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Post by Idris on Sept 7, 2018 17:21:26 GMT
Session 30 - 25/8/18 IdGM: By the time they had dried and clothed themselves, passed the flask around and made sure all their belongings were dry, the sun was beginning to rise above the steep slopes behind them. The stream fell noisily into the rocky pool beside them. Maddie: Maddie stifled a yawn with her hand. "I hope someone here knows how to do this, I've squatted in places so rickety they might as well have been rafts but we didn't have to build 'em first." Hannah: "Yeah, I've been on a few kayaking trips but those were all rentals. And plastic." Hannah looked to Emily, expecting her to have the most skills here. Stephen: Stephen said nothing, but gazed in the general direction of the sunrise, as if wondering if this sun would be anything like that of their home world. IdGM: Although they couldn't look at it directly, the sun did seem to be a slightly more rich yellow colour. Maddie: "Before my parents split we went canoeing in Keji a few times but that was fucking years ago," Maddie said. She glanced at Steve. "I wonder where the fuck this planet is anyway, are we even in the same solar system or whatever?" Stephen: "It does look mostly like our sun - I admit I was hoping for some kind of flying chariot. It might well be, if one could look closer..." said Stephen, intrigued. "Wish I knew, but I'm a historian, not an astronomer," he replied to Maddie. "Still, it would surprise me if we were in a place that was still physically and not...magically, if that's even the right word, connected to our home." Emily: Emily looked at Maddie and Stephen, "Or different dimension entirely." She considered it for a moment before answering the general question on mind and smiled confidently, "We might be able to build a raft, especially with these axes to trim the trees and we can uses vines to ties them together. I did a few back during the summer holidays although not recently." IdGM: As well as fruit, they discovered the centaurs had given them a whetstone to sharpen the axes. Maddie: "Steve, can I borrow your knife? Me and Hannah can go work on getting some vines ready, you two do the trees?" Stephen: Stephen handed the knife over to Maddie and took one of the axes to cut some wood together with Emily Maddie: "This is where having done some guerilla gardening would have come in handy, but I was always more interested in eating or smoking plants than growing them," Maddie commented to Hannah. Hannah: "I've mainly got experience with houseplants," replied Hannah. "But this is kinda fun, honestly. It's like an episode of Man vs. Wild." Emily: Emily nodded in response and starts sharpen the hand axes beforehand. She quickly shows Stephen the best way to use the handaxe on the trees and starts cutting suitable trees down. Emily looks almost serene as she found comfort in doing such a mundane task, "So pleased to have these axes with us." She grinned, telling Stephen as she shows him, "Did you do any Scouting when you was a kid?" Emily asked curiously. Maddie: "Yah, if those episodes got interrupted by fucking centaurs speaking ancient Greek abducting the cast." Stephen: "Truth to be told, I was more of an indoor kid."said Stephen, pausing briefly to wipe some sweat off his brow. Maddie: Maddie went to work on the vines, searching for suitable speciments, cutting them off with the knife, and gathering them into a large pile. As they didn't have a second knife there was less for Hannah to do, but Maddie was happy just to have some company. Hannah: "I guess we're on the equivalent of shows about ancient monuments that suddenly start theorizing about aliens," said Hannah. "I suddenly find those more plausible." Maddie: "I dunno about aliens, those Tuath or whatever that we saw didn't have anything that looked like an anal probe to me." Emily: Emily smiled in response, "Well, I am an outdoor kid myself. I didn't like the indoors back then very much." She grimaced for a moment before increasing the tempo of the cutting. Stephen: "Well, you must be glad we made it out of the underground city, then." said Stephen "Even if we received a less than friendly welcome..." Emily: "Really glad but even more gladder that we got some friendly people looking out for us." She commented about these centaurs as Emily hacked down the last of the tree. Emily: Emily using her knowledge of crafting raft managed to put the trees line by line with the help of others, and bound them properly into a raft. Eventually, she gave it a firm shake with her boot and the raft looks solid. Very solid indeed. Emily grinned happy with the results, "We got a raft!" Maddie: "Do we have anything to steer with? I don't suppose we're going to find an oar somewhere but some kind of sticks at least would probably be good." Emily: Emily smiled bemused by Maddie's question, "Good point." She picked up the axe, went over to one of the trees that surrounding that fits the bill and cut it down, trimming it so it can be used. "Shall we give it a name?" Emily suggested it seriously Stephen: "Why not the Hippopotamus?" suggested Stephen, smiling. "Greek for river horse, so there's a centaur connection too." Maddie: Maddie was about to object to the insanity of naming a raft, which was after all an inanimate object, but then remembered that she'd once had a boyfriend who'd individually named his marijuana plants and decided not to bother. She pulled out her phone, glanced at the black screen, and sighed. Emily: Emily glanced at Stephen, pleased with the suggestion "That is perfect." She faced the raft and said in all formal serious tone, "We name you Hippopotamus!" giving it a name, "We can carry the raft in and hopefully no one will fall into the river." Maddie: "Alright, let's get this show on the road, or river, or whatever." IdGM: They grasped a corner each and lifted the raft, carrying it awkwardly to the water. They all got splashed but nobody ended up soaked - fortunately the water was fairly shallow up here. With care they all climbed onto the raft and took up their sticks. The water deepened as they moved downstream and the raft travelled faster. There were rocks and rapids here, and it took some work with the poles to fend the raft away from obstructions, but apart some spray they remained dry. The Hippopotamus was an excellent raft. Virgin forest surrounded them, the trees growing right to the rocky edge of the water. Gradually the steam was widening, turning into a river. Another set of rapids faced them, and although they could see calm water ahead they needed to get through some white water to reach it. As they wielded the poles, pushing the raft away from the rocks, Hannah overreached and slipped over the side. Maddie: Reacting fast, Maddie whirled and flung her hand out to grab Hannah before she could be carried into the rocks. She managed to catch hold of her by the wrist and haul her back onto the raft, sodden and bruised but still with them. Stephen: Stephen nearly fell, too but at the last moment managed to stabilize himself and stay onboard Hannah: Hannah clambered back to safety, clinging to the wet wood as tightly as she could. "That's... thanks. Again." Emily: Emily didn't have much trouble staying on the raft at the moment. "Well done!" Impressed by Maddie's quick reaction. Maddie: "Don't worry about it. Mutual aid and so on." IdGM: Fortunately that was the last of the rough water for the time being. The raft slowed but kept steadily moving down what was now a small river. The sun had enough warmth to dry them out and they could use the sticks as paddles to aid their movement. The forest on either side seemed even deeper, and occasionally they heard sounds that were probably bird calls. Once a brightly coloured shape swooped over the river in front of them, a long tail dipping down and almost touching the water. After a number of hours they had become stiff and uncomfortable - there was no chance to move around without tipping the raft, and the trees were hard to sit on. The sun seemed hotter now as they travelled away from the mountains. Maddie: "How the fuck are we going to know if we've passed this tower anyway? Though it's supposedly days away." Hannah: "Emily, maybe you can estimate how far we'll need to travel?" suggested Hannah, thinking her outdoors experience might help. "In the meantime, we should probably work on our Trade Tongue vocabulary." Emily: "I suppose we will see the tower by the river or see it from the distance." She shook her head, "Hard to say since they didn't mention how long it will takes." Stephen: "A good idea, Hannah" replied Stephen, though he was turned to the side staring at the trees as he said that, likely trying to make out anything in particular. Maddie: "God only knows how we're supposed to find this centaur travelling this way. I guess if this seer is worth more than some late night psychic for pay they might be able to help." IdGM: They continued onwards, filling their time in practising the Trade Tongue and the song that would identify them to supporters of the Courts of Light. The sun began to dip again, and the air grew cooler, and they began to yawn. Maddie: "I guess we can sleep while floating downriver, as long as it doesn't get too rough," Maddie said. "Take shifts, me and Hannah on one, you two on the other?" Emily: "Sound good to me." Emily looked up at the darkening skies, "Looking forward to seeing the stars tonight." IdGM: As the sun dropped from sight, the blue moon appeared above the trees. Some stars were visible, although none of them resembled any familiar constellations. IdGM: During Emily's shift, she noticed lights moving randomly in the forest. Noises of things moving through the undergrowth could be heard.
Later, when Maddie and Hannah were on watch, Hannah heard distant howling which she could swear was wolves. Maddie: "Well that way is supposed to be the Court of the Wolf," Maddie said, pointing off in what was probably the wrong direction. Hannah: "I wonder if they'd approach people?" Hannah wondered. "Hopefully we should be safe on the raft." IdGM: Eventually the long night came to an end without any further disturbances. The sun was just beginning to warm them when they came to a large bend in the river, which during the night had become wider and slower. Reeds lined the banks instead of rocks, and massive branches reached out over the water. They had to be careful that the raft did not snag on any submerged roots. At one point they drifted too close to the bank and hit a root, making the raft swing round wildly. Stephen came close to being swept off the raft by a low branch, and Hannah was splattered with muddy water, but they continued round the bend. As they did so, a gap appeared in the virgin forest on their right hand. A cleared area, almost like a mowed lawn, ran down to the water. In the centre of it a tall structure made of black stone stood out against the solid green of the trees. Maddie: "Oh. That's how we'll find it." Stephen: "I think that's a tower." said Stephen. Hannah: "Well, let's get ashore!" said Hannah, sounding happy to be done with the raft. Emily: Emily smiled at seeing the tower, "So I was right after all." As she look along the banks of the river to find the best place to land.
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Post by Idris on Sept 10, 2018 18:05:41 GMT
Session 31 - 7/9/18 IdGM: Around the bend a gap appeared in the virgin forest. A cleared area, almost like a mowed lawn, ran down to the water. In the centre of it a tall structure made of black stone stood out against the solid green of the trees. A tall fence of twisted living branches surrounded the tower, making it hard to see what lay beyond. Maddie: "Oh, that's how we'll find it," Maddie said. "I guess we'd better find somewhere to park our boat." IdGM: The landing was easy, although they then had to lift the waterlogged raft from the water to save it drifting downstream. With some splashing and slipping they managed to hoist it onto the grass. Stephen: "So here we are." said Stephen as they set foot on land "Should we just look for the door and knock?" he asked Hannah: "Well, if something went wrong for Eurytion there might still be danger. We should probably approach cautiously," said Hannah. Maddie: "If this person really is a seer then they should already know we're coming and have coffee ready for us. I hope he has almond milk." IdGM: They approached the tower, looking around them. As they crossed the grass they could see that the fence was made of tall stems, resembling a flexible bamboo, which had been twisted into strange shapes, and surrounded what appeared to be a garden with fruit trees, vines, vegetable and strange herbs. As they looked for an entrance, Maddie and Stephen found a gaping hole in the fence, which seemed to have been burned away. Beyond it the plants had been ripped up and crushed. Maddie: "Well this isn't promising," Maddie said, squeezing through the hole in the fence with the ease of one accustomed to trespassing on private property. Stephen: "Not a good sign - looks like the seer may have had uninvited guests." commented Stephen. IdGM: The destruction continued in a wide swathe leading to the door of the tower. A massive oak door which must have filled the doorway hung open and askew, dangling from broken hinges and marked by fire as though blown open by an explosion. Emily: Emily began to examine the ruined plants, turning over damaged stems to try to determine how they had been damaged, and how recently. IdGM: From the state of the vegetation, Emily estimated the damage had most likely been caused the previous day. Hannah: Hannah cautiously approached the blown-open door, peering inside. Stephen: "Be careful." said Stephen "Whoever did this may have left some traps behind." Maddie: "Whoever did this might still be here," Maddie replied. IdGM: From the doorway, Hannah could see that the ground floor of the tower consisted of one single circular room with a flagstoned floor and high beamed ceiling. There was an enormous fireplace on the opposite side of the room, and stone stairs curved against the left wall, leading up towards a floor above. The room also held solid wooden furniture, all of which had been flung about the floor. A massive table lay upside down near the doorway. Hannah: Listening to Stephen's advice, Hannah entered cautiously, though as Maddie suggested she was more worried about the presence of whoever did this than about traps. Maddie: "I'll go check the next floor, stay here." Maddie went for the stairs. IdGM: To get from the door to the stairs Maddie had to move around a long settle made of some dark carved wood, which had been flung accross the floor. As she passed it, Maddie spotted an arm sticking out from behind it, lying flat and still on the paving. Maddie: "Shit!" Maddie grabbed at the settle to try to shift it, though from what she could see, the arm belonged to someone past help Hannah: Hearing that, Hannah hurried to see if Maddie was alright, and when she saw what was going on went to aid her in moving the furniture. IdGM: The settle was very heavy, but between them they pulled it forward. Behind it lay the body of a centaur, one arm stretched out towards a bow that lay nearby, the other flung out as if he had dropped straight down. He was young and very very pale. Blood had flowed from a number of wounds, and there was a vicious burn accross his chest. Stephen: Stephen looked crestfallen as he realized that it was far too late to help. IdGM: Emily came in to examine the centaur. It was clear that the centaur was dead, and had died hard. "All these wounds would not have killed him, I think they were inflicted to cause pain, especially this horrible burn" she said with a sickened look on her face. "The killing blow came from some kind of stabbing blade. He must have fought for some time." Hannah: Hannah blanched. "We... we should check upstairs, in case the others are there." IdGM: They were able to look around before going up. It must have been a comfortable room, with bright rugs covering the flagstones, a large fireplace above which dangled iron pothooks, and sturdy oaken furniture. But the fire was out, the table overturned, smashed pottery and glass littered the floor. A large cauldron lay in the middle of the floor, whatever stew it had contained splashed across the rugs, along with other more suspect stains. Something small and furry dangled from a pothook. Stephen: Stephen averted his eyes from the dead body Maddie: "Ok, I'm going up now." Maddie headed for the stairs. Hannah: Hannah nodded, and took the opportunity to pick up the bow and glance about amidst the shattered pottery to see if there was anything of use. Hannah: Hannah handed the bow over to Emily, who had expressed interest in archery. IdGM: Whoever had attacked the tower must have delighted in causing damage, because everything breakable was broken. Even the chair legs had been snapped. As Hannah moved towards the fireplace, she could see the hanging body was that of an animal like a rabbit. It was much like the feral rabbits of the Mundane, but much larger. The hook had been thrust through its back. Hannah: Hannah shuddered and turned away, moving to check the dresser and anywhere else useful things might be hiding. IdGM: There was a stone staircase going down to a lower level. Hannah: Hannah noted the staircase, and for the moment moved over to the one up which Maddie had ascended, waiting to hear from her. IdGM: Meanwhile Maddie reached a short landing, before the stair continued to the next floor. Through an archway she could see a hallway lit by a narrow window at the end, with a single open doorway to the right and two doors on the left. Stephen: Stephen was obviously disraught with how things were looking, but waited in silent, not wanting to risk attracting attention from any intruders that might still be there IdGM: Emily came over to examine the hanging animal. "It was alive when it was hung here," she said. "Like a kind of torture..." Maddie: Maddie crept forward and peered in through the first door she came to IdGM: The first door was on the left and partly open. revealing the corner of a large bed covered by a quilt worked in a mass of bright colours. On investigation the room also contained a simple wooden washstand with a bowl, still holding some cold and rather pink water (as if someone had used it to wash blood from themselves). Maddie: Maddie continued on, checking the other two rooms, wanting to be sure there was no sign of anyone here before calling the others up IdGM: The next door was on the left, leading to another comfortable room, although in this case smaller and simpler, holding only the bed and washstand, where the first room had also had a table and chair and shelves. There were bloodstains on the floor. Maddie: Maddie checked the next room IdGM whispers to Maddie: There was a sound like a gasp as she moved into the room.Maddie: Maddie had been about to leave the second room on the left, but turned, thinking she'd heard something. She entered and checked by the bed IdGM whispers to Maddie: There was the slighest of rustles from under the bed.Maddie: Maddie looked under the bed. IdGM whispers to Maddie: Under the bed lay a pale and twisted shape. Maddie realised that it was one of the winged beings from the pictures, but this was nothing like those bright and joyful representations. It was terribly pale and clearly suffering. One wing had been almost severed, and it held a feeble hand over a bloody wound in its side.Maddie: "EMILY!" Maddie shouted. "We've got someone wounded!" She grabbed at the quilt, thinking she could tear strips off it for bandages. IdGM: Emily went up the stairs at a run. "Alive?" Maddie: "Yes!" Hannah: Hannah hurried up behind Emily, taking up position to watch for danger while they tended to the wounded. Maddie: The quilt was too thick, so she threw it back and darted to the previous room, grabbing the somewhat bloodied washbowl IdGM: The quilt was too thick but Emily had some bandages in her pack. As she leaned down to look under the bed, the being cowered away in fear. "Someone needs to make it understand we don't mean harm," Emilty gasped when she saw what was lying there. Stephen: Stephen was behind Emily, trying not to get in her away but also wanting to get a good look at the survivor of the attack IdGM: Under the bed lay one of the winged beings from the pictures, but horribly pale, with a bloody wound in its side and one wing nearly hacked off. It looked terrified and in pain. Stephen: Stephen gasped and then called out to the creature in the trade tongue "We mean no harm." IdGM: The being moaned as if it was more afraid than ever. Large tears, faintly tinged with blue, rolled from its eyes. The blood which seeped between its narrow fingers was also bluish in colour. Emily held up the bandages but the being shut its eyes. Plainly it was expecting to be hurt again. Hannah: Hannah moved in, hoping to help placate the creature. She began humming a tune from a song her mother had sang for her as a child, in between speaking quietly. "It's alright, we're going to help." Maddie: "That's not the song we should use," Maddie said, trying to remember how the song the centaurs had taught them went IdGM: Perhaps it was the humming or the gentle voice but the being looked up at Hannah's face and seemed to relax slightly. "Help me," it whispered in a voice like a faint breeze. IdGM: "It needs to be on top of the bed, not under there," Emily said quietly. "If you can convince it we mean no harm, we can try to bring it out. And we need clean water, can someone light the fire?" Hannah: "Okay," said Hannah to the winged one. "To help you we're going to need to move you up onto the bed. Then we'll clean your wounds and get you warm and patched up." Maddie: Maddie moved to help Hannah Hannah: As she worked to move the creature up, Hannah took Maddie's suggestion and switched to softly singing the song of the Courts of Light. IdGM: Despite obviously being in tremendous pain as they moved it, the being opened wide eyes and gazed at Hannah as she sang. They could sense the fear leaving it. Once they had laid it on the bed, Emily set to work with the materials to hand, although they were not really sufficient for such bad wounds. IdGM: Maddie lit the fire and found a pot. to boil some clean water from a jug in the bedroom. Emily worked hard to stop the bleeding and eventually the wounded being lay back with a sigh. It reached out a pale hand to Emily. "Thank you, all of you." Maddie: "What happened?" IdGM: The being sighed painfully, as it tried to answer in the limited Trade Tongue. "I am a messenger. Mty name is Ariath. I came with message from the Owl. For Eurytion, to go home. He had been hurt, and his people - one had died. But they had found what they were sent to find. Eurytion was to leave next day. But they attacked that evening..."
