Awl be bait for the beasty, howz about I get dressed up like a broad in distress
Wait, I have an idea, Fonidea says. If this is the same creature that was held and experimented on, with me, then I know something that might get its attention. Whenever the mysterious figure in red would torture me, the thing would become enraged, even if it wasn't in the same room. Somehow it sensed my distress, and either fed on it, or was tormented by it I'm not sure. But part of its ability to heal itself was transferred into me, and I can take a great deal of punishment and survive. Maybe if one of you dresses up in a red robe, and, I know this sounds weird, but then hurts me, badly, over and over again, it will draw the creature to us.
"Incapacitating a member of the party in a combat situation is inadvisable but may be resorted to especially with no other advisable course of action," Marvin says. "Likely a favorable stratagem if effective, drawing the target to a designated kill zone advantageous to the party."
The suggested course of action draws a grimace of disgust from Diarmal. "There must be a better way than throwing one of our own before the beast's maw. How vast are the caverns it has claimed? Perhaps we can devise another means of drawing it out."
|
Sasithorn shrugs. "Here I had merely been thinking of entering the caves and retreating our way back to the outdoors as we fought it."
He considers Fonidea's suggestion. "If you're able and willing to endure what you suggest, it may be worth trying. It would of course be nice to make the procedure as humane as we are able - there is a difference between injury and suffering. There are ways to inflict one while sparing you the other, and it sounds to me like perhaps you and the monster have been linked. The question there is on what level. I would guess, based on what you say, that the link is more physical than emotional, which would be good, since - and I admit I am now very deep into speculative territory now - we could find a way to injure you in a manner that was as merciful as we could make it to you, but which it would still feel...."
No one isa gonna put any pain on ya lassie Xor squints his eyes Beasty lahks ta hunt, ah think it's time for it ta get a taste of being hunted
When Fonidea speaks up, Ribat immediately quits admiring the red wood and locks eyes with her. No! We'll find another way."
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 83)
Olikk turns his head, fist, toward Xor, and smiles, then he hears the voice of Fonidea, and when he turns toward her, it is as if he hadn’t noticed her before and says,
You are very unusual, in look and speech. I have never seen anything like you before, nor have I read about a being like you in the records of our faith.
Then it begins to sink in, the things that she said, and the old Beauvingian priest seems to be offended.
That sounds horrible. When you have more time, miss, I didn’t get your name, I want you to tell me more about this ordeal you suffered and the beings who subjected you to this suffering. You mentioned that they had skin that was metallic in nature, hmmm… and he looks now at Marvin.
And who or exactly what are you, young, um, person. I do not mean to be forward, but you are curiously similar to the beings this young woman just described. Do you have a connection to these beings? Are they from another plane of existence perhaps?
I agree with you Diarmal, the priest nods Certainly there is a better way than butting this young lady at great risk. As to the extent of the caves, no one is really sure, as they are difficult to explore, treacherous, with many holes that can catch you off guard and that plummet so deeply no one knows for sure how deed they are
As everyone else talks Sasithorn listens, and then makes a suggestion, by which somehow Fonidea would still be used to attract the monster’s attention, but that no harm would come to her.
When Ribat objects to putting Fonidea in harm’s way, she demurely smiles at him, and moves to sit closer to him.
|
|
Sasithorn begins to join Olikk in staring at M.A.R.V.I.N, and as the Wayang might put it, night vision at last begins to in.
"There's an unknown quantity here - and it has an ambassador at this very table. Artifice so sophisticated as to be all but indistinguishable from magic. There are stories about this where I come from, almost all circulating around the treasures of the Ruins of Gion, if you've heard of it: puzzle-boxes, enigmatic monuments, bizarre implements, and constructs that are like mages without minds - and they say that some of them even do have minds. Fonidea, I don't think what was done to you and the monster was magic, per se - I think it was artifice. That is the key - and M.A.R.V.I.N., unless I'm entirely misguided, I think you ARE artifice...is there some way.....and if the stories of Gion shelter any shadow, they would have accomplished this by putting these implements inside you, Fonidea, like a clockwork heart that was better than a real one. Like affects like...M.A.R.V.I.N., can you speak with these devices, or at least sense if they are there?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"This unit's memory is corrupted and no knowledge of the individuals described nor their origins has been found. Possibility of this unit's origin and the origin of described individuals exist but cannot be confirmed. This unit has been referred to as an android by Agent Southmiller in the past. "
He pauses for a moment to process Saisthorn's words before replying.
