The Fox looks into Tringelda's eyes and sees the suggestion there. He begins to smile as he thinks of how wonderful it would be...but then in his mind's eye he sees a flashing vision of the jorogumo! He cannot quite suppress the shudder that runs down his spine.
"I'm sorry, Tringelda...I have not yet entirely recovered from my experience in the East. I...I need some time."
"But, wait! Don't leave. Please, if you would simply sit with me for a while. Perhaps you could assist me with my composition?" he pleads.
The elf dame smiles lovingly and nods. Ja, my schöne Fox! I would be honored to assist in any way I can...
She moves behind the kitsune and begins to massage his tense shoulders and back...
[dice=will]d20+7
Johann goes about his business of drinking with the 3 blind mice in his favorite tavern, unaware of anything amiss!
Seeing the coldborn shifter come into focus, the Antichrist smiles...
I can always count on this big buffoon to succumb to my divinations! Yes, my honey-gulping friend... Show me what you and your insipid Crusader friends are up to now... Good... Just sitting upon your derrieres, enjoying the goodness of the tavern board... No sign of the Black Pyramid... At first, it seemed to serve my Father's purpose, to tear your ragtag company apart... But you have proven more resilient than we thought, Damn you! Now, you are reunited in purpose against me and my Father, Lucifer! You will have to be quelled by fire and sword... or by the sharp jaws of ill fortune... HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!
As Toshio Okumura/The Ogon Fox composes a majestic march for the Holy Roman Emperor, and Mwikali and Cardinal Lucius D'Borja meet with Pope Eugenius to establish teleportation circles linking Rome with Marrakech, and as Quinlan scribes scrolls of teleport to give his former adventuring companions as gifts, the days roll by...
Friday the 25th becomes Saturday the 26th, cold and windy, with more light flurries of snow throughout the day...
Saturday 26th January turns into Sunday, 27th January, and the Holy Father says the High Mass in the morning...
Sunday 27th begets Monday 28th, which begets Tuesday 29th... On Tuesday, it snows harder, leaving a few inches on the ground, to which Romans are unaccustomed... The winters have been getting colder...
Wednesday, 30th January, brings rain and sleet... The cobblestones of Rome are slick with ice and slush, making travel somewhat less convenient, and resulting in unwary Romans slipping and falling...
Thursday, 31st January is rainy, with sleet and hailstones falling on the rooftops around 2:00 in the afternoon...
On Thursday afternoon, January 31st, as hailstones hammer the slate rooftops of Rome, the bellicose Bishop Vitelleschi of Recanati meets with the Holy Father to make confession and to express concerns he has regarding the coming dragon attack.
After giving his confession and receiving absolution from Pope Eugenius, Bishop Vitelleschi speaks to His Holiness about the coming holocaust...
Italian: Holy Father, I fear that the enemy will have heard that the plot to burn Rome with the vile breath of Wormwood the Fire Dragon on the Feast of Saint Valentine has been unearthed. Would the Church of Lucifer be so mad as to go on with the plot as planned? Would they not rather, cunningly, change the hour at which the Holocaust is to fall, to catch the city off guard? It is the tactical way... It is what I would do, were I the Antichrist...
On Thursday afternoon, January 31st, as hailstones hammer the slate rooftops of Rome, the bellicose Bishop Vitelleschi of Recanati meets with the Holy Father to make confession and to express concerns he has regarding the coming dragon attack.
After giving his confession and receiving absolution from Pope Eugenius, Bishop Vitelleschi speaks to His Holiness about the coming holocaust...
Italian: Holy Father, I fear that the enemy will have heard that the plot to burn Rome with the vile breath of Wormwood the Fire Dragon on the Feast of Saint Valentine has been unearthed. Would the Church of Lucifer be so mad as to go on with the plot as planned? Would they not rather, cunningly, change the hour at which the Holocaust is to fall, to catch the city off guard? It is the tactical way... It is what I would do, were I the Antichrist...
And with that, Vitelleschi's fears become Eugenius' fears. The pope's eyes widen in alarm as the implication sinks in... The dragon could strike at any moment now! Letting the city know of the plot so it could prepare might have done more harm than good, in hindsight...
We must begin the evacuation of the city into the catacombs at once, Bishop Vitelleschi!
He grasps Vitelleschi by his hands and begins a solemn prayer, eyes closed, in Italian:
Almighty God, the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, have mercy upon your people of Rome! Let not the terrible hellfire of the dragon's breath bring death and ruin upon us! In the name of Saint Michael the Archangel, and in the name of Saint George the Dragonslayer, and in the name of Your Holy Son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we pray! Amen!
