[Nexus][Plot] Domine's clearing

[lord pringle]

Out in the woods lays a walled in village. The walls radiate anti-divine magic. The walls are all overgown with vines. There don't appear to be any entrances.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn starts approaching the village, cautiously, yet with determination.

Susan and Karen might well be with her. :smalltongue:

[lord pringle]

The vines quiver at the approaching Quinn and chitter to each other

[horngeek]

Karen is approaching as well, looking around warily.

[lord pringle]

The vines point around looking for someone to come in their reach.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn pauses, waiting for Susan to catch up!

"...doesn't exactly look friendly, does it?" she mutters.

[horngeek]

Karen shakes her head. "No, it doesn't. Looks to me like the gods of this forest are seriously resentful or angry towards either humans, or sentient beings in general."

[lord pringle]

the vines hiss at the exalted at the mention of gods.

[horngeek]

Karen blinks. "...either way, I don't think the gods of this forest are doing a particularly good job if the mention of them got that reaction."

[The Bushranger]

"So it seems. I suppose that means they're quite the Unholy bunch, too..."

Quinn shakes her head.
((Deadtime for now.))

[lord pringle]

The vines keep hissing at the mention of the gods.
deadtime

[horngeek]

And Karen keeps on her guard!

[lord pringle]

The vines talk to them selves unless anyone gets within grappling range

[horngeek]

Karen will continue forwards, watching the vines carefully.

[The Bushranger]

And Quinn approaches as well, drawing her short sword!

It's Holy, and that might not work.
But it is also sharp. :smallwink:

[lord pringle]

Karen will continue forwards, watching the vines carefully.


And Quinn approaches as well, drawing her short sword!

It's Holy, and that might not work.
But it is also sharp. :smallwink:

The vines reach out at the 2 adventurers attempting to grab them angrily. A rustling comes from a bush.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn spins her sword in one hand.

Snicker-snack, snicker-snack!

While peering in the direction of the rustling...

[lord pringle]

Quinn spins her sword in one hand.

Snicker-snack, snicker-snack!

While peering in the direction of the rustling...

the lopped off vines regenerate and victor pops out of the bush.

[horngeek]

Karen takes up a stance, Essence running through her muscles, before attempting to rip the vines apart!

[lord pringle]

the vines are ripped in half only to regenerate again Victor says the guardians aren't that easy to kill poking a vine with his stabbity.

[horngeek]

Karen moves back a little. "And who are you?"

[lord pringle]

I'm Victor, Claire's old team mate. Victor says stabbing at a vine.
((join trick or treat werewolf!))

[horngeek]

Karen shrugs as she rips apart another vine. "Good to have you on our side, then."

[lord pringle]

we're going about this the wrong way. says victor

[horngeek]

"How do you suggest we go about it, then?"

[lord pringle]

"How do you suggest we go about it, then?"

Got any magic that works against plants? Victor says removing himself from a thorny grapple.

[horngeek]

"One spell that would do wonders in terms of burning them up. Quinn, any other ideas?"

[The Bushranger]

Quinn raises her hand, and flexes it a bit.
"Well, I can blast them apart with sonic energy, for one thing."

[lord pringle]

We could use my entrance Victor says fighting defensively. ((please join trick or treat WW))

[The Bushranger]

"The secret door? Lead the way," Quinn says, aiming a air-rippling sonic blast at the vines!

[lord pringle]

Victor runs off to the other side of the wall that was Claire's door.

[horngeek]

Karen follows him!

[The Bushranger]

And Quinn follows as well!

Slicing and dicing vines into a nice salad as necessary.

[lord pringle]

Victor leads them to a wall with a skeleton arrowed into it. he touches the wall and a door opens.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn lets Victor lead the way in.

[lord pringle]

You are led into the village Way different here then it was 10 years ago Victor looks and the ruined decrepit city.

[The Bushranger]

"...does look like the place has seen better days," Quinn agrees.

[horngeek]

Karen looks around. "...reminds me of some parts of Chiascuoro."

