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Post by Idris on Apr 11, 2023 22:33:10 GMT
Session 15 - 8/4/23 IdGM: They stood looking at the jar with interest, but suddenly it was as though cold air was creeping around them, and the beautiful object was at the centre of it. Stephen: "I suppose, at this point, there is the issue of how we actually get back to the academy." said Stephen Emily: Emily looked over the jar and look over the surrounding grey lake. "You know, I got a strange feeling that it should not be opened ." Emily confirmed, "To be honest, at least we know what we can expect on our way back though and we still got some leftovers for these nice fishes to spare on our way back" She smiled faintly with that answer. IdGM: As she said this, there was a swirling in the lake, as of many small bodies spinning about. Emily felt anxiety coming from the fish. Maddie: "I'm not entirely sure how we get this back past those maggots, but I'm sure we can work something out," said Maddie. Hannah: Hannah moved over to put her hand in the water and try to sense anything more about what was going on, ready to jerk it out if anything came toward them. IdGM: The water was icy cold, more so than before, like a knife to the bone. Hannah could feel the water churning around the spiralling fish, and somewhere in the far reach of the lake, that dark brooding menace, coming nearer. Hannah: "That... thing is coming closer. We need to either hunker down here and hope it can't reach us on the surface, or get going the other way now!" Maddie: "If we hunker down it can just starve us out," said Maddie. "Let's move!" Stephen: "If only we could fly...Alas. "mused Stephen. "But maybe the thing in the water can be distracted or slowed down somehow?" IdGM: Just before Hannah pulled her hand out of the water, something about the flow suggested itself to her. There was an outflow from this lake which might go beyond the caves. Emily: Emily focused her will to ask these poor fishes as what got them so worried, in particularly, what is it coming towards them. "Just asking the fishes about it." She muttered to others IdGM: The extreme agitation of the fish made Emily's head spin, but they focused on her as soon as their minds linked. She gained a kind of picture of the thing - large and dark with a sinuous neck and many many teeth. But easily confused. IdGM: While Emily was communicating with the fish, they had hauled the raft into the water and scrambled aboard. Now they pulled the rough oars as hard as they could. In a moment the fish surrounded them, silver bodies flashing in the glinting lights from the crystal walls. Emily: Emily grimaced as she got a very rough idea of the image. "Something dark and big. Kinda remind me of Nessie! They did say that it can be confused so maybe we can get away from it somehow," Once she went onto the raft, as promised, Emily reached deep into her racksack and took our the remainders of the meat rations and other fun bits and bobs that the fishes might like to consume and threw them into the opening wicked jaws of these slivery fishes. IdGM: The many razor-sharp teeth snapped up the morsels, and then as one the silvery creatures turned and streaked away, weaving strange patterns of waves upon the surface of the water. Emily was still aware of them, and of their fury as they threw themselves at the monstrous shape. The water was thrashing now, as the fish wove their interference around it, confusing and delaying it. Emily: Emily mindfully thanks the fishes for their help as she altered the others as to what beat to use for paddlings, reminiscent of her old hobby, Highland Dancing to focus and to improve the speed of the raft. Maddie: Maddie rowed as hard as she could, eager to get off the water as soon as possible. Stephen: "I wonder if that beast is anything like the ancient water reptiles of our world," said Stephen as they paddled and paddled towards the shore. IdGM: As they neared the stony shore of the lake, they realised the planks they had used were beginning to sink in the water. The bindings, nibbled by the fish, were finally coming apart. With a final huge effort, they reached the shallows, just as the entire raft came apart. The water was shockingly cold but at least it only came up to their thighs. Maddie: Maddie had been swimming on New Year's Day once or twice while growing up, but she still had to grit her teeth against the water. She rushed towards the shore as fast as she could. Emily: Emily kept on rushing to the shore. "Been in worse!" she gritted to herself as she kept on moving while stumbling across the rocky shallows. The freezing weathers in Scotland is nothing to compared relatively balmy lakewater. IdGM: They staggered out of the icy water, throwing themselves down on the stones and recovering their breath. The churning water now cleared, and a long black tapering neck rose above the surface. A malevolent red eye glared at them above the mouthful of vicious teeth, but the creature came no closer. Baulked of its prey, it slid under the water and was gone. Emily: She sighed with a hint of relief, "Good grief! I think we got lucky there!" Emily commented, "How's everyone? Anyone's okay, not hurt??" She asked the others, hoping that no one got a nasty gash or something. These waters can be really nasty in term of germs Hannah: "While I was sensing that creature, I think I noticed an outflow", said Hannah. "That could potentially be a way out..." Stephen: After the creature slipped under the water again, Stephen, who had been watching it with interest, took a few deep breaths, relieved. There were still challenges to face on the way back, but, at least for the moment, they were safe and healthy. IdGM: Thinking about the flow of the water, Hannah felt sure it was further into the cavern, in the opposite direction to the way they had come in. Emily: Emilt perked up, "Great!" she answered cheerfully to Hannah's suggestion on that there may be a way out, "Lead on!" She gestured ahead into the everending gloom of this vast cavern. She did however made sure that she thanked the fishes for all their helps in dealing with the larger creature. IdGM: They moved off around the shore of the lake, in the direction Hannah had indicated, away from the entrance. Hopefully it would be quicker and less arduous than the way they had come by. As they walked carefully on the uneven stones, Hannah thought she could hear a sound in the distance behind them. Maddie: "Do we know where this is going to take us out to? I guess it doesn't matter that much if it gets us out. When we're back at the Academy we should find out whatever it was in the water back there." Stephen: "I'd love to find out more about that."said Stephen, unsurprisingly "There are so many fascinating creatures in this world...a shame so many of them are less than friendly." IdGM: Hannah suddenly stopped and made hushing gestures, indicating she could hear something behind them. They all stood still and listened carefully. IdGM: Now they were not moving over the stones, they could hear what sounded like several sets of feet marching. Maddie: "Should we find somewhere to hide and watch, or just leg it? I don't know if whoever that is is likely to be friendly." Emily: Emily considered this as her ears focused on marching behind them. "Worth a look, I think. I would be better knowing what is behind us just in case." she whispered. Stephen: "Maybe we can hide and get a good look at them." whispered Stephen "It might prove useful." Maddie: "Follow me then," Maddie said, searching for a good place for them to hide. IdGM: There were large rocks piled up around this end of the cavern, and they were able to find places to hide - some better than others. Maddie dowsed her sphere of light and they crouched, holding their breath, in the semi-darkness. There was at least some pale light glowing on the walls, and creeping in at the entrance from the gorge beyond. They seemed to have been hiding for a long time. The sound of feet had stopped, so Maddie risked peering over the top of the rock. In the faint light from the entrance she saw half a dozen figures huddled around something on the shore. They were short, smaller than an adult human, and bandy-legged with strangely shaped heads. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but their skin appeared to have a greenish hue. Most of them carried spears, but one seemed to have a sword at its side. Maddie: Maddie silently pointed them out to the others, thinking they looked like the depictions of goblins in innumerable computer RPGs. IdGM: As they watched, the group of goblins began to talk excitedly. The one with the sword must have been the leader, for it gestured to the others to move out, clearly they had found the raft and now were going to search for the intruders. Emily: Emily whispered to others "Personally think it is better to get away from here asap!" Maddie: "Yes, let's get moving." The goblin had pointed in their general direction, and they would know these caverns better than them. Stephen: Stephen looked at these goblin-like beings with interest but obviously realized caution should take precedence over curiosity and nodded silently at Emily's words as they prepared to leave. IdGM: With one eye on the approaching goblins, they started creeping away. It was stressful, having to place each foot with great care, advancing with horrible slowness and all the time aware of the armed goblins at their backs. IdGM: It seemed their luck was in, for the goblins were searching thoroughly, and they were able to keep ahead of them. Eventually they noticed the cavern was narrowing down, until it came almost to a point. The water of the lake sounded very loud here, and swirled and tumbled as it disappeared under a ridge of rock. Maddie: "Is that the way out?" Maddie said to Hannah, pointing at the water. "It probably needs to be, they're going to catch us up pretty soon." IdGM: There was no cover near to this point, and they heard a shout go up as one of the goblins had indeed spotted them. IdGM: To be sure of their way out, Hannah plunged her hand into the freezing water. The flow through the gap was shockingly strong, and they would have to dive down to the exit but it would sweep them through with no effort on their part. Stephen: Stephen laid his hand on one of the cavern walls as he focused his Will through the stone to reach the Elemental Flow. Emily: Emily decided to get out her bow just in case there is an issue with the appproaching goblin-like creatures IdGM: The Flow seemed more difficult to reach - maybe it was the noise of the waters, or the goblins now bearing down on them, shouting and waving weapons. Stephen managed a quick vision of the cavern wall, the gap under the surface of the water where it rushed through, and a steep drop beyond, before it faded. He thought it was possible to get through, if the drop did not become any more sheer. Maddie: Since it was clear the goblins had already spotted them, Maddie called out to them "Ummm, we're just going to be leaving alright, we don't want any trouble." She had no idea if the goblins could speak the trade tongue they'd been taught, and she didn't have time to rattle through English, French, German and Greek. in the back of her mind she had the thought that if things were desperate she could try leading them away from the others, hiding, and then sneaking back here, but that seemed likely to lead to death. Emily: "What do we need to do here?" She whispered to other with a hurry. IdGM: Hannah explained quickly what she had seen. Stephen: "I can't say I'm one hundred percent certain but diving should be safe."said Stephen, somewhat tense IdGM: There was a shout and a rattle of spears on the rocks behind them. "Thieves!" the Goblin leader shouted in a gutteral voice. Maddie: "It doesn't need to be that safe, it just needs to be safer than that," Maddie said, indicating the shouts and rattle of spears. Then she realised one of them had actually called out in words she could understand. "Listen, I've done a bit of thieving in my time it's true, but not since I was much younger. Anyway, where I come from, we say that property is theft." Suddenly, she remembered something she had heard at the Academy - goblins hated bright light. Maddie: "Go, I'm last out!" Maddie shouted to the others. The goblins probably wouldn't follow them out since they hated the light, but they might throw a spear or axe at them as they retreated, and if they were to do that at anyone Maddie thought she was much more likely to be able to dodge it than the others. She concentrated, raised her hand, and sent a bright ball of red and orange light towards the goblins. It was no real fireball and wouldn't actually explode, but they wouldn't know that. Probably. IdGM: The result was immediate. All the goblins screamed and flung their hands up to cover their eyes. Hannah: Hannah followed Maddie's suggestion and dove first into the water. Her practice with the naiads made her a confident swimmer, so she did what she could to try to guide the others safely away from obstacles, and notice if any of them struggled. Stephen: Stephen dove after her and was a far worse swimmer but owing to her guidance was not too bothered by the obstacles and he was at least able to easily hold his breath. Emily: Emily quickly stowed away bow into a safe holding place and dived after Stephen as well, more graceful then Stephen at least. Still, she didn't prepared herself properly for the dark depth of the waters. Maddie: Once the others had escaped, Maddie whirled and flung herself into the water. IdGM: Emily quickly began to struggle, gasping as the shock of the freezing water hit her and taking in water. Hannah: Somehow, perhaps through Emily's panic making its way to her through ripples in the water, Hannah noticed that Emily was struggling. She pushed herself to the side and slowed her movement, grasping at the rocks, until Emily nearly passed her, then reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. Together they continued to be pulled by the current, but Hannah kept a reassuring grip, and when they had a moment of relative placidity she pulled Emily closer and put her mouth against hers, breathing some much-needed air into Emily's lungs. Emily: Emily's lungs was glad to recieve more air and she was struggling less with Hannah's help. IdGM: As they dived into the water, each of them felt the inexorable pull of the current, dragging them towards a gap in the rock wall of the cavern. One by one they plunged into the blackness beyond. They found themselves no longer under water, but dropping down a water-smoothed slope of rock as if down a giant water slide. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. IdGM: But despite their fears there was no sudden fall, no cliff edge at the end of it. The slope gradually became less, although the viciously cold water rose once more around them. Eventually the slide ended and they were able to crawl forward, to where a thin light was visible through a crack in the rock. The water rushed out, but they had to crawl on hands and knees through the gap. Maddie: "Everyone alright?" Maddie shouted over the water. Emily: Emily was also scared of how dangerous their efforts went, eventually, she coughed out some of the water that got caught up. "Light!" She noticed the shimmery crepuscular ray coming through the rock. She gritted her teeth as she said. "Alive!" she shouted over the roars of the water. Hannah: Hannah seemed none the worse for wear after their experience - in fact, she seemed positively energetic, checking on the others quickly before beginning to make her way forward. Stephen: "I'm alright!" replied Stephen, slightly battered but mostly unfazed "We're nearly there, I see a light..." Emily: She did take time to thanks Hannah for her aid with Emily's swimming. IdGM: One by one they emerged into the light, which seemed so bright after their sojourn in the caves, but they quickly realised was the dim light of a waning day in the shadows of the mountains. They stood in a kind of amphitheatre of rock, curving around the stream which spilled out from the base of a high, bare cliff. A sharp wind loaded with sleet blew in their faces, and cut through their wet clothes like a knife. "Hey there!" a voice suddently called, and there was James climbing up the path towards them. He only had a slight limp, and looked much better than when they had last seen him. "There's a blizzard on the way," he said urgently. "We need to hurry. We'll get you dry first, come on." Emily: "James! So glad to see you." Emily said with a hint of surprise as she made her way down the path. Stephen: "James!" said Stephen, pleasantly surprised "You'll have to tell us what exactly happened later. We had quite an adventure ourselves." Hannah: Hannah grinned at James and looked back at the dangerous place they had just escaped for a moment, before following him to safety.
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Post by Idris on Apr 24, 2023 22:31:23 GMT
Session 16 - 22/4/23 IdGM: "We can talk once we're out of this wind," James said. turning to lead them down a rough narrow path beside the rushing water. Apart from the slight limp he seemed very little affected by his serious accident. As they left the protection of the rock amphitheatre, the sleet filled wind slashed viciously at their soaking clothes, and they very quickly found themselves with chattering teeth and shivering violently. It seemed a very long way and by the time they reached the stone plank bridge, they could hardly keep their feet from slipping. Stephen: "Of course. Getting out of here in one piece takes priority." said Stephen, trying to pay attention to where he put his feet to avoid slipping. Emily: Emily was slightly surprised at how better James was feeling so quickly privately. She focused on getting ever so carefully down the plank. "At least it is not colder or snowing!" Emily commented through her gritted teeth. IdGM: James fixed a rope to aid them in crossing the icy plank. "Not far now!" he had to shout above the increased shrieking of the wind. Hannah: "I had been hoping there would be a magic doorway just next to our destination..." said Hannah with a groan. "I'll be glad when this is over!" IdGM: James grinned as he shepherded them all over and neatly coiled and stashed the rope again. They staggered a little further down the valley, before he turned with a gesture of welcome. "Here we are!" A narrow cave entrance lay behind a large pillar of rock, light flickering in the gloom within. Maddie: Maddie was suppressing the urge to shiver. "Is that a fire? We need to get dry." IdGM: "Come and warm yourselves," a creaking voice they recognised spoke from inside the cave. It was the Raven, Aarkrak. "But cautiously, it can be painful when you are frozen," James warned. Hannah: Hannah broke into a smile for the first time since they'd run into James. "Good to have a friend out here!" She took James' advice and slowly moved into the cave, seeing how each few steps would affect her. Emily: Emily was looking around this new sight with a hidden feeling of suspicion when James gestured at them. Nodding softly at hearing James' advice, "Indeed, I never forgotten about how people pulled out of the frozen water often died on the spot when they get warm too quickly!" She agreed with James as soon he said it as she started preparing herself for getting into somewhere nice and toasty IdGM: As soon as they passed the massive rock, the wind died. They had to zigzag around another rock, and then they found themselves in a large space, which had been turned into a room of sorts - the walls smooothed and hung with rugs of rough wool, more of which were scattered about the clean dry floor. A table had been made out of a slice of a massive treetrunk resting on rocks, and this was surrounded by three-legged stools. A green glass bottle of some unidentifiable liquid stood on the table, and several delicately formed ceramic tumblers stood around it. More bottles and jars stood on shelves behind this, and bundles of plants hung drying from the roof of the cave. But all this was surpassed by the sight of the blazing fire, burning on a large hearth at the side of the cave, under some kind of carved chimney. And above it hung a massive cauldron which was giving off an incredibly enticing smell. Stephen: Stephen smiled. "What a place! Looks like someone made themselves at home." he said. Maddie: Maddie went to warm herself by the fire. "Well this is certainly the most well decorated cave I've ever been in." IdGM: A throaty chuckle drew their attention to Aarkrak, who was standing on the back of a great, carved wooden chair on the other side of the hearth. "We Ravens are excellent at many things, but making furniture is not one of them," he said, his eyes gleaming in the firelight. Hannah: "Very true," replied Hannah to Maddie. "Though I don't think I'd been in one until we came to this world, so that limits my basis for comparison!" She sniffed at the drying plants, and then as Aarkrak spoke she gave a little bow. "It's good to see you again! You were most helpful on our little adventure." Emily: Emily smiled at seeing the Raven, "Wonderful!" she said as she looked closer at these odd plants and herbs, wondering what uses they may be., IdGM: Aarkrak nodded to Hannah in appreciation. "Now if you have thawed, you must meet the real residents of this comfortable accomodation." He raised a wing to indicate the area at the back of the cave. A shadowy figure stepped forward. As they came into the firelight, the figure resolved into a woman. Not tall but very thin, she had the palest, smoothest skin any of them had ever seen, very long jet black hair tied into some complicated arrangement of plaits, and wore a long skirt of many colours below a close fitting bodice. She glided silently towards them, her face almost expressionless. Maddie: Now that she was dry, Maddie pulled out her pipe. "Hey there, I'm Maddie," she said to the woman who had just emerged from the shadow. "Since this is your place, do you mind if I smoke in here? It's pretty miserable outside." Stephen: Stephen looked with obvious interest at the woman, as if trying to recognize her from somewhere. IdGM: At this, the woman's face broke suddenly into a smile, though this did reveal rather sharp looking teeth. She reached up to the stone shelf next to the hearth and took down a richly decorated earthenware pot, similar in shape to the artefact they had recovered on the island. Opening it, she held it forward for Maddie's inspection, and there was the wonderful aroma of the best quality sweetleaf, with perhaps a touch of something added, though Maddie could not quite work out what. Maddie: "Hey thanks, I think mine is a bit wet from having to escape from those goblins by water." IdGM: At this, the woman hissed loudly. Clearly she did not approve of Goblins. She leaned forward to stir the cauldron, and as she did so Maddie, Hannah and Emily noticed that she had very pointed ears. Standing back, she smiled and nodded at them all. "Take off your things, we will dry them by the fire while you eat." She spoke clearly though her voice was slightly lisping. Maddie: Maddie lit her pipe and looked at the woman suspiciously. "I mean putting my pack down is one thing, but I don't know about getting naked in a damn cave. What's the food anyway? James, you told her I'm vegan yah?" IdGM: Aarkrak gave his raspy chuckle. "You humans, always concerned to hide your skin. Starlight, please give them a blanket each." The woman looked at them all, moved to a large chest at the rear of the cave and returned with five multicoloured wraps. "It's ok, the folk here don't eat meat. They did once but have chosen to reject the killing of animals," James told Maddie. "That doesn't apply to Aarkrak of course," he added. The Raven chuckled again. Maddie: "I mean the last time I took my clothes off around someone on this side they started pawing at my tattoos, some of the Beings in this world don't have the same notions we do about personal space." Emily: Emily looked at James' wounds, "So is that why you are feeling much better already?" She said kindly. Stephen: Stephen smiled tentatively, obviously not sure about something. "You are a very gracious host." he said to the woman "James is lucky to have been found by you, assuming this is what happened. We'd love to know more." Hannah: "Especially after all that swimming and no skin cream," muttered Hannah after Aarkrak's comment about their skin. She gratefully took a blanket and moved over to the corner to change out of her wet clothes, too exhausted for suspicion. IdGM: James nodded as he stripped off and wrapped himself in the blanket. Emily could see a scar on his leg, but it looked completely healed. "My sister Moonflower is our Healer," Starlight said. She had taken the cauldron from the fire and was carrying it to the table, holding it easily without effort despite its obvious weight and heat. Stephen: Stephen thanked the woman as she handed him the blanket and wrapped it around himself in the corner, setting aside his clothes Maddie: Maddie put her pipe down, stripped off, then pulled her blanket around her with a pointed look at Aarkrak before retrieving her pipe and starting to smoke. IdGM: Starlight took finely turned wooden bowls from the shelf and ladeled stew into them. There were more than five bowls, and as she did so Starlight made a high ululating sound, which was answered from somewhere deeper into the cave. Three more figures appeared - two young males, broad-shouldered and well-muscled despite their thinness, and a female with long silver hair and violet eyes. She nodded to James and smiled at the rest of them. "Thank you for your care in the huts. I had to leave my things behind in a hurry." Emily: Emily pursed her lips for a moment as she glanced over the healed wound of James with a practised eyes and sighed with a relief, "Thank you. Truly amazing," Emily agreed regarding the James' healing. "My name is Emily," she introduced herself. Maddie: Maddie took a look at the Being who was presumably Moonflower. "I'm sorry to whoever it was I frightened back at the huts, I assume you know them?" Maddie thought it hadn't been Moonflower herself, who was too large to have been the creature with the angular face who had run off from her Stephen: "We meant no harm and did not wish to intrude upon your land" said Stephen "But we were looking for something we needed. I'm Stephen, by the way." IdGM: Starlight distributed wooden spoons and Moonflower poured from the bottle. The liquid was green, with a kind of inner light, and gave off a light fragrant smell of green things growing. "Yes, that was one our younglings. You did give him quite a shock but that was good. He needed a reminder that wandering in the valley alone is a dangerous game." Hannah: Hannah thought back to the time when her sister had nearly drowned. She wondered if the fey were as vulnerable to the elements as that, or if their children were only in danger from more powerful and mystical things. But she said nothing, instead approaching and taking a bowl with a nod of thanks. Maddie: "That sounds like the kind of warning my parents would always give me when I was a kid. Usually the kind where they called me 'Madison'," she grit her teeth, "which usually meant I was in trouble." IdGM: The stew was a thick mix of vegetables, some of which were familiar, others not so, spicy and warming. While they spooned it up, Moonflower was happy to talk, Starlight smiled but said little, and the two young men nothing at all. Aarkrak had disappeared, maybe to get himself something less vegetarian. Stephen: Stephen couldn't resist asking their hosts more about themselves "If you don't mind me asking...how long have you been living here? A very long time, I presume? As for us we are...fairly new to these lands, you could say." IdGM: Moonflower looked closely at Stephen."You mean, how long have we lived in this cave? Or how long have we, or the Fey in general, lived in the Many Coloured Lands? That is easily answered - the Fey have always been here, we are part of this world, though we have on occasions slipped into yours. As to the cave, we have always been denizens of the forests and green places of the world. This valley was once green and verdant, but it has become blighted in recent years. The... divisions among the Tuatha are reaching into every part of it. So we have had to change, to make homes from the rock instead of the wood. Because we would not desert this valley and leave it for those who would destroy it." She bowed her head in sorrow for a moment. It was noticeable that Moonflower was far more fluent in the trade tongue than her sister, and as they spoke more she explained that she had spent some time at the Court of the Owl, and visited the Academy to speak with other Healers. As they finished their meal, and the last drop of the green liquor which seemed to fill them with energy and vigour, Starlight gathered their things, now bone dry, from in front of the fire. Seeing that they were concerned about time, Moonflower assured them that time could go differently in this cave. "You will find it is the same hour as when you came in here." she said. Then she looked solemnly at each of them. "I have seen many students over the years and I believe that you are destined for great things. When you have power, please do not forget the Fey who are facing the darkness on the edge of the Owl's area of influence." Aarkrak had now returned and resumed his post on the chair back. He nodded at Moonflower's words. "I think there is some possibility of promise, if you don't break your legs." He looked at James with a glint in his eye. Stephen: Stephen listened with intent to Moonflower's sorrowful words before replying "Even though I am closer to the rock than to the green, I understand you must miss the forests dearly. We cannot know when and if we will ever have enough power to truly change things, but we will not forget about you and your people's hospitality during these trying times." Emily: Emily considered this over in her mind perhaps remembering the story of Highland Clearance in her homeland of Scotland with a simple look of horror. "Without trees and beautiful green spaces, it is so much harder to make a living as well all the animals that rely on them. You are very kind to help us out so it is only fair that I will help in return." Maddie: Maddie smiled. "I'm an anarchist. If I were to ever get power, I would spread it so that you didn't have to rely on someone else to remember you." IdGM: Moonflower smiled at this and surprised Maddie by moving forward and embracing her, and then the others. Then she held out five vials, just like the one they had seen in the hut. "We call it the Potion of Life. It may save yours in a tight spot, so use it sparingly." As they were heading for the entrance, Starlight came from the back of the cave with something in her arms. She held five of the multi-coloured blankets, giving one to each of them. "We will meet again," she said softly. Hannah: Hannah admired the blanket. "I'll remember you all every time I look at it. Be safe!" Stephen: "Thank you!" said Stephen as he received the blanket "And hopefully we will be able to set things right then." IdGM: Aarkrak accompanied them to the opening. "I may visit the Court shortly. Is the Seer still keeping company with that blasted feline?" Maddie: "Growmiang? Yes, she'd be a prisoner at the Court of the Wolf or dead without him so I don't imagine she'll be deserting him anytime soon." IdGM: Aarkrak's response was a harsh cawing laugh. "Fair enough, but he's still a menace. Now go, and quickly, before the Night falls. Fare well." It was colder than ever and thick snow had begun to whirl down, blanketing everything, heaped up by the wicked wind. They started down the valley, but it was clear they needed something faster than their own feet to carry them, and discussed alternatives as they went. Emily: Emily nodded, "Well, maybe a sled or something similar? I see if there are any other creature we can depend on." She reached her power out. IdGM: Emily could sense many tiny minds of the creatures that still lived in the denuded valley, and of some birds but they were all too small. She thought she felt the passing of some large beast with a red hot hunger, higher up, and quickly withdrew from that. Then there was a contact - only fleeting but a very familiar one. A horse! Emily reached out, straining to touch the mind again. And there it was - a horse, and as she linked to its mind, she knew that it was not alone. Emily: Emily perked up sensing the horses and felt with joy and touched them, asking them if they can help them with their plights. IdGM: The horses seemed as delighted to be in contact as Emily was. When they learned that Emily and her companions were in the valley - the Shadow Valley as they thought of it - there was some private discussion among them, but then the horse Emily had first contacted came back to her and gave an affirmative. The horses started for the valley immediately. Emily: Emily grinned in happiness as she thanked them and told the others, "I managed to get in touch with horses so they will be coming." She sighed with relief. IdGM: It seemed to take a very long time as they kept trudging forward in the snow. There was nowhere to hide from it. And then they heard the drumming of hoofs and a small group of horses - little more than ponies in fact, but wiry and strong and built for the mountains - came cantering down the slope of the hill above them. Stephen: "The cavalry has arrived!" said Stephen, smiling. "You have been invaluable, Emily!" Maddie: Maddie didn't feel easy about riding a horse - she was too used to hunt sabbing - but there didn't seem to be much of a choice if she didn't want to trudge through the sleet and snow Emily: Emily nodded as she welcomed the horses, "We will need to figure out to mock up some form of saddles or something. as she looked over her materials. I can ride the horses without any saddles but you all might have issues staying on yourself." She smiled faintly. Stephen: "Well we won't have to actually fight or charge an army, for which something like stirrups might be really nice to have... just staying in the saddle should be enough, hopefully." said Stephen. IdGM: The horses arrived among them and they could tell how anxious the animals were. Emily's friend provided pictures that made her speed her preparations. Bears, wolves and eagles red in tooth and claw. And most horrifying - goblins roasting an animal carcase over a fire... Maddie: The horses weren't the only ones who were anxious. Maddie very gingerly tried to mount hers, but it promptly reared and threw her into the snow. Fortunately she was agile and rolled smoothly back up to her feet without any injury. Hannah: Hannah hadn't ridden a horse outside of a brief fairgrounds visit, but as a girl she'd read many stories of young women and their majestic bonded creatures. She tried to think of those as she comforted her horse with gentle pats, and it remained steady enough, while she clung to the makeshift reins. Emily: Emily managed to get onto the horse just fine, drawn from lifetime experience of riding her favourite animal in the world. After asking her new horse friend to calm Maddie's poor nervous horse down, Emily looked around at the others, asking if everyone is okay. Stephen: Stephen's words proved ironic as he had a really hard time controlling his horse and staying on its back, and at one point was thrown roughly to the ground. However owing to his toughness he was able to get up again with only a few bruises and climb again on the horse's back, this time managing to stay on it for the rest of the trip, though not comfortably. IdGM: The horses set off with their burdens. It was clear they were eager to leave the valley, but the footing was so uneven under the snow, they had to pick their way for a time, and even to be cautious on the short scrappy grass of the hillside. But when they met the track, they sprang away up the steep slope as if hell hounds were after them. Which they might well have been - as they sped away they heard a series of long-drawn-out howls in the fast-falling night. But that was in the distance and now they could move. Despite their small size, the horses covered the ground rapidly. As they went on, it gradually became warmer. Grass appeared from under the snow, and then there was no more snow or sleet, and no cutting wind. The horses slowed a little, and when they stopped for a breather at the top of a rise, a familiar sight appeared in the distance. It was the grove of beech trees on top of the hill. Now they rode along in hope, looking forward to the welcome they would no doubt receive as they returned to the Academy and handed over their prize. The horses seemed to know exactly where to go. Eventually the lake, the river and the bridge appeared, the waters glimmering in the light of the rising moon. Slowly and exhaustedly the little party of humans and ponies made their way over the bridge.
