Kyomi backs away from the black clouds, I'll move her when I back on my PC
Grimward quickly backs off, but is still caught in the effect.
LOL
Sixth looks to the fleeing man and formulates a simple thought. Get him!
He then turns to Balik, tending to his cough.
"Thanks Balik *cof**cof* I was so worried with putting them down I did not see the spores before *cof**cof* it was too late... This is bad, there's something in my lungs..."
Seventh moves up to the fleeing creature (6 squares) and attacks it:
!
Seventh passes through the spore area, so:
Canim moves out of the clouds of black crap. He will direct his flaming sphere to move about in hopes of it burning the black smoke away, and maybe hitting an avoral he can't see.
Byron took stock of his situation. Alex was a runaway carriage of emotion, but he was also smart. It would not take him long to fully come to grasps with this situation like Byron had. He would attack him at his weakest point.
Byron had understood through his training the three sources of spiritual power. The intellect, which Byron had ample strength. Force of personality, a force Byron had a talent for and could have been a path he chose if the wizard's court had not accepted him. But there was a third, derived from wisdom and experience, the force that druids would draw from, that he had no talent or experience for. Byron understood his own weakness.
Byron gathered everything he had learned about Alex and in a few moments he felt sure he knew his weakness but it would take time to forge a proper weapon. He had to buy time.
"Your right, we are not equals! Outside you were physically imposing and had the backing of a god. In here your soul is laid bare and no amount of power from a god can make up for that."
Byron chuckled as his throne rose up, just high enough so that he looked down upon Alex "You know what makes a soul strong? It's not the pain it can deflect but the pain it can absorb... and you have only ran from your pain. I have accepted mine."
Byron grabbed deep into his soul and the two sides of the room collided. The math ran into the memories. The math twisting into mechanical forms he had read about in the golem manual, fueled and twisted by memories and pain. All the rest fell away and four gollems stood in front of Byron.
A Long mechanical snake, fueled by the memory of the first woman that Byron loved and how she had only used him to get close to his family's wealth. It had the venom of the feeling of betrayal
A cobalt golem with a myriad of arms and legs stitched together, all hold various tools and weapons. Drawn from the memory of a vivisection Byron had witnessed on a captured gollem. Each weapon bore the guilt of watching but never saying anything or trying to stop it.
A flesh golem, glowing red between the stitches. Constructed from the pain of the constant disapproval Byron felt from his father. It glowed with what felt like rage but tempered by guilt because deep down Bryron still loved his dad.
The last golem was a small woman in a shroud carrying a small black blade. She dripped blood as she walked and Byron feared her most of all. The golem wore a porcilin face of an impossibly pretty gnomish face, the one he always imagined for his mother. It was powered by the knowledge and guilt that his birth was responsible for her death.
Byron felt drained and hurt, but also strong. He sent his golems out, to inflict the sort of pain that Alex ran from until he could develop his real attack to break Alex.
Finnigin hacks and coughs while trying to navigate his way out of the spores.
Cilian snorts at the dust, and walks over to the two spheres. He tries to see what exactly is in them, and waits until he can get a clearer idea.
As the clouds of spores disperse and settle it becomes clear that the avorals have expired save for the sole runaway.
As Cilian inspects the two spheres he can tell they appear to be opaque, a scattering of leaves strikes the black sphere and disappears.
--------------------In Duality Space-------------------
Alex bellows in rage as the black golems invade his territory, sending wave after wave of fractured beast into them. They walk as titans smashing Alex's minion with every move, however though they are mighty the sheer quantity of Alex's beasts slows their advance. His throne warps into a set of white wings, although it is clear that a long column of white is what truly supports his flight as he rises. He reaches out a hand to the landscape as hundreds of the slaves behind him melt screaming into his hand, taking the shape of a viciously curved bow.
Sorry could not post
Going after run away
DMG h cross bow
"Stop him he's carrying contagion"
She calls out running after him
Byron saw the bow form and immediately started to prepare a defense but then it struck him that doing so might be his undoing. He could run, hide or build a wall but the faster he ran then the faster he believed the arrow would be, the better the shield he made the more powerful the thought the arrow was.
Instead, Byron slumped in his throne. He held out his hand palm up and closed one eye. From Byron's perspective Alex was so small in his palm and his arrow even smaller.
