Sources and Dragons (IC)

[Fuzzball]

Limerick finds the army approximately four days march from the island. The troops have grown more agitated the closer they get to the surface, but fear seems to be keeping them in line.

When Yorimi finally turns her attention to the task Dano gave her, she finds that the gloamings are fairly well armed and armored. They do not lack in magical gear, though they do seem to lack arcane spell casters. She finds only 5 out of the hundreds there who practice the arcane, most of the rest being clerics to a god they refer to as Meek.

Garath finds no stash of weapons or armor. The gloamings are a well trained army and they are attempting to teach the able bodied of the island to use simple weapons. Those who appear to be in charge seem happy to take a moment to give the giant any information he wishes.

Ashlee speaks to Pachun briefly before taking off after Dano.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick will find the defacto leaders of the armies, the lietunants and such which are handing out orders to the day to day business and giving orders who goes where and what. There has to be someone giving off orders, and if the Main Leader isn't around... he's finding who ever is around and keeping close to them and keeping track of all their orders and their paperwork. Limerick keeps reporting back to Dano.

Also, when Limerick is just walking around the Drow army, he constantly has his Rod at hand giving all of the Drow even more reason to hate this trip and want to leave.

---------


Rod of Nightmares... DC: 17 Will Save for most of the Drow Army Regulars (not the higher ups). I'm basically scaring the **** out of them, despite them not seeing me, and making them want to mutiny even more.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

As the group reassembles for the three-hour deadline that Dano had set, they notice that he is uncharacteristically tardy. Only a few minutes go by before Dano walks out of the woods with Ashlee, the two seeming more inseparable than before. As the others had done their work, walls sprung up, barriers were created, and other defensive measures were set into place. Their meeting is now in the front section of the multi-layered defensive perimeter that surrounds the original castle, a perimeter that includes spike pits, spiked walls, portcullises, archer holes, parapets, towers, ballistae, and other numerous defensive measures that with a fully-skilled team could hold off an army in the hundreds of thousands.

However, they didn't have a fully skilled team. They had five heroes, a handful of clerical halflings, and a pile of civilians. Dano had expressed his deep concern to Ashlee, and now it would be conveyed to the rest of the group.

"I'm not going to sugar coat this. If, within four days, we are unable to enable the general populace to defend themselves or help us defend them, we are in for a world of trouble. The defensive walls of the castle are reinforced, the battlements are stocked with munitions -- namely Ballistae, oil, rocks, and other missile weapons, the keep has also been reinforced. I've sealed all but three of the entrances to this island from the Underdark, and remaining three are funneled into bottlenecked killing zones here, here, and here." He waves his hand and the sand at their feet shifts and forms into a miniaturization of the island's defenses, showing a multi-layered castle wall system, walls, towers and spike zones, along with natural terrain and other features.

"From what Limerick has been reporting to me on his scouting mission, they are a fairly unhappy group of attackers. They only fight because they fear the consequence of the high priestess commanding them. Not entirely uncommon, but we can use that to our advantage. I intend to have the first wave of attackers killed in a manner that will intimidate the ranks behind them. Greek Fire. It is a particularly unpleasant way to go, and I have set up massive reservoirs of it in sections before, after, and in the killing zones, set to open up in that order."

He sighs as the sand shifts again to zoom in on one of the killing zones. "They will be unable to escape the killing zone, as the entire set of walls are crowned off with spikes like a house roof, only allowing for liquids and air to get through. There will be no way to climb out. Garath, you are going to be positioned here."

The sand travels again, taking them through one of the tunnels and leading all the way up to the castle drawbridge and portcullis where all three tunnels converge on an enclosed battle arena ten thousand square feet in size, and over fifty feet high. "You will have ample space to move and fight, and you will be with Yorimi. The entryways from the tunnels to this area are all going to be side-by-side, so you will be able to utilize your breath weapon at the same time as Yorimi can utilize her ability to strike multiple foes. You will be assigned a squad of thirteen clerics. These clerics will be purely there to heal you, not to engage the enemy."

The sand shifts, showing them the fifteen figures in surprisingly accurate detail, spinning around them until the portcullis is seen. All along the wall there are slits at varying heights. "There are, at ground level and every ten feet up, ballistae and arrow firing blinds that will be able to support you if you start to become overwhelmed. They will be instructed to be firing in a rotating cycle so there will be a continual hail of arrows and ballista bolts." The zoom slides out and shows an overview of the castle wall's front.

"Should any of them escape the confines of the tunnels, we also are going to have siege weapons positioned throughout the wall's defenses and at the battlements. A fire team of four clerics will be assigned to each of the dozen towers around the castle, so there will be sufficient support for the trio of ballistae on each." He zooms out again and shows a tower that looms over the rest of the walls and is positioned facing the trio of entrances.

"Ashlee and I will remain here as overwatch and stopgap. We will also have the rest of the able-bodied villagers manning ballistae here, as well as the rest of the clerics to augment the various positions around the castle walls." He pauses, and looks around, knowing Limerick is with the enemy army, but that doesn't always convince him that he can't hear. "Limerick is our wild card. He has the capacity to move around and strike from an amazing range. He is currently working to create unrest amongst the enemy army. He is going to have free range on what he's going to do, as long as he's either dissuading the enemy from waging war or killing them by the dozens."

"This is going to be very difficult. The castle walls are many feet thick, such that the simple spells clerics and wizards have will not be able to break them. They are of the same design as I used in your village Ashlee. Nothing short of an elemental monolith will be capable of breaking these walls, and even then it'd be a while before it got through. Garath, you and Yorimi will have probably the hardest job as you will be fighting many thousands of them, unless they find another way out of the Underdark." An idea he is definitely worried about, but doesn't show it. "We have three and a half days until they arrive. Any questions?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick continues following along with the armies gauging a comfortable routine and rotation of how the management of the Drow work

Limerick continually sends reports to Dano about the army and such.

[Gradius]

Garath smiled as he heard Dano's plan. So his task would be simple, kill masses and masses of drow. Well, with the succubus's aid, he should be able to stop them from even getting close.

"Alright, Dano. I shall go to the point of combat. Good luck to you. A few days to prepare this will be all I need. Yorimi, make certain you help Dano and the town. I expect you there half a day before combat starts."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano moves to stand behind Ashlee and and holds her from behind, looking at Garath and nodding. "Godspeed." As he watches the large man depart to his preparation, he looks at the others. "Anything else?"

[Fuzzball]

Well, you've had time to share with each other if you wanted to, so we're moving along. If you have anything special going on with your character, let me know (like buffs and junk and stuff cause I can't keep track of everything myself). Basically, I'll go, and then you all will go. I'll post again when I'm ready since I'm running an army, and if you haven't posted by the time I'm ready, then I'll NPC you. No reason to get bogged down in a long frustrating battle.

Yorimi meets Garath 3 and 1/2 days later in the dualing ring and they discuss what they need to. The 13 clerics, chosen by Ashlee, meet them near dusk.

Limerick reports that the army's progress has retarded a bit as they draw nearer to the surface. The business of reoganizing troop positions is more difficult as the tunnels narrow, but they do seem ready when they near the exits, despite Limerick's forboading aura.

Ashlee, Dano, the gloamings, and the humans take up their positions and everyone waits as they watch the sunset.

Everyone is clearly expecting Drow to pour out from the three tunnels at any moment, but they do not come...and they do not come... Finally, around midnight, the ground begins to rumble, and a new tunnel springs forth behind Garath. Then there is silence.

I'll give you a few rounds as they still have to march/run up the new tunnel. AND GO! MWAHAHAHA!

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"Damnit!" he mutters to himself. How could he be so shortsighted!? He had blinders on thinking they'd only use those paths instead of the ones that may have been created. His mind raced at a mile a minute, and he focuses trying to halt the flow of time. To his dismay, the island's natural properties had nullified that ability here.

Gritting his teeth, he knew he had precious seconds to spare. His fingers form a steeple position as he bears down, dirt in the air and on the flagstone drifts upwards and hovers around him, his power manifesting itself in a telekinetic field that Ashlee and the other gloamings can physically feel. Only a short few seconds later, a massive being the size of Garath appears and immediately disappears from view. One simple command is given. "Charge the drow army, and run over all who get in your way." The creature rumbles off down the tunnel towards the army, invisible to all those present.

As soon as the command is given, Dano releases his hand seal and continues to focus, this time molding the tunnel entrance to cap and work inward.

Ok... level 9 construct, with Trample, Muscle, and Natural Invisibility. Strength is now 47, size huge, and it goes squishy over all the drow in its way as it tramples towards the army and runs it over until it's dead. While it works, I'm going to fabricate the hole shut, sealing it 1 inch every 2 rounds for as many rounds as I can go. I can do a maximum of 8 inches per manifestation.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick furrowed his brow as he watched the Drow smash through the surface of the earth, it had been a bit to quick in it's preparations and doing to let him get word off to Dano. His eyes quirked around the army as he dashed through their ranks and popped out of the hole they were coming up out of. He saw Dano preparing some giant thing, and shook his head as he looked around for the closest tree line and ran right up the side of a tree to get to the very top.

Finding the perfect perch, he watches the Drow and his companions while keeping an eye out for the Drow Leader and the Ranger he saw from below.


--------------

Spot: 80
Search: 51

[Fuzzball]

Dano casts spell after spell sealing the Drow behind a 5" thick wall when a scream breaks his focus. The sound of clashing weapons comes from the downhill side of the fortifications.

Drow are attacking from the outside, climbing the steps that the humans used to get up the walls. You won't know this for sure of course, until you go over there. Dano, Garath, and Yorimi are inside the arena, approximately 75 ft from the fighting. Limerick is above the original 3 exits, in a tree, approximately 100 ft from the fight. It is night, and therefore very dark right now, so your darkvision is the limit of your range. You may roll initiative if you care what order all of you go in.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

A two-front war. Never a good thing. As he turns, the black oil seeps out from under his scales and his form takes on that of the demonic dragon that lurked within him. Cursing, he looked at the small contingent of 75 gloamings and then to Ashlee, knowing what she's going to want to do. Looking at her chest, and the emblazoned symbol resting there, and he remembers something important.

"Ashlee, I know you want to help them down there. You are a leader now. You cannot fight the entire army. But, there is something you can do with me that will ensure we help our side greatly, and harm more of them than you possibly could by yourself. Ashlee, I need you to bring out the sun."

Pleading to her with his eyes, he looks at the gloamings next to him. "I want you ten to go reinforce the group down there. Tell them to pull the ladders up to them." He points as his body lights up with a bright yellow light and he turns to the scene of fighting.

Symbols are traced in the air, and words of ancient celestial are spoken. The words echo throughout the courtyard, and a sheet of pure light springs up along the wall where the drow are creeping over the edge, holes made for the spots where the ladders are.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee smiles at Dano confidently, "I don't have that kind of power dear, but I can still do something." She turns and takes off toward the fight, shouting to the allies below, "Defend only," and then flies out over the army and casts her spell.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick frowned as he fingered a few arrows in his quiver... he was a creature of shadows and darkness... but even then he could only see so far in it. He spat a slight curse... and he was a long-range assassin, ontop of that! He shooks his head... then again, you always made a point when you popped a foriegn diplomate with an arrow in the neck from a mile away at high noon while he's giving a speech about peace and other religious wishywashy stuff. It made people afraid.

Looking down at the battlefield he frowned and then looked up to the sky to gauge his light sources.


------------


OOC: What sort of illumination we got going on? Do we have a full moon? Would this be considered Dark or Low-Light fighting?

Why do I ask really? Because as a Dark Creature, I have Superior Low-light Vision which gives me 240ft. of sight in the setting. Where as... I only have 120ft. during the darkness.

[Fuzzball]

The moon is only a sliver so it is quite perfectly dark. You can see clearly to the extent of you darkvision, but beyond that it is difficult and you would take a penalty for shooting into it. 120 would allow Limerick to see partially into the fighting without trouble, but the wall of the fortification is blocking his view to see how many Drow are below the wall anyway. He would have seen Ashlee fly over and out beyond the wall, but he'd take a penalty to shoot her because there just isn't enough light for your low-light to work well.

This is of course assuming that the humans were left as the last line of defense at the castle. They can't see anything in the dark, so they'd need torches which just makes them better targets.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Dano apparently blanketed the walls of his fortification with light or something. What kind of light source is that generating for me?

[Fuzzball]

Limerick waits and watches. He sees a curtain of light fall on the wall, but beyond the wall is still blocked to him. He sees Ashlee cast a spell, but nothing happens immediately. Arrows fly up from behind the wall and the fight on the wall continues, but as each Drow makes their attack, they fall, Ashlee's spell backlashing on them. That Limerick can see, only one Drow remains standing on the wall and he recoginizes him immediately. The ranger does not see him, not that he's trying. He has created a gap of dead gloamings and is looking down into the arena, directly at Garath.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick smirks as his eyes snag across the Ranger's form. He reaches down with practiced ease as he takes a specially prepared arrow from his quiver and lifts it up to nock in his bow, green liquid dripping from the tip as he pulls out a few more and prepares them as he kneels down on the branch he's on. Narrowing his eyes through the slits of his mask he takes aim... and lets loose a volley of arrows at the exposed backside of the Ranger Drow*.

As the volley of arrows fly, the shadows around him cast from the glow of the wall through the tree branches wrap around him and conceal his sniping perch.**

-----------------

Note: Opponent is completely unaware of me... and unless he has Uncanny Dodge and is a Level 17 character of the class that gives it, he's getting hit for sneaky sneaky damage.

*- Attacking Ranger Drow

1st Ranged Touch Attack Total vs Ranger: 45 (Note: DC: 40 Fortitude Save vs. Drow Sleep Poison - IRONY! :p )
2nd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Ranger: 38
3rd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Ranger: 40
4th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Ranger: 34
5th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Ranger: 37 (Critical)
Critical Confirm: 31

Damage1: 14d6+6 = 14 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 64 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con Damage.
Damage2: 14d6+6 = 10 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 43 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage3: 14d6+6 = 9 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 51 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage4: 14d6+6 = 12 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 32 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage5: 14d6+6 = 13 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 59 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage. (If Critical Confirms. x3 this Damage)

Sneak Attack Damage Note: If subject of Hits take Sneak Attack Damage, they take same amount of damage next round, at the beginning of my turn. Also, for every hit he takes, he loses 2 Strength (No Save).


**- Sniping - Hide: 77

[Fuzzball]

The ranger lurches in shock as arrows strike him, and his eyes land on Limerick for a moment before he falls off the wall. The gloamings that Dano sent move to fill in the space where their comrades had fallen.

Ashlee ignores the arrows that pepper her skin and plunges further out over the army.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano looks at Ashlee and grits his teeth, then back to Garath. He wished he could tell the future... which course of action to take. It drove him crazy trying to decide a course of action. Ashlee was intentionally subjecting herself to harm to draw the enemy's attacks, but Garath and Yorimi would be isolated against the bulk of the army.