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Post by Idris on May 7, 2023 13:42:39 GMT
Session 17 - 6/5/23 IdGM: As they left the bridge behind the ponies picked up their pace, as if they expected food and warm stables at the end of the road, although as far as Emily could tell they were wild not domesticated. For the humans, the sight of the Academy buildings, the windows ablaze with light even in the tallest towers, was a most welcome sight. As they drew nearer they could make out a huge crowd of Beings massed on the terraces and in front of the great arched entrance. Maddie: Maddie had eventually grown more used to being on horseback, and as they came nearer to the Academy she pulled out her pipe to smoke. IdGM: Maddie's horse flicked its ears and snorted at the smoke. Emily: Smiling with a sigh of relief, Emily patted her horse softly in thanks as they approach the "civilisation". Stephen: "Hopefully we will be told more about what exactly has been happening with the Courts of Chaos."said Stephen as they rode. "Though I expect there'll be some celebrations first...." IdGM: The huge crowd resolved itself into a mass of students standing all along the terraces, and in front of the main door a group composed of the tutors and others with Estaria and Arberyonwth at their centre. When they saw the party of five weary travellers riding towards them, an enormous cheer went up. Beings surged towards them and surrounded the horses, who did get a little skittish. Hannah: Hannah patted her steed with one hand and waved at their greeters with the other. "A lovely reception!" she said to the others. "Though I hope they give us a chance for some food and a bath soon." Emily: Emily looked slightly surprised at this warm receptions, "Truely, it feel like it has been a very long time since," She commented softly in response to Hannah. "Still, I am looking forward to hearing more about the upcoming issues as well." IdGM: A loud neighing announced the arrival of Shadow, who was carrying Growmiang on his back. He nuzzled their ponies and calmed them. Growmiang balanced on Shadow's broad back like a circus performer as he swept off a feathered hat. "Welcome home! We have been hearing great things about you!" Stephen: Stephen smiled. "It was no walk in the park, I think we'll take some praise." Hannah: "Well then, the rumors are true," said Hannah with a laugh. "I'm proud of us all. But we had plenty of aid out there." She patted her horse. "And of course the magic we've been taught came in handy. I'm not sure we would have..." She left that last sentence unfinished and a look of solemnity passed over her face. There was a real chance one or more of them could have died on that venture. Emily: "We are really appreciative of these magics." She pursed her lips, "Especially using it in more extreme stressful positions." She grimanced at that but look confident for the coming issues. IdGM: "Come on," Shadow said. "You look like you need a good brush down!" He cleared a path through the cheering students to the entrance, where Estaria and Arberyonwth stood, both smiling broadly. "You have done well," Estaria said. IdGM: Some of the Beings who looked after the horses came forward to take the ponies. "They can have oats tonight and a rest, they deserve it," one gnarled old man said with a pat on the lead pony's neck. Now the party were led up the steps and embraced by Arberyonwth. "Come along and get cleaned up. There's a feast and celebration awaiting once all the teams are back." Hannah: "They're all coming back safely, I hope?" asked Hannah as she followed along. Maddie: "What, they're all due back tonight?" Emily: Emily after mentally thanking the nice and sweet ponies as well, strolled up the steps, "I do hope they will all return safely." She murmured. Stephen: Stephen started to rummage through his backpack, though he paused for a few moments upon hearing Hannah's question, as if worried. After a while he took out the object of their quest - the small, beautifully carved, sealed jar - from his pack and handed it over. IdGM: "Yes," replied the Seer. "Although the others may be late. One team got into real difficulties and had to be rescued I'm afraid, and we have sent assistance for the others. You were the only team to succeed in every respect and return through your own efforts." She smiled at them, though there was still the hint of concern in her face. IdGM: Estaria received the jar from Stephen with a bow. "I am glad you were not tempted to open it." Maddie: "It was a pretty dangerous field exercise. Do you know what that place was? It looked like it used to be a mine, but there were goblins in there now, I felt like I was in Skyrim." Stephen: "Well, I might have been tempted..." Stephen admitted with a smirk. "I do hope we'll find out what's inside!" IdGM: Estaria sighed. "That valley was once a verdant place, where many Fey lived. They are not miners, but they were on friendly terms with dwarves who mined precious ores and stones in the mountains. But... things have changed, and that valley proved a good place to test our students. Plainly it has become more dangerous recently. Goblins usually keep themselves to themselves but something has been stiring them up." Maddie: "I mean they mostly kept to themselves, they only turned up after we took that," Maddie pointed to the jar with the stem of her pipe, "and called us thieves." IdGM: Estaria smiled shortly. "Goblins are very territorial and tend to claim anything within the area they stake out. They would have found this hard to claim though." Emily: Emily looked increasingly concerned at that tit bit of the news. "I certainly noticed that the creatures in the area are much more... nasty and meanier." She shivered at the thought of these horrid maggots like creatures. "Still, maybe whatever something that are stirring them up, hopefully they can be found and sorted." IdGM: "Maybe, but the instigators are beyond that." Estaria sighed again. "Now I can see you are in need of a bath and a rest. When you are ready, we will all be in the Great Hall." Stephen: "It might have something to do with what has been happening with the Courts...." said Stephen, referring to what had been stirring up the goblins "As for the Fey, we had the pleasure of being their guests, and unfortunately they are facing trying times right now." Emily: Emily thanked them for their undersanding and looked ready to have a lovely long soak in the bath. Hannah: Hannah nodded gratefully at the prospect of a bath and some time to relax. "I look forward to our feast." IdGM: When they entered their rooms, it felt like coming home. The pool steamed gently, petals floating on its surface, and once they lowered themselves into the water, it seemed to take away all their aches and pains and tiredness. Decorated cups - reminiscent of the work of the Fey they had met - and a jug of something sweet and hot had been placed on the table by Delphinium. "We are glad to see you return," she said in her quiet voice. Maddie: "Good to see you. How have things been around here since..." Maddie paused. "How long has it been since we left anyway? We've been underground and I don't know how long for." Emily: It suddenly dawned on Emily that how risky their test must be if so many people are concerned about their and other teams' fates. "I am glad that we managed to return safely as well. It is good to see you again," She replied softly. IdGM: "This is the fourth day," Delphinium replied to Maddie. "Your team came back fast and without aid, that is very good." Stephen: "It was not easy." said Stephen, before inquiring "Do you mean that teams sometimes receive aid if they do not come back fast enough or if they end up not being able to face the challenges on their own?" IdGM: Delphinium nodded. "Sometimes they have accidents or find no means to return." Stephen: "Not surprising." Stephen said simply. "But I suppose now we should try to relax for a while rather than think about things like these." IdGM: Delphinium smiled and left the room. It was very quiet apart from the birdsong that filtered down from the opening in the ceiling. Within minutes they were drifting into pleasant darkness. None of them felt they had really slept, but when they returned to full consciousness less than an hour later, they were as refreshed as it they had been abed all night. Delphinium had laid out their favoured robes for the feast. Maddie: Maddie was fidgeting with her circlet - she'd rather not bother with the Marvel outfit but it seemed like it would be expected on this occasion Hannah: Hannah was once again dressed elegantly in a sea-themed outfit, though this time it was darker blues and greys like a stormy coast, accented by her silver circlet and white gloves. She'd always seemed like she fit in well at such formal occasions, but now she looked less like a confident foreigner and more like one of the people of the Court. Emily: Emily glanced again at the circlet which was designed so beautiful. Eventually she double checked her lovely outfits once more, mostly in similar pale green and dark green combination. Stephen: Stephen wore his white-and-grey robe reminescent of well-carved marble and obsidian circlet and was obviously eager to leave for the Great Hall - though they could tell that, more than in the celebrations, he was interested in finding out about what exactly had happened. IdGM: When they had dressed and prepared, a knocking on the door announced the arrival of Arberyonwth and Growmiang to bring them to the Great Hall. As they entered a cheer went up. The Great Hall was once again filled with Beings, though by now many of them were familiar faces. Their tutors were there - even Thalia the Sea-Nymph, the Wild Man and Farlibean the Knocker - and immediately came up to congratulate them on their success and discuss the finer points of their use of Magic. Rex the fire mage became loquacious after an uneasy start, assisted by whatever the drinks were. Possibly nectar, but whatever it was, it made everyone feel good. Maddie: Maddie went to find Gitta and Barnard and tell them the tale of the fights in the old mine. Hannah: Hannah spoke with Thalia for a time, giving her profuse thanks for how the skills she'd learned had helped them in their quest. After that she began to circulate through the room with her cup of nectar. Emily: Emily pulled another gulp from the vessel containing the very nice nectar or whatever it making her body all nice and warm. She was pleased to see the Wild Man and went into an interesting discussions especially on the strange things to discuss with meat-eating fishes they found in the Lake. Stephen: Stephen thanked his tutor Farlibean for his precious lessons, explaining how the ability to sense the Flow had helped with their quest, and was obviously looking forward to improving his magical skills - though he kept his ears open for other discussions around him, obviously still concerned by news about the wider world. IdGM: After a while, a low ringing chime sounded and everyone quietened and looked towards the dais. The tutors had now arranged themselves along with Estaria and Arberyonwth, and in her great carved chair, the Owl. Estaria rose and moved forward. "The field exercise is over, and all the teams have now returned." There was a general murmur of relief at this. "Out of the five teams who took part, only one was unable to finish the exercise, through no fault of their own." She nodded at a group of disconsolate Beings, some of them still pale and bandaged after what must have been some kind of mass accident or incident. Estaria did not elucidate. "Three teams reached their objective," she did not indicate who the other team, which presumably failed, had been. "One found a way to return themselves and needed no extra assistance, despite one of their number being badly injured. This was not only because they used all their skills to work through the physical problems they were faced with, but because they formed good relations with the Beings they met and therefore gained their help when needed. This is something we all need to remember." There was a burst of applause and cheers. Lastly the Owl rose and stepped forward. "All the teams put everything into this exercise but it was particularly gruelling, far more so than previously. There are incursions and ill effects being felt at the fringes of the Court, and we must be prepared for anything which might happen. The Courts of Chaos in particular are causing trouble. This is not good news but neither is in unexpected. Tomorrow we will plan, tonight we will celebrate. Enjoy your party!" Hannah: Hannah raised her cup to cheer with the rest as the party was commenced. Still, she looked troubled by the growing dangers the Owl had mentioned, and while she mingled with the beings of the Court she did her best to learn more about the troublesome activities by the Courts of Chaos so that she would be better prepared for their planning tomorrow. Maddie: Maddie paid only a little attention to the Owl's speech, as she was too busy telling Barnard and Gitta about how she'd tricked the goblins into thinking that her little light spell was a fireball. "God, I could kill for a fucking spliff. The pipe is nice but it doesn't actually make you high. Either of you know of anything more interesting to smoke around here? Or just take. Dionisia likes these hallucinogenic mushrooms, they're fucking great." Stephen: Stephen seemed somewhat concerned by the accident involving one of the other teams, but quickly moved to other things - like Hannnah, he was obviously interested in finding out more about exactly the Courts of Chaos had been up to. IdGM: From those Hannah spoke to it was clear that there had been incidents over many years but these had recently escalated. Travellers between the Courts and regions of the Summer Lands were being attacked, especially in the wilder areas, and the kind of changes they had seen in the valley were taking place at the edges of all the Courts as destructive forces were directed at their boundaries. Strange and vicious creatures had been seen coming out from the Spine of the World - a high mountain range in the east of the Summer Lands. Emily: Emily again took another sip from her drink, looking really forward to the foods since stomach is the route to feeling happy. She like others is still concerned about the other teams' fates and all the potential danger await them. She was particularly surprised to hear that they are only team to get through all this without any aids apart from the ones they asked. She is resolved to take Owl's lesson on board that teamworks and making sure that there are other form of support is available. Nevertheless, clearly they already got an enemy, the enemy from Courts of Chaos. Her fingers feel a little tingy as she look forward to hunting... I mean dealing with these enemies who are such a dangerous threats to her own people and the Beings that she is working with and talking with. She bitten down another some fatty meaty snack Emily strumpled across. IdGM: Gitta's eyes brightened at Maddie's words. "Some of our old folks grow mushrooms down below! They swear it keeps 'em young - well, they are pretty sprightly!" "I don't know that's a good idea," Barnard frowned. "Your gnomes can eat anything but it might poison a human. I know some people who make interesting stuff out in the forest," he told Maddie. Maddie: "What kind of interesting stuff?" Maddie wasn't particularly worried about getting poisoned. IdGM: Stephen too heard the same stories of incursions and trouble on the roads. Clearly it was no longer safe to travel unless in a heavily armed group. He did speak with some of the Dwarfs - they held Earth mages in high esteem and often invited them to their halls beneath the mountains. They told tales of horrors coming from the Deep and having to close down some of the pits. IdGM: Emily found herself approached by a group of Talking Dogs - they were particularly interested in what creatures she had seen or heard in the mountains. IdGM: "They tap the trees up there - something in the sap, can really make you feel like you're walking in another world," Barnard said. "The colours! The shapes! Impossible to get down on canvas but you have to try!" "He's mad on painting, in case you hadn't guessed," Gitta said with a roll of her eyes. Maddie: Maddie tilted her head sideways. "Sounds cool. Maybe I'll try that another time, but I'll check out these mushrooms first. I'm sure they're not poisonous." IdGM: Gitta did a little dance. "You'll get some time off tomorrow, so we can go down. I'll ask Granda about them." Stephen: "Horrors from the Deep...what a dreadful thought."commented Stephen. "Makes the maggots we had to deal with during the test sound like not much at all". Emily: Emily grimanced as she launched into a range of odd creatures spanning from fairly well known Goblins creatures which she described fairly shortly as she was looking at them very shortly. Others she did her best with the lake monster and interesting creatures that helped her out in the Lake. Lastly, she focused on these awful terrible maggots that she admitted that they got very lucky to get away with. "These maggots are really nasty and just feel wrong generally. Thankfully, Maddie managed to fight them more effectively than others. But overall, it was horrible." Hannah: After a time Hannah put aside talk of the encroaching dangers, resolving to enjoy the rest of the party. She even spent some time dancing, her movement more precise and fluid than ever before, perhaps due to her training with Water. After draining enough cups, however, she spun jovially about one time too many and fell back against an unsuspecting dwarf, who thankfully had the fortitude to keep standing himself. IdGM: Thankfully the normally taciturn Dwarf was considerably cheered by the amount of drinks he had enjoyed, and he just pushed Hannah back upright with a grunt of amusement and a gruff "Here y'go lassie." It was definitely time to go, and with their final goodnights and agreements to meet up next day, Maddie, Hannah, Stephen and Emily returned to their suite of rooms, and in very short order fell into bed. There was no sign of James but they had seen him dancing with one of Nymphs earlier in the evening. IdGM: They felt like they had only just dozed off, but it was in the early hours that they were awakened. A sound rang out through every room - the call of a hunting horn. In their training they had learned how the entire Academy could be informed at once by a variety of signals. The Horn was the signal for danger, for battle stations!
