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No worries GM_Verdigris! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to play such an unique role, I truly enjoyed it! It just wouldn't be the same without you as the GM.
Mathilda's voice rings out crystal-clearly at the party makes their way back toward the surface bearing the standard. "Oh look everyone! Doesn't Rusty look so shiny and knightly carrying the banner? Begone from this city all of you horrid little dirty evil things! Never return!" As they make their way toward the ramparts, she bubbles on excitedly, "I can't wait to see what our accommodations in the city will look like! I hope there are lots of flowers, and we'll need to get a new ribbon for me -- especially if the Queen ends up seeking audience with us!"
The room is filled with the light sound of celebration bells ringing as Mathilda chortles with glee. "Oh Good! It's settled then! Our Brave Knight Sir Rusty will carry forth The Sword of Valor before us!"
When it seems a good enough time to introduce themselves to the Sword, Eli folds it carefully, and tucks it away, readying for their return above. Cole:
You feel a bit perplexed, if not completely discombobulated. "Cole -- why is he putting it away -- " "Wait!! Yaniee--Eli! Why hide it? Are we not worthy?! Should we not carry it out of here as ... a Banner? Why not? Couldn't we?" ... [ ... ] "this Banner will protect us. In addition, it will call upon the strongest of the host of heaven to protect the home upon which is stands. Tis a holy artifact that has not yet been turned to the dark. We are blessed." "It won't get hurt, will it?"
He then holds It up for the others to see, and brings It to them for their studies. Mathilda can't help but warble in anticipation. Impressed by the banner display, she lets out a reverent whistle. "OH! He's fetching! Are we going to meet Him in person, or just His picture?!"
Cole:
You think you feel a twinge of regret or melancholy.
GMVerdigris:
Oh, maybe I really did make him immune to light and light like spells...? But how? "Nevermind it, Cole. This imp is about to be Cooked..."
GMVerdigris: As Cole draws each arrow, Mathilda focuses the strobe into an intense steady beam of laser like light, aligned with the arrow.
A sound like a heavy wooden crate being dragged across a rough oaken floor emanates from the Bow briefly as Mathilda snorts.
GMVerdigris: Tilly keeps up the strobe, trying to extend it externally toward Mr. Shadow. You know. Just in case.
"Alright, I'd appreciate a little information here. [...]" Wind howls through the trees, as it does just before a wicked storm breaks. Mathilda calls out to Eri. "Oh Yani! It's abysmal! There is this 'Mr. Shadow', and he's lying to us. He thinks he's immune to super bright light, so if you have any, that might be useful! ... If you have any Ghost Touch Arrows too, that would also be very helpful! I bet he would not be able to reform if we hit him with something like that again!"GmVerdigris: So... NOW! Go away! Or else!
She maintains the strobe affect. For effect, if nothing else.
Cole:
The Bow in your hand has never felt more like a natural extension of yourself as It does now. GMVerdigris: Mathilda continues rapidly strobing the light brain imprints at Mr. Shadow.
[ ... ... ] I owe You, My Dear, I do!" Is that so, Mr. Shadow!? I put this to you! You owe me, so listen carefully. You go back to your own shadowy realm of existence for me! For, you do not belong here! You were brought here as a slave anyway! Just what do you get out of it?! You're not a patsy! You go back to where you came from, and never ever come back to this Plane! You owe me, so go! She now starts honing and syncing the strobe's frequency with that of the bow string's reverberations as Cole shoots.
Cole:
The Bow, now quite warm, stops shuddering and feels very very well grounded. GMVerdigris: Maybe this will make you dance away! Still remembering the bright light vividly, Mathilda rapidly alternates the memory of the white/violet light with that of a memory of a brilliant white/yellow light, thereby attempting to induce the non-corporeal equivalent of a seizure in Mr. Shadow. ... Or at least induce the non-corporeal equivalent of nausea. At best, maybe it won't cause a backfire.
Cole:
The bow shudders again, then suddenly becomes intensely warm. You think you think. GMVerdigris: Neither, Mr. Shadow. It is YOU who has to go.
Mathilda, her ribbons eyes squinched up in concentration, tries with all of her might to banish the spirit within her mind. She makes her mind as brilliant and blinding as possible. E=mc^2. The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side. She remembers the most brightest thing she has ever seen. A bleak landscape at dawn, a blue sun rising over the horizon immediately washing out and blanketing the World in its white-violet intensity. The vivid brightness obliterates all manner of texture and form until only It remains in searing Radiance. She imagines this light rapidly expanding beyond her to fill the entire space the Party is within.
