Kemnebi frowns at Llivenoc. He huffs in frustration.
"Actually, Like I keep telling everybody, I didn't 'trespass', I was invited. By the Lady. And the centaur never actually told me to leave. He just insulted me. Then the Summer Knight told him to mind his manners. And then HE insulted me, in the same breath."
"THEN I insulted him!" Kemnebi beams.
"Which, in retrospect, may not have been the most diplomatic solution,..."
Kemnebi frowns at Llivenoc. He huffs in frustration.
"Actually, Like I keep telling everybody, I didn't 'trespass', I was invited. By the Lady. And the centaur never actually told me to leave. He just insulted me. Then the Summer Knight told him to mind his manners. And then HE insulted me, in the same breath."
"THEN I insulted him!" Kemnebi beams.
"Which, in retrospect, may not have been the most diplomatic solution,..."
In the Mindlink: "The Centaur was the Knight. Most likely a Knight Captain. The one on the bridge was The Grand Marshal..."
"As far as trespassing is concerned. Was not the river a clear enough of a boundary between both Courts?"
"Centaurs are known for there belligerence. What else did you expect him to do?"
iN MINDLINK
"Enough. We argue semantics while there is still much to be done. We move forward now."
Nebibit's face darkens even more as Llvenoc and Kemnebi continue the back and forth so it is no surprise that she snaps. What is a surprise is it is at Kemnebi she snaps at and not Llvenoc
Feline
To anyone not able to understand Feline The only words they probably understand is D'jal Ibenbast although from the tone Nebbibit sounds really angry although there is a undertone of upset to it Especially at the last bit.
The mage is wearing bracers apparently made of tanned human skin with arcane symbols drawn on them; also his belt has all his pouches and looks very valuable.
the shaman has a lot of ritual black tattoes that are moving in some random way across his scales; he has a necklase that has many valuable stones and two bone bracelets where each bone is tediously carved with mystic symbols.
Caerwyn sheaths his swords and looks around. He tries to see if the snakemen were carrying anything valuable, whether it is weapons, magic, or anything that could help in this quest.
While doing this he tells Aahz: "Nice flanking there kid, the mage didn't know where to turn! Let's do it again sometime."
There are three stones on the ground among the other rubble that stand out as they have mystic carvings on them and appear polished.
Caerwyns attack joined by Aahz; finish off the Mage; without the evil ward you steel cuts through is defenses and cuts him down.
the shaman; having taken backlash from his ward failure combined with a the mighty hit from Kosan; is struck dead and hits the wall; then the floor.
spot check dc 15
Spot check 1d20 + 4
"Whoa."
"Watch out! The casters' bodies are beginning to smoke - Caer, you'd best finish your business before they burst into flame!" Pauses. "But while you are there, do you see any more of their magestones?"
"Durr, come now! We must help the Jewel to her feet." With this, she will move to aid Durr off of the drow princess, then help her up.
The shaman has a false finger claw on his left hand; and a fake set of fangs in addition to his other fangs; good search roll.
The abomination each have a collar made of some unknown species of skin; each written in some mystic symbols and each have heavy arm bands fitting the same description; all have bones and sinue of creatures as well.
Caerwyns attack joined by Aahz; finish off the Mage; without the evil ward you steel cuts through is defenses and cuts him down.
the shaman; having taken backlash from his ward failure combined with a the mighty hit from Kosan; is struck dead and hits the wall; then the floor.
spot check dc 15
** spoiler omitted **Pick Up my Throwing Hammers.
Spot Check: 9 (1d20) = 1 (Mod) = 10
I start searching the Clerics body.
Search: 17 (1d20) + 9 (Mod) = 26.
Then I move over to the Smake men Abominations and do the same.
"yes, it is true; I have no friends, only allies. The multiverse is going to hell in a handbag and that handbag is on fire and the big guys is bout ready to stomp it out. I dont have time to cottle feelings and culture freindships; I only have need; need to fix things before we're all worse off than dead.
look there fools, but not deeply; that thing moving under the skin of the Shaman; it looks like bundled tenticles to me; much like Evard's Black Tenticles; but worse; twisted and evil beyond comprehension; primal. Look upon it and know your enemy; know Terror.
I think that is called the Abomination of Desolation; my great grandfather told me about it in the war against the ancient enemy, these snakes; this one is devout of a evil god so bad it has killed and devoured hundreds of gods; so ancient, so terrible; yet I was told Bound; Bound deep under the earth; Bindings held and kept by the Mountain Dwarves.