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Post by Idris on May 29, 2023 22:27:45 GMT
Session 18 - 20/5/23 IdGM: The Horn continued to sound, urgent and demanding. There was a sudden loud knocking at the door. Maddie: Maddie was immediately on her feet, sweeping her bat into her hand without bothering with any clothes. She had spent many a night in squats with half an ear open listening for cops and bailiffs, ready to spring up and fight or run at a moment's notice. She bounded to the door. Emily: Woken by the loudness of the Horn which Emily found rather alarming, eyes widen in surprise. Groaning as she did her best to shake off her tirdness she stood up. Taking off her bed clothing, she started to quickly put on her clothings from her previous trips, dark like the dark grim forests she ventured out in last few months. She bundled up her weapons, a trustworthy axe and shortbow. She heard that someone is bouncing towards to the door. Hannah: Hannah jerked awake, and after a few moments to orient herself pushed herself out of bed and began quickly dressing. Her eyes were on Maddie and the door, as she readied herself to grab her crossbow if needed. Stephen: Though not as quick as the others in realizing what was happening and getting out of his bed, Stephen did not hesitate to ready his sword and equipment, full of determination to face whatever was threatening the academy. IdGM: The knocking came again, sounding as though whoever stood without had heavy hands. Emily: Once Emily finished preparing herself, she rushed into the main chamber of their rooms, ready for any fights on their hands. Maddie: Maddie threw the door open, ready to fight at a moment's notice if she had to. IdGM: The figure revealed on the threshhold was quite a surprise. A Being almost eight feet tall, with dark and striated bark instead of skin. Bright green eyes in a gnarly face looked down at Maddie and a wide mouth appeared in the bark below them. "I am Golden Beech," the Tree-man said in a voice like branches creaking in the wind. "You are all prepared? Emily: Emily eyed over the interesting dark woody grains of this being and nodded solemnly, "Ready for action! My name is Emily" she quickly introduced herself. Maddie: "Umm, two seconds." Maddie said, then added, "Uh, that's not my name, I'm Maddie. I'll only be a moment." They'd been told that the horn was a signal to arm themselves, dress, and get ready for action, but most of the time when she'd slept in squats she'd still had her clothes on and instinct had kicked in, so she found herself clad only in a light shift. She hastily pulled on her pants, Docs and battle jacket. Stephen: "I'm Stephen." he said simply, looking up with interest at the Tree-man. "Who are we up against?" Hannah: "Hannah Jeong," she said seriously, waiting for the response to Stephen's question. Hannah had managed to get her daytime clothes on quickly, though now that it was clear there was no immediate danger she spent a few moments adjusting her hair. IdGM: Golden Beech bowed stiffly to Emily, Maddie and Hannah, then they turned to Stephen. "We have not yet determined the reason for the alarm. We will have to search." Behind the Tree-Being they could see other members of the Academy who Golden Beech had presumably gathered up. He waved one long branch-like hand down the passageway, indicating that they should follow him, and they all set off. As they left their rooms, they could hear noise in the distance. Golden Beech started moving faster, a steady pace but they had to jog to keep up. Other Beings joined them - many armed and some armoured - so there was quite a crowd. A tense feeling of anticipation flowed through them all, but there was no panic. As they ran, Golden Beech began to point off down other passages and smaller groups peeled off in various directions. Some were heading towards the Great Hall, the kitchens, workrooms and other areas. A loud clattering of hooves on stone sounded behind them and Shadow galloped up. "Hail Golden! They're to come with me!" He swung round to Maddie, Emily, Stephen and Hannah. "This way!" Maddie: "Shadow, do you have any idea what the fuck is going on or are you in the dark too?" Emily: Emily's eyes became more circumspect as she noted that this may be more serious than she thought would be the case, wondering whom or what are attacking the location they are staying at IdGM: Shadow snorted and shook his mane. "Whatever set off the alarm, it's very unclear. But the Seer sent me to get you all." Stephen: Stephen seemed disappointed - and perhaps worried - by not knowing anything about their attackers, but he said nothing. Emily: Emily likewise was concerned about the lack of the information as well, but then, she eventually hope to learn the source of this alarm call. "Let's go!" Emily replied quickly. Hannah: Hannah watched the other groups filter off, interested to learn how the Court responded in times of crisis, but when Shadow called for them to follow she did so without hesitation. IdGM: Shadow rounded a corner. "With me!" he called as he cantered to the left, along halls and passages to a part of the Academy they had not seen. Here there were many doors, like their own leading to rooms mostly used by students. Shadow called out that they included many who were newly arrived. The implication being, that they might not know the drill for alarms and emergencies. As they sped down another passage, Maddie and Hannah thought they could smell burning and hear shouting. Panicked voices were crying out - very unusual in this place of calm and control. Maddie: "I smell fire, and there are people shouting. There, ahead of us," Maddie pointed. Hannah: Hannah nodded, catching the scent in the air as well. "I hope there are water sources... Let's move!" Emily: Emily looked alarmed hearing that there are fire. Dangerous and fickle things they are, hopefully they won't get burned on these. Stephen: "I will be disappointed if this is merely a very realistic drill."said Stephen, though his voice hinted that he was seriously worried. IdGM: They raced forward, turned a corner and burst onto a scene of chaos. Fire blazed before them, filling the passage from wall to wall. A handful of students on the near side of the inferno were trying to fight the fire, but they were being driven back by the incredible heat, while beyond the leaping flames other figures could be seen running back and forth, desperate to escape and crying out for help. Shadow reared back in alarm. "Forgive me for leaving you but I will be useless here, and the others need to know what and where!" He wheeled around and headed back the way they had come at a fast gallop. Emily: Emily totally understand rational fear of fire and wish Shadow luck as she reviewed in her mind on how to helps with burns from her modern and magical world. Maddie: "I can get through the fire, but I can't bring them with me!" Maddie said. Hannah: "Maybe you can get to the other side and help organize them while we work over here," said Hannah, doing her best to hide the rising panic in her voice as she heard the desperate cries. Stephen: "I might be able to move through the stone walls." said Stephen "But that would be slow and likely not very useful even if I could bring people back with me.." Hannah: Seeing that the water available to those battling the fire would not be enough, Hannah stretched out with her Elemental Bond, looking for a greater nearby source. IdGM: It felt as though she were stretching herself thinner as Hannah reached out, and then she struck it - a large body of almost icy cold water, lying beneath their feet. There were reservoirs of fresh water below the Academy! Maddie: Maddie reached out to the Elemental Flow - if nothing else, she could go across and assure the other students that help was on the way. Stephen: Stephen realized that although walking through the stone walls would be of little help, creating a safe passage for others to use would greatly aid the rescue efforts, and so started to focus his Will on the Elemental Flow of the stone walls... Emily: Emily took one look at the people, creatures and beings who has been singed, scalded or worse, scalded by the fires. She focused on establishing a temporary first aid station to help to support the burnt folks and help to using practical experiences. IdGM: Maddie touched the Elemental Flow, although the effort seemed much greater that usual. The heat of the raging fire now felt only warm and comfortable on her skin. Maddie: Maddie ran straight through the inferno, going to the students on the other side. IdGM: Stephen also put more effort into reaching the Flow but as he touched it, the stone in front of him seemed to melt away, and he could step forward into it. He had to work out the direction and angle of the passage he was forming through the stone walls, but it wasn't too long and hopefully would take little time. IdGM: Hannah could trace the flow of the water as it was directed through channels which seemed to have been formed within the stone of the building, into the pools the students used for bathing. It would be hard work but possible to 'encourage' the water to flow faster and overflow the pools, IdGM: As Maddie appeared from the fire, the students cried out in terror. They seemed to find her appearance more frightening that the fire itself! Hannah: "Stephen..." Hannah called, brow furrowed in concentration. "There's water flowing through channels in the stone. I think I could guide you to direct the water to us!" Maddie: "You know you're at a school for magic right?" Maddie stepped out of the flame. "Ah fuck, lost it." The students' fright had broken her concentration. "Stephen's making a passage through the wall you can escape through, it won't be long! Do we know what started the fire?" Stephen: Stephen heard Hannah's voice over the raging chaos of the burning fire and panic of those trapped, and tried to follow her directions to allow the water to pour forth and extinguish the flames IdGM: The students still huddled together, but one small Being - Maddie thought it might be some kind of gnome - stepped forward bravely. "We thought you were it!" the Being said in a small, shakey voice. Maddie: Maddie's eyes narrowed. "And what is it exactly?" IdGM: The Being shook its head. "Something strange, not like any of us." "It was like a human, but made of smoke," another of the students said. "Are you going to get us out?" Stephen: Before setting to work on a new passage for the water, Stephen called out to the students from the end of the tunnel he had just finished creating "Over here! Be quick!" IdGM: The students turned from Maddie and swarmed towards Stephen, who risked being trampled in their desperate rush to escape the flames. Maddie: "No, but he is." Maddie pointed to the exit, though she scarcely needed to. "Calm down dammit! It doesn't show much gratitude to crush the person who just saved you." IdGM: With Maddie and Stephen imposing order the students got into some kind of line and began to work their way through the passage to where Emily was waiting at her first-aid station. There were some burns, others affected by smoke and heat. One student - a young faun - was sitting by the side of another, lying on the ground. "He won't wake up!" she said, looking from Maddie to Stephen. "He was right there when the thing appeared and started burning everything." Maddie: "Stephen, let's get him over to Emily," Maddie said. She looked around, searching for the gnome. "Hey, you! What's your name? I need to ask you more about this smoke creature that started the fire." IdGM: The gnome stuck close to Maddie as they traversed the passage through the wall, Maddie and the other faun carrying the unconscious faun awkwardly between them. Maddie: "I'm Maddie," she introduced herself to the gnome. "I'd shake your hand but, well..." she indicated the unconscious faun, "so it'll have to be implied." IdGM: The gnome nodded her understanding, her face serious as she gazed up at Maddie. "My name is very long and complicated so most people just call me Tulip." Maddie: "I mean strictly my name is Madison Ingram-Noble, but that's also complicated so most people just call me Maddie." Stephen: Having some experience with crowds of running students, Stephen was able to avoid the worse of it and in a few moments regained his composure - he did not have the time to help lift the faun, but he quickly set to creating a new passage in the stone connecting the hall to the water channels sensed by Hannah. IdGM: This did get a smile out of the gnome, transforming her little face. "Are you going to catch the thing?" Maddie: "I can walk through fire and I have a baseball bat, so yes." IdGM: Suddenly there was a loud whooshing noise, and a column of water shot from the floor of the corridor straight at the fire. There was much hissing and spitting as the two elements battled for supremacy, but the water kept flowing and eventually the fire died out. The students cheered! Hannah: Hannah laughed with relief as the water burst forth. She looked quickly through the crowd for any injuries that they hadn't yet addressed before turning to the others. "What was I hearing about a being of smoke? We should rendezvous with the others and start a search." Emily: Upon receiving the poor faun which got burnt, she immediately went to work on him. Thnankfully, her education at the Academy allowed her to procure some special balm which can be used to treat serious burns and with some excellent knowledge, she managed at least to prevent it from getting any worse. Despite her efforts she is unable to wake up the faun from whatever the state of unconsciousness he is in. Still she was more successful with others still so literally anyone else she looked at, she felt confident that they are feeling better hopefully and perhaps on the mend eventually. She did her best to calm them down as well in her small chats with them. Stephen: Before joining the others Stephen had to close the tunnel he had just made, to avoid the water flooding the room - fortunately it was quicker work than making the tunnel in the first place, and soon he was able to rendezvous with the others. IdGM: Once the channels were closed again and the water in its proper place, they set off back towards the main part of the Academy. A stretcher was knocked up from bedding and poles to carry the unconscious faun, his friend walking alongside. Tulip stuck close to Maddie. Maddie: Maddie waved Hannah over. "Alright Tulip, what happened with this smoke Being?" She also looked out for the faun who remained conscious, hoping she might have more information as well. IdGM: Tulip looked up at Hannah. "I didn't see it come but I heard Aina scream. That's her," Tulip pointed at the faun. "There was this thing, like a Human shape but big and it was made out of smoke, and then fire sprang up from its feet." Maddie: "Aina? What did you see?" IdGM: Aina moved over to them, though she kept looking back at her friend on the stretcher. "It happened so fast... I woke up, it must have been a sound. Genri wasn't in his room, and the door was open so I looked out and he was just outside, doing something. I couldn't see what, and then there was this smoke and flames and Genri just fell on the floor..." Her eyes filled with tears and she lowered her head. Stephen: Stephen interjected "Human-shaped, but made of smoke and with fire out of its feet? Reminds me of some portrayals of genies in our world..." Emily: Emily tried to comfort her with reassuring comments. "Do not worry, Aina. I am sure he will be up once healers checked him out properly." She glanced at Stephen, "Sound like something from Aladdin?" She considered this new information with concern Hannah: "I wonder if we can trap him in a lamp," added Hannah. Maddie: "I was intending to just belt it with my bat until it stops moving. We should go find Shadow and tell him what we've found out, he can spread the word. Aina, do you know how long ago this attack happened? And where did the smoke Being go?" IdGM: Aina looked over. "I don't know - we seemed to be stuck behind the fire for ages but... I didn't see it go either, I was trying to help Genri." She was thoughtful for a time. "I... Genri was... strange tonight. When we went to the feast he spent nearly all the time talking to the Beings from one of the teams who came back from the testing. After, he said he had something to do. I don't know what but it wasn't like him to be... secretive." She looked sadly over at her friend. IdGM: Tulip piped up now. "I saw the thing. It was kind of running around in circles, and the fire started where it ran. Then the fire stopped and it went off down the corridor." Stephen: "It could be connected to these tales from the Middle East."said Stephen to Emily "Or it could be some being of a completely different type..." Emily: Emily grimaced for a moment, "I don't like it that we are so underprepared against such the beings, especially something wonderous out of our stories, Still, the whole thing just feel very odd." She feel a shiver down her back. IdGM: As they moved further, there was a loud clatter of hooves and the sound of feet and voices around the next corner. Maddie: "Shadow? We're here!" Maddie called out. IdGM: Shadow appeared, trotting up to greet them, and with him a mixed group of Beings, all heavily armed. They stopped dead and stared at the sooty, dischevelled party moving towards them. Stephen: "I'm sure we will be able to gather more information on this kind of being - there is no shortage of experts here, we have the Library ..." said Stephen reassuring Emily as they walked. Hannah: Hannah waved at Shadow and the others. "It seems as if we had an arsonist - a being of smoke. Judging by your gear, you have reason to suspect an intruder as well..." Emily: Emily smiled gingerly at seeing some friendly faces approaching them, "Well, I am glad to see you all, especially there are more to meet to an eye here." She ended her comment with a frown.
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Post by Idris on Jun 11, 2023 12:15:38 GMT
Session 19 - 10/6/23 IdGM: Immediately at Hannah's words a noisy debate broke out among the group of Beings. A tall, rather reptilian Being stepped forward and bellowed at them all to be quiet. " A thing of smoke caused fires?" it asked. "Did you see this yourselves?" Hannah: "Not ourselves, but there were witnesses." Hannah glanced back at Aina and Tulip and the others. "It sounds as if the flames began where it ran." IdGM: Tulip was looking somewhat askance at the large reptilian Being which towered over her, but she came forward bravely and spoke up. "I saw it!" Maddie: "We've got another witness back there on the stretcher, but they're not exactly giving much information at the moment." Emily: Emily considered this carefully, "It could be a case someone doing this as they believe they has no choice but to do it." Highlighting the possibility of this genie creature may not be doing this out for a evil reason. Stephen: "Are you suggesting this Being might be controlled by an evil sorcerer, perhaps?" asked Stephen "I suppose that is possible." Emily: Emily nodded in Stephen's word, "Blackmailing, hostages or worse," she softly replied. IdGM: The Reptilan Being held its hands up to silence everyone. "Too many ideas and not enough facts!" It looked down at Tulip. "You have seen the thing, please describe it." But as Tulip drew breath, Shadow nudged the Reptile, as though reminding it of something. "Ah, my name is Shurruk," and it drew its lips back in an approximation of a smile, revealing a double row of dagger-like teeth. Tulip gulped but the little gnome gave a polite bow. "I am Tulip." She took a moment to draw herself together and began. "I didn't see it arrive but when I went out into the passage there was this thing going round in circles and the fire came from it. It was like a human made out of smoke but much bigger. Then it seemed to fly off, like smoke in the wind." Maddie: Maddie went over to Aina, thinking more about what she had said previously. "You said Genri was behaving strangely earlier, at the feast he was speaking to one of the other teams from the testing. Do you know which one he was speaking to?" IdGM: Aina looked fearfully at Shurruk and when she spoke her voice shook a little. "I don't know their names. We watched the teams come in and they were the second back." Suddenly she stared at Maddie in wonder. "You were in the first team! And them... they were too." She waved her hand at Stephen, Hannah and Emily. Maddie: "Yes, we were. I wonder if this second team brought something back that they told Genri about." IdGM: Aina frowned. "During the celebration he did talk to them. And he acted strange afterwards. That thing, the smoke man, it was near him and then he fell down." Stephen: "Did he look like he was hiding something?" asked Stephen "I mean something...physical. Like an object, perhaps." IdGM: "No... I don't think so," Aina said slowly. "But there was something... I heard this noise and went into the passage and there was this thing - the smoke man - right above him. Genri was on the floor. I... I think maybe I saw something roll away along the floor. But there was the fire and Genri and then Beings running about everywhere. I don't know what happened to it. Maybe I just imagined it." The faun looked very downcast. Emily: Emily looked around for anything odd among the burnt remains of the leftover on the floor, "I think you did very well to keep an eye out despite the situations" She tried to comfort her kindly. "It is difficult to keep a level head in the fire." Stephen: "Maybe we should investigate that floor." suggested Stephen "We might find a clue.... I do have a hunch." IdGM: Shurruk had listened with interest to these accounts. Now he turned to Shadow. "We'll report back, there needs to be a search for this Smoke Man. Will you remain with these and see what you can find?" Shadow snorted. "What about these students? They need somewhere to sleep away from here, and they might be injured." He looked to Emily at this. Emily: Glancing away from Aina, she nodded firmly as Emily went over on what she did. "I set up a place further back for first aid. I did managed to help a few but Genri need more immediate attention and others who need more experienced help" She indicted poor Genri and others who clearly need further attentions. "They are steady for now" she sighed with a relief. She then added, "So there shouldn't be any issues moving them or going directly to healers, I am happy to go with them to make sure." IdGM: Two of the Beings hoisted the makeshift stretcher, and the group of injured and frightened students were gathered together to be taken care of. Shurruk looked closely at Emily and gave a nod of approval. "You did well young human. We will look after them. Find that object if you can." Shadow lifted his head and neighed in farewell, then he turned round, ready to enter the burned corridor. Hannah: Hannah followed, eyes already scanning for the missing object or other clues. Maddie: Before she left, Maddie asked Aina if she could tell them whereabouts she had spotted Genri, so that they might have an easier search. Stephen: "So..." Stephen said as they walked by themselves. "My theory right now is that Genri may have taken something he should not have, perhaps related to the testing, and then accidentally summoned the genie, or freed it from inside the object." Emily: Emily eyed the floor. "What a nasty trap!" She frowned with disappoval with caged Being. IdGM: Aina had said that she found Genri in the passage, not far from the door to their rooms. The object was somewhere near there. They set off and soon reached the area where the fire had been. Incredibly it seemed to have actually burned into the stone of the passage - the fine paving of the floor was blackened and cracked, and the decorated walls scorched. After searching for some time, Hannah spotted an object lying close against the wall. A long curved shape, it seemed little more than a lump of soot. Hannah: Hannah bent down to examine the thing's shape more closely, and pulled a cloth from her bag to wipe away some soot. Maddie: Maddie had been of little more use in the search than providing a light for them to search by, but she was at least able to do this, floating it up to illuminate the object Hannah had found. Emily: Emily was busy as well looking for the item pointed out by Aina but she did enjoyed the faint smell of the smokes that surrounded the passage they were in. IdGM: Cleaning off a small area revealed something that gleamed in the light of Maddie's globe. It was hard to say what colour it was as it seemed to swirl like oil on water, but it had a hard shiny surface. Stephen: Stephen had been of little use in finding the object itself, despite having been the one to suggest they investigate in the first place. However he did warn Hannah to be careful - they didn't know exactly what they were dealing with. Hannah: Taking heed of Stephen's warning, Hannah endeavored to avoid touching the object with her bare skin. She lifted it up tentatively from one end with a handkerchief, so that she could start cleaning it more thoroughly with the cloth. IdGM: The object gradually revealed itself, although in the end it required some water to remove the worst of the soot. Fully cleansed it revealed itself as an exquisitely blown glass vessel, tall and slim, with a narrow foot and top. The glass was a dark blue but with swirling colours and lights under the surface. There was no cork or closure, and the rim of the bottle looked rough. Stephen: "Interesting." said Stephen "Doesn't look much like our own jar from the test. Perhaps we should show this to someone who is knowledgeable about these things." Hannah: "Yes, if it's connected to the smoke creature, perhaps it can be used to find it," suggested Hannah. Emily: Emily perked up at this find, "I wonder how old it is." She asked curiously as an off hand comment. Maddie: "We should bring it to Arberyonwth. We also need to speak to the second team, find out what they told Genri." Stephen: Stephen looked at the vessel for a while, as if trying to remember something, before finally speaking. "Well that's... fascinating. A friend once showed me a glass vessel from Venice not unlike this, and that's definetely not the typical Venetian style. Likely a copy of an item brought from elsewhere...potentially far-away lands..." Emily: "I would have thought that looking for this creature would take priority on that," Emily wondered. Stephen: Wanting to get an even closer look at the item, Stephen, who had previously been holding it through Hanna's handkerchief, touched it with his bare hands, holding it right in front of his face... IdGM: As Stephen's hands closed around the bottle, he felt an instant link open to the Elemental Flow. But this was much stronger that he had experienced before. It was like being electrocuted, but also dowsed in sweet cool water. He could see a thread of burning silver that circled the vessel from foot to rim, and sense the ghost of a scent of burning. Stephen: Stephen blinked a few times before speaking, as if coming back to his senses after a brief shock. "Yes, this must be where that fire-creature came from. Touch it and you'll feel it too..." he said offering the item, now fully uncovered, to the others. Hannah: Seeing that Stephen was unharmed if shaken, Hannah let the cloth drop from her hand and touched the vessel with her fingers. IdGM: Immediately Hannah was plunged into the Elemental Flow. It was thrilling and exhillarating, and dangerous - she could feel that. Yet also strangely like coming home. As though whoever had woven this magic around the bottle was somehow close to her, family in some strange way. Hannah could almost see them, the impression of a person, and the silver thread wound around them both. Hannah: Hannah's eyes closed for a time, and she breathed heavily. "There's... someone connected to this. And to me. Or at least to Water." Maddie: Maddie thought for a moment, then shrugged. If there had been a being of smoke and fire inside, perhaps she could learn more than the others. IdGM: As Maddie took the smooth glass vessel into her hands, she struggled to reach the Elemental Flow. There was something constricting, a barrier in the way. As she broke through the barrier she experienced a shock like being dropped in ice, but at the same time a flare of fire which warmed and held her. And then like an echo, the faintest touch of another's fire - an alien touch and this was of pure fire! Only for a moment, then she felt herself hurled away, her connection to the Flow severed, and the vessel fell from her hands as she dropped backwards onto the ground, momentarily stunned. Maddie: Maddie slumped to the ground with a grunt. "I uh, maybe shouldn't have done that." Emily: Emilt rushed forward and attempted to stop Maddie from crashing into the ground. IdGM: Shadow had been wandering further up the passage, examining the damage, but he came back at a rush. "What are you doing?" he demanded. Hannah: "We were trying to understand this vessel that we found." Hannah had kneeled down beside Maddie. "It seems to be connected to Water, and anathema to fire. Perhaps to trap the being that caused this. We should see the Seer." IdGM: Shadow snorted and shook his mane. "Do you know how dangerous that was. If it is a trap for a Being connected with fire, Maddie could have been trapped inside! We must go to the Seer, now!" Maddie: "I'm fine," Maddie waved her hand dismissively. "There's no prison that could hold me." She stood up and immediately groaned. "Can maybe punch me in the stomach though." Stephen: Stephen seemed worried and embarassed by what had happened to Maddie - after all, he had been the one to suggest the others touch the vessel - but he was greatly relieved when she confirmed she was fine. "Sorry about that. I suppose I should have realized it, since the item feels like it's made to bind beings associated with fire..." he told her. Maddie: As she stood up, Maddie noticed something small on the ground in the soot where Hannah had found the vessel. "What's that?" she pointed. Emily: Emily casted her eyes over Maddie and seem satisfied that Maddie, a fiery woman, is doing well. Upon drawing the attention to something small, she knelt down beside Maddie and took a closer look and reached out, carefully in case it got some tricky magic. IdGM: With a little cleaning, the object proved to be a plug of glass, obviously intended to stop the vessel. There were the remains of some kind of black substance around it, and scratched into this marks like tiny symbols, though Emily could not read them. She reached out for the Elemental Flow, finding it easily, but there was no shock or extreme reaction. She did feel a tingle in her hand, and looking down she could see the symbols glowing in lines of silver. Emily: Emily glanced at Stephen, looking hopefully at Stephen, "Could you read them?" IdGM: As Stephen stared at the tiny shapes, they formed recognisable patterns in his mind. This was a very ancient Persian script, possibly several millenia old, although there was hot debate about it among ancient historians. Professor Magorian might have been able to translate it, but all Stephen could make out was a symbol he thought stood for Fire.