Cole:
Mathilda tugs furiously toward the Shadow Demon. GMVerdigris:
... her ribbon eyes no doubt burning furiously with rage... "Oh Cole! Watch out! The Shadowy Thing has a hole riiigggghhhtt -- THERE! Don't shoot the hole!
"Kindling, quick! Tell us what would make you stop talking and we'll try that! It's a good idea!" Sense Motive DC 17 - Serra "I didn't quite catch that, Rusty. Did you say something?" "Keep him talking Mathilda, maybe you'll distract him - or can learn where he is." GMVerdigris:
"Ummmm. O.K.! I'll try."
Mathilda's tries to will her ribbon eyes to scowl at Cole and his suggestion. GMVerdigris: "Oh Mister Shadow, are you still here? Even if I were to take you up on your offer -- and I'm not saying that I am -- how do I know you are even worth your word? Tsk. All I have seen you do are the silly parlor tricks. Why don't you try taking out Knight Wannabe who doesn't know how to properly address a Lady?! Go on -- show me what you can really do! "
Cole:
The bow suddently shudders in your light grip. GMVerdigris:
What?! Hurt? Trap? Forced? Hmm. At least he's not rude enough to barge right in without so much as by your leave.
With those kinds of manners I'm certain that you have absolutely nothing of interest to offer Me. Now get your foot out of the door before I slam it into your cowardly facelessness. Her inner voice becomes quieter as she tries to withdraw from the dark uninvited presense. ... doesn't even have the common decency to show his face. How does he expect to get anyone sensible to agree to any deal? Children these days...
"Cole! I think he's talking to me! Let's make him stop!"
Pleased that Serra has plowed on bravely ahead into the room of Darkness, Mathilda chirps cheerily despite his inFLAMEmatory threat. "Not that she or he needs it, Rusty -- but I will help keep your Squire safe as well." The Shadow's grin broadens, nearly engulfing its entire face, before it sinks into the stone of the altar below it, disappearing from view. Her tone takes on an air of cricket chirping boredom, brought on by the Shadow's abrupt disappearing act. "Oh, how typical. Our evil fairy is up for more tricks, be cautious. He probably hides now, in the normal shadow, waiting to sneak up on us just after we set off his next booby trap." Cole:
You think Mathilda is eyeing the banner suspiciously. "Does anyone else think we should wait for the others to catch up before touching anything in here -- other than cowardly Darkness if It ever shows Itself again?"
Round 2 ”Can anyone deal with this damnable invisibility?” "ARGHHH!! It's eating my sword. It's eating my furs!!!" "Hey, anybody care that a demon just tried to steal my soul?" Cole stands his ground and peppers the entrance with arrows. Over and over again, they hit the wall and clatter uselessly to the floor. Mathilda slowly and quietly trills. "Sorry Cole, there's much going on, I was distracted. It's one dirty trick after another with this -- ," she trails off mournfully, apparently at a loss of words." Of all the cowardly things -- trying to steal someone's soul! I'm not afraid, Cole. It's up there in the Darkness, where Jurin flew. Aim there! Try again, I will not blink this time." She calls into the darkness. "Just remember you despicable sorry excuse for an Imp! If you do anything else bad, you will have to answer to me and Rusty's Squire! This is your last chance! No more tricks! Show your weak pathetic self and redeem yourself!"
Aasimarra explains what he sees (nothing). And describes what is there (nothing). And decides to wait for others to stop playing the slime before moving on. Cole:
Your scalp beings to itch a little as you realize that Mathilda is currently very puzzled. The fluttering sound as of a bird in flight can be heard as Mathilda politely clears her throat. "But, what do you mean that there is 'nothing' to see? That there is 'nothing' there? Did you not just switch on a light? Surely it can not be The Void! Did you at least see a room with things in it or something like that?" Cole:
Now you're becoming a skosh dizzy as Mathilda starts thinking in circles. "I give up. What do you think the Pushiness is? Is it an invisible Being from The Void? Maybe it's a SpellTrap that can be disarmed? I know Cole!!! Let's just shoot into the open doorway! I mean -- once Jurin is not in the way!" Her voice trills in anticipation.
Suddenly, an invisible *push* hits the big man in front, sending him tumbling 15 feet back and into the pit where he disapears through the illusory wall that is the floor [...] "HEY!" protests Mathilda "That was a cheap shot!" In a resolute tone she states, "I'm gonna go get the Army. You guys wait here." Cole:
You think you feel the bow tug lightly to the left. She continues on, slightly dejected. "Oh, I forgot. This won't do." Her voice then brightens. "But many, many can play at this game." "Ok, everyone. Wait for whatever it is to come through, then step aside and push it into its own trap. Don't let it get on the rope! she whispers. She calls mockingly into the darkness "HEY! You in the dark! What's the matter with you?! Are you so weak you have to resort to nasty traps and silly tricks?"