The arrow seemed to be comprised of Alex's thoughts and faith. Byron sought to counter this with his doubt and indifference.He let it flow out like a river pushing against Alex and his doubts hung like rocks in a rapid.
Ultimately Byron's hope was not to stop the arrow all together but slow it down just enough.
"You know that trick I keep using to teleport? Most wizards can't do it. It requires something special. When you teleport like I do, you aren't bending space or slipping through cracks. Your using your empathy, imagining yourself in that position and the world responds to your perspective. It's also allowed me to realize something about you Alex."
Your afraid of your faith Alex, which is why you wield it like a weapon rather then wearing it like armor.
Canim will move as fast as his blubber allows (20ft) and will cast Ear Piercing Scream on Alex.
DC 18 fort reduces to half damage and negates Dazed condition. Target is Dazed and takes full damage on a save fail
|
Balik is torn between the excellent point of an avoral carrying a contagion, and quelling that contagion among her compatriots. Ultimately tribal loyalty and dictates of capability, drive her to continue treating her comrades and fending off the insidious influence of the spores. Balik grinds her teeth as the fleeing avoral gains distance and time.
The fleeing Avoral disappears into the storm. The Dancing Spheres circle ominously, The occasional arc of of blue energy courses from each of the spheres intermittently.
----------In the Duality Space------------
Byrons plan succeeded in half measure, the arrow slowed yet it was he no the arrow who jumped behind Alex for split moment. The flight of the arrow slows deceptively, like syrup falling from the lips of a courtesan, painfully slow when observed yet appearing to move quickly when unattended. Byron saw chains of paper pulling down the back of Alex's throne, smelling of darkness rot and blood.
Finnigin looks around quickly while coughing loudly.
Is everyone else ok?
*Cough Cough*
Byron looked down (How could he not?) the monster shook him for a moment. He had assumed that they were alone, that this was one-on-one.
Was this what it wanted? It was playing into my own arrogance.
The wavering in his confidence smoothed out tempered by resolve. The creature wanted this fight to continue like this, never wanting Byron to realize what he really had to do.
when he snapped back to his throne, he calmly stood up.
"It's a trap, Alex. All of it. We are like those stars out there. No matter how bright we burn we are just a tiny point of light among a sea."
For the first time ever Byron opened himself up to the outside world. He always though that his wisdom was his weakness but the truth was that he had made it so. He never let empathy or feeling in, always closed it off until it became a raw nerve. Now he opened up that raw nerve.
He broadcast out his memory of the creature, like a message into space. Hoping it would be received by who he hoped it would.
I hope your out there
Byron stretch out his arms in embrace. His mind reached for his greatest though of empathy and beauty. A painting along the abbey walls of a church of Sarenrae that he had once been invited to. He had only seen the painting as a waste of time, but it haunted him. Deep inside he understood its beauty and now, in this strange place, finally let himself appreciate it.
Then as Alex approached, From behind Byron sprang forth the haunting image from his memory, the dawn-flower. Stretching out and wrapping around to embrace them both.
Coming out of the darkness but away from the odd clouds of stuff.
"Yes I am well think you Finnigin, thank you for asking.
Kyomi seems complacently unhurt if a little covered in foliage.
Shes picking bits out as she walks into view.
The small doll sat on her shoulder says
"That was fun can we kill some more things sister"
"I'm not, I have something in my lungs..."
Canim looks about at the others, and their fallen enemies, taking a general stock of the situation. He takes a deep breath and tries to catch the rest of his breath now that the combat is over.
The spores seem to disperse as the battlefield settles. Scarcely a moment passes before a tremendous KRAKA-THOOM erupts from the spheres in a brilliant flash of light and sound.
--------------------In the Duality Space----------------
Byron feels a tremendous peace pass through him as the light of the dawnflower engulfs all around him, he can only faintly hear Alex's screams and a deeper presence speaks, "Clever little insect, but playing in the flowers won't protect you forever. As the voice cuts off a warm hand appears on Byron's shoulder. A gentle warm voice fills his ears, "That was very brave little one, it is rare one has the chance to bare their soul and even more so to do so before a god. If you were found unworthy I could have re-forged every inch of you. You dealt a great blow to evil this day and what's more you made the god's aware of the destroyers new attempt to break free. Both are worthy of reward."