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Post by Idris on Jun 28, 2023 21:50:26 GMT
Session 20 - 24/6/23 IdGM: For a moment they all stood staring down at the small object in Stephen's hand with its runic markings. Then Shadow shook his mane. "Fire? Well that's to be expected if this is a trap for a fire demon. Even more reason to take them to the Seer right now!" Emily: Emily looked around carefully and agreed with Shadow, "Doesn't look like we will find any more evidence so we might as well make a move on!" Maddie: Maddie nodded. She was back on her feet and seemed no worse for wear. Stephen: "Time is of the essence, since the jinn could strike again. Let's go!" said Stephen. IdGM: With Shadow leading, they made their way back down the passages and into the central area of the Academy. Now they met with groups of students being shepherded by tutors - these were the newer arrivals who had yet to be trained. Other parties of more experienced students like themselves were returning from searching the other further reaches of the Academy. Nobody had found a sign of the Fire Demon or whatever it was. They spotted Growmiang among the crowd. "Good, I've been looking for you. Everyone is going to gather in the Great Hall, but Arberyonwth would like a word first. This way," he gestured to them to follow him. Emily: Emily grimanced slightly at hearing that. "Aye, should be interesting to hear more about what happened so far tonight." IdGM: Arberyonwth was waiting for them in a finely decorated room near the Great Hall. She smiled at seeing them though her face bore signs of stress and concern. One other person was sitting at the table with her - James, looking a little sheepish. Inviting them to sit, the Seer poured them all drinks from a frosty bottle of some golden liquid. "You look as though you need this," she said. "It's dry work putting out fires!" Once they were settled, Arberyonwth looked at each of them intently. "You were there, where the fires started. What have you found out?" Hannah: Hannah sniffed her drink as one would a fine wine. "It seems there was a being of Fire - a smoke creature in the shape of a human. It was let loose from a device designed to secure it; I felt the power of Water that was used. We have the bottle and its stopper here." She looked to the others. Stephen: "We were able to sense its magical energies, and I have a hunch as to where it comes from," said Stephen offering the vessel and its plug to Arberyonwth for examination. Emily: Emily highlighted the strange tiny sumbols, "When I used magic, there was a line of writing or symbols which glows on the stopper as well." She looked at Stephen to expand on that. She took a sip of this new very refreshing liquid. Maddie: "A faun student named Genri was the first one attacked," said Maddie. "His friend Aina told us he'd been behaving strangely - he spoke to the second team that came back in the training exercise, after us, and afterwards he said he had something to do. She heard a noise later and went out into the passage and found the smoke Being standing over him. She told us she'd thought she'd seen something rolling away, and when we went back to investigate we found that thing," she pointed to the vessel. "I'd guess Genri maybe released it accidentally? That object there is intended to hold in Beings with an Elemental Bond of Fire. I, uh, hadn't realised it wasn't specifically for the genie when I touched it." IdGM: Arberyonwth's eyebrows shot up at this. "Quite a nasty surprise I imagine! " She held her hands out to take the vessel and its lid. "This is a fine piece of work, a copy of an ancient piece. As you surmised, this was created to act as a trap and a prison for what you might call a genie, a Djinn. A Being of Fiery energy from another plane of existence, one that is neither this world nor the Mundane." She looked at Maddie. "You experienced something of what such a Being must feel when caught and trapped in such a vessel." Maddie: "I'd probably be pretty unhappy if I'd been trapped in there for a long time and then suddenly got free. Did one of the other teams bring this back, or was it here already?" Stephen: "Can you make out what is written here?" inquired Stephen pointing to the ancient Persian script on the vessel. IdGM: "A good question," the Seer replied to Maddie. "This was one of the artefacts retrieved during the exercise. But how a new student got hold of it... The objects brought back were put into secure storage. If this was somehow taken from it, for whatever reason, it must have been through some collaboration. We need to speak to Estaria, and to the Owl herself. This is an attack on the Academy, but more than that." Arberyonwth turned at Stephen's words. "I see there are runes but I don't have that skill. The professor who came at the same time as yourselves is such a scholar and we will ask him." Stephen: "Magorian."said Stephen "I'm sure he will be glad to help us." IdGM: Arberyonwth nodded. "Now we are needed in the Great Hall," she said, seeing Shadow practically dancing from hoof to hoof with impatience. They left the room - the crowds had lessened now. "Sorry I missed the action," James said. Maddie: "No problem. There might be more anyhow." Hannah: "I wouldn't be surprised," said Hannah. "Let's see what this is about in the Great Hall." Emily: Emily smiled faintly at seeing the return of James. "I am sure your special talent with the weather can come in handy if we stumble across any more fire!" IdGM: They could hear a hubbub of voices from quite a distance. When they walked in it seemed every inhabitant of the Academy was gathered together, but looking around for familiar faces they could see that some of those they had met recently, like Golden Beech and the reptilian Shurruk, where absent, presumably on guard duty or still searching for the Djinn. Suddenly a cheer went up. The students they had rescued were there, and had clearly told the story to many others. The Seer held up a hand and hurried them across to the dais, where Estaria and the tutors were gathered. Estaria nodded to them all. "You have done well, and it is appreciated by those you helped. I believe there is more you can aid us with." She gestured them to the rear of the dais, where an arch led into a small ante-chamber. Maddie: Maddie smirked, finding their welcome amusing. "The last time I got cheered in a school was for beating up the guy who'd sexually assaulted my friend. It felt great right up until I got expelled, which was, well, right afterwards." She said to the others. Emily: Nodding at the praise they are getting from the Seer, Emily smiled as she replied "I am sure we will be able to help out more hopefully." She felt ever so more confident in her and more importantly, her friends' combined efforts to smash through any issues that laid in their way, especially if it need chopping up. Hannah: Hannah waved at the crowd with perfectly calibrated modesty. Hearing Maddie's story, she raised her eyebrows. "My head was going more toward being, like, a fairytale knight who slew a dragon. But yours is at least as brave - and I would have said more realistic if it weren't for..." She glanced at the creatures around them. Stephen: Stephen smiled at the reaction of the crowd, though he was obviously more interested in finding out what exactly they were to discuss in the ante-chamber. IdGM: They were able to sit down on plain benches, and were joined in the small room by Professor Adalmar, the Head of Magical Training. The rest of the staff remained outside, reassuring and advising the other students. Arberonwth began to speak, without preamble, describing what they had found, looking to them to ensure she had included all the details. Then she revealed the glass vessel and its stopper. Estaria took it with a look of distaste. "This should have been dealt with long ago. The Djinn must have become maddened by its incarceration." Hannah: "Could it escape its bonds?" asked Hannah. "Or could someone accidentally let it out? Otherwise, it seems there was a deliberate threat to the Court." IdGM: "From what you have said, it seems likely the young Faun let it out," Estaria said. "But he must have been influenced, provided with the means to retrieve the vessel. Maybe by one of the team who recovered it. There is a traitor in our midst, but more than that there is a malign influence at work here from outside, with the intention to cause chaos." Maddie: "Which team brought that thing back? Was it the second team to return by any chance?" IdGM: Estarian and Professor Adalmar exchanged a glance, and he left the room. "It was indeed," she said. "We will talk to them and find out what they remember. Although it may be that they were unwitting participants in these events. The influence of Chaos is strong on the boundaries of the Owl's domain." Stephen: Stephen furrowed his brow "Should we worry about the other items that were brought back from the test, too? If each of them has a dangerous being inside, things might get much worse very quickly..." Maddie: "Why do you say there's a traitor and a malign influence? Couldn't Genri have just released it by mistake? It would hardly be the first time a student did something stupid and against the rules out of pride or curiosity. I think I did that more days than not when I was in school." IdGM: "No, there is nothing else of that sort among the artefacts brought back," Estaria replied to Stephen. "And this," she looked again at the vessel with a twist of her mouth. "They knew that the artefacts were powerful - as did you - and that tampering with them would be extremely dangerous. But then, as far as we know the second team did NOT tamper with it. But somehow the Faun Genri became involved through them. This is why I say malign influence - something led him to what he did. Someone made it possible - that is where a traitor has operated." Maddie: "I mean, that or he might have thought it was a funny prank. I can imagine that - bunch of self-serious people who've just come back from a training exercise - one they didn't fully succed on - telling you about how dangerous everything is, you scoff at them and decide to show them how it's done. That would be stupid and irresponsible but who's not been like that at one point or another?" IdGM: Estaria looked Maddie in the eye. "In the Mundane, young - and not so young - Beings do many dangerous and harmful things for the most stupid of reasons, we know this. But here in the Academy, we expect a level of responsibility, of understanding among our students that they are going to face many dangers, real threats to everything in this world. The field exercise was a test which involved real risks - the artefacts which were recovered were in danger of falling into hands which would misuse them in terrible ways. We do not treat our students as children Maddie. You have the potential for enormous power and have to keep that in mind. There will be no second chances if you misuse that. Stephen: "Are you sure an actual traitor or agent of the courts of Chaos is involved here? Couldn't it be that this malign influence worked remotely through, well...magic? It does make a difference, when it comes to investigating and finding those responsible." asked Stephen. Maddie: "I mean I know all that, I know it involved real risks because I took them. I just wanted to understand why you were so sure there was some kind of traitor or outside influence involved when the whole thing could just be explained by stupidity or bravado." Emily: Emily pointed out her hope. "I do hope that Genri wake up soon enough and can recall what has happen and why he acted so strangely." She frowned for a moment as she looked at Stephen. "A sign of malign influence maybe?" She considered this possibility as well. "Is there any common aspect linking to the members of the second team and Gemi as well? What if this is a distraction for something else that may occurs elsewhere" She sighed for a moment. "It does feel we are grasping at straws somewhere." IdGM: Estaria sighed. Arberyonwth stepped in, replying to all of them. "Unfortunately we have long experience of how the Courts of Chaos operate and this bears all their hallmarks. Beings behaving out of character, doing things they would never consider, acting with what appears to be gross stupidity or hubris. You've been through the training, so have the other teams. They all know what's at stake. Genri would have never thought of this without influence, and he could never have taken the vessel without help. Now time is passing and you are needed to find the Djinn and save any more injuries." Estaria now spoke. "There is a reason we need you all - you have already used your abilities to deal with the fire and shown courage and intelligence in doing so. More specifically, Maddie, you have special qualities in this area, and I believe from what you have said that you have formed a connection - however tenuous - with this tortured spirit. Are you willing to use that in finding a way to solve this?" Maddie: "Of course. What do you suggest?" IdGM: Estaria looked relieved at Maddie's reaction. "Firstly, it may help in finding the Djinn. You have a double connection through your Elemental Bond, and through your experience of the prison vessel. This gives you a means to sense where the Djinn can be found. Dealing with it is more problematic. A Djinn can't be killed but it can be trapped for a time, not only in vessels such as these, but within rock, under water... And it could even be released from its servitude. I will leave it up to you to decide the way to go." Stephen: "Perhaps we could reason with it? I am open to trying, if it's not an obviously foolish endeavor..."suggested Stephen. Hannah: "Yes, that would be ideal," said Hannah, "though we'll want to have alternatives prepared if it's not willing." Maddie: "Would releasing it from servitude allow it to return to its own plane? That would be the best way to do things I would have thought. I won't have anything to do with imprisoning the genie." IdGM: "It won't be easy whatever you do," said Arberyonwth. "The Djinn is still bound to the person who trapped it in the vessel. Forget the stories of three wishes, its Master can let it out to do his bidding and then force it back into imprisonment any time they want. To free the Djinn will take much thought and you will need to call on all your resources." Maddie: "Do we have any idea who that is?" Emily: "That would be ideal" Emily agreed with Maddie, "Especially if it does not want to do anything with this any longer." She then frowned as Emily looked into her glass, "I wonder if we can ask the Djinn as who its master is. Maybe that would help in our case." IdGM: Arberyonwth sighed and shook her head. She looked to Estaria who also sighed. "We don't know who it is. It is not necessary to be a great sorcerer to trap a Djinn, but to hold it for years, that requires power and iron will." She looked at Emily. "That might work but it would require you to form a close bond with the Djinn. Dangerous, possibly fatal." Maddie: "I'm fairly sure this is a yes, but just to be sure - the person who sealed the genie must definitely still be alive right? I don't know how long it's been sealed up." Stephen: "I have a rough idea of when and where the vessel may have been crafted based on my knowledge of Mundane history but of course that doesn't mean the person who originally trapped the genie. is from that time and place..." Emily: Emily grimanced at hearing that it can be very dangerous and even potentially fatal. Maybe it would be easier to kill the master as well, she considered it. IdGM: Estaria held up the vessel, "This can tell us something of its history. We will look into it. And Magorian is coming to take a look at the runes." Adalmar came into the ante-room at this moment and Estaria nodded to him. "Professor Adalmar will help you prepare for your search, and provide any equipment you might need."
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Post by Idris on Jul 13, 2023 15:12:04 GMT
Session 21 - 1/7/23 IdGM: James, who had clearly been rather embarrassed at having missed everything, but had been listening keenly, spoke up. "May I see the vessel and the plug?" He reached out his hand, and Estaria passed it over to him. At this moment, memories of the dig surfaced - it seemed a lifetime ago. Those who had been at Geci Yeri recalled that although James was a Londoner, his family were Persian in origin. And Hannah remembered his speciality - Ancient History. James carefully examined the vessel first. "This looks like Venetian glass, but taken from a very ancient original. I have heard stories of these, but never seen one before. Now we associate Djinn with lamps, but I can see why glass would be far better to work something to trap and hold them." He shivered slightly as he reached for the Elemental Flow, but showed no ill effects. "The plug is much plainer but seems to have been sealed with wax. These runes..." He peered at them. "A very ancient dialect and the marks are hard to see, and they've been damaged. But there are some words I came make out... Something about the drenching flood to douse fire and bind in silver... And this is a name I believe. Dahmudz? That's the nearest sound I can get to it. It's not easy to reproduce written runes as sound!" he grinned ruefully. Hannah: "Good work James. That historical study coming in handy. I wonder if Dahmudz is the name of the maker, or of the djinn, or someone else?" mused Hannah. Maddie: "Maybe it's like Frankenstein and everyone thinks it's the djinn's name when it's actually the maker's." Emily: Emily smiled gratefully, "That should help hopefully, esepcially if we manage to find the djinn and try to convice or something." IdGM: "Either would be of great use," Professor Adelmar said. "As you may be aware, names have power. True names have most, but even an alias can give an adversary something to grip onto. I think it unlikely that the master of this Djinn would have his name on the vessel though. Or her name," he added, his eyes twinkling. Stephen: "Thank you James, that is all very interesting," said Stephen, appreciatively "This silver you mention, I've sensed it...and the faint scent of burning. Though I could not sense the water, that is not really my element..." he added, looking up to Hannah. Maddie: "Or their name, or zir name. Can we use this name to find the genie then?" Maddie's only frame of reference for true names was vaguely remembering her mother reading her the Earthsea novels when she was a child. IdGM: "Maybe not to find it, for that we are hoping that your link will lead us to it," Adelmar said thoughtfully. "But when you do come in contact with it, the name will give you some power over it." Emily: Emilly nodded thoughtfully as it seem Maddie may have the best chance since they are both such a fiery characters. Maddie: "Alright. How do we use this link to find it then? I don't really feel like I have any idea where it is. Do I need to do some kind of spirit quest where I smoke peyote or something?" Maddie hoped the answer was yes. IdGM: Arberyonwth, who had been conversing quietly with James, gave a laugh at this, but she answered, "Something like that. You will need to shut out the sights and sounds of the Academy, and there are ways to do this." At this moment, they heard loud voices approaching, and Professor Magorian burst into the room. "You have runes for me!" Hannah: "We have runes for you!" replied Hannah, mirroring his enthusiasm and gesturing toward the vessel. Maddie: "Hey Magorian, we were just talking about doing drugs. I could probably use some if I'm supposed to shut out sights and sounds, I'm uh, not very good at that when I'm sober." Hannah: "I used a sensory deprivation tank once," said Hannah. "An interesting experience, but I'm not sure if that's what they have in mind..." IdGM: Ignoring these remarks, James held the vessel out to Magorian, who took it in his large hands with great care and respect. Everyone watched in silence as he turned the plug around and around, frowning a little as he gazed at the runes. At last he passed the vessel back, but held the plug up in the air. "Very ancient Persian, as you worked out," he nodded to James. "It is a spell that binds a Being of Fire - in this case a Djinn - within the physical world in order to force it to do the bidding of its master. The runes are ancient, but the glass vessel is not, and I would say the ritual which bound this particular Djinn, and the inscription of the runes to master it, took place at some time in the last six hundred years, Mundane time. Stephen: "I think the vessel may have been crafted in Venice. Perhaps by someone trying to imitate an item from somewhere else in the Venetian style. Might not make a difference to our goal, of course. Though I can't help but note there is a lot of water there..." mused Stephen. IdGM: "It was definitely based on an ancient Persian design," James added. "Maybe some Mediaeval alchemist got hold of details of how to make one." IdGM: Aldemar was nodding at this. "One thing that you may not realise is that this kind of sorcery is part of the Mundane world. A human activity. Not something that any Being native to the Summer Lands would undertake. But Djinn being from the Realm of Fire, can be introduced into this world." Emily: Emily looked surprised at this mention and started wonder what other things they will come across that was also part of the Mundane world. Maddie: "Well that's useful." Maddie had no idea why someone like the Wolf or one of his cronies wouldn't be entirely capable of this kind of sorcery and decided not to bother pressing it. "So we're looking for another human?" Stephen: "Do you mean that the natives of the Summer Lands cannot use this kind of sorcery, or that they simply have no reason to, perhaps because they have other ways to summon and bind a being such as a Djinn should they want it?" inquired Stephen. IdGM: Estaria stood up and addressed them. "This is something we can talk about when there is time. But however it entered our world, the Djinn can wreak havoc and needs to be found as soon as possible. Your group has special advantages in doing so. Not only because of Maddie's link, but you are all human. It is rare for us to have a group of human students, and each of you has something which will aid you in dealing with the Djinn, especially water to douse its fires and earth to slow it down. You may yet need to call on the Wild. And you have one with you who can converse with it in the old Persian tongue." Hannah: "Very well then," said Hannah. "How do we start? What was this process for Maddie to shut out the sights and sounds?" IdGM: Estaria looked to the Seer who beckoned to Maddie. "Let's get you started. You won't need to be entirely on your own." Maddie: Maddie looked at Arberyonwth uncertainly. "We doing this here or...there's a lot of people around if I'm supposed to be shutting things out." IdGM: Aldemar held up a hand to stop the other four following. "We are keeping the untrained students safe here, while groups go out to patrol the Academy. They will keep us informed, and can be directed anywhere to assist. Meanwhile you five will, we hope, be able to engage with the Djinn. These should help you keep in contact." He held up what appeared to be five gleaming stones attached to cords. "If you say the name of a person, these will allow you to speak to them as long as they are wearing one of these." Maddie: As they went, Maddie stopped by Hannah and spoke to her quietly. "Goddamn vision quests and supposed traitors and Chaos agents all around. If there is anyone from Chaos watching the damn Academy they'll probably try to kill us since they seem to rely on us to do a damn lot. Doesn't look like I'm going to even get high out of this." She shook her head. Hannah: Hannah thought about this. "You're right. We have to deal with this threat now of course, but afterward... I wouldn't want to let a saboteur just keep on watching us. Let me think on it." She put a hand on Maddie's shoulder. "And stay safe during... whatever this is." IdGM: Arberyonwth led Maddie through a doorway at the back of the room, rather than back into the Great Hall. There were many archways, presumably leading to other rooms, but they walked fast past all of them. Eventually they came to stone door, which opened at the Seer's touch. The room beyond was large, walled with tiles depicting all manner of strange beasts and Beings of all kinds. In the centre of the room a circular pool steamed gently, an intriguing fragrance filling the air. "Hannah was not far off," Arberyonwth smiled. "You will be floating in the pool." She moved towards a kind of brazier full of glowing embers, and took a metal bowl from a small table beside it. Taking a pouch from her skirt, the Seer threw handfuls of something onto the coals. "Let yourself relax in the water. I will be nearby, and you will find someone to guide you." She turned and moved away behind some kind of screen of stone, leaving Maddie alone with just the pool and the now smoking brazier. Emily: Emily eyed Aldemar's communications devices with keen interest. "That is very useful! Especially when it come to communication effectively. Would love to study more on that in the future!" Her mind immediately went into overdraw as it might be handy to have a way to communicate by even smalller versions of these stones; Stephen: "Would have been quite helpful if we had something like this before."commented Stephen "Hopefully they will let us keep these things after the Djinn is dealt with." Hannah: Hannah stood near the others but looked lost in thought, pondering Maddie's words and their implications. Maddie: Maddie shrugged and pulled her clothes off, stacking them up in a haphazard pile atop her Docs before settling down in the water. IdGM: Aldemar smiled. "There are better ways to communicate over much further distances. You passed the field exercise but there is more to learn here. In fact you will never stop learning, now that you have found your Elemental Bond." IdGM: The pool was the perfect temperature, so that Maddie was hardly aware of its touch on her skin. The scent of the water mingled with the smoke from the brazier and she felt incredibly relaxed. IdGM whispers to Maddie: Maddie lost awareness of the water around her. She thought she must be hanging in the air, especially as clouds seemed to be billowing around her. A red glow appeared in the distance - was it the rising sun? Or the setting sun? Or... no, there were two red glows. As they came nearer Maddie realised they were two glowing red eyes. But she didn't feel afraid. Suddenly a sharp pointed face appeared around the eyes, and she realised she was looking at... an armadillo? Or was it a pangolin? She was sure neither of those had red eyes, but these looked at her with intelligence, and as if it was happy to see her. Emily: Emily grinned widely in appreciation of Aldemar's response for a moment before looking more serious for the coming task. Maddie whispers: "Uh...hi?" Maddie tried to create a light so she could see whatever it was that was staring at her. IdGM: "Is there anything else you think you might need?" Aldemar asked . IdGM whispers to Maddie: The thing bowed its head in greeting but it said nothing, just reached out a skinny hand that reminded Maddie of a possum's, took hold of her own and began to tow her through the clouds. As they moved, or appeared to move, Maddie began to feel hot. It was not unpleasant, but strange.
Maddie whispers: "So I'm Maddie. Are you, uh..." she searched her mind for the genie's name, although she wasn't sure if this was actually it. "Dahmudz?" she said eventually when she finally remembered it. Stephen: "Something to protect us from fire should the Djinn attack us, perhaps?" suggested Stephen tentatively. You whisper to Maddie: The thing stared at Maddie with its glowing eyes, and then it shook its head. It pointed ahead where the clouds were now shot through with shafts of light, red light. Suddenly it became much hotter, so hot that even Maddie began to feel uncomfortable. The little Being held up one paw, indicating they should stop.
Maddie whispers: "Alright." Maddie halted. It felt strange simply stopping when they were in the sky, as if they were some kind of bird that could hover in place. IdGM: Aldemar looked pleased at Stephen's request. "That we can provide. Now come with me - your companion will need you close by." He led them out of the same door at the back of the room, down the passage and into a chamber where Growmiang and Shadow were waiting. "Remain here until you are called." Aldemar warned. IdGM whispers to Maddie: It grew hotter yet. It was like standing next to a furnace with the door gradually opening. And then she saw something. The clouds began to form a shape - no, not the clouds. This was a shape made out of grey smoke. It was massive, but the outline was that of a man. Suddenly it began to spin, around and around. Two enormous eyes of flame appeared and a vast mouth opened. Maddie saw the gout of flame rushing towards her!