Realizing Garath and Yorimi would only be exposed to a limited number of drow at any one given time, and they had not breached his plug while his construct worked, he decided to move to protect Ashlee. "Stay here, and monitor the situation. Fill in the ranks with the gloamings down with those two if they fall, as needed." With that, he leaped off the tower and streaked towards Ashlee as fast as his wings and psionic powers would take him. Without a word, he flew up underneath her to be filled with arrows instead of her.

"Garath, if you need my assistance, call for it before you become overwhelmed"

[Gradius]

Garath will go to where the greatest concentration of Drow is. Leaving Dano to defend the rear, he goes to the brunt of the attack and lets out a blast of fire towards the masses, for three purposes. Firstly, the only good drow is a dead drow, secondly one can assume that the drows cloth will catch aflame, illuminating the area. Lastly, with this new illumination, he plans to frighten the drow into attacking him, rather than the general army, leaving Yorimi to be a sneak.

"We will be fine, my friend."

Readied Attack for when the Drow break through Dano's little barrier.

Breath Attack: Subtype Fire.

12d10, for a 50 foot cone.

Damage: 87, Reflex Save for Half.

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi smiled as she began her magic, using the detect thoughts through the walls to see if she can discern the Priestess's location. Once this reveals the location, she'll send it to the others telepathically. Aftet this, she will use suggestion and Charm person. (DC 28 and 26 respectively) Using these, she will disrupt the attack, making the Drow turn on themselves, or occupy with other things.

"Wheee! This is fun! Maybe next time you could make a flashier entrance, with ribbons and pretty colors in the sky!"

[Fuzzball]

Yorimi senses no minds beyond the wall, not surprising considering Dano's construct rampaging through the weak troops. Limerick moves from his tree to one closer to the fight. He picks a tall one near the center of Ashlee's end of strife spell. The drow shoot once again at the cleric, but Dano is there to absorb the damage. The drow below fall to her spell, but from quite a distance a ray streaks up, striking Ashlee in the side. She shrieks and spirals to the ground.

Garath and Yorimi hear a scream from the other side of the arena's fortifications as a dark creature picks one of the gloamings and rips off her wings. The gloaming corpse is dropped on Garath's feet.

Dano takes 40 damage (after reductions) from arrows. Garath and Yorimi see a dark streak, as the creature moves very fast. Limerick catches a glimpse of it and may attempt one shot before it leaves his view.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Arrows streak up at them like water falls during a storm, and he lets them come, knowing for each arrow he takes is one less that Ashlee must take. But the streak of black energy reaches out and strikes her, and he spins over onto his back and catches her before she loses any altitude. Winging back over, he streaks back towards the tower and sets her down gingerly.

With a careful set of movements, he looks over Ashlee's wounds with deep concern etched on his face, care evident in his eyes. "I told you you shouldn't have gone out there, hon." He rips out arrows from his body and flicks them over the tower edge, the wounds closing up after the arrows are gone. "I can't heal this right now... it's marked with evil energy. Please, I'm begging you, stay back." Looking up at the Gloamings, he nods to the most senior. "Do what you can to take care of her discomfort. I am about to go find whomever did this." With that, he stands up, turns around and the dark part of his being begins to take form.

Motes of crimson and white dance around his form as his muscles bunch and twist, his frame taking on a more demonic appearance. Heat begins to radiate off his body and his wings become jagged and slightly torn. Spikes poke their way out along his spine and crest, and his teeth extend and curve wickedly as his rage builds and the combination of divine wrath and psionic power gather around him. Soon, the red and white motes twist into a blood-looking aura that bubbles and drifts lazily with the wind, his entire body taking on the look of a monster. Dano draws in breath and tilts his head back, a howl echoing throughout the battlefield that sends chills up and down the spines of all the mortals present. It's a howl filled with rage, sorrow, and vengeance in its heart. Drawing back his arms, he leaps towards the enemy army, tearing chunks of rock up from the tower floor as he does.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee's head stops spinning from the pain and she looks at her wound, instantly recognizing the dark energy there. She looks up at Dano, "It isn't so bad. It just hurts like hell...but it's likely a shot from their leader." She winces and heals the arrow damage, then looks up to see Dano tranform. She shivers at the sight and swallows hard. He leaves and she bites her lip as she tries to decide whether to do as he wishes or follow.

[Gradius]

Draconic. From this points are, Garath's words were in the thick draconic he was raised in.

"DAMNIT! AGNI! RUDRA! That little imp of a demon better have made you strong! Dano, do not lose yourself to your anger... THAT is my task."

He raged, and took his double glaive, quickly taking flight and soaring after his oldest friend, his mighty form coming down and attacking as soon as he got to an enemy, eliminating anything that seems to be especially powerful with his blades, maintaining his status in the air, and letting any of the smaller folk feel is great presence as dirt and rock kicked up underneath him.

Assuming I can reach my foe, 100' Move, 25' Reach. I obviously started my 16 Turns of Raged combat. AC = 37

Agni: +29 to hit, 4d8 + 2d6+1 Con + 22 (Deals 1d6 Damage to Garth)

Attack Roll: 14 + 29 = 43

Damage: 21 + 5 + 1 Con Damage + 22 (4 Damage to Garath)

46 Damage + 1 Con Damage



Rudra: +29 to hit, 4d8 + 2d6+1 Con + 22 (Deals 1d6 Damage to Garth)

Attack Roll: 17 + 29 = 46

Damage: 29 + 7 + 1 Con Damage + 22 (6(>.>) Damage to Garath)

58 Damage + 1 Con Damage

"Do not lose yourself, Dano..."

[Fuzzball]

Garath launches toward the beast and swings twice, but catches only air.

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi giggles as she floats, using the ruckas to pinpoint a target. She held out her right forefinger as energy coursed out from it, slinging itself at three drow, she giggled madly as she used her powers.

"Sling! Slang! Sloo! Try to dodge this, wittle elf guys! Mortals are so funny!"

Vitriolic Blast Chain: 3 Touch attacks

Attack Roll: 1d20+21 = 34; Damage: 7d6+2d6 Acid(For 3 turns) = 43

Attack Roll: 1d20+21 = 29; Damage: 7d6+2d6 Acid(For 3 turns) = 31

Attack Roll: 1d20+21 = 30; Damage: 7d6+2d6 Acid(For 3 turns) = 28

[Fuzzball]

Garath and Yorimi head toward the fighting and Yorimi's magic drops the few that remain standing from Ashlee's spell. They catch up to Dano as he lets loose a massive spell....which fizzles... Ashlee hesitates for a few seconds, but her worry takes her and she follows out to join the group. More arrows fly and more drow drop leaving a knot of twenty drow standing.

Another ray shoots comes from the darkness, this time striking Dano in the shoulder. Pain sweeps over him, more intense than anything he has ever experienced before. His vision blurs and his muscles cease to obey him for a moment. Ashlee snatches him before he falls and glides to the ground.

Dano got counterspelled! Dano takes 10 damage. Yorimi takes 3 damage. Garath takes 7 damage. (That is after reduction)

Dano takes 24 vile damage, and is stunned for one round so doesn't do anything this round.

Limerick has two rounds to catch up on and then this one.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano twitches on the ground, gritting his teeth against the pain.

Shocked and awed that I was hit and failed the fort save. Yeehaw. [roll0] Yeah, we need this because **** was done out of turn now. Forgotten hasn't gotten a chance to post in the last 3 rounds of action.

[Forgotten T.S.]

OOC Rant.

Alright. I'm not sure how this happened. I've read the posts about five times now... and I can't figure out why in the hell I was passed by for three rounds of combat. I can understand if I didn't post after a couple of days; Like half of the people in this group. I could understand if perhaps I went on vacation and left notice just to pass me by or something. However, what I can't understand... is why in less then 12 hours, three rounds of combat took place without me. That's ridiculous, and rude. That's actually a step below rude, and down right insulting to me. I post everyday it's relevant for me to post, I even post sometimes when it isn't just to keep things moving in some fashion. Then, in the span of 12 hours, I was completely ignored.

Not only was I ignored, I am then asked to catch up all of MY rounds of combat to meet everyone elses. Nevermind the fact that what I do during my rounds could determine what happens elsewhere? What if I roll crits on every strike against the Leader? What if I decide to go psycho and turn my arrows on Ashlee and Dano?

I'm sorry if this seems disrespectful, but the fact is what has just happened is very disrespectful to me. I wait on people constantly; for hours, days, weeks at a time. Yet for some reason in a very important battle of combat... I am ignored and expect to retroactively post my things basically knowing that it can't make any effect on the world because things have already happened.

I'm going to post up my actions for each round of combat, completely assuming that I see the Drow Priestess Leader that has tagged Ashlee and Dano with spells. I am also going to post up alternative actions for what I do if I don't see her, if I kill her, and if there is something more funny for me to do like slap myself with a pie.

----------------------------------------------------------

For Three Whole Rounds - Limerick Basch't - Professional:


Limerick sits in the tree, playing with the fletching of his arrows, rather amazed by the unique colors he can create.

[Fuzzball]

Fine, whatever, Limerick sits in a tree.

He tilts his head at an unusual sound behind him and turns in time to see a sharp set of teeth and claws. The giant bat digs its talons into him and lifts him high over the trees. He feels his muscles rend before the bat drops him, but luckily feather fall activates saving him from the nasty fall. Unfortunatly he catches the attention of his previous target, taking a nasty ray to the shin, pain shooting up his leg and making his head spin.

Ashlee cradles Dano in her arms. The Drow move forward some and arrows rain down on the two, but Ashlee casts a wind wall and the projectiles are deflected.

Garath crashes down on the knot of drow casters pinning two beneath him and mutilating another. Yorimi attempts to give him coverfire, but nothing happens. Several bolts of energy streak up and bludgeon her, and an explosion of cold centers itself on Garath.

Sometimes you get hit despite all the spells you have up and sometimes you fail your fort save. It happens. Don't feel too bad Wraith...unless they roll a 20 everyone else will fail it too.

I talked with Tai and he's pouting. He's sitting in a tree. Dano it stunned. Ashlee is worrying about Dano. Gradius and Yorimi haven't posted, but I'm feeling quite impatient and don't feel like giving Tai any more time to grow up.

Side note for Yorimi, chain does half damage to secondary targets. Also, Yorimi is counterspelled this round.

Garath takes 42 cold damage (didn't see any resistance, but if I missed it, please deduct from that)

WHY DOESN'T GARATH HAVE CLEAVE!? But he does drop three of them, two with squashiness and one splattered with his happy weapons.

Yorimi takes 27 damage (magic missiles)

Tai takes 73 damage (bite, claw, claw, rend) (Also, would somebody take a look at his hp because I'm pretty sure his max possible is 242, but 247 is written on his sheet...unless I'm missing something. There's a lot there, so it's possible.) 21 vile damage and stunned for one round.

Dano and Ashlee take no damage this round.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


When the Bat attacks, Limerick's arms go wide to defend himself and he drops his bow into the branches of the tree as the Bat lifts him up and then drops him. Due to feather fall, he lightly falls to the ground, and falls on his back and remains that way for this round as he is rather stunned from the ordeal.

[Gradius]

(Cold Resistance 10, Fuzzy Wuzzy

Garath roars and lights as many Drow as he can in a sea of flames as a flaming blast issues from his mouth. He smirks and roars, letting the creatures burn as he feels the intensity of the battle unfold.


Breath Attack: Subtype Fire.

12d10, for a 50 foot cone.

Damage: 98, Reflex Save for Half.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Standing up, he holds Ashlee in a quick embrace and smiles at her before turning to face the drow army that has surrounded them. "Thank you." He grins at the drow around him, seeing their eyes open and hesitantly step back.

His mouth forms words in the dark elven tongue, parting words of reason to them. "My fight is not with you. I know she commands you with fear, and with pain. I know many of you have families. Children. I do not wish to harm you; I only seek to stop her. Make a path to your mistress, and you will live to see another moon. Cease your attack against this city and my friends, and you shall come to no harm. I will, in fact, provide you with the means to return to your families, and supplies to aid your journeys home." His voice echoes throughout the area, being heard by all assembled.

Diplomacy! Let's see if I can convince them to stand down. 15 + 15 = 30

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi smirked and used magic to form a rather dangerous force. She became bats, screeching and biting at anything that got near them. A telepathic giggle could be heard as she clawed at the drow.

"They better give up soon!"



Dark Discorporation, obviously.

[Fuzzball]

Garath breathes on the mage contingent before him. They appear to have fire resistance up, though most of them still appear quite singed. A few finally run, but several stay. With no one nearby to attempt to counterspell, they turn a barrage of magic missiles at Garath.

Yorimi flies out over the army, turns to bats and starts terrorizing the drow.

In response to Dano's speech, the drow woman laughs, and the hole around her widens a bit. The drow appear a bit torn as to what they want to do, until she looses a streak of dark energy at Dano's chest and he collapses in agony once again.

In anger, Ashlee calls fire down from the sky, enveloping the priestess who continues to laugh.

Bright light floods the area, and you they look up, you see a few spec flitting around a portal high in the sky. The light is warm and joyful, and all except the priestess scatter trying to find cover.

Garath takes 62 damage from magic missiles. There are still 11 mages still standing there.

Dano takes another 21 points of vile damage and is stunned this round.

Ashlee cast flame strike.

Limerick is has fallen 120ft and is now 80 ft above the ground. Looking down, he can see one drow standing while the others scatter. At the end of falling, which is a free action, he'll be 20 ft from the ground and in the trees, and may take whatever actions he desires to take.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano grits his teeth against the pain, and begins to laugh. It is not gleeful, or hopeful. It carries no joy. Rather, it is the laugh of a man who has accepted his death; it is a laugh he has made once before. His tongue rolls the words of demons, angels, celestial, and drow into one sentence, interchanging words yet somehow they are understood by all. "She-bitch, you still do not understand. You are already dead. Your body just doesn't know it yet." His laughing resumes as blood trickles from his mouth and spatters upon the ground and his bone armor. His mind overpowering the pain, he stands again, his mind focusing for a moment and he steps in front of Ashlee. "Please withdraw. I don't want to see you hurt!" He speaks quietly in the words of the angels, his voice frantic. "I will be fine."

"Garath! I need some help over here! Stop playing with the mages."

Just realized that Freedom of Movement negates stunning. Only going to alter this round's actions. If you have question as to where I'm getting it from, NWN FoM negates stunning. It is a 3.0 product, released by WotC. The wording in the 3.0 PHB is identical to that of 3.5.

Anyway, manifesting a power with no display. Concentration check 15 + 12 = 27, success. You'll find out what it is. :smallcool:

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick's eyes snap open as his senses come back to him, biting back a curse from his wounds he flips around upside down in the air and lifts his hand up towards the tree and makes a clenching motion as he pulls his back towards him*. With a snap of wood, his bow comes hurtling out of the tree and slaps against his hand as he flips around in the air again and lets the featherfall protective drop. As he hits the ground he rolls along with his roll**, shrugging off the stinging pain in his shoulder.

As he rolls along the ground back towards the base of the tree he was just forced out of, the shadows crash over him snuffing him out of view once more as he collects in his ground***.