Cole:
You think you feel -- ever so slightly -- the Bow's string pull across your torso as Mathilda tries to "get back". A slight warble ripples gently through the room as Matilda sighs in reSTRINGnation. "I'm holding my breath, just so you know...," she says, barely audibly.
A zephyr rustles the leaves of a stunned Mathilda's voicebox as Eli makes his way to the larger alcove.
"Cole -- alcove!" Mathilda tries to focus.* *GMVerdigris: She wrinkles up her crinkled soon-to-be frayed ribbon brow as she tries to concentrate.
A noise like the creaking of a Grove of Birches in the quiet cool of fall just before their winter slumber creeps through the room. "Oh. That gas was simply abysmal," laments Mathilda. "Look -- it's nearly ruined my ribbon completely -- it's all crinkly now! Do you think we're going to run into something like that again? If so, I'm going to need more ribbons!" Her voice suddenly becomes sanguine. "Oh -- and look at that!! We've found a headband! Why -- if I wasn't worried about cursed forges making cursed items Cole, I'd suggest you trade in that thing on your head for that. Or something like that. Maybe you should do that anyway. How do you ever expect to meet anyone nice wearing that old thing on your head?"
"Jestaka!!! We need him! You need him! Don't hurt Jurin!" She gasps in horror as Jestaka nearly bites a chunk out of Joran. "No! Don't! That's one of the other reasons we need Jurin! But we all need Joran too!" Cole:
She whispers to you, "What manner of woman IS that?! Does she want to go hungry? Maybe she IS hungry... Should we fix something again?" "Nice hit there Jurin." Mathilda quietly makes a single bell tone ring in concurrence. Ding! GMVerdigris: Mathilda squishes up her ribbon "eyes" again as though she were trying to squint to see better. From just off of Cole's shoulder, she quietly watches
Mathilda chortles. "There it is! That should teach you to mess with us!"
"Before you are two doors. You must choose. One leads to Redemption. The other -- to Death." "don't you...forget about me." Her tone shifts back to Mathilda Mirth. "Ooh! I know that one!" She continues the tune, an octave or two higher than Jurin. "Will you recognize me?"
The sound of glass shattering echos through the miasmatic cloud as Mathilda gasps sharply in horror. "Eeek!! -- What is that behind Joran?! It's her! Chorussina! Get her! Save Joran! I bet the gas will dissipate once you do!" A few seconds goes by as Cole carries his Intrepid and Illustrious Bow while he stumbles looking for a door, then Mathilda lets fly another, but less ear splitting gasp. "Oh! This cloud is curdling my ribbon! Hurry and get Chorussina!"
"Oh! There you are Joran! I didn't see you, were you invisible too? Stay closer!" "Damn, so she could be anywhere. Well, let’s search, and be quick about it. We’ve all got spells expiring.” Mathilda trills again.
GMVerdigris:
Mathilda scrunches up her ribbon eyes in scowl. Mathilda trills in frustration. "Oooh, where'd she go!? Stop doing nothing in the back and get over here now and help us find her! At least tell us what's going on!"
”Mathilda, enough. We can try for the crystal later. I think this bubble’s about to pop.” Mathilda ceases her search for the crystal or wall shattering note. "Oh? Oh! Look at Jurin go!" She then falls silent to focus on Cole's target.
Mathilda tries to find the resonant frequency of either the invisible wall or the crystal. "If anything starts to vibrate Cole, hit it."
She goes on, trying different notes.
Mathilda gasps as Eli casts Enlarge Person on himself. She tries to whisper to Cole, but unable to effectively mask her voice in her surprise. "Oh no, Cole!
After a brief pause, she adds:
She trails off,
"Oh LOOK! There's a crystal hanging from above! Do you think it can be shattered?!"
Mathilda tries to create a null sound node to counter Chorussina's offkey warbling with a sharp inhale of outrage. The result is beyond less than aesthetic, and she cries out instead. "Everyone! Stop them! They're trying to beat on our Cook!"
"Oh, look! Just what we were looking for! Feathers!" she exclaims, her voice quivering with excitement. "OH! No, nevermind. Just dust bunnies." GM:
Mathilda tries to focus the bow loops to 'peer' at Aasimarra. "Cole, if no feathers -- what about that -- whatever that is that Rusty did to himself? What is that? Maybe I can do that?"
Mathilda gasps. "Oh! Cole! Can I get feathers too?!"