[lord pringle]

This used to have at least 100 people

[The Bushranger]

"Now, population one oversized, over-hungry plant?" Quinn quips.

[lord pringle]

well there is Domine, the flying man, and the four horsemen and who ever else is on his pay roll Oh! and Char.

[The Bushranger]

"Who?" Quinn asks, even as she tries to get a mental bead on where Claire is.

[horngeek]

"...who would be hostile to us?"

[lord pringle]

Yeah, we're sort of intruding. We have no idea what's around here so we must be careful. Victor explains. Claire is in the ruins of town hall.

[horngeek]

Karen nods. "Lead the way, then..."

[lord pringle]

Victor draws his swords as a man appears http://public5.tektek.org/img/av/1010/d23/1743/0344402.png I am famine. Prepare to die. he says.

[The Bushranger]

"Oh please," Quinn rolls her eyes. "I spend every day curing victims of Pestilence and War, and cheating Death. You want to live? Run along now. Run away!"

She raises her short sword, and stands ready.

[horngeek]

Karen looks at the thing. "...no. I don't think I will."

[lord pringle]

It limbers forward. very well you have made your choice it tries to hit them with its arms.

[horngeek]

Karen dodges, moving back, as she starts to chant...

[lord pringle]

A hand will appear and try to slap karen

[horngeek]

Karen cuts off her chanting to block the hand from slapping her.

[lord pringle]

when she turns around to block the hand Famine will try to strike her.

[horngeek]

:smallconfused:

I didn't say anything about turning around.

*waiting for Quinn before anything else*

[lord pringle]

Well both are going to try to slap you.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn, for her part, simply narrows her eyes...

...and tries to rip out Famine's brain-stem with her mind. :smalleek:

[horngeek]

Karen gets slapped!

...it doesn't do much, really. Especially since an Essence forcefield just popped up.

"I love Discreet Essence Armour."

[lord pringle]

Quinn, for her part, simply narrows her eyes...

...and tries to rip out Famine's brain-stem with her mind. :smalleek:
Which one of those 100 minds:smallconfused::smallamused:

Karen gets slapped!

...it doesn't do much, really. Especially since an Essence forcefield just popped up.

"I love Discreet Essence Armour."

The essence should be drained by the hand.

[billtodamax]

((Apologies to you three. Went away at the wrong time + forgetfulness))

Susan has been following along in deadtime zombie mode. Upon seeing famine she draws her pistol, and shoots at it several times.

"What's your bit? Famine right, so you'll... make me really hungry?" Susan asks the thing as she shoots. DIE DIE DIE.

[The Bushranger]

The one that the body in question is using, of course.

Of course, Quinn will also try to formlop off the head with her sword!

[lord pringle]

The bullets pass right through famine. So does the sword. Surrender.

[horngeek]

Karen runs forwards, and tries to smash Famine in the face.

...with the Exalted equivalent of a Ghost-touch ability happening.

[lord pringle]

How dare you harm this golemOwwFLESH!! three voices shout from famine.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn, meanwhile, sends a rippling sonic blast at Famine's legs, timed to meet in sync with the punch!

[lord pringle]

famines legs are gone. Just great he says So, who are you looking for?

[horngeek]

Karen then attempts to smash Famine in the face again, this time her Essence visibly coursing around her fist. "GOD-HAMMER STRIKE!"

...if this one hits, not only is it still Ghost-Touch, but it should be quite effective at knocking Famine off his feet.

{{COMBO!!! :smallbiggrin:}}

[lord pringle]

famine is smashed on the ground bleeding ichor. I surrender! Now who are you looking for?

[horngeek]

Karen stands over him, the mark of the Twilight Caste shining on her forehead. "A woman named Claire, who was kidnapped from GLoG."

[The Bushranger]

Quinn glowers from behind Karen down at Famine.

"Answer, and answer truthfully, and you will be allowed to live," she says.

[lord pringle]

You mean victor's chick? victor blushes. Ire got 'er, she was the old pestilence you know and victor here was the old war. anyhow she got taken to town hall.

[horngeek]

"...Pestilence? War?"