-----------

*- Activate - Ring of Telekenesis

**- Fall 40ft. - Tumble: 42 to reduce Fall by 10ft. Take 3d6 fall damage (10dmg)

***- Hide: 90 / MS: 95

[Fuzzball]

In the bright light Limerick can now see the bat zipping through the air, but this time it isn't headed for him. It catches Ashlee from behind and she panics for a moment before letting loose a spell. A globe of shimmering colors appears around her and the bat lets out a high pitched scream before it turns to stone and crashes to the ground. Pelor's cleric topples out of the sphere, bleeding from several wounds, but manages to gain her balance in the air and float to the ground. No one seems to notice Limerick as he reclaims his bow and the shadows take him once again as most of the drow can't see anything.

Garath continues to pound on the mages and Yorimi's batlike form dances among them. Several more drop and the rest retreat expeditiously.

The priestess continues to laugh and sends a dark bolt of energy at Ashlee who crumples to the ground shuddering, "Foolish breakable lower lifeform...but you will learn quickly enough."

Freedom of Movement does not negate stunning, so Dano's move will occur in this upcoming round.

Four mages still alive, but running away.

Quickened Prismatic Sphere for those who care.

Layout...

______A__________________________________
__________________________________Y______
P_____________D____________________G_____
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
L________________________________________

Let me know if that isn't clear enough...
Distance from priestess
Ashlee - 20ft
Limerick - 30ft
Dano - 50ft
Garath - 120ft
Yorimi - 120ft

I was kind of enjoying the iniativelessness of this, but now it might be important, so init please...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional. - Initiative: 35



Limerick stands at the ready next to the tree, maintaining his sniping position as he watches the Priestess. This was odd... she shouldn't be naked. Where was her henchmen? Something was wrong... he was positive... this wasn't the Leader of the Drow he was sent to kill, nor was whom everyone in the group was after.

Snorting he hoping back up into the trees and began moving in the direction that the Priestess had come from. His twisted a ring on his finger, allowing his gaze to piercing through the woods around him like air*, as he tracked where they had come from**. His feet soft as he bounces from shadow to shadow through the woods***.


-------------------


*- Activating Ring of X-Ray Vision

**- Tracking per Feat - Survival: 40

***- Hide: 88 / MS: 89

[Fuzzball]

Limerick moves into the trees and attempts to track footprints, but it's slow work considering the many tracks already there and those being produced by the blinded drow.

Dano stands and speaks, taunting the drow priestess and calling Garath forward. The priestess smiles cruelly but doesn't move to attack. "You'll soon understand. Pain is life. But only at the end will you see." A strange abberation leaps from beneath the ground, its incorporeal form melting into solid and it strikes out with a flurry of swings, slashing at Dano, catching him in the chest and rending him. He falls to the blows.

Yorimi and Garath charge forward.

Ashlee pulls herself from her newest injury and her eyes fall on Dano. She looks to the flower adorning her chest as it wilts and she trembles with rage. She looks at Garath, sees his injuries, and knows that her own are far too great to continue much longer. She concentrates and sends positive energy out to her allies.

I'm not sure what Limerick is looking for exactly. He can track the drow back to the tunnel if he wishes, but he'll lose sight of the others.

The priestess doesn't seem to think you're a threat and is now toying with you all. You can roll a sense motive on that, and a 15 will be enough.

Dano takes 166 damage.

Ashlee heals Dano, Garath, Yorimi, and herself for 150. Unfortunately she doesn't know where Limerick is, so she can't heal him.

Knowledge checks if you want to know what the critter is. Umm...Planes...Arcane...Nature...Lore...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick halts in his race through the trees, as he moves roughly 200ft. away from the Drow Priestess and her now visible Bodyguard. A frown marred his lips as he looked back at them... he hated this... she wasn't in normal performance... but her bodyguard was there now... and she looked just right.

He spit a soft curse that floated silently on the wind.

Shrugging he turned back to face the Priestess and brought his bow up to bare as he slide three arrows out of the quiver, and drew two arrows that created themselves from thin air inside of the quiver. Sucking in a breathe... he lined up his shot... and released*.


---------------------


*- Attacking Priestess and Bodyguard.

1st Ranged Touch Attack Total vs Priestess: 50 (Note: DC: 40 Fortitude Save vs. Black Lotus Extract (14 Con Dmg) - Avasculate on Hit - SR Check: 31) - Crit Confirm: 42
2nd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Bodyguard: 44 (Note: DC: 40 Fortitude Save vs. Colossal Spider Venom (16 Str Dmg) - Dimensional Anchor on Hit - SR Check: 24)
3rd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 35
4th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Bodyguard: 30
5th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 33

Damage1: 14d6+6 = 16 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 61 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con Damage. (If Critical Confirms. x3 this Damage)
Damage2: 14d6+6 = 9 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 40 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage3: 14d6+6 = 10 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 44 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage4: 14d6+6 = 9 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 53 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage5: 14d6+6 = 15 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 63 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.

Sneak Attack Damage Note: If subject of Hits take Sneak Attack Damage, they take same amount of damage next round, at the beginning of my turn. Also, for every hit they take, they loses 2 Strength (No Save).


**- Sniping - Hide: 82

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He felt the claws cut into him, and his body corrupt. He felt the energy drain from him, and the blood drain from his body. He could hear the heart-wrenching agony of Ashlee as he slowly fell, gravity taking hold of his quickly-limping form. He saw the ground coming up, his organs finally ceasing their scream of agony at him... agony he knew was coming. He would die again, as he had done before: In pain, and in the defense of another.

But unlike before, he would not stay down. He would be rescued by a woman who cared as much for him, as he for her. As his consciousness faded, and his heart stopped, the words of the angels reached his ears. Energy flowed within his veins, and his wounds knitted quickly. The claw marks marred his skin no longer, though his body still bore the marks of the priestesses rays. Feeling the energies that protect his form remain reinforced, he feels out with his mind and pinpoints the now-anchored aberration's position. "Filthy Kython." He mutters, words chanting quietly.

A twinge of weakness spears his body, but he lets it wash over him knowing it's only temporary. The divine magic washes over him and he slides back away from the creature and then stands up, then takes a step or two backwards further away from it. "Garath, he's yours." He then turns his attention to the drow priestess.

Alrighty... casting defensively! 15 + 13 = 28 ... yeah, that should do it. :D Cast Constricting Chains. 3d6 damage (you can roll if you want) nonlethal damage every round for 17 rounds, and he can't move, attacks at -2 and has -4 to dex. Str check 32 required to break it.

[Fuzzball]

Arrows streak from the trees, two striking the drow and one hitting the abberration. The first arrow goes straight through the woman's chest, blood spraying from the viscious wound, but she mearly grins and releases a pleased groan. Yorimi forms back into her natural form and shoots at the kython, chaining it to the priestess. Her smile widens.

Some speach about killing a vile pathetic creature that he can write later if he wishesGarath pummels the kython and Dano casts his spell. The creature fights it's constraints, but is unable to break free.

The drow shoots a ray at Dano and grins at the grimace Ashlee makes as Dano doubles over in agony. "Your pain is so sweet little Pelorite...perhaps I will keep you for a while after your love is dead."

Ashlee growls, "You like that? Try this you wench!" She rushes past the kython, taking a long gouge across her midsection, not caring a bit about the pain. The drow doesn't seem bothered by the cleric's threat and even opens her arms to allow the attack, but it isn't what she expected. Instead of a slap, or a claw, Ashlee strokes the other woman's arm gently. "Lastai bless you."

Ashlee's skin darkens as vile energy burns some of her scales away, and she stumbles backward. The priestess feels joy, warmth, and love enfold her and screams moving in the other direction.



________________A_____K____D____________
L_________________________G_____________
_____________P________________________Y_


Limerick shoots both - 2 in drow, 1 in kython 1 miss each
Yorimi blasts kython & chains to drow
Ashlee cast Lastai's carress (hooray for warm fuzzies!)

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick narrows his eyes in concentration on the Priestess as he examines her wounds and the effects Ashlee's attacks have on her. Shrugging he notices her tendons retying themselves and he smirks as he drags his fingers down the length of his bow, chanting a soft mantra of blasphemous words... the most disgusting of the arcane tongue like a rhythmic flush on his lips as he feels his bow absorb the spell, a soft black aura surrounding it*.

Happy with his work... he moves along the trees a few feet from his prior position and lines up his shot for the coming moments.**


----------------


*- Cast Spell: Cursed Blade

**- Move 40ft. to the Right. Hide: 87 / MS: 91


Note: Priestess takes 105 damage again this round... and Bodyguard takes 40 damage again this round. - Thanks to Lingering Damage Feat.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Standing up, not intending for Ashlee to suffer the effects that she did from the creatures' attacks, he quickly draws out a mirror as he leaps into the air and flies over the Kython, landing deftly in front of Ashlee. No words are uttered, no symbols made. But the mirror shines brightly, flaring out to encompass the priestess and her bodyguard.

Turning around, to face Ashlee, he wraps his arms around her and whispers into her ear.

[Fuzzball]

Garath continues to pound on the kython and the creature can do nothing but take the beating. Yorimi aims another bolt at it, but this time the priestess is too far away to arc to her. The kython still stands, though it looks as though it can't take much more of the big brute's attention.

Dano moves, casts, and takes Ashlee in his arms speaking softly to her. "Please stop your attack. You're severely wounded. You can't come back like I can. Please, stay your hand."

Dano can feel Ashlee trembling with anger and fatigue. She whispers back to him, "Joy and love seem to hurt her most and I am best equipped to deal them." She concentrates as her skin seems to continue to melt. Her body begins radiating light and she casts another healing spell, the vile damage on both of them vanishing.

"Then you will do so, and I will both keep her at bay and enable you to strike her without touching her."

The priestess shudders trying to shake off Ashlee's spell, but doesn't seem able to do so.

[Gradius]

Garath roars, still enveloped by his rage as he pounds on the beast.

Attacks: +29/+29/+29/+29/+24/+19

Attack Rolls: 43, 40, 46, 42, 32, 29


Damage: 4d8 + 2d6(Vicious) + 1 Con + 22

29 + 10 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 4 Damage)

23 + 11 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 10 Damage)

31 + 6 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 7 Damage)

25 + 3 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 2 Damage)

20 + 7 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 6 Damage)

13 + 6 + 1 Con + 22 (Takes 8 Damage)



Agni and Rudra both heal Garath.

2d8+3 = 12
2d8+3 = 9

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick tilts his head as he examines the Prietess... after a moment he shrugs and lifts his bow up... letting the barrage fly*.



----------------------------------


*- Attacking Priestess.

1st Ranged Touch Attack Total vs Priestess: 36
2nd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 41
3rd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 38
4th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 35
5th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Priestess: 25

Damage1: 14d6+6 = 16 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 37 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con Damage.
Damage2: 14d6+6 = 9 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 53 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage3: 14d6+6 = 10 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 36 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage4: 14d6+6 = 9 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 70 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage5: 14d6+6 = 15 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 39 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.

Sneak Attack Damage Note: If subject of Hits take Sneak Attack Damage, they take same amount of damage next round, at the beginning of my turn. Also, for every hit they take, they loses 2 Strength (No Save).

Damage Note: All Damage is Considered Vile Damage, and she can only heal any of this Damage if she casts Remove Curse on herself and THEN casts her healing spells. Not even Natural Regeneration (or Fast Healing) will work until Remove Curse is applied. This effect is renewed with each new hit. - Thanks to Cursed Blade.

**- Sniping - Hide: 78

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Smiling to himself as he feels the arrows enter his field of effect and sink into the priestess' flesh. Knowing that she couldn't possibly be felled that easily, he begins to take measures to ensure she won't do anyone any more harm. Ashlee can feel him tense slightly as the energies swell within his form and are released into the ground around them.

At first, nothing happens. But within a fraction of a second, the ground splits open slightly and a pair of rock-composed tendrils snake out at a blindingly-fast speed and wrap around the priestess' arms, legs, and quickly her torso. In a matter of a fraction of a second, the priestess was transformed from a living, breathing drow to a granite statue, with a few specific differences.

Her eyes are covered with rock, and in front of her mouth rests another stone plate, with only ports for her nose and mouth to allow air to pass. Holes rest where her ears are. The head is permitted to turn freely, there being a gap between the headpiece and chestpiece of the main statue. Her fingers remain straight and pointed outward, however they are so thick each individual finger is nearly indistinguishable. In the center of the statue rests a hole in inch in diameter, directly in front of her heart.

Turning around, he looks at the other creature with extreme disdain. "Garath, finish that thing off and be done with it." Turning to the other drow, he barks out in undercommon. "There is no need for you to be here any longer! You will all be spared, but you must leave this field of battle at once and never return!"

Turning around, he assumes the others will flee and Garath will dispatch the Kython. "Now, my dear. How about you start off telling us what you're doing here." His eyes narrow and his form reverts to the less-demonic version, the horns on his crest and spine drifting off like dust and his muscles twist slightly and his scales smooth over. His wings reform back to their non-baalor-like form, him finally looking like the dragonborn he truly is.

[Fuzzball]

Limerick lets his arrow fly, one finding the priestess, and it occurs to him that dispite her now almost prone position, she has become harder to hit.

Garath finishes off the kython with one last stroke from his new weapon/s and turns to see the drow become covered in stone and Dano return to his normal form.

In response to Dano's kind request the priestess looses a string of curses, mostly directed toward Ashlee. Everyone can see dark energy flow out from the holes in the sarcophagus, past Dano, and swirl around the Pelorite. She can't even let out a scream as the energy violates her and blood pools around her as she writhes on the ground.

Those not focused on the cleric's agony notice that the stone around the priestess appears to me melting...or shattering...or simply unravelling itself...

Garath only needed to hit the kython with one more punch to down it. Unless he feels the need to splatter the thing across the ground, he doesn't need to take the damage from it.

Oh, and Ashlee's heal from before did 225 to Garath. I don't know how far down he was, but he was probably at full before he attacked the kython...and he's done....5 attacks now total...if that helps with how much damage he has taken so far

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick frowns... watching the Priestess as Dano wraps her in stone. Rolling his eyes he reaches into some pouches and produces a long roll of wire and a winch. Rubbing an amulet around his neck, he opens up a communication line to Dano and Ashlee.

"Keep that bitch still... strengthen that stone as much as you can... and get rid of all of it around her chest and back. Trap her face, arms, and everything below her waist.... watch out for the spray."

With that, Limerick shoulders his bow and finds the sturdiest tree he can and attached the winch up to it as he hooks it into place and runs the wire through it setting it up as he turns back to look at everyone.


------------


Basically my actions for this round are you setup my Winch, and tell Dano and Ashlee something.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Looking at the mist, his mind works frantically. He couldn't possibly deal with both, and his heart was screaming in rage and panic. And suddenly, as he realizes what he must do, and he is at peace. He looks towards the direction Limerick is in and nods wordlessly. "I understand. I will make it happen. Have Garath help you with whatever you need. Ashlee, stay behind me."

He looks at the priestess and then down at Ashlee's writhing form. He knows she is suffering greatly, and he knows there's nothing he can do to heal her. He hadn't prepared for something like this, and his spells weren't geared for this. He only saw one option, and it was something he had hoped he'd never have to use. "Garath... if I don't recover, take care of her for me."

