Mah Aunt Esmarelda's page

Note taped to fridge:

** spoiler omitted **

Whut in tahnation?

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

"My nephew, it's not too late. You can still turn back from this path. You can still renounce the Blackguards. You know this is wrong."

"Get. Out. I don't want to have to kill you."

Esmerelda sighs.

"My nephew, it's not too late. You can still turn back from this path. You can still renounce the Blackguards. You know this is wrong."

Kobold Cleaver leaps up in anger.

"Get out of here! How did you get in?"

"We remembered its location. It'll take more than a few wards to keep us out."

.... wrote:

As Kobold Cleaver works, two figures enter the room.

"Did you miss the sign? I don't wish to be disturbed." The lich snaps.

The figures remove their hoods, revealing themselves to be Esmerelda and Meepo.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Esmerelda nods.

"Yes. We are going to die soon. I don't know how to tell Frogskin, but...we're going to try to bring Kobold Cleaver back one more time before we go. We just thought you should know. And...yes. Goodbye. Thank you for all you have done, you've taken on a huge burden and dealt with it admirably. And look at you. You've come so far."
"Aye. When we first met you, you were such a little thing, barely holding on against a dreadful creature. Now, you're a goddess yourself." Meepo nods.
He sighs, and the two fly off into the distance.

Before they go,

"Goodbye, and thank you for everything. Here." she hands Esmeralda a small glowing marble. "It's something I made for KC. In case he changed his mind about serving evil. It's a living body. All he has to do is break it open and his spirit will be transferred into it. Obviously, the choice is, as always, his. But after everything he did to finally let me have a choice in my own life, I felt I owed him this."

"Thank you, child--no, you are no longer a child. You are a woman. Bless you."

"Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

"Ah yes." She sighs, then turns to Lynora.

"We have lived long in this world. I know many spells, and one of them is an age slower. But, as you can see, it doesn't last forever. We have aged anyways. And now, we are the equivalent in human years of about 96. We have lived long."

"You wish to say goodbye?"

Esmerelda nods.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Mah Uncle Meepo wrote:

lynora-Jill wrote:

Mah Uncle Meepo wrote:

Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.

"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."

"Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."

"Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!"

"Yes? She asks, appearing.n She smugly floats in the air.

"It's time to tell her what's happening."

"Ah yes." She sighs, then turns to Lynora.

lynora-Jill wrote:

Mah Uncle Meepo wrote:

Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.

"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."

"Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."

"Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!"

"Yes? She asks, appearing.n She smugly floats in the air.

Esmerelda sighs, and pulls her hood over her eyes. The lonely figure walks off into the distance, and soon disappears.

Esmerelda swears.
"Oh dear. Sytt, get OUT!"

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Sytt, Lesser Yugoloth wrote:

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Allura wrote:

Aidan and Allura step into the omniportal and head for the Sanctum.

Esmerelda smiles, deep in thought.

"That may be the perfect place to go. Sytt! I'm not calling you again!"

Sytt appears, grumbling.

"Sorry ma'am, I was busy. What is it?"

"Go into this man's mindscape."

"Aw c'mon. That's tricky business, you know that. Anyways, this guy's dead."

"Sytt. Go. In. Now."

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Allura wrote:

Aidan and Allura step into the omniportal and head for the Sanctum.

Esmerelda smiles, deep in thought.

"That may be the perfect place to go. Sytt! I'm not calling you again!"

Sytt appears, grumbling.

"Sorry ma'am, I was busy. What is it?"

"Go into this man's mindscape."

Aidan and Allura step into the omniportal and head for the Sanctum.

Esmerelda smiles, deep in thought.

lynora wrote:

This one's on you. Esmarelda is waiting for answers to her divinations. :)

I had not realized that.

As Esmarelda uses the letter to scry for Oroth, she see darkness parting as light streams through to show a tower. This tower is at the top of a building seemingly occupied by a large sun. The magic zeros in on the room and she sees a strange golden mist, within which Oroth seems to reside.

Esmerelda nods.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

"Hmm..." Esmerelda mutters. "Perhaps he is being...one moment."

Growing worried, Aidan thinks to himself "Being what?"

Sorry, I should have clarified that: The spell is to determine exactly what condition his soul is in.

Ah, sorry about that.
"Hmm..." Esmerelda mutters. "Perhaps he is being...one moment."
She casts a spell to determine his condition.
Sorry, I gotta go now. G'night!

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Esmerelda shakes her head.

"I asked for Aidan's."

Slowly, Aidan pulls his letter from his pocket. "Promise you won't do anything that will damage it."

"I will not if I can help it. If he put something important in a note, it will most likely be in this one. Even if he didn't, I may be able to use it as a medium for scrying."

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

"Wha-what? Truly?" Allura is genuinely startled.

"He is indeed. I think. Did he leave a note?"

Esmerelda shakes her head.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Aidan Shade wrote:

"Would you try to stop me Allura?"

"I know what you're thinking, boy. Stop. Down that way lies evil, and that is the path Oroth escaped. What would he say if his brother went down the same path?"