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Post by Idris on Sept 16, 2018 21:37:43 GMT
Session 32 - 14/9/18 IdGM: The being sighed painfully, as they tried to answer in the limited Trade Tongue. "I am a messenger. My name is Ariath. I came with message from the Owl. For Eurytion, to go home. He had been hurt, and his people - one had died. But they had found what they were sent to find. Eurytion was to leave next day. But they attacked that evening..." We were having a meal and there was a huge noise outside. The Seer shouted the defenses had been broken, and she told us to run, but the Kentauroi refused to flee. They would not leave her to face that fate. Brownleaf and Growmiang stayed too. They took up arms and when the wards failed they fought bravely but there was a .... there is no word in Trade Tongue ... a man who hurled fire, and wolf-men with him." Ariath spoke in their whispery voice, using their large eyes and small gestures (with some wincing) when they could not find the words in the limited Trade Tongue. Emily: Emily took hold of the hand and gave Araith's hand a squeeze in comfort, "Who is Brownleaf and Growmiang?" She asked curiously as Emily glanced at Stephen to translate for her. Stephen: "A man who hurled fire and wolf-men? Could you tell us more about them?" he asked in Greek, hoping the creature would understand and that they would thus be able to circumvent the limitations of the Trade Tongue. After he had translated for Emily, he also commented that the names of the two centaurs did not sound Greek at all. IdGM: Ariath squeezed Emily's hand feebly, and frowned as they tried to find the words. "Brownleaf and Growmiang are Talking Beasts of course." Ariath looked up at Stephen with surprise. "You speak the ancient tongue of the Kentauroi!" they replied in the same language. "The wolf-men are from the Court of the Wolf, and Wolf must have sent the Thaumaturge with them to break the protections on the Tower and steal the artefact." Maddie: "What happened to Eurytion?" Emily: Emily raised her eyebrows in surprise to hear about the artefact and asked what is the artefact in question as well? IdGM: Ariath's face fell. "They were taken, Eurytion and Arberyonwth were taken. I was hurt and could do nothing but hide. I could hear Brownleaf screaming for so long,,," blue tears rolled from the large eyes. "But where Growmiang went I know not." Ariath sighed, and shifted painfully. "The artefact is a jewel but I cannot tell you what purpose it has." Maddie: "Is Arberyonwth the Seer, or...?" IdGM: "Yes she is," Ariath replied. Stephen: Stephen seemed curious and asked again, still speaking Greek "You must excuse our ignorance and my questions, but we have been in this land for only a short while and there is much we do not know of. We have not met any Talking Beasts yet. If the wolf-men are from the Court of the Wolf, are there owl-men in the Courts of the Owl? Are there many Thaumaturges, and do some serve the Courts of Lights, too?" IdGM: "I have never heard of owl-men, but there are many birds associated with the Courts. Thaumaturges are only found among men." Ariath had started to look very pale and weak. Maddie: "You said Eurytion had found what he was sent to find, what did he find? We were told he had come to speak to the Seer." Stephen: Stephen seemed apologetic, after asking so many questions to someone in such poor conditions. Emily: Looking closely at Ariath and said, "Ariath will need rest. Just a few more questions." Emily warned others. IdGM: "The Seer knew where they had to go to find the artefact, but I don't know all the details," Ariath said. "But why did you come here? Where are you from?" Maddie: "We're from the Mundane." Maddie supposed they might not want to tell everyone that ,but then Steve could just decide not to translate it Stephen: Stephen did translate it, as Ariath seemed unlikely to react negatively to such knowledge. IdGM: Ariath suddenly gave a sweet smile. "I have never met anyone who has just come over from the Mundane. There are those of course but they are rare. But you sang the Song...?" Maddie: "We met Eurytion's mother who sent us to find him." IdGM: "Why did she do that?" Ariath asked. Maddie: "His father is ill and the Chlorosoi are being led by a prick called Medon. She wants Eurytion to return and drive Medon out." IdGM: Ariath was silent for moment, thinking. "If the Wolves reach their Court there will be no hope for either Eurytion or Arberyonwth. There is no time to send a message to the Owl. If only Growmiang was here...." Maddie: "What would Growmiang be able to do?" Stephen: "We do know the song." said Stephen IdGM: "Growmiang is resourceful, and a fighter. You saw no sign of him?" Ariath asked. Hannah: "What sort of creature was Growmiang?" asked Hannah. "We did see a rabbit..." Her face made clear that the rabbit did not survive. "That was Brownleaf, I suppose," said Hannah sadly after a moment. Stephen: Stephen had to explain what Hannah meant by rabbit using Greek, as Trade Tongue - as far as they know - had no word for that. IdGM: Ariath looked terribly sad at this. "That was Brownleaf. But Growmiang is a...an ailouros?" Stephen: "A cat." said Stephen in English for the others, before switching to Greek again "We saw no signs of any cat-like animal, but perhaps he is hiding or trying to track the attackers?" IdGM: "He might be hurt and hiding as I was," Ariath said. Their voice was very quiet and plainly the injured being was in need of total rest now. Hannah: "We'll look for him then, while you rest," said Hannah. IdGM: Ariath closed their eyes and sank back thankfully onto the bed. Maddie: "There are cat people here," Maddie muttered. "If Dionisia knew she wouldn't rest until she'd found a cat-girl girlfriend. Lets go hunt for Growmiang. One of us should stay here with Ariath, in case something happens or just to keep them company. There's still another room on this floor I haven't checked." Emily: Emily volunteered to stay behind to look after Ariath and keep watch Maddie: Maddie nodded and headed off to the final room on this floor. IdGM: The final door led to another bedroom. Here they found an enormous bed made of some dark wood, again covered in a bright quilt, with a large carved chest of the same wood at its foot. Against one wall stood shelves, which must have held the books that now lay scattered across the floor, their spines broken and their pages ripped and dyed red with blood. Stephen: Stephen gazed at the damaged books with sadness before bending down to pick some to see if they were still readable IdGM: The writing meant nothing to Stephen. Maddie: Maddie pulled up the lid of the chest to see if there was something inside, though she'd have thought it unlikely IdGM: The chest contained robes, some of which had been dragged out as if someone had been searching through them. Some of the books contained what resembled formulae and diagrams. Stephen: Stephen sighed "I wish we could understand what is written here - Ariath might be able to help, but it seems hardly polite to ask, considering his current conditions..." Maddie: Maddie had a quick glance through the chest, trying to see if there was a sock or something similar - a comrade of hers in Munich had once been jumped by two NPD members, but had in turn surprised them by smashing one with the makeshift blackjack he carried, simply a lump of brick in a sock, and the other had run after a few hard kicks. IdGM: There were no socks or any kind of underwear. The robes were beautifully embroidered with all kinds of symbols which might have been stars and other astronomical phenomena, and were made of an extraordinarily soft material which might have been an incredibly fine wool. Maddie: Maddie decided to keep looking - she quickly checked under the bed IdGM: There was nothing under the bed apart from some dust. Stephen: Stephen put the book down, though he did so carefully, perhaps hoping that they might eventually be able to gleam some knowledge from them Maddie: "Let's head on up," Maddie said, making for the stairs after a last quick glance around IdGM: As she went to leave, Maddie noticed there was a small cupboard under the wash stand. Maddie: "Oh, I hadn't seen that," Maddie turned and opened the cupboard. IdGM: Inside there was something like a covered bucket, which it seemed very likely was used like a chamber pot. Maddie: Maddie pulled the bucket out and glanced at it. "Well, if anyone has to go..." IdGM: It was very clean, probably only used at night. Maddie, Stephen and Hannah listed hard but heard nothing from above, and with Maddie in the lead, the three of them carefully ascended the stairs. The room they came to was unoccupied. The circular walls were lined with yet more bookshelves, broken only by windows which let in plenty of light to read by. On the far side, a cushioned window seat filled a jettied window which looked out towards the river. A spiral stair rose in the centre of the room to the floor above. Hannah: Hannah moved to quickly glance at the shelves and the seat by the window before moving on. Maddie: Maddie went and took a glance at the window seat and the cushions Stephen: Stephen glanced at the books on the shelves, though he didn't linger long on them, obviously expecting them to be unreadable too. IdGM: There were more books and scrolls on the shelves, some of which seemed extremely old. Again the language and even the symbols seemed alien, yet again there were diagrams and some looked to be astronomical. Then Hannah found a book which contained pictures - beautifully illuminated pictures of different beings, including the winged ones and recognisable animals. Hannah: Hannah tucked the book away in her bag. "This should be useful for seeing what we might face." Maddie: As the others searched through the books, Maddie continued up to the top IdGM: The spiral stair ended in a door which led into a small circular space. Openings all around gave Maddie an incredible view over miles of forest, the glittering snake of the river winding through and the mountains rising in the distance. Hannah: Upon arriving after Maddie, Hannah looked about with wonder. "We should do what we can to improve our map with this view." Maddie: Maddie reflexively pulled out her phone to take a picture, swore, and nodded. "For the moment, though, we should find our missing cat. It's a pity Ben's not here, he'd sketch this out beautifully." Stephen: "What a wonderful view."said Stephen, arriving shortly after Hannah "A shame we have far more pressing concerns than enjoying it." IdGM: Emily suddenly heard a sound from down below, a kind of clatter like a tin rolling accross a stone floor. She went to the bottom of the stairs and said in a stage whisper, "Someone down below!" Maddie: "Emily said there's someone down below, I'm going to go check it out," Maddie said, moving into a sort of stealthy half-run IdGM: As Maddie moved, she heard another sound from below. Stephen: Despite what he had just said, Stephen was so engrossed in the view that he barely acknowledged Maddie's words IdGM: There was nobody alive on the ground floor that Maddie could see. Maddie: Maddie had slowed as she came near to the ground floor and she gradually crept down, making towards the settle they had moved so she could use it as cover. It was quite possible that whatever was moving around was actually Growmiang, but she wasn't about to announce her presence in case it wasn't IdGM: Hannah followed Maddie down, and Emily hovered on the stairs. Maddie: Maddie motioned to the stone staircase leading down and made towards it. IdGM: The stairs led into darkness. Maddie: Maddie considered for a brief instant, then made her decision. She couldn't sneak around in the dark, and either what was down there was Growmiang, in case they were no danger, or it was someone else, in which case Maddie would rather make it clear they knew they were there. "Growmiang," she called out in Trade Tongue. After a moment, she ground her teeth and started to hum the song the Kentauroi had taught them to identify them to allies of the Courts of Light. IdGM: There was a growl from below. "What fucking havey-cavey business is this?" a fierce husky voice replied. It took Maddie a moment to realise it was speaking a strange version of English!
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Post by Idris on Sept 22, 2018 20:37:18 GMT
Session 33 - 21/9/18 IdGM: There was a growl from below. "What fucking havey-cavey business is this?" a fierce husky voice replied. It took Maddie a moment to realise it was speaking a strange version of English! Maddie: "You...you speak English!" Maddie said, startled. After a moment, she added, "What the fuck does 'havey-cavey' mean?" Stephen: Eventually realizing there were more pressing concerns than enjoying the view, Stephen overheard the commotion from below and made his way down. IdGM: There was a moment's silence, and when the voice came again, the speaker was clearly as surprised as Maddie. "Yer speaking the King's English yerself? Well I haven't heard that for many and many a year. Queer way you have with it though, like one of them colonials. Havey-cavey means jiggery-pokery and you'd better not be playing false." Hannah: Hannah hurried down along with Stephen, filled with surprise at hearing English, even if not the sort she was used to. Maddie: "Ummm...I guess I am one of those colonials," Maddie said, deciding not to explain the anti-colonial struggles that had happened since this cat had been taught the language. "We came looking for Eurytion, but Ariath told us he's been taken. Ariath is up above, injured." IdGM: There was another period of consideration. "It seems you know more than me right now. By yer voice you sound to be a mort. Show yerself girl." Hannah: "There are more of us!" called Hannah, following after Maddie. Stephen: "Maddie? And...Growmiang?" called out Stephen from the darkness as he descended Maddie: Maddie shrugged and stepped forward. "I won't be able to see you in the dark. There's four of us, fourth is with Ariath." IdGM: A light suddenly sprang up ahead of Maddie - some kind of glow. She stood in a large dry basement or cellar, which was filled a variety of items - in fact she was lucky not to have bumped into the barrels which stood against the wall near the bottom of the stairs. Ahead of her a tall painted screen was unfolded, covering whatever lay behind it, and emerging from behind the screen there came an extraordinary figure. In appearance it was a dark gray tabby cat, but much large than any cat any of them had ever seen. One sharp green eye looked her over, the other was covered by a black patch. He had a torn ear, the end of his long tail scorched, and his fur covered in soot. "Welcome to my abode ladies and gentlemen. Pardon my appearance, I haven't had time to attend to my toilet," he said with a mocking impression of an educated English accent. Hannah: After all they had seen, a huge cat wasn't too surprising anymore. "Hello, Growmiang. I'm Hannah, and my friends here are Maddie and Stephen - our other friend Emily is the one tending to Ariath. We have a lot to discuss, but I'm curious - how do you know our language?" Stephen: Stephen shared Hannah's lack of surprise. "Pleased to make your acquaintance. I too would like an answer to that question - you sound like you'd be at home in good old England." Maddie: Maddie held a hand out to Growmiang, wondering if he could also read English and thus be the first person in this world who might wonder what her 'ACAB' tattoo meant IdGM: The single green eye narrowed, but then Growmiang came forward, sat on his haunches and touched Maddie's hand with his paw. For a second, Maddie felt the prick of claws as the massive cat flexed his claws, but they did not break the skin. Growmiang stared round at all of them, then smiled nastily at Stephen. "Ye a cock bawd bringing three Corinthians with ye? Ye need to get them better calles if yer going to set em up in a nanny house. " The cat chuckled throatily. Maddie: "Anyone who tries to set me up anywhere is getting punched in the face very hard," Maddie replied. Hannah: Hannah snorted. She didn't understand every word, but had a guess as to the meaning of 'nanny house'. "Well I see sexism transcends both world and species..." she murmured. IdGM: Growmiang laughed harder. "There's some would pay double for that!" he said to Maddie. "But ye asked how I know the King's English. One of my lives I spent there, in a fine house of Drury Lane Vestals. The abbess was very free with the fish, was a good billet." Stephen: "That's hardly polite."objected Stephen "We already had to suffer through some...centaur hospitality, we'd rather not suffer any more indignities of the sort, if that's the same to you." Maddie: "Abbess? I'm guessing this was a long fucking time ago." IdGM: Growmiang grinned widely, showing long yellow canine teeth. "Yer thinking of another kind of abbess." Hannah: "I can guess what kind of abbess you mean," said Hannah. "I imagine 'vestals' is ironic as well? Anyway, I do think this must have been some time ago, just based on the way you speak. But you said 'one of your lives'? You have... nine of them, I'd guess?" Maddie: "I'm still guessing it was a long fucking time ago, there hasn't been a king in England for seventy years and no open brothels in even longer. Although I knew some comrades in the ECP who were thinking of setting something up." Stephen: "You must have seen some really interesting things."said Stephen, obviously realizing that while his behavior was fairly annoying, the cat might have been a witness to many interesting historical events and might be far more knowledgeable than most pets IdGM: "It was around the time the old king went mad," Growmiang said, his whiskers - which they now saw were also scorched on one side - curling forward in concentration. "That fat fuck became regent. I suppose he's dead by now." Stephen: "He has been dead for more than one hundred eighty years."stated Stephen dryly, obviously understanding Growmiang was talking about the British Kings George III and IV. "Well, at least from our point of view - time might work differently here." Hannah: "Oh, was that George III?" asked Hannah. "That'd be the one we rebelled against. I think I saw a movie about him..." IdGM: Growmiang shrugged, the shabby fur rolling accross his shoulders. "Time is different everywhere. I will ask your story but not now. We have much to do." He came forward and looked around closely at each of them. "A colonial and a rebel then. And an English gent. But can you fight?" Stephen: "That'd be the one, George the Tyrant, as they'd call him, though his legacy is more complex, these days. " Hannah: "Maddie can fight," said Hannah. "Stephen has some training. I'm... well, I'm having to learn." Stephen: "She has a way with words." said Stephen Maddie: "I'm a colonial and a rebel," Maddie corrected the cat Emily: Emily upon hearing the talks below clearly realised that they found something. Once she is sure that Ariath is not going to wake up, she went downstair to see what is going on. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, her eyes widened at seeing such a large cat, "A talking cat? Are we in Narnia?" She asked herself with a hint of amusement. She shook her head for a moment and introduced herself, "My name is Emily. Nice to meet you." IdGM: Growmiang showed his teeth at Maddie. "Yer a tough mort indeed. So, where is the Aetherial?" He looked up in surprise as Emily arrived. "Another mort? And a Hibernian! Ye must have something to ye I can't see," he said in a confidential tone to Stephen. "The Aetherial is upstairs?" Maddie: "Yes, they're upstairs." IdGM: Old and tatty and damaged he might be, but Growmiang leaped lightly up the stairs ahead of them and tail held high, walked along the corridor to the room where Ariath was recuperating. Emily: Emily followed the cat, becoming less surprised at what she found in this world. She did decide that she won't be killing such beasts for food IdGM: Ariath lay under the bright quilt, pale but breathing more easily. Growmian leaned up and tapped the Aetherial lightly on the face with his paw. Ariath slowly opened their eyes and smiled. "You made it Growmiang." "It were a close run," Growmiang said. "Had to nip up the chimney as ye see. These folk cared for you?" Ariath nodded. Growmiang turned to the group who had followed him in. "I thank you for that," he said. "Now for the council of war." Maddie: Maddie nodded. "I suggest we hunt down the kidnappers, beat the shit out of them, and get Eurytion and the seer back." Hannah: "From what we've seen and Ariath described, I think we'll need more of a plan than that to take these enemies on," said Hannah. Stephen: "Perhaps you could tell us more about them?" Stephen asked Growmiang IdGM: Growmiang grinned.at Maddie but he nodded at Hannah's words. "It will take more than fighting spirit. The magus can throw fire, and the wolves are hard bastards. It was a wolf did this to my ear," he touched the ragged end. "But I reckon we han't seen the last on em. They took the Centaur and the Seer, but they didn't get what they were after." Emily: Emily asked the question, "So what were they after?" She asked curiously. Maddie: "Will they be coming back here then?" IdGM: Ariath answered. "The artefact... the jewel. But I thought they must have found it..."
Growmiang's smile widened. "They searched but they never did. I took it." Ariath gasped. "But where is it? Did you hide it somewhere?"
Growmiang laughed and opened his mouth wide, showing a selection of yellow, and in some cases brown teeth, and pointed his paw at it. "Swallowed it didn't I?" Maddie: "If that's how you hid it then I guess it's a good thing you haven't yet attended to your toilet." Stephen: "Did you?"asked Stephen, perhaps thinking the situation did not warrant too much humour IdGM: Growmiang's whiskers twitched forward, "You calling me a liar Sir Pimp?" Stephen: "Oh, I'd never. " stated Stephen, with mild sarcasm, ignoring the 'title' Growmiang had bestowed on him "I'm merely implying that time is of the essence and we might want to do what needs to be done as quickly as possible rather than waste time in pleasantries - I don't think the Magus and these 'wolves' are serving tea and crumpets to Eurytion and the Seer." IdGM: Growmiang smacked his lips. "Ah, tea and crumpets.. Or butter at least." His demeanour grew serious. "One of you morts run up to the lantern and keep watch. Anything coming towards the tower, you just howl it out. Might be birds to spy, so watch it." Maddie: "Is it a good idea to wait here for them? Even if they come back for the artefact, they might not bring their prisoners back with them, and saving them is the whole point." Emily: Emily looked at Ariath for a moment, satisfied that it is doing okay. "I can keep watch, let me know what you guys decided." She went off to lantern to keep watch IdGM: Growmiang tapped his nose with his paw. "There's a reason. See the Seer had a nice shiny stone about the right size and those Wolf boys they thought it was the real thing. The Magus was a one-trick ass and couldn't tell. When they find out it's paste, they'll be back." Stephen: "Then we should prepare. Does the stone have any power we could use to defend the tower? I suspect not, for if it did things might have gone quite differently..." IdGM: "We never heard what its power was," Ariath said.."Hopefully not harmful as Growmiang has swallowed it." "No idea," Growmiang said cheerfully. "Right lads and lasses, time to plan. They will send advance spies, and they will need to be stopped." Hannah: "We have a bow, but I don't think any of us has much experience," said Hannah. "Maybe we can lure them inside and ambush them?" IdGM: "Plenty of old tat in the cellar, can make something out of that." Growmiang said. Maddie: "Can we rig up a net, or better yet something heavy to fall down on them?" Maddie wondered. "I was going to suggest forcing them to come up the stairs and fight them one at a time, but if this person can throw fire that's probably a bad idea." IdGM whispers to Emily: As Emily moved around to look from each of the openings in the lantern, she thought she could see something like a small dark cloud rise from a point in the mountains, far away to the south, and start moving purposefully northward.
IdGM: Growmiang considered. "Find a way to split their force. Some up and some down." Stephen: "Perhaps if there was a way to kill or disable their leader - the magus, presumably..... The bow would be useful for that. But as Hannah said, none of us is much of an archer." Maddie: "If we could rig up the door on the first floor to slam shut after it's opened, then we could hide down here, wait for them to send someone ahead to scout, and then cut their force in half that way. Not sure that will work though." IdGM: "They won't expect resistance, to our advantage," Growmiang said thoughtfully. "Traps perhaps..." Hannah: "I imagine the wolves will be the easiest to trick or trap," said Hannah. "From what it sounds like their approach is a head-on attack."
Emily: The group heard a clatter of footsteps as Emily came downstair from the lantern and told the others with an interested look. "Sorry to disturb but I think we got a dark strange looking cloud approaching us from the south. It is not what I would expected to see in the sky." She described the look of the cloud to Ariath and Growmiang, "Do you know what it might be?" She asked. IdGM: Ariath paled and Growmiang swore horribly. "Those are the spies - birds or worse. Ye three keep thinking, find whatever ye can to even the odds " He pelted up the stairs to the lantern with Emily in hot pursuit. Maddie: "A black cloud coming across the sky, isn't that in the Lord of the Rings right before they go to Moria?" Maddie: "It pains me to suggest getting rid of so much booze, but there's wine in the cellar and if we need some help we could call on General Molotov." Stephen: "Perhaps we could convince them we have fire magic of our own."suggested Stephen IdGM: Growmiang looked out at the growing cloud with his one eye. "Do ye see a red colour about that cloud?" he asked Emily. Emily: Emily narrowed her eyes at the cloud and nodded, "Yes, I can see the red colour." IdGM: Growmiang spat. "Fucking imps! Out now and bar the door!" They scuttled from the lantern and shut the heavy door behind them, securing it firmly and then running back down the stairs to the bedroom floor. Emily: Emily returned after barring the door, "Well, it looks like we got a cloud of Imps coming..." as she couldn't believe she said that in this stange new world Stephen: "I can't say I like the sound of that."said Stephen "Anything we should know about them?" he asked Growmiang IdGM: "The Courts of Chaos use the little cunts as spies," Growmiang growled. "Hard to hit. but weak. Can give ye a nasty burn if they bite though."