The air around him begins to shimmer, and the ground beneath him splinters, cracks, and heaves slightly. Bits of rock drift up and hover around him as the power tears reality around him. Overhead, stormclouds gather at an alarming rate, and lightning streaks across the sky. Thunder peals across the island and the entire island shudders.

In a release of power, his form explodes in a flash of bright light, energy passing over everyone on the island. Where he once was, Ashlee stands unharmed. Where she was writhing, Dano rests unconscious, his blood now mixing with hers. As the clouds disperse, a breeze carries a voice to Ashlee's ear. "With love, I remember my promise... " The breeze caresses her cheek in a manner Dano had done the night before.

Ok... pulling out the biggest gun I have. Reality Revision.

First thing's first: Ashlee. He is swapping places with her. I also healed her of all vile damage.

Second: I'm making myself the only viable target within the next 10 minutes for any and all of the priestesses powers, spells, attacks, etc. Any attack directed towards anyone else will automatically be guided to me. I am also unconscious, and taking Ashlee's prior damage and any future damage this ability would have caused her.

Third: I'm converting the stone to Adamantite, six inches thick, with a gap from shoulder blades to hipbones, and a basic framework in between. The inside edges of the framework (that's filled in on the sides of the drow priestess) are sharpened +1, and extend outwards as long as she is thick. Thick a magician's box that allows you to be split into thirds? Yeah, we're gonna do that here, only with lots more blood and a lot less smoke and mirrors.

As for the rest of the statue, she is completely and utterly sealed up. She can't move her mouth, as it's full of Adamantite, like a gag ball, only worse. Her upper body from shoulder blades up and her lower body from waist down are completely sealed in Adamantite, and anchored to the ground in 5 different places. I made it strong enough such that even Garath can't move it by himself.

[Fuzzball]

...right...so...Dano has fully switched places with Ashlee...One slight adjustment to previous post however...Ashlee keeps her damage, but Dano becomes the new target of the previous power and takes this round's damage.

And...I don't know what Garath or Yorimi can do...or would do...since the target is encased in stone. If they want to do something other than stand there, then just post it or PM me and I'll revise as appropriate.


Limerick begins his move. Garath and Yorimi wait. Dano switches places with Ashlee, and he feels as though his body is being turned inside out. Ashlee drops down beside him and whispers a prayer. A beam of light casts itself down on her and it splits, hitting Dano, Yorimi, Garath, and the priestess. The drow attempts to scream, but it is muffled by her new gag.

So Dano takes 58 vile damage this round

Ashlee casts Sublime Revelry on said targets, yes including the priestess. All pain effects are ended...ie...the one on Dano... Everyone affected takes half damage from all melee and ranged attacks. Should last long enough to end this fight.

Priestess is once again stunned...hooray for warm fuzzies...

This does mean that she is coup de grace-able so no attacks needed...just damage...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



Limerick kicks the winch to make sure it's sturdy, happy with his work, he turns back towards the Priestess and notes the changes Dano has made to the holdings. Sucking in a breathe... Limerick pulls up a collapsible grappling hook and sets it on his bow. He frowns as he tries to line up the shot... tilting his head from side to side as he gauges the sights til finally he shrugs.

With a soft mantra on the tip of his tongue, he lets the grappling hook fly full speed... while simultaneously falling backwards off of the branch with the full weight of his telekinesis ring pushing down with him.


---------------




*- Attacking Drow Priestess with Plunging Shot using Collapsible Grappling Hook.

1st Ranged Touch Attack vs Priestess: 47


Alright... here's what I'm doing. I have set up a Winch on the best support I could find, and am using solid adamantine wiring to route through the winch and tied off on the collapsible grappling hook.

I am firing my Collapsible Grappling hook at the Priestess while it is folded down... I am not only firing it at her... I'm using my Plunging Shot Feat.

Which means... I'm firing my Collapsible Grappling Hook at the Priestess's exposes upper torso, and plunging it through there.

At the same time, I am falling backwards off of the limb I am on, and propelling myself downward with my Telekinetic Force to add even more force to the momentum.

As I am falling, Limerick is attached to the wiring via a harness... which will make the collapsible grappling hook unfold. It will then be pulled back towards Limerick, which means it will catch on the Upper Torso of the Priestess...

So... add onto the mechanics of the Winch, the 270lbs. of Limericks falling body, plus the 700lbs force of Telekinesis... I'm putting ALL of that weight onto the Drow Priestess who has her head, arms, and lower torso in fixed positions.

So... that's excellently a solid ton of pounds per square inch being forced onto a non-fixed fleshy center of her mass....

The main goal is rip this chick into thirds... violently, and with a ton of blood spray.

After this, I'm out of ideas. lol.

[Fuzzball]

Wow...

This requires too much thought, so yeah it works.

Limerick shoots his hook and falls off his branch. For a moment the cable tugs at the priestess and nothing happens, but then her body gives way and her torso goes flying.

There is a loud crack like thunder and a gray mist explodes from the priestess' corpse. It hovers in the air and then you feel it sink into your bodies. It feels rather unpleasant, and like nothing you've ever felt before.

Sounds of fighting in the direction of the castle cease. You see a single form rise from the arena and head toward you. As he comes closer you can tell it's Captain Helis.


Dano is out at the moment, so this isn't a big deal, but if he weren't I'm sure that we'd have to argue about it and I don't want that later...so

Everyone takes 150 "plot" damage. It's like subdual damage, but it affects everyone, undead, constructs, Dano, everyone. No saves so don't ask and nothing reduces it. It can't kill you no matter how much you take, but it will knock you on your ass for as long as any other damage would knock you on your ass. Everything that can be considered living in any way (or I suppose unliving as well) within a mile of this takes it, so almost the entire drow army is knocked out by this and most of the gloamings as well.

There...rant over...battle over...

Everyone gains:
DR 10/- (in addition to any /- DR you had before)
NA 5
4 levels

I forgot one thing. Tai takes falling damage...62

[Fuzzball]

Yorimi, Garath, and Ashlee are still up...I think I need to fix this...

Ashlee cringes from the strange mist, but her attention remains on Dano. She cradles him in her arms and casts a healing spell into him. He doesn't wake up. She tries to force away her panic but can't help herself as she calls out to Pelor for help.

Dano hears a voice in his mind tell him to wake up and his eyes fly open.

I was sure there was a cantrip that would cause unconscious creatures to wake up, but I can't find it...

...so Ashlee blows a miracle to wake Dano up.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Can't find a cantrip? Let's just blow the most powerful spell we got... lol


-------------


Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick looks up as he careens off the branch, feeling the telekinetic force slamming him down at an even higher force of velocity then he had anticipated. He feels the wire catch... then a spasming jerk as he continues to fall downward. He smirks, "Gotcha."

Then he feels the slam into the ground, at the same time the explosive shockwave of his now dead hit, barrel into him. Everything goes black.

Unless somehow the group comes upon dear Limerick out in the middle of the woods, he slowly begins healing up the damage to his body thanks to his plethora of magical gears looking out for him. After roughly 7 minutes, he gags for breathe as he color returns to his body and begins coughing and gasping for air.

He groans as he feels every muscle in his body ache, slowly being healed back up as he pushes himself to a sitting position against a tree. He unclips the wiring from his harness and sighs as he sits there for a few minutes in the darkness of the night, enjoying the moments after that of a successful kill.

[Fuzzball]

What!? The fight is over. No more need for the oh $#!+ button. And I really can't find the cantrip. I thought it was called rouse...but none of my books have a spell like that... Maybe it's from Dragon...that might be it...but I don't feel like going through 50 magazines to find one cantrip when miracle will work just as well.

Helis stops in front of the strange adamintine statue and waves his hands magestically in front of it. The metal melts away leaving pieces of disected drow in front of him. He examines her for a moment, then turns to those gathered nearby, "Nicely done. A bit messy, but whatever does the trick I suppose. I have two armies to attend to, so you know where to find me should you need anything." The captain flies off back toward the arena as the bright light illuminating the island fades. Yorimi looks between Garath and Helis and decides to fly after the captain.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



He sighs as he looks at the dangling piece of wire infront of him, shaking his head with a smirk as he reaches up and begins pulling it down. Slowly twining it all up until he feels the grappling hook catch on the winch high above him. He jerks the wire a little, causing the winch and hook to jiggle above him, spattering blood down over him like a light sprinkle.

He watches all of the blood clean off of him, his clothing slowly mending itself from his fall.. but a small pool of the blood laying on a fold of his pants. Reaching into his jacket, he pulls out his small black book and flicks a few pages. He removes a quill from the cover, and dips it into the pool of blood, and writes his name across the paper in a flourish, watching it crackle with magical energies as he signs off on a job complete.

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi's appearance had changed once again, into a sleek, young elven woman, of copper red hair. Her appearance was as beatiful as always, but there was something strange, this woman didn't have any sort of lure to her, if anyhting, she was pure. Her eyesopened as she looked at herself in the strange succubus clothing and simply shook her head, turning her back to the boys, and opening her portable hole, taking out what appeared to be a full plate of armor and under armor clothing. She quickly changed, made a hand through her hair and looked at the situation, seeming to be a bit lost. She then took a massive greatsword from the hole and hung it on her back calmly, picking up the useful magical storage space and hiding it on her person. She stops her pursuit of the captain, seeming to have a change of heart... her eyes that showed such innocent joy and carelessness now showed determination and cunning. She returned to the rest of the group without her usual smile, her Succubus clothing safe inside her portable hole.

"It would be best to find out what that drow woman desired here. If it's powerful enough to cause such a calamity must be too dangerous to leave laying around. Pelor help us... Dano, you are the leader, I can't think of any easy way to search for it. While we may have saved this place, the captain will not take well for us going after such a power as well. I feel we may need use of Limerick's talents."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano felt pain.. agonizing pain. He inwardly sighed in relief as his mental wards and discipline prevented his body from writhing and twitching as the black mist ripped at his body. And then... then he felt peace. Deep, quiet, and soothing. He knew something Ashlee had done had spared him the pain.

Time went by, his body unable to knit itself of the damage he had sustained from the mist. Quietly, his mind raged at the evil that the woman represented, but knew would soon be quashed. Then the blast of injury ripped at his flesh, mangled his body, and his form became a bloody mess. Yet, there was no pain.

Soon after, he heard Pelor calling to him. It was a message from Ashlee, begging for him to wake up. He knew his body was not yet healed, but he would endure whatever consciousness had for him if he could be with her again.

Opening his eyes, he looked at her, and smiled. Half his face refused to move from the torn muscles and shattered bones, and scales were missing from a third of his body. His left arm was bent at an entirely incorrect angle, and his blood covered him from head to toe. Ribs jutted out from beneath his armor, and his right leg was missing from the knee down. Lifting his right hand, which was missing three fingers and half his palm, he struggled to sit up but his back was broken. Slumping back down, he whispered something to her as his one remaining eye blinked and a tear streaked down his mangled face. As he speaks, he feels energy pass through him and mend his wounds, his limbs being made whole, the spell Ashlee cast finalizing in its effect.

He sits up, and hugs Ashlee tightly, nearly sobbing as he does so. Quietly, he mutters to her in draconic.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee holds Dano close and whispers back to him. She closes her eyes and remains there until Yorimi comes back and then tilts her head and gives the woman a strange look. She looks back at Dano, "Why is she wearing full plate? And why is she acting so serious? I'm scared." It's difficult to tell if Ashlee is being silly or honest.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"I was hoping you'd know, hon." He looks at the warrior maiden now standing before them and quirks up an eyebrow in thought. Standing up, he brings Ashlee with him on the way up and wraps his arm around her. "Who are you, and where is Yorimi?" He addresses the old yet new individual to their group.

[Mura-neechan]

"That is a little complicated at the moment... Yorimi is perfectly safe, I assure you. We need to concentrate on the more important details. If there is a force powerful enough to cause such a tragedy, we must secure it. My name is Taena, Grey Guard of Pelor. I am certain you won't detect a trace of evil on me, or anything about me. I may not be quite as powerful as Garath, but I bring my own unique talents to the battle."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano tilts his head in thought for a moment, and looks at the woman. "While what you say is true and accurate, we have been pursuing this cause for a long while now. Discretion is the better part of valor. I have a feeling here that we placed a major dent in whatever progress the sources were planning to make here today.

That is why I am going to be dispersing us for seven days of R&R. Garath, Yorimi, Limerick... you three are free to do as you please. I strongly encourage you all to get some rest, relax a bit, and hopefully clear your minds of the horrors that were had over these past few days.

Ashlee and I have already got a vacation planned, one we have discussed at length over the past few days. Unless there is an absolute emergency, I would like it if we not be disturbed. After seven days have come and gone, we will meet up at the front step of Wren's residence."

He looks at the others. "Anything that's pressing in your minds that needs addressing right now, or something that can't wait seven days?"

[Mura-neechan]

Taena shakes her head, simply walking off. Knowing full well that her ability to move is nothing compared to Yorimi's she simple rests about 15 feet from the rest and thinks about the situation while she can still be in control of this form...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


After regaining himself, and giving his body proper amount of time to heal back up... he pulls himself up to his feet. He stretches out, and for a moment even pulls the mask away from his face a fraction and scratches his chin. Letting out a relieved sigh, he packs up his gear, shoulders his bow, and walks back towards the group. As he does, they all once again feel as if glass shards are being run across their mental shields, before it becomes nothing but a dull and unheard thing.

As he approaches, he tosses a sack of clinking metal to Dano, and a sack about half as full as that, to Ashlee, "Good work you two. Should think about a career change." He smirks, "That's your cut from the hit, 100 to you Dano, and 50 to you Dano's girlfriend. Do whatever you like, buy something pretty... those adventuring garbs do nothing for your figure." He scratches at the cheek of his mask, and lowers his hand.

"So... that all for today? Thought there might be a bit more to do or something."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Before the bag can reach Ashlee, Dano extends his hand towards the coin and catches it mid-air with his mind, both bags drifting towards his open palm. "Thank you, but we are both quite content with our current professions." He pockets both sacks into a hidden compartment and resumes addressing the others.

"Like I said, these next seven days are to give you some rest and relaxation, not to sit and sulk. Therefor, if you are insistent upon doing so, it's an order to have fun." He jabs a finger at Garath. "Especially you, Garath. You're going to brood over this whole situation. I will not have your possibly last seven days in this realm spent worrying."

He turns to the Assassin. "You are free to do as you please. You are not beholden to my orders, and I'm sure you have other 'business' to attend to. I do, however, recommend you follow my advice and have some fun and say your goodbye's if you have anyone to part with. Just be sure to return to the appointed place in time."

"Anything else?" He looks at the others as he waits.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick shrugs, "Sure there are a couple other people that need to die somewhere, might take a few low-scale gigs. As for goodbyes? No thanks, I'll just see you all later. Said my goodbyes a long time ago."

With that, Limericks spins on his heel and is gone.

[Gradius]

Garath simply moved his massive head from one side to the other slowly as he looked at Dano. They both knew what things were like for the massive beast of a man. Dano's feeling of depressions may have been eased, but Garath was in no such luck.

