As the other FO's swim up with the sword Koran releases himself from the enormous monster and swims back up to the surface with the others, scratching her warmly under the chin and nipping her nose with his sharp teeth before leaving.
Nessie chirps sadly as Koran departs, but she seems to sense that her beloved has an important task to undertake, and lets him go....
Derrik feels the smile warm his very soul as she looks upon him, righting himself up with the masks powers, he nods to The Lady ;raising Excalibur above his head
" Let The Great Old One, his minions, and any of those depraved souls who assist him know this! Earth is not your Playground for you to ravage as you please.. The Fierce Ones come for you! I, Derrik, come for you with the MIGHTY EXCALIBUR ! You shall know true wrath this day! "
As Derrik/Arthur soars through the water, up and away, giving the Lady one final look, his heart empowered by this even and.. a piece of his internal struggle dashed.. perhaps he would become worthy again to loose the helmet he wore.
The FOs climb aboard the magical ship, welcomed back to the sunlit surface world by the three fey musicians. It is time to return to shore and report success to Merlin....
Radsworth, what in the hell was that psychedelic prism that you couldn't pass through? asked Grimm with sincere interest and awe.
Derrik shifts his attention between Nessa and Excalibur, in fresh awe of both. He is amazed that very little Harm came of Nessie and the group, and that he found a woman more enticing than a Nymph.. underwater no less. During the trip Derrik has no issue seating himself in such a way to recount the tale.. until he gets to the ending portion;
"... And so, Koran , in a fit of genius somehow calms Nessie with his mouth of all things. This is how we had enough time to retrieve the sword... The Lady was truly, an experience. I am however concerned at the way Merlin reacted earlier.. I hope it is not as bad as I fear. "
To be honest Derrik... ur.. Arthur.. I was trying to kill the damned beast before it got Mephos or Radsworth, you know the squishy ones.
That was pretty f!@!in' epic, guys! Wow! I never thought I'd have an adventure like that in a million years, man!
Merlin meets The FOs on the shore of Loch Ness, Armani suit wrinkled and white beard flapping in the wind like a flag....
Well done, mates, well done, indeed.... How does it feel, Derrik, to hold in your hands the sword with which you once hacked out a Kingdom for yourself.... And a splendid kingdom it was, My Liege....er, Derrik....
Merlin has a faraway look in his eyes as he recalls the days of Camelot....
But something troubles the old wizard....
There is a big problem in London Town, mates.... Seems that the Vampire Von Ulrik has come to hunt the goodly folk still trying to eke out a living of sorts in the flooded city.... Came in his big steel boat that sails beneath the waves, and took over the London Tower....
No doubt, he'll have a crack crew of iron-hard men sailing The Kraken, as he calls his steel ship-'neath-the-waves.... Dangerous men that will give their lives to defend their wicked master.... 'Tis too late for them, my children, so spare them not, and be quick about it.... To rid Mother Gaea of these wretches would be a right noble service, and quite proper, being as we are right here in Jolly Old, carousing about with the bloody reincarnated Arthur, who holds the bloody sword Excalibur, after all!
"I couldn't tell you for sure Grimm. I wasn't able to decipher it at all."
Rad scratches his head before he replaces his hat.
"The Sea-horse picked up it was dangerous. I'm not going to argue with a creature of magic about passing through a magic wall. I have the feeling I would be a lot worse for wear if I had stepped through. Or maybe I would be shagging the Lady of the Lake right now. Who knows?"
Rad casts a concerned gaze at Derrik.
"Arthur, I'm glad you have your sword. But please don't rush off the impale Cthulu just yet. Just think, if your legendary sword ... your legend is real.. what other ancient artifacts could hold enough power for us to legitimately challenge the hell-squid itself?"