Suddenly, she jerks upright.
"By the Boardmother! He is not yet dead!"

Aidan's attitude changes instantly. Hope seems to flow from him in waves.

"What do you mean? Don't mess with me right now."

"Don't get your hopes up, boy. He may still die. I need the note, Aidan."

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Aidan Shade wrote:

"Would you try to stop me Allura?"

"I know what you're thinking, boy. Stop. Down that way lies evil, and that is the path Oroth escaped. What would he say if his brother went down the same path?"

Suddenly, she jerks upright.
"By the Boardmother! He is not yet dead!"

"Wha-what? Truly?" Allura is genuinely startled.

"He is indeed. I think. Did he leave a note?"

"Would you try to stop me Allura?"

"I know what you're thinking, boy. Stop. Down that way lies evil, and that is the path Oroth escaped. What would he say if his brother went down the same path?"

Esmerelda arrives, and sees Oroth's body. She immediately makes the sign of the Boardmother.
"He had a difficult life, but he died on the right side. Not many have that comfort."

Serafina wrote:

Serafina sighs, and looks at the disappearing party

I want to help ...

She heads back to the omniportal and flashes out

"We will see..." The Bard heads for the Carnival.

Esmerelda sighs, appearing.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Nimora Orlbereth wrote:

Nimora gasps as she is returned from the dead. At first she is uncertain where she is. The last thing she remembered was fighting the Steel Tsar.

"Mirathan!" She sits up, looking around frantically for the other elf.

"He's dead. I tried to bring him back, but his family intervened." Esmerelda looks very cross.

"Dead! No! Oh no," she moans, tears beginning to seep from her eyes. "I tried so hard to keep him safe."

"It isn't your fault, child. We've all lost loved ones today."

Nimora gasps as she is returned from the dead. At first she is uncertain where she is. The last thing she remembered was fighting the Steel Tsar.

"Mirathan!" She sits up, looking around frantically for the other elf.

"He's dead. I tried to bring him back, but his family intervened." Esmerelda looks very cross.

I am legally required to warn you that if you continue to disrespect dwarven proceedings in this manner, that I will be obliged to inform the defence and prosecution of your presence, the next time the guard shifts rotate, and they will be able to cite it in court as evidence to build their cases.

And I know for a fact that the old devil who's prosecuting would be delighted to hear of it.

Esmerelda shrugs.

Kobold Cleaver wrote:

I was mainly asking whether you guys would mind.

*confused* I thought that was how I took it. And how I answered.

Esmerelda opens her eyes.

Berholm II, Lord of the Dwarves wrote:

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Esmerelda approaches the halls.

"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.

A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.

Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.

She drops her accent.

"This is an unfair court. It is held by those that 'Lynora' supposedly hurt the most. If you had any honor, you would let a third party hold the trial.
"Now, I'm not budging."

"Anyways, I'm just a greater sending, I physically can't be budged and unless one of you has a caster level higher than what you can count on your fingers an' toes, you ain't gettin' rid o' me."

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Esmerelda approaches the halls.

"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.

A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.

Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.

She drops her accent.

Esmerelda sighs.
"Ya had trubble fahndin' sometin dat rahmed, didn't ya?"

In the halls of the dwarven citadel of Uthaz Ydgraf, the trial (in her absence) of Lynora-Jill commences...

Occasional updates will be posted to give an idea to those with well informed/connected characters of what is going on.

Esmerelda approaches the halls.

A procession of bears wander into the Oasis, carrying the bodies of Nimora and Mirathan. They place them next to the pool, and bow their shaggy heads.

Esmerelda sighs, appearing next to them.

Esmerelda runs over and, with her last strength, heals Lynora completely.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

The Hangman's Tree wrote:

The blast partially pushes thru the wards on HT, and his braches and vines sizzle as if they were aflame.

As he screams in pain, spores shoot from his mouth to MUM and Esmeralda.

Esmerelda, with some difficulty, blocks the attack. A bit hits her, but she manages to protect Meepo. She sends forth another blast of positive energy, mixed with some force to damage the barrier.

The vines surrounding them burst into full flame, searing them with its evil. HT laughs as he is consumed by the flames himself.

Esmerelda sighs from exhaustion.

The blast partially pushes thru the wards on HT, and his braches and vines sizzle as if they were aflame.

As he screams in pain, spores shoot from his mouth to MUM and Esmeralda.

Esmerelda, with some difficulty, blocks the attack. A bit hits her, but she manages to protect Meepo. She sends forth another blast of positive energy, mixed with some force to damage the barrier.

A whisper floats past Esmerelda.

"You couldn't keep me in that Realm forever, Essie. And I've only grown in power since then..."

"I ain't been around this long to let some fear demon get the better of me. I'm warning you. Leave this war, before I show you what fear really is."

Yes, time to try out my demon again!

Unnoticed by all, a cloak figure floats eeriely over the vines. Slowly fear slides from him, working into the minds of animals and allies of the Green. Fear of Fire courses through their bodies as images of charred bodies fill their minds. A laugh no one can hear echoes throughout the hills for miles as the cloaked figure fades from the area.