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Post by Idris on Oct 5, 2018 18:47:08 GMT
Session 34: Battle with the Imps IdGM: Once the lantern had been sealed off, they convened on the ground floor for what Growmiang called a council of war. "There'll be a bunch of a dozen or so. Sounds a lot - they're small but they're nippy & they can fly out of reach.Yer need to get the buggers all inside the Tower - not one straggler left to bear word back to the Wolves. Then shut them in and kill em quick. Fire is no good on Imps, little sods love it. Water now, that they DON'T like. And yer need something to knock em out of the air." Maddie: Maddie stretched. "If the point is to trick the magus into thinking there's no one here, isn't killing them pointless? I doubt they're going to be so stupid as to think that their scouts going missing means that it's safe here." Stephen: "So bring them down and dunk water on them? That's a plan." said Stephen "Of course, Maddie has a point too. But how could we trick them into believing the tower is deserted? Do imps have better senses than humans?" IdGM: Growmiang nodded in recognition of these points. "Imps is bottle-headed. Keep everything looking the same from outside - door swinging on its hinges and so forth. Not like the wolf-men who can smell yer from afar, live or dead. The Imps'll come inside to check, we trap em and deal with em. The Magus and the Wolf-Men will need cunning and guile, cause they will know we're alive soon as they get here." Hannah: "So what's the exact plan?" asked Hannah. "Have one of us lure the imps in while the rest wait on the floors above to drop water?" Maddie: "Wouldn't it be better to leave the imps? Leave the tower and go hide outside for a while, then come back when they leave? That reminds me, we need to make sure our raft is hidden, when we parked it we didn't realise we'd need to be stealthy." IdGM: Growmiang shook his head. "Nah, we need the Imps gone, or do ye want them biting fire into ye while ye fight wolves and magic men?" Maddie: Maddie frowned. "I've never fought a magic man before. Well, the guy in high school who groped my friend thought he was magic, but he knew differently after I jumped him by the water fountain outside our history class. Fine, let's kill the imps too." IdGM: "Yer must tell me this tale when the battle is won," Growmiang said with a grin at Maddie. "Now lads and lassies, yer want long poles or such to knock the imps from the air, and fill everything yer can with water from the well. Then find yerself a hiding place where ye can spring out easy and quick." They spread out to look. The cellar in particular held a large variety of odds and ends which might be put to use including jugs and bowls. Stephen found an old fishing net in the cellar which could be adapted to bring down imps. Hannah dragged out some long poles of uncertain purpose but which would help to knock them out of the air. Growmiang sent Emily and Maddie to hide the raft as best they could. Stephen: "So, I've been thinking about it." said a worried Stephen while working together with the others "and these imps really sound more like minor demons than mischevious, but mostly harmless faeries or goblins. I do hope this doesn't imply the existance of more formidable infernal beings." Hannah: "Well, the upside is after fighting literal demons I might be cooler in the eyes of my old pastor," said Hannah. IdGM: The raft was still in the reed-bed, and Maddie and Emily were able to bend and break reeds to cover it. By the time they had finished they felt it was well camouflaged. When they returned to the tower, they found Stephen and Hannah had strung a net accross two long poles, and there were enough long poles for them all to have. "Two of you to slam shut the door and bar it," Growmiang said, looking at them to see who would be the best suited. Maddie: Maddie flexed. "I've barricaded a lot of squat doors before." IdGM: "You and Sir Pimp then," Growmiang said with a sly grin. "Get to yer places, I'll check where the buggers are." He sprinted up the stairs and a few moments later raced back down. "Speed now, they're almost here! Ariarth's under covers, should be safe enough." Maddie: Maddie sprang up beside the door, planning to slam it shut the moment the imps came through. Stephen: Stephen did not comment on the moniker Growmiang had given him this time - the situation was dire, and it was best to focus on the task at hand. Maddie: "Let's move this," she indicated the settle as she spoke to Stephen, "it'll give us some cover." IdGM: They dragged the settle nearer the door and waited behind it. Emily: Emily looked around to find a place to use the net on the incoming impish imp, "Hopefully, we should be able to stop them here." She commented. She also made sure that she had one of the axe in her belt to use against them IdGM: Emily and Hannah settled out of sight on the first landing with the net. They had also filled all the jugs and bowls with water and had them waiting in the passage. Stephen: Stephen had the sword they had taken with Krenaios at his hip too. Although not part of their current plan, these weapons could perhaps still prove useful. Maddie: Maddie kept a full jug by the settle, ready to pick up once she and Steve came out in the open. IdGM: They all crouched ready, trying to breath quietly. Maddie was the first to notice the strange humming sound which approached the open door of the Tower. Then Stephen heard it too. Suddenly a small red being about the size of a squirrel flew through the doorway, quickly followed by more. The Imps were bright red, with sharp, screwed-up faces, small horns, and long forked tails. Small leathery wings beat the air incessantly to keep them airborne, causing the strange humming sound. The Imps flew into the room and then split up, looking at everything. Growmiang, observing from the window above, gave the agreed signal - a short sharp miaow. All the imps were now inside! Maddie: "A las barricadas!" Maddie sprang up and slammed the door shut with practised ease Stephen: Stephen rushed and pushed the door closed together with Maddie Hannah: Hannah nodded to Emily and the moved to toss the net over the imps when their position was right. Emily: Emily returned the nod to Hannah, ready to drop the net. Her eyes looking at the imps with interest. What other strange creatures there are in this world. IdGM: Maddie's shout had an immediate effect. Suddenly imps were everywhere. Some made for the door and one realised too late that it had been shut - the creature crashed against the wood and dropped to the floor at Stephen's feet. Others flew wildly about the room. Five or six flew up the stair, presumably looking to find a way out. All of them gave off high pitched shrieks, like so many untended whistling kettles. Maddie: Maddie snatched up a long pole and jabbed up at an imp, but her main experience of fights had been with police or fascists, and these rarely flew. Her thrust was easily dodged. IdGM: Growmiang leaped up, almost impossibly running up the tall chimney breast and throwing himself at one of the flying Imps. His body twisted in mid-air, claws grappling the creature as he landed on the floor and tossed it into a bowl of water. The Imp shrieked like a boiler about to blow and then silenced. Stephen: Stephen looked ready to grab one of the poles to try and knock one of the imps down, as originally planed, but with one of the things at his feet he decided to reach for his sword and stab downwards, trying to skewer the imp at his feet. IdGM: The imp was moving sluggishly, having dazed itself crashing into the door. Stephen's sword skewered the small body, splashing green blood accross the floor and his own shoes. Smoke began rising from the splashes! "Don't cut them!" Growmiang shouted. Stephen: Stephen recoiled from the smoke and realizing what was happening threw the sword blade-first in one of the many containers of water around the room "Wish you told us sooner!" he shouted back Hannah: Hannah and Emily coordinated, and moved to the ledge at the same time to toss out the net just as they heard the flapping of numerous wings approaching. IdGM: The Imps were caught completely unawares by the net suddenly stretched in front of them. All but one blundered into it and became entangled. The remaining imp was held lightly. It glared at the two woman and hissed frighteningly. Emily: Emily grimanced at the nervous sights Maddie: Maddie, annoyed, continued to attack the imp that had dodged her last time. She glanced at the settle, then suddenly remembered a move she saw a Spanish comrade pull at a march that had been set on by a group of nostalgists for Falangism. She burst forward, springing up onto the settle and using it as a springboard. The Spanish woman she'd seen had used a short bench for the purpose and had gone down amongst the fascists swinging a placard about her, but Maddie had to strike up above her instead, and only just managed to land a blow on the elusive creature IdGM: The stick swept the Imp to the ground where it lay helpless for a moment. Growmiang leaped accross, grasped the fallen Imp and threw it into a bowl. The piercing hiss was quickly silenced. "Nice move!" Growmiang grinned then he bounded back into the fray. Upstairs, the lightly-held Imp managed to wriggle free from the net and fly upwards. Two of the remaining four Imps left alive on the ground floor headed straight for Stephen who was now weaponless, one of them managing to inflict a bite on his arm with its burning mouth, and making him feel weak with the pain. The other two flew at Growmiang but with agile slashes of his claws he held them off. Stephen: Hard-pressed and imp-bitten Stephen fumbled for one of the poles but his clumsy thrust missed widely Hannah: With one imp having escaped their net, Hannah reached to grab the pole near her. The imp was flapping wildly after avoiding the net, and she kept the pressure on it, swinging to one side to force it into a more vulnerable position for Emily. Emily: Emily managed with a dint of effort and her experience of using fire brush to take down one of the Imps and flipped it into the blow of water Maddie: seeing the imps ganging up on Stephen, Maddie decided she needed to stop trying to play whack-an-imp and instead draw their attention. With a loud cry, she rushed forward and turned a somersault, springing through the air right in the midst of the imps. She leapt across to the table, landing on the balls of her feet, then immediately flung herself backwards, flipping down and landing back on the edge of the settle, once again hurling herself right past the imps as she did. Stephen: Stepen tried to take advantage of the distraction created by Maddie and this time the pole's end struck the imp, throwing it to the ground. The creature however was barely hurt and nimbly readied to stand and take off again - but Stephen brutally stomped down on it, being careful not too get too much of its acid blood on his sole. IdGM: With a blood-curdling yowl, Growmiang ran up the front of the dresser and threw himself out into the room, grabbing another of the imps as it made to attack him, and bearing it down to the ground where he quickly dispatched it; Emily: Emily and Hannah pulled their trapped imps into the bowls of water and managed to harm them. Emily grinned victoriously IdGM: The two remaining Imps turned as one and headed straight for the chimney, intent on escape. Maddie: seeing the creatures turn to escape, Maddie threw caution to the winds. She took a few steps back on the settle, then ran forward and used her long stick to vault herself into the air. With an athletic move she kept hold of the stick with one hand behind her back, and with a smooth motion passed it between her legs in the air so it was on the right side of her body. As she flew past the imps, she lashed out, catching both with one wide sweep. As she came down she let go of the stick and bunched her body up close, rolling against the impact of the fall. IdGM: Growmiang sprang forward and snatched one of the fallen Imps, dropping it into a bowl/ Stephen: Stephen took the other and quickly submerged it into a bowl, holding and squeezing ior a few seconds to ensure it had no chance to escape. IdGM: They finally rose from damp knees to survey the damange. Only Stephen was injured, holding his burned arm carefully. Maddie: "You're right, I wouldn't have wanted to fight those things at the same time as the magus," Maddie said to Growmiang once they had put the imps in the net out of their misery Stephen: "I really should have sticked to the plan."said Stephen, looking at the water jar where he had left his sword "But with one of these things too close, it was just so tempting." he said apologetically IdGM: Growmiang smoothed down his ruffled fur and gave a wide grin. "Yer all did good. That was a fine fight. Now we plan for the main enemy!"
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Post by Idris on Oct 8, 2018 21:33:31 GMT
Session 35 - Council of War
IdGM: "Yer need to get rid of the bodies," Growmiang said, hawking and spitting on one of them. "Use the poles and put em in the net. Can dump em in the trees." Maddie: Maddie picked up a pole and started dragging the imp bodies into the net. Stephen: Stephen, still cleaning his shoes from some of the imp-blood that had gotten on them, commented "Wish you had told me about their acidic blood before the fight. And I had been hoping the water would just melt them like the Wicked Witch of the West. Still, at least these... things have been dealt with." IdGM: Growmiang chuckled throatily. "Ye have melting witches in the Mundane?" Maddie: "It's a story. If we're expecting the Wicked Witch of the West then which of us is Alice?" Maddie asked, picking up another body. She paused. "Emily, you're Alice," she said. IdGM: Emily frowned. "I think you're confusing books. Do you mean Dorothy?" Maddie: Maddie laughed. "Yes, sorry, I think I was high when I last went to see...honestly I don't remember which one it was Dionisia took me to." Hannah: "Emily may be Dorothy, but Maddie I think you're Alice, who I have no doubt would say 'fuck artificial barriers' and wander into Oz," said Hannah. Stephen: "To be fair, this is a wonderland of sorts..." said Stephen "Even if some of these wonders don't seem to be very friendly. I'm not looking forward to the Magus and the wolves." IdGM: When the net was full of the small warped and twisted bodies, they dragged it outside to the treeline and unloaded them into the undergrowth. Then they returned to the Tower for another council of war. Maddie: before the council, Maddie suddenly remembered her previous idea, forgotten when they'd met Growmiang. She grabbed some lumps of stone and went to find something like a sock she could put them inside. IdGM: There was a jacket with sleeves which could be removed and used. Maddie: shoving her sleeve inside her own patched jacket, Maddie came to find the others. "Sorry about that." Hannah: "Good to be prepared. I imagine this fight will be tougher than the last. When we were last planning I guessed that the wolves might be tricked or trapped. We should consider how to do that. I imagine the magus will be the real challenge." Maddie: "If we can separate the wolves from the rest, then me or Growmiang or both could rush the magus." IdGM: Growmiang's mouth curled slightly. "The Magus is dangerous because he can throw fire, but weak in other ways and he showed no sign of other Magics. And he is proud and full of himself - could be outstretched. There were six Wolfmen left alive with him. They took the bodies of their slain fellows. Dogs eh?" he said scornfully. Stephen: "If only we were any good with ranged weapons..." said Stephen, sighing Maddie: "Six?" Maddie frowned. "If we could coax the lot of them up those stairs, then we'd just need me or Growmiang to hide out in the cellar, you guys tie the wolves up there and whoever stays down here takes the magus out quick. Six is a lot though." IdGM: Growmiang frowned. "I seem to remember there was an old crossbow somewhere in the Tower... Might be in the cellar. Now that ye need not be good at. Just point it and fire!" Maddie: Maddie glanced at Hannah. "Well you're American, and a crossbow is kind of like a gun..." Stephen: "Could at least provide a distraction. "said Stephen "As long as you don't hit one of us..." Hannah: Hannah snorted. "I'm not white though, so I wasn't born with a gun in my hand. I can do what I can to distract them, though." IdGM: "That's the way to think. If ye fight them one on one ye'll lose," Growmiang said. "Ye have to be cleverer than them. We have advantages here. We can use surprise and subterfuge, create ambushes, make traps, confuddle their senses and play on their weaknesses." Maddie: "Which are?" IdGM: "Wolfmen fight in a pack so divide them up. Their senses are heightened but their wits are enfeebled in the Wolfman form. That gives ye chances. The Magus can only fight with fire, if ye can draw it harmlessly, ye can lead him to his death." "If only Ariath were not so wounded," Growmiang added sadly. "The Aetherial knows much lore and its song can lend courage and strength." Maddie: "Prop them up on a chair and they can sing. It's not like the wolves won't kill them if they beat us," Maddie said. Stephen: "Wolfman 'form'?" Stephen inquired "What do you mean, are they shapeshifters? Do they change form, or something like that? I was assuming they were wolf-like humanoids" IdGM: "I'll check on them first," Emily said. "And see if their up to it." Emily went upstairs to talk to Ariath.
Growmiang shook his head. "Nah, they were just men once, long ago. They can change but over the years they grow fond of the Wolf form and it becomes harder to turn." Maddie: "Are they vulnerable to silver or something?" IdGM: "Yes, they are, but ye don't have time to make silver daggers or arrows, so I thought it not worth mentioning," Growmiang said. Stephen: "It would be best to tell us everything you know. As with the imps' acidic blood, you never know when it might prove relevant. " Hannah: "I think Emily's pendant is silver," said Hannah. "Not quite a weapon, of course." IdGM: Growmiang lashed his tail at Stephen's words. "I've told yer all I know," he growled. "Now we need to plan and see what can be put to our use in the fight to come." They spread out to search for useful items. The upper floors held mainly furniture and books, blankets and cushions and robes, as well as the jugs, basins and other toilet utensils. On the ground floor there was a lot of broken crockery and smashed furniture, in addition to the cauldron and fire irons, and a large box of logs. The basement was full of old furniture and a pile of other objects - nets, buckets, bowls, iron cooking pans and jugs. In addition, there were drying herbs and spices including pepper, a rack full of bottles of homemade wine and - Growmiang pointed out - some of distilled spirits, and further fire irons and poles. There were two large folding screens covered in painted garden scenes. And in an old cupboard, they found the crossbow and a number of metal bolts. Stephen: Stephen looked at the herbs and spices, and the others could see the gears turning in his head "These wolfmen are going to have a superior sense of smell - normally this would be an asset, but we might be able to turn this to our advantage by using the spices to provide a distraction. As for the spirits....the Magus attacks with flames, but can he be burned himself?" IdGM: There was also rope and some lengths of chain. "Ye need to ask Ariath about the Magus. It knows more about men's Magic," Growmiang replied. Emily had told them that Ariath was awake and wanting to aid them in the battle. Maddie: "Gro, you said something about making it so you can draw the Magus' fire harmlessly," Maddie called. "Is being wet enough, or what?" IdGM: "It might help, but I were thinking more of making him fire at shadows - there's mirrors upstairs, and ye could put something together and stick a robe on it to look like a person." Growmiang said. Emily suggested they wrap Ariath well and speak with them. Maddie: Maddie headed up to speak to Ariath. As she came along the hallway on the first floor, she squinted. "This is a good chokepoint," she said. "Can we rig something up to slide down from up there to split the wolves in half?" IdGM: Emily looked it over. "I could knock something up from the old furniture? Can we drop a net of logs on them when they're coming up?" Maddie: "If we drop something on them when they're coming up the steps they're probably not going to fall for something that splits them up," Maddie said. "Probably best if they don't know we're here until that slides down. Me and Growmiang could hide in the cellar - assuming the magus will hang out near the rear, we can rush up and take him out." Hannah: "Perhaps we could rig something to fall on whoever had gotten past the barrier," said Hannah. Maddie: "The cauldron, that thing would hurt like fuck if it fell on you." Hannah: "Right. And we could put the spices in as well, for Stephen's idea." Stephen: "If that works, we would only have to worry about the magus. Hopefully Ariath can tell us about him." Maddie: "Let's go talk to them." IdGM: Ariath was sitting in the bed, wrapped in a colourful knitted blanket and looking a great deal better. Emily said quietly that she thought Aetherials must have extraordinary healing abilities. They beckoned the group forward. "You wish to know how to defeat the Magus?" they asked. Maddie: "I planned to hit him with this really hard," Maddie pulled the sleeve out, "but if you have any more ideas I'm all ears." IdGM: Ariath smiled, an extraordinarily sweet smile. "He will not expect that. He is used to those who face their enemies and swing a sword or fire an arrow. He is filled with pride and over-confident, as those who follow the path of Chaos so often are. However he is not all-powerful. His Magic is learned, not innate. This limits how he uses it. When he comes to the Tower, you should make him use his power right away - force him to break through the door. At that moment he will need to replenish his power from the Fire, and this is when you should strike. He will not be defeated at once, but Emily has told me of plans to draw his fire with moving figures and mirrors. This is a good plan. Keep him wasting his fire, and he will eventually be defeated. How do you propose to deal with the curs?" Maddie: "When he throws his fire, is it possible to get out of the way if you're fast, or is it fast as a bullet?" Maddie realised Ariath probably had no idea what a bullet was, and said, "Leave that bit out," to Steve. Stephen: "Can he be harmed by his own fire? Or by fires set by others?" asked Stephen IdGM: Ariath listened to both of their questions. "Once he sends his fire at a person, it is fast, but he himself moves only at the speed of a man. Do not let it touch you, because fire destroys what it touches. When a man or woman has found his Elemental Bond they will be at home in that element, so he will have strong protection against damage by his element." Maddie: "'Find Your Elemental Bond' would be a good name for a metal album," Maddie commented. "How do you find it anyway?" Stephen: "There goes that plan to use the spirits, then..."said Stephen "Although we could still try to turn his fire against the wolves." IdGM: "It will find you. Many of the Children of the Mundane have found their bond in this world, for those who come here are often of the line of the Tuath. You may well be yourselves." Ariath smiled at their surprised faces. "Have you never heard the stories of men and women who fell in love with one of the Beautiful People?" Maddie: Some of Maddie's comrades would have objected to the Aetherial's continuous use of binaristic gender terms, but Maddie was annoyed enough at having to have constant translated conversations. "Will it find us in time to protect us from the magus?" IdGM: "If it does, you will need to train before you can use that power," Ariath said. "But to return to the fight you are to face, yes, fire will work well against the WolfMen. They would never have accompanied him if they were not ordered to do so by the Court of the Wolf." "Are there any more questions because we still have much to do," Growmiang said. Maddie: Maddie was glancing speculatively at one of the windows. "Gro, could you jump down from this floor to the outside safely? I couldn't, but I'm not a cat." IdGM: With no more questions they set to work, Emily constructing the wooden barrier which would drop down to divide the wolf pack, the others to raise the cauldron filled with heavy objects in the netting, to block the front door and other preparations. They filled bowls and jugs with water to douse any fires.
Growmiang went over to the window with Maddie. "I could manage that - see there's a tree to hop onto. Ye want me to lead the doggies in here and then disappear?" Maddie: "Yes, if the rest of us hide in the cellar, we can split the wolves at that barrier, you jump down to join us, we kill the magus and half the wolves, then deal with the others at our leisure. I don't know how we do that and get the magus to waste his fire on the door though, seems that if he has to do that then he'll be on his guard and will wait before his wolves go on ahead, unless you can goad them." IdGM: "Don't ye want the WolfMen to go ahead, up the stairs?" Growmiang asked. "And ye need to lead the Magus a dance to burn his power as ye weaken him. Can ye do that?" Maddie: "Yes, up the stairs, along that passage, then cut off," said Maddie. "I don't know how we do that to the Magus though. We can hardly leave mirrors and stuff hanging around downstairs if we want the wolves to rush off ahead." IdGM: Growmiang looked thoughtful. "If I draw the curs' attention they wil race up the stairs, believe me. The Magus will be unable to control them and he will be alone down there." Maddie: "Good. In that case we just need to barricade the door so he needs to waste his power I'd have thought." IdGM: They shut the door again and dropped the bar into place, blocking it with a settle. Emily then picked out a saw from the cellar and worked on the wooden barrier for the first floor. Stephen and Hannah calculated how to hang the net and Maddie heaved the cauldron filled with logs and spices into it. They lined up a row of bottles turned into Molotov cocktails. When everything was ready, Hannah and Emily took some time to practice with the bows. Maddie: Maddie took a few swings with her makeshift sap to make sure she'd got the balance right. Once she was satisfied she tucked it back into her jacket, then pulled out her phone. As soon as she glanced at it she remembered, sighed, then went to watch Hannah and Emily's archery practice. Stephen: Stephen did practice some slashes and thrust with the sword he had from the centaur, but not for long, obviously realizing that his swordsmanship was not going to carry the day - they had to rely on cunning and strategy, not individual fighting skills IdGM: Growmiang was everywhere, running up and down the stairs and aiding where he could. They wrapped Ariath warmly in blankets and sat them on the old couch in the cellar. Eventually everything was ready and they sat down to eat what they could force down, with a small glass of some warming drink which Growmiang recommended to settle any nerves. After showing Maddie how to use a flint and steel, he set them to keep watches from the lantern. As each person kept watch, the rest tried to rest or at least keep themselves occupied. Then during Emily's watch they heard her calling down to them. "I think there's something moving out there!"