"This unit is able to detect a signal from Fonidea. Probability of this unit detecting a signal from the beast is non-trivial. This unit will need to get into range to attempt communication."
Well why didntya say somethun earlier, lets go huntun
"Indeed, this sounds like a much better plan than setting up some live bait. Though if the caves are as extensive as Olikk says, then we may need to get Marvin quite close before he can detect the beast. We should go prepared for the worst."
Trekking through some evil-infested caverns was not exactly Diarmal's idea of a good time, but it certainly beat putting Fonidea or even the hard-headed Xor into harm's way.
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 83)
...
"This unit recommends now heading to the destination if the plan is to be executed."
Day 2, Saturday, Sewardhome Village (Turn 83)
The clouds in the sky grow darker, and the feel in the air is like the calm before a storm. A wind blows from the northwest.
The party thanks Olikk for his hospitality, and the use of the minor artifact that belongs to the church. Checking their gear, and hoisting their packs, the group sets out following the river to the northwest, and in a little while they find the stream that forks toward the north.
The path of the stream is down a winding narrow canyon with hills climbing to the left and right, and all the while the ground rises as you follow the stream towards it source. If it were not for the seriousness of the situation it would be a lovely walk in a nearly pristine wilderness setting of a tumbling brook, wild flowers growing among small piles of boulders, and the quiet calm of a cloudy day before a spring shower.
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 101) (Approximate time of day, 4:40 pm)
In silence, the group marches onward until the first caves appear, on the right, to the east, just a few yards above the floor of the canyon, a small opening in the hillside, and then another and another, the hills here are dotted with caves.
You stop, and Marvin seems to withdraw into his own thoughts for a moment, until he suddenly perks up and he knows he has detected something
Finelee, some propuh caves, which way to the beasty Xor looks at Marvin
"Aye, Xor," Diarmal says quietly as he observes the vast complex of caverns before them. "May your expertise guide us through this darkness beneath Lady Aisling's light. And friends, it would be my honor to bear the Lamp of Sewardhome against this beast." Diarmal allows a slight smirk, in spite of the grave undertaking before him. "I should like to introduce the beast to Lady Aisling's light myself."
"A faint signal has been detected to the northeast. It is intermittent with the most probable conclusion that the source is moving."
Marvin begins moving towards the signal, clutching their musket in hand. "Please follow."
Lets goan get the bastid Xor follows
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 102) (Approximate time of day, 4:50 pm)
Following his inner awareness, Marvin leads the group up a narrow trail on the western slope of the valley until they are standing in front of a tall but narrow crack in the hillside. He pauses for a moment, and then Marvin heads into the cave, and the others follow him.
It is cool, dark, and feels damp in the cave. The going is slow, as the passageway is hardly even wide enough for one person to walk without turning sideways now and then. The passageway twists and turns, passes side passages a few times, but Marvin seems to know where he is going.
The passageway suddenly opens up, but when it does the ceiling is lower, and Diarmal and Marvin have to stoop here. From here there are several ways to go, and Marvin looks in each direction carefully
Xor is going to be away from us until Tuesday, and I stupidly chose now to try and push the game into an encounter, so, well, let’s just see how this plays out
Xor will be upfront with Marvin using his darkvision
"A moment. Scanning...."
Thankful his companions have allowed him the honor, Diarmal takes a moment to bless the Lantern of Sewardhome with the graces of Lady Aisling. After a minor incantation, a soft glow illuminates from the lantern's surface. He follows behind the others, knowing that several members of their company were more capable in the darkness ahead than himself.
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 103) (Approximate time of day, 5:00 pm)
Marvin strands still, turning slowly, first to the left and then to the right.
Everyone is still, afraid to do anything that might interrupt Marvin’s concentration. Diarmal holds aloft the lamp, now glowing with Magical Light and is about to make a suggestion in the quiet, when suddenly there is a faint sound
*splash*
far off ahead of the group and to the right. Marvin spins to face that direction, concentrates, and the he heads off toward a small tunnel where the sound came from.
Marvin continues to track, trusting the group to follow.