Esmerelda stiffens.

The Board Warden wrote:

The Warden looks confused.

I am the Warden. They are my family.

Devlyn looks back at the kobolds, then back to the Warden.

"Not seeing the resemblance. But I've seen stranger things today already. Let's leave him be for now, Mirathan - I don't think he means any harm here."

He goes over to a rock, shaking his head, and sits down.

And time to commute home...back in an hour or so :)

Esmerelda stares in surprise.

Mah Aunt Esmarelda wrote:

Auruns the Goblin wrote:

Esmarelda, the goblin corrects himself. He waves to Jack Hammer in passing, but continues his search for the kobolds...

"Oh, hey! Are you one of the Runelord of Doom's servants? How's it goin'?"

The goblin reins his mount to a halt.

Badly in the small things, apart from the tomatoes. The tomatoes very good.
The very big things uncertain.
Gypsies. Have you or Uncle Meepo seen or heard any gypsies? Are they part of any of your battle plans?
Gypsies are important, the Runelord say to Auruns the other day. Auruns is supposed to watch for them and to try to track their movements - or those of their leader.

[i]Esmerelda shrugs sadly.[i/]

Esmarelda, the goblin corrects himself. He waves to Jack Hammer in passing, but continues his search for the kobolds...

"Oh, hey! Are you one of the Runelord of Doom's servants? How's it goin'?"

Esmerelda sighs.
"Don't mind him, KC's making him do a lot of work and it's making him testy.
"Now that we're back, it's time to start fixing some things. Right now, our enemies are all planning on how badly they're gonna kill us. We can't let them do that while we sit here twiddlin' our thumbs. We need to call a meeting, as soon as possible, and make some plans of our own. The Lemmings are enduring, though just barely, but the Kittens are gone at the moment. We been findin' some old pals of ours while we were gone, and we've managed to get some additional help, but it ain't enough. Frogskin is hoping to get the Place of the Winds to send their army, but their leader is missing. The Pigeons have betrayed us, siding with the enemy. The enemy has vast armies, on each side: Candle Lighter has Defectives and, from the same world we were on, hobgoblins. The Palace of Skulls' inhabitants 'live', and their armies are enormous. The Mask has great armies as well. And a remnant of a god has joined the fray as well, who knows whose side he's on?
"Anyways, I'll get to the point: We're in trouble, and we need a plan. To take out the opposing armies, and to take out the leaders."

"You lot be careful. You're in terrible danger. I won't always be around to resurrect you lot, you know. Be wary. It's--"

The aged kobold walks in, using a walking stick.
"Hmm. This does not bode well. I will have to intervene soon."
She teleports out.

Esmeralda flies after him, sending her best spells at him.

The Wraith Lord gives a vicious snarl at the old kobold priestess and wheels his mount away, flailing at any eagles or kitten riders that come within reach, but does not flee the battle, instead withdrawing from the vicinity of Aunt Esmerelda.

In this place of carnage, it would take a hero of your nephew's character to drive me away, hag.

If Aunt Esmerelda wants to, she can keep on chasing the Wraith lord all over the sky, which will keep him away from the battle, but will probably keep her away, too.

Esmeralda chases after him.

Esmeralda looks up and shakes her head wearily. She casts a spell, and rises to meet the Wraith. When she reaches his height, she pulls out her symbol of the Board.
I order thee to depart and never return to this thread, with the authority of the Guardian of the Board!
Mists swirl and the creature feels a mighty compulsion to depart.

Esmeralda sees the creature and appears next to him.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?"
A ward appears around her. It is very powerful, and is made from Board energies.

Sorry, but I posted my explanation of why I'm handling things remotely with the Runelord over in the RPG thread, before I remembered that this one was here.

To summarise, a guy who if he can be bothered can know where you're vulnerable, when to strike, and what weapon to put you down with isn't a very fair fight.

At the moment *MOST* of his attention is taken up with the seven 'senior' Runelords - he has only been playing around with events on the RPG and associated threads (the goblin minions seem to me to be a way of indicating playing around with the edges of events in a fight). He could probably take one of the senior Runelords down, but then the others might dogpile them, and frankly if you're dealing with wizards famed for personifying Pride, Lust, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, and Gluttony, it's best to watch all of them, pretty much all of the time.
Please don't invite him to pay too personal an attention to a character!

At the moment I'm working on the assumption that the Wraith Lord will simply *poof* the moment Kobold Cleaver is restored in any way, shape or form, but if the battle to get him 'back' takes too long then he might become too 'real' to simply be vanquished by restoring the normal balance of the boards.

Yeah, Esmeralda is planning on destroying him./ Nobody has ever really seen her utilizing any spells other than healing and stuff, but rest assured, she is powerful enough to be a nasty threat to the Wraith Lord.

Esmeralda appears, looking cross.
Great. I have to save your hides just as I was about to kill the Wraith lord!
She proceeds to start banishing them, easily.