My grandfather was many things; by a liar he wasnt; he had power and no fear and used the truth to torture and break many.
Explain this Kosan of the Mountain Dwarves; look upon that Ancient Dread; explain to me how that is Bound <getting nearly hysterical>
THAT DOES NOT LOOK BOUND TO ME!
we are so @#$@%%^@#!@# #%% %$#2!"
<she nods back to you>
"Keep sharp now; there is foulness in the air; ancient"
"it is not to win or to lose; it is to survive; did you not survive; did you not gain power as I promised? are you not more able to survive future threats?"Kemnebi smiles, blinking owlishly. He is apparently still trying to remember exactly what happened.
"Yes. Yes! I survived. Or, at least, I think I did,... I also seem to remember dying, Was that pain, or pleasure?!?" He mutters.
He absent-mindedly reaches up to touch the centipede once again.
"And I definitely gained,... something." He mumbles, then turns and smiles a small smile of pure,... happiness?,... at June.
"Thank you June!" He beams, following the others as they make their way back,...
hehe; speaking of disintegrated; this tunnel is only earth and not that stable...
If looks could kill right now Kemnebi and most of the room would probably have been disintegrated."Of course it sounds bad when you phrase it like that. Hey! I made a friend too! Sorta. I think." He sputters. He looks at Nebebit.
Goes over to stand between the smoking Shaman and Fox; yet still trying to keep an nervous eye on the Jewel; plate helm visor up.
"mistress, the Dark Sidhe is right; der be a wigglen lumpies under der skin; maybe something trying to get out; might find a cut slice; this be bad."
"What?! The centaur started it!" He declares petulantly, pointing back the way they came."Your the one who trespassed. When he told you to leave you insulted him."
I carefully watch Fox pull Durr off of the Jewell.
Fox, you understand Nebibit perfectly; babblefish in your guy you know.
"yes, it is true; I have no friends, only allies. The multiverse is going to hell in a handbag and that handbag is on fire and the big guys is bout ready to stomp it out. I dont have time to cottle feelings and culture freindships; I only have need; need to fix things before we're all worse off than dead.
Explain this Kosan of the Mountain Dwarves; look upon that Ancient Dread; explain to me how that is Bound <getting nearly hysterical>
THAT DOES NOT LOOK BOUND TO ME!we are so @#$@%%^@#!@# #%% %$#2!"
In Drow to the Jewell
Seeing the Jewell is nearly hysterical. Babbling almost incoherently, I am tempted on slapping her to bring her out of it. But I think of a better idea to shut her up.
I walk over to her lift her mask up. Kiss her on the lips. Then I shove the mask back down over her face, and walk back up to take point.
In Drow to Jewell
"I'll take point. Someone collapse the earthen tunnel behind us so that thing writhing inside the snake doesn't come after us. We won't be heading back this way anyway."
Take the Necklece, 2 Bracelets, 1 Fake finger claw, 2 False fangs, 2 Collars, and 2 armbands wrap them up in a cloth then put them in my Back pack.
I Listen to Jewel :Babble On" about Old evil snake god bound under the ground by the Mountain dwarves? Do I know anything about this:
Knowlage check: 13 (1d20) = 0 (mod - unless it is under Dungeoneering, i which I have a +11) = 13 (?? Any bonus for having a brother as the chief cleric of Dumathion??).
In the mind link we mus go know before these tunnels collapse around us. Caewn Point, Fox you are in charge of the wizards. Kenebi we talk later AND WHERE HAS THAt BLASTED BIRD GONE OFF TO NOW. Lets move NOW.
"Fox in charge of the wizards, got it."
Even in her altered state, the seriousness of that charge sinks in for a moment. The next, her state of mind elevates again and she's walking with a little extra bounce in her step -- but not a skip. Not quite.
"Kemnebi, I hope your adventure did not cost you many spells. I have nearly exhausted my resources for the day. I'm hopeful that the snakes' magestones might provide some aid, though."
"I suggest you not attempt to use them if you desire your soul to remain pure; if you still have one that is;
My Lord Astinos; These artifacts they gather; all of human, elf, and halfling bones, skin and sinue; all radiate palatable evil I am sure; bound in the darkest rites of evil; yet they not rest next to that vile sword with Kosan, in near proximity, surely M'lord, this will call to its own; bode evil.