But the little Being still had hold of her hand and it tugged her hard, backwards, so that the two of them went flying back through the clouds and the eyes and mouth of flame were hidden in their misty depths. But Maddie could still feel it there, aware of her, and she was aware of it, and knew where to find it. IdGM: With a huge splash, Maddie felt herself drop into the water of the pool, as though from a height. She sank, took it some water and rose spluttering to the surface. Maddie: "Well he didn't seem very friendly," Maddie muttered, pulling herself out of the pool. IdGM: A whistle sounded in the chamber and Growmiang sprang up. "That's us!" he shouted, running out of the doorway and to a door at the end of the passage. Arberyonwth came out from behind the screen wall, holding out a large towel. "You've seen the Djinn?" The door opened and Growmiang rushed through. Maddie: Maddie had just grabbed the towel when Growmiang burst through. "Kitty, you're going to be having a very unexpected and unwelcome bath if you decide to make a habit of storming in on me when I'm naked." Maddie wrapped herself in the towel. Hannah: Hearing Maddie's rebuke of Growmiang, Hannah waited for a moment behind the door so that Maddie could cover herself before stepping through. She breathed in the pleasant scent of the chamber. "Not drugs I guess, but this seems nice." IdGM: "Come behind the screen," Arberyonwth told Maddie. "Nice but don't breath too deeply!" the Seer called out to the others. "I will clear the air before we all go on a journey!" Stephen: Stephen seemed surprised by how fast Maddie had been able to sense the Djinn, but he followed Hannah through the door to the room with the pool. IdGM: She moved over to the brazier, shovelling the still smoking embers into the metal bowl and taking it out of the room. Emily: Emily quickly walked after Growmiang and Hannah, looking around this chamber with interest. Hearing the Seer's words, she covered her mouth with a scarf for a moment, hopefully to reduce its potency. Maddie: "Oh yah." Maddie had forgotten that it was a screen, what with stone screens not existing in the Mundane. She stepped behind it, giving herself a moment to dry her hair with the towel. "Hannah, could I have my clothes? They're over there." Maddie pointed in their general direction. Hannah: Hannah grabbed Maddie's clothes and handed them to her around the screen. "You alright?" she asked quietly as she did so. IdGM: While Maddie was dressing, a slim Elven woman came into the main room, carrying a pile of some kind of clothing. Laying this on a bench, she nodded to Aldemar and retired. "You wanted something to protect you from fire - these should help." Maddie: Maddie took her clothes and pulled them on. "Oh yah, I'm fine," she said. "I'd have rather got high but I guess not. I'll try those mushrooms some other time." She stepped out behind the screen. "This has to be the largest number of people gathered around a hot bath that wasn't part of an orgy in goddamn history." IdGM: The clothes proved to be long jackets with high collars, heavy gloves and cloth hats shaped something like sou'westers. Maddie: "Oh, I guess I ought to tell you what I saw shouldn't I?" Maddie said to Arberyonwth. "I was about to do that when this lot all came pouring in." IdGM: "They were glad to see you in one piece," Arberyonwth smiled. "Did you find help?" Hannah: Hannah tried on the bulky jacket. "Never wanted to be a firefighter, but I'll take the protection." She glanced over at Maddie. "Right - find any leads?" Stephen: "When I asked for protection from fire I thought we might get some sort of magical talisman but I guess this will do."commented Stephen before turning to Maddie. "That was much quicker than I expected. I hope you are alright. What exactly do you know about the Djinn now? Emily: Emily looked at these fancy clothings, nodded as she looked at them slowly putting them on as she replied, "Thanks! That will help. Might be worth considering thinking a way to be able to breath. Back in Mundane World, our firefighters tend to wear air-tight mask covering their face to be able to see better and to have a reliable amount of air to breath as well." She finally finished putting them as she turned her attention to whatever Maddie was about to say. Maddie: Maddie took note of the fire protection the others were pulling on, but decided she would tell what she'd seen before following suit. Maddie: "Ok, so I saw the genie, or at least I'm assuming it was the genie. At first I felt like I was rising up into the air. There were two red glows in the distance, and when they came nearer I saw a sharp pointed face, like some kind of armadillo or a pangolin, not that those tend to have red eyes in the Mundane. On the other hand, cats and horses don't tend to talk in the Mundane either and well..." she indicated Shadow and Growmiang. "It was happy to see me anyway. I asked if it was Dahmudz but it shook its head - it seemed to be able to understand what I was saying although it never spoke back." "Anyhow, it took my hand and we, well, walked through the clouds. I started to feel really hot. It then pointed ahead to where there were these red lights in the clouds, and it got so hot that even I was feeling it. The little Being held up a paw to say we should stop, it was pretty cute really. It got so damn hot I felt like I was standing on a volcano. Then there was a shape made out of grey smoke - it was massive but the outlined was like a man. It span around and opened its mouth and breathed fire at me, but the little creature pulled me away. We ran away, but I think I could find the genie again. I think it's aware of me though, somehow." IdGM: "Well done!" Shadow neighed, and the others joined in. "This gives us a real chance," the Seer said quietly to Maddie. "Now we'll have something to eat before you set out." While they had been talking, food and drink had been brought in. Aldemar spoke to Maddie. "You won't want to wear the fire-negating clothing, it would affect your abilities. You should be fairly safe from all but the most direct attack by the Djinn." Emily: Emily smiled slightly at hearing about some progress made toward tracking their prey down. Stephen: "What an interesting vision!" said Stephen "Hopefully when you find him we can convince him not to attack..." Hannah: As they gathered to eat, Hannah called Maddie, Emily, Stephen, and James together for a quiet conversation. "So Maddie got me thinking. If there's a saboteur in the Court, then we're going to stand out to them. We succeeded in our treasure hunt so quickly, and now we're being tasked with going after the djinn. And maybe that's an opportunity. Circumstantial evidence makes it a lot harder to pursue a case than when someone incriminates themselves. And here, maybe we can get the spy to make themselves known. They'll be interested in us, and that means they'll probably either want to take us down, or recruit us for their purposes. So what if we somehow made it seem like we were recruitable?" Maddie: Maddie laughed. "What, all five of us? Seems a bit difficult." Hannah: "Right, right. Not all five. That would be implausible. But one or two of us? Maddie, you..." She smiled thinly. "Well, you don't exactly have a reputation as a happy soldier for the authority of the Court." Stephen: "And you do work with fire, which would make it fitting to betray the Court right now, when your own element is involved..." added Stephen. "Are you up for it?" IdGM: "I agree it should be one," James said. "But do you think they'd buy Maddie as a traitor? You'd need some kind of falling out with an authority figure. Maybe the Seer?" Emily: Emily played the idea over. "That does make sense considering how abrupt your reactions tend to be. We can spread some rumours on how uncomfortable you are in this court, just a thought." IdGM: James frowned. "Could be dangerous attracting the attention of the traitor at the same time as tracking the Djinn..." Maddie: "Oh, does this plan mean I get to badmouth the Owl in public at every possible opportunity? Now it seems like it might have legs." Maddie dipped a flatbread in some hummus and took a bite. She glanced at James. "I mean if it was only going to just be me then it would make more sense if I fell out with you guys, ideally somewhere in public where any spy would take notice. But wouldn't it be a better idea to do this after we track the genie? Unless that's going to be quick." Emily: She then added, "Surely, we should do this as a medium term plan rather than doing it right now. Especially we hopefully can get more information from Djinn regarding it or something at least..." Hannah: "Yeah. I'm thinking this search could be the catalyst," said Hannah between bites. "Maybe make it seem like you fall out with us over how to treat the djinn, or what to do after it's found." Maddie: "Sure. I can pretend I wanted to put it back in the bottle - I mean I don't and I'd beat the shit out of anyone who tried to do that, but anyone liable to go over to Chaos would probably be harsher." Maddie: "We probably want to run this by the Owl." Maddie said after a moment. "I mean, the easiest way to make it obvious that we've fallen out is if I snap at one of you and attack, then the Owl uses her magic on me to stop me. But since I've told her she'll regret it if she ever does that without me asking again... well it's better to remove any possible misunderstandings. Maybe when we're done hunting the genie we can meet up with her and Arberyonwth and go over the plan." Hannah: Hannah nodded. "A good plan, I think. Though we'll need to think about safety too. A meeting with the saboteur could be dangerous. But that discussion can wait for after, I suppose. For now we'll just need to think about what we find as we search for the djinn, and how to use that in our 'argument'." IdGM: By now everyone had finished eating. Aldemar and Arberyonwth wished them well in their search for the Djinn. Growmiang and Shadow would accompany them until they found it. They gathered their gear and left the room with the strange pool behind, setting off in the direction Maddie indicated.
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Post by Idris on Jul 29, 2023 17:24:25 GMT
Session 22 - 14/7/23 IdGM: Growmiang led the way back to the Main Hall. The five humans, all apart from Maddie dressed in their fireproof costumes, trooped behind, followed by Shadow. As they appeared, the many Beings in the Hall stared and then cheered, those nearest wishing them Good Fortune, some bowing or clapping, others reaching out to touch them - depending on their kind - and in the case of one of the Tree People, slapping them on the back with a rather hard woody hand. Then Professor Adalmar stepped out onto the dais and called for everyone to join their groups. As they left the Great Hall, they could see all their fellow students hurrying to start whatever tasks they had been assigned in supporting the hunt for the Djinn. IdGM: With all the bustle and confusion, Maddie felt herself losing the thread of fire that would lead her to the Djinn. Maddie: "I need to get somewhere quieter, I'm losing the trail." IdGM: "Do you need to be out of the light?" Shadow asked. "There are some peaceful places along here." He led the way out of the hall and into a long passage with archways leading to darkened areas. Emily: Emily glanced around the Great Hall just in case there is anything odd or looking out of place. Maddie: Maddie followed Shadow, trusting the horse's judgement. IdGM: They entered a small court containing a pool with seats around it. There was no sound but the trickle of the water, and the light was low and restful. Maddie: Maddie sat down, closed her eyes, and tried to clear her thoughts and focus on the water. Her mother had tried encouraging her to meditate a number of times, but she had never taken any notice of her, and now wished that she had. Stephen: "I wonder how far the Djinn is from us right now." said Stephen, in a hushed tone as to not distract Maddie from her attempts at focusing. Maddie: "Will you shut the fuck up and let me concentrate?" Maddie said, far more loudly than she needed to. Before Stephen could react she mouthed 'It's fine' at him. IdGM: Once there was silence, it was easier than Maddie expected - something about the atmosphere of the place brought back the feeling of floating in the pool or was it the clouds? For a fleeting moment she thought she could almost see a sharp snout and a red eye, but then the thread of the connection to the Djinn appeared, bright but thin and not so very hot yet. It led down the passage and towards part of the court where there were studios and musical spaces. Maddie: "It's that way, towards the studios." Maddie pointed. Emily: Emily's eyes flared for a moment regarding how extremely rude Maddie was towards Stephen before realising it is all of Maddie's plan to sow what appears to be chaos between them. IdGM: As they moved along the long passage, past empty studios and music rooms, Stephen realised it would be a good plan to examine the area around them. There might be caverns or other formations beneath them, or underground streams, all proving useful to them when they encountered the Djinn. Hannah: Hannah listened to Stephen's suggestion and reached out through the Flow, trying to find water sources that might be of use. Stephen: Stephen focused intently on the Earth-flow of their environment, prudently scouting for geological features that might prove relevant to their quest- IdGM: As Hannah reached out, she felt a stream flowing on the periphery of her senses - it was a small one running somewhere ahead, below the level of the passage they were in. IdGM: Stephen could sense solid rock below them but again, at the far end of his senses, a hollow in the earth below their level. Caves possibly? Emily: Knowing there are likely animals in the areas, she focused on her bond with the animals and reached out to the often considered frightful and despised animals, the rats. Emily smiled for a moment as she recalled reading about article somewhere, likely on the BBC that rats are actually very clean animals. She softly asked if there are areas where it is warmer than usual or just general uncomfortable to be. Animals are often every so careful considerate of the weathers. IdGM: As Emily reached out her senses, she felt the touch of many small bright Beings. There was an extended family of Rats living nearby, under the paving surround of a fountain in one of the small courtyards adjacent to the music areas. These seemed bemused by Emily's query but they told her of a large colony who lived in the old Temple of the Muses - they thought it was a long way up the passage. Emily reached out again, further than she ever had before, further than she thought she could, and there again was the glint of rodent intelligence. Many this time, more than she could count, and in a state of high agitation. When she was able to cut through the multiple communications and reach one of the Rat Elders, they passed on news of a terrible incident which had befallen the Great Nest in the Temple of the Muses. A wild and violent fire had broken out, some Rats had died in the sudden outburst of flames, but many had fled, carrying those who could not run. They had taken shelter with the Rats of the Blue Cavern, which seemed at present safe from the fire. While the others were seeking information in their own way, Maddie was sensing the fiery thread growing stronger as they moved along the passage. She could see it clearly now in her mind, like a burning rope pulling her on. It was growing hotter too, but every time it seemed about to scorch her, she felt as though cool thin fingers were touching her hand, and the heat not longer threatened destruction. Maddie: "It's getting stronger, pulling at me like I've got a leash on." Emily: Emily thanked them as she commented as to what she heard from these rats, "Interesting!" She said with interest, "I never would thought that the rats can be so interesting." As she mused over that, Emily suddenly turned serious, "I gathered that the largest rat colony in what it called the Temple of the Muses got burnt in the fire with the remaining survivors fleeing to take shelter elsewhere. It seem we are getting closer." Stephen: "The earth under us is hollow...there might be caves, caverns... something to keep in mind should we have to descend," said Stephen. Hannah: "A stream ahead and below us too. Something we might find use for." Emily: Emily grinned for a moment, "Sound like a secret tunnels? How exciting!" She replied to Stephen, "You would thought the Academy make pretty damn sure to have them blocked or sealed up!" IdGM: "They won't be secret from Estaria," Shadow spoke from behind them. "But they may be hidden." Emily: Nodding as she sighed in a sign of relief, "That does make sense." As she considered the possible danger. IdGM: As they prepared to continue with Maddie pointing ahead, they noticed James, standing very still and staring up with a strange look on his face. Emily: Emily looked concerned for a moment, "What are you sensing? James." IdGM: James looked at her with unfocussed eyes, then he shook himself like a dog coming out of water. "There's something up there, quite high up so above roof level. Something...big." His eyes were very big and dark, and he was obviously rattled. Hannah: "Perhaps the djinn was just the start of something..." murmured Hannah. Stephen: "It could have something to do with what Maddie saw when she felt herself rise up in the air..." suggested Stephen. Maddie: "I mean the only thing I saw up there was the size of a pangolin, not large at all." Emily: Emily looked concerned for a moment, "That does not sound good at all" She considered this as she asked James, "What does it feel like, is it an actual creature or something purely magical? I think we should communicate this to other groups, as Hannah mentioned, it could be something else entirely in the worse case." Hannah: Hannah nodded at Emily's suggestion, and retrieved the gleaming stone attached to a cord. "Aldemar," she said, to activate it. IdGM: James shook his head. "It wasn't a solid shape - more something like a heavy dark cloud." At that moment, Adelmar's voice came from the communicator, clear as if he was there with them. "Have you found something?" Hannah: "We're headed toward the djinn," replied Hannah. "But James has sensed something up above the roof. Something big and heavy and insubstantial - like a dark cloud. But I'm guessing this doesn't feel like an ordinary cloud, James?" IdGM: James shook his head. "It feels malevolent or at least dangerous." "Wait a moment." They could hear Adalmar talking with others, discussing the situation, then he returned. "Carry on towards the Djinn, we'll deal with this other situation." Hannah: "Good luck," replied Hannah. Looking to the others, she sighed. "We'd better hurry, in case this also ends up being trouble." IdGM: Maddie could feel the link pulling at her more strongly now. It was becoming uncomfortably strong. Emily: Emily frowned further with concern as they may have to seriously consider killing it properly even though she does sympathize with poor spirit's predicament slightly. Stephen: "A malevolent cloud?" frowned Stephen, though he also sounded curious, as was often the case "That is worrying." Maddie: "It feels quite strong now." Maddie said quietly. IdGM: "Not our problem," Growmiang reminded Stephen. "Let's get going before the Djinn comes to us!" Emily: Emily's boots picks up speed as she moved quickly, trying to get to the Djinn before the whole thing get even crazier. IdGM: They followed Maddie now as she strode out, drawn faster by the burning thread. Still the cool presence of the strange Being prevented the fire from harming her. They drew near to the area where Hannah had sensed the stream flowing - she could feel the cool water splashing down a narrow gulley under the level of the passage. This was also where Stephen had seen caverns, and he could sense the rocks and the minerals that made them up. He was aware of something familiar - a vein of a rock he had seen in the deep caverns of Derbyshire, called Blue John for its beautiful hue. Hannah: "I wonder why the djinn would position itself near water," said Hannah, huffing as they hurried down the passage. "Though I suppose it has few options here." Stephen: "Interesting." commented Stephen "Not exactly the kind of rock I'd expect here. But then, this is a strange place, by the standards of the Mundane at least..." Emily: Emily asked, "Interesting rock?" She played this over in her mind, "If it is blue, then there is actually where the fleeing rats are hiding at the moment. They are staying at a point called the Blue Cavern." IdGM: Maddie felt the link growing stronger, but it was not pulling her towards the water or the caverns the others could sense to the left of the passage, but straight ahead. Maddie: "It's not over there. It's straight ahead." "It feels like it's pretty close. Hannah, I have an idea if we want to plant a seed for us to have a 'falling out'." Hannah: "If you can manage it without putting yourself at risk..." said Hannah, worried about the strain of the search on Maddie. Maddie: "Oh it doesn't require any real effort at all, just for us to use these," Maddie indicated her communicator. "I can radio for backup, basically say we need some people urgently so that we can trap the genie and bottle it again. We wait five or ten minutes, let them start rounding people up and gathering them together. Then you call the same person I did and tell them no, we're going to try to set it free instead, and more people might just frighten it off. Can get a lot of people thinking we're not on the same page." "Obviously in the second call you should sound huffy with me and insinuate or just say directly that I acted without consulting the rest of you, and so on and so forth." Hannah: Hannah frowned. "It's a good idea, but they might be dealing with another crisis up there. Is there someone we can call who wouldn't impact that...?" Maddie: "I was thinking of someone like Shurruk or Golden Beech - likely they have a communicator and enough clout to round some people up, but not completely urgent in the case of an emergency." Hannah: Hannah nodded slowly. "Alright then. As long as it doesn't sound like they're dealing with anything urgent." Stephen: "I think actually dealing with the Djinn should take priority over our deception."said Stephen "There might be many more opportunities for the latter, while taking care of the Djinn is obviously urgent." Maddie: "I don't think the genie is moving, it doesn't feel as if it is." Emily: Emily considered it for a moment, "I just feel uncomfortable with going along with your plan." Agreeing with Stephen's point, "Certainly, we can make something out of it straight afterward, especially if we are able to get the information." Emily frowned for a moment even further. "It does feel more and more of a trap at the moment." Stephen: "Could it be that it's waiting for us near the water either as a trap, because we expect it to be weaker there...or as a gesture of goodwill?" mused Stephen. Hannah: "I don't know that we'll have time to set up a believable conflict after this is over with," said Hannah. "I'd suggest letting Maddie go ahead with this. If time's a concern, I could jump in as she's on the phone... communicator... whatever, instead of waiting too long." Emily: Emily winced for a moment, "You know... let see what happened, we can all run to help out if needed." Emily reconsidered her answer,
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Post by Idris on Aug 12, 2023 18:32:32 GMT
Session 23 - 29/07/23
IdGM: As Maddie moved faster down the passage, the burning thread became a blazing rope that bound her, drawing her faster and harder towards the Djinn. She could no longer turn back or even refuse. And now there was physical heat washing towards them all. Hannah felt an uncomfortable prickling all over as they turned away from the cool safe waters of the stream. Stephen was also aware that they had left the caves behind and were heading into the unknown. And Emily, who was still in communication with the Rats of the Blue Cavern, heard their calls of warning as they sensed where she was heading for. Emily: Frowning with concern, she steeled herself for potentially uncomfortable yet heated incitement. She attemped to reassure these lovely creatures that she will be okay. She tugged at her protective uninflammable clothings, trusting in their new world's creations Maddie: Maddie frowned and held still for a moment. She'd been intending to call Shurruk to start sowing the seeds of the idea that their group had fallen out, but if the genie was coming towards them then that might not be possible. Stephen: "Seems like it was wrong about the Djinn waiting for us...it seems to be growing impatient." said Stephen, knowing that they would soon face the fiery being. Maddie: Maddie looked over at Stephen...or rather looked back, as she had involuntarily taken a few steps towards where she felt the genie. "Ok, well fuck this idea of calling Shurruk then, let's move!" IdGM: Growmiang had been trotting alongside Maddie, keeping up with her, but now he leapt in front of her and halted, looking up with his green eyes flashing. "Stop and think! You're rushing in, and your friends are being carried with you. But Shadow and I can't go any further. What's the plan?" Maddie: "I'm going to talk to the genie is the plan. From there I'll make it up as we go." Maddie could not stop from walking even as she spoke. IdGM: As Hannah observed Maddie it became obvious to her that her friend had fallen into the Djinn's power, and she was incapable of escaping its grip. She would just walk straight into its lair. Hannah: "Wait... Maddie! Stop her! The Djinn has control of her!" Hannah moved forward to grab Maddie by the shoulder as she called out the others to help. Stephen: Stephen also reached out to physically prevent Maddie from being pulled towards the Djinn Emily: Emily like Hannah and Stephen also rushed toward Maddie to grab her as well. "Is there anyway to break a hold on her by this damn Djinn?" she asked quickly. Maddie: Maddie felt Hannah's hand on her shoulder and immediately slid away. "What's the matter with you? We need to get to the genie now and you know you can't stop me." IdGM: As Maddie squirmed free, James launched himself at her, sweeping her feet from under her and grabbing her as she fell forward. Maddie: "Let go!" Maddie shouted, surprised that James had managed to actually knock her off her feet. IdGM: "A bit of help here!" James gasped as he struggled to hold Maddie down. Stephen: Stephen tried to help James keep Maddie immobilized, but the young woman was very agile and slippery "Maddie! We can't let you go like this." Maddie: Maddie surged up with an uppercut straight into James' face, knocking him out cold in a single blow. Rather than wasting time responding to Stephen, she turned to run right towards where she felt the genie. Emily: Emily moved to go after her attempting to stop her. With her own axe if needed. IdGM: Shadow moved into action, easily getting ahead of Maddie. "Stop!" he whinnied, the white of his eyes showing in his distress at what was happening. Hannah: "Maddie." Hannah's voice was firm but without the desperation gripping everyone else. "Listen to me. We'll get to the Djinn. But it's trying to make you rush in without a plan, and without support. Take a breath. We're here, and we'll help you." IdGM: Growmiang had rushed over to James. "Medic!" he shouted. Emily: Emily quickly approached Jamed with clear look of concern on her face and double checked poor James. Maddie: Maddie moved towards Hannah angrily, but this made something click in her mind. What on earth was she doing thinking of attacking Hannah for God's sake. "Aagh! That fucking genie! James, I'm so sorry," she said, entirely uselessly as he couldn't hear her. IdGM: Jemes' eyelids fluttered open, and he groaned. Emily: Emily quickly lifted James into a upward position, "Don't want you to choke on your own blood!" She quickly checked James over. IdGM: James had regained consciousness but blood was spurting from his nose, which was clearly broken. Stephen: Stephen did something unexpected - he started to focus his will on reaching out to the Flow of the Earth and lightly touched James' nose, obviously intent on performing some sort of magic... IdGM: James flinched as Stephen reached out for his injured nose, but as the power of the Earth flowed into him, they all watched in amazement as the blood ceased to flow and the break knitted itself together. Emily: Emily's eyes widened for a moment at seeing this kind of healing magic. "Well.... that certainly speed thing up!" She smiled slightly. "How are you feeling James?" IdGM: James put his hand up and gingerly wiggled his nose. "Fine!" he said in awe. "Thanks Stephen, I owe you one." Stephen: "Don't worry about that, just be glad it worked. I wasn't sure it would." Stephen smiled Maddie: "I owe you at least two or three James, sorry about that." Maddie felt utterly dejected - she'd been told all her life that she was too hot headed for her own good, but even then she'd never had to feel as if her ability to throw a punch was an outright disadvantage. IdGM: Shadow came up to them with Growmiang on his back. The Cat looked down at the blood-stained James and Maddie looking so disheartened. "Come on, you've solved one problem, and Maddie is herself again. Now you need a plan." Shadow nodded his head. "Just remember the Djinn won't give up easily. We're going to stay here as backup, can't get any nearer to the fire. Keep in contact." IdGM: James came over to Maddie and held out his hand. "I know it wasn't really you. But I'm glad you're back with us." Maddie: Maddie reached out and shook James' hand, though her grip wasn't as strong as it could have been, as if she were worried she would hurt him again. "Thanks." Emily: Emily sighed with a relief that Maddie is at least back to reality. "It could be so much worse." She commented softly, "Hopefully this doesn't happen again!" IdGM: Still concerned about the possible influence of the Djinn on Maddie, Hannah had been considering how this might be done. She recalled the vessel in which the Djinn had been confined - a vessel of glass but wrought with the Elemental power of water and wound with a binding of silver. There was no way they could create something like that, but blocking some of the Djinn's influence... yes, she thought it could be done. A bottle and something made of silver, and her Elememtal Bond with water. It could work, she thought. Emily: Upon hearing that Hannah need something that is made of silver, after some thought, "Ah!" as she suddenly remember something that contains silver. Emily quickly dug into her protective cloithing and took her celtic cross with amber set in the midde on a chain. It is also, fortunately for them, made from silver. "Would this help?" Emily offered it to Hannah. IdGM: Hannah took the chain with grateful thanks. They all had glass bottles, but most of them had drunk the water as the heat increased. Maddie: "Wait, I haven't drunk mine." Maddie didn't feel the heat the same as the others, and had at any rate been distracted by the sudden need to run towards the genie at high speed. IdGM: With everything now ready, Hannah reached out for the Elemental Flow but it was hard in this hot place with the fiery power of the Djinn only held at arm's length for the time being. They would need to backtrack along the passage to where she could still feel the waters within reach. Stephen: Stephen took the chance to drink some of his own water - perhaps healing James' nose had made him thirsty. "Shall we go?" he said when Hannah explained they would need to return closer to the waters. Emily: "Ready!" Emily confirmed, hoping she will get her jewellery back, a very few reminder of her home. Maddie: "Lead on," Maddie said. Hannah: Once they reached the right spot in the passage, Hannah reached out once again. She recalled the barrier of Water that was woven with silver in the vessel that had trapped the Djinn, and did her best to replicate those winding shapes into something that might be raised between Maddie and the Djinn. IdGM: Slowly and carefully, Hannah was able to manipulate the Elemental Force of Water as she wound the silver chain around the bottle, creating a simple barrier to the Djinn's full power as they neared it. Maddie would need to wear it around her neck - fortunately it was not a large or heavy bottle. Maddie: She had never been much of a one to wear jewellery or anything else around her neck, but she would have to make except for this magical talisman. Maddie gladly put the chain around her neck, feeling somewhat absurd having a water bottle amulet. Emily: Emily looked at Maddie with a curious and questioning look to see if it is working. IdGM: Growmiang looked at the bottle from every angle. "Only one way to test it - walk towards the Djinn." Maddie: Maddie shrugged and headed towards where she felt the genie. Then she checked to see if she could stop after a few paces. IdGM: There was no problem, but then the overwhelming feeling of need to reach the Djinn had gone. Part of her wished it was still with her. Hannah: Seeing that Maddie appeared alright, Hannah contacted Aldemar via her communication stone. "We're approaching the Temple of the Muses," she said, "Despite some...disagreements." She thought that might lay the groundwork for Maddie's punch to be interpreted as a rift between them, if they followed through with their plan to catch the spy. "Do you know anything about the place, or where the Djinn might go there?" Emily: She considered the options in her mind. She reached out to the Rats staying in the Blue Craven, asking about the Temple position and the general overview of the place in question. IdGM: Adalmar answered but he sounded distracted. There was some kind of shouting and disturbance in the background. Finally he replied to Hannah's query. "I know the old Temple of the Muses but haven't been there for a long age. It is deserted most of the time so would make an excellent place for the Djinn to rest and restore itself." Abruptly he must have turned away to speak to someone, then returned, but only to say. "Disagreements eh? You can tell me about that when this is over. Keep strong!" Emily: Emily muttered for a moment as she is slightly distracted by her link to the rats. "I am having a chat with the rats who recently fled from there. Hopefully we get some idea on its layout and what is going on there." She communicated with the rats, "What does it look like" She willed for sights and layout of the Temple in question. IdGM: Emily reached for the Elemental Flow and it was like falling off a very small log - easy and painless. The Rats answered immediately, their mind sharp and crystal clear, but with a torrent of responses. One of the Rat Elders - Emily could feel her venerable age and power - order everyone to be silent. "You want to speak to Nibbler - that's what he calls himself. He has explored the Temple and knows everything about it." There was a long silence and then a slow greeting from a Rat that Emily had not heard before. Nibbler sounded as though his world had collapsed, which in a sense it had.