"Go and enjoy yourself. Taena or Yorimi or whoever you are, you go as well. I have no place to sprint to and have my last hoorah. I will continue on with my life as I always have. I am a warrior, bound to that fate until death. Now, if that is all, I will return to the home of my fathers, you know how to contact me, Dano."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He nods. "I know, my friend. Be safe." With the departure of Limerick, Garath's understanding, and Yorimi... or Taena... or whoever that was was set to do things, he turns to Ashlee and smiles. "Shall we?"

With that, the two of them leap skyward, flying off to whatever destination they had planned.

[Fuzzball]

Everyone parts ways to do their own things for the week. At the end, Dano and Ashlee appear together on Wren's doorstep. The door opens and a globe of light bounces out and beckons the two in. They are led through a few halls to a large dining room where Garath, Yorimi (in whichever form she chooses this time), Limerick, Wren, Morris (human cleric), and Anar (gnome wizard for those who haven't been introduced to him yet) are chatting. The conversation is about nothing in particular as Wren didn't want to have to repeat anything.

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi giggled as she floated in the air, seeming to be more interested with the bit of dark energy she was playing with in the air than the conversation. Whatever had happened with Taena was over and the moment she was Ashlee she shifted her form to copy hers again, floating down and giggling.

"You guys are so late, it's pretty rude you know. I mean I've almost got Garath to start talking about himself, without killing something in the process! That poor poor little gnome maid..."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Walking through the corridors with Ashlee, arm around her waist, he raises his hand in greeting towards the others. He is in the same adornment that he was before, with only a few slight differences. Gloves now instead of his spiked gauntlets, and a new belt gracing his waist.

Looking at Yorimi, he rolls his eyes. "Just because you didn't have a good reason to be away from the rest of the group doesn't mean we didn't. She and I enjoyed our time away, so we were in no rush to abide by your schedule. I am so sorry we didn't fit into your perfect plan." He shoots back the jab towards the succubus without care, mild irritation running through his mind.

"Wren, Morris, Anar, good to see you three again. I trust Garath and the others have brought you up to speed on what we've discovered and accomplished. Anar, did you discover anything more about the emerald?" He looks towards Ashlee with a mixture of hope and anxiety, a good part of him hoping there wasn't anything more discovered so Ashlee would stay the same as she was.

[Mura-neechan]

"Jeez you are never any fun..."

She shifts back to her natural state to sit on Garath's shoulder and pout. Her wings flutter a bit, still a little annoyed at how easily the captain rejected her. Her ability to have fun had taken a rather heavy blow thanks to that, and the fact that she only got in control about 2 hours ago...

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee's skin appears to glow slightly, but other than that her appearnce has not changed. She walks happily alongside Dano and waves at the others as they enter.

Anar's expression goes through several changes as he tries to decide where to start. "It's always tricky when you're dealing with a source. This one is a master of subjugation. It has taken the most powerful creatures on this plane as its personal servants. But it also has some of the abilities of the red it has taken over, which appears to be the polymorphing. There are layers and layers of magic on these things, and removing any one is likely to destroy the whole thing and kill the patient...even if it's only the part that isn't connected directly to the source." He looks at Ashlee with a bit of a frown. "I'm sorry my dear, but I think the only way to change that form on you is to have someone with more authority override it." Anar doesn't try to explain any further, seemingly oblivious to the fact that any of you might not know what he's talking about. "Be happy child, that the domination was broken before it took hold of you, or you'd be a mindless drone until this one is stopped."

Ashlee nods and her smile doesn't fade, "It's alright. The outside isn't important." She squeezes Dano's hand and sits.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



Limerick sat at the giant table; his chair leaning back, his feet kicked up on the table, and a light snore coming from his position. When Ashlee and Dano arrive, he startles awake... but the fact his chair doesn't fall back, and he gently glides it back down to all fours leads one to believe he might have been faking it. He yawns slightly, reaching into a pouch and pulling out a few metal rings of metal with gems attached. He tosses one to each of them (Dano, Ashlee, Garath, Yorimi), each gem a different color as it sparkles with magical energies.

"I picked those up for us... they'll let us speak to eachother no matter where the others are at, even across planes. Don't worry if you already have some magic'ed ear rings, these won't interfere. Call it a present."

He smirks behind his mask, rolling his eyes slightly before reaching back into his jacket and removing a sack. He slides it down the table to Dano, "50. Only one of the gem-people turned out to be a wascally wabbit." He tosses his jaw to the side slightly, making his neck pop quite painfully to anyones ears as he yawns again. He stretches out, and you notice his form has gained a bit of mass.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"I know. I've just gotten to like the way you are." He grins and sits down next to her. As the earrings and bag come their way, he reaches out, catching the earring and bag. He slips the ring into his right ear cartilage and the bag of money he holds in his left hand. As the other earring flies towards Ashlee, he reaches out with a thought and snags it mid-air, not letting it reach Ashlee's flesh.

"Limerick, I appreciate the sentiment, and it is truly a great thing you have done. However, she is incapable of adorning any sort of item of value. Her robes, bracers, and the rest of her clothing were made by me. The Pelorian Lily that adorns her chest was a gift from me, and is of no value to anyone but her." He streaks the bag back towards Limerick. "Please, accept my apology for not telling you sooner. I thought you knew. Take this as payment for your work on this ring. Again, I'm sorry, and thank you for the earrings."

He takes the second ring and pockets it, thinking about using it for something in the future.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee chuckles and Dano feels her gratitude toward him for intervening.

Morris clears his throat, "We should get on to business. We've been attempting to look in on the dragons, but it's difficult. Bahamut is organizing an army to assist in the source's distruction, but this one may require more than the usual amount of force." Anar cringes at the comment, obviously not wanting to get that involved. "The big issue will be avoiding the mind control of the creature. It overrides all forms of protection that we know of, but the three of us are working on the problem. I'm sorry Garath, but until we've found a way around this, you'll be better off focusing your talents on something a little more manageable."

At his words the doors swing open and a finely dressed gentleman enters. To those who have true seeing up, you see through the facade a purple dragon. He glides up and sits, a sickening feeling spreading throughout the room. Wren nods to the man, "This is King Ruin. He has had occassion to fight the sources, though now he is bound to his country, Terracor. He has reason to believe that a source is attempting an invasion of Terracor from the country to the south, Ominak."

Ruin smiles pleasantly, his voice soothing and charming, "If you were going to tell them everything, then why do I have to come to this meeting."

Wren's eyes narrow, "I am not your answering service Ruin. They have a right to know who they're working for and what you're offering for their services. They'll likely undertake this task out of concern of your people, but they still have the choice to go elsewhere. I thought I would allow you the chance to negotiate, or plead...and at the very least tell them yourself what you know." She looks to Dano and winks.

Ruin - Quite powerful ruler of the mage nation, Terracor. He's evil and he makes no attempt to hide it, though his people aren't.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick lifts his hand up, almost like a school child when Wren finishes off, "Just for note... I won't be doing anything out of the kindness of my heart." His voice is rather sing-song today as he looks back to Ruin, "I usually take cold hard coin... or if you have some items of power, being a magocracy and all, I'm more then happy to open up negotiations. Terracor... lovely place... nice big windows."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Frowning, he outwardly controls his emotions. Inwardly, however, his blood boils at the mere thought of working with an evil dragon. Working with a being such as this violates everything his transformation had ingrained within him, and the idea of saving this.. thing's hide was only more distasteful than helping him. The only saving grace would be the fact that his subjugates would suffer more as a result of any inaction, so he waits to hear what the creature says.

[Fuzzball]

Ruin laughs warmly and levels his gaze on Dano, acknowledging his role as leader of the group. "Oh how novel, to be the lesser of the evils about, but this time I am. The sources will not stop with Terracor, or anything else. They are forces of destruction, and even the gods themselves put aside their petty differences to end their threat. When it was my job, I worked with a paladin, and my...well...closest thing to a friend, is Bahamut's pet, Beleg. I'm not asking you to turn to my mistress' side, but I am bound to protect my people, so for them, set aside your hatred." He turns to Limerick, "You will of course be compensated. Your reward will be one million for each of you, and even a bonus for the poor one over there," Ashlee glares at him and growls slightly.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

His hand squeezes Ashlee's as he listens, feeling her frustration, and sharing it. What the dragon king said was true: They would have to set aside their differences in order to deal with this problem of the sources. Sighing inwardly, he looks at the group and looks back at Ruin.

"Under normal circumstances, I would have attacked you at first sight, as every fiber of my being is designed to kill you and your kin. You are the very thing Bahamut transformed to destroy." He pauses, but holds up a hand at the initiation of a snide remark.

"But, these are not normal circumstances. This situation is not unlike my friend, Garath, who shares this table with us." He looks to his friend as he continues to speak. "He was forged from a being of pure good, and a being of pure evil. He chose to make his life mean something for the greater good, utilizing the strengths of both bloodlines and thinking of others before his own warring interests."

He looks back to Ruin, and his eyes glow slightly. "Do not think for a moment that I trust you. Even if you do not intend to do so, it is in your very nature to play the situations to your benefit. You are, from my understanding, duty-bound to protect your people. If you are better than that, then I am glad for your people, and I will happily eat my words."

He looks down at his hands, and then at the others, knowing this could be a life-or-death situation. "If we do nothing, we will possibly doom the world. You are right. Terracore will not be the last place they go, but the first." He pauses, his deep and overwhelming concern being felt by Ashlee. "We will work with you on this, however... there are some changes to your offer that need to take place."

He looks back to Ruin. "First, the million will go for all of us, even Ashlee. If she wishes to donate it to the church, or hand it out to her or your people -- because she is a kind and generous soul who looks past the ruler's shortcomings -- , that is her decision.

Second, you will provide another way of helping Ashlee, in absence of her obtaining monetary benefit out of this.

Thirdly, if we are planning the defense of Terracore, you will provide us any means to set up that defense. I know your pockets are excessively deep and your horde is probably the size of this town. The expenses, and life force, to set up this defense will not be our own to expend unless it is ours to shed on the battlefield.

Fourth, and this is important, you will evacuate your non-combative citizens to a safe demiplane so they are not caught in the crossfire. I will not have myself nor anyone else worrying about the lives of your people when we are supposed to be focusing on the defense of Terracore.

Lastly, I want you to swear to us that you are not going to do anything to double-cross us or try to get us killed by your direction action, orders to others, or inaction. I will not risk my comrades' lives only to have you kill us after this is all over."

He shakes his head and looks to Ashlee, hoping he is doing the right thing.

[Gradius]

Gararth choked out a bit of false laughter right after Dano's speech, his hand gripped somewhat excessively tightly. He stood, making a slight movement to get the Succubus off his shoulder as he looked at Morris, and then Ruin, shaking his head in disgust.

"I swear I think this is the first time it's been my draconic heritage that limits what I am able to do."

He's eyes seemed to be glossed over for those that would look into them,is massive body trembled a bit, objects near him shifting a bit from his wieght.

"Ruin... Keep your money. In fact, use it to the fortification and protection of the innocent. Morris... if I am right, I cannot join Dano in this battle, can I? I am just as likely to be controlled as any other dragon. If my presence in battle is truly a hazard, then find a way for me to fight."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick closes his book softly as Garath finishes talking, and pops his neck again. Yawning again, he looks back to Ruin, "Give me the gold he's shrugging off ontop of my personal payment," he indicates Garath with a wave of his hand, "and I'll do it. Think we'll both find it's well spent."

[Fuzzball]

Morris shakes his head, "What Ruin is requesting from you is not to go after the source controlling the dragons. This one, if I have my information straight, seems to be opposed to magic, and is not even confirmed to be a source."

Wren raises her hand to stop any bickering that might arise. "It is a source." She waves her hand for Morris to continue.

"Very well." Morris nods, "If it is a source of direct opposition to magic, then your talents would be the most useful against it. As for the dragons, we will continue to work on the problem here. Have no fear my friend. When the time comes, you will have your chance to pay the creature back for its insult to dragon kind." He sighs and looks at Ruin.

Ruin sits quietly, unbothered by the anger directed toward him. "Tiamat is organizing her forces to aid with the destruction of that source as well, though she would like as much as any to keep the number of casualties as low as possible. But that is not the current topic." He waves a hand dismissively. "I cannot evacuate my noncombat people, because there are none. That is what gives Toracor its greatest security, but the Omin have developed an immunity to magic. It is not normal, but created through the use of a being which they keep well guarded in their "capital city". While the city usually moves and is difficult to track, my spies tell me that it now resides in the ruined city of Kar'tun and has been there for some time. The Omin are still in the process of developing and distributing the anti-magic ability, but this needs to be stopped before it gets out of control. Kill the source and you kill the offensive before it even begins."

"I suppose that this would be an assassination job, much more up Limerick's alley," Ruin shrugs, "but when dealing with a source, you never know what you're getting into until it's too late. As for the million, I meant that as one million for each of you, and I will see to it that on top of the money, your greenling is given something that she can have, and use...no strings attached...beyond the ending of the threat to Toracor of course."

Ashlee sits quietly, but Dano can feel her irritation with Ruin, especially at the term "greenling".

"Finally," Ruin grins and leans forward, "You have my word that I will not double-cross you, or do anything that will in any way endanger you and your fellows. You'll have enough to worry about without me. Besides, Wren would have my head if I turned on someone she considers an ally." He grins smuggly at the halfling and she answers with a sweet smile.

A little background that everyone would know. The people of Ominak hate magic. They have developed strengths and defenses against it over time. They are a nomadic people, traveling, setting up temporary tent cities, and moving on after a while. They live on very little, though it's still a wonder that they survive without farmers of any kind. The people of Ominak are all warriors excluding some of the women and the children. When they grow too old to fight any longer, they are left on the plains to die.

Any non-human is treated as an enemy, and they would kill most of you on sight. Toracor and Ominak have always been at war, but Ominak does not posess the resources to invade, and Toracor doesn't want anything that's in Ominak.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"Like I said... if you give me the money that any of these decide they are to good for... ontop of my 1 million... you've got yourself one of the best assassin's that is alive today." He lightly crosses his arms over his chest, watching the man carefully through his mask... his voice did lose the sing-song to it, the reasons for which there could honestly be any.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, Dano looks at Wren and back to Ruin. "Do your spies tell you approximately how long they will remain at their current location before attempting their assault?"

[Fuzzball]

Ruin appears to be ignoring Limerick, though why is hard to say. He looks at Dano, "It is unusual for Omin cities to stay in one place for more that a week or so. They have been in Kar'tun for nearly a month now. It's one of the reasons I suspected a source in the first place. They cause normal behavior patterns to change. I doubt the Omin will be moving any time soon. But, be wary, the altered barbarians that we have come across are probably the lesser examples of what they can do. If they have elite forces," Ruin sounds a bit disgusted, "they would keep them to guard their most valued posessions."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, he understands the implication. "Wren, how much longer until the protection spell is ready?"

[Fuzzball]

Wren looks at Anar, "Could be days...could be months... First we have to find something that works against it. There's always a way. You just have to look hard enough. Until then however, Ruin has made a generous offer...considering who he is...and it would help to keep your minds off of the dragon issue for a brief time."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick keeps his position, his arms lightly crossed over his chest as he yawns again. His eyes remain firmly on Ruin as he begins analyzing the dragon carefully with a gaze that most wouldn't openly demonstrate as Limerick is right now.