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Post by Idris on Oct 15, 2018 20:23:13 GMT
Session 36 - 12/10/2018 IdGM: At Emily's call Growmiang raced up to the lantern to scan the surrounding area. "That's them!" he said, pointing one paw at a slight movement among the trees. "To your places!" he yowled, leaping back faster than Emily could keep up. Maddie: Maddie double-checked that she had her makeshift blackjack ready, then waved the others towards the cellar. Emily: Emily did her best to keep up with Growmiang, rushing down to her allocated place in the grand scheme to defeat these enemies. Still, she is trying her best to keep her nerves. Stephen: Stephen, who had been taking some time to sharpen his sword, moved to the place the plan had assigned him Maddie: Maddie took up a position near the door, keeping an ear close to it to listen out for the sounds that would indicate that Growmiang had sprung his trap Hannah: Hannah readied her crossbow down in the cellar, waiting for the moment to put to use her practice. IdGM: They stood on the cellar steps, each trying to control their fear and not breathe too loudly, feeling the sweat breaking out and prickle on their skin. The silent waiting seemed to stretch forever. When would something happen? And then there was a tremendous explosion, followed by howling and shrieking, and above it the sound of Growmiang's scathing voice. "Come and get me then yer mangy curs." Maddie: Maddie tensed and readied herself, waiting to hear if the wolf-men would take Growmiang's bait IdGM: They heard a scuffling and further howls, and then the clattering of many sets of clawed feet on the stairs above. They could also hear a man, shouting in what sounded like German. IdGM whispers to Stephen: The words seemed to be "Get back, you filthy brutes, leave it you shit-hounds!" Stephen: "Must be the Magus, I think he's telling the wolves not to chase Growmiang." said Stephen, sounding worried. "Hopefully their bestial natures won't be controlled so easily" Maddie: "Something about shit-hounds?" Maddie had never taken the time to get her boyfriend to teach her more than a handful of German. She listened, pulling out her blackjack IdGM: It seemed the Magus' words had little effect - the ravening WolfMen continued galloping up the stairs, and above them Growmiang raced for his life, along the narrow corridor to where the rope hung to drop the barrier and seperate the pack. Maddie: though she was straining to join the fight, Maddie knew she'd need to wait a little longer - it wouldn't do any good to come this far and then have one of the wolves hear them rush out just before the trap was set off. She opened the door just a crack so she could peer out and see the situation Stephen: "Careful."whisphered Stephen at her side IdGM: Maddie could not see the stairs from this position but she had a view of the front door, once more scorched and this time blown completely from its hinges. In front of it the tall and emaciated figure of a man stood scowling up the stairs. Hanks of long black hair hung around his skull-like face. His hands were bending and twisting about one another, forming arcane designs, and he muttered to himself, presumably calling on the elemental power to recharge his magic. Maddie: Maddie clenched her fist on her blackjack and waited for the sound of the cauldron smashing down Hannah: Hannah held her breath, waiting for Maddie to give the signal that it was time to strike. Stephen: Sword gripped tight in his hand, Stephen took a deep breath Emily: Emily rather with unpracticed effort managed to draw an arrow and kept the arrow nocked to the bow, ready to be unleashed onto the magus. IdGM: Up above the howling and running had become slightly more muffled - plainly the WolfMen were following Growmiang into the corridor. Unseen by the waiting watchers below, Growmiang gave a great leap and clung onto the dangling rope for a moment, his claws digging in. Then he swung out and raced away to the window, only just ahead of the WolfMen's slavering jaws.IdGM: There was a sudden crash from above, the sound of a large wooden barrier dropping accross the path of the pack. Muffled howling still came from the far side of the barrier. Those WolfMen remaining on this side of the barrier started a terrible yelping and howling, like dogs left out in the cold.
Another crash followed as the falling barrier pulled the net down. The massive iron cauldron fell straight onto the head of one of the WolfMen, who fell onto his side streaming blood. The other looked up just in time to be hit by the heavy logs. With a yowl of pain, he turned in circles, confused. Then the spices hit, with a rain of pepper which covered his sensitive nose. The WolfMan's yowls became even louder and more desperate, and now the listeners below could hear in them just a hint of words in some strange language.
Above them they could hear the running feet of the pack chasing Growmiang as he scrambled for the small window at the end of the corridor and threw himself down into the arms of the tree below. Maddie: Maddie immediately threw the door open and rushed at the Magus. "Hello there fucker!" she called in English Emily: Emily moved forward on the stairs, ready to unleash their type of fire onto the Magus Stephen: Stephen advanced, knowing soon they would have to face the wolves in melee. IdGM: The Magus turned as Maddie shouted, and raised his arms to protect himself. Clearly he was not used to fighting without his magic to hand. Maddie: Maddie whirled her brick-filled sleeve overhead, grinning wildly as she realised she was facing someone clearly unused to physical confrontation. "You're going down, fucker," she added in German. She suddenly raised the blackjack as though she was going to swing down hard, but it was only a feint, and when the Magus committed himself she instead swung hard sideways. Her makeshift weapon crashed into the side of his emaciated skull and sent him toppling to the ground with blood pouring out IdGM: As he fell, the Magus reached out one long fingered hand towards Maddie. "Bauernhündin..." he muttered, his lips curling. Then his eyes rolled up into his head. Hannah: Seeing Maddie quickly dispatch the Magus, Hannah allowed herself a brief grin before calling out for Maddie and Stephen to position themselves behind the stairs to be hidden from the WolfMen if they descended, while preparing herself to fire along with Emily. IdGM: The WolfMan on the landing was silenced by the sight of the Magus felled, and then he raised his head and howled. The sound made their blood run cold. Shortly after the trapped WolfMen ceased clamouring at the window where Growmiang had disappeared, and they clearly heard them heading to the barrier and start working to remove it. Suddenly a rather disshevelled Growmiang appeared in the doorway. With a rude gesture at the WolfMan he hopped over the prone body of the Magus. "Nice work! Yers?" he asked Maddie. Maddie: Maddie nodded, then hawked up a glob of phlegm and spat it up in the WolfMan's direction IdGM: The WolfMan glared down at them with its yellow eyes, its nostrils reddened by the pepper and saliva dripping from its massive jaws. Then it threw itself down the stairs towards them.
As it neared them, an unearthly and beautiful sound floated up from the cellar. Ariath was singing. They all felt its power surround them like the warmth of the sun. Stephen: "Such beauty..."muttered Stephen, briefly caughy be Ariath's celestial singing Hannah: Hannah's nerves almost got to her, but Ariath's song calmed her, and she was able to steady her crossbow, drawing on her earlier practice. The bolt flew true, striking the WolfMan in the side. The WolfMan stumbled as Hannah's bolt struck it, and Emily took advantage, aiming her arrow for his throat. It whistled through the air and struck, sending the WolfMan tumbling down the stairs. Stephen: Not expecting the barrier to last much longer, Stephen tried to further slow the advance of the remaining wolfmen by placing the bloody, battered corpse of the fallen one on the stars. He eventually managed to drag it near the bottom of the steps, though he struggled and got some of its blood on himself in the process IdGM: As he stood up, there was a crash from above. The barrier had given way. Four furious WolfMen shot out from behind it, pulling up short as they found their dazed pack member in front of them. Snarling they looked down at Stephen and the body of the fallen WolfMan. Growmiang ran past Maddie and took cover behind the overturned table. Maddie: Maddie followed Growmiang, but on the way she picked up one of the Molotov cocktails they had left lying around. The last time she'd held one, her and Dionisia had been on a demonstration in Athens, protesting against Syriza as they caved and imposed another round of brutal austerity measures on behalf of the Troika. The bastards from the KKE had made up half the march, and the anarchists another half, but when the police had come in the KKE had stood aside and let them loose. Maddie had been lucky to escape with no more than a black eye. Her aim had been pretty bad that day, but this time she had more room to throw, and the Molotov smashed against a WolfMan Hannah: Hannah and Emily let loose their missiles, with Hannah's bolt striking one of the injured WolfMen. Stephen: Knowing it would be madness to go up the stairs to face the four snarling wolfmen, Stephen quickly grabbed one of the molotov cocktails and sized up the stairs to judge the distance and lit it. Then with a swift, smooth motion he threw it with accuracy unexpected fror someone who had never handled this kind of weapon and struck one of the wolman squarely, the glass shattering and the burning fuel setting the hapless wolfman's fur on fire. Maddie: Maddie laughed wildly. "Are you sure you've never been in a riot Steve?"
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Post by Idris on Oct 21, 2018 21:19:07 GMT
Session 37 - A thousand cuts IdGM: The WolfMan who already had an arrow and a bolt sticking from its flesh, howled horribly as its hair singed and flames flared around its head. The other WolfMen snarled and yowled, and one of them beat at the burning one's fur, trying to put out the fire. One of the other WolfMen leaped down the stairs and threw himself at Stephen who raised the sword to deflect the monstrous jaws. The WolfMan seized the sword in its teeth and ripped it out of Stephen's hand. The other active WolfMan leaped down from the side of the stairs and landed in front of Maddie, its foul breath in her face as it snapped at her. Maddie: Maddie ducked quickly beneath the WolfMan's attack. She thought she spotted an opening and tried a rapid, dazing counterattack, but the other WolfMan barged into her way and she had to step back and await another opportunity IdGM: Suddenly a gray shape streaked past Maddie, leaping from the back of the settle and flinging itself at the WolfMan in front of Stephen. A swift rake accross the WolfMan's face and Growmiang sprang away again, behind the settle. The WolfMan snarled horribly as blood ran down into its eyes. Maddie: Seeing Stephen hard-pressed, Maddie whirled on his opponent and drove a stinging kick hard into the WolfMan's knee, buckling its leg underneath it and sending it spinning down onto the bottom step with Steve's sword still in its mouth IdGM: The WolfMan went down in a tangle of hairy limbs, unable to spit out the sword. The blade split the corner of its mouth and it howled and dropped the sword. Hannah: Emily fired off a shot at the WolfMan helping put out the fire on another, but the creature twisted away. Seeing that their ranged attacks were likely to be futile, Hannah looked to provide some sort of distraction. She recalled the plan to distract the magus with hanging figures, and rushed to pull the rope which would release one to swing across toward the stairs, hopefully getting in the way of the WolfMen as they fought her companions. Stephen: Taking advantage of Maddie's vicious attack, Stephen quickly reached for the sword on the ground and stabbed at the torso of fallen WolfMan, taking him out of the fight. IdGM: Growmiang had attracted the attention of the two uninjured WolfMen. Their yellow eyes fixed on the flicking tail and they both leaped towards him. As they did so, Growmiang turned and with a seemingly effortless jump leaped up to the large wheel shaped candle holder hanging by chains from the ceiling. He hauled himself up and grinned down at them. Maddie: Taking advantage of the distraction Growmiang had caused, Maddie whirled her blackjack around and smashed it down across a WolfMan's head Hannah: Finding her arrows ineffective, Emily looked around for some other way to gain an advantage against the WolfMen, but couldn't come up with anything. Meanwhile Hannah tried to take advantage of the chaos to shoot the WolfMan Maddie had just struck, but her bolt flew wide. Stephen: Stephen rushed up the stairs to reach the WolfMan he had previously set on fire with a molotov cocktail, taking advantage of the distraction created by the hanging rope and stabbing the creature in the chest, pushing the sword's blade deep in his body despite the danger of catching fire himself. IdGM: The WolfMan clutched at the sword, then took a deep shuddering breath and lay still. Snarling with fury at the sight of his comrade's death, the WolfMan on the stairs came tearing down and threw himself at Stephen, his teeth meeting around Stephen's arm and piercing the skin. Maddie: The WolfMan Maddie had struck turned away from Growmiang and slashed out at her with a vicious claw. Ignoring the danger, Maddie stood as if rooted to the spot until the WolfMan's blow was just about to land, then with great agility she suddenly ducked. The WolfMan overextended itself, and as Maddie stepped under its blow she landed a kick to the back of its knee, striking a nerve and leaving its leg shaking and threatening to collapse under it at any time. She tried to follow this up with a heavy swing of her blackjack, but she hadn't quite got up into the right fighting stance and the WolfMan narrowly dodged Hannah: Hannah whispered a plan to Emily, and the two of them ran about angling the mirrors that had been positioned in the room, shining lights into the WolfMen's eyes and creating distracting reflections. Stephen: Stephen lashed out at the WolfMan who had just bitten him, this time with a wild swing rather than a calculated thrust, and the weapon connected, tearing through flesh though the creature still stood, fangs ready to bite again IdGM: The wounded WolfMan snapped at Stephen, catching him a glancing blow which put him off balance, Maddie: Maddie's opponent tried to bite her. She spun, but rather than away from the WolfMan she moved towards it, weaving past its jaws and then driving a thumb into its eye as she passed IdGM: With a hideous yowl Growmiang dropped on the head of the uninjured but confused WolfMan and tore at his eyes with sharp claws. Maddie: This time Maddie felt sure she would be able to deal the WolfMan a hard blow, but it leapt away with startling speed and she found herself back on the defensive again Hannah: Hannah and Emily continued doing what they could to distract the wolves for their companions, sending in more swinging figures and shining lights at them with the mirrors. Stephen: Stephen did not let their efforts go to waste, and with a sudden thrust sent the WolfMan he had been fighting collapsing to the floor IdGM: One of the WolfMen was spinning and blundering about trying to get the Cat off his head, but Growmiang's needle claws dug in hard and he avoided the raking talons with ease. Seeing Stephen down his comrade, the other WolfMan charged accross and attacked him, this time scraping his shoulder with its filthy claws and nearly knocking him offbalance. Growmiang continued to attack the desperate WolfMan but this time it managed to keep his claws away from its eyes. Knowing that their fighting skill was very limited, Emily and Hannah continued to move mirrors and swing figures, and generally to create confusion for the WolfMen. Stephen: Though battered and scratched Stephen was finally able to bring this WolfMan down too, leaving only one left IdGM: The one remaining WolfMan was still spinning about, unable to see clearly and trying to knock Growmiang off his head. He succeeded in making the Cat leap off, but in doing so Growmiang scraped his claws accross the WolfMan's face. Growmiang danced just out of reach of the furious WolfMan but this time he could not tempt it to chase him. Maddie: As Growmiang leapt off, Maddie rushed in and swung her brick-filled sock hard, but she only landed a glancing blow that would annoy more than it would actually hurt IdGM: The WolfMan yowled in fury. Stephen: Stephen tried to take down the last remaining WolfMan with a sudden lunge, but though wounded the thing somehow still kept to its feet IdGM: Blood was pouring down its face now, from the many scratches, and it seemed impossible that the WolfMan kept fighting but he still made a lunge for Maddie which she easily avoided. Growmiang sprang back to the attack, tearing at the creatures face again. Maddie: Maddie swung her sleeve around and slammed it into the thing's battered face, and finally the last WolfMan toppled over. Maddie dropped the sleeve and stood with her hands on hips, getting her breath. "Jesus fucking Christ they're stubborn."
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Post by Idris on Nov 10, 2018 22:59:20 GMT
Session 38 - 9/11/18 IdGM: As the last WolfMan fell, Growmiang gave a strange yowl - a feline outpouring of triumph over the enemy. "What a fight, against a ferocious foe!" he said at last. He was cock-a-hoop, reliving the battle and praising Maddie for her ferocity. "And now for the coup de grace. WolfMen don't die, they need to be finished off with silver. We can sharpen the knives. And you should cut the bastard's throat." he indicated the comatose body of the Magus. Stephen: Now that the battle was over, Stephen seemed to hesitate "Are we? Shouldn't we give him a chance to speak, at least? Or is that too dangerous?" he asked, unsure. Maddie: Maddie clenched her fists, adrenaline still pumping through her, but she looked uncertain. "We need to find out where they're keeping Eurytion and the Seer." IdGM: Growmiang looked surprised that Maddie had doubts. "Yer can work on him for a bit I suppose - watch him like a hawk, he's a dangerous customer. But the WolfMen now... A wolf’s one thing but crossed with a man it’s no good ter anyone, like a bleedin’ ban-dog wi’ mitts. Yer can’t give law to a Wolf or any kind a cur, but the WolfMen are Old Harry’s dogs. Put ‘em down afore they get back up.” Maddie: "I'm an anarchist, why would I want to give law to anyone?" Maddie muttered. Hannah: "Old Harry?" asked Hannah. Emily: Emily frowned at the words of Growmiang, "I think we should give them a chance to speak for themsleves, especially him." She gestured at the fallen man. "Are these Wolfmen created?" She wonders on this., IdGM: Growmiang signed theatrically. "Give law, let 'em run a bit afore ye chase 'em down. Like hares you know, when ye set the greyhounds on 'em. Old Harry is Old Nick, ain't ye learned nothing?" Stephen: "The Devil" said Stephen for the others. IdGM: "That's the gent!" Growmiang agreed. Hannah: Hannah chuckled. "I would've gotten my knuckles rapped for giving the Devil a nickname." IdGM: Growmiang grinned. "Too much respect for 'im?" Maddie: "Fucking hell, is he real too? I suppose given that apparently Thor is it's not impossible." Hannah: "In a way, I guess," said Hannah. "He does keep people in line." IdGM: "I've never met 'im in person," Growmiang said, almost as though he would like to. "So what ye going to do with these?" he indicated the bloody bodies lying around the floor. Stephen: "Later, you'll have to explain us more about how all of this fits together." said Stephen "Devils, 'angels' and all sorts of gods and spirits...But for now, I agree we have other concerns. We should carefully consider what to do here; mercy, a quick death and anything in-between could all have unforeseeen consequences." he said Emily: Emily's eyes widened at the mention of the Devil, holding her pendant for a moment and eyed the fallen living enemies, "I think we should be lenient toward them." Maddie: "Growmiang, you said that when they realised they jewel they took was a fake they would come back for the real one. I'd assume that meant they didn't have time to take Eurytion and the Seer to...wherever it was they were taking them...before turning back." IdGM: Growmiang looked confused for a moment. "They wouldn't have had time to get to the Court of the Wolf, no." He then took a deep breath preparatory to making another impassioned argument for killing their fallen foes, but had barely spoken two words when a deep, powerful voice spoke from the doorway.
“Growmiang what are you doing? Have you learned nothing from your years of service?” Growmiang jumped a foot in the air. His mouth opened but no sound came out. As he spun around to face the door he visibly seemed to shrink. “M...m...m...istress!”