It's perhaps no mere coincidence that you mention artifacts with the power to challenge Cthulhu at this moment, Professor Radsworth.... For the Vampire Von Ulrik carries such a thing, indeed.... An artifact of....godlike power.... The very Hammer of Thor, god of thunder and slayer of monsters.... If he didn't, it would be a matter barely worth our notice at the nonce, things being as they are.... Von Ulrik isn't the only vampire free to wantonly feast in this dark new world, but he is the only vampire with Thor's Hammer.... He must be stopped, and the only ones with any hope of stopping him are standing right here, but a short journey from London Town.... What say ye, Fierce Ones? Do ye feel like taking the Hammer of Thor away from a vampire who's been using it to be very, very naughty?
Merlin grins at each of The Fierce Ones, a slightly mad but endearing grin....
"Oh bother! Why the hell not? As long as I get a chance to ask Miss Cleopatra to sit on my face before I die, who cares? Oh! And Marc Antony can watch, even though she's probably a succubus and he a mutant turtle ninja with a rat for a teacher. Then I could without regret use all four of my degrees to wipe my face when she was done, for all the good they really are. When did history and fairy tale get married!?"
Rad stalks off and mumbles a little to himself.
Merlin grins sympathetically at Radsworth as the spellslinger paces away muttering....
Yes.... I suppose both myth and history have a way of disillusioning each other at times.... It can be rather frustrating for a sage.... To keep track of what's true and what's fancy....
Rad turns and walks back towards Merlin.
"Genghis Khan, H.P. Lovecraft, William Shakespear, Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth, Minamoto, Musashi, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Oda Nobunaga, Jack the Ripper, The Beatles, Area 51 and the Roswell Incident, Socrates..."
He sighs.
"Anything I would like to know about those? They are my favorite persons in history and something I would regularly teach about. Lets do a little disillusioning?"
I could tell ye a bit about Cleopatra and Socrates, I suppose.... But I'm afraid those other names you mentioned are unknown to me, Professor.... Likely, they came and went whilst I was asleep under Stonehenge all those many moons....
I....suspect you've had enough disillusionment and adventure for one day, Professor Radsworth.... You and your fellow Fierce Ones have done enough brave deeds for today.... 'Tis time we found one of those casks of Scotch Dr Grimm was inquiring about, and perhaps somewhat to eat, eh?
Merlin addresses the three fey musicians....
Thank you again for your fine music, my old friends.... And for your fine sailing, to boot! Fare thee well.... Give my regards to Oberon and Titania, and that rascal Puck, should you see him about....
Derrik is quiet for a moment figuring the information he was just given by Merlin, his hand grips Excalibur in a restless dance.
" The longer we take knowing this information the longer people would suffer .. I could not sleep knowing that unlike a few others... And Whether you call Me Derrik or Arthur is of little import when lives are at stake. All I ask is how recent the attack may have been, this will give us a possible advantage if you could tell me this Sir Merlin. "
Here! Here! Let's have at it.
The fey musicians bid farewell to Merlin and The Fierce Ones, Nymph Nessa lingering overlong to whisper sweet temptations to Derrik and gaze at him longingly until she is admonished and dragged away by Jolly Duff....
I'm wondering how the new Box is coming along? We probably do need to stop this vampiric megalomaniac.
Patience, Arthur.... Derrik.... We have time at least for a little repast.... And it will give you opportunity to meet some of the goodly folk you will be risking life and limb to save from the vampire's bloodthirst.... There is a clan of survivors calling themselves the Parliament People, because they live in a great palace called Parliament.... Fine lot, they are.... Welcomed me kindly once they learned I wasn't with the vampire.... They told me they've been struggling to survive ever since the Rise of R'lyeh and the apocalypse brought by Dread Cthulhu, four moons ago.... Apparently, Von Ulrik and his crew arrived less than a fortnight ago, and have been preying on the poor folk of London Town by night....
" I admit that in this case your amount of experience would be the wiser choice... I feel much too empowered by all that has happened to me and rarely tolerate great injustice. We however, narrowly retrieved Excalibur with luck, guile and determination. In our current state I will admit it would be less than intelligent... For unlike Nessie.. this enemy is an abomination with a cruel disposition and an artifact. I will follow your counsel.. and curb my urge this time. I believe knowing who we assist is the best course of action, Sir Merlin. "
Derrik peered towards the direction Nessa left as he spoke from time to time until he could focus on Merlin longer. Still conflicted both mentally and physically by all of the great changes happening in this moment.