Bowed head, eyes closed, clasping the pope's hands in prayer: Amen!
Releasing the hands of the pope, the fighting bishop of Recanati smiles reassuringly at the worried-looking Eugene...
Italian: Trust in God, Your Holiness... and trust in this... He draws his Holy Avenger longsword and holds it in salute to the pope... Sanctifier never fails... And this Wormwood will not like my dragonbane brilliant energy arrows ignoring all his impressive iron-hard scales and biting straight into his evil dragon heart! HAHAHAHOHOHOHO!! Be of good cheer, Holy Father!
The full-plate-clad bishop claps his gauntleted hands and bows.
Just food for thought, but, yes, Your Holiness, we must begin to withdraw the populace from above ground, and secure as many as we can in the catacombs until the danger is past...
Toshiro spends much of his time either crafting fetishes to aid the party, or wandering Rome, taking in the strange people and architecture.
He tries to talk to as many people as possible, though often hits bottlenecks with his Tongues spell wearing off.
Of particular interest to him are the strange religion that so fervently grips many of his party, and the astonishing prevalence of stone in the construction of buildings.
And so, on the last night of January, messengers and city gaurds go out into the streets and warn everyone in Rome that the dragon Wormwood, now knowing that Rome prepares for the Holocaust, might fall upon the city at any time. This results in general panic and rioting, which the city guards are quick to quell, and then an urgent sense of restoring order as a mass exodus into the catacombs and caves of the nearby hillsides begins.
By two o'clock on Friday morning, 1st February, the city of Rome was all but abandoned, with only those charged with gathering provisions and other necessities for a long stay underground left above ground...
Ogon Fox/Toshio Okumura continues to scribe his composition underground, in parts of the Catacombs reclaimed by he and his fellow Crusaders, during the first few days of February, completing the commissioned work on the evening of Sunday 3rd February, after three days bunkered in the catacombs and scribing by candlelight. It is a magnificent Imperial March for His Imperial Majesty, Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor!
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Lord P is waiting for the Fire Drake to come, oddly he has no fear of it, he is worried for it, for the Fey are a strange lot. His mind is racing thinking of a way to get the great Dragon into the lands of myth and dream.
Monday, 4th February, In the Year of Our Lord 1437... Ten o'clock in the morning...
The fire dragon Wormwood has yet to attack Rome, and the Romans suffer a seemingly endless wait and a growing dread bunkered in the catacombs...
The Knights of the Order of Champions are now ready to begin their expedition to Africa in search of the Lost Mines of King Solomon.
Abe no Toshiro and Mwikali have studied maps of North Africa made by Commander Gonçalo Cabral, the famous Portuguese explorer, to increase their chances of accurately casting teleport, in case they should need to use their own conjurations instead of the newly crafted teleportation circles. These circles link a special chamber set aside for it in the Palazzo D'Borja with its counterpart in the Royal Palace of Marrakech, where Lucius' cohort, Sir Landry, has recently learned that his temporary post as regent of Marrakech has become a permanent post as de facto Emir.
The gateway is established, and is carefully guarded on either end. It but awaits the expedition to pass over to the other side...
Ihrin begins to teach Autumn about Europe and the ways of its more seedier people alongside the ways of the nobility and church. She also shows her how to handle a dagger with incredible skill.
When not teaching Autumn, she'll talk to the various High priests and clergy about her mysterious Tattoos and what they mean.
Ihrin begins to teach Autumn about Europe and the ways of its more seedier people alongside the ways of the nobility and church. She also shows her how to handle a dagger with incredible skill.
When not teaching Autumn, she'll talk to the various High priests and clergy about her mysterious Tattoos and what they mean.
The Holy Father examines Ihrin's enigmatic tattoos at her private request on the evening of Saturday the 26th of January...
Very interesting, my dear Princess Ihrin... Although I cannot decipher them, some of these tattoos are the script of the tongue of angels, called Celestial, or Enochian... These others are pictoglyphs or stylized depictions of various monsters... See, the dragon is most prominent, over your heart... Perhaps this is a nod to your noble house? ... This appears to be a stylized bat, with fangs... Curious...
When not teaching Autumn, she'll talk to the various High priests and clergy about her mysterious Tattoos and what they mean.
The following evening, Sunday the 27th, the Daughter of the Dragon consults another high priest in the city of Rome, Cardinal D'Sforza...
Italian: Let me have a look, Your Highness... Don't be bashful, I'm a man of the cloth...
Cardinal D'Sforza, as an Inquisitor of the Catholic Church, has found it useful to learn a variety of diverse languages in order to root out heresy. He has studied Enochian, and can read the characters tattooed on the Wallachian princess...