Joran has the good grace to look uncomfortable at Cole's words. He hems and haws before changing the subject." Down through a secret door in the southern room is the corruption forge. I s'pect it'll still be there waiting for us when we're done with the rest."
GMVerdigris:
Neato! Until then, she'll keep trying to do things on and off (like "blink" at Cole right now). "I'm always ready, Cole. Let's go!"
The plate armor nearly blinds him as he studies it, glowing with the light of a bright forge. It is armor of the pious. "Oh look everyone! Shiny armor! Rusty could update his wardrobe! Isn't that a grand idea?! And Jurin would look smashing in that Elven Mail!" Woman Talk:
She gathers the ribbons of red, yellow, and green, and offers them to Mathilda. While Laina is gathering the ribbons, Mathilda carries on, her voice sparkling like a gently flowing brook. "Oh, did he say "possessed"? I don't know that I would quite describe it that way. It's not possession, it's more of a --" She abruptly stops when presented with the ribbons, chortling with joy. "Oohh! Oh -- are you sure Klarah won't mind? Oh they're gorgeous. What do you think? The red one? That'll make me look like I really mean business... but -- red. It might be too distracting for Cole..." "Ooh Ooh! The yellow! Such a bright and cheery color! OH. I wouldn't want to clash with Rusty though, especially if he updates his wardrobe..." "That leaves the green! 'Leaves' ha ha!" Mathilda's softly rustling laughter fills the room. "Get it? Perfectly appropriate for a Darkwood Bow. Yes please? If you're sure Klarah won't mind, can you please bowtie the green ribbon on me?"
GMVerdigris:
If the ribbon is tied on her, she will try and see if she can manipulate the loops of the ribbon bow expressively as if she had eyes. Empty ribbon outlined eyes that just narrow in speculation/scowling etc, or widen in alarm/surprise etc.
She's not expecting to be able to manage that, but thinks it might be fun to try.
~~~~~ Mathilda, now freshly festooned with a beautiful green ribbon, reads Staunton's Journal over Cole's shoulder. "Oh, dear... How terrible! Maybe those shiny armors are no good after all?" "This corruption forge. Can it's effects be reversed? Can you restore the goodness and light of these objects back to their former glory?" "Oh, that would be lovely wouldn't it?! The warhammer, the mail and plate armors and everything -- can you do it Joran?" she asks sweetly.
"Mathilda, this is Laina Esheram, my niece and my blood." Mathilda sizes up Laina. Laina sketches a barely remembered curtsey, an old fashioned curtesy that she'd been taught once. Her voice is crystal clear. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my Dear. Oh! Nice curtsy! No one ever does that anymore, do they? Is your uncle always like this? He seems very preoccupied. What's this you are doing? Do you also take up the bow? Being the decendent of a Lundquist you know, you can do anything you desire. We're especially good at the bow, though.""Can I get you anything?" There is a brief pause before the voice returns, barely above a whisper and dripping with hopeful curiosity. "Do you have any ribbons?"
Once the party et. al. are clear of the Army, Mathilda quietly speaks again, her voice ringing softly like a tiny silver bell.
Jurin stares at his sword and shakes it."Hey, anybody in there? Hello? Heeeellloooo." Cole: As the party moves away from the stairs into F20, you feel a pang of unease. "[ ... ]"
As the party moves into F21, the feeling of unease intensifies.
"OK, enough about Mathilda." A chortling sound echos through the room. Cole:
You feel immense relief. Apparently Mathilda is estatic not be placed into "The Place With No Doors". "Mathilda quiet down - we can talk philosophy later. Oh, and I don't want you talking in front of the troops or you get put away. Your speech needs to stay between us." "O.K.!" she chirps, cheerfully.
"Mathilda, before you realized you were a bow, were you something else, somewhere else? Are you content with your bearer? Do you two need to speak out loud with each other, or can you read each other's mind?" There is a long pause, before Mathilda responds, her tone full of fond sentiment as though lost in a daydream. "I didn't realize things were so... Dark. I remember a grove -- my home. my family. Katherine, my sister -- Cole's Grandmother. Morten, my dear husband... He may not know it, but Cole comes from a long line of Rangers, many of whom -- including me -- took up the bow as their primary weapons..."She continues after a briefer pause, "Being in the state I'm currently in, it's taken some time to adjust and for me to remember that much. It's very -- smooth -- in here at least. I can see, but I'm not sure how. I can't say where I was before becoming a bow. That's probably good, right? If I was in a bad place, I'd probably remember that, right?" "I love working with Cole. I don't think we can read each other's mind, but I do know how he's feeling, and I think he knows what I'm feeling too." Cole:
An uncomfortable feeling washes over you. As near as you can relate, it feels like it might be the pain of isolation. After another brief pause, Mathilda apparently comes to a decision. Her voice, now directed at Cole, warbles with a hint of dejection.