----------


Everyone but the PC's has probably had their run-in's with Assassin's... so... they will all probably recognize the signature study-gaze for an Assassin who is preparing his Death Attack.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He stoically looks at the others. "I guess we don't have much of an option. We're in. Wren, I would like access to some of your high-power manifesters and casters that I'm sure you have available to you. There is a grade of psionic power I wanted to research, and it would likely be prudent to do it as quickly as possible." He looks at Ashlee and she can feel deep concern and apprehension threatening to overwhelm Dano's calm exterior.

[Fuzzball]

Wren shakes her head, "I'm good, but the expert on the matters of magic is sitting right there," she points at Anar and he perks up a bit.

Ruin continues to ignore Limerick, though Morris gives the assassin a look that says 'don't try it stupid.'

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, he stands up and walks over to Anar, and starts speaking quietly to the man.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick snorts slightly and slides his chair back, throwing his feet of the table as he pulls himself up. Adjusting his dirty antique of hat on his head he yawns and walks out of the room. However, before he leaves he calls out over his shoulder, "Anar, let me know when you finish that spell for me... looks like I came into wealth again."

[Fuzzball]

Ruin chuckles and disappears with a wave of his hand and Wren shakes her head.

So, um anybody want to do anything, or have questions, or...I don't know what you want to do next...or how long you're willing to hang around waiting for spells...they can do their research while your away after all...

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He pauses as he looks to Garath and Yorimi. "You two, get what you need together to leave on a moment's notice. Garath, I will need you to get a few things once my conversation with Anar here is finished. Yorimi, stay out of trouble and don't try to seduce anyone. No more messing around."

He looks to Ashlee, and she can feel him want her by him for support. A glance is shared, and nothing is said. He moves to Limerick last, and watches the man leave with some trepidation, but says nothing. He quietly resumes speaking with Anar.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee moves past Dano, stroking one of his wings gently. She pauses near him and chats with Morris, her tail playing idly with his.

~~~~

Limerick leaves, transporting himself to the outskirts of Kar'tun. He cloaks himself in shadow and moves in taking care as he moves through the streets. The city walls are crumbled, and the buildings are deteriorating. Tents are scattered wherever there is room. Intuition leads Limerick to the city center where he finds more heavily armed guards attending entrances, newly furnished with locked doors, and the inability to teleport in the area.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick takes a sea on one of the more higher located areas, and sits down for a moment as he pulls out rod. Finding a crease in it, he unscrolls a lengthy map and checks it over. Sighing he looks down at the entrances for a moment and shakes his head as he scrolls it back up, and stands up.

Dropping down the side of the building, he checks the stone over for a moment and then looks at the door while the guards backs are to him. He checks out the lock and checks for any mundane traps, and then waits above the door for the guard shift so he can slip inside if they go in-and-out.

[Fuzzball]

The guards change after a few hours of waiting. Limerick slips through unnoticed. He searches through hallways until he comes to a larger hall with several guards at the far end, posted in front of a large ironbound door.

1) how close does Limerick get to the guards?
2) sense motive please

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick never lets anyone within 30ft. of him, keeping to the ceiling as he moves or the walls. His eyes scanning each person as he sees them with a very analytical gaze as he moves. He stops 30ft. from the iron-bound door, and monitors the guards and the door. Also.. Limerick remembers talk about these guys having some type of anti-magic abilities... so he's monitoring his gear and powers to see if there a range to their effect.


--------

Sense Motive: 41

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano nods and walks over to Wren and begins speaking to her quietly, asking her a few questions. She leads him over to a small alcove and after opening it, hands him a necklace with a large black gem. He asks her a question, and then sets it on the ground. The air around him stills and power crackles in the room as his energy reaches new peaks, not normal for mundane manifesters. A crystal the size of his arm forms next to him and is driven downward into the necklace. In a blast that shakes the room, the crystal disappears in a shower of sparks, and with it the necklace. The flagstone floor is pressed in where the impact was, and the gem remained.

Frowning, he picks it up and hands it over to Wren, who replaces it from whence it came. He walks over to Ashlee and holds her from behind, his tail now toying with hers.

[Fuzzball]

Anar scurries off when he feels that Dano is finished with him. When Dano seems satisfied with his questions Wren goes to follow, "You are welcome to tarry here until you a ready to leave, though I don't know how long you'll wish to leave Limerick to his own devices."

Do whatever you wish. Same as before, your globe of light will guide you to whatever you wish.

~~~

Limerick approaches slowly, but about 60 ft from the guards he gets the distinct impression that he is being watched by two of them. If he didn't know any better he would think that they were biding their time until he came within reach, like predators waiting to pounce.

There are 12 guards in this hallway by the way. This passage is larger than those before, large enough even for Garath to fit. The door is massive, with a smaller door located at the center of its base.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick frowns slightly as he watches them... after a moment, he issues a quick mental command to one of his rings, and his form begins blinking in and out of existence. If these guys were using psionic senses... this would allow him to bypass those extra sensory abilities as well. He watched their facial expressions, wanting to see if he managed to slip past however they were detecting him.

[Fuzzball]

If anything, Limerick's continued advance makes the two guards more tense. The others seem to sense this and Limerick can see muscles begin to tighten. At about fourty feet away, the eyes of the guard he would guess is the leader lock on his in an angry glare.

Initiative please Tai.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He nods to Wren, and leans into Ashlee and mutters quietly in her ear. "We should go to bed soon. We've been traveling all day, and if I am to accomplish what I intend to do, I will need to start bright and early tomorrow morning."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional - Initiative: 32


As he realizes he's been fully spotted, he grips his bow tight in his hand and levels an arrow right at the leader, vile green ooze dripping from the tip of the arrow as he keeps his gaze locked firm... his senses spread throughout the room as he keeps a check on everything and everyone there.


--------

Holding my actions until I know what exactly is happening, and where I stand in initiative.

[Gradius]

Garath will find a nice big training ground to hone his skills a bit more, before retiring to rest for his trip. Agni and Rudra are kept safe as his primary, but his Zenkai seems to be almost in a shrine upon the walls.

[Fuzzball]

Limerick goes first!

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional - Initiative: 32



Limerick snorts offhandedly as he gauges the others in the room, and the Lead Guard. He narrows his eyes and winks at him, as with a flourish he releases four arrows into him, and one into each guard next to him. As he finishes off each twang of the bow, he leans down again as the shadows swoop in and consume his form from view**.

His eyes remain focused on the group as his mask bestows his vision with supernatural detection abilities***.

---------------------------


*- Attacking
1st Ranged Touch Attack Total vs Lead Guard: 48 (Note: DC: 40 Fortitude Save vs. Colossal Spider Venom (14 Str Dmg))
2nd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Lead Guard: 37
3rd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Lead Guard: 45
4th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Lead Guard: 44
5th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Guard1: 31
6th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Guard2: 27

Damage1: 14d6+10 = 20 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 33 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con Damage.
Damage2: 14d6+10 = 12 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 39 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage3: 14d6+10 = 14 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 61 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage4: 14d6+10 = 17 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 55 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage5: 14d6+10 = 18 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 42 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage6: 14d6+10 = 18 Piercing Adamantine Magical Damage. 48 Sneak Attack Damage. 1 Con damage.

Sneak Attack Damage Note: If subject of Hits take Sneak Attack Damage, they take same amount of damage next round, at the beginning of my turn. Also, for every hit they take, they loses 2 Strength (No Save). Also, even if a person is otherwise immune to ability damage, they will still take the Strength Damage dealt via Crippling Strike (only).


**Sniping: 88

***- Watching these guys with pretty much every Detect Spell in the world. What's their alignments? Are the magical properties of my arrows doing their stuff? Are the ones who aren't aware of me (if hit) taking my sneak attack damage? Ect. ect.

[Fuzzball]

I hate battles...so complicated. Let me try to keep this organized...and fail... I just want a few clarifications before I post.

Question: What is the con damage from?
Question: Are you using Deathwatch?
Question: Perhaps I have my feats incorrect, but I thought you took a -10 for sniping. That would make your modifier to hide 67, so a max of 87 on hide...or do I have that wrong? Or are your hide an move silently switched? Or am I looking at an outdated character sheet?
Question: Just to be sure I have this right, are you spiderclimbing? Are you using self concealment or something that I'm not seeing? Blink will work, but hide in plain sight will not unless you get close to the guards because there is very little casting shadows in this corridor.

Answer: Detect Alignment = Predominantly Neutral (some chaos, some law, but no good or evil)
Detect Poison = No, the captain did not get poisoned.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional - Initiative: 32 - Corrected 1st Round Actions.


Limerick frowned as the Captain's eyes landed on him, he looked off to the side as he noted the levels of light in this room... he should of supposed something like this was set up for people with his talents. His eyes locked back in with the Captain's as he took a couple steps back*, as he did... the light from the torches began to fade as the light in the room was softly dimmed to a dull haze**.



-------------

*- Move Action - Move Back 20ft.

**- Activate Magic Item - Ring of Light - Control Light Power.

Note: I am decreasing all the ambient light in the room by 75%, this will make the entire room be dark/shadowy illumination.

[Fuzzball]

The leader smirks and lets loose a volley of arrows, three striking true, one particularly hard. The lights come back up as Limerick's ring is dispelled. Arrows fly from each archer, though two of them drop their weapons in their haste to attack. Several arrows fly wide, a sign that some of the guards still don't see him, and several sail straight through his shifting form. A few more arrows strike him, another with incredible force, and Limerick feels his body cease to blink.

93 damage after DR. Six arrows in total. Control Light Power supressed for 4 rounds. Blink supressed for 5 rounds. Limerick cannot hide in the hallway now. He's 90 ft from the open end and about 60 ft from the guards.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional - Initiative: 32


Limerick grunted as he was pelted with arrows, a gasp running down his spine, but he quickly suppressed it as he narrowed his eyes. He frowns as he snaps his right hand, and a his form vibrate with intensified power*. He lets out a breathe as his wounds begin knitting themselves back together, "Made a big mistake, fellas."

He began drawing arrows, his eyes narrowed in a bit of... anger, at the guards.


---------

*- Activating Magic Item - Ring of Escape - Ironguard.

[Fuzzball]

The leader narrows his eyes and launches another set of arrows. The first seems to pass through, the wooden shaft splintering against Limerick's armor, but the second and third strike true. The man laughs, "Is that all you've got pitiful magician?" His challenge hangs in the air, and the other guards hold, waiting for his say to either attack or leave the intruder to him.

53 damage after DR. Ironguard supressed for 7 rounds. Fourth arrow missed.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional - Initiative: 32



"Got your ticket." Limerick turned on his heel and ran, crossing the distance to the open area of the hallway, the shadows leaping up and closing in around him.


---------


Running my entire round out of here. Hiding as part of my movement actions.

Hide: 92
Move Silently: 98

[Fuzzball]

Limerick disappears and hears guards approaching from all directions. He finds a nice nook to hole up in as armed men run past. He hears a few commands shouted and a brief description given of him, and then watches as the guards search for him. No one notices his presence, but then, he also doesn't see any of the guards from the hallway.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

After the group had dispersed, Dano and Ashlee went to their room to discuss things. Less than an hour later, the others were being called to assemble fully dressed for battle via their com units.

Once assembled, Dano looks at the others. "Limerick is in trouble, and he needs backup. I know there isn't much time, but here's the lowdown. There have been no reports of antimagic fields thus far, however, the teleportation inhibitor is in place. He seems to have located a very important section of real estate, but it is being guarded very heavily, and he has taken some heavy duty wounds." He looks at Ashlee with a hint of apprehension. He knew her dislike for the man, but he trusted her to do her job for the good of the team.

"I don't know what kind of condition he is in, or in what state of alertness the facility has been placed. Clearly, this is premature for what I had wanted, but it doesn't appear we have much choice. The element, and advantage, of surprise has been lost." He looks down and frowns. "He has informed me that the attacks these ... individuals are using have the capability to render any magical object inoperative for a few moments. I am sure it is not needed that I stress the importance of thinking before doing here, and that this can quickly turn into a lethal environment." Frustration and fear reach Ashlee as he looks at her. "You may end up being our most powerful person, so do make sure you take care of yourself."

With a mental command, his form wavers slightly, and a suit of spiked armor dons itself to his body and crest, a pair of massive scimitars rest between his wings, and a Jovar appears in his right hand, all made of bleached-white dragonbone. Runes cover their surfaces, psionic and magical powers implanted within them, though only those truly gifted with the sense of magic can discern there is any magic resting within their confines. Slowly, his skin of pure ebony emerges from beneath his scales as he grits his fangs, the effort of doing so eroding his physical health. Soon, beneath the bleached-white armor is a being of pure black, with crimson eyes and golden pupils.

Cricking his neck, he looks at Garath, Yorimi (or whatever her current personality is), and finally his gaze rests upon Ashlee. He walks over next to her and wraps his arm around her protectively, knowing she cannot use any of the trinkets he dons himself with. Secretly hoping that she does not come to harm, he waits for the others to be ready before teleporting the group to the landing zone set out by Limerick only a few minutes ago. With any luck, it is still secure. If not... they will have a long day ahead of them. "Athena, Pelor, Bahamut... protect us." With that, he focuses his energies and the space around them collapses in on them, bringing them to their destination.

[Gradius]

Nodding, Garath unsheathes Agni and Rudra bringing them in front of him in an x fashion as he turns to Yorimi with what could appear to be a smile. He holds them tightly, feeling what they could do, and he nods to Dano, realizes the genius of their craft, making a quick movement and clicking them together.

"I do not need my magic to crush these people. But Agni and Rudra are special, aren't they? They live... I can sense their disgust to be wield in my hands... and their desire to kill. I think they have the best chance of resisting the magic of those people. And even if they do not... How long do you think they can manage against my rage?"

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee frowns at Dano and raises an eyebrow as if to say 'who do you think I am?' She nods to his final comment, "I'll try a little harder than I did last time."

~~

The group appears in an open field. It is still dark out and you see no one around. In the distance a few lights can be seen outlining the remains of an ancient city.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick can be found 10ft. away from the group, leaning casually against a large rock that is coming up out of the ground. His hand is currently wrapped around an arrow shaft as he yanks it out of his body, blood leaking down his clothing as he grunts slightly. As quickly as he removes it; the wound begins healing itself over, his clothing mends itself, and the blood vanished.

He looks up casually, his crisp blue eyes piercing the dark with clarity as he watches the group regain their footing from their transdimensional travel. "'bout time." He groans as he slowly pushes himself up, scooping up four arrows as he places them into his quiver, a yawn on his lips

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He lowers his Jovar and walks over to Limerick and looks him over. Seeing his injuries fading, he nods. "We got here as fast as possible." His eyes scan their surroundings and his concern grows. "I was anticipating something... closer. Bring us up to speed, if you will."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"This is where the anti-teleportation field ends... sorry, can't help things that go beyond the God's themselves. Workin' on it." He snorts as he adjusts his cap.