I warn thee My Lord; cast not your heart piercing gaze upon these corpses lest your mind be destroyed; that evil is that of the first mistake of creation; older even than any of your known human gods save Tholth and Frey; and the elder Elven and Orkish dieties. This be a Prime Evil beyond us Kojan and Fystor should be notified as well as the Emperor."
"Aye, my sister speaks true and with wisdom, as always, this coming manifestation smells of a Terror long past; it will fester and grow in the dark in this place of blood and death; a be-Witching Horror Dun.
Prince Llvenoc; perhaps you should use your new won Unmaking to stop this event and spare the world this Ancient Grief."
to Kenembi only
<a voice only you can hear>
Master, I sense a primal source of great magic; old magic; there from that corpse and the other <not the abominations> Quickly, before it chooses form and manifests; go and drink deeply of its blood and essence; gain the untapped power source for you own.
do it quickly; time if fleeing; hurry before terror takes it toll.
Aahz:
"this is some hokey creepy stuff here; look; its giving me bumps on my arms; what the heck is that; man, I better not be catching some hokey snake plague."
"Ah, your warning is duly noted. I'm relatively sure that I still retain a soul. I will not attempt to access the magestones, then, unless there is no possible way to proceed."
Val:
While she's reporting in (or even if she doesn't need to), she would like to contact someone about the magestones - whether they are dangerous, how they might be utilized, etc.
"if you are done here Mistress; which way do we proceed; Left or Right?"
"Astinos, already looking thoughtful nods as Decidio speaks. Thank you My Lady, especially for the warning. I agree and have been pondering what we should do with these items."
"Hold. Kosan, walking furter into thier stronghold carrying these items will only give tem a way to track us and possibly draw more enemies, consuming what little time we have, gather all those items together, while we should not carry them we need not make it easy for them to fall into enemy hands."
Astinos turns to Nebbebit, "The spell that craetes a circle that keeps evil out, I have heard it can be reveresed to bind evil. If this is true can you cast it?"
As he waits for an answer he gathers the items together in a pile on the floor and opens the remaining two vials of holy water. Incanting a prayer to Athena he sprinkles the entire contents of both bottles upon the vile artifacts hoping to weaken and subdue their power.
"If you can do so I suggerst to create an inward facing circle around these items.Then we collapse the entrances, toppling the last one as we leave. We can notify Kojan and Fysrtor so that they may attend to them later."
answers
to contact the Emperor; you have only to speak his name clearly three times; he will see what you see though your mask if he chooses to do so; if what he sees and what you say are not valuable enough; he will probably burn out your mind for misuse of his time. This is standard knowledge.
Being a Halfling; your direct superior in the Order on this continent; is Magus Hava GoodDay. Also, the Jewel is a member of your Order in higher standing and rank than yourself. Her mask is that of a powerful Japanese Demon called an Oni.
"Ah, your warning is duly noted. I'm relatively sure that I still retain a soul. I will not attempt to access the magestones, then, unless there is no possible way to proceed."
Val:
** spoiler omitted **
"My Lord; I bid you stop; pour the holy water upon the corpes; delay their transformation"; these other items are not very strong; you may destroy them by mundane means; cut them; burn them; marr their surface; I suggest you pour salt into the dead snake mages and shamans mouth; and as much as you can on and around the bodies. Speak the most powerful prayers of blessing you know; each of you; hurry or all may be lost,
Prince Llvenoc; where are you going; do not abandon us yet again; I bid you; play the most blessed beautiful song you know; it will lull any spying snakes to stupor and help hold back this Evil."
"Lady Jewel, should we report these events through our masks? I must defer to your judgment in this."
Durr, we follow the others when they have dealt with these items. Come stand with me out of the way -- this is not a fight for which I have weapons.
Acceding to her greater knowledge in such matters Astinos adjust his actions leading Nebebbit and any others with divine power in the ritual to prevent the roiling evil's escape.
"The weapons should be broken, the items destroyed."
"The item won will not be used for this, but for she who is imprisoned."
I give Decidio a look. Abandoned my ....
"Kosan hold point."
I pull out my Guquin, and play.
When Llvenoc kisses The Jewel of the Drow Nation; she stops in mid sentence and stands ridged and stiff; just staring out ignoring all the goes on around her....
Until Prince Llvenoc begins to play..
