Hey, fellow Paizonauts!
I can't keep up with pbp any more. Life is just too hectic right now.
I've really enjoyed the game; my replacement better be wicked awesome.
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I gasp at the audacity of goldeneyes, and the depth of his knowing. "I... I was always a slave, I don't remember my father and my mother: nothing, but, only a smell I half-remember, something unbearably light, like it is always drifting away from me." My thoughts are so distant, so boxed away, that I'm detatched: like someone searching through a box of trinkets found under the bed. The memories of Cryx are altogether clearer. My face tightens and I tense, even here, in anticipation of a blow, "I survived by doing exactly what I was told, exactly. And then I learnt how to keep out of the way, to not be present for the fiercest tasks. And, as you know, I had my little trick. It's amazing what people can do when they need to survive... terrifying, sickening... I was lucky to find an amazing solution."
I'm still fiddling with Ael... gestalt is hard for a player who has been lazily leaning on herolab for years.
I think the maths would be slightly deranged but it would be interesting. I would probably go Swashbuckler.
I will be patchy for a while. I'm getting married on the 2nd of August and have to spend my time fixing up my parents' place as they are hosting a bunch of American relatives. So, instead of a few pbp when the baby goes to sleep it is wedding organising with my better half. I'm only posting this because baby is napping and I am waiting for things to cook.
So, that didn't quite work out... But, that said, maybe golden eyes and I can make it so that it went really, really well instead. Maybe?
Just another selfish torturer. Well, I'm used to them... Deciding that containing this force is more important than anything else, I look in at myself and focus on the force.
I reach out blindly and seize a brown bottle of medical ointment nearby, then I throw it at the apparition, "What are you?"
...snip...sad news...
I like the picture, he has the detatched quality I can imagine in a killer. And something slightly wounded to make him more sympathetic.
Staring into the Scavenger's eyes, I feel a wave of emotion and frustration: So many brave men summoning up the best of themselves, so many dead. The temptation to pull someone so noble back into the world is almost overwhelming but a horrible image of my past life rises to my mind and pushes it away. I speak to the Scavenger but also to myself, putting together a line of argument, "I have known men who would have ignored your warning. Who knew, were certain, that they could master any power. I will not become one of them." With a sigh and a heavy heart, I step back from the Scavenger, "I will hold on to this force, keep it from others and hold it in reserve for times more desperate than this," I look around the battlefield and shake my head, "even than this." Then I step back and reach out a hand toward Cassian, "Too many good men... let's go back, Cassian. Let's find a better way."
"She's not me. Not in any way that matters."
"Well, maybe not you then, but some of these men knew me: and Carroll as well."
I look up at Cassian, snot-nosed and tear-streaked, and a memory flits across my mind, "I'm not always so sweet." Then I look down at the Scavenger, "He knows some of it: they recognised me, Cassian, when we got here. They'd seen me before." "But there's more, I think. Time's river just flows and flows for most people but I... well..." I take a deep breath, "Sometimes, I can swim." "And, I don't know for sure what I've seen but either we've fought this whole battle before and we died, we all died, or we're taking a walk down death's dark alleys this time." I shrug, "I'm not sure if I'm feeling the future or the past: it's strange but maybe if this guy starts talking it will make a bit more sense." "So, old friend or old foe, why do you know me? What happened?"
Corerue, I am loving all the time-bending crazy. Ael is working out a lot of... tension, at the moment. The time thing has always been the one little secret that let her feel she had some control over the crazy/bad stuff in her life. Now that's all going to crazy as well! Plus, this is a great way to get some info. and wake up Cassian at the same time :D
I wake with a shudder and rise up, blinking back tears that just flow and flow and flow in complete silence. I whisper forlornly to nothing and no-one, "We failed and we're doing it again. We're doing it again." The tears begin to dry and an angry fire burns inside me: I know it won't last but while it's there I decide to make use of it. I stomp over to Scavenger and shake him awake by his lapels, My composure snap and the rage drains out of me. I bury my face in his chest and the tears flow again, "And you saved me. Do you remember this? Did it happen yet? Are we doing it wrong again?"
Astonished, I slip through the darkness and follow the group.
I move over to the man who withstood such pain: I doubt he still lives but even so, I would mark his passing and note if he has some other insignia.
Blinking away rain, I get to my feet and scan for anyone I can help.
At all times, I keep low and try to learn about the others without being seen.
I dream. I dream I am swinging through the sky on the ship that rescued me from the Cryxian pirates. As I look around I feel comforted to see Bera by my side, scanning the distance, and Carson speaking warmly with the captain. Then Bera's eyes begin to narrow and I see, in the distance, a looming black cloud that seems to rush toward us. Dark birds and cold winds close upon the ship and a cold fear grips my heart. I hold my breath and shudder but then Carson's warm hand rests on my shoulder and I hear his voice in my ear, whispering, "Don't worry, you've got plenty of time." I grin grimly at his joke and feel reassured by his confidence...