This says, "Sacred Slayer of El Shaddai"... El Shaddai is one of the sacred names of God the Father... And this one on your other arm says, "Chosen Reaper of the Seraphim"... I am without a clue regarding the significance of this dragon over your, um, breast... or this fanged bat on your back... or this lion on your leg... or this scorpion on the other leg... Who knows? You have no memory of receiving them, eh? Very mysterious, my princess...
The days and nights seem to drag on longer underground, with no passing of sun or moon to track the hours... The people of Rome grow restless and irritable living in the catacombs, awaiting the holocaust...
Finally, the long dreaded day dawns--Thursday, 14th February--The Feast of Saint Valentine... The tension and fear is almost palpable down in the catacombs...
"Well I usually Die or almost die before I come back with them and the corresponding scar." She says to the Cardinal as she sits, not afraid of the Cardinal her body exposed enough for him to see her tattoos and scars.
"According to my father and brother I was found in the streets and had a fierceness to me I did not understand. I also remember waking in a grave as well as flashes of a past where I look different then I do now. I was a more health olive with dark hair and played with my brother and mother. It is all odd but All I know is that I am trying to do the good works for the Church and to repel the Arabs from my families land. I know I am not pure, but these symbols bother me." She says looking at him concerned and frightened.
Mwikali is working on her magical items for the group while recounting tales of Zag to his 'lady' Molly as well as 'consoling' her.
Mwikali otherwise stays close and sends out for necessary materials.
Ihrin after talking to a few sages and scholars, she trains with Autumn. Making sure she is ready to take on her duties as a maid, and the Cardinals secret spy and enforcer.
Take these items to use in the defense of Rome against the fire dragon, my friends... May they serve you well...
Bishop Vitelleschi remains above ground, posted in the belfry of Saint Peter's Church, watching for the first sight of the dreaded fire dragon with his magical bow and dragon bane arrows in hand...
Approaching his former adventuring companions in the catacombs, Quinlan hands a newly crafted magical headband to Cardinal Lucius D'Borja, saying: A gift, to augment your already exceptional wisdom, Cardinal Lucius... Also, if anyone wants to be able to fly when the dragon attacks, I have prepared several fly spells to cast on you!
The hours of Saint Valentine's Day seem to crawl by like snails... Morning turns to afternoon... Afternoon becomes evening... Some begin to wonder if the dragon will come at all that day...
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"My thanks Quinlan." Lucius replies gravely. "I will wear it with gratitude."
Once the teleportation gates are prepared Lucius spends some hours of each day in Marrakesh, working with Ser Landry in order to establish order and the beginnings of an organised church in the city. He speaks frequently in public, drawing heavily on the role of Jesus in Islam as a great prophet. His public speaking is as impressive as ever and shortly before St Valentine's Day he oversees the dedication of a new church and performs a large baptism, as well as officially investing Ser Landry with the title of Papal Vicar on behalf of Pope Eugenius.
There is much less he can do in Rome, although he does avail himself of Autumn's skills and his feet, often dry and sand-chafed, learn to appreciate the Geisha's massaging skills. As she works he speaks to her, drawing out stories of her life and acquiring a knowledge of Japanese with the divine grace that has allowed him to learn so many other tongues of man.
He also makes the effort to obtain permission for Ihrin to visit the Papal archives, where an entire order of monks live out their lives, devoted to the preservation of wisdom and the glorification of God. "It is a small gift, my dear." He tells the Princess in her native slavic. "But perhaps here you will find answers without embarassing my Lord Sforza in the process!"
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As the time approaches the Cardinal prays in Saint Peter's with Bishop Vitelleschi, before mounting his flying carpet which he has named Seraphim and rises high into the sky above the Eternal City where his aged, but still sharp eyes scan the skyline, waiting for the great wyrm to make his appearance!
As the sun begins to sink low into the west, a moaning wind whips the treetops to the east into a frenzy as the gargantuan fire dragon appears, vast wings beating up hurricane force winds as it hangs like an enormous nightmare in the eastern sky!
Dragonfear grips the few watchmen posted to keep a lookout for the dragon's approach, and they mostly flee in mindless panic without sounding their horns...
The dragon roars, an earthshaking, earsplitting roar! RRROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!! The sound rattles rooftops and shatters Windows!
Draconic: LOOK UPON ME AND DESPAIR, WRETCHED APELINGS OF ROME!! HOLOCAUST IS UPON YOU!! YOUR HEROES WILL BE INCINERATED!! YOUR GOD CANNOT SAVE YOU!!
The ancient fire dragon Wormwood has arrived!