Her features soften a bit, she nods to Llvenoc
"I accept"
"know Yea all here and now <fox, this comes through the mask and is registered with the Imperial Orb> I Declare my acceptance of Prince Llvenoc as my Betrothed"
"all, please give me a few moments while I contact my Father; as my duty requires"
She steps into the shadow of the left hallway.
Llvenoc
the Jewel is wonderfully beautiful; the best complexion you can imagine; skin unblemished and protected by the mask; deep piercing eyes; perfect bone structure; pert perfect lips and straight perfect teeth exactly as if designed by thousands of years of controlled breeding; which of course; you and she have been. She was too stunned to kiss you back though, keep in mind.
A smile creeps across Astinos' face.
Acceding to her greater knowledge in such matters Astinos adjust his actions leading Nebebbit and any others with divine power in the ritual to prevent the roiling evil's escape.
"The weapons should be broken, the items destroyed."
"I concur, let's not taint ourselves with this evil." I drop anything that I might have picked up during my search, and take a few steps away from the pile of evil items.
When Llvenoc kisses The Jewel of the Drow Nation; she stops in mid sentence and stands ridged and stiff; just staring out ignoring all the goes on around her....
Until Prince Llvenoc begins to play..
Her features soften a bit, she nods to Llvenoc
"I accept"
"know Yea all here and now <fox, this comes through the mask and is registered with the Imperial Orb> I Declare my acceptance of Prince Llvenoc as my Betrothed""all, please give me a few moments while I contact my Father; as my duty requires"
She steps into the shadow of the left hallway.
I pour Salt into the Clerics Mouth and around his body.
Out Loud: What No Do not call Cordova your father here. The last thing we need here is one of the four horsemen here. Llevonic stop her.
"I believe she said Contact; not call or summon; and you know how these royal families can be, might be days before he gets the message if she must talk to so many toadies beforehand; and from what I understand about her father; he may not even understand the message, really; I doubt many of us even exist to him with any other worth than the rubble we stand upon; really, do you think if he gave any thought to her she would be here, and be so unprotected? She is toy the family dangles in front of others; a dare; nothing else; nothing of consequence to them; only to us.
This is as it has been for millenia among the Drow; and not much different with other elfs; just not as arrogantly obvious.
But, in the advent that her father does come, I suggest none of you make any hostile motions; movements or even speak or look at him. He is without compassion, without remorse and could easily kill us all in seconds; but we would probably not be so lucky. With a word he could summon vast forces and change the battle above us. His desires seems to be to end all reality as we know it and remake it into a mad wonderland of horror and pain. His mind is diseased and he is quite mad, but vastly powerful; keenly intelligent and the Lords of the Abyss listen when he speaks; but it is not him who is to be feared; but he whom he owes alliagance; Dont your remember the lae in the poem; "The Four Horsemen come..." and so on; but ends " and Hades comes behind" This is not in reverence to the Greek God Hades; but the Chosen Emissary of the Prince of the Abyss; which prince I do not know as I have been imprisoned for thousands of years; but I bet that prince we met at dinner could have told us had you all not been so rude."
<directly to Astinos>
"Dear Astinos; if Cordova, High Priest, Archmagus and Mindburner comes to us now or any time; you must not act; he will stamp out your light in an instant. He is supremely arrogant; if you do not act; he will revel in the discomfort he causes in your to not act; this is your strength; Choice; he has none in what he has become, only a tool wielded by others; you have choice; you are still FREE; choose to live and help others another day, this is my council; take it to heart now if you have ever listen to anything of value."
"If he comes alone, we will be beneath his notice and live; pray he comes alone, better yet; pray he doesnt come at all"
"The eyes are upon us sister; so many eyes"
"They always have been Sister, yet now we are aligned with true Power; they fear us."
"But do they fear enough or to much, I have no sense of it; I am blinded, should we flee?"
"No Sister, I see the Convergence clearly; we are in the right of it; this task of these chosen mortal must not fail, we obey and proceed; fear not little sister, we stand not alone, where there is Darkness there is Hope; Those that prey in darkness now fear the Dark, and the Light moves with us, it is only the Between that I cannot see"
"Nor I Sister; Nor I; but perhaps this one; Kenembi can get a sense of it; He is on the Path, a hard choice; but noble"
"Acceptable Sister; if He survives there is Hope in Sacredfice"
"It is up to all of you then; choose"
"yes, Choose that we see clearly; let Kenembi embrace this for as the Jewel has stated; that which is Bound; is not longer Bound but Sleeping now in restless slumber; touching our world; we must have a sense of it, yet removed from IT.