A most unexpected figure stood in the doorway. The Seer, for plainly it was she, stood about eight feet tall. Her broad tanned face was creased with laughter lines, although she was not laughing now. For a moment she stared hard at each member of the party. Yet the most surprising thing about her was the perfect standard English she had used, like a pre-war BBC announcer. Maddie: Maddie glanced at Hannah. "Well there's probably just about enough people here who already speak English for us to consider setting up ESL classes if we need to get real jobs." Hannah: Hannah spun about and instinctively scrambled a bit toward where she'd laid down her crossbow, but then stopped. "You're the Seer." She looked to Maddie. "Damn. I wish I'd kept the old Test of English as a Foreign Language study book I helped a friend out with." Stephen: Stephen turned to look at the Seer and was obviously impressed; he must not have expected her to be so extraordinarly large and to speak his tongue so perfectly Emily: Emily looked back at the door and eyed a good figure with a surprise on her face, "Glad to see you are safe although I do wish we meet under better circumstances." IdGM: There was a strange look in her eye as the enormous woman looked at them all, but she gave Emily a warm smile. "These are indeed strange circumstances, but we do not have time for social niceties. Growmiang! Fetch my bag, you know where it is." The chastened Cat scurried off to the cellar. The Seer looked around at them. “Do any of you have medical training? My companion is sorely wounded and lies on a bier outside. I can see injured people here too. And you” - she looked hard at Stephen - “need more than all of them if you are not to suffer a terrible fate.” Emily: Emily stood at attention on hearing about medical training, "I got some first aid experience, I can help out with patching up." She offered her help on first aid. Maddie: "Well I know how to get pepper spray out of people's eyes but I'm hardly a doctor. What do you mean about Steve?" Stephen: Stephen had not replied immediately, obviously taken aback by the Seer's words and giving them great weight "What exactly do you mean?" he said, obviously distressed IdGM: The Seer looked to Stephen, "You have been bitten by a WolfMan, yes? This is dangerous, but I have something which should stop it before it goes too far. For now, sit on that settle over there and raise the leg." She looked to Maddie. "Do you know how to get a fire started? If you want to help your friend, fetch some clean water from the well and boil it up. And your companion can assist me in checking everyone's injuries." She gathered Emily up and they went outside. Stephen: Stephen was red-faced, as if feeling ashamed for not thinking about that himself. "It hadn't occured to me being bitten could turn me into one of them. We have stories about that in our world, but I just assumed things worked differently here..."he said, sounding quite worried Maddie: Maddie got the flint and steel Growmiang had given her. "What do you think we should do about these ones?" Maddie asked the Seer, indicating the WolfMen and the magus. Emily: Emily looked at Stephen with concern as she went over to help out with checking everyone's injuries. IdGM: "Staunch their wounds with some clean cloths. We will be quick and then I can talk to you." The Seer moved outside followed by Emily. To one side of the tower, a centaur lay on a bier made of branches. He had plainly been bound to it hand and foot but his bonds had been loosened. He was clearly badly injured - bitten, clawed and burned - but he was still alive, although unconscious. Hannah: Hannah, unsure of the purpose but not planning to question it now, went about staunching the wounds of their fallen enemies so Maddie could focus on the fire. IdGM: Growmiang came running out with an old medical bag, which the Seer opened to reveal bandages and salves of various kinds. Between them, she and Emily treated the centaur's various wounds and make him confortable. "We will bring him in when the place is cleaned up." the Seer said. "He should be safe here." By the time they reentered the Tower, the fire was crackling in the great hearth and a pot of water bubbling over it. Emily and the Seer checked the Magus. Emily: Emily nodded once she finished with Centaur, "Good idea. I am glad he is doing okay." Stephen: "I assume you've done this more than once."said Stephen nervously while waiting IdGM: The two examined the Magus, who had only received the one injury - a hard crack on the head from Maddie's blackjack. Emily decided he was most likely concussed but showed no signs of skull fracture. With a bandage wrapped around his head, they moved him to one of the settles and covered him with a blanket. The WolfMen needed less comfort and were laid in a row on a clean rug to recover. Finally the ordinary injuries were all dealt with, and the Seer came to Stephen. "We will go upstairs and you can use one of the guest beds. There will be some fever tonight, and you will need someone to watch over you. Growmiang came up and spoke very quietly and respectfully to the Seer. "Ariath is here?" she said, shocked. "I thought they had flown to safety. Can you carry them up to the other room? I will check them when I have seen to this young man." Growmiang turned to Hannah and Maddie and asked them to carry Ariath back upstairs wrapped in the blankets. Hannah: Hannah quickly moved to follow her instructions. "Nice to meet someone who knows what's going on and is possible to understand," she murmured. Stephen: "I trust you will do what is needed."said Stephen not just to the Seer but the others "Although I do hope you won't have to put me down."he added, gravely. IdGM: The Seer led Stephen into the smaller of the two guest rooms and then fetched one of the clean robes. "Have a wash and then get into bed," she said firmly. "You won't want to be hopping around on that leg for a while. Don't worry, " she added with a twinkle. "I do know what I'm doing, and I won't let Growmiang near you." Maddie: "I assume the centaur is Eurytion, yes? His mother sent us to bring him home." IdGM: The Seer went into her room and returned with a decorated earthenware pot, which she set to one side, and a small vial of some cloudy liquid. She took Stephen's leg and examined the wounds, then pointed out the dark area surrounding them. "The poison hasn't moved far yet. We have time." She began to apply a strong smelling green salve onto the wounds. "You met Mima?" she said to Maddie, sounding surprised. The salve stung and then burned, until it was almost unbearable. Maddie: "Yes, we got umm...warped...into this world near to her. Who taught you English? It sure wasn't Growmiang." IdGM: The Seer chuckled. "Yes, I learned mine from one of our more recent ... visitors. Growmiang last lived in the Mundane during the Regency, and in some very peculiar places from all accounts. When did you arrive here?" Stephen: Stephen twitched slightly as the Seer applied the salve - obviously it sting was at least as strong as its smell - but he did not complain. IdGM: "You're being very brave, this stuff is quite harsh," the Seet said to Stephen as she bandaged the treated leg. "Now drink this." Maddie: "A few days ago?" Maddie looked around at the others. With all they'd been through, and the ordeal in Gece Yeri, it felt like a thousand years. Stephen: Stephen took the vial from the Seer and, trying not to smell it, drank the contents in one gulp. IdGM: The potion was, if anything, more horrible than Stephen imagined but he managed to choke it down. The Seer covered him in the colourful quilt. "Get some sleep now." Hannah: When Stephen was settled in, Hannah approached the Seer. "So you've had numerous visitors? How have they come and gone?" IdGM: With Emily, she then moved in to see Ariath who had been put to bed in the other guest room. They talked quietly together while the Seer used more salves on the burned wing and gave Ariath a different potion. Once the Aetherial was comfortable, the Seer led the others downstairs. "While we're talking we will sort out our other 'guests'. It would never do to have them wake up unexpectedly. There is a lockable cupboard in the cellar which will do for the WolfMen, and the Magus can stay where he is. I can keep him sedated for now." After blocking up the door, cleaning away the blood, clearing up the spilled and broken items, and restoring the room to rights, they brought the centaur in from outside. He was beginning to return to consciousness, and they made him up a bed of blankets on the floor in front of the fire. While the three humans had a wash, the Seer produced some leaves and made up an infusion, which was almost like tea. Hannah, Emily and Maddie sat around the fire with their mugs, and Growmiang curled up like any house cat on the rug. They were exhausted and sore but there was something very comforting and restful in the scene. "Now we can talk properly," the Seer said. "And maybe first we should introduce ourselves. I am Arberyonwth." Hannah: "Hannah Jeong." She had taken out her notebook and was absentmindedly sketching some of the strange scenes they had witnessed. "I'd half-expected you just went by 'Seer'." Maddie: "Maddie." She sipped the tea, glad to have something like she was used to here, although she was starting to worry about how she was going to get a supply of vaping liquid here Emily: "Emily Allaway" Emily replied with her name as she sipped the herbal tea and found it partly satisfying, gripping the warm mug IdGM: Arberyonwth laughed. "Many do just know me as that. So you came through the Cursed City? That is a bad place now, though once a wonderful centre of beauty and peace." Hannah: "Yes, we came through there. Did you see it before it changed? Is that where all the visitors come from?" Now that they finally had a chance to rest, Hannah was full of questions - and Arberyonwth was the most 'human' person they'd met in some time, despite her size. IdGM: "I never saw the city at its height," Arberyonwth replied. "But I have Seen it. Very few of our visitors have come that way and not many of those are human. I Saw you, and your companions. With the dog." Hannah: "Our companions?!" exclaimed Hannah. "You saw them outside the city?" Maddie: "Do you know where they are now? Can you find out?" Emily: Emily brightened at the mention of the dog, "Does this world get many visitors by other routes as well?" She asked curiously IdGM: "I saw all of you in the city, but none outside. However they are not still within the city. Of that I am sure. I might be able to See but it will take time. And we must deal with many things tonight. Not least the welfare of your friend. He will need watching over, and all of us need sleep. Would you take the first Emily? I was not injured like the others, just bruised, but they drugged both of us and my mind is not as clear as it should be. " Arberyonwth yawned. "Yes, many have crossed over in both directions." Emily: Emily looked thoughtfully, "So maybe we can return home one day then." She stood up, ready to take the watch. IdGM whispers to Stephen: Stephen had been dozing - the bed was very comfortable and warm. But it began to feel too warm, and then too hot, ragingly hot. He opened his eyes, and flames were leaping all around him.Stephen bisbiglia: Stephen could do nothing but twist and turn, as if trying to extinguish the fire he felt withinIdGM: As Emily entered the room she could see that Stephen was restlessly moving under the cover, and he felt very hot. Emily: Emily found the pitcher with a mug along with some clothes. She wet the cloth and laid it on Stephen's forehead. "Don't worry." Emily asked, "You will be fine." She made sure that Stephen took some drink as well IdGM: Stephen seemed unaware of her. His skin was burning to the touch and his eyes glazed. IdGM whispers to Stephen: The pain in his leg was so intense, as if it was being sawn in halfIdGM: Arberyonwth showed Maddie and Hannah to the next floor where they made up beds out of blankets and cushions. "I don't usually have such a crowd, only the three of us," the Seer said with a smile, but her eyes were sad. "Growmiang told me what happened to Brownleaf." Stephen: Delirious from the fever, Stephen ranted incoherently, although Emily could make out something about Mari, fire and darkness IdGM: They had buried the rabbit, and the dead centaur, in the gardens earlier, while preparing for the attack. IdGM whispers to Stephen: In his delirium Stephen decided he wanted the leg removed. Why would nobody come to cut it off?Maddie: "You might want to get more of a crowd, there's safety in numbers." Stephen: "Cut it off! Cut it off!" suddenly said Stephen, hoarsely as his body shook from the fever IdGM: "I have lived here for many centuries, but this is a new evil. The rift between the Courts will destroy our world, and I think there will be no safety anywhere if it continues..." Emily: Emily bit the inside of her cheek as she watched Stephen's ranting, "No need to." She told him as Emily made sure Stephen is drinking enough water Maddie: "Why is there a rift between the Courts? We've kind of been too busy running for our lives to get a straight answer on that, and you're the first person we've met who speaks English well enough for us to actually discuss it properly." IdGM: Arberyonwth frowned and ran a hand through her mass of red hair. "There have always been divisions, arguments, even fighting between the Tuath, but this is different. They are like family, they fight and make up, they form alliances which break down, and enmities which blow over. They don't make war, not as you humans do - not you personally of course - but we know of your history and the damage you have done to the Mundane. It is as if that is bleeding through into this world, The two are interlinked you know. " Stephen suddenly tried to get out of bed, determined to find someone to cut off his leg. Hannah: "Great, so that means I could suddenly see a centaur version of Donald Trump or something. I thought I was safe from some things here." When she heard Emily's call she stood up and hurried over, hoping to help calm him. Emily: Emily called out for a help while attempting to restrain Stephen. When she noticed Hannah coming in, "Give me a hand with Stephen." Stephen: "It hurts, cut it off!" called out Stephen, still delirious and likely not recognizing the two women Maddie: Maddie ran in to help with Stephen, wincing. "The first time I got pepper sprayed I wanted someone to put my eyes out, and that's got to be worse. Steve is pretty tough for some Oxbridge boffin but..." she trailed off. To distract herself, she turned back to Arberyonwth. "Can you get rid of the Courts? Or make them stop bickering?" IdGM: Arberyonwth had followed them downstairs. "If only I could. But we should talk about this tomorrow. Stephen here is reaching the crisis early. Once he is through that he will sleep naturally." Emily: Emily with Hannah managed to westle Stephen back into his bed, "Go to sleep!" She told him sternly Hannah: Once they had him down, Hannah held his hand tightly to give him something to focus on other than his leg, and began murmuring some assurances. IdGM: Seeing that their patient was being well cared for, Arberyonwth excused herself and went to get some much needed sleep. "Wake me if he is any worse." Stephen seemed calmed by the presence of his companions and quietened down. At some point Hannah realised she had dropped off for a few minutes, and then she realised that Stephen was no longer burning up. His forehead was damp and cool, and he slept peacefully. Emily: Emily looked closely at Stephen as she feels his brows, "His fever is getting better. He should be feeling better before long." She told Hannah with relief Hannah: Hannah smiled sleepily. "What would we do without you, Emily?" Emily: Emily smiled back, "I am sure you all still be fine." She replied confidently. IdGM: With Stephen now seemingly out of danger, they were able to rest, although they still took their turns watching over him. When the sun rose, everyone had slept at least for a while, and felt more able to face the new day and its challenges.
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Post by Idris on Nov 19, 2018 15:41:57 GMT
Session 39 - 16/11/18 IdGM: Growmiang, being nocturnal, had stayed on guard all night. There were no further alarms, yet despite being warm and comfortable, none of them had really slept well, being disturbed by bad dreams. In the morning they gathered around the table for a breakfast of bacon and bread, with plenty of the substitute tea. Afterwards they settled down for a discussion of their next action.
Maddie: Maddie winced. "D'you want this?" she said to Hannah, pointing at the bacon.
Hannah: Hannah was in an unusually cheerful mood, eating with gusto and cracking jokes. She seemed to have reached some new acceptance of their strange situation in this world. She shrugged to Maddie. "I'm not a veggie or vegan, but I'm not a big meat eater so this is plenty. It's probably not factory farmed at least, right?" IdGM: The Seer smiled. "Do not worry. this is not made from the meat of animals. There are plants which grow here which we use instead. The smell of bacon is one that most sentient beings find satisfying." Maddie: Maddie blinked. "You have...bacon plants?"
IdGM: "Not exactly but near enough." the Seer said, though Growmiang made a face.
Emily: Emily thoroughly enjoyed the bacons and breads only to looked up at the Seer with surprise.
Hannah: Hannah took a bite. "Tastes more like bacon than the late night dining hall bacon in college."
Maddie: Maddie picked up some bread and chewed it thoughtfully for a while, trying to work out if the Seer was pulling her leg. She eventually decided that it seemed sensible that a world where there were intelligent animals might have developed meat substitutes so she tore off a small piece of bacon experimentally. "If you're fucking with me well...you're the Seer so you probably already know what I'd do."
IdGM: Despite Maddie's reaction, the Seer smiled. "That's not really how it works. But you can take my word for it, I don't eat the flesh of sentient beings either. Now. we need to make some decisions." While they talked she examined Stephen's leg and pronounced it doing well. "You need not stay in bed but no running about on it for a while." She put some green strong-smelling salve on it, and bandaged it up again, handing Stephen a small cup of some kind of infusion with leaves floating on the surface.
Maddie: "How's Eurytion?"
IdGM: "He's a lot better too," Arberyonwth said. "He is outside, doing some exercises to get his muscles working."
Stephen: "Thank you for all of this. I will try to be more careful in the battles to come - and I worry there will be many" said Stephen. He had been mostly quiet during breakfast, although he did mention in passing that the concept of meat-flavored plants had ancient historical precedent in their own world, too. Although he was getting better, the experiences of the night had obviously taken his toll on him.
Maddie: Maddie gave Steve a playful clap on the shoulder. "How many Oxbridge boffins have taken out half a dozen WolfMen in a fight before?" she asked. She then made a face and glanced at the Seer. "Uh. don't answer that question, I don't think I really want to know."
Stephen: "Well, college meetings can get quite rowdy sometimes..." said Stephen, smiling faintly. "If we make it back to our world, we'll all have so many stories to tell - a shame they won't believe us back home. But who could blame them?"
Emily: Emily looked relieved hearing that Eurytion is recovering well and that their goal is achieved. "Maybe someone in our world did know about it. Maybe that why the city got attacked..."
IdGM: As they were talking, a large figure appeared in the doorway making them all start. Eurytion entered, looking very much better than the night before. He was tall and strongly built even for centaur, with a handsome face, clear hazel eyes and dark brown hair which matched the colour of his horse parts. His naked torso and arms were tanned and muscular. He looked surprised to see them all, then moved forward and bowed to the women. "I am honoured to meet you," he said in faultless Greek, his voice deep and commanding.
Stephen: As in the past, Stephen had to translate for his companions, as Eurytion, unlike the Seer, obviously knew no English. "We are honoured to meet you, too. Your mother Mima sent us to you."he addressed the centaur. Then, as if worrying he might not believe his words, he started to look for something in his pockets and eventually he found the ring Mima had given them as proof.
IdGM: Eurytion took it with great surprise. "Mima sent you here?"
Maddie: "Your dad is sick and your cousin's taken charge back home," Maddie said. "Incidentally, your cousin is a piece of shit and you should run him right the fuck out of there."
Emily: Emily introduced herself to Eurytion and replied, "My name is Emily. Yes, We decided to help her out as Medon took over the group with his guards and we owes her a favour due to her saving us."
Stephen: Stephen decided to translate Maddie's words exactly, but then added a comment of his own in Greek "I would have put it differently, but...yes, my companion over here is quite right. They were...less than gracious hosts to us."
IdGM: Eurytion's face infused with fury. "Medon was always greedy and evil, but I never imagined he would do such a thing! I must return at once!" The Seer put her hand on his arm. "Eurytion, you are sworn to a task already. The artefact must be taken to the Courts of Light.." She turned to the others. "Would two of you carry Ariath downstairs? They must be part of this decision."
Maddie: "Shall we?" Maddie said to Hannah. Normally she would have asked Steve, but too much exertion didn't seem like a good idea after his injury
Hannah: Hannah nodded and stood to help Maddie.
IdGM: Ariath was awake and seemed much improved. "We heal fast," they said with a smile. They were very light and easy to carry. Once wrapped in a blanket and ensconced in a settle, they sat sipping a small glass of some kind of nectar and listening intently to the conversation.
Hannah: "So with Eurytion headed back home, we need to decide if we're going along," said Hannah. "The first priority is making sure our missing friends are safe if we can. Then there's trying to get home, or... Well, whatever else we might want to do." A few days ago escaping seemed like the only possible route, but now that they had met better people the wondrousness of the place was clearer.
Emily: Emily nodded with agreement with Hannah, "We have precious few friends in this world as it is so that is the most important. Then I want to explore more of this world." Her voice coloured with wonder.
IdGM: The Seer frowned. "This is a difficult choice but the priorities are these: Firstly the artefact must be taken to the Court of the Owl, it is vital. Secondly Eurytion is desperate to return home and his people are in danger. Thirdly you want to find your companions."
Maddie: Maddie shrugged. "Well any warm body can carry a ring. As much as I want to kick Medon in the neck repeatedly, Eurytion's got a better chance of seeing him off than we do. Why don't we take the artefact to the Owl? Maybe this one won't be as irritating as the Dagda and the rest of that lot."
Hannah: "Would it be smarter to get to the centaurs first? After what we've faced, it seems to me having some people more prepared for battle might be neccessary to get the ring to safety."
Maddie: "Getting back to the centaurs is going to take a lot longer than getting here did, isn't it? Unless you can work out a way for us to swim up a waterfall."
Stephen: "And a centaur, alone, can likely move much faster than a group like us."added Stephen
Hannah: Hannah frowned. "You're right. But I still can't see how we'd be the best option for protecting the ring. We fought the WolfMen successfully, but only with traps and preparation."
Maddie: "What are you going to do, Arberyonwth? Is it safe to stay here? There'll be even fewer of you here than there were before and you already got taken captive once."
IdGM: Aberyonwyth sighed. "I must leave for the time being. We will set wards on the tower, and hope it is still here when we return. I will take the artefact to the Owl. Growmiang will come with me, and Ariath of course. Eurytion, I believe you are right, you should return home. The rest of you can go with which of us you choose of course and very welcome with either."
Maddie: "How long will it take you to get to the Court of the Owl, and what'll you do after? Return here?"
IdGM: The clear voice of Ariath made them all turn. "I am much recovered. If you start towards the Court, I can fly to the Owl and fetch help to meet you on the route."
Hannah: Hannah looked thoughtful. "Well, if we're to be traveling in a group... I think we're more likely to find answers with Aberonwyth and the Court, and would only slow Eurytion down as Stephen said." She looked to the centaur. "Do you think you can get home safely on your own?"
Emily: Emily nodded, "As much I would like to spend more time with the Centaurs," She smiled for a moment, "I would opt for heading toward the Court of Owl. Maybe they got more information on our missing friends potentially."
Maddie: Maddie looked unhappy. "That depends on the question we're asking. Personally I want to know the answer to the question of what Medon's face looks like with one of my boots smashing into it, but I'll go with the rest of you if that's what you decide."
Stephen: "As I think I made clear earlier, I am in favor of letting Eurytion go back to his tribe while we go to the Court." IdGM: "It will take nearly a six night to travel to the Court of the Owl, even at our fastest speed," the Seer replied to Hannah. "But I would imagine Eurytion will need some help if he is to sort out the traitors in his tribe." She looked at the Centaur for confirmation. Eurytion looked frustrated. "Mima thought I would have my companions with me, but they are both dead. I will need some aid to catch Medon and his thugs unawares. If you are all going to the Owl, then may I ask that Ariath comes with me?" "I would ask for Growmiang as well, but I don't believe he will let you go alone," Eurytion added, with a small smile at the Cat. The Seer agreed, but she looked bothered. "I am going up to the lantern, I need to See more of what this means." As she started up the stairs, she turned to them. "You four humans come up here to the library - I need to talk to you about something."
Maddie: Maddie stood and stretched. "I wish we had this fake bacon at home, veggie bacon in the Mundane's usually too flat."
IdGM: Arberyonwth disappeared up the last flight of stairs. Growmiang stretched and yawned. "Nothing beats the real thing," he grinned at Maddie. "Now I'm off to find a flower bed and commune with nature."
Maddie: Maddie went up the stairs after Arberyonwth
Emily: Emily followed the group intrested to see what Arberonwth have to say
IdGM: After some time the Seer returned down the stairs to the library where the four of them sat looking at the books or staring out of the window. Her eyes were somewhat distant, but she looked as though she had come to a decision..
Maddie: Maddie was looking out towards the sun. She glanced over at Arberyonwth. "So..."
Emily: Emily looked closely at the books, wondering what strange languages are written in them. At least they are civilised to have actual books
IdGM: "I have traced the pattern. Clearly freeing the Centaurs of the influence of the Wolf is of great importance, and most urgent too. It will require all of us. Then we will travel to the Court of the Owl, deliver the artefact and find your friends."
Emily: Nodding with agreement and with some wonder, "Sound like we got a plan then." She looked determined.
Stephen: "Then we shall do this. But there is another related matter to attend to - the wolfmen and the Magus himself. Or..." Stephen paused "Did you deal with them while I was sleeping?" IdGM: The Seer smilled. "In a way. The magus is asleep, I have had to keep him sedated I'm afraid, he is incredibly dangerous when awake. Not a nice man - Otmar von Feuersturm is a renagade monk who practised Alchemy and continued when he came from the Mundane. However the WolfMen are another matter as I will show you. But first we have to deal with your own problem."
Maddie: "How long ago did he come here from the Mundane? He called me a peasant, even though I'm really more of the hammer than the sickle."
IdGM: "Time flows differently between our worlds, and not always in the same way, but this world also extends life in many cases," the Seer replied. "And I have to remind you that our time is limited, and we still need to sort out your problem."
Stephen: "I wonder if he was named that before or after he started to use fire magic...he is indeed dangerous." said Stephen "Still, we trust you to be able to keep him in control for now."
IdGM: The Seer looked at them, her face serious. "“You have been in our world but a short time and so much has happened to you. I hardly need the power of my Sight to know that you are still vastly shocked. You speak and act with insouciance, but you are moving as in a dream, and all those you meet are like figures in a dream. You think your eyes are open but the truth is you are asleep, your minds are still lost in your own world. You need to awaken.” Maddie: "Which means...what? Are we going to have to pick between a red pill and a blue pill? Because there are some pretty rotten people who've kind of co-opted the whole red pill thing considering it's from a movie made by a couple of trans women."
IdGM: The Seer frowned. "I have no idea what you are talking about Maddie, but there are no pills involved. I can speak to each of you, and help you, if you are willing." The Seer invited each of them to come to the lantern room seperately.
Maddie: Maddie shrugged. "Ok. I hope I'm not about to be replaced by a pod person."
Hannah: "This feels kind of like walking in for the bar exam," said Hannah.
Stephen: Stephen seemed worried by the woman's tone, but he said nothing for the moment.
IdGM: "You say some very strange things. I will help your companions first and then you can feel safe." Arberyonwth held out her hand to Stephen. "Ready?"
Stephen: Stephen nodded, though he still looked unsure, and followed the Seer
Emily: Emily replied with a sigh "I am willing" as she watched Stephen following the Seer,
IdGM: The Seer sat Stephen down on a large cushion facing a picture on the wall. "Just look at the painting, and let your mind go free." The picture seemed to be an abstract but when Stephen stared at it, the shapes seemed to be moving. He felt his eyes droop and his pulse slow.