I approach the suit and peer inside, "Well then, maybe this will work." I remove most of my equipment so that I am just clad in a loose shirt and breeches. After a moment's hesitation, I even remove my boots. Then I step inside the machine, deliberately but carefully: not wanting to be caught off-guard by the strange equipment.
I look at the suit thoughtfully, raise an eyebrow and state as confidently as I can muster: "Code Everest."
How did you arrive?
"I awoke choking in a strange, liquid filled tube. Bera was in a similar tube and I got her out; their were others but the power was damaged and we ran out of time. We were attacked as well. I don't know how I got here, just that I awoke here, trapped. I have seen the spreading darkness and met a terrifying, powerful madman calling himself V. This whole place is a maze to me and I'm lucky that we met up; those beasts we fought were terrible and beyond fierce." I eat and listen to the others before continuing, "The levels where we began were infested with the Darkness, they seemed to contain sources of technology which I don't really understand but the power was not reliable and their function a mystery." I sigh, " suppose Bera's vision is the most important detail I have. I saw through the eyes of one of these men. Their allies opened a magical portal to this world. I don't know if they intended to arrive here. They walked into a fight between Aurora's people and a huge tentacled beast. The beast was called either Thoon or Cithruadh. There were more brutes but the gray riders destroyed them with their advanced weapons." "The brutes kept on coming, a relentless wave that even extensive barricading and organisation could not control or stem, only slow. No reinforcements ever came and the grey riders were chipped away. Finally, the darkness came. It was nearly destroyed with greandes of light, it became a seemingly weak humanoid but that form possessed the last man." "A message lingered in his mind for those who came after, for us: "My name is Carson 'The Wall' and a true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him... It's up to you now... Remember Code Everest your gonna need it." Hopefully it will make sense when the time is right."
I shrug, I've not held back. That's about it. These men were not the first, it seems, to fight and die here. Perhaps that's the greatest defence this place has: that it calls us to it?"
"These are Grey Riders: they fought beyond bravery. The shadow took them in the end." I make a respectful Shelynite gesture then speak to Carroll, "Be careful, the shadow may still possess them." As Cassian beginns to examine them, I speak to him, "They opened a rift on purpose, like explorers, but were trapped here."
I give the medic a long look, why is he so familiar? then reply, "One last room. Look after Bera, she... look after her." I turn to Carroll and shrug, "Lead on."
Shaking with fatigue and awash with sweat, I slump against Bera. Tears roll down my cheeks a I pant out "The heart, some figure like Aurora. Overwhelmed. Guarded by men who made a rift but couldn't return. This was the last to fall, stubbornly brave, Carson. The shadow: it possessed him for a time." I realise I am babbling and slide to the floor, allowing myself to catch my breath, "The heart remains secure within the turret. Or something close to it."
I accept...
I take Bera's hand, "I can see well enough what's in front of me. And I can see that you need to rest." Without a word to the captain, I lead Bera out of the room, watching how she follows to see how badly her senses are mangled.
I put my hands around Bera's and stare into her eyes, "Bera, are you okay? What did you see?" Then I put one hand up to the side of her face, "Warn me if you're going to do something like that. I can help you."
I frown at Aurora's words, what was I? A test subject? I allow the Capt. to lead us around but when the man (medic?) reaches for my face I brush his hand away irritably, unhappy that he feels entitled to intrude on my personal space and wondering if I look pale or feverish. After the Capt. is blown off his feet I stand between him and Bera, not aggressively but putting myself in the way if he wishes to interrupt again. She's like me: alone, strange, afraid. I trust her. I don't know why but I trust her. As Bera strains with the survivor a thought appears in my mind, like clouds parting on an idea that has sat in my head for some time: "So, if this this is a temple, which god is it dedicated to?"
I interrupt the academic debate, Is this how we were caged? Bera and I?
Always hating the nasty whispers of serve ants and masters, I stiffen at the strange comments of the men. I play them over in my mind, barely taking in much beyond the extraordinary turret. At Cassian's outburst, I finally put aside my concerns and lean across the table, eager to learn something useful we can do.
I will be patchy for the next few days: the power cable on my laptop broke and I had to order a replacement online.
Just read that we levelled so that is a +9
I like Powerman5k but always thought Static-X were better and very similar.
Zulu, a classic but slightly old-fashioned British war film.
Trying to make it clear that we are all together, I turn to Bera, "What do you think?"
We don't even understand how we got here. I am Aelessar. I shrug, That's it: just Aelessar. Now would you explain why, by all Her stars, did you attack us?
I step protectively in front of Bera, letting my blad skitter along the floor to mark a line he should not cross, "She is fine. Just woozy." Unwilling to let things go I push the conversation on, "You threatened us and we responded. If you had walked in here saying 'hail and well met' then no blood would have been shed." I bar my teeth, "I'll be no man's prisoner."
Glad to replace war-war with jaw-jaw, I ask the man, "Why did you attack us?"
I'm in. Should be fun.
I call out to the man, "Surrender." |