Fox, feeling like she's hearing both sides of a conversation and only getting half the information, looks back and forth between the two sisters.
"Choose what? Have we not chosen already? Is that not why we are in this hole fighting snakemen?"
She stands there, holding the magestones in her tiny palm for a moment, then shrugs her shoulders. "I guess here's a choice I haven't made yet...," and she steps to the pile of equipment that Caerwyn has abandoned, gently setting the stones among the other items.
With that, she retreats, with Durr, down the tunnel about 20' in the direction that the pointmen had started down.
Out Loud: What No Do not call Cordova your father here. The last thing we need here is one of the four horsemen here. Llevonic stop her.
Val
I continue playing til Decidio gives me the signal to stop.
I look over to Kosan, "I told you before she is the most scryed woman in the world. Worry yourself not the Horseman, but be wary of the Matriarchs of that house. If any should come it will be to judge me. Just don't give them cause to pay attention to you, and all should be fine."
Just a reminder; this tunnel ends in a T; unless you going back or diggeing your own tunnel; the choices are left or right.
Fox, feeling like she's hearing both sides of a conversation and only getting half the information, looks back and forth between the two sisters.
"Choose what? Have we not chosen already? Is that not why we are in this hole fighting snakemen?"
She stands there, holding the magestones in her tiny palm for a moment, then shrugs her shoulders. "I guess here's a choice I haven't made yet...," and she steps to the pile of equipment that Caerwyn has abandoned, gently setting the stones among the other items.
With that, she retreats, with Durr, down the tunnel about 20' in the direction that the pointmen had started down.
In the Mind Link: I weary of your mindless chattering. Fate is made and broken by the strong arm, quick witt, Steady conscious, and unwavering resolve. Not prophecy's of unknown fates, undisovered artifacts and possible deeds of others far away. I go to free a goddess and kill evil. Then I will move on to my next foe and do the same until I am beaten and unable to rise. Sit here in fear, and think on what could be. Make your choices now. Nebibit Kenebi is lost to you, if he ever was with you, live your life and be proud of it when you are aged or dead. Kenebi If you are to be the pawn of the fae and power. Then go and collect your prize or step in line. Jewel and Llevonic if it is what you wish then claim your love, stop being the pawns of your race and start living life for the first time, The world would shake, as if my brother were passing by, if this were to come to pass. Aahz, sisters, if you wish to truly claim your departure from evil, and Neutrality then get in line and Continue this mission and care not of the distant eyes upon us. Astinios hurry your task and fall into line your faith and spear will surely be needed soon I fear. As for Kaluna the lost it seems she has abandoned us and I will add her to my battle plans no more. I go to save a goddess. I go with those who have are strong and have made their choice Fox, Durr, and Cawrwyn and we move out with you or without you.
In the Mind Link: I weary of your mindless chattering. Fate is made and broken by the strong arm, quick witt, Steady conscious, and unwavering resolve. Not prophecy's of unknown fates, undisovered artifacts and possible deeds of others far away. I go to free a goddess and kill evil. Then I will move on to my next foe and do the same until I am beaten and unable to rise. Sit here in fear, and think on what could be. Make your choices now. Nebibit Kenebi is lost to you, if he ever was with you, live your life and be proud of it when you are aged or dead. Kenebi If you are to be the pawn of the fae and power. Then go and collect your prize or step in line. Jewel and Llevonic if it is what you wish then claim your love, stop being the pawns of your race and start living life for the first time, The world would shake, as if my brother were passing by, if this were to come to pass. Aahz, sisters, if you wish to truly claim your departure from evil, and Neutrality then get in line and Continue this mission and care not of the distant eyes upon us. Astinios hurry your task and fall into line your faith and spear will surely be needed soon I fear. As for Kaluna the lost it seems she has abandoned us and I will add her to my battle plans no more. I go to save a goddess. I go with those who have are strong and have made their choice Fox, Durr, and Cawrwyn and we move out with you or without you.
"I am ready to go, choose left or right, and I will scout the way".
Ok; the salt prayer ritual is done to Decidious' satisfaction; there is a great booming and the place shakes from a massive earthquake.
What does everyone do? only immediant actions; dives; 10' steps; instant spells and the like applicable;
I will stop playing, and take a 10ft step down the left tunnel. I will put away my Guquin, and draw my weapons keeping point guard.
Fox grabs at Durr and follows Llvenoc as best she can.