IdGM whispers to Stephen: Stephen feels weak and wrung out, as though he has been very ill, though he can’t remember anything about it. He is somewhere lit only by flickering lamps, and he knows it is the Cursed City. The air is warm and dry but so ancient, as though he is the first to breathe it for a thousand thousand years. Shapes loom like old bones from the darkness - statues of gods and men. Some he recognises and some are strange to him. He is moving through the endless passages, and he realises he is talking - to himself? - on and on, a stream of consciousness which bleeds away, swallowed by stone. He enters a huge hall, and shapes flit between the shadows, eyes peer at him from around pillars. Fear stalks his soul as he stands, frozen, unable to choose which way will take him to safety. In his heart he knows there is no safety - the shapes will follow him wherever he goes. He will never be safe again. And still his mouth is forming words but they pour out in strings of meaningless sound. His pulse is pounding, his limbs are no longer under his control. And suddenly all of the shapes are upon him, holding him down, crushing his chest, pinning him to the ground with their weight.
IdGM whispers to Stephen: Stephen awoke, his body rigid and his lungs labouring for breath. For a few moments he was quite unable to move or see, before he realised he was lying on the floor of the lantern room. The Seer was seated in front of him, her face in deep concentration. She opened her eyes and nodded to him. "Face your fear. You are more than you believe you are."
Stephen bisbiglia: Stephen seemed to struggle for a while with his doubts and fears from both his old life and his recent adventures in this new, fantastic place, but he eventually found the strength to push forward and persevere.
IdGM: After what seemed a long wait, the others heard the Seer coming down with Stephen following her. His face was flushed but his eyes clear and confident. He did not seem to have suffered any ill effects. "Who's next?" the Seer asked.
Maddie: Maddie hopped up.
IdGM: They went upstairs. Maddie sat on the cushio and stared at the picture. The Seer placed a hand gently on her head.
IdGM whispers to Maddie: Maddie dreams. Of the people and places she has known. But what is pleasant to revisit soon becames spoilt by a persistent undercurrent of threat. It nags at her senses, buzzing like mains hum, blocking sound. She is plunged into darkness and there are explosions and gun shots and screams. Her heart races, adrenaline floods her system. When the man lunges at her with a knife, she reacts instantly. His head is beneath her heel, she hears the bone crack. The sound echoes in her head, over and over - it is all she can hear. Other men and things that are no longer men come at her. She doesn’t hold back now - beating, burning, slashing at them with everything she has - each act of violence an explosive release. Blood flows and bodies fall. She hears a voice in her head say softly, “You could get to like this.” But is it her thinking or someone else? Where is she? Who is she?
Emily: Emily asked Stephen softly, "What happens?"
Stephen: "You face your fears and grow stronger for it. At least, I feel I did. And I see no reason Maddie would fare worse than me."
IdGM whispers to Maddie: Maddie woke with a huge jolt. Her hands were on her face as though afraid it was no longer the one she knew. The Seer was sitting on a seat in front of her, face rather drawn and pale but she smiled at Maddie. "You don't need to go down that road. Sometimes you have to use violence to protect yourself or those weaker than yourself, but never let yourself love it.
Emily: "Ah, I see." Emily looked at Stephen with interest.
IdGM whispers to Maddie: Maddie felt a weight she hadn't know she was carrying lift from her. She felt light and clear headed and able to deal with the world she found herself in.
IdGM: They returned to the library.
Maddie: Maddie sat down by Hannah. "I'd have preferred the kind of vision quest that involves peyote, but I guess we can't get everything we want."
IdGM: The Seer held her hand out to Hannah.
Hannah: Hannah smiled at Maddie and took the Seer's hand.
IdGM: Hannah sat on the cushion and watched the picture start to move, feeling her eyes droop and the world slide away.
IdGM whispers to Hannah: Hannah dreams. She relives again the day she left, her parting from Zadie, the rows they had before the break. Her own anger echoes in her head, clanging with accusatory words. Frivolous, she had called Zadie, but now she doesn’t know what the word meant... Her own belief in herself and the importance of her work had been so strong, her devotion to her career so all consuming... Now she feels everything coming apart. That life no longer exists... She no longer exists, not in all the ways she had felt to be important. She sees now that she had been splashing about as if swimming, but it was in a shallow pool she knew well, and now she’s been thrown into an ocean and there is nothing beneath her feet but deep dark water. She hears a cry - someone in trouble. But how can she help another if she cannot help herself? She tries to swim but the waves are high and break in her face. The waters close over her head.
IdGM whispers to Hannah: Hannah awoke, desperately trying to drag air into her lungs and for a moment she truly believed she was breathing in water, felt the tightness of it in her chest. Then her throat opened up and she sucked in huge lungful of air, gasping with relief. The Seer was gently stroking her hair and talking quietly to her. "You can swim, don't fight the ocean, let it hold you. You can't control everything, but you are strong enough for all that will come your way." Hannah let out her breath, feeling her body relax completely. She felt ready for anything that might come her way.
IdGM: The Seer returned with Hannah who looked more relaxed than they had ever seen her, even before they entered the Cursed City. The Seer smiled at Emily. "And now you dear."
Emily: Emily looked at the others with their calmer faces and smiled back at the Seer, followed the Seer
IdGM: The Seer sat Emily on the cushion, and again the picture started to move. Emily hardly realised when she closed her eyes.
IdGM whispers to Emily: Emily dreams.. She is hiding, crouched in the dark behind a door that won’t lock. The air smells of peat smoke and heather and old dog, but only sound matters to her now. Silence and then a crash from below and the voice bellowing her name. She has been found out. Heavy footsteps on the old stair, and with each creak she has to swallow down a whimper. Slow heavy feet crossing the room, and she lets go of the useless door and covers her head with her arms. There is no escape - a grip like an iron vice fastens itself on her thin wrist and she is dragged out of the darkness. Tears roll down her face but she doesn’t plead or cry out - that will just make it worse. The cane burns across her back - each stroke accompanied by the cold grunting voice, one word for each stroke. “Evil! Evil! Wicked! Child! We! Will! Drive! Out! The! Devil! From! Your! Black! Heart!” She prays, as always, for some person to help her, some magic to save her, though she knows that her prayers will not be heard. Yet this time, incredibly, someone has listened. Light steps running up the stairs and a sharp curse, then the hands are releasing her and she hears the sound of a blow striking and breaking bone and flesh. She opens her eyes - the gypsy boy is holding a heavy stick made from the hardest of wood, oiled and polished until it is like iron. He stands in front of the narrow window, outlined in light, an avenging angel. Gently he waits for her to stop shaking and then he sends her to roam the hillside while he arranges things. When she returns, the body is gone. The boy too. It is as if it never happened. Many times since she was drawn to call on the boy, but the memory haunts her - that surge of joy in the death of another - even though it was well deserved and it saved her. But she knows he is there, waiting, if she calls again.
IdGM whispers to Emily: Emily woke, tears pouring down her face, and for a moment the scars on her back burned as if freshly made. The Seer was kneeling next to her, and there were tears in her eyes, She put her arms around Emily and rocked her gently. "You did nothing wrong. And you are very strong. Sometimes you must take action to save yourself but you were not to blame. The boy... I believe he came from this world." The Seer's soft words seemed to pour balm on Emily's ragged soul. It was as though light was pouring down and through her.
Emily whispers: Emily blinked several time, removing her tears from her face. "Then I am grateful to him." She whispered. "I hope I will find him in this world then. Thank you." She returned the hugs.
IdGM: The Seer returned with Emily, both of them a little pink around the eyes, yet Emily looked light-hearted.
Hannah: "That was more what I was hoping for from this vacation," said Hannah, smiling and relaxed. "Just took a few fights to the death to get to it."
Maddie: "Now I really want a spliff but I suppose that's probably out of the question," Maddie sighed.
IdGM: "I am very glad," Arberyonwth smiled broadly at Hannah. "And you should be better fitted to survive this world. Now we must prepare and be on our way."
Emily: Emily smiled at the group as she made preparation
Hannah: "Yeah, I kind of want a cigarette, and I usually only smoke after drinks or sex," said Hannah. "Hm, come to think of it, you could probably do good business trading tobacco and weed here for bacon plants to bring back."
Stephen: "I must thank you for this. I do feel much better. Our task does not feel as hopeless anyore."said Stephen "I would be surprised if no one one this world ever smoked herbs for relaxation, it's hardly a novel concept..."
IdGM: Eurytion was overjoyed that they would be coming back with him to deal with the renegade Kentauroi. Everyone started collecting those things they would need for the journey. The Seer called Emily to help her gather the medical supplies, herbs and salves. Growmiang came in from the garden in a state of high excitement. "It's out!" He held up a large red tear-shaped gem in one grubby paw. The Seer hustled him away to wash both his paws and the gem, then took possession of it.
Emily: Emily from her eventful times in her homeland managed to gather most useful items that will help them in the journey across the forest. She is also quite helpful supporting the Seer in gathering the medical supplies as she enjoyed back to basics feels to it
IdGM: Eurytion packed two large leather bags and hung them around his broad shoulders. Before they left they ate up the perishable food, and the Seer brought out a bottle of a homemade drink that tasted very much like cherry brandy.
Maddie: Almost all of Maddie's travel had involved hitchhiking, although she'd done a few long cycling trips. She wasn't much use at suggesting what to bring, though she was strong enough to take more than her fair share on her back at least.
IdGM: "And you might be able to make use of these," she said afterwards, holding out a bag of dried and crushed leaves to Maddie, and then a small clay pipe. "I believe you'll find it similar." The leaves smelled strong and aromatic.
Maddie: "Thank fucking Christ," Maddie said with a wide smile. Maddie's brow furrowed, then she added, "I suppose if you have medieval German arseholes running around you probably know who Christ is."
Hannah: Hannah was usually highly organized and an over-preparer, but the relaxation from her vision still had a hold on her, and she went about gathering necessities rather slowly.
Stephen: Stephen set his mind to the task at hand - while obviously not averse to performing physical work himself, it was clear here and now that he would be more useful organizing, coordinating and overseeing the others' efforts. With a well-designed work plan and proper suggestions and encouragement he was able to significantly increase their productivity.
IdGM: "You might want to save it for when we rest," the Seer added. "Oh yes, I know of your religions. Very strange, the obsession with gods. The Tuath find it amusing of course." Her expression suggested that she herself diid not.
Maddie: "I seem to remember they found this amusing," Maddie indicated the No Gods, No Masters badge on her back. "I assume you can read English and not just speak it."
IdGM: Arberyonwth laughed. "Not as well as I speak it but I learned some. That is an excellent message. Now are we all ready? It is time to spin the wards around the Tower and you can all assist."
Maddie: "Really? How?"
IdGM: The Seer explained as they went outside. They all joined hands in a line and began to circle around the base of the Tower as Arberyonwth spoke words in some resonant unknown tongue that not even Stephen could recognise. As they circled their hands began to tingle - it was like a low-level electric charge running through them all. Finally the Seer stood before the door - now barred and blocked - and sang the last words before cutting her hand and marking it with blood. "That's the best we can do," she sighed. "Let us away." As they moved off, Eurytion spoke to them all. "As you know, it would be a long journey back to the Chlorosoi valley if we had to go all the way around. But Arberyonwth knows of a secret way, a tunnel that leads through the cliff and into the heart of the mountain. It will save us many days of travel, although it may be risky."
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Post by Idris on Nov 29, 2018 13:51:04 GMT
Session 40 - 23/11/18 IdGM: Before they left the clearing, the Seer turned to them. “I said I would show you what I did about the WolfMen.” She led them across to a patch of shade under tall trees where six men sat or stood, looking rather pale and lost. They wore clothes which clearly were not made for them - the trousers were too short and the tunics tight and everything was rather worn. “Let me introduce them,” the Seer said as she walked down the line. “Grimus, Gerulf, Domagoj, Borivoj, Engilram and Dragoslav. You have already met, under more painful circumstances, and I trust will not do so again...” Here she stared hard at each of the men in turn. They twisted uneasily under her gaze. Maddie: Maddie looked them over. "What are you lot likely to actually do?" she wondered aloud. IdGM: They looked at her in confusion, plainly they did not understand. "I hope they will try to live as men, although I suspect they'll return to the Wolf eventually," the Seer said. "I showed them what they really were." IdGM: The magus was a different matter. As they exited the gate, they were surprised to see that he had been chained up and loaded up onto Eurytion’s back, still unconscious. “He is not like these,” the Seer waved her hand at the discomforted men. “They are still human, they just need to be reminded of it. No, we will be leaving Otmar with someone on our way - a safe place where he will be unable to cause further trouble.” Stephen: "Someone? Is someone running a prison for evil wizards around here? " Stephen asked, curious IdGM: Arberyonwth laughed. "You could call it that. You will see." Maddie: "So the route is to drop Otmar off at Azkaban and then continue to the centaurs?" IdGM: "Mistress, we need to get moving or we'll never get there," Growmiang muttered. The Seer and Eurytion began to walk towards the river. IdGM: Ariath was going to fly to the Owl to inform them of what was happening. Emily: Emily eyed the lost men and wished for their best as she followed the group. IdGM: "We have discussed whether Ariath should take the artefact, but on balance it is too much of a risk," Arberyonwth explained to them. "When it is taken from this place it will be like a beacon to some. It is safer taking it underground with us, where it will not be sensed." Emily: Emily looked askance at them, "Underground?" Maddie: "Ok. Are we walking or should we take the Hippopotamus?" IdGM: Arberyonwth's eyebrows shot up and Growmiang spluttered, "The what?" Maddie: "Yep, we came here on a big hippopotamus. I'd show you a picture but my phone is out of battery and there's not really any charge points around here." Emily: Emily nodded as she replied, "We built a wooden raft to make our way down the river. We named it Hippopotamus." She smiled Stephen: "I hope you will explain more of how these things work, eventually." Stephen said hearing Arberyonwth's words on the artefact "It all sounds very fascinating." Hannah: Hannah chuckled. "To be fair Maddie, a giant hippopotamus sounds more appropriate here than, say, a car." Maddie: "Aww Emily, don't explain it to them," Maddie said. "I suppose we're probably walking thinking of it, I can't imagine Eurytion could fit on the raft." Stephen: "It made perfect sense."commented Stephen, who had suggested the name himself back then "Means "river horse", after all..." IdGM: "I don't think you should tease Growmiang," the Seer said with a grin. Plainly she wasn't taken in by Maddie's story. "We will be walking up the river for a while." Maddie: "Fine." Maddie glanced at her phone, sighed, and put it away. IdGM: They left the restored WolfMen looking lost under the trees and walked down to the river bank. Their route lay beside it, back the way they had come on the raft. Although their own path was more open, the trees grew to the bank on the far side, with branches bending down to the water. Suddenly, Hannah spotted a flash of brilliant colour dart between the shadows. Hannah: Hannah stopped, staring into the trees. "Did you see that? Something... colorful moving." IdGM: "A bird?" Arberyonwth asked with interest. Emily: Emily glanced around to find a bird. Stephen: Stephen had been looking in the opposite direction, and turned slowly when he heard Hannah call out. After a few seconds, he spoke "Didn't we already see something like that?" Hannah: "You're right. As long as it's not some other creature likely to attack us!" replied Hannah, continuing to walk while keeping an eye out. IdGM: The Seer held up her hand and brought them to a stop. She stepped to the very edge of the river and began to sing, although the song held more of the sound of a bird and had no words. After a few moments, a bird appeared out of the trees accross the water and swooped towards them, landing on a branch above their heads. It was an extraordinary creature, with a very long tail and feathers of every colour imaginable. Emily: Emily admired the appearance of the bird, "Looks so beautiful." She muttered to herself Stephen: Stephen seemed fascinated both by the woman's magic and the appareance of the bird, and looked as if he had to contain himself to avoid trying to reach up and touch the bird. Maddie: "What...is it?" Maddie was taken aback by the beautiful bird IdGM: "She is a Rainbow Bird," the Seer said softly. "That is why this is called the Rainbow Bird River." She raised her voice and spoke to the bird in some liquid language. The bird replied and they carried on a short conversation in this way. Then Arberyonwth turned to them in concern. "She warns us that Crows have been seen flying up and down the river. They may be hunting for us. She says we need to cut through the forest to not be seen." Maddie: "Does she have a name?" Maddie wondered Emily: Emily kept on admiring the Rainbow Bird, "How easy it is to learn a language?" IdGM: The Seer spoke to the bird who looked down at Maddie with her shiny black eyes and gave a long series of liquid trills ending in a surprisingly loud squawk. If it was her name it was beyond their current ability to pronounce, and gave Emily the answer to her question. Maddie: "Umm...ok. I'll name her Quiltbag, it's easier to remember." IdGM: Arberyonwth laughed. "She already has her own name, as have we all. Now we must move, before the Crows come back and spot us." She and the Rainbow Bird exchanged some more singing conversation, and then the beautiful creature swooped off into the darkness of the trees beyond the river. It was no easy matter to cut into the forest at this point, with large trees and thick undergrowth, and no path to follow. Maddie: Maddie fetched an axe and went to try to cut a path, though she was hoping to rely on Emily to actually know where on earth they ought to go in a forest Hannah: Hannah attempted to cut her way through the brush as well, but kept stumbling on roots and getting hit by branches. "Okay," she huffed. "I like a walk in the woods as much as anyone, but I prefer when there's a trail." IdGM: Arberyonwth spent some time with her eyes shut, listening and seeing what lay in their path. Emily: Emily looked much more at home compared to Maddie, Hannah and Stephen Stephen: Stephen used an axe too, and swung it with surprising strength for someone who had been recently been sick and forced to stay in bed. With Emily leading the way, he helped Maddie cut a path. Maddie: "Unfortunately I don't think we can look up a route on Google for this trip," Maddie said to Hannah. IdGM: Eurytion took out a strange knife resembling a billhook from his belt and swung it with vigour. Hannah: "Setting up Google Maps will be an important step for our import-export business in this world," replied Hannah, brushing flecks of dirt off of her face. IdGM: It was airless in the forest, although the trees kept the sun off, but their efforts soon had them sweating and desperate for water, which fortunately the Seer had made sure they had brought with them. Maddie: "The only way we're setting up a Google in this world is if it's a workers' co-op. I'd add that they'd need to pay their taxes here but there doesn't actually appear to be a state for me to smash anywhere." IdGM: Eurytion and the Seer pushed them hard, with only short rests, and after what felt a very long time they suddenly found a clear area before them. They had arrived at a path - hardly visible but much easier to travel. A few minutes rest with water and dry fruit and then they were moving fast along the green way. "Are we going to them little red bastards?" Growmiang asked the Seer, his face worried. Stephen: "More imps?" inquired Stephen, worried Maddie: Maddie was unaccustomed to the term 'little red bastard' being applied to anyone other than her. "Who?" Emily: "Hopefully, we can shoot them down if we need to." Emily suggested it with confidence IdGM: "Not imps," the Seer reassured them. "These are something like gnomes, although gnomes don't live in the forest of course. And they aren't red, they wear red." She looked horrified at Emily's suggestion. "Don't you even think of shooting anyone!" Stephen: Stephen looked as if he was mentally taking note of what the Seer said to remember it in the future. "Redcaps, by chance?" Emily: Emily shook her head with apology , "Sorry, I thought you was talking about these imps that we came across in your Tower." IdGM: They kept moving, and eventually arrived at a clearing, surrounded by dark trees that threw deep shade. A number of large mushrooms, much bigger than anything in the Mundane, stood about under the trees. Maddie: "If these are hallucinogenic then we definitely need to include them in the import-export idea Hannah," Maddie commented IdGM: The Seer frowned at Maddie. "These are not for eating!" Maddie: Maddie frowned. "Please don't tell me they're sentient, being a vegan is already restrictive enough without not being able to eat fucking mushrooms." IdGM: "No, but they are not for YOU to eat," the Seer said. "The Reds grow them for their own use, and although they sometimes share them, that is their choice." Emily: Emily looked at these mushrooms and said, "They looks like Fly Agaric. Well noted for its hallucinogenic propeties amd eaten as intoxicant around the world. Hopefully, we can meet the Reds? Are they friendly?" She smiled Stephen: "Cold you tell us more?" Stephen asked "Who are these red creatures, and should we worry about them?" IdGM: "Not worry, but be careful," the Seer told them. "They are generally known as the Reds - they have a name in their own language but they don't share it with others. They will take care of the Magus for us. If they trust you, you can trust them." IdGM: Hannah and Emily suddenly noticed a face watching them from behind the mushrooms. A small, round, red-cheeked face, almost exactly like most people's idea of a garden gnome. Emily: Emily smiled at at the face, clearly noticing it. "Look like we got one here already?" She gestured at the gnome IdGM: Arberyonwth bowed to the small person and spoke in Trade Tongue. "Greetings friend. Thank you for letting us join you here in your home." She held out a bag, which the Red came forward and took from her. He was small, rounded, and dressed all in red. "Greetings Seer. You have some strange friends with you today." He looked up at the tall figures of the group, and craned his neck back to look at Eurytion. Maddie: "You'd probably look strange where we come from," Maddie replied in what Trade Tongue she could manage Stephen: "We mean no harm."said a curious Stephen looking down at the gnome IdGM: The little man grinned at them. "You're from the Mundane!" At his cry, other gnomelike figures appeared from the shadows. They seemed very cheerful and fascinated by the new arrivals. They were soon invited to sit in a circle between the fungi, with small beakers full of some refreshing drink. Arberyonwth explained who everyone was and what they were doing, and that they required a safe place to hold the prisoner for the time being. The Reds seemed happy to do so. IdGM: "Don't eat anything," the Seer muttered to the others, Maddie: "What do you know about the Mundane?" Maddie asked the gnome Stephen: "And how often do you see people from there?" added Stephen Emily: "Have anyone from you has been to the Mundane?" She asked curiously IdGM: The Red shrugged, "Not many from the Mundane come here, and our people don't go there." But a female voice suddenly rang out. "The old ones did! Great-great-great-great-granfer went over!" Maddie: Maddie looked around for the speaker. "And what did he think about it?" IdGM: A very young looking Red came forward. She was obviously awed but spoke up. "He told stories about it, and we still tell them. He had adventures!" Maddie: "Would you tell us some of the stories?" IdGM: The girl looked to the older Red, but the Seer spoke first. "We have to keep going, we need to get inside the Western Passage before nightfall. Another time." Maddie: Maddie looked at the Seer with a crooked grin and sang, rather badly. "Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage! I'll take the Northwest Passage to the sea! I'll...shit, I don't remember how the rest of that fucking song goes." IdGM: The Reds clapped enthusiastically. "Come back and bring your music with you," their spokesman said with a broad grin, and he began to sing, this time in what must have been their own language. All the small people joined in, and their unaccompanied voices reminded Maddie of the folk music of her homeland, despite being from another race of beings in another world. Maddie: "Well if your great-great-great...however many...granfer brought back an electric charger I'll play you all the Stan Rogers songs you could possibly want. Shit, my mother would be mortified to know I'd forgotten some of the words but I was always more into punk or grindcore." IdGM: The Seer grinned at Maddie. "They like you! I wish we could spend more time here, but we must go on. We don't want nightfall to catch us outside the passage." She bowed to the Reds and thanked them all again. The Reds carried the Magus off into the darkness under the trees. Stephen: "Thank you."said Stephen too, eyeing the gnomes as the carried the bound Magus away. Emily: "Thanks!" Emily called out, "One less problem to worry about for now." she told herself quietly Maddie: "Thanks guys! I'll see you again I hope." Maddie waved farewell to the gnomes. Growmiang had been scouting ahead and he came back to announce that the way was clear, but there was an open area before they could get inside the passage. They were all tired now, but the light was beginning to fade and they felt the pressure to speed up. As they reached the open area, Eurytion held his arm up to stop them moving forward. "Now we have to go one by one. And carefully. If you see any birds, drop down and cover your faces. They must not see where we go." Stephen: "Any birds?"said Stephen, worried "Thought we'd only have to worry about crows." IdGM: "We don't know what they are sending as spies, so just drop when anything flies over." They began to cross the rough grass and scrub, feeling very exposed as they did so. Maddie: Maddie went first, trying to find a path that offered at least marginal cover, though it was far from easy IdGM whispers to Stephen: As they moved, Stephen suddenly spotted two black shapes circling in the distance.Stephen: Stephen saw something and suddenly threw Hannah, who was nearest to him, to the ground before dropping himself and covering his face. "It's the birds! he said "Cover!" Emily: Emily soon upon hearing Stephen's call, dropped down and covered her face with her hands IdGM: As she dropped Emily recognised the circling shapes - they were eagles. Maddie: Maddie dropped low to the ground Emily: "Eagles?" Emily muttered IdGM: Everyone crouched in the scrub, hoping the birds would pass by. Suddenly they heard movement. "They've spotted us!" Eurytion cried. And then there was the sound of a bowstring, and again. "Quick, up, up!" the Centaur shouted and it didn't need Stephen to translate to sense the urgency in his voice. "Run! Run for the entrance!" Maddie: Maddie sprang up and started to run Emily: Emily bounced up and starts running toward the entrance Stephen: Stephen got up and sprinted as fast as he could IdGM: Eurytion galloped past them with Growmiang clinging to his back, and the Seer's long legs bore her forward at a fast rate. "Come on, nearly there!" she panted. They could see a wall of rock ahead of them, but as they got nearer a narrow crack appeared. "In there!" gasped the Seer. Just as they were within reach Hannah tripped on a tussock and fell. Maddie: Maddie immediately sprang back, grabbing Hannah's arm as she fell, and helped drag her through the crack IdGM: They collapsed through the door, into a dry, dusty darkness.