"As for the setup... pretty loose security around the complex... might be a bit beefed up now though. You can thank me later... the interior is pretty straight forward. Leads into this guard-room, before this huge steel doorway.... big enough for Garath there to go through. I already explained their combat tactics, so I won't repeat myself."

He yawns again softly as he pulls out a rolled up cigarette, and looks it over, "If we want to get our group in... I'd honestly suggest invisibility. We're also going to need a diversion, which I'll setup so you guys can slip in." He puts the cigarette up to his lips through the slit in his mask and lights it. Reaching into his jacket, he removes a rod and unscrolls it forming the map of the area. He makes several complex hand movements, the map spinning and zooming in various directions crazily til it settles on a detailed version of the complex.

"Two guards on ever entrance to this place. You all will be going in the same way I did before... I'm going to be about a quarter way around the complex... and I'm going to cause some mayhem. Should draw their attention that way, and to the opposite side of the complex. You all will need to kill your guards quickly, and as silently as you can, please. Once you get inside, let me know. I'll follow in, and we'll move towards the guard chambers. Forced fight there... I can't slip through the room. Then... whatever is on the otherside of that giant door, is most likley our 'source'." He takes several drags off his smoke as he talks, coughing hoarsly with each puff. He doesn't seem to mind much as he continues through it.

As he finishes, he leans back against the rock and flicks the butt of the smoke away.

[Gradius]

Garath shakes his head at Limerick's plan, crouching down low so his massive face looks directly into the little man's own.

"My dear friend. What part of silent do you expect from me? If need be I can move someone silent, but I am far too easy to notice. If you all need the guards busy, I am certain I can arrange something."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.

He waves his hand a bit dismissively, "I can make you as silent as me..."

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee examines the map and looks up at Garath. She looks down again, and then back up at the massive man. "Strange architecture here, but I don't think Garath is going to make it in without some kind of modification. I could shrink you, though I imagine that idea isn't very appealing." She looks toward Dano, "If I might suggest a different course, we could enter as the wind, and invisible to add to that effect, not having to kill any guards on the way to that hall. The only issue is that if they can see us, it does take time to leave that form, though if their attacks can dispel, then they might simply do so and save us that inconvenience." She steps back, "Of course, this isn't really my area of expertise. I don't usually storm strongholds."

[Mura-neechan]

The succubus floated and giggled at the thought of Garath being shrunk. A little tiny foot tall monster of death, rnning about killing dragons in his wake! So adorable!

"Oh, oh! If you can shrink Garath, can you make him fluffy? I'd love my own little Garath monster to hug and carry around! So cuuuute!"

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He absorbs the report for what it is, and frowns. There really wasn't a good way of getting in. Garath was right... there was now way they could get past the guards with him. And Ashlee's idea, while it had merit, exposed them to entirely too much danger while they transitioned from gaseous form to solid. There had to be another way. "What about the walls? What can you tell me about those? Composition, thickness, location of intersecting points.. things like that."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



Limerick flicks his fingers over the map again, the map of the building changing to a detailed blueprint of the building*.


--------


*- See Fuzz for answers.

[Fuzzball]

The outer walls are several feet thick, thought the inner walls tend to be anywhere from 8 to 16 inches thick The most inner wall is 3 feet thick. Granite stone all. From the outside to the inner room you count 4 thinner walls you'd have to get through (and that is from the top down), but keep in mind that most of the rooms beyond the center and the hall are not large enough for Garath to fit through.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

The theurge looks over the blueprints, having it rotated, zoomed, and moved about in all different directions. Tracing Limerick's steps back to his run-in with the guard he pinpoints the location of the likely location of the source. He looks down at the ground, and scuffles his feet a bit, and notices the consistency of the dirt. With a pass of his hands, the dirt molds into a framework replica of the compound they are about to breach.

"Alright, this is how this is going to happen. Clearly, we can't teleport in, or we'd already be there. So we need to figure out how to get there without getting noticed. The option of sneaking in is flat out not going to happen. While I believe in your skills Limerick, I do not think Garath would be able to be hidden from those who could spot you. Next option is flying in. We could fly in here." He touches a platform and the dirt falls away and enlarges into a zoom-in on the central room with five floors above it. "However, each of these chambers above the central room can, and likely will, be filled with a few troops. That is combat I would rather not get engaged in."

He looks back at the ground, and it twists again, only this time the ground level is the only thing visible. "The last option, and one I am moving forward with, is to go from underneath." The ground parts, showing a tunnel being formed through the dirt and up into an antechamber beneath the main room. "They can't see us, so there will be no need to hide. They can't smell or hear us, as we'll be over fifty feet down. The soil composition is suitable for us to burrow through with magic, and I can form an antechamber where we need to re-engage the spell and to work our way onward. I have non-magical devices and other means with which to see into that room once we're underneath it. Once we confirm our target, we move in to strike. Thoughts? Concerns?"

[Gradius]

Garath nods and thinks on the plan, still concerned about the issue of safety... He walks a bit forward and holds one of his massive hands out.

"Fine, Dano. But remember this, whoever built this place isn't foolish enough to leave the earth a safe haven for invasion."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"Really, we got the three options. Go by my plan... lots of fighting. Go by air... lots of flying. Go by underground... probably, a lot of fighting. I don't fancy going underground... but it sounds like a decent plan. Let's check it out." He shrugs softly and stands up, stretching himself out as a few of his bones pop.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding to Limerick and Garath, he looks at the other two members, waiting for their opinions.

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi smiled as she thought of all the things that must be racing through their heads. Things were going so boring lately, it was a little depressing. Her hands clenched in excitement as she floated in front of Dano, her form remaining natural for once as she landed and shook her head.

"I think... things may become more interesting if you all stay alive. Therefore... I may use my full powers this time, ok, Dano? I have a yummy little power that I think will give you big surprises, yes yes. So how about this? Me and my cousin will distract them with a flying assault. I'll ride on his back while he goes goes whoosh and all fiery. I'll stream down some energy, and think they are under attack. Meanwhile, you guys tunnel around until you get to where you need. Once the guards the Limerick described come, I'll use my trick, and take care of them."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano listens as she details her plan, and he mulls it over. "And what about you, hon? What do you think?" He looks at Ashlee as he inquires.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee tilts her head, "I don't see why we need a distraction if we're going up from underneath. Where are we trying to come up anyway...the hall...or the chamber beyond?"


Edited in Orange!

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDDWWWWDDWWWWWWDDWWW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~d___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~G~d____________________________W
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~D____________________________W
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~~D___________________________SW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~~~D___________________________SW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDDWWWWDDWWWWWWDDWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW________W________W________W
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Each sybmol is a 5ft square btw

g=guard (as they were set up when Limerick was there)
W=wall
~=floor Limerick saw
_=more floor but nobody saw it yet
D=door
S=Stairs

Everything doesn't line up quite perfectly, but meh...

Gotta go...let me know if you have any questions...proabably won't answer til tomorow afternoon.

Eep! Forgot about the stairs! The large chamber is three stories high. The stairs go up to the second and third stories where there are more rooms, so 3 across by 3 high, each room has a door. The middle is open and 30 ft high. The sides and underneath are surrounded by ground and there are more rooms above (so this is like the basement).

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Looking at the sand, he shifts it a bit and shows the antechamber and its adjacent rooms. "Here." He points at one of the side rooms furthest from the guards that Limerick found. "It is large enough to accomodate Garath, and it will also enable us to enter the main hall at once instead of one at a time." He looks at Yorimi and thinks over her plan. "By doing that, we expose our true numbers. So far, they may only think that Limerick is the only one to be probing and trying to get at that chamber, as a lone assassin. If we have you two, they will know the party numbers at least three, and possibly more. Not only that, but you will be targets for ranged fire, which based upon what Limerick has described to me is quite accurate and does quite a bit of harm. I will not expose you two to that."

He looks at Limerick. "I'm going to merge your idea and hers." He zooms out the view and the sand shows the compound once again. "You will peg off troops in random positions from as far away as possible. I want you to cause disruption and chaos, not concentrated fire. If there are two, I want you to only kill one. If there are ten, you kill nine. Always leave at least one survivor to go report back to their superiors, and I want this to be in random locations throughout the base." Small spikes rise and fall over all the different locations on the exterior of the building.

He turns to the others as the sand shifts back into a sliced view. "As he works, he will notify us as soon as chaos begins. Once they are in disarray, we will move from our position here," He points at a spot a short distance away from their destination, "and close with our objective. Once inside, he will resume his actions for another minute or so, and will then join us via the same route as we came in."

The sand shifts once again, and it shows a bird's-eye view of the compound once again. "There will be no tunnels for us to run back through. I cannot stress enough the importance of watching each other's backs. We will not move forward until Limerick joins us back in the side chamber. He is, by far, the best one to scout out for traps and hostiles." A mixture of concern and apprehension reaches Ashlee as he looks at the others and stands. The sand draws up from the ground and into a jug hanging at his waist.

Dano reaches into one of his pockets and withdraws a large diamond. Focusing his energies, the diamond disappears in a puff of smoke, only to be replaced by a small charm. Handing the charm to Limerick, he walks back over to Ashlee's side. "That charm will give you the ability to burrow, but you must activate it every five minutes of burrowing. Come meet up with us in that antechamber once you have done your mission."

He pulls out another diamond, and again, it disappears and another charm appears in its place. His energies focus once again and he blinks as if an old memory is remembered. Looking at the charm, he activates it multiple times, once for each of the party members. "Stay close to me, as we'll have to renew its magic every five minutes. I will create an antechamber five hundred feet from our destination where we will stay until Limerick notifies us when his mission is accomplished."

With a quick mental command, the charm and his jovar disappear, and he takes Ashlee's hand, and she can feel overwhelming fear come unbidden into her mind. "Ready?" He sounds confident, but she knows better. Looking at Limerick, he nods. "I'll see you in a few minutes." To the others, he gives the order to move. "Let's go." With that, the magical energies surrounding him swirl and the ground parts beneath him and Ashlee, opening before them and shutting after them. Once everyone is underground, he digs down two-hundred feet and then begins streaking towards their destination.

Ok... activated reality revision, using the diamond instead of xp. Made 2 items, both are use-activated burrow, CL 5. It should be close to the cost limit, and I figure a bit of creative adjustment should be ok. <_< Then changed my feats back to improved overchannel and epic manifesting with Psychic Reformation.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee nods and follows close behind Dano, his nervousness being pushed aside by her confidence in him. The trip takes several minutes, and in the mean time Limerick picks a location and begins sniping into the camp. It is still dark out, and few people are about. He finds himself picking off the pairs of guards around the compound. There are too few Omin out to cause the kind of pandamonium that Dano had requested, but Limerick does his best/worst.

Dano creates his chamber against the wall and the group waits for Limerick to join them.

I don't know how Dano planned to get through the wall, or which room he planned to enter, so...yeah...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick, upon picking off groups one at a time, making sure that any group with more then one person, has one person survive, begins firing arrows through windows. He shoots cleanly through solid stone walls, through rooftops, generally just fires through anything while causing pandemonium the best way he knows how; with arrows.

After kicking up some craziness, twirls off into the shadows and meets up with the group by digging to their location.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano leads them towards the fortified position and one hundred feet below the selected chamber, and comes to a halt. Energy silently and effortlessly pulsates away from him and forms a chamber forty feet in each direction, earth compressing, changing, and shifting to reinforce the small earthen room. Looking up, he sighs, waiting for Limerick to appear.

Once the assassin arrives, he nods as he takes a moment to look at the others. They were following his orders... orders he wasn't sure would be good for them or would even work. But he didn't have much choice. "Limerick, you're with me on point. Garath, you're next. Yorimi and Ashlee, you bring up our rear. Once the hole is made, Limerick, you pop up through and make sure the small side-chamber is clear of hostiles. It will be entirely magically silenced once up there, so utilize your comm devices.

Once up there, we need to locate our target and move quickly. Our objective is to remove that one individual, and kill as few of the bodyguards as possible. We are not here to affect local politics, only undo the damage done by the sources. Let's go."

With that, he sinks into the earth around them and goes straight upwards. A silence spell is cast such that its radius extends only inches above the stone floor. Energies are tossed around again, and the earth beneath the floor shifts and moves once again to allow for a small section of open space. His hand reaches up and his palm presses against the stone. Exhaling slowly, he imagines the floor spouting a small hole in it. Once done, he pulls out his periscope, inserts it through the hole, and requests Limerick to look the room over.

Ok... the target room is the top-right antechamber off the main room. Using fabricate to create a small (no bigger than 2" in diameter) hole in the top-right-most corner to slip in a periscope to scan the room. If fabricate doesn't work, will try stone shape.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick watches silently, shrugging his shoulders at Dano's command as he stood slowly twirling an arrow between his fingers. When Dano lifted his hand to the ceiling to create the hole, Limerick lifted his own and hand and grabbed Dano's wrist, "Stop."

He rolls his eyes as he lets off a small sigh and removes his hand from Dano's, "These guys are good, if there is someone in there, they'll notice the hole." His voice is a soft whisper carried in their communication rings, so everyone but Ashlee heard.

He rolls his shoulders and lifts his right hand and taps the forehead of his mask with his ring finger. His eyes spark green for a moment as he stares upward*.


-------------


*- Activating Ring of X-ray Vision - Scanning the area above us.

[Fuzzball]

Limerick looks up through the floor and sees a human sleeping on the floor. His clothes are tattered and he's wearing manacles.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick watches the man for a few moments, allow his detection spells to give him a full array of what is working with. He snorts slightly and looks to Dano... his voice coming through the earrings, "Got an arcanist up there, looks like a cell. Shackled. He appears to be sleeping one second, I'll confirm." After looking up another moment to scan the room for any hidden sentries... he jumps up... and passes right through the slap of solid stone that seperates Dano's little bunker from the chamber with the sleeping man.

Working quickly, his flicks his wrist a couple times, coating every surface of the room with silence so that nothing will get out. He makes sure to be quiet and not arouse the sleeping man, whom he keeps an eye on as he keeps himself in the shadows of the room.

After he has secured the room, he signals to Dano through the earrings that he should bring everyone up. In the mean time, he keeps to the shadows hidden and keeps an arrow locked on the mage.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He signals for the rest to follow him up, as he presses his palm against the stone and forms it into a hole large enough for Garath to exit. He arrives, and immediately he flies to the ceiling, making room for the others and readying a multitude of powers should any hostiles arrive.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee flicks her wings to help with her jump and scrambles up into the room, stepping back into the corner to give Garath room.

[Gradius]

Garath's form broke a smile at the thought of a mage being there. His form flew up to be beside Dano, his claws outstretched and prepared to rip the mage limb from limb should he attempt to cast anything.

"Dano... I think it's time for me to get out of this slump. Ever since the vision I had of the valley, my mind has been drowned in sorrow."

He's eyes blinks once and the ferocity returned. Something his old friend had not seen since their battle with the Greens.

[Fuzzball]

Yorimi flits up into the room and waits for the charge with a playful smirk on her lips.

there...posted for Yorimi...

