.... I'll watch out for monsters and cannibals, dear doctor.... You have my word as an oni bound by the Mandate of Heaven....
But....you aren't even real....
Dr Yamamoto yawns, his eyelids growing heavy....
You're just a hallucination....caused by my--*yawn!*--brain tumor....
Corruption Resistance (good) - 14 hours
False Life - 13 hours
Aura of Doom - 120 minutes
True Seeing - 13 minutes
Mirror Image - 14 minutes
Fly - 14 minutes
Nein danke, Daisy, I vill be able to fly under mein own volition.
Upon seeing Grendel, Allison raises and eyebrow and looks the creature up and down, Vell... I believe you have something of mein, und unfortunately, ve have no choice but to fight...
Allison casts Mythic Phantasmal Killer (DC 29) on Grendel.
How can you be so sure of that, Dr Yamamoto? Are you telling me that the fact I am a mythical creature makes me an obvious hallucination, in a world that has been recently overrun with monsters out of myths and legends!? Hehehehee!!