I hope that I am not an incarnation of a past being. Madam Curie doesn't sound like all that much fun. Ty Cobb, Elvis, Le Petomane? Who knows?
Merlin instructs The FOs to join hands in a circle with him, and when all have done so, he casts teleport, whisking all away to the Parliament building in London.
They arrive on the pitched roof of Parliament, where a number of recently-constructed shacks have been erected, as well as a small greenhouse and still of some kind.
Yon contraption distills the scotch, Dr Grimm.... Merlin points out the still to Grimm....
A young man and young woman are tending to fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse, and an older man with a beard and ponytail is collecting scotch from the still in a large 2-gallon jug. They all look a bit startled to suddenly notice nine strangers on the roof with them....
Merlin raises a hand in greeting to the startled survivors.
Fear not, young Parliament People.... Just old Merlin returned, with some friends, this time.... They've come for some food and drink, if ye can spare some.... And then we plan to rid you of this vampire problem ye've been having of late....
The bearded man at the still stands and greets Merlin and The FOs, a confused smile on his face.
Ah, yes....Merlin, of course.... But.... How the bloody hell'd you get up here without us seeing you all come through the roof door?
I'm a wizard, mind you!
Right! A wizard, of course! Silly me, heheh.... Um, my name is Malcolm....
By the amused and puzzled look on his face, it is clear the man is humoring Merlin about being a wizard, and yet he is starting to wonder....
Well, no matter how you got here.... If you're here to stop that bloody vampire and his Nazi thugs, you're more than welcome.... I'm certain we can find you all a bite to eat and a good strong drink to wash it down.... Come with me, Merlin and friends....
Malcolm leads the way to a roof access door.
The city of London, sprawling along either side of the great River Thames, has become partially flooded ever since the system of pumps and dams that had kept the river within its bounds were destroyed during that terrible Winter Solstice four months ago, when the monstrous invaders came.
Now the streets and alleys of the East Side and the Old Town have become canals, and water fills the ground floors and cellars of most buildings throughout much of the city. Parliament is no exception. The interior of the great building is filled to a depth of about 10 ft with river water.
The Parliament People, as the nearly 200 survivors inhabiting the building call themselves, have built wooden decks and catwalks a few feet above the waterline along the interior walls over the past four months, and have somewhat fortified the building by boarding up windows and doors. Now, the only way to access the interior is through the roof, reached via rope ladders lowered down to docks recently added to the exterior.
Malcolm leads Merlin and The FOs through the roof access door and down a stairwell to a gallery overlooking the flooded interior, where some 160 men, women, and children are gathered, about a dozen of which are sitting at the edge of the decking with fishing poles in the water.
Malcolm introduces Merlin and The FOs to the assembled Parliament People, and a few ladies bring plates of food (fish and chips, and fresh strawberries for dessert) and cups of beer for the guests.
Dr Grimm and I would have a shot of your scotch, too, if ye'd be so kind as to share.... says Merlin.
But of course! replies Malcolm, grinning.
Grimm uses his half-defunct smartphone to snap a few pics of the still for some diy project later. Finally, that solar charger that I bought from REI comes in handy.
The FOs enjoy a hot meal and cold drinks, and the company of the Parliament People, and learn from them that the vampire first struck three nights ago, arriving in a WWII-era German U-boat crewed by Germans, some of which appeared to also be vampires or vampire spawn. The captain and master vampire wielded a giant war hammer similar, according to those who witnessed the attack, to the earth breaker carried by Koran, but possessed of the powers of thunder and lightning....
It was like he had the Hammer of Thor.... says Malcolm.
Apparently, ten men, six women, and three children fell victim to the vampire crew that night, and though no further attacks came last night or the night before, the U-boat has been spotted by PP lookouts cruising the flooded city streets like a giant killer shark. The PP speculate that the vampires have targeted other groups of survivors, such as the Glass Onion Clan, who live in The Glass Onion (City Hall building made of glass and shaped like an onion), or the Museum Brigade, dwelling in the upper floors of the British Museum.