Xor will stick beside Marvin, grenades ready to go
Ribat follows behind with his net at the ready, trying to be alert but somewhat distracted.
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 104) (Approximate time of day, 5:10 pm)
Striding forward with purpose, Marvin is once again on the move. He holds his weapon in both hands, and squeezes through a narrow crack in the wall of the cavern, and one by one, the others follow, with Xor having a tough time of it, but eventually getting through and catching up to march right beside the copper skinned Marvin.
Diarmal tries to stay a pace behind the warriors, and the light from his lamp reflects of of Marvin’s skin, and illuminates the cavern walls to each side of the group, until.
The walls seem to recede, getting further and further away, until it seems to Diarmal that Marvin is leading the group into a huge cavern.
The sound of water falling steady, but not in great quantities can be heard off to the right, and the floor of the cavern becomes uneven and small streams are crossed.
Marvin pauses, and at his feet are grisly remains of several impossible to identify creatures, and at least one human skull. When Fonidea catches up to the rest she looks down, and screams. Suddenly a huge black shape rises up from the floor.
The shape almost resembles a huge stag, or moose, with a barrel shaped body and four thick legs. Where a neck and head would be there is only a large mass of black surrounded by tentacles, and in the center a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth and above this two pale yellow eyes.
The monster rushes at you!
Marvin takes a ready stance to meet the approaching monster.
Diarmal holds the Lamp of Sewardhome high while he breathes a silent prayer to Lady Aisling.
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 104) (Approximate time of day, 5:10 pm)
Strangler – 24
Sasithorn - 22
Xor-19
Diarmal - 18
Ribat – 6
Round 1…
As a great black beast rises from the floor, Marvin springs into action…
Marvin raises their musket and shoots a blast right into their rushing opponent.
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 104) (Approximate time of day, 5:10 pm)
Strangler – 24
Sasithorn - 22
Xor-19
Diarmal - 18
Ribat – 6
Round 1…
Marvin levels his rifle, and fires, but the shot is low, and misses
The black beast rushes forward, and then turns, before it comes into the radius of the light from the lamp in Diarmal’s hand. Moving to Marvin’s right, the beast bears down on Ribat and Fonidea
Lashing out with long shadowy tentacles, the beast attacks
Ribat ducks the swinging tentacle easily, but Fonidea is caught in a state of shock, as the sickly black appendage coils around her neck and begins to choke the life out of her
Marvin's musket misfires, his pan igniting but his main charge failing to detonate, blowing only smoke and noise at his opponent.
"Misfire!" he calls out, needing to take time to clear his weapon.
Ay..beasty, ya look thirsty. How bout a little drink
Ref 16 for half
Diarmal moves just close enough for the light of Lady Aisling to sear the flesh of the beast before them. He hefts the Lamp of Sewardhome high in the air, and whispers a prayer to his goddess.
"May the light of Lady Aisling send you back to the pit you emerged from, beast!"
Day 2, Saturday, north of Sewardhome Village (Turn 104) (Approximate time of day, 5:10 pm)
Strangler – 24
Sasithorn - 22
Xor-19
Diarmal - 18
Ribat – 6
Round 1, continued…
As Fonidea seems to be lifted off her feet for a moment, the others move into action. Sasithorn summons a protective field around himself and seems to almost disappear into the shadows around him, while Marvin shouts out his evaluation of his weapon and with precision begins cleaning the chamber
Xor reaches for one of the pots of holly water he has strapped to his belt, and as the monster grapples with Fonidea, he looks for a place to throw the glass container. His aim is off and the jar strikes the ground next to the beast, only splashing some of the holy water toward it.
Enough of the blessed water splashes on the creature to cause it to roar in pain
As the beast seems to be turn toward Xor, Diarmal steps up and hoist the small lamp high in the air as he says a blessing.
Suddenly the room is filled with the bright light of day. The light burns the creature, and a misty vapor rises from its body
Strangler - takes 15 "Positive Energy Damage" no regeneration in round 2
"LET HER GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" yells Ribat as he plunges his kukri into the creature, trying to slash Fonidea free.
Rd 2 init 19
...The +5 is strength +PBS not sure if that applies
Seeing the party in danger, Marvin puts away their musket and moves to Fonidea's side to aid her.
Ribat tries to slash the creature again, but his emotional distress is clearly affecting his aim.