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Post by Idris on Aug 17, 2023 21:46:50 GMT
Session 24 - 12/8/23 IdGM: "You are wanting to face the Demon of Fire?" the Rat called Nibbler asked Emily, sounding disbelieving. Emily: Emily replied with a confident thought in a single word answer, "Aye," After pausing for a moment, "We do need to deal with the Demon of Fire one way or another. Lest it fester." She thought in concern as to the seriousness of such fiery figure figuring in this fractious case, "Hopefully, once it is gone, you may be able to return. So what does the layouts are like?" she asked curiously. IdGM: There was a long-drawn pause, as though the Rat was digesting this. "It is hard to make the details clear. The Temple has many rooms, some bad places when stones have fallen, it is complicated." Emily: Emily nodded with understanding in her reply, "What is the largest room of them all?" She asked curiously, also asking for mental imiage of what it look like, assuming if it is a Temple then hopefully there is a heartpoint of the whole Temple. IdGM: For a moment Emily thought her mind-link had been broken before she was aware that a debate had broken out among the Rats. Clearly the Elder was instructing Nibbler in how to communicate by such a mental link. After a time a wavering image appeared in Emily's mind. A vast dome soared above her head, pillars reaching up and up around what seemed to be an enormous circular space. It took her some mintues to realise that she was looking from a Rat's perspective. Dark archways hid in the shadows behind the pillars and twelve damp-streaked statues stood before them. The bowl of a dry fountain sat in the centre of the space. Emily: Emily clearly appreciated the outstanding effort by Nibbler. She explained to her friends, "I got in touch with one of the rats with such delightful name,'Nibbler', It shown me the view of the largest chamber with a waterless fountain in the heart. Surrounding it is the pillars in which there are archways in which there are twelve statues. Seem to be an obvious place for the one we are trying to find?" She explained. Hannah: "I wonder if there might be water that could be drawn to that fountain..." mused Hannah. "That does sound like a likely place." Maddie: Maddie frowned through Emily's translation of rattish, unhappy at the description of the genie as a 'demon', but decided to let it pass. "It's as good a spot as any, if it's not there then I'll know." Stephen: "Twelve statues? Presumably the Muses the temple is named after. "commented Stephen "And perhaps I might be able to use the element of Earth to our advantage there. Hopefully without damaging anything..." Emily: Emily asked mentally with few more questions, "Are there other larger rooms within the Temple? Any open ways to get in and out for example, I know you mentioned about bad rooms where the stones fallen. Do we need to go through them?" She paused for a moment, carefully as she doesn't wish to overwhelm the creature with too many questions. IdGM: Again there was a pause and this time other Rat voices joined in. Eventually another Rat introduced herself as Bent Tail. "It is hard for Nibbler, he has lost so much. I am from the Temple Nest, but I was not there when the Demon brought fire upon it. Now I am in the Blue Cavern but if you need a guide I am willing to aid you." There was a torrent of disagreement at this, clearly there were those who felt it was too dangerous. But Bent Tail remained firm. "My people died in the fire," she said to them simply. "If my time has come, I will not hide from it." Emily: Emily thanked Nibbler for his help as she turned her attention to Bent Tail, "Thank you, any help you can give would be greatly appreciated." She made a mental note to herself ensure that the rats are suitably rewarded by the Court who owed these areas, if they survive the fiery experience they are will no doubt shortly facing, "Would you be able to help with these questions?" She asked mentally. IdGM: There was a short hiatus, and Emily could almost hear Bent Tail's thoughts running over the questions, while in the background there was the low hum of the other Rats communicating with each other. "There are many rooms, each Muse has her own place. Some of them have fallen stones - from the roofs or walls. If you are the Big People you might be able to move them. We make new paths for ourselves - between, under, over... Yes there are ways in, some big enough, though I doubt you could sneak up on a Fire Demon. The Rats who escaped said it was tall as the Temple and fire rose up behind it as it moved." Emily: Emily frowned for a moment as she tried to make sense of the final phase. "Oh that's interesting about the note about the Muses having individual rooms." She made sure to mention that to Stephen who got a curiosity like a real cat. No, much worse than a cat, "By the way, what does they meant about the fire rose up behind it. Do they meant that it is getting bigger and bigger at a single focus or as a stream of fire flowing from the focus or demon," Emily took the advantage of her modern world visual pyrotechnics so beloved by the modern special effects teams in their old world.. Stephen: "I might be able to recognize each Muse's room."stated Stephen "As for the fire behind it, that will make it easier to track it down, hopefully." IdGM: Again there was a gap but this time Bent Tail was consulting with other Rats, which Emily could only dimly perceive. Eventually she came through. "They said it was as if the fire came from the Demon's feet, like they made a trail of fire, and flames came up from the trail. It also shot fire from its eyes." At this last the young Rat sounded a little doubtful. Maddie: "That sounds cool, can he teach me to do that?" Maddie wondered aloud after Emily translated. Emily: Emily considered this, "According to the rats, it sound like it is making the trail of fire.," She told the others, "Apparently, it can also fire fires from the eyes so good things we are wearing protections then!" Emily added, "A rat called "Bent Tail" is willling to act as our guide so we can ask any further questions if needed. She did say that there are some which are blocked by the stones but talking about rat's viewpoints, they may be small enough for us to shift." Emily got in touch with Bent Tail with the vision of their surrounding areas and judging the length of distances between them and the rat so they ccan meet up somewhere in the middle before reaching the Temple. IdGM: The Rat seemed joyful at the suggestion."You are not far, I will be quick!" This indeed proved to be the case. Within twenty minutes a group of small black bodies appeared in the corridor behind them. Bent Tail was at the front, a lithe young rat with shining fur and very bright intelligent eyes. Behind her they could see that the end of her tail was indeed bent at almost a right angle. Hannah: Hannah instinctively crouched down so as to tower less over the rats, smiling as she watched how eagerly they approached Emily. Stephen: Stephen smiled at the rats, acknowledging their presence. Emily: Emily greeted them with a welcoming thoughts, "Hello!" She told the others, "I think you can guess who is our guide for the temple is going to be" She smile faintly but not so much as they are in still a serious situtations. IdGM: Bent Tail acknowledged Emily's words. She then turned and sent the other Rats on their way, back to the Blue Cavern. "The Elders insisted on a guard but now I don't need it," she spoke directly into Emily's head, reminding her that these were not Talking Beasts, although they did seem larger and more advanced than ordinary rats. Maddie: Maddie nodded towards the rat who appeared to be Bent Tail, glad that they'd had to leave Growmiang behind. Emily: Emily nodded, "Make sense. You will be very safe with us." She ensured their guide's safety at her own risk. IdGM: The young Rat stood on her hind legs and examined each of the party in turn, then she nodded. "They seem ready. We should set off now, while the Demon is still in the Temple. If it comes down the passages we will stand no chance." Emily: Emily passed on their guide's message, "Let pick up speed then!" She do not want to lose the location of their prey. IdGM: As they prepared to leave, Bent Tail jumped up onto Emily and made her way to her shoulder. "It will be easier for me to talk with you. Some of the Temple Rats can speak language, the Elders who remember the Muses." Emily: Emily grinned wider at the pretty small creature on her shoulder, "I look forward to finding more about the Muses." She replied back as picking up the speed. "It sound like some of the elder rats remember the Muses. I do wonder why the temple look so deserted." Emily told the others Stephen: "I wonder what exactly they meant by remember...it wouldn't surprise me if it meant the Muses actually walked and lived here some time ago. Perhaps I will inquire into where, if anywhere, they are now..." Stephen mused IdGM: With many questions running through their minds, they moved forward into the dark unknown passageways, with the bright mind of their small guide leading the way.
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Post by Idris on Sept 8, 2023 11:31:00 GMT
Session 25 - 26/8/23 IdGM: As the young Rat guided them further into the unknown outer reaches of the Academy, they became aware that they were going uphill. Their way continued without turnings or side passages, but the further they walked, the smoother the walls became. At some point they realised that the stone had been covered with something like plaster, which was either painted or naturally a dark cream or sand colour, but this was faded in places and peeling in others. A little further on there were shapes painted on the plaster, one of which Stephen recognised as the Greek key patten, running all the way along the wall at about shoulder height. It was also becoming very warm, almost unbearably so. Stephen: Stephen traced the patterns on the wall with a finger, obviously wondering about when and how they had been built. However at some point the intense heat brought attention back to their current mission. "We must be getting very, very close", he said. Maddie: Maddie fiddled with her water-bottle amulet. "If I didn't have this I'd know exactly how close we were, but... it's probably best not to." Emily: Looking at these new surroundings... "I wonder what came first." Emily muttered, "Did this world inspire our or our inspire their...." IdGM: Bent Tail leaned close to Emily's ear, her whiskers tickling as she snuffled, her thoughts revealing her tension. "We're not far now. Do those strange robes you wear stop fire?" Emily: Emily replied with a confirmating thought. "It should do! They reassured us that it will help. If you need stay safe, you could always go into my hood. I don't mind at all." IdGM: Bent Tail immediately whisked inside the hood, her warm furry body quite comforting beside Emily's neck. Emily: Emily smiled in response. IdGM: "You must be careful now," Bent Tail said. "The way is different for Big Ones - our people go low, into the spaces between things and we would leave the path here. But you must climb up and up." Emily saw steps in her mind's eye. Maddie: "Anyone else hear that?" Maddie thought she heard something just at the edge of hearing. "Whirring noise, very high." Emily: Emily highlighted, "Bent Tail mentioned that we will have to climb up the steps very soon." Skylarious: Hannah strained to hear what Maddie had mentioned. "Perhaps something from the djinn itself...?" Stephen: Stephen had gotten distracted again by the local architecture, and had not heard the noise, though he seemed curious about it now that his companions had mentioned it. "Whirring? Not quite the sound I would associate with fire..." IdGM: They all stopped to listen, and gradually each of them noticed the sound. As Stephen had said, it was nothing like the noise of fire. Emily: Emily frowned with a hunt of concern, "Some machines maybe?" IdGM: As they stood there, Stephen suddenly spotted some small flying shapes appearing out of the dark passage ahead. They appeared to have wings which whirred very fast, causing the strange noise. Stephen: "Maybe we should get closer to check what they are - they might have something to do with the Jinn!" suggested Stephen tentatively. IdGM: The small objects began to resolve themselves into tiny bodies - almost human in shape but with sharp pointed faces - held aloft by the fast moving gossamer wings. As they came into view of the humans, they stopped short and hovered in mid-air, looking shocked. The lead figure raised its hand in a defensive gesture. Maddie: "Hello there! Any of you seen a genie anywhere around here?" Maddie called to the flying creatures. IdGM: The small Beings flew a few beats backwards in consternation, their faces masks of horror. There was an outbreak of gibbering in high piping voices, and then the leader silenced the rest with a gesture. “You are here for the Demon?" it asked. Maddie: "It's a genie, not a demon, but yes." Emily: Emily looked closer at the interesting creatures with interest. "Ever came across them?" she asked Bent Tail mentally. Stephen: Stephen looked at the Beings with curiosity. "We mean no harm to you, and not even to the Dem... I mean, Genie if we can avoid that. You know where we can find it?" IdGM: The Being wrinkled their face in puzzlement. "Ji Ni? We do not know that. But there is a Fire Demon in our home, burning everything up! You are not friend of the Demon?" It glared at Maddie, daring her to say otherwise. Skylarious: "We're here to make sure it stops burning things!" said Hannah reassuringly. Maddie: "I mean we've never met it before, but it doesn't have much choice in what it's doing I think. We're going to try to stop it from disturbing you anymore." IdGM: The Being made a noise that sounded disturbingly like 'Humph!" rather in the manner of an annoyed old man, but in a much higher pitch. "You sure you are not friend of Demon?" Maddie: "I mean when I saw it earlier it threw fire at me." Maddie shrugged. She decided not to elaborate on the precise circumstances of her meeting the genie. IdGM: The Being frowned then clearly dismissed Maddie, and spoke to Hannah. "You will stop it burning our home? We will tell you where it is." Emily: Emily asked with friendly tones as possible, "What happened?" as to ask if they can explain what happened that lead them to flee from the area quickly., IdGM: The Being turned to Emily. "The Demon came raging into the Temple, it burned everything but our home is in the... " It tried to think of a word but none came, so it gestured upwards with its arm. "Up high, many steps for Big Ones to climb. Up and round and up and round. Up there, near the Sun. If the Demon had its full strength we would have all been burned up." Hannah: "That's where it has gone? We'll do our best to make sure you remain safe," said Hannah. Emily: Emily nodded in thanks at the Being's answer, "Thank you." Stephen: "Thank you, we will do our best to ensure this Being does not burn you and your home anymore." IdGM: The Being bowed as it hovered in the air in front of them. The other flyers had moved closer and now they could see the detail of their attenuated bodies, sharp featured faces and clothing which appeared to be made from leaves. "Our people thank you," the leader said. "The Lady aid you". And the rest chimed in, like a flock of birds..."The Lady aid you!" IdGM: Their voices grew distant as they flew away down the passage. Emily: "Well." Emily commented as she glanced up the passageway in the opposite direction from whence these creatures departured from. "Let crack on!" IdGM: Bent Tail had been silent while the flying Beings had been present. Now she shifted and spoke into Emily's mind. "I can see that those are what you call Fairies in your world. They live up in the high part of the Temple, where there are openings to the air and the sun. We never go up there and they don't come down." Emily: "Very sensible," Emily replied at the rational divisions of the areas between two sides. She passed on what Bent Tail said. "They are called Fairies. They live in the highest part. There are openings for the air as well. Maybe James could help out if needed with the weather," she added hopefully. Hannah: "I'm glad the Fairies survived, at least," said Hannah. "But they did mention the Djinn wasn't at full strength. We'd best get to it before that happens." IdGM: James smiled, though he looked tense. "There might be an issue with the weather already - that storm or whatever it is." IdGM: With Bent Tail directing them they moved onward again, and now they did find stairs ahead of them but she assured them these were not the stairs to the high place. As they moved forward, the heat became more intense again, and apart from Maddie, all of them felt sweat trickling down within the fire-proof robes. Eventually they spotted a faint light ahead, and the shape of an opening between two stone pillars. Emily: Emily looked closer and mentally prepared herself for a sorching air. "Hope it won't get too bright!" She start wishing for her hat. Stephen: Stephen looked with the interest at the opening in the distance, despite the uncomfortable heat he was feeling. IdGM: As they approached the entrance, Maddie moved forward and gestured for the others to stop while she went ahead to investigate. IdGM: The doorway opened into a kind of ante-chamber, where it seemed those who came to visit the Temple would have washed themselves, for there were basins fed by water spouts along one wall, and a long stone bench along the other. All dry and cracked now. In the far wall another much larger opening let light into the chamber. Maddie: Maddie called the others to follow her. . Emily: Emily approached the opening in which Maddie just went through, confident in Maddie's ability to judge the risk in front of them. Stephen: Stephen quickly followed Maddie, obviously eager at the prospect of seeing what was behind the opening. IdGM: Bent Tail kept hidden within the depths of Emily's hood, but her nose poked out and was twitching as she used her Rat senses. IdGM: As Maddie began to slip through the further opening, she felt a momentary sense of some awareness scanning over her, a kind of psychic radar. As she held her breath it passed over her and away. Maddie: Maddie felt her hackles rise, but she wasn't going to be put off by the genie looking for her. She pressed on, moving as carefully and quietly as she could. IdGM: Maddie was hardly able to draw the next breath for the sight that met her eyes. The Temple of the Muses was a vast circular space, just as the Rat Nibbler had described, and it must once have been stunningly beautiful. Even now, in its sadly neglected state, it inspired awe. Pillars reached up to a vast domed roof, through parts of which light was streaming. Before each of the twelve pillared openings around the circle stood a statue - the representations of the twelve Muses, but these had been created from life, and were full of movement and character. Everything was built of marble, including the great carved fountain that stood dry but still glorious in the centre of the space. Maddie: The place certainly was pretty, though Maddie wasn't terribly impressed - it looked like the kind of place she'd chuck a brick through the window of during a protest against the IMF. She looked down towards the fountain, as they had thought the genie might go there. IdGM: The whole Temple seemed deserted, apart from that scanning intelligence, though the heat was increasing. However the Djinn had clearly been here - scorch marks ran across the marble floors and large pieces of stone and debris lay scattered about. Maddie: Since there was no immediate sign of the genie, Maddie waved for the others to follow. Hannah: Hannah looked across the great floor of the Temple and at the statues of the Muses, and imagined what the fountain must have looked like with water flowing. "This is amazing..." she murmured. IdGM: Bent Tail poked her head out. "It's too hot for me. But you need to get to the opening across there," she indicated the one dead opposite, hazy across the massive area. Emily: Emily moved closer and admired their surroundings. "I would like to have a wander around here once we resolved the issue here." She thought to herself. She especially like these faded painted statues. Stephen: Perhaps owing to his eagerness, Stephen walked in without paying too much attention to stealth and was awed by the sights in front of him - especially by the statues. He seemed almost startled by their lifelikeness, and wondered where the real Muses were right now. Emily: Despite her desire to take closer look, Emily suddenly realised the importance of the reasons for their apperances and tried to be more... stealthy. IdGM: As the group moved out into the Temple, Hannah kicked a stone. The sound seemed shocking in the silence and they all stopped. Again Maddie felt as though something was scanning for intruders, but again it passed by. Maddie: Maddie tensed up for a moment, but the feeling passed. "Maybe I should go a bit further ahead next time," she said softly. IdGM: They crept forward again, taking more care this time, moving around the edge of the space with some cover from the pillars and statues. It was horribly uneven underfoot but this time they managed with Maddie guiding them. Maddie moved further ahead this time, past two of the statues and the dark pillared openings behind them. The ground was even more uneven here and as she passed a small piece of rubble slipped from another and dropped. It was a tiny sound but heart-stoppingly loud to her ears. Now she felt the scan nearing her, closer and closer, burning hot like a ray of sunlight through a magnifying glass. Maddie: Maddie took hold of the water bottle amulet for luck and pressed on. IdGM: Somehow Maddie felt the strength of her Elemental Bond protect her, and the scanning intelligence moved on. Maddie reached the opening to the steps - she could see them rising beyond it, curving around with the wall. The others were standing like statues themselves, waiting to be called forward. Maddie: Before calling to the others, Maddie took a look up the steps, wondering how close they were. IdGM: The steps started immediately within the opening, leading steeply up and out of sight to the right. Maddie: Maddie squinted up the steps, wondering if she should scout ahead a bit further - if the genie was above them and they got spotted here, this would be an extremely unfavourable position. After thinking for a moment, Maddie gestured for the others to hold still, then she started up the steps. IdGM: James made a 'what the fuck' gesture as Maddie vanished out of sight. Emily: Emily smiled faintly at James' gestures and frowned further with concern but wished for best of luck for Maddie. IdGM: Maddie hared up the stairs, trying at the same time to be silent. Not as easy, and this time she felt the intelligence closer and stronger, but still it passed. Ahead of her Maddie spotted a gap, where the stone of the steps had broken away, and she had to carefully climb around it, slowing her down. Maddie: Maddie frowned. When the others came up here, this was definitely going to cause a problem. But that was a problem for later - for now, she clambered round, then continued up the steps. IdGM: The Temple seemed to have a double wall, and these steps ran up through the gap, long and steep. As Maddie continued to climb up them, she suddenly felt a surge of power within her mind. Maddie: Maddie gritted her teeth. At least none of her friends were around for her to punch this time. Piss off, Dahmudz, she thought. IdGM: Maddie climbed higher and higher - the steps seemed to go on forever. Again the scan came sweeping round and again it missed her, but she felt it almost touch her this time. And again the blast of power came... from above, where she was headed, she could tell. Maddie: Maddie nearly stumbled, twisting her ankle a bit as that last blast came at her. It would make this awkward, but she'd had worse. Emily: Emily checked with Bent Tail to see if she is doing well and looked at other to see what is going on. IdGM: This time as Maddie pulled herself free of the surging power, she was aware of something more - it was filled with burning desperation and pain. Maddie: Maddie felt a twinge of sympathy for Dahmudz, but forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. She touched the stone hanging round her neck and very softly said, "Emily."