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Post by Idris on Dec 7, 2018 17:55:15 GMT
Session 41 - 30/11/18 IdGM: Once they had got their breath back, they were able to stand and look about them, although not much was visible. They had dropped onto the dry and dusty floor of a cave whose walls were out of sight in darkness. The way by which they entered showed as a mere slit of dim light behind them, a narrow crack in the rock face hardly wide enough to admit the Seer, but which extended far above her head. There was no time to examine their surroundings further - the Seer only allowed them a short break to sip water and then they were on the way again. “We have to keep moving, it is already late.” She sounded worried. Stephen: "Another cave."said Stephen "Our experiences with them haven't been very pleasant so far."he commented Emily: Emily looks around at the dark caves, shivered with concern hearing that eight foot woman is worried, "Need some lights." She muttered to herself as she looked around IdGM: "You shall have them," Arberyonwth whispered some words, opened her hand and a small orb of light rose above her palm. She gently gestured it forward, to illuminate the immediate area. "Keep
listening as we go, there may be things living here." Maddie: once she was sure they were inside, Maddie let go of Hannah, gave her a grin, and then glanced around. "Things other than eagles, presumably." IdGM: "Rats, bats, snakes all live in caves," the Seer said. "And other things may lurk in them."
IdGM whispers to Maddie: Maddie noticed a strange sound, a kind of dry rustling at the edge of hearing Maddie: Maddie stopped. "I heard some kind of rustling sound..." she said quietly. IdGM whispers to Emily: Emily noticed a strange sound, a kind of dry rustling at the edge of hearing
Emily: Emily frowned upon hearing the noise. "I can hear something strange" She whispered IdGM: Growmiang was growling, low in his throat. The Seer put a hand out to silence him but he turned to them, his eyes reflecting green. "Bats!" he hissed. Stephen: Stephen seemed almost relieved when Growmiang mentioned bats instead of something else, but his hand still went to his sword Emily: Emily nodded, "Bats tend to leave their roosts at twilight to hunt. Although they can't see well, they can detect movements. I like them... back home anyway ." She looked around cautiously. Stephen: "After having to face imps and wolf-men, I'm not especially worried about bats."whisphered Stephen, before adding "Unless they're monstrous bats, of course." IdGM: "These Bats may be friend or foe, but we cannot take risks," the Seer said. "When they come over, we must remain absolutely still. They could sense our smell, but I can do something about that. Best find a good place to sit or stand where you won't need to move." Maddie: Maddie preferred to constantly stay moving, but she nodded gingerly and moved near to, but not up against, one of the cavern walls IdGM: Now they all became aware of the rustling, accompanied by the slightest waft of warm air loaded with a pungent organic smell. The Seer drew out a small pouch and threw a handful of powder into the air. As it dropped all over them, the smell of bat guano filled their nostrils. "Here they come!" Growmiang hissed. Everyone froze in place. Arberyonwth pulled Maddie into a better position and extinguished her light. The erratic fluttering of many leathery wings reached them, as the unseen bats streamed overhead. Their flight seemed to go on forever. Finally the sound ceased, and they were able to breathe again. Hannah: Hannah sighed heavily. "That would be pretty cool, if they weren't so close, and we weren't worried about their alliegiances." IdGM: "The conflict between the Courts is breaking our World," Aberyonwth said sadly. She produced the light again and moved towards the further reaches of the cave. Maddie: "I don't like this idea of animals taking sides, I hope this is only peculiar to this world. What if there are dogs who are fascists and cats who like the free market?" Maddie turned to the Seer, thought of saying something, then decided not to IdGM: "Cats think for themselves," Growmiang said scornfully. "Bats and rats and dogs, they follow each other. Like sheep." As they reached the back of the cave, the Seer started to run her hands over the rock wall. Stephen: Stephen looked curiously at the Seer, perhaps wondering if she was casting another spell or merely looking for a hidden passage IdGM: Aberyonwth stood still and shut her eyes. From what they had seen before they guessed that she was using her Sight in some way. Murmuring, she opened her eyes and made a gesture in the air. To their surprise, a gap appeared in the rock wall. But not with a grinding of stone - this was no door. It was as though the rock melted away. Hannah: "That's a trick I wouldn't mind learning," murmured Hannah. "I'm glad not all the magic is possessed by the other side." Stephen: "Very impressive."said Stephen, earnestly "I wonder if someday we might learn to work wonders like that. I believe you did mention that some who find their way there eventually learn such things...." IdGM: Aberyonwth looked keenly at them, from one to another. "It is true, and you may yet discover those unknown powers. We will see what the Owl can do for you." She turned back to the gap in the wall. They could see a long grey tunnel leading away from them into darkness. The Seer stepped through and started down the passage.
Maddie: Maddie followed after her quickly IdGM: The rest followed, with Growmiang moving into the lead, and Eurytion following, bow at the ready. The passage was very long and sloped steeply downward. As they moved along, footsore and hungry, they began to feel a dampness in the air. Maddie: "Ugh. This reminds me of some of the worse places I've squatted, fucking dark and damp." IdGM: "It will get damper," the Seer said. She sent her light moving ahead of them. Stephen: "How damp, exactly?" Stephen asked "Will we have to swim? We had some...unpleasant experiences with things in the water on our way to this world." he reminisced IdGM: "Not swim, no," the Seer said. "But we will be going on the water. And we will need to be very careful." They kept trudging on, hardly able to think of anything apart from putting one foot in front of another. It was quite a surprise to see the end of the tunnel ahead of them, and the glint of water in the Seer's light. Maddie: "So how are we going on the water?" IdGM: They filed out of the tunnel and onto a kind of stone jetty. The water proved to be a large lake, black & still as oil beneath the gleam of the light. Arberyonwth stepped forward and raised her hands to her mouth, giving a ululating call. A small boat appeared from the darkness and gently bobbed alongside the jetty. Maddie: Maddie glanced at the boat, then at Eurytion. "So how's this gonna work?" Stephen: Stephen seemed both worried and fascinated "There's something...underwordly about this." IdGM: Eurytion raised his head. "I can swim alongside." Hannah: "Is that your magic that brought the boat, or the boat's magic that responded to the call?" inquired Hannah, half to herself. IdGM: "Well now, that is an interesting question. I don't honestly know. The boat, like the doorway to the tunnel, reacts to the correct command or call." The Seer smiled. "I don't think you should go in the water," she said to Eurytion. "We will send the boat back for you."
Stephen: "It is...mysterious."said Stephen as they made to board "What is this place, and who made this? Have you done this many times before?" IdGM: "Not for many years, but at one time I travelled these ways frequently, in good company. There were some... problems which needed dealing with." The Seer gave a sigh, "I did not always live in a tower in the forest." she added with a smile. Maddie: "Where did you live before that?" Hannah: "I wish we could have seen this place before the war," said Hannah. IdGM: The Seer climbed carefully into the boat and Growmiang sprang lightly down to sit beside her. "I moved about a lot, doing all kinds of things," she said. "I was born in the north, up in the mountains where my mother came from. When my gift became known, I was sent away to train, but I didn't want to sit cross-legged waiting for something to See. Even before the current trouble, there were always things that needed clearing up." Stephen: "I apologize for my curiosity about such a thing, but..."said Stephen, embarassed "Is everyone there so large? Would your people be giants by our standards, or are you simply exceptionally tall yourself?" IdGM: Aberyonwth made a gesture and the boat began to move forward over the black water. "My mother's people are known as Giants in your world. But I am not a full Giant, my father was a man, who came originally from the Mundane. He was attached to Rowan's Court, and returned there." Maddie: "Really? Where was your father from?" IdGM: "He came from Britain, but it was not the same one you know. This was long long ago, back in the days of the leader you know as Arthur." Maddie: "Yah, that was a pretty long time ago." She jerked a finger at Stephen. "He's from there too." Stephen: "A half-giantess descended from a man who came from Arthurian England..."Stephen mused, obviously fascinated IdGM: "If you find such things interesting then you will be very happy living in this world," the Seer grinned at Stephen. Stephen: "If you don't mind questions..." Stephen was obviously very curious "Do many have the Sight among giants? Humans? Centaurs? Is it something exceptionally rare and does it run in families?" IdGM: The Seer held her hand up to stop the flow of questions. "The Sight is not so rare, many humans and some others have a touch of it, but the full ability to Trace the Pattern is very rare. I was fortunate - it was recognised and trained, and I was able to make use of it for good." Growmiang made a sound and pointed ahead. "There!" When they turned they could see the vague shape of an island rising from the still waters of the lake. The boat grounded on the island with not even a bump. Growmiang sprang out. "Now we can rest.," the Seer said. "And eat!" the Cat said with feeling.
Hannah: Hannah hopped out and stretched. "I'd thought about doing some caving on my vacation. This is not quite as I imagined." Maddie: Maddie stretched out and looked up towards the roof of the cavern Stephen: Stephen carefully stepped out of the boat. "I hope this is a real island and not some sort of giant turtle or leviathan..."he commented "You never know here." IdGM: The island was quite small, without trees or green vegetation of any kind although there was some kind of brown weed growing around the edge of the water, so Stephen might have had a point, but the Seer assured them that it was a real island. The only feature was a square stone in the centre, which had the feel of an altar about it. Maddie: Maddie squinted at the stone, trying to decide if it would be best for them to use it as a table or a bed Stephen: "No sword to pull out there..."said Stephen, obviously joking about the earlier mentions of Arthurian times IdGM: "Keep away from it," the Seer told them. "It is not for us." They drank from their store of water and nibbled some dry food. Everyone was exhausted. The Seer said that they must keep watches, and when Eurytion arrived he demanded to take the first one. The rest of them rolled up in their blankets, well away from the 'altar', and fell asleep almost immediately. IdGM whispers to Stephen: Stephen found himself feeling very strange when it was his turn on watch. The silence, the darkness - aside from Arberyonwth's light which hung unmoving over her head, the dark water all around, and the stone altar or whatever it was... A noise gave him a sudden jolt. What had it been? Now it came again - a kind of rippling noise, like tiny wavelets blown by the wind. Stephen: "Something in the water!" Stephen suddenly called out, trying to rouse the others Maddie: Maddie sprang up immediately. Her mind went to her blackjack, then she decided against it as it would hardly be useful against most things that might come out of the water IdGM: Now there was a rippling sound all around, and as Arberyonwth awoke, her light brightened and Stephen could see many tiny arrowlike waves all approaching the beach of the island. Stephen: "Is that bad?" asked Stephen as soon as he noticed Arberyonwth was awake, both nervous & curious "It doesn't look good." IdGM: "No it doesn't," the Seer answered. "Growmiang, what are those things?" The Cat ran to the bank and peered into the water then he came rushing back. "Rats!"
Stephen: Stephen was worried when the Seer seemed not to know what it was herself, but Growmiang's answer slightly reassured him Hannah: Hannah stepped back slowly, looking for ways to deter the rats if they rushed onto land. "Why did it have to be rats?" she complained to herself.
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Post by Idris on Dec 14, 2018 17:55:12 GMT
Session 42 - 7/12/18 IdGM: They prepared for the arrival of the rats. The Seer took up her long staff and took a solid stance with one hand reached forward. A small bead of light started to grow above her palm. Growmiang flexed his claws. Eurytion raised his bow and nodded to Emily and Hannah. "One flight of arrows while they are coming to land should thin them out a little!" Maddie: Not having any kind of bow, Maddie stood poised on the balls of her feet, ready to spring forward Hannah: Hannah clenched her teeth and loaded a bolt into her crossbow, ready to fire one shot before readying her axe. Emily: Emily returned the nod with a grim expression and took out her shortbow, ready to fire a quiver. Stephen: Stephen took his sword - obviously not an ideal weapon to fight such things - and gripped it tightly in his hand IdGM: "When I call out, shut your eyes!" Arberyonwth said, raising the light into the air. "Now!" and the bead of light shot over the water and exploded into brilliance. Emily: Emily quickly closed her eyes at Arberyonwth;s shout Maddie: Maddie closed her eyes Hannah: Hannah turned away and closed her eyes to the blinding light. Stephen: Steve did likewise, not wishing to be blinded IdGM: The light was startling even through closed eyelids. When they opened them again. they could see that some of the rats were confused and staggering as they swam, and missed the island altogether. "Now fire!" shouted Eurytion. His bowstring slapped twice as he fired incredibly quickly. Two rat bodies floated to the surface, impalled by the Centaur's arrows. Hannah: Hannah took more time to aim than Eurytion, but her shot also flew true and felled a rat. Emily: Emily drew her bow with attention but her shot missed the rat. She looked annoyed at that. IdGM: Eurytion motioned them to move back a little. The island was not large, so they were about ten long paces from the water, and ten from the altar. The remaining rats, perhaps two dozen of them, began to swarm ashore. As they arrived, the rats - which were larger than Mundane rats but nothing like the red-eyed monstrosities they had faced in the Cursed City - split into groups of three or four as they headed for their targets. Eurytion stepped forward and into the leading rats, trampling with his hooves. They heard the crushing of the rat's bones as he trampled one into the ground. Maddie: As the rats came towards them, Maddie suddenly darted forward, cartwheeling into the air and turning a somersault as she went tumbling towards the edge of the water. She landed just in front of the rats, but only for a moment before flipping backwards, trying to draw the swarms after her and leave the others free to smash into them while they were distracted IdGM: The ruse succeeded, a number of rats followed Maddie, getting in the way of the others and causing confusion. Growmiang made one of his leaping strikes, ripping open one of the rats and jumping back. Stephen: Stephen took advantage of the distraction provided by Maddie and skewered an especially daring rat on his sword just as it got close enough IdGM: Now the rats rushed forward and gathered around their chosen enemy. With their long yellow teeth and mad eyes, they had a fearsome aspect. Although they were unable to get a bite in, Hannah came close and felt fear almost make her step back.
Hannah: Gathering her resolve, Hannah watched the rats' movement carefully, and waited for the right moment to lunge forward and swing her axe. She left a gash in the side of one of the rats, and it fell, unconscious from the shock. Emily: Emily moved forward to slash at a rat with an axe. Used to working on the estate with many pests, she managed to target a rat and wounded it enough to knock it out IdGM: Meanwhile rats had rushed Growmiang, who leaped away with ease. Eurytion too had no trouble in avoiding them, but the Seer seemed to find it far harder and only just managed to stop herself taking a step back. Gripping her staff, Aberyonwth swung it hard in a circle and three rats went flying. Two of them lay still where they had fallen, but the third shook its head and returned to the fray. Dancing forward, Eurytion trampled another rat into the ground. Maddie: Maddie whirled around and lashed out with a long, arcing kick. She smashed three rats flying back towards the water, then brought her foot down on a fourth, hobbling it IdGM: Growmiang leaped forward again, catching two rats with his slashing claws and withdrawing. The rats snapped at them again but again were unable to draw blood. They hissed and circled, fury in their wild eyes. Stephen: Steve narrowly avoided the bite of an especially ferocious rat and tried to counter attack, but only managed to unbalance the creature Emily: Emily made an attempt to attack a rat but once again, it missed, she muttered an oath IdGM: With another swing of her staff Arberyonwth gave one of the rats a hard knock though it remained active. Eurytion danced and stamped but the rats had learned to keep out of the way of his flashing hooves. Maddie: Maddie kicked out again and sent the last rat that had been pestering her skittering away IdGM: This time the rats avoided Growmiang's slashing claws, and he swore in frustration. The rats attacked again. Hannah and Stephen were able to keep them at bay, but they swarmed Emily who backed away. Stephen: "Don't let them push you to the water!" Stephen warned the hard-pressed Emily Emily: Emily looked determined as she focus on her enemies glances at Stephen and nods, she made her way backward to the altar. Stephen: Stephen made short work of the rat he had previously unbalanced and then with a sudden stab took another out of the fight Emily: Emily distracted by the swarm made another attempt at attacking a rat but failing to do so IdGM: Hannah also swung her axe at the rats but missed and unbalanced herself. The remaining rats having surrounded the three humans, Arberyonwth moved towards them and looked for a chance to hit one of the rats, but they were too close. Eurytion too moved over to stamp on one of the rats attacking Hannah, but he failed and the rat quickly dashed out of sight. Maddie: Maddie had cleared all the rats that were facing her. Turning, she saw that Hannah was in some difficulty, and with cry she sprang to her friend's defence. With one bound she was onto the rats, squashing one underfoot, too angry to consider the irony of crushing an animal under her vegan boots IdGM: Growmiang moved over and attacked on of the rats mobbing Emily but it shot away at the last moment. Emily: Glaring at the rats, Emily managed to avoid their gnashing fangs. Emily alerted Hannah with concern, "Hannah, the rats are trying to push you into the lake," IdGM: Hannah looked around and stepped back towards the altar next to Emily. Stephen: Perhaps excessively eager to finish the few remaining rats off, Stephen fumbled with his sword and nearly lost his grip on the hilt, but luckily for him one of the beasts was too distraught to defend itself properly and so was pierced fatally Emily: She overreached herself trying to hit another rat but it seems the rats are getting better of her. IdGM: Hannah also tried to slash at the rats but completely overreached herself. The Seer swung again with frustration but the rats seemed to be having all the luck now. Eurytion lashed out at one of the last rats and injured it. Maddie: Maddie followed this up by stepping down on the rat's neck, crushing it IdGM: Only two rats remained and now Growmiang sprang forward, slashing one of them so that it died on the spot. The final rat decided to run, although instead of diving into the water it rushed up to the altar. Maddie: Hannah hacked out at the rat wildly, but it easily dodged and went through her legs towards the altar IdGM: Arberyonwth was staring at the rat. "Stop it!" she cried, trying to head it off with the staff. Eurytion dashed towards the rat but it skipped past him. Maddie: Maddie tried to stomp down on the rat's tail, but only gave it a scrape instead of pinning it in place IdGM: With a screech of triumph, Growmiang made a massive leap, landing on the rat and raking it with his long claws. At last, the final rat was dead.
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Post by Idris on Dec 22, 2018 17:06:10 GMT
Session 43 - 14/12/18
IdGM: As the last rat dropped, the Seer surged towards the altar, stopping just short of touching it. "We should at least know what drew the rat in this direction. It could have escaped to the water."
IdGM whispers to Hannah: As Hannah peered under the altar she spotted a tiny circular stone with what looked like some kind of animal head engraved on it - it was only an impression and too small to really work out the species.