Ihrin stands ready on her carpet of flying her new swords on her back as she readies herself. The dragon its scales glistening in the light, it was massive. She breathed her hands and body ready to slice and dice the body of this creature.
After the roar, Irhin begins to recite a soft prayer and then kisses her cross before she looks to the others and nods ready to drop on the dragon and make sure she kills this thing.
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The Cardinal immediately directs Seraphim into a sharp dive, calling out in his orators voice. "The Dragon comes from the East! To battle! For Rome and Our Lord!"
Warning delivered he arcs upwards again, to join Ihrin in the sky as he withdraws arrows.
"Fight well Princess!" He says, before murmuring a series of prayers of his own and pulling his first arrow.
"Also, if anyone wants to be able to fly when the dragon attacks, I have prepared several fly spells to cast on you!"
"I will need it, my friend. But we will wait until the dragon gets closer."
The Cardinal immediately directs Seraphim into a sharp dive, calling out in his orators voice. "The Dragon comes from the East! To battle! For Rome and Our Lord!"
Warning delivered he arcs upwards again, to join Ihrin in the sky as he withdraws arrows.
"Fight well Princess!" He says, before murmuring a series of prayers of his own and pulling his first arrow.
[dice=Knowledge Arcana]d20+12
Spying the red dragon in the eastern sky, Bishop Vitelleschi orders his terrified squire to sound the alarm... Pale-faced and quaking, the young squire pulls the ropes to ring the bells of Saint Peter's...
Bishop Vitelleschi begins to prepare himself for battle, praying to Saint Michael to ward him against dragonfire, then quaffing various potions--fly, haste, etc.
To his squire, in Italian: That's good enough, my son... Now, run! Take cover in the catacombs! I will come and find you once the danger is past...
The young squire bows and races down the spiral stairs of the belfry...
"Also, if anyone wants to be able to fly when the dragon attacks, I have prepared several fly spells to cast on you!""I will need it, my friend. But we will wait until the dragon gets closer."
The distant rumble of what first sounds like thunder becomes audible even down beneath the limestone of the catacombs...
I think it has arrived, Mister Fox... Quinlan waits a little longer, and when the roars and rumbling threats in Draconic become unmistakable, he nods grimly at Fox and casts fly on him...
Time to drink those potions of fire protection, my friend... Quinlan says, taking out a potion himself...
Lord P drops from above and lands on the back of the Dragon.
"Hello there big feller, Nice day for it don't you think, Steady on now, what brings a big feller like you to a place like this then?"
He has put himself in a place just behind the neck where the legs tail and head of the Dragon can't get to him.
He had taken on the potions of fire resistance.
Wormwood sets fire to the fields east of Rome with strafing blasts of dragonfire! Within seconds, wildfires are spreading east of the city walls, backlighting the eastern skyline with a Hellish, flickering, orange-red glow!
Once over the city itself, the fire dragon blasts rooftops with its fiery breath as it flies toward Vatican Hill... It seems to grow more and more enraged as the buildings fail to ignite, resisting its dragonfire thanks to the alchemical fireproofing applied by a small army of volunteer laborers during the past few weeks...
What is THIS!? Why isn't the city burning!? Some kind of magical ward!?
Not magic, but alchemy! Curse them!
Lord P drops from above and lands on the back of the Dragon.
"Hello there big feller, Nice day for it don't you think, Steady on now, what brings a big feller like you to a place like this then?"
He has put himself in a place just behind the neck where the legs tail and head of the Dragon can't get to him.
He had taken on the potions of fire resistance.
The Fox quaffs the potion of fire protection given him by the Pope, as Quinlan suggests. He looks at Johann, saying, "Are you ready, my friend? This is the day we have been waiting for, since we first learned of the plot down in the catacombs."
He puts a hand on the Bear's shoulder. "If I should not survive the battle, I want you to know: you have been the dearest of friends to me. I know it was you who led the others to save my life in Japan. If I do not live past today, still I lived a few days more than this world would have given me, and that is because of you, Johann." The Fox finishes by embracing the Bear, who has become like a brother to him.
Lord P makes his dive but spots there is no safe place to land.
Humm
So he flies close to the big red Galoots head, seeking a bland spot.
And speaks but moves after to he dose so hes not flash flamed
"Hello there big feller, Steady on now you may hurt someone?"
Lord P makes his dive but spots there is no safe place to land.
Humm
So he flies close to the big red Galoots head, seeking a bland spot.
And speaks but moves after to he dose so hes not flash flamed"Hello there big feller, Steady on now you may hurt someone?"
Lord P alights on the dragon's brow, between two massive yellow horns!
The Cardinal drinks his potion of fire protection before unleashing an arrow storm.