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Post by Idris on Sept 10, 2023 14:41:57 GMT
Session 26 - 9/9/23 IdGM: As Maddie was climbing the many steps, the others still waited in the main part of the temple. They were becoming increasingly concerned. James shifted his weight from foot to foot, swearing under his breath. "We need to get after her. The damned Djinn's probably taken her over again and she's running straight into a trap!" He kept his voice down but it was harsh with anxiety and frustration. Just as he seemed about to move forward, Emily heard a faint sound, as though someone had whispered 'Emily" into her ear. Emily: Emily tore her eyes away and glanced down on her shoulder as if she was expecting an animal or something just in case, trying to focus the sound of the whisper, ready to hunt the potential stranger or enemy down. Maddie: "Hey Emily," Maddie spoke through the stone. "I'm about oh, maybe thirty steps up by now? I can't tell how many there are. About a third of the way to where I am now there's a place where the stone of the steps has broken away, you'll need to be careful coming up there. The uh, the genie has been looking for me, I've felt it try to take me over twice now. The last time I could tell it was desperate and in pain, we need to get it free as soon as we can." Emily: Emily grasped the stone given to her and replied. "Are you feeling okay?" in replying to Maddie, checking her out. "Are you planning to stop so we can catch up or go ahead?" She glanced around this building, wondering if there is another actor in this places full of muses. Maddie: "Of course, I'm fine. I'll wait here and you can catch me up." Emily: Emily nodded as a course of matter and realised that it wouldn't carry over on the stone. "Okay Dokie," she muttered in response in the stone and glanced at the others, including James who seem rather tense about the whole thing. "Maddie is ahead, about a third up. Unfortunately, it seems that the genie know that she is here and attempted to try take her over twice. It is getting worse it seem with the genie is much more desperate." She passed on the message. She bited on her thumbnail for a moment before went on with "She is waiting for us to catch up so let's go". Emily looked around with more care. IdGM: James looked very relieved, especially to be on the move again. Emily: She also relayed a warning from Maddie as well, "Just be careful about the steps... well, more careful than normal anyway." Emily whispered to others. Stephen: Stephen nodded silently as he looked at the steps separating them from the area Maddie had gone to. Emily: Emily also moved forward as well among the others. IdGM: They all prepared to move carefully forward, stepping where Maddie had stepped, avoiding the worst damage and loose stones which might make a sound. As they reached the opening, they all felt something paying attention, something huge which would trample them underfoot like ants. It was like being hunted by radar - a scan that passed over them... and then slowly began to move back, little by little. As the scan swung towards them, both Stephen and Emily felt the hunting intelligence creeping nearer but it passed over them again, and swung away. But folliowing it came a burst of shocking power - it seemed widespread not directed at them as individuals. Silently they struggled to maintain control of their own minds, and eventually the power leached away they were able to look around them, and up the long long length of the steps as they began slowly to climb. Emily: Emily shivered at that strange sense of almost inhuman intelligence as she made her way. Stephen: Stephen did not seem as worried - and was not especially quiet when it came to climbing up the stairs. IdGM: James nearly gave them a terrible shock when he suddenly stood on a loose pebble and slid down a couple of steps, but after a heart-stopping moment, it seemed the Djinn had not been alerted. Emily: Emily sighed with relief that James manage not to draw attention of the Djinn as she made her way around the hole on the stair. Hannah: Hannah was nearly detected herself, but the guidance they'd received from Maddie kept her from making any wrong steps, and she made her way around the hole skillfully. IdGM: With everyone safely around the gap they were able to climb the remaining steps to reach Maddie. The stair continued before them, curving away around the wall of the temple. At this moment a blast of heat hit them. It was unpleasant, but they became aware of the special robes preventing it from causing them any damage. Maddie: Maddie, who didn't feel this heat, waved to the others. IdGM: Maddie turned back to scout ahead again. She passed like the ghost of a shadow up the long curve of the steps which seemed steeper than ever. But not endless, for there ahead of her she saw the flickering of flames refelected on the stone of the wall. Maddie: Maddie eagerly indicated for the others to follow. Emily: Emily then made her way, trying to be quiet as possible. Stephen: Stephen was more careful this time, though it was still obvious that he was eager to finally face the fiery Djinn. IdGM: Again they felt the invisible eye pass over them, closer than before, but still it passed by. Clearly the Djinn was not aware of this entrance to the high place the Fairies had told them about. Emily felt Bent Tail shifting about in her hood. "I can feel the Demon - it will try to burn you up!" she whispered urgently in Emily's mind. Emily: Emily frowned with concern about Bent Tail, "We do have these clothings that will protect us from the flames somewhat. Do you still want to come with us?" She asked the little creature honestly, fully understanding Bent Tail's natural curiousness can only extend so far. IdGM: Bent Tail answered without hesitation. "Where you go I will go. The Demon must leave." Emily: Emily in firm agreement with Bent Tail, "Very well, We will do our best one way or another." Maddie: "I don't know exactly how this is going to go," Maddie said to the others. "We don't want to fight it. I think I'm going to sneak ahead a bit and when I get close enough, I'm going to take this off," she indicated the glass bottle amulet. "I want you near enough by to come and help if things go badly, but not too close. I don't want to attack any of you again if I go crazy, and I don't want any of you giving me away either." IdGM: James looked troubled at this - he seemed to be about to protest, then shut his mouth and gave a grudging nod of assent. Hannah: "We'll be here when you need us, Maddie," said Hannah, watching with some nervousness as her friend moved off. Maddie: Maddie smiled, put a hand on Hannah's shoulder, then crept off to find Dahmudz. IdGM: The archway that Maddie entered was not particularly large - clearly made for nothing much larger than a human - but what lay beyond was enormous. Sitting atop the main temple chamber, this large circular space followed the same dimensions but the centre was occupied by the top of the dome they had seen from below. Around this spiralled a walkway. Above her head, Maddie saw that the top of the temple was a giant cupola or stone lantern - the stone wrought into wondrously fine shapes. Twelve openings pierced the sides of the lantern, and through these Maddie could have seen the sky - dark now as night had fallen, but a swirling mass of smoke filled the cupola and streamed down the sides of the dome. Maddie: Maddie crept towards the walkway and the top of the temple, towards the smoke. IdGM: As Maddie approached, she felt the heat begin to build above her. Flames shot through the smoke which swirled more wildly, and she felt the same surge of power in her mind. Despite her best attempts to defend herself from the Djinn's power, this time Maddie felt it break through her mental defences. She was overwhelmed by the urge to tear off the bottle amulet. Maddie: Maddie ripped the bottle amulet off and flung it over the walkway. It had never seemed that likely that she could reach Dahmudz with complete stealth anyhow. IdGM: As she ripped the bottle from her neck and flung it, a fiery ray shot from the circling smoke and flames. The bottle exploded in midair, showering the ground below with droplets of melted glass. Now the smoke began to glow and flame, brighter and hotter. If Maddie had not been protected by her Elemental Bond she would have been burned to a crisp, but although she did feel the heat, it did no harm to her. As the heat and light grew stronger and wilder, Maddie felt as though it was shining through her, as if her skeleton must be visible inside her body like a cartoon character hit by lightning. It was at once the single most terrifying experience of her life and the most ecstatic. It was like becoming the fire. Now she understood what drove the Djinn - a Being composed of fire. Maddie: Maddie began to run towards the cupola, hurling stealth aside as readily as the amulet. IdGM: As she ran forward and upward, the smoke and fire began to change shape. Above her, hanging effortlessly in the air above the dome, the shape of a giant man appeared - black skinned, shaven headed, strong and muscular. The fire was somehow contained within him, although it burned from his eyes and mouth. Maddie: "I think we got off on the wrong foot earlier, Dahmudz," Maddie called out to the djinn. "I'm Maddie." IdGM: The great head bent towards her and the burning eyes seemed to bore into her. "YOU SAW MY PRISON." The Djinn spoke in a voice so low and deep the stones of the cupola seemed to reverberate with it. "YOU UNDERSTOOD." Maddie: "Yes. As long as there is a soul in prison, then I'm not free." IdGM: The Djinn leaned forward to stare at her. "YET YOU ARE HUMAN." It spoke the wordS with venom, and the next even more so. "YOU ARE A SORCEROR." Maddie: "Those are true, yes. Although I'm not much of a sorcerer if I'm to be quite honest. The people in the Court up above aren't responsible for you being imprisoned, they only just recovered the vessel you were trapped in yesterday." IdGM: Dahmudz sighed, a stream of flame coming from his mouth. "THEY ARE NOT HUMAN AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN ENSLAVING DJINN. BUT I HAVE BEEN SET ON THIS COURSE BY ONE WHO IS. HE GAINED MASTERY OVER ME, BY THE WATER AND THE CHAINS OF SILVER. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SERVE THIS 'MAN' - he spat flame as he said the word, as if it tasted foul - 'FOR SO LONG, AND HE HAS TRICKED ME SO THAT MY SERVITUDE NEVER ENDS."
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Post by Idris on Oct 7, 2023 15:41:38 GMT
Session 27 - 23/9/23 IdGM: Dahmudz stared at Maddie, his eyes literally blazing, as though daring her to do something. But the pain flooded from him in waves. Maddie: Maddie looked back at Dahmudz, unintimidated by his fiery glare. "So I may not be very good at this sorceror thing, but I am good with this," she tapped her bat against her shoulder, "and using it against cops and jailers and other such scumbags. The first time I met a fire magus - Otmar von Feuersturm, a real piece of shit - I belted him over the head with a brick and now he's enjoying his time as a guest of the Reds. If you'd let me know this sorceror's name, I'll go introduce my bat to his face." IdGM: The Djinn made a sound like escaping steam. Was it surprise? Disbelief? Or possibly even laughter? He moved then, curling forward like smoke to look more closely at Maddie. "BUT YOU ARE A FIRE MAGUS YOURSELF... AND A HUMAN." Then he seemed to consider his words and sighed a gust of hot smoky air towards her. "I HAD FORGOTTEN IN MY PRISON - HUMANS ALWAYS FIGHT EACH OTHER." Maddie: "I mean if it offends your sense of order in the world I can not go beat the shit out of the guy who's enslaved you," Maddie said. "But I want you to be free, and I assume you want to be free." IdGM: Her words had an instant effect. Dahmudz reared back and swelled even higher, his head pressing against the top of the stone lantern and making the structure creak alarmingly. "FREE! TO RETURN TO MY OWN REALM AND CAST OFF THIS SHELL. NEVER TO SERVE ANOTHER CRAWLING WORM WHIO SEES NO FURTHER THAN HIS OWN DESIRES. OH YES, I WANT TO BE FREE!" The Djinn's voice boomed through the temple and rattled the very stones. A blast of burning air flowed from him as though the door of a vast kiln had been thrown open, knocking Maddie back and almost tossing her to the ground. Maddie: Dahmudz's booming voice threw Maddie back, and she allowed herself to turn over in the air. Just before she hit the ground, she put her palms out flat, pushed up, and turned a somersault before landing smoothly on her feet. "Well it seems like we can cooperate then. You probably already know I'm not alone, can I invite the others up here and we can talk?" Maddie was fairly sure they could already hear the djinn. IdGM: The Djinn narrowed his flaming eyes at this but he stilled, considering her words. "I HAVE SENSED THEM ALREADY. ONE WORKED WITH WATER AND SILVER TO PREVENT YOU COMING TO ME. WHY SHOULD I TRUST SUCH A ONE?" Maddie: "If it was to prevent me from coming to you then why am I here? It's fair to ask why you should trust us, but equally we had no reason to trust you. Hannah made the charm so that I didn't run here alone in case you meant me harm, not so that I wouldn't come at all." Maddie spread her hands. "The simple answer is that you should trust us because we want what you want, and I vouch for Hannah and all the others. And it's not like you have a better option do you?" IdGM: Dahmudz remained very still, clearly ruminating on these words. His shape fluctuated, just as a flame changes shape when air blows on it. Finally he nodded his great head. "BRING THEM HERE AND WE SHALL SEE." Maddie: Maddie nodded. "Emily," she said into her communicator, "It's safe. He's agreed for you to come up." Emily: Sighing with a hint of relief as she replied, "Outstanding." She passed on a message from Maddie onwards to James, Stephen and Hannah via whispering softly. "It sound like Maddie managed to convice him to allow us to come up there." She grestured towards Maddie. Stephen: "Let's go then!" said Stephen, eager to see the genie in the flesh. Emily: Finding Stephen's overwhelming curiosity infectious, she smiled faintly as Emily made an approach towards Maddie and the fiery agent. Still she kept a wary eye out, just in case some other malicious or even malevolent people attempt to prevent them from doing anything that her group may find imperative to do. IdGM: The area where they had been waiting out of sight opened out into a towering space. Although it was not decorated as the temple had been, the stone was carved with extraordinary patterns that seemed to reveal and then obscure impressions of creatures and figures and landscapes. A dome arose from the centre of the floor - this was the top of the temple dome. Around it wound a spiral walkway and at the very top of this stood the small figure of Maddie, dwarfed by the vast shape of the Djinn. Darmudz was an awe-inspiring sight. He loomed over them, his head thrust forward in what looked to them a pretty aggressive posture. His eyes burned with fire, and flames curled from his mouth even when closed. Heat radiated from him in waves, making them sweat inside their fire-proof robes, though it did not burn them. Stephen: Stephen looked at the patterns with interest, but quickly shifted his attention to the impressive-looking Dahmudz. "We mean no harm!" he said tentatively after a few seconds of silence. IdGM: Hannah stepped forward, looking up into the burning eyes and understanding something of the sense of pain and suffering caused by hundreds of years of enforced servitude. The Djinn should be a free spirit living in its own world of fire and light. She assured Dahmudz that they were there to help. Maddie: "Probably should introduce everyone. Dahmudz, these are Hannah, Emily, Stephen, and James. If you tell us a bit more about this sorceror and how we can find him, we can start planning." Emily: Emily shivered in anticipation as her eyes flickered around in the uppermost circle of this temple, savouring the strange and magical sights. IdGM: Above the dome rose a vast stone cupola or lantern, pierced with openings through which they could see a black velvet night sky, though the Djinn's light made it impossible to see any stars. Dahmudz stared at them with his burning eyes for several long minutes, before he turned to Maddie. "I WILL TELL YOU. I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO KILL HIM. BUT HE IS IN THE PAY OF ANOTHER, ONE FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN PETTY HUMAN MAGI." Maddie: "Even better. I like making powerful people very angry and fucking up their awful plans." Emily: Surrounded by the measure of civlisations, she heard what the Djinn said and wondered if he is referring to one of these extremely powerful Courts. IdGM: Dahmudz let out a gust of flame in appreciation at this. In a matter of seconds he somehow curled himself around and sank down, reducing his size until he was sitting crosslegged on the floor. Stephen: Stephen seemed like he wanted to ask who exactly the person they were supposed to kill was, but he decided to let Dahmudz speak at his own pace. Maddie: Maddie followed Dahmudz' lead, sitting down with her legs crossed. IdGM: The Djinn looked hard at them all in turn, as though he could see into their souls. His eyes still burned but the fire had been banked, the flames no longer flared in anger. When he spoke his voice no longer boomed and shook the walls, although it was still deep and resonant. "I warn you I have little time. When I am fully restored I shall be forced to serve my wretched master." Maddie: "So who are they and how do we find them?" Stephen: "How much time until that?" asked Stephen "Could we somehow prevent you from regaining your full power until this "master" is dealt with?" IdGM: "If we can deal with them before your strength returns and you're forced to serve, we will," said Hannah. IdGM: The Djinn, who first appeared to them as a muscular naked giant filled with pride and anger, had seemed almost to shrink into himself, bowing his head as though in shame. Now he looked up. "I have never considered… perhaps there is a way. But we have enough time for me to tell you my story, so that you may understand.” “Many hundreds of your years ago,” the Djinn began, “a petty alchemist and astrologer came into possession of a certain book. It was given to him in payment of a debt, by one who had no conception of its worth, nor how dangerous it might become in the hands of an unscrupulous jackal. But the man understood at once what a treasure he now held. Using the secrets therein, he performed many extraordinary feats which gained him riches and position, but for many years he avoided one particular ritual, knowing that it was far beyond his ability to control. However one day this man met a woman of surpassing beauty and extraordinary wisdom, and he fell under her spell. She showed him how the vessel might be made to trap a spirit from the Realm of Fire, and to make it serve him. So, she wrought the prison for this spirit, and they performed the ritual, and I was dragged into the Mundane world which hangs on me like a leaden weight.” Dahmudz looked so stricken at this point that they wondered whether he would carry on. Maddie: "Where were you taken in the Mundane world? We've come from there recently ourselves." IdGM: Dahmudz looked up and Maddie's words seemed to rouse him. "My master was from Persia but once he had imprisoned me, he moved about and I saw the world only when he deigned to release me to carry out his orders - a succession of cities and palaces, sometimes ships on the sea, or caravans across deserts. Much time passed while I remained in my prison, so that the world had jumped forward when I next saw it, changing each time. Before the last time I was called to serve his will, we were in London - a great city but so full of dirt and disease and despair... " Emily: Emily raised an eyebrow at that, "Sound like 19th Century to me." She considered it carefully. "About two hundred years ago. It was very dark time then." She grimanced at that. Maddie: "It's still a fucking shit city, full of bankers and Tories and landlords." IdGM: Dahmudz looked down, clearly finding this a depressing idea. Stephen: "Indeed," said Stephen, who had been listening intently, fascinated by the story - though it wasn't clear if he was commenting on Emily's or Maddie's words. "Was the woman a mortal being like ourselves, or more than that? Some sort of sorceresses or..." he asked. Maddie: "Dahmudz, you're describing cities in the Mundane, but other students from the Academy found your prison only yesterday and it was here in the Summer Lands. Do you know how that happened?" Emily: The dejected look that Dahmudz shown made Emily feel he need cheering up. Emily nodded, "Maybe there is a clue there. There is always a way to do anything after all. We will do our best on this!" she said with sheer resoluteness. IdGM: The Djinn looked up and he looked closely at Stephen. "The woman came and went, she would be there at times. Through all those years, she never changed, never aged. My master had gained power over his own ageing but he has grown dried up and brittle. But when the business in London was concluded and I was returned to my prison, the woman was still there. I knew they were planning something but had no idea what. The next time I was released, it was in this strange place. Someone had let me out, but they were just a tool used to serve his purposes, and hers. I was given orders to cause chaos, to burn and destroy, and I knew that those orders came from her, though his was the voice commanding me." Stephen: Stephen's curiosity seemed to grow even more, though his face also showed serious concern. "Do you know their names?" he asked "They might prove useful to us." Maddie: "Are those the orders you were given when you were just released today? Or was that some previous time you were released in the Summer Lands?" IdGM: The Djinn looked pained as he spat the words. "My master is known as Axtya, although I believe that was a name he chose for himself. But after so long it has become his True Name, and so has power. The woman,,, when she first came she called herself Lilith, but she has had many names." Dahmudz turned to Maddie. "I have never been in this world - the Summer Lands - before. All Beings and Spirits have heard of it of course, just as we all know of the Mundane World." He looked down again, in shame and sorrow. "To burn and destroy... Those have been my orders more times than I can count." Maddie: "If you remember any of the other names Lilith has used, please say - it can help us find out who she really is. How were you released today? There was a student in the Academy who we think may have let you out, but he was behaving very unusually and we worry he might have been influenced in some way." Stephen: Stephen almost gasped when he heard the name Lilith, obviously recognizing it and its importance. IdGM: Dahmudz nodded at Maddie's question. "The Being had been given the vessel in which I was imprisoned, or possibly had stolen it. I... hope he was not to badly injured." Maddie: "Given? By who?" IdGM: The Djinn shook his head. "I heard very little before..."