My mind will rest easier now. Your Bow is named Mathilda? How unusual can you get? That is all sorts of amusing!!" "Eli, your powers of induction are impressive," says Mathilda, not bothering to conceal the boredom in her tone. "'Mathilda'? Unusual? Amusing? It means 'Strength in Battle', I'd like you to know and remember. And always in plain sight, I might add, unlike some..." She trails off. You get the sense she might be admiring the polished armor again. "Actually Serra, I must admit it was Kastor who had something to do with it," Serra *smacks* his hand against his forehead, resulting in a loud clang as his hand smacks helmet. "Oh! Does he do that a lot? Is that why Rusty seems -- a little loose upstairs sometimes? Frankly, I think he's more likely to blow our cover than anyone else with all that racket. Can we lose him and keep Kasper?" warbles Mathilda quietly.
"I make weapons, fine ones, though none quite so fine as you, M'Lady." A sound like pair of doves taking flight gently echos through the room then gradually fades. Cole:
What fresh hell is this? Is Mathilda feeling ... flattered?!!! "Ah, see Cole? Joran was busy minding his own business making stunning weapons when -- bad stuff happened and before he knew it, he was dragged under. By his own kin no less... Poor thing. I'm sure that's all it was." Directing her voice at the Dwarf, she very gently but firmly adds, "I don't call the shots here, I just direct them from time to time -- it's up to Cole and his friends if we bring you with. Cole is the best Guide ever, but he doesn't know this place -- you do." Her tone shifts to a pleading one as she re-addresses Cole, "Oh, please. Consider taking him with. It'll be easier to have a Guide than to try and remember it all as he describes it. Maybe he can even fight with us for his Penance."
"Well, when you figure it out, take care not to share it with Serra. He won't understand. [ ...]" Like fine snow crystals a gentle voice softly decends upon the room. "But Eli! Your armor!" breathes Mathilda, barely above a whisper. "It's just been polished!" ~~
"I... no." The dwarf hangs his weary head. "All I wanted was to create things. My work... [ ... ] Please don't leave me here helpless. They'll come and kill me, or worse! I can be helpful. I can tell you about the dungeon." Cole:
You feel something tugging on one or both of your amygdala. The quality of Mathilda's voice changes from softly falling snow flakes suddenly to that of a sledgehammer made of solid ice. It is directed at Joran. "Yes, tell us about the dungeon, if these fine warriors are willing to tolerate your pathetic excuse for a voice. Also tell us about your 'work...'? Work?! What work exactly was that?!"
"Kastor, lad, see if you can polish this armor whilst I help put it on Ely here." "Look, Cole! It's self cleaning armor! Either that or ..." There's a silence as -- presumably -- Mathilda is thinking. "... but you can hear ghosts, usually, can't you? What is it if you can't see or hear it? Is that coming out of Rusty somehow?"
Cole: You are suddently slammed by a sense of slight indignation. The abrupt and invasive nature of this emotion leaves you feeling relieved that the sense of it was only slight.
"Too much work." "Doing what? Conspiring with your Evil brother to do even more Evil things at a higher level of Evil?" There is a chilly quality to Mathilda's voice as she tries to address Joran. "What would your mother say?" Her tone changes to one of praise as she addresses the party. "Oh, Neff. I like your team! Did you see what Jurin did? He made copies of himself and decimated them! There was a lot of shine! We must remember to invite him to our Spring Festival." "And Ya -" She abruptly cuts herself off to correct herself."Eli -- that hammer of yours is really impressive. May I see it sometime?" "And of course, there's us. But, I'm not sure what happened to poor Rusty. He kind of guarded the floor there nicely..."
After a brief pause, a sound as refreshing as a cool breeze on a hot day undulates through the room as Mathilda coos, "Oh, look at these walls -- all of these maps -- do they mean anything to any of you?"
"If you want to live, and not meet your evil gods here and now - today - you'll answer my questions." Cole:
Separate from your Self, you feel a solid, calm and centered focus as you address the dwarf.
Serra does something that everyone can see...lying in a pool of his own blood, a vicious gash at his temple. ""Ely! Help Serra! He's down!" "Who?" Once again the sound of ice cracking pierces the cacophony and chaos of battle as Matilda gasps."They hurt Rusty?!!" "Shut UP, you brat! ..." Mathilda's voice dons an air of contempt. "Tsk, tsk. Is all the name calling necessary? Fine then! From now on we'll call you 'Dead'! Let's get him, everyone!"
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