Karen turns to Quinn. "Is there a cultural reference I'm not getting here or something? Because I can't see why you'd do a naming theme around disasters."

[lord pringle]

Victor sighs It was our code names. it represented our powers... I caused many more wars then I'm proud of.

[The Bushranger]

"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," Quinn explains to Karen. "Pestilence, Famine, War and Death."

She looks at Famine, narrowing her eyes. "Who is, or was, Death then?"

[lord pringle]

The old death was The Almighty Effervescent Embodiment of the Darkness and the Veil... we call the new one Wren

[The Bushranger]

"...talk about your demotions," Quinn quips. "Alright, now listen. I doubt your boss is gonna like you too much after this, so if you take us to Claire, you can come with us and try redemption - you'll like it, trust me."

[lord pringle]

Famine chortles Meh, I've given my soul away already, I think I'm a bit beyond redemption he says fading away. Victor comments The death power... it's kind of linked with insanity so we want to avoid him. I could probably handle war so could you two hold pestilence?

[The Bushranger]

"May your soul find peace regardless. Go in the name of Neirian," Quinn says sollemly, holding her hand on the forehead of the fallen 'Horseman'.

Then turning to Victor.
"I'm a healer. Taking care of pestilence is what I do."
Well, that and kill gods, but unlike Toby, she's too modest to boast about that.

[horngeek]

"I can take Pestilence. Are his plagues magical in effect, or just origin?"

[lord pringle]

would you be comfortable taking Claires life? Or mine for that matter! This is what Domine does! He finds unsuspecting powerful individuals and twists them to his will! Victor shouts

[The Bushranger]

"Did I say anything about killing?" Quinn says. "I intend to heal her."

[lord pringle]

Victor sighs. let's venture deeper in to the nightmare.

[The Bushranger]

"Lead on, McDuff," Quinn says, squaring her shoulders and nodding in readiness.

[lord pringle]

Victor leads them into town hall. It's full of horrid misshapen bodies.

[horngeek]

Karen looks around as she walks into the hall, her eyes grim.

[lord pringle]

On one side of the room is a bound and gagged Claire screaming. next to her is a man tied up in a straight jacket. heHehehEheHE he laughs

[horngeek]

Karen frowns. "...any idea who he is?"

[lord pringle]

'Magine he's one of Domine's experiments.

[The Bushranger]

"We go after Claire first," Quinn says, heading in that direction with speed.

[horngeek]

Karen nods. "...I can probably take it if it's a trap of some sort, so maybe I should try and get her."

[lord pringle]

em eerf dlouhs ouy tub yrros the straight jacket man mumbles

[The Bushranger]

"Talking backwards? Sorry, but I think you're coming along in the straightjacket," Quinn says as she (presumably) reaches Claire.

[horngeek]

Karen also (presumably) reaches Claire, and will try to pick her up...

[lord pringle]

Claire suddenly morphs in to thishttp://public5.tektek.org/img/av/1010/d11/1241/033b124.png Sorry but your princess is in another castle!

[horngeek]

Karen attempts to headbutt the guy. "Fine then. I'll just blast this one to pieces, then."

[lord pringle]

the impostor draws a scythe after being butted. he rips straight jacket out of his jacket. Straight jacket becomes thishttp://public5.tektek.org/img/av/1010/d08/2353/c8b1529.png

[horngeek]

Karen sighs. "Oh, great. Who are you two?"

[lord pringle]

htaed m'I I'm Ire or War or whatever...

[billtodamax]

More Bullets!

Bullets aimed at War, as Karen is apparently trying to headbutt Death. A bit too close for comfort.

"So... we're just short of Pestilience arriving and we'll have the whole set? Fantastic, this just gets easier and easier. Can anyone understand what Death's saying?" Susan asks. For, although she can read backwards writing, hearing it is far more difficult.

For the record, she didn't charge in when Quinn and Karen did, and would have probably objected to this if her player got time on the computer in the past two days.

[The Bushranger]

"No purchase necessary!" Quinn agrees with Susan, as she aims another sonic blast at War.