A bit of divination has revealed to me the current location of The Kraken--the vampire's U-boat. It lies docked at the Tower of London, a grand castle on the north bank of the Thames near Tower Bridge. No doubt, the vampire and his spawn lie dormant in their coffins aboard The Kraken, awaiting nightfall, when they will hunt again.... We could strike at them now, while they are weakest, or we can lay an ambush for them and wait for them to come to us.... What say ye, Fierce Ones? Bring the wrath of the gods upon them while they doze in their coffins, or wait for them to come to some location of our choosing, where we can lay traps and prepare a nasty welcome for the wretched bloodsuckers?
we should strike while they are weak, I say we go now!
The Tower of London can be researched here, for those who are interested, or there is just a cool pic of it to glance at....
Hell yeah, Krar's right! Let's get 'em now, while they're in their damned PJs!
Agreed.... Let's go now, catch them sleeping, and put a stake in each rotten heart!
Kate emphasizes the staking with a stabbing motion.
We already know young Arth--Derrik's wishes! Heheh! Off with their heads, right, Derrik?
Merlin grins fondly at Derrik, and gestures to Excalibur.
And we know how Excalibur feels about it too--athirst for vampire blood! Heheh! That, and some wicked Teuton blood, as well, yes? Heheh!
What d'ya say, Koran? I bet your ready to smash some skulls.... And Doc, you ain't got to throw any firebombs around in a while.... Though maybe that ain't such a good idea in a submarine, come to think about it.... Mephos? Rad? What d'ya think?
The Ghost of Jeb suddenly materializes in a puff of foul-smelling green vapor, and a loud, fart-like noise....
Oops! Hehee! 'Scuse me! I know ain't nobody asked my 'pinion, but I gotta tell ya, cool as this s#+& here is, an' much as I admire and respect Doc Holliday, he's startin' to get on my nerves, askin' when we're a-gonna get to Tombstone an' kill that SOB dug up his bones an' stole his gun, Daisy.... After we kill these vampires 'n Nazis, can we go an' get the damned gun so Doc'll leave me to rest in peace?
Aha! I thought there was an unclean spirit lingering about Mister Hooker, and 'tis true! But he seems friendly enough....
Merlin looks at Ghost Jeb with curiosity and amusement.
Yessir, Mister Merlin, sir.... I'm a friend of Dwayne Lee, hell, we grew up together.... Used to play with BB guns, 'bout put each others eyes out a dozen times! Heheh! Dwayne always got mad 'n was first to break the 3-pump maximum rule....
Ghost Jeb gets a bit misty-eyed as he reminisces about childhood with Dwayne Lee....
Thems was good times, DL....
Shut up, Jeb.... Yer gonna get me all misty, g@@#~$mit!.... Let's go kill these vampire chumps, get Thor's Hammer for Koran, an' get our asses to Tombstone!
Well then what are we waiting for
Koran picks up his hammer and walks out obviously anxious to get his hands on this powerful artifact.
I can land us directly atop the White Keep, which is really the Tower proper, and sits in the midst of the yard, surrounded by a moat and an outer wall with several smaller towers. The Kraken docks right against the White Keep, next to the main entrance, which opens into the second floor, and once would have been accessed by a wooden stair that could be removed during a siege.... Now that the yard is flooded to a depth of almost 30 ft, the main entrance lies only a few feet above the surface of the water. It may be that the human crewmates occupy the White Keep by day and guard their dormant vampiric crewmates and master as they lay in their coffins....
Merlin strokes his long white beard as he speculates.
Their decision made, The FOs join hands with Merlin, who uses his final teleport for the day (save for a few emergency scrolls tucked up his sleeves) to transport them to the roof of the White Keep.
On arrival, they surprise two blond-haired, blue-eyed German men clad in black trench coats marked with a red stylized fanged jaws insignia and armed with sub machineguns.
Roll initiative, and each PC gets a single action during the surprise round (single move or standard action) before regular round 1 begins.
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