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"Limerick, give me a what's up for that next room. Clearly, this room is a holding cell, and I'd bet coin that this man is of no threat to us." His voice carries over the comm link.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick nods slightly and looks around to each side of the room, then looks straight up. After pausing on each direction, he shakes his head, "Can't see into the main hall... though, there is a little silver drake in the cell one over from this one."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Taking in what he knows, he presses his hand against the wall to the adjacent room, and forms a hole there to open the room to the silver drake. The black second skin fades away, revealing the platinum scales beneath. As he flies into the other room, his holds up a finger to his lips indicating quiet.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Seeing Dano moves towards the walls to the other cell, he shakes his head and runs at it. As he comes to the wall, he twists his body as if going down a very narrow passage... and he disappears from the room into the other cell with the silver dragon. As soon as he is in the other room, he lays down silence on all the surfaces of the room just as Dano walks in.

[Fuzzball]

The silver dragon is curled in a corner sleeping. The small creature couldn't be more than a year old. It appears to have been mightily abused, its scales dull and ripped off in places, and one wing missing. It is shackled by a rear leg, though you doubt from the malnourished look of it that this dragon could harm anyone or flee if it wanted to.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Anger wells up within him, bordering on pure rage. The maltreatment this wyrmling has endured nearly pushes him over the edge. Grabbing the chain, he snaps it apart with his bare hands, and he bodily picks up the young dragon with the care a parent would pick up a sleeping child. "Garath, close your eyes and plug your ears. There is something going on in here I need you to not pay attention to for this immediate moment."

As the dragon wakes up, he holds it firmly as it tries to lash out at him in its rage. As Ashlee comes through the hole, sensing his anger and concern, he looks at her and then looks down at the poor wyrmling. He walks as she begins casting her spell, calming the small dragon down. "Come with me." He jumps back in the hole and burrows back down to their chamber. Once there, he soothingly strokes the creature's head as Ashlee works her magic. Through the comm link, he gives instructions to the others. "Garath, Yorimi, hold up in that room. Limerick, go check out the other two rooms opposite those rooms. I'm guessing there are a pair of prisoners there, as well."

Once the magic has taken hold, and the small silver's wounds begin to mend, he pulls out some food and water for the wyrmling and speaks in draconic to it, trying to imprint himself and Ashlee upon the dragon's subconscious mind, reaching back to the first moments of the wyrmling's life and implanting a memory with psionic powers at his disposal. As he works, small gems appear and then disappear in the palm of his hand. Once the second gem disappears, the creature's size diminishes and he fits into the crook of his arm. Gently, Dano guides him into one of the hidden pockets on his belt designed for familiars. "You'll be safe in there." He speaks soothingly to the wyrmling, and once he is safely tucked away, Dano stands and frowns to Ashlee as his abyss-colored skin appears once again. "We have to stop this."

[Gradius]

Garath looked to Dano and ignored him, moving to see the situation at hand.

The massive beast almost cried out in rage ads he reached forward slamming into the walls Dano had purposely made too small as flames circled her face in anger. He stared at Dano giving him a look that told him to move, so he could tend to the Wyrmling...

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick nods towards Dano as he looks around again, scanning for other prisoners. He looks off to the right and shrugs, before looking down. He raises a brow curiously and shrugs, as he form disappears again.

After a few moments of silence... Limerick pops out of a wall infront of the entire group with a rather attractive female in his arms. She has large wings, and wearing tattered rags for clothing. He is spinning her around as he they both perform a lazy and rather amaeture waltz.

With a final spin Limerick stops their movement and bows to her, "As I said... a skill that can save your life."

He winks again and looks to Dano, "Got a cat in one of the other cells... I'll go handle him." He bows to the lady as he slowly backs up towards a wall, "It was a pleasure." He spins on his heel... and is gone.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee places a hand on Dano's cheek, "It will be alright. It's young enough to grow out of the scars. But we should get on with this." She heads up as Limerick appears and smiles at his new companion. He disappears once more and she approaches the woman. "Are you injured in any way? Do you require anything?"

The archon shakes her head. "I am mostly well, though a sword would not be unappreciated."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano and Ashlee appear again in the same hole they left only scant minutes before, just as Limerick appears. Sighing at his behavior, over-the-top as always, his arm remains wrapped around Ashlee's waist as he nods his head to the newcomer. His lips form the language of angels as he recognizes her for what she is. "I apologize for our ... associate. He can sometimes get a bit overzealous. Needless to say, we are here to rescue you and whomever else is being held against their will here. We are preparing to launch our operation, so I would ask that you keep watch over the cat that he is getting and this unconscious wizard."

Releasing his hold on Ashlee, he pulls out a few gems of moderate value and places his hand on the archon's shoulder. Dirt stirs slightly in the air as he focuses his energy, and in a blink of an eye, sectioned armor coated in spikes covers the archon from head-to-toe, boots, leather gloves... the works all adorn the custom-fitted suit. Resting on the ground before her, a purple-tinted greatsword lies waiting to be picked up, along with a dagger and longsword of matching color.

"They are not magical, but they are better than nothing." He shrugs and waits for Limerick to arrive with the cat.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick spins back into the room a moment later, a large cat in his arms as he settles into a packing stance. Smiling at the others he lowers the cat to the ground and kneels infront of it as he holds out some strips of meat, "Here you go... don't eat it to fast." No matter how fast it eats it, Limerick doesn't care.

"Now... follow the smaller ugly one to a room we got ready." He points to Dano.

[Fuzzball]

The celestial bends down and picks up the weapons, testing their weight with a pleased look on her face. "They are far more than adequate. Thank you. It will be my pleasure to guard the others while you dispense the justice those who are responsible for this deserve. I only hope that I shall not fail you. Thank you for your efforts S'thDano, Saint Ashlee, and master Garath." She bows to each in turn and then starts at the sight of Yorimi. She bows to the succubus and hops down the hole.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Once everyone is where they need to be, he looks at the others. "We need to split the group. Ashlee, Garath, and Yorimi... you three will come through this wall." He points at the wall directly behind him. "Garath, I've evaluated this wall and it will not pose any significant risk to you. Garath, you will be first through, then Ashlee, then Yorimi. Yorimi, your job is to make sure none of the guards get through the doors that line the front wall" He points to where the doors will be on her right. "Ashlee, Garath is likely going to get hit hard on his entrance. I need to make sure you take care of him. Make sure you have a hallow field up before we go, that way, you can heal any of those accursed wounds they are likely to dish out to us."

Pointing across the way, he continues. "Limerick and I will come from the opposite side. I will create a construct -- hopefully it works -- and it will smash through opposite of Garath. Both of these collisions will be silent, as we will be utilizing magic to ensure it remains that way. Once inside, we are to detain, if possible, the party or parties inside. Bodyguards are disposable. We are likely going to be unable to detain the one in charge, so it's likely we will need to utilize lethal methods. Limerick, once the construct and I are both through the hole, you need to open up that quiver of yours on anything and everything that belongs to the other side, within mission objectives. I will also want you to split your attention between the main hostile, his bodyguards, and possibly the front door if Yorimi gets overwhelmed."

He stands and looks at the others. "That's all. Let's go." With that, he leads the way over to the other side, creates a massive construct the size of Garath, and nods to Limerick. "Ready over here."

[Mura-neechan]

Yorimi smirked seeing such reactions to the little baby dragon. It was just a soul after all. How was it any better or worse than any of the drow they killed, the great dragons they squashed. These people were so... hypocritical. Yorimi floated down to plant a small kiss on the woman's head before looking to Dano.

"Is this big enough for something Twice Garath's size?"

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Sighing to Limerick, he looks at the closed door as he speaks through their comm devices. "Yes, the main room is sufficiently sized to handle both you and Garath, whatever form you may take. Do not change size until you are in the other room. Someone tell Ashlee to fire up her Consecrate magic, please. Anything else, anyone?" Celestial words are spoken and the area around Dano becomes blessed as he prepares his Consecrate spell.

[Mura-neechan]

Giggling the girl took her place, letting her eldritch energies seethe through her and her eyes began to glow with a strange golden yellow light as she giggled. Her energies maintained around her, not yet changing her into whatever strange creature she was planning.

"You act like you don't trust me..."

((Readied a a move action and invocation for when the big guy breaks the wall.))

[Gradius]

"It's all good over here, Dano."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick spins an arrow out of his quiver and sets it into place, "Let's finish this up, Colonel. Me and the boys got some drinking to do."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Looking at Limerick, he nods to him for him to knock an arrow/some arrows. Quiet words are spoken, as he picks up a pebble. Tossing it down next to the door, it lands without so much as a tiny clatter. Silence reigning supreme, he focuses his energy and forms a massive construct, its size comparable to Garath, with claws just as wicked.

"We go in five, four... three... two... one. NOW!" With that, his construct is given the mental command to smash the wall down to coordinate with Garath's strike. The construct breaches the room, rubble being strewn everywhere but not making a single sound as it rushes into the room towards the nearest enemy, Dano thirty feet behind it, with Limerick set to provide overwatch.

Ok... using boost construct feat, giving my construct 3 menu C options.

Option 1: Convert 1 C for 2 B's
- Pounce, Extra Attack (For 3 total)
Option 2: Convert 1 C for 2 B's
- Convert 1 B for 2 A's
-- Improved Slam Attack (3d6 each)
-- Trip
- Trample
Option 3: Extreme Damage reduction (total 16/magic)
I think that'll do it. I'm also imp overchanneling to 46 rounds.

[Gradius]

Roaring and snarling the monstrous beast burst through the wall, lighting the area in front of him with flames as he drew his weapons and glared down on the enemies. He was the demon now, letting his mind soar with thoughts of sweet relief as he began his slaughter.

Breath Attack Damage: 72.

[Fuzzball]

What had been on the other side of the walls now lays under rubble...the remains of several large heavy tables and broken equipment for what looks like an alchemy lab. A few men get caught in the blast and drop. They appear to be more bookwormish than soldiery. The interior of the large room is plated with sheets of lead, likely to block unwanted magical intrusions. Soliers lining the second and third tiers loose their arrows into the construct and Garath as the two burst into the room.

A spindly man remains standing on the main level, his back flat against the wall, and a rack of test-tubes in his hands. He shakes violently with fury and shouts in his native tongue, "Y....I....You....MY RESEARCH!" He flings the test-tubes at Garath and they break, splattering foul smelling liquids onto the giant half-dragon's skin. It sizzles a bit, though Garath doesn't feel anything from it.


I need init rolls by the way.

Garath takes 53 damage after DR as dozens of arrows bounce off his skin or barely puncture it.

Construct takes 78 damage after DR

Limerick sees soldiers similar to those that were outside, but does not see the leader.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He had a feeling something like this was going to happen. Watching the arrows pelt his construct, he is happy it is the construct and not one of his teammates that was getting filled with wooden death. With a mental command, the construct ceases its forward movement and stands stationary, not moving an inch further.

Looking up, and then looking around him, his mind churns as calculations are done at a rapid rate. A diamond finds its way into his hands, and he focuses in on the air around him. Tiny motes of ice start to twirl and twist around him, shards coalescing into large sheets of ice. Within seconds, a wall over six feet thick with pillars placed every four-hundred square feet to support it arches over their heads, just high enough for Garath to stand in. What the others cannot see is the exterior, with ceramic tiling providing a protective layer on the top. It wasn't want he had originally planned for this operation, but he felt it would work for their needs.

Whipping out a folded portable hole, he tosses it to Limerick. "Limerick, detain everyone and everything here... throw them in there. Garath and Yorimi, help him. Do NOT kill them." The communication is made over their magical items, him looking at the man in question. Once they begin working on their task, he looks at Ashlee with deep concern etched across his face. "This is not our target. He is someone of importance, but not the man we need. We will need to pursue the other individual once this room is secure. I need guidance from the gods on who our target is. Can you please consult them while the others work?" His voice creeps out like the sound of grinding stones, Terran being his language of choice.

[Fuzzball]

Only one action from each person please. Still on init, so don't get ahead of yourselves.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick frowns at the portable hole and tosses it to Garath, "I'm not the pack mule, here." He rolls his eyes and looks around at the other scientists, "Yorimi, handle the fodder and get 'em divin'."

He turns his gaze over to the Lead Scientist that had thrown stuff on Garath, and slowly walked towards him. He eyes the viles for a moment, keeping himself in a ready stance as he points at the man, "Lay the vials down, and walk over here. Now."

------------

Intimidate: 29

[Gradius]

Garath snarls and grabs a man taking him to the confinement, with a grin, his wings making an angry flap as he looks at the people.

"I should slay you now..."

[Fuzzball]

Yorimi sticks out her lower lip in a pout. "Meanie! Making the room too small for little Yorimi." She flits over to a person huddled in the corner and drags them toward Dano's portable hole. "Come on scardy man."

The man with the test tube rack proceeds to bend down and pick up small chunks of rubble and hurl them ineffectively at Limerick. He shouts obscinities as he does so.

Ashlee looks distractedly at Dano, and he can sense deep concern emanating from her. She looks away and then back at him and then away again. "I can tr..." Panic explodes in her and she rushes to Garath, "Stop moving Garath!" She stops beside him, examining the spot where the strange liquid hit him. Ashlee casts a spell and swears under her breath.

Anyone who cares to look sees the half-demon's skin appears to be boiling...or splitting open...or both... Garath begins to feal the discomfort, though it still isn't anything he'd complain about.

Ashlee cast Heal, so the damage Garath took has gone away, but it didn't affect whatever the alchemist did to him.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano looks at the demon-dragon friend of his, and shock fills his mind. Frantically, he thinks of something to do, but what. He was certain this wasn't the right man, and if they leave now they risk losing their only shot at tracking down the source. However, Garath was his friend for over seven centuries, and he's not willing to sacrifice him for the sake of the mission. Torn over his choices, he decides on a course of action.

He walks over to Garath and hands him the charm that he had been using. "Ashlee, take Garath outside the wire and tend to him. Do not wait for us. Yorimi, go with them... you are their overwatch." He walks over to Ashlee and puts his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "If Limerick and I aren't back in five minutes, head back to Wren's place, and interrogate these prisoners... do not send a rescue party."

He walks over to Limerick, and the fabric of reality bends around him. The remaining glass with the chemical on it forms into a small bulb with the remaining fluid encased within its confines, and it finds its way into Garath's hands. All the equipment flies into the portable hole, sinking into the liquid. Glaring at the rest of soon-to-be hostages, he barks at them in common. "Get in." The air around him begins to fill with motes of black and red energy, an aura of menace and hatred emanating off of him.

[Gradius]

Garath growls and nods, poking the wound in curiosity but not saying anything. He simply grunts as he leads Ashlee and Yorimi out, grabbing the succubus to make certain she doesn't flutter off some place on her own.

"Ashlee, if you cannot heal me, do not waste your efforts."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick snorts at the rocks before he starts walking towards the man. As he gets in close, his form blurs out as shadow cascades around him*. After a moment, he reappears next to Dano... his bow at the rest as he fires off six shots, with strangled blunted arrow tips, so quickly it looks like they were shot simultaneously.**


----------------------


*- Hide: 101 - MS: 95

**- Attacking Omin Research Division.

1st Ranged Touch Attack Total vs Lead Scientist