Right in the solar plexus. :smalleek:

[horngeek]

Karen aims a punch at scythe guy.

[lord pringle]

Meh. I'm just not in to fighting. would you mind if I signed a contract in your blood saying I killed you? I'll tell ya' where C-c-claire is. meht llik tnaw I tub! Not the time Wrenn!

[horngeek]

Karen pauses. "So, how would we trust you?"

[The Bushranger]

"Give us one good reason to trust you," Quinn adds to Karen's statement.

[lord pringle]

I'd give you her right now if ya' want. just don't break this body. I stole it from a dead AMEN henchmen at nexus stock.

[lord pringle]

*bump*
>.>
<.<

[horngeek]

"...show her to us first."

[lord pringle]

Ire cuts through the air with his scythe and a bound and gagged Claire pops out of nowhere. MMmph! MMMPH!

[horngeek]

Karen nods. "All right. I have no objections to that deal, myself. Back away from her."

[lord pringle]

Ire steps back and hands over the contract.

[horngeek]

Karen narrows her eyes, activating her All-Encompassing Sorceror's sight. If the contract would have any nasty effects, she may well find out.

[lord pringle]

Well it would try to corrupt good aligned energy that touched it... like tainting your aura...

[The Bushranger]

Quinn, meanwhile, hurries forwards to check on Claire!

[horngeek]

"Couple of things that worry me about this contract. Like the fact that it's apparently corrupting."

Karen glares at the pair.

[lord pringle]

Ire looks up from his guitar. Whoops! Wrong contract. he hands you a regular contract.
Claire is freaked out and hyperventilating.

[horngeek]

Karen looks over this one too. Same Charm.

...no, she doesn't trust them. Why do you ask? :smalltongue:

[The Bushranger]

Quinn tries to rest her hand on Claire's forehead and project soothing thoughts, smiling.

[lord pringle]

the contract is perfectly nonmagical.

Claire has something blocking her thoughts.

[The Bushranger]

Quinn keeps smiling, but carefully starts mentally probing this mental shield...

[lord pringle]

Claire screams B-B-B-Back-k-k-k-k t-t-to GLoG!

[horngeek]

Karen frowns, and reads over the contract.

[lord pringle]

It says that Ire for all extents and purposes has killed you.

[horngeek]

"So, explain to me why you need us to sign this? I mean, come on. If we signed this, we were alive at the time, right? So, how does this prove our deaths?"

[lord pringle]

Well usually I sign it in your blood after you die using a chunk of your soul. Ire sighs.

[horngeek]

"Well, since I intend to keep my soul intact, it loses the point, doesn't it?"

[lord pringle]

My boss doesn't have to know that.

[billtodamax]

"Cool, noone loses their souls, and we get Claire back. What's the catch?" Susan asks, her gun still quite at the ready. "There something wrong with her, or with the contract?"

[lord pringle]

Nothins wrong with the contract. I'm just bored. wanna play guitar and chill with that fun guy from nexus stock. Oh Luxuria and I were going to have a D-Blo party. Ire says putting the straitjacket on death.

[The Bushranger]

"Calm down, dear," Quinn says softly to Claire. "Somebody did something to your mind..." And she studies it more.

[lord pringle]

It isn't really readable. All you get is fear. In every language and form possible. But for Claire that's normal:smalltongue:

[billtodamax]

"Quinn?" Susan asks, before realising that Quinn isn't paying attention. "Alright, lemme have a look at that contract." Susan says, trying to take it.

[lord pringle]

Still non-magical and have an absurd premise. Ire hands you an obsidian dagger.

[billtodamax]

Susan takes out her own dagger, ignoring the one offered by Ire, and pricks her finger. She signs the contract in her blood.

"Alright, cool."

[lord pringle]

the contract ignites. and you're all back at GLoG.

[The Bushranger]

It isn't really readable. All you get is fear. In every language and form possible. But for Claire that's normal:smalltongue:

Quinn looks over to Susan, then shrugs as she goes ahead and does stuff. :smalltongue:
She then tries to pick up Claire and carry her back as they head back to GLoG!