--------------Reality--------------
In the circle of the spheres now stand two figures, Byron and a small plump gnomish woman, looking very similar to Byron himself although quite beautiful in a matronly way.
She turns to Byron tears in her eyes, "I am so proud my son, I have never regretted you and I will always love you. My goddess wished for you to have this"
As she affixes a small silver pin to Byron's cloak in the form of a Dawn Flower made of delicate pipes and gears. "She says your anger has often burned you and that she wishes that the next time you find anger to turn it into fuel, acceptance and light shall guide you. In this token the greater you open your heart to truth and love the more it shall protect you."
She smiles again before embracing Byron tightly, "I do not have much time my son but I can answer you question before I must return."
Sixth is amused that Byron seems to be having a change of mood for the time being. He wonders what has happened, since what he knew of the gnome was clearly the opposite.
Kyomi looks on a look of astonishment on her face
She says quietly to her sister
"What in the world...
Byron barely notices the pin on his cloak. Even the words of a god fade away, when he sees his mother. He is a child again, though that would be wrong to say. His father never let him be a child, so he was a child for once.
His head slumps down, though not able to full take his eyes off of her."I... I'm sorry I killed you! I guess I always thought if I got good enough I could bring you back and then maybe dad-" His words trailed off, he realized that this wasn't a question at all but perhaps saying what he needed to was more important.
"uh... Will you be watching? Can you?"
His hands shook and tears welled up. He imagined the golem that he had made in her image, how he had given it the face he always imagined of her, impossibly pretty, yet it could not compare to the reality of her real face.
Canim remains silent, for this is not his moment and it would be rude to intrude.
Cilian shakes his head at such rubish coming from the old gnome's mouth, but says nothing as he bends down to examine and harvest some of the Avoral's black blood.
The gnomish woman smiles, "I have always been watching and I always will, except for when you need privacy of course my son. Do not worry about bringing me back I am needed where I am now. I love you my son I will always be with you." The woman glows brightly before vanishing, leaving behind only a blooming flower as the storm comes to a sudden halt and the first shafts of morning light begin to shine.
The bodies and blood of the fallen Avorals rapidly decomposes into a slimy film reeking of corruption.
Byron takes a moment to gather his thoughts and feelings.
"Oh ^&#@! Alex is still alive. I forgot, I left him in there with Rovagug. He may still be coming."
Byron disappeared and then reappeared beside the rest of his companions.
"I figured out a lot of things while I was in there. About me, about Alex and about us all. We are all caught up in an incredible amount of trouble. The bad guys look like the good guys, and the good guys-" He motions pointing to his traveling companions "-are wanted criminals."
"In those spheres I did battle with Alex. Not so many rules in there, whatever you can think of you can make. Normally in such conditions I would have easily crushed him but he was not alone, he had Rovagug on his side. I was able to hold him off by constructing creatures to battle with Alex while I contacted Sarenrae."
"She pulled me out but I am not sure what happened to Alex. Whether he will emerge shortly or not. Do we run or prepare?"
Byron posed the question and for the first time he genuinely was requesting advice from his companions rather then just leading them through questions to the conclusion he wanted.
Sixth asks sarcastically: "Rovagug? Really?" *cough cough* "Do you think running will do us any good were that the case?"
Byron shrugged. Amazed at how sarcasm seemed to roll of his shoulder now.
"Well he wasn't full free. The beast was just peeking through his cage. Though in a world completely comprised of metaphor I assume that means that only a small portion of his power is able to get out and that he has taken these five puppets to empower and do his work."
"I am sorry, did you say five?"
"uh... Oh yea" Byron had tried to hit all the important notes but the whole thing was a mess it was hard to tell what was important.
"I was able to see that the same influence he was exerting on Alex was also being used with four others. We are going to need to stop them all." Byron had a sinking feeling he was starting to sound like Finnigin.
Sixth begins to get a bit worried now.
"And did you see where the other chains were leading? Or who they were shackled to?"
Kyomi looks at Byron then at Sixth then at Byron.