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Post by Idris on Oct 14, 2023 12:42:17 GMT
Session 28 - 7/11/23 IdGM: As the Djinn's voice trailed away, James suddenly pointed upward. "Can you hear it? Something big is coming!" Emily: Emily quickly glanced up following James' gesture, curiously as to what James got so tense. Maddie: Maddie pulled her bat out, looking around instinctively for cover. Stephen: Stephen raised his head, wondering about the source of the noise. IdGM: They all stared upward following James' hand. Emily could hear nothing. Stephen and Hannah thought there might be some sound at the edge of hearing but were uncertain. But Maddie could hear something more - a roaring in the far distance that seemed to be coming nearer. IdGM: James looked very uneasy. "I can feel this... it's like a giant storm! Not natural... I could try to slow it down, but I don't know if I'm strong enough. If it hits at this force, we'll have to get out of here. The whole thing could fall down." Maddie: "Is this the kind of thing Lilith is able to do?" Maddie asked Dahmoudz. Emily: Emily's shivers down her spine as she felt the warnings from James to heed, she prepared to make a fight against this unseen enemy. IdGM: Stephen was gazing up at the great stone lantern above them. At James' words he wondered what kind of force could damage it, and as he did so, he felt himself connect to the Elemental Flow. It was strong and clear, and he found himself viewing great lines of power that had been used to bind the structure and add magical strength to it. This structure could stand up to much more than a hurricane, although with the power of a Chaos Lord driving it, who knew for how long. IdGM: Dahmudz had risen from the floor and his form was expanding again. He looked grimly at Maddie. "Lilith is one of the Lords of this world - she holds incredible power. But I have not known her use it in this way. But then she has many servants, slaves to her beauty who will do anything for her, always ready to serve. She does not need to raise her hand." Stephen: "The stone has been reinforced with magic and will hold...at least for while." said Stephen. "And when it do no longer does, we likely shouldn't be here." Maddie: "Dammit, the rats are going to be pissed if this place comes down." Emily: Filled with a small measure of concern for Bent Tail, her little companion, Emily checked with Bent Tail mentally, asking on how she doing. IdGM: As they listened to Dahmudz' words it struck Stephen that Lilith was very unlikely to come here herself. The Owl was one of the most powerful Tuath and an invasion of her court by another would be tantamount to a declaration of all-out war, which the Tuath seemed to be avoiding at the moment. Hannah: "I wonder if Lilith's magic bears some relation to the Mind Magic we learned of," mused Hannah, though she didn't pursue the thought further with the crisis at hand. IdGM: Bent Tail stuck her head out of Emily's hood. "I'm too hot! Are you not going to drive the Fire Demon out then?" Emily: Emily replied with honesty. "The issue have changed somewhat. The Fire Demon wants nothing to do with this world and we are going to do our best to help it to leave one way or another," she replied mentally. "Beside, it sounds like we got more serious issue to deal with." Emily glared at the approaching storm. IdGM: Fire shot from the Djinn's eyes as he thought on Lilith and the many evils he had been forced to commit for her wretched sorceror. "She uses her power to enslave Men, but it has no power over me and I do not know how it works." Now all of them could hear the roaring as it came steadily nearer. It was like a vast jet engine blasting the air and threatening all before it. James was staring up, but his eyes were almost blank as he extended his senses beyond the stone lantern and into the night beyond. "It's a vast whirlwind," he breathed. "Stephen, if I try to lessen the impact can you work to strengthen the defences?" Maddie: "Is there anything we can do to help?" Maddie was growing to hate magic. How was she meant to hit a whirlwind in the face with a bat? IdGM: Dahmudz suddenly groaned and his shape wavered. "My master is coming," he moaned. Emily: Emily focused her will as there are always bats, birds and those who live in the night in every nook and cranny. Maybe, she hoped so, that she can reach out to a creature who may be able to help. Stephen: Stephen nodded as he set to channeling the Flow into the stones to further reinforce them against the approaching impact. Maddie: Maddie reached out to the Elemental Flow, wondering where the sorcerer was. IdGM: As Emily's awareness extended into the night, she saw the bright mental sparks of many small Beings. There were Bats out there, circling the stone lantern, and a pair of Owls perched on the peak. Through their eyes she saw the circling ring of black cloud, sparks of lightning flashing across it, and hear the deafening roar of the wind. IdGM: James staggered as he poured all the power he could into breaking the power of the wind. Stephen could feel the lantern begin to shake as it hit, but it stood firm. Hannah: "We can't let the djinn be taken again..." said Hannah with resolve. She reached out with her Elemental Bond, and felt the water beneath the temple. "I think I can create a barrier. Something to keep the 'master's' will from taking control." IdGM: As Hannah connected with the water below their feet, Dahmudz rose higher, his eyes and mouth flaming. Maddie: "Dahmudz! We can keep you masked and away from the sorcerer for long enough for me to take him out. Otherwise he's likely to try to take you over again." Emily: Emily passed on what she seen from the lovely creatures surrounding and staying on the rooftop. "A ring of black cloud, full of lightnings." She frowned with concern, "Nothing obvious to target." Her fingers itch for a target practise with her practised shortbow she bought with her. IdGM: The wind hit and as it did the Bats and Owls came pouring throught the window openings into the safety of the Temple. They flew down, the Bats continuing past and into the body of the Temple, but the Owls settling on the steps of the dome. Bent Tail eyed them with dislike. Maddie's words seemed to have their effect - the Djinn visibly controlled himself, and the flames settled to a glow. "So much water," Dahmudz muttered. Emily: Expecting the enemy to make a proper appearance, she reached for her shortbow, ready to shoot this meanie master of Dahmudz. IdGM: Everyone held their places as the wind battered against the stone above and the water swirled around the space beneath. The Djinn's shape shook and trembled but he had not succumbed to the power of his master. Suddenly the wind stopped as if it had been switched off. James fell to his knees, spent with the effort of fighting it. Stephen could feel that it was no longer pummelling the stones. The Owls looked at Emily questioningly. The Djinn's shape became stable and no longer wavered. An eerie silence replaced the previous ferocity. Stephen: Stephen breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't think this is the end of it, but we're all in one piece for now." he said. IdGM: Despite the moment of peace, Maddie could still sense the presence of the sorceror out there somewhere, although he didn't seem to be getting closer now. Emily: Emily quickly glanced around to see if the area is safe and quickly rushed over and knelt beside poor James, concerns clearly evident in her eyes. "How are you feeling?" Emily asked as she glanced quickly over James' body as sudden falls have a nasty habit of making things much worse, Hannah: Seeing that Emily was tending to James, Hannah looked up at Dahmudz with both caution and concern. IdGM: As Emily attended to the exhausted Weather Mage, sharp, panicking Rat voices suddenly shrilled in her head. "People coming - they have sharp stuff in their hands!" At the same moment, Maddie heard the sound of booted feet running, somewhere below them and coming towards the temple. Maddie: "There's booted feet coming towards us, down below." Maddie told the others. "Presumably the stupid worm has some henchmen with him." Emily: Emily alerted the others on what the rats told her, "And the Rats saying that the people are carring weapons as well." Hannah: Hannah gritted her teeth and began readying her crossbow. "They must have been ready to enter as soon as the storm dispersed." Emily: Emily turned her attention back to James and took out a water ration that generally used in her long walk. "You need to drink some water. And some rest once this is over." Once she finished tending to James and upon hearing that potential enemies to kill are coming, she reached for her shortbow. Maddie: "Ideally we'd want to all hide and ambush them," Maddie said. "As an alternative, I might find somewhere to lie low. The underlings can rush at you and then I take out Axtya." IdGM: Soon they could all hear the feet coming nearer, but it seemed the owners realised this and started to sneak across the temple floor. Not very successfully as there were the chinking sounds of stones moving under at least one pair of heavy feet. They reached the stairway, and there was some muttered swearing - someone had found the broken stair. Stephen: Stephen took his sword in hand, silently smilling at the realization that their foes weren't so stealthy. Hannah: Hannah did as Maddie suggested and looked for a spot with cover, where she could lean out and shoot once fighting started. Maddie: Maddie looked for somewhere she could hide as the enemy came up the stairs. If these were as guileless as other Chaos types they'd fought before, they would probably rush in to melee with Stephen and the others quickly. IdGM: It seemed whoever was coming upstairs had decided to give up on stealth for the boots began to hurry again. Suddenly figures appeared in the doorway, crowding in.... and stopped dead. It was a disparate group of Beings who stood there. In the lead they saw a tall, slim figure with pointed ears, wild hair, and even wilder eyes, gripping a long sword. He was followed by another Elf, this one already nocking an arrow to his long bow. They were quickly joined by a confused looking Satyr gripping a staff, his hoofed feet clicking on the stone floor, and then a waif-like Sylph who was attempting to hide behind the fifth member of the group - a tall Tree Man, who was holding his wooded arms up in a menacing manner. "Traitors!" roared the first Elf as he flung himself forward, sword raised. Maddie: Maddie had been hiding in wait for the mage, but since she sensed he was still far away, she suddenly darted for the Elf. In her months at the Academy, Maddie had sparred with most of the opposite group, other than the Satyr. Maybe this was her advantage, or maybe she just had the Elf by surprise. She let her bat drop, then with her right hand she lashed out with a harsh chop across the Elf's forearm. When he flinched in pain, she reached out with her left hand and casually tore the blade from his grip. "Wistael, I'm giving you three seconds to put that away or I'm going to get very, very angry." Maddie looked at the Elf with the bow. IdGM: "You traitorous bastards!" The leader - whose name Maddie knew was Bastion - spat. "Typical Humans!" Stephen: Stephen held his sword defensively, looking like he didn't want to attack but ready to defend himself if it came to that. "There must have been a misunderstanding," he said. IdGM: With his leader disarmed and at least one bow pointing at him, Wistael unnocked the arrow, and let the bow hang by his side, though his eyes burned with hate. Maddie: Maddie gave Bastion a withering look. "There's only two things you're worse at than insults - knowing how to fight, and logic. Now shut the fuck up, adults are talking." IdGM: The other three stayed where they were and waited. Emily: Emily looked almost looked surprised at their arrival. "Why you are here?" she asked with interest. "It is really dangerous here and you could have died here! Did someone at the Academy send you all here?" she replied with concern. Hannah: Hannah stepped out from behind cover, laying her crossbow at her feet and raising her arms. "Wait! Bastion, Wistael, we're no traitors. We calmed the djinn to help us all. Oaksprout, I know you're not the type to rush to judgment. Petira, you noticed how the storm died down, I'm sure? We protected this place, and cut off the connection of the one who had been sending the djinn to do his dirty work. Chikir, we've shared cups together..." She winked at the Satyr. "You know we're the truthful sort. Let's take a moment to talk." IdGM: Bastion was clearly seething, and his mate looked too furious to speak. But the other three calmed down and Chikir nodded. Suddenly Damudz rose up, his head almost touching the roof high above. "SEE! HIS EYES!" He pointed straight at Bastion. "HE SERVES THE SNAKE!" Immediately the group raised their weapons again. Maddie: "Do you want me to take those off you too, idiots! Put them down!" Maddie barked. Hannah: Hannah spoke again, still calm, though this time with more steel in her voice. "Hold! Dahmudz is not our enemy. He was ensnared by two wicked people who have sought to sow chaos within the Court. It is a serious charge that Bastion might serve them, and not one to take lightly. Bastion, can you answer it? Why do you seem so keen on fighting us, when we've all been friends and comrades?" She looked to the other with Bastion, hoping that questions might be raised in their minds. IdGM: Bastion curled his lip. "Why should I answer questions from such as you? We are not your friends. You don't even belong here in the Summer Lands. Go back to the filthy Mundane!" He spat on the floor. "And you..." he stared up at the Djinn towering above him with a sneer. "Your master is coming. He has a new bottle to put you in when you've finished burning this place up!" IdGM: Flames started to pour from the Djinn's eyes, nose and mouth at this. He was rising higher. his back pressing agains the roof. Maddie: "Dahmudz, this idiot can't even keep hold of his sword, don't let him bait you." IdGM: Wistael was still glaring, but there was confusion in his eyes. Chikir had stepped away from Bastion and was frowning at him, his normally cheerful face grave. The Tree Man was still standing in the doorway, as if uncertain whether to stay or leave. But it was the timid Sylph who spoke up. "It was you! You stole the vessel we brought back, and gave it to that poor silly Faun." She pointed a furious finger at Bastion. "You're the traitor!" IdGM: At this Bastion gave a shout and raised his arm, clearly reaching out for the Elemental Flow. Maddie: Maddie calmly leaped into the air, flinging Bastion's sword aside as she did, and delivered a furious roundhouse kick straight to the Elf's jaw, sending him out cold to the ground in a single swift blow. Maddie landed, then turned towards Wistael. "Now, I know that you always have your nose up this mediocrity's ass, so I'm guessing you might have some idea as to what he's been up to. Do you know where Axtya is and what he's planning?" IdGM: The sneer was instantly wiped from Wistael's face, "No, I swear I never knew any of this. He said you were the traitors, in league with a Human sorceror, and that you'd stolen the vessel we'd brought back, so the Djinn could get out." The Elf was shaking with terror. Maddie: Maddie shook her head in disgust. "Wistael, did it ever occur to you that if I were a Chaos spy that I might pretend to actually like the Owl instead of openly mocking her?" IdGM: The other members of his group also came forward. "It seemed fantastical," Chikir said, his voice shaking slightly. "But Bastion was just so... hard to argue with." He scratched his head. "I don't even know why I believed any of it..." Stephen: "Do not blame yourselves too much," said Stephen kindly to them, having lowered his sword earlier. "You may have been affected by some evil magic..." Maddie: "Do you think it's worth waking him up and seeing if we can taunt him into revealing any other useful information?" Maddie asked, glancing at Hannah though the question was addressed to everyone. Emily: Emily released the tension in her shortbow as she came closer and agreed. "Or this magic might not even allow him to say on such matters. Who know what else it can do." She sighed at that, "Beside, I am more worried about the approaching danger." She glanced up at the roof. Hannah: "Yeah, I'm happy with him unconscious at the moment, I think," said Hannah. "We can focus on this situation, and ask him questions later..." Maddie: Maddie shrugged and picked up her bat. She'd need to focus in a moment to see if she could work out where Axtya was, as her attention had been somewhat divided in the last few minutes. IdGM: At this moment, Dahmudz gave a great groan. The Djinn doubled up as if in agony, and once more flames streamed from his mouth and eyes. "He is coming! He is taking control!" And then a voice filled the room, like an amplified giant's. "I AM HERE!"
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Post by Idris on Oct 28, 2023 14:18:51 GMT
Session 29 - 14/10/2023 IdGM: As the voice boomed around the walls, everyone stared about, trying to catch a glimpse of the speaker of whom there seemed no sign. Suddenly a brilliant flare lit up the lantern above them, as though the sun had come out. As they all stared upwards, shielding their eyes, they saw a figure wreathed in light, slowly descending. It was too hard to make out any details. Maddie: Blinded, Maddie tried to focus through her fury. She had been able to sense Axtya before, but in the chaos Bastion had caused she had lost it. If she could concentrate, maybe she'd be able to tell where he was even without sight. IdGM: Shutting her eyes and reaching for the Elemental Flow, Maddie could sense the sorcerer directly above her. Emily: Emily blinked away some slight tears affected with a bright flare from this meanie in her sight. She reached again for her bowstring, trying to see if he is holding any bottle that can be smashed to smitherness. Maddie: "It's him..." Maddie hissed. IdGM: It was very difficult to see details, but the figure had its arms held away from its sides, and no sign of any glass vessel in them. It seemed to be floating down, without using the steps, or any other means of support. The Djinn bent over in pain as the figure came close, his head lowered in shame. It was a horrible sight to see this ancient and powerful Being cringing like a whipped cur. Stephen: Stephen steadied himself, holding his sword tight as he sized up the sorcerer, likely thinking of ways he could attack the sorcerer at a distance. Hannah: Hannah raised her crossbow with one hand while shielding her eyes with the other. At the same time, she focused on maintaining the barrier protecting the Djinn from control. Maddie: Maddie thought of a plan. She reached out to the Elemental Flow, as if to prepare a fireball to hurl at the sorcerer. She didn't intend to do any such thing, but it was best if the sorcerer thought she was. She tried to grab hold of it... ...and found it completely slipped through her grasp. IdGM: The other group were standing in awe at the apparition above them. "What is that?" Chykir the Satyr gasped. A wild laugh echoed round the walls. "I AM YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!" Hannah: "We've faced worse nightmares than you already, and we're still here!" called back Hannah with unusual venom. IdGM: The light still shone from the figure but now they could see it more clearly. A man, tall and almost skeletal, with leathery skin and a fierce nose jutting from his shrunken cheeks above a spade-like black beard. He wore incredibly vivid robes which swirled around him as though in a wind none of them could feel. Maddie: Maddie could scarcely contain her rage, but as her eyes cleared she thought the man looked too far away to try what she had had in mind, so she started looking around for a way to get to him. IdGM: The man landed lightly on the platform at the top of the dome. He stood there, staring down at them with hard black eyes. "Where is Bastion?" he asked, his voice still loud enough to sound around them. Maddie: "Keep him occupied," Maddie hissed to Hannah. She thought it might be possible to scramble up the curve of the dome and get at the sorcerer from behind, though it would be incredibly difficult Emily: Emily eyed this chap up and down, trying to see any possible weakness and remained silent as she glanced at Hannah, clearly preferring to make him into a fine set of pincushion. IdGM: Bastion was groaning and shifting about where he lay on the ground, clearly coming back to consciousness. Hannah: Heeding Maddie's request, Hannah started slowly up the steps while calling back to the man. "You don't see him?" She gestured down toward where Bastion lay groaning. "It wasn't hard to suss out who was your agent." Maddie: Once Hannah had the sorcerer's attention, Maddie moved quietly towards the dome. IdGM: The man narrowed his eyes and stared hard at Hannah, but then he made a careless gesture with his hand. "The boy is nothing. Full of bluster and thought himself the great fighter. But I can see that some of you have great potential." As he said this, everyone felt something - a suble reaction to his words that was not displeasing. Hannah: At his words, Hannah suddenly felt herself rushed back to moments when admired law school proffs had praised her work. Her crossbow lowered a bit, and a faint smile appeared on her face. Was that even... a blush? With a shudder, she realized what was going on. "Mind magic," she said, just loud enough for the others to hear. IdGM: The other Elf and the Satyr continued staring up at him, but Petira the Sylph gave a shy smile at his words. Stephen: Stephen's resolve was stony and he did not let the man's honeyed words influence him. He spoke back "Potential for what? What are you trying to achieve here?" Emily: Hannah's words reached Emily's ears about this meanie using the power of the Mind and found it reprehensible, and smiled in the response to the mage's question, looking somewhat interesting to help out Hannah and Stephen with distracting this meanie while Maddie is creeping around. IdGM: The man smiled, showing small sharp teeth. "You could say I represent an alternative. An alternative to the Owl's rigid and unimaginative sytem of training potentially powerful wielders of Elemental Magic. Do you not find yourselves frustrated and at odds with her methods and restraints?" Again they all felt the pull of his words and were reminded of all the times they had chafed agains the Owl's rules. Hannah: Hannah felt the effects of his words again, though this time it was emotional whiplash toward frustration. She stopped where she was on the stairs, clenching her teeth to keep herself from succumbing to his power. IdGM: This time they noticed Wistael nodding in agreement, and Petira was gazing up at Axtya with something akin to awe, though Chykir was shaking his head. He looked towards Hannah. "What's going on?" he muttered. Maddie: Maddie scrambled lithely and silently up onto the dome. She concentrated, ignoring the man's words, instead focusing her mind on the pain and anguish that she had felt from Dahmudz, the pain that this sorcerer had caused him, and she would put an end to. Emily: Emily sighed at that collections of memories. She then realised just how easy it is to turn people into treasons and betrayals. She almost started to feel sorry for Bastion if he was actually mind controlled. IdGM: As Maddie climbed higher, she became aware of Dahmudz in her mind again. He was not totally under the sorceror's control and he believed she might be able to aid him in struggling against it. Stephen: Stephen's will stayed strong and unbending, his mind understanding that the sorcerer was just attempting to deceive them. Maddie: She could feel Dahmudz in her mind, but she pushed that away for a moment. When Axtya was dead, there would be no need for her to help the djinn struggle against his control, after all. She scrambled up the last bit of the dome and came up stealthily right behind the sorcerer, who was completely distracted in his attempts to turn the two groups of students and glided towards him. She suddenly burst towards the sorcerer. "I am a nerd's worst nightmare..." "GYM CLASS!" Maddie swung her bat as hard as she could. IdGM: Axtya spun around at her words, a look of disbelief on his face. His arm came up but it was too late as the solid wooden club swung towards him and struck him a mighty blow. Maddie: Maddie struck the sorcerer with a homerun swing right in the midsection, shattering every bone in Axtya's frail body. The force of her swing sent him flying backwards as if launched from a cannon, careening over the edge of the dome, out into the open air, and down. Hannah: Hannah had been struggling with the influence of Axtya's voice, feeling as if a few more words would have made her lose control of her own mind. But then Maddie suddenly struck, and she felt the weight lift from her as the sorcerer spiraled limply down from the platform. IdGM: As the ancient sorcerer's body struck the ground fifty feet below, Dahmudz gave a great cry, a Djinn's shout of joy at his sudden freedom from many centuries of enslavement to an evil and uncaring master. Maddie: Maddie took a moment to watch with satisfaction as Axtya's body smashed into the ground, then she laughed as well. "Between him and the centaur, I'm making a fucking habit of knocking assholes off steep drops," she called down. Hannah: Hannah laughed in relief. "Keep it up, Maddie! Magic practice in the morning, knocking down assholes practice in the afternoon!" IdGM: The satyr came over and grabbed Hannah's arm. "That old man was trying to take over our minds!" He laughed up at Maddie. "Well done!" Wistael on the other hand looked dazed, and Petira had gone a deathly shade of white, even paler than usual. "I can't believe I thought he meant those things. I would have... " She sank down on the bottom step with her head in her hands and hide her face behind her long silvery hair. Stephen: Stephen looked impassively at the sorcerer's shattered body. "He's not going to manipulate anyone anytime soon, unless the Courts of Chaos have the ability to resurrect their servants..." IdGM: "We should let Professor Adelmar know what's happened," suggested James, holding the stone around his neck. "And keep watch on this body." Emily: Smiling faintly seeing that an excellent bat strike literally smashed Axtya to bits as he deserved to be, Emily commented to Maddie, "You gave him the biggest surprise ever!" She moved closer to the body to see if there is anything on it but very warily. IdGM: Dahmudz had shrunk himself down to human size, stepping onto the platform next to Maddie. "How can I thank you for freeing me?" Maddie: Maddie smiled at the djinn. "Comrade, in the stories genies are supposed to grant wishes, but killing slavers was already my wish." IdGM: Dahmudz smiled broadly, his handsome face alight with joy and the fire in his eyes glowing golden. At that moment there was a terrible scream from below. Bastian had crawled across and was staring down at the crushed and crumpled body of the sorcerer. "You've done it now! She will destroy everything for this!" He might have had more to say but his words were drowned in a ferocious roar from outside the lantern. The earlier storm was nothing to this. Lightning shot across the lantern from one side to another, and as the tempest raged higher and higher, they could hear the stones of the lantern creaking as they began to part company. The noise was vast and frightening in its violence, but for Stephen, Maddie and Emily there was an additional terror - they could hear words. The storm was speaking to them of their destruction, and the ruin of everything they held dear... Damudz too was roaring, a great shout of defiance, full of the rage of a forest fire and the power of the volcano. He turned to the body of his erstwhile master and met Maddie's eyes. "We must not let her have it. Maybe she can breathe life into it again." Maddie: Maddie burst out laughing. Perhaps the anger of someone pretending to be a god would frighten someone from the Summer Lands, but for an anarchist, this rage was sweeter than nectar. She nodded to Dahmudz, then shouted to the others. "Take that idiot elf, he might know something!" She went to grab Axtya's body. IdGM: Dahmudz gently took hold of her arm and stayed her. "Fire will ensure there is nothing to revive." The flames began to build behind his eyes. Emily: Emily felt a shiver down her spine and quickly made an effort to stop any attempts of Bastian to flee. Maddie: "Oh, right." Maddie reached out to the Elemental Flow, which she had temporarily forgotten in her pleasure. IdGM: Beside her Dahmudz took a long steady breath, and then he released a stream of white-hot flame - narrow enough that only the body was enveloped. Together they made sure that only ashes were left of the sorcerer's remains. Emily: Emily focused to speak with Bent Tail interally and mentally. "It won't be long before Fire Demon is finally gone!" she mentally said confidently, IdGM: Bent Tail poked her head out and quickly withdrew it. "Something awful is coming. Flee!" Hannah: Hannah followed the others down to the burnt body of the sorcerer. Wordlessly, she knelt down to the floor and placed her hand to it, reaching out to the water beneath them. Her bond felt stronger now, after what she'd done with the barrier around the djinn, and the water seemed almost to rush toward her like an old friend after a time apart. Rivulets made their way through cracks, trickling together to form a sheet that washed over the ashes, absorbing and scattering them across the now-damp stone. Emily: Emily agreed with Bent's Tail's realistic assessment as she took hold of Bastian. "Shall we all head back to the Academy now?" She asked the others urgently. IdGM: "It is done," Dahmudz said solemnly. He leaned forward in a deep bow. "You are all my friends and I will think often of you. But now I must leave, and so must you for there is one coming who is too powerful to withstand." He stood upright and then... was gone. The roaring had increaed and was now a deafening shriek. Stones began to rain down from above, and the whole edifice was creaking and shifting as if it were made of wood. It also became rapidly and terribly cold. Looking back they saw fingers of ice begin to creep through the openings in the tottering lantern. A long snake of ice was slithering inside. Maddie: Much as she enjoyed the idea of angering a Tuath, at the moment Maddie knew of no way she could actually injure one, so she decided it was time to run. Stephen: Stephen blinked at what had just happened. "I wonder where exactly he went, and if we'll ever meet him again. But it looks like we have other concerns..."he added looking at the ice snake. IdGM: Bastion was standing staring at the snake of ice, a strange smile on his face. Hannah: Hannah was starting to run, before noticing Bastion. "Grab him!" she called out to Bastion's companions. "We need to get out of here!" Emily: Emily took one look and decided to make a move for it and was about to help Bastion up forcefully before changing her mind on Hannah's words. Bastion's "friends" can deal with him instead. "Let's go!" Emily made a start on running. IdGM: The others struggled with Bastion who was desperately trying to get to the ice snake. In the end the Tree Man grabbed him under one arm. Everyone started running to the stairs. Stephen: For a moment Stephen looked like he wanted to stay and get a better look a the snake, but then he turned and ran with the others. Maddie: Maddie ran at the end of the group, intending to act as rearguard if needed as she had before. IdGM: Just as they reached the opening, an Owl flew past into the space, Not one of the two Owls who had come inside for shelter, this one was large and pure white. As this Owl touched down, it changed shape, taking on the familiar form of the Owl herself. In a commanding voice she spoke... "You dare to invade my court, Snake? To subvert and attack its members? To enslave and to destroy? And all to create a little Chaos in my realm." The Owl raised her arm and pointed to ice snake, while she spoke words in a strange, musical and commanding language. The ice snake instantly melted and even the water vanished as though it had never been. There was no storm, no ice. The Owl waved her hand and the lantern instantly repaired itself, better even than before. The Owl looked around at the Beings all standing in stunned silence. "I am sorry that you were left to fight this battle on your own, but it seems that you handled it very successfully. And released a Djinn from his servitude. You have certainly graduated with honours." Hannah: Hannah smiled as calm returned to the place. "Graduation! I wish I'd brought my old cap and gown." Maddie: "I was wondering when you were going to show up," Maddie said offhandedly. "Is this something that happens often then, people going and attacking other courts?" Stephen: Stephen smiled, though just barely, obviously understandin the severity of the situation. "She will be back at some point, I assume?" he asked the Owl. IdGM: The Owl's eyes were very cold as she replied to Maddie. "A Tuath Lord attacking another's Court? It is unheard of." She sighed and looked to Stephen. "Not if we stop her but this will not end here." Maddie: "No no, not her. I mean people like the idiot elf or the sorcerer, agents or so on." IdGM: "It has not been our way, but many things are changing. The damage to the Mundane is being reflected in the Summer Lands and no Being is safe from the effects." The Owl sighed again. "But now it is time to celebrate. Gather together." She ushered them all in close and then they were in the Great Hall, and the cheers of the other students, the tutors and everyone connected with the Academy were ringing in their ears.
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