Emily: Emily looks around closely, wondering what is going on in this dark gloomy place
Stephen: Stephen seemed extremely concerned with the matter but could not make heads or tails of it
Hannah: Hannah crouched down and peered under the altar. "There's something here... A small stone with an engraving. An animal head I think."
IdGM: "Don't touch anything!" the Seer was quick to warn them. They all peered at the tiny stone hiding under the altar. Whatever the animal was, it was really only an impression of a head, and impossible to work out exactly what. "That vermin was trying to touch it," Growmiang growled. "Travelstone?" he looked enquiringly up at Arberyonwth.
Emily: Emily looks at Growmiang and Arberonwth with surprise, "You can teleport by magic as well?"
Stephen: Stephen thought silently for a while "Why would a single rat try to flee by teleporting rather than go back to the sea? Could it be they're spies for one of the Courts?"
IdGM: The Seer smiled at Emily. "We do not call it that, but there are ways to empower an object or place to be transported instantly. The Courts make use of such things for their followers. This requires investigation," she added. "We have to hurry to the Chlorosoi now."
Hannah: "Is there a way to take the thing without activating it?" asked Hannah.
IdGM: "No, it will be tuned to the Court, and would be highly dangerous even to touch it as it is," the Seer said. "And we must head upstream, before anything else is sent to prevent us." She herded them towards the boat, and this time Eurytion must join them. The boat rocked violently as he climbed cautiously aboard and they then arranged themselves carefully around him.
Emily: Emily settled herself on the boat, keeping an eye out. "Something to keep an eye out at least." She told herself making a note of things called travelstones.
Stephen: "Is there a Court of the Rat too?" Stephen asked the Seer as the boat travelled
IdGM: "Not as such," the Seer answered, but she added no more, seeming very occupied. As they started moving, it was noticeable that the current was flowing faster into the lake and the boat was no longer making headway as it had on their journey to the island. "Someone is working against us," Arberyonwth muttered, "I must Sing a Power." She began to sing in a powerful voice and the boat moved forward again, but even that seemed to become harder and harder. Their craft rocked violently as the it fought against the unnatural current. They were forced to shift and strain to keep their balance. The boat remained afloat but Eurytion was thrown suddenly to one side and landed with a splash in the water.
Emily: Emily looked alarmed, "Eurytion!" She managed to get her hand on the rope and threw it over to help him out
IdGM: The rope landed close to the struggling centaur and he grabbed hold of it gratefully. Eurytion did not try to get back to the boat but hung onto the rope and splashed along behind them. Their travel was still being impeded by the current. "I need your help!" Arberyonwth said looking at them all.
Emily: Emily looks at the Seer, "What can we do to help?!" She asked quickly as she focused on holding the rope
IdGM: "You must join in the song," the Seer said quickly. "There is no need for words but your voices will join & carry the power of our combined Will to move the boat."
Hannah: Hannah quickly raised her voice to the tune of a hymn, though without the words. Though she wasn't a singer with much range, her voice had spirit.
Stephen: Though he certainly tried, Stephen simply could not sing and focus enough to provide power to the boat - perhaps he was too stressed by the latest events
Emily: Emily sang a highland dancing tune, finding it somewhat comforting.
IdGM: Maddie joined in, humming Solidarity for Ever in a strong voice. Strangely, although all of them had chosen different tunes, they somehow started to blend until they were singing in harmonic counterpoint to the Seer. She smiled and nodded, encouraging them. Growmiang soon gave up, his yowl distinctly not in tune.
They reached the end of the lake and started to travel up a long passage. The stream grew stronger and they felt themselves bound up in the Seer's power as she struggled against it. The noise of the water filled their ears. Arberyonwth shouted to them. "Fix your eyes ahead, see not the raging torrent but a peaceful stream, not wild waves in your face but a harmless swell bearing you forward, the boat gliding forward on the waters.”
Emily: Emily focused heavily on peaceful flow of a beck.
IdGM whispers to Hannah: As the Seer's voice rose again, and they all lent theirs to aid her, Hannah felt her fear of the dark water return. Would they all drown here in the dark? She redoubled her efforts to Will the boat to move. Suddenly, it was as though some barrier had broken. Hannah sensed her arm reaching down into that dark, tapping the current, diverting it, stilling the waves, and then removing the invisible chains holding the boat back. Her voice rose, taking the lead, and everyone followed.
IdGM: Hannah's voice rose, and suddenly it seemed to all of them that she had taken the lead, and their songs were all following hers, harmonising with hers, even the Seer's. The boat shot forward and they almost lost their seats.
Hannah: Hannah looked down at the dark water with a fascinated gaze as the boat moved forward.
Stephen: Stephen seemed embarassed by his failure to contribute, but still tried to follow the Seer's instructions
IdGM: Now they no longer needed to force their way forward, the boat glided into the darkness. Arberyonwth looked closely at Hannah. "We should talk when we have time." She smiled broadly.
Hannah: Hannah nodded. "Of course!" She felt lighter than she had in some time.
IdGM: They travelled smoothly up the passage for a long time. The Seer made a small light which held its place above them and illuminated their faces and the dank walls around them.
IdGM whispers to Hannah: Hannah realised that the water here was fresh and clean, not like the lake. How she knew this she was unable to tell.
Hannah: "The water's clean here," murmured Hannah.
Stephen: "Perhaps the evil force has no power here?"suggested Stephen
Emily: "Maybe we are getting to the valley." Emily suggested, "Hopefully, it is fine here."
IdGM whispers to Stephen: The boat glided on, but Stephen noticed a sound on the edge of hearing. Water falling from a height.
Stephen: "I hear something in the distance."muttered Stephen "A waterfall, perhaps."
IdGM: Growmiang's ears twitched. "Sounds like a big one!" he said to the Seer. Gradually they neared the source of the sound, which became amost painfully loud, It was indeed a high waterfall, the torrent pouring over rocks and into the stream. "We must leave the boat here," Arberyonwth said. The boat drew in to the side of the stream where they could climb out onto a rock platform. The Seer's light rose to illuminate a steep climb up a kind of rock ladder beside the falls.
Stephen: As Maddie was nimbler than most and there was no reason to take unnecessary risks, she was the first to climb and carried with her a rope which she tied to a rock on top of the platform to assist the others in their climb
Emily: Emily managed to climb up usng the rope with some ease.
IdGM: Growmiang followed speedily, but the Seer - not being athletic - made use of the rope.
Stephen: Stephen barely made it and would have clumsily fallen down if not for the rope
IdGM: Eurytion came last, clambering easily up the rock steps, and watching for anyone who might slip on the wet rocks. A sudden burst of spray shot from the top of the waterfall, as if the malign force was attempting to knock them into the surging water.
IdGM: Maddie bore the brunt of the force of water which almost swept her off the rock. Everyone else was soaked to the skin, and Emily slipped. Eurytion's strong hands seized her and lifted her back onto the rock.
Emily: Emily smiled with gratitude at Eurytion. "Thanks" She thanked him
IdGM: Eventually they reached the top of the waterfall. Ahead of them a tunnel ran steeply uphill, and at the end they found themselves at the foot of a long, steep, spiral passage rising like a stairway, which seemed to reach forever into the darkness. They were all exhausted. The climb was tiring & confusing so they found themselves tripping over their own feet & unsure if they are going up or down, but everyone kept forcing themselves onward. At one point Eurytion stumbled over the steps. "I think I fell asleep" he said.
Eventually they reached the final step. A solid stone wall blocked the path ahead of them. Once more Aberyonwth moved forward, running her hands over the rock before stepping back and makin some complex gestures. Another doorway opened in the rock ahead of them, and the Seer beckoned them forward. Eurytion took out his knife and went first, suggesting they arm themselves in case.
Emily: Emily got her shortbow out with an arrow at hand to fire
Stephen: Stephen walked warily, his sword held in front of him
Maddie: having nothing to arm herself with, Maddie simply took up a fighting stance
IdGM: As the Seer's light moved ahead of them, they realised they were in a familiar place. They were back in the cave they had left, and the Giant’s Gullet was ahead of them. And a figure sprang up out of the rocks. A female centaur, her face streaked with tears. They recognised her - it was Amyka's friend Ev. Her face filled with incredulous joy & she spoke in Greek. “You have returned! And you have brought Eurytion back to us!” Maddie: Maddie looked at her, then glanced at Steve, indicating that he should translate. "Ev, what's happened?"
Emily: Emily looked grim as something clearly dire has happened here, she wait for the answer
Stephen: Stephen translated the centauress' words.
IdGM: Ev looked striken again. “No," she moaned. "There is no time! They are to be killed!”
Maddie: "Lead on and tell us on the way," Maddie urged. "Who's to be killed?"
Stephen: "It seems we may have arrived just in time."commented Stephen between translations
Emily: Emily looked concerned but ready to fight, "I am sure we can help out!" She said confidently
IdGM: Ev led them from the cave and into the valley. It was dark, but Arberyonwth doused her globe of light, for Ev warned them that there might be guards although it was unlikely as every centaur in the valley had been called to the meeting place on the plateau. As they went Ev told the story. "Mima set me to watch for you, which is why I was not taken. She was sure you would return. There are many among the Chlorosoi who will rise up against Medon, but we must get there in time. Medon has accused Mima and the others of treason, and they will be executed." Maddie: "Do you know where Mima's being held? She busted us out of prison once, it's only fair that we return the favour."
Emily: Emily looked concerned, "That is very least we can do." She affirmed Maddie's words
IdGM: "They are all at the plateau. Mima, Amyka, Dryatos and Lykabas have been held in the cave and guarded, but they will be brought out for the execution," Ev said, her voice shaking as she said this. They crossed the stream and took the path to the meeting place. The steps were in darkness as they prepared to head up them.
Stephen: "We will do our best, though I will not promise you anything."said Stephen after he had finished translating the others' words
IdGM: Before they ascended, Eurytion made sure they were all prepared. "Weapons out and ready."
Maddie: Maddie grabbed her torn sleeve filled with bricks and gave it an experimental whirl. "At least this time it's not rats."
Stephen: "This was Krenaios' sword." said Stephen, holding his weapon
IdGM: "I am glad you took it from that creeping worm," Eurytion's white teeth glinted in the moonlight.
Emily: Emily got the shortbow out with arrow nocked
Stephen: "Indeed. Appropriate it will be used to rescue Mima." Stephen added, trying his best to smile grimly.
IdGM: Hannah also readied her bow.
IdGM: The Seer gripped her staff tightly and Growmiang flexed his claws. Emily: Emily did her best to cover her tracks as she went up the stairs, her eyes looking out for any anger
Stephen: With Maddie leading the way, Stephen slowly climbed up the steps behind her, careful not to make any noise
Maddie: Maddie went ahead, leading them up the steps and pointing out the best path for the others to follow to shield them from view and avoid any steps that might cause more than the bare minimum of noise
IdGM: As Maddie moved silently up the last step and peered over the top, she saw in front of her an almost theatrical scene. The plateau was lit only by flickering torches held by the Chlorosoi. They hung back in a grim and silent semi-circle against the rocky wall, facing a platform where Medon strode up and down, his expression triumphant. His leering guards stood in front of the dais, clearly anticipating violence with pleasure. Behind Medon, on a litter of branches, lay the old Chief, a pale shadow of the Centaur he must once have been, with white skin and glazed eyes. Close to him in the gloom she spotted the sharp features of a female, presumably Medon’s wife. Also behind Medon stood a tall human figure in a dark hooded cloak.
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Post by Idris on Dec 22, 2018 23:06:56 GMT
Session 44 - 22/12/18 IdGM: In whispers Maddie described the scene to those behind her, including the strange man, “An ‘adviser’ from the Wolf,” breathed Arberyonwth, her eyes narrowing. A massive fire had been built in the centre of the space, but not yet lit. In front of it stood the accused, chained and battered, but their heads still high. Emily: Emily frowned with concern, "I hope this adviser doesn't have any magical power." She told herself before continuing, "So what is the plan here? At least we got an advantage of surprise." She whispered Stephen: "Fire?" asked Stephen "Are they going to burn them to death?" Maddie: "Kind of them to prepare their own funeral pyres." Maddie squinted, trying to get a rough idea of how many guards there were. Maddie suddenly thought of something and turned to Steve, speaking to him quietly. Maddie whispers: "Hey, how do I say 'This worthless female is about to kick your motherfucking head in" in Ancient Greek?" Her question appeared to be completely serious.Stephen: Stephen seemed slightly puzzled - and perhaps worried - by what Maddie told him, but after some thought whispered something back Stephen bisbiglia: Stephen whispered Maddie the words, repeating them several times to make the pronunciation clearer. Hower he added, in English, and somewhat apologetically "I understand your anger, but it might be best to stay as cool-headed as possible right now."Maddie whispers: Maddie looked offended. "Do I seem like I'm not cool-headed to you?"Stephen bisbiglia: "I'm just saying, saving their lives should take precedence over taunting and hurting Medon and his thugs." he whispered back, sounding like he didn't want to press the matterIdGM: Maddie inspected the meeting ground again and counted numbers. There were about thirty Chlorosoi huddled together - mostly adults but some young ones. None appeared to be armed. Ten guards with readied bows stood before the dais facing them, they did not have swords but probably carried knives. It looked likely there were another two by the prisoners although it was hard to see over the huge bonfire. A long sword hung scabbarded accross Medon's chest. Anything the human man might be armed with was hidden under his long coat. There were tears in Em's eyes as she heard the details, but Eurytion patted her arm. "The Chlorosoi are not defeated, they will follow us, they will rise up." Maddie: "Seems to me that if we kill Medon quickly the whole affair will be done with," Maddie said, though she had no idea if this was an insight into tactics or just into her desire to kill Medon Emily: "Sound like a good idea and we should focus on that adviser as well." Emily agreed, Stephen: "Words might prove more useful than swords here, but I'm not very good at rousing speeches and you don't yet know the language too well. And of course, trying to speak to them would lose us the advantage of suprise."Stephen sighed Hannah: "I'm not sure attacking immediately is the best idea," said Hannah, nodding to Stephen. "It might turn people against us. Eurytion's legitimacy is the key here." She looked to the centaur. "Would you think it safe to step forward and announce your arrival with us to back you up? I wouldn't think Medon would dare strike immediately with so many watching." Maddie: "Legitimacy? Power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Well, ok, they don't have guns and frankly fuck Mao anyway, but the point still stands. A few of the Kentauroi might come over but he's going to attack us whatever happens." Hannah: Hannah frowned. "Well, I only sort-of know how this society works. But I get the feeling Medon has so much support because he's the only gun, or sword, available. If people see Eurytion's here, and healthy and strong, they might prefer that alternative. Medon might attack anyway, but the odds could be better. If we just struck, they might think we're just outsiders and not have a chance to consider their alliegiances. Though maybe there's a way it could be done drawing their attention to Eurytion." Maddie: "Eurytion, what do you think?" IdGM: Eurytion was looking from one to the other as Stephen translated. He stood for a few moments, considering. "It is true that Medon has power over the Chlorosoi and that power comes from threat. He has surrounded himself with the most vicious and stupid Kentauroi, although I believe it is his mate, Kalika, who has the wits. He has lied to our people, and they have lost heart, but I believe if they see that I am alive and ready to fight the usurper, they will aid us. The risk is that the guards will fire and many will be injured or killed before we can reach Medon. We need a plan that will get allow us to move into position before revealing ourselves." Maddie: Maddie looked out at the plateau. "Well if we sneaked up to the bottom of the ledge there we'd be in a blind spot. Some of us could try climbing up near to where the prisoners are held and cause a distraction while Eurytion makes his appearance. That's a pretty fucking tall ledge though, I think I could climb it but..." Stephen: Steve turned to the Seer, who had been silent so far "Is there any chance your magic could help us here? I don't mean with the cliff, specifically, but...anything, really. Provide a distraction, perhaps?" IdGM: "The representative of the Wolf worries me," admitted Arberyonwth. "I can certainly create a distraction, but I will need to deal with him as soon as the element of surprise is lost." Emily: Emily considered this matter and suggested an idea, "If Maddie sneak up to one of the Chlorosoi, she could give a message to them that Eurytion have returned, safe and sound..." Maddie: Maddie's face twisted with distaste. "Can't someone else do it? I'm a fucking anarchist, don't expect me to be telling people 'hey, look, the real chief, as if that's a valid concept, has returned to save you!'." Hannah: "How about, the less asshole-ish compatriat of yours has returned to save you?" suggested Hannah. Stephen: "You're just telling them he has returned so they can make an informed decision decision, not asking them to pledge their eternal, undying loyalty to him."said Stephen Emily: Emily looked at Maddie and said, "Well, you seems to have a knack for sneaking around. I don't think there is anyone else that is good as you are." Maddie: Maddie looked unconvinced. "Incidentally, shouldn't one of us, maybe one of us who can sneak around and pick locks, be trying to free the prisoners? If I'm Medon, then the second Eurytion puts in his appearance, I'd order my archers to train their bows on Mima and tell him to surrender or she dies." IdGM: "I can sneak up and take the message," Growmiang hissed. "Or are the Centaur-folk afraid of Cats?" Eurytion almost smiled. "True Kentauroi are afraid of nothing. But they may be wary. Take this," he held out something to the Cat. A ring of twisted gold with a black stone carved with a spray of oak leaves - Mima's ring. Stephen: Steve turned to adress Eurytion "Should we do anything about Kalika? You said she is the smart one. If she realizes they're outmatched, perhaps she could convince Medon to accept exile instead of trying to fight and we could avoid some bloodshed? Assuming, of course, you would be fine of that, as it would be your decision. I certainly wouldn't blame anyone here for saying Medon has to die, whatever else happens....". He sounded unsure of himself, as if he thought the proposal might be inappropriate, and did translate to English for the others. Maddie: Maddie looked at Steve as if he'd lost his mind. "They're not going to be overmatched, even if we get a few unarmed Kentauroi to come over to our side." IdGM: "That will depend on the judgement of the Chlorosoi," Eurytion said, his face grave. "But what Medon has done, and Kalika too, is grave and may not be forgiven." "If only we had the means to arm them," Ev said. "That would help." Stephen: "I was more thinking of persuading them they were, actually. Perhaps through some sort of bluff or cunning misdirection. But you're right, we should assume bloodshed and deaths cannot be avoided." IdGM: "That could be acheived," Arberyonwth said. "But we need to hurry." Maddie: "I'll sneak over to Mima and the others and try to free them," Maddie said, relieved to be freed of the uncomfortable duty of carrying regal messages. IdGM: Eurytion looked at them all. "Growmiang will carry the message now, and when we see the Chlorosoi move, then you archers," he pointed at Hannah and Emily, " move behind those rocks there on the left. The fighting girl will go forward to set the prisoners free, while the Seer causes a distraction, When Mima and the others are safe, the Seer will make an illusion to make Medon believe he is outmatched and we will attack." "Depending on what the man from the Wolf Court does..." Arberyonwth added. Maddie: "I'm a woman, not a girl, and my name's Maddie," Maddie corrected the centaur. "And I hope this is a good distraction, freeing four people under the guards' noses isn't going to be easy." Hannah: Hannah smiled at Maddie's correction, but nodded her agreement with the plan. IdGM: Growmiang sneaked off into the darkness, as Arberyonwth moved up so that she could see the plateau. Maddie: Maddie crept along, through an outcrop of rocks on the southwestern edge of the plateau, using them as cover IdGM: There were two Centaurs guarding the prisoners, though they seemed to be spending their time joking with each other rather than keeping watch, which was fortunate as there was an open area between the rocks where Maddie was hiding and the prisoners, Stephen: With nothing else to do while waiting for the others to enact their parts of the plan, Stephen reminisced about the stories of centaurs from the myths of his own world. Maddie: Maddie looked over at the two guards, wondering if one of them might be carrying a key - picking one pocket seemed like it would be simpler than many locks IdGM: Hannah and Emily spotted movement among the Kentauroi, as some of them shifted to cover their route to the rocks, Emily: Emily nodded at Hannah as she tries to make her way to the rocks when the time is right. Hannah: Hannah moved quickly along with Emily, knowing all she could do for now was hope the plan was working. Maddie: although she couldn't see a key, Maddie looked over the prisoners and noticed they seemed to have been chained together - if she freed one, she'd free them all. IdGM: "Ready!" Arberyonwth hissed to them in warning. As she moved her hands, there was a sudden movement above and a scream as one of the Centaurs pointed to the top of the cliffs. With a roar, rocks began to tumble down and there was chaos as the Chlorosoi and the group on the dais scuttled back away from the danger zone. Maddie: Maddie started moving immediately towards the prisoners IdGM: The guards were too busy making sure of their own safety and looking towards their leader to notice a dark figure sneaking nearer. Maddie: Maddie had salvaged a few long, thin pieces of metal from the cutlery and other assorted items they had taken from the Seers' Tower, and she crept up behind Mima and immediately set to work sticking this into the lock. It was a very good lock, but Maddie had broken into countless disused factories or second, third, or god-fucking-knows-how-many-nth homes left vacant for profit by landlords, and soon enough she had it IdGM: The lock sprang open. Mima stayed where she was but pulled at the chains which began to come loose. She smiled brilliantly at Maddie, "I knew you would return!" she said, then turned to the others and told them to remain still while they removed the chains, "Let them think we are still helpless," Hannah and Emily took advantage of the confusion to dash behind the rocks and ready their bows. Stephen: Stephen readied his sword, for soon he would have to fight Emily: Emily drew her bow, hoping her shot will be lucky one Maddie: Maddie stayed low to the ground, using the prisoners' bodies as cover, and took out her makeshift blackjack. "I need someone to make me a baseball bat or something," she muttered, rather too late. IdGM: Eurytion and Ev climbed to the plateau and nocked arrows as they selected targets. The Seer moved her hands again and the rocks stopped falling, but now they heard a noise, confused shouting from the surrounding cliffs as of many men attacking. "Time to fight!" Eurytion shouted.
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