"Let me get this right, you had a chat with Rovagug the world eater, who was playing bounce the moron with Alex, who it turns out has four more cretins on a stick to play with. Then you asked Sarenrae to pop in and help you out wile, your mum or sister showed up and patted you on the back saying, 'now take your friends and go kick some more evil butt in the form of good guys being bad guys for Rovagug become its a good thing to do. humm"
She says nothing more but picks up her things and heads off into the woods.
A small doll is left behind looking after her, she tuns and smiles at the group.
The small Doll jumps up on a log and says
"Don't worry I'll talk her round, she dos not like to get that into things like this, but to me it sounds fun."
With that she heads into the woods after her sister.
Canim just looks uncomfortable with all these... feelings going around.
|
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"Well for me, if Alex and the Avorals were any indication, Rovagug doesn't seem to have much respect for the way of things." she pokes one of the piles of nasty slime with a stick, then shakes off the stick. "And the birds don't like what he does to things. So I think we should go kick his ass. Maybe a little creative disembowelment too. Or at least poke him in the eye. I'll have to think about that. But I guess there's time to think about that."
"And hey - if the other puppet-folks are like this Alex, I'm betting they'll have stuff. Granted Alex's stuff was other Avorals, but maybe the next one will have a," Balik sort of waves her hands, indicating big stuff, or big piles of stuff, "...a big.. I mean lots of... wives?"
Finnigin leaps on top of a soap box or wagon and exclaims loudly:
Time for us to be heros! We need to find these others as soon as possible and track them down. Once we find them , give em the same treatment this lot got and we'll save the world in no time!
He flexes his muscles and then gets a distressed look on his face.
You do know where the other 4 are right?
*Cough Cough*
"More then just avorals Balik. He had an entire pack worth of stuff that he detached before we got caught up in that other world. As I remember he had a set of fake wings that allowed flight. This may be useful to us."
Byron went searching. He was avoiding answer the question everyone had pressed him on. He sighed
"I don't know who the others are but we can make some pretty educated guesses. Alex was on a mission to 'reignite the war with Cheliax and Isger' now that we know he was a puppet we can get a sense of the bigger picture."
He thinks deeply on the subject "This may be a play to weaken Asmodeus' power in the area. But this is all speculation. We can get real answers if we recover some of Alex's equipment and get to a church of Sarenrae for divination... Now where are those 'devil drugs'?"
You can hear a heated debt out in the woods between the sisters.
"Whoa whoa!" Sixth backs up tree steps from his position, and puts a feet farther behind to avoid falling. He focuses again on Byron, who could probably be tricking him into seeing this. But it wasn't him, he was sure about it. His gaze was fixed at him while the gnome was speaking. He turned to Seventh, beginning to understand that he had something to do with what just happened.
"Heck! I know where they are!" He motions everyone to get close. "Listen up folks," - looks at Byron - "I saw the cage you mentioned, but I did not see what was inside. Over it there was a map, with five big dots all over Golarion. There was one where we are right now, but it faded. Others existed in Galt, Between Geb and Nex, Varisia and finally in Absalom." He waits for a second, to let the information sink. "Now, while I believe Absalom is a crucial spot, we have some information about what's going on in Galt, don't we?"
"Galt?" Byron rubbed his neck as if he could feel a guillotine around his neck. "All I know about Galt is the old adage 'If you don't like the government in Galt, then wait a week'"
Byrong fumbled around aimlessly searching for Alex's bag. At this point he was certain he probably needed spectacles... Or perhaps a contraption to take care of searching for such items
Cilian continues his harvest, and pats the bodies down for any loot they might be holding.
After thoroughly checking the bodies Cilian stands and gets ready.
"Well if we have to go to Galt them let's go."
Well that is good, we know the locations of the 5 others! That means we can go deal with them and stop Rovagug from coming back. That would be bad news for everyone I fear!
Finnigin says in an enthusiastic tone of voice.
Byron pokes his head around the trees. Better Galt where he may loose his head then Absalom where he may run into his father.
"Damn, did anyone find Alex's wings? I wanted to try to recreate what I created in the other world... or perhaps I could summon it from there to this plane... or some method between the two."
"I still haven't even had time to look at what this pendent is." He said pressing his finger to it, at the same time casually pulling ambient magic into his eyes.