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Volley after volley, Lucius' arrows bounce off the steely red scales like rain off a slate roof! Not a single arrow finds its mark in the past half minute of firing! The dragon seems not to even notice the arrows bouncing off its hide...
Lord P makes his dive but spots there is no safe place to land.
Humm
So he flies close to the big red Galoots head, seeking a bland spot.
And speaks but moves after to he dose so hes not flash flamed"Hello there big feller, Steady on now you may hurt someone?"
In Draconic: WAZZAT!? A BUG!? NO--A FAIRY!! I HATE FAIRIES!! GIT OFF ME, YA WEE GOOBER!!
With a shake of its massive head, the fire dragon tries to throw the Little Lord off...
The Little Lord rockets through the air toward the belfry of Saint Peter's Church!
lord P is thrown at speed at the belfry of Saint Peter's Church, But the little Lord Folds his wings an Acrobatic skill only a fey could have he lands rolls keeping as much of the speed he has been given to come up flying again.
He shoots past the Dragon going the other way.
"I gave you a chance Dragon, remember that when you fall."
And Lord P heads to altitude and away from the fight.
lord P is thrown at speed at the belfry of Saint Peter's Church, But the little Lord Folds his wings an Acrobatic skill only a fey could have he lands rolls keeping as much of the speed he has been given to come up flying again.
He shoots past the Dragon going the other way.
"I gave you a chance Dragon, remember that when you fall."
And Lord P heads to altitude and away from the fight.
Hearing Lord P's warning, the dragon bares its teeth in a toothy grin...
YE BE THAT LITTLE SPRITE WHAT GOES AROUN' HERDING MAGICAL BEASTS INTO THE FIRST WORLD, AYE!? LORD PERPIREEN MCGIBEL, I BELIEVE!? WELL, I AIN'T GOIN' T' YER LITTLE PARTY JUST YET!! I GOT SOME RAMPAGING AND RAVAGING T' DO YET!! HAHAHAHAHAAARRR!!!
Bishop Vitelleschi flies up above the bell tower of Saint Peter's Church and shouts a challenge to the gargantuan red dragon, in Draconic: I AM BISHOP VITELLESCHI!! I SERVE GOD AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH!! YOU COME TO BURN THIS CHURCH, YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH ME FIRST, DRAGON OF HELL!! COME ON!! I SMITE THEE IN THE NAME OF SAINT MICHAEL AND THE VIRGIN MOTHER!!
Taking aim at the monstrous red wyrm with his magic composite longbow Grayflame, with the most potent kind of dragon bane brilliant energy arrow nocked on the string, he lets fly one arrow,...
Bishop Vitelleschi flies up above the bell tower of Saint Peter's Church and shouts a challenge to the gargantuan red dragon, in Draconic: I AM BISHOP VITELLESCHI!! I SERVE GOD AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH!! YOU COME TO BURN THIS CHURCH, YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH ME FIRST, DRAGON OF HELL!! COME ON!! I SMITE THEE IN THE NAME OF SAINT MICHAEL AND THE VIRGIN MOTHER!!
Taking aim at the monstrous red wyrm with his magic composite longbow Grayflame, with the most potent kind of dragon bane brilliant energy arrow nocked on the string, he lets fly one arrow,...
GGGRRRRAAAAAAARRRGGHHH!!! roars the fire dragon, enraged and in pain from the glowing bright violet energy arrow of the Battle Bishop!
Dammit! A powerful paladin! That's how I got me bloody head lopped off last time... Got to play it smart...
I BE AN-HUNGERED, PALADIN!! FILL MY BELLY!! RRRAAAARRRR!!!
The gargantuan dragon beats its massive wings furiously, sending little tornados off to wreck the rooftops of Rome as it rockets toward the bishop in shining armor...
Seeing the terrible dragon now flying with all speed directly for that great champion of God, the Fox speaks up to his companions. "No! I fear the Bishop Vitelleschi, mighty as he is, may not stand for long if the dragon gets close to sink its teeth into him." His face grows resolute. "My friends, we must do what we can to harry the beast."
With that, the Fox begins ascending into the air as fast as Quinlan's magic will carry him. He aims to be in a position to draw the dragon off of its current course.
He begins to taunt their great foe, speaking in Draconic, and twists the word "wyrm" into "worm" the way that every dragon hates. "What ho! LITTLE RED WORM! What got into your head that you think you can go about unaccosted in the wider world? Worms are quite low on the food chain, you know! Let's see, how many steps would it be from you to me? The worm is eaten by the fowl, that's one. Then the fowl is eaten by the fox. That's two! I guess it isn't that many, but I'm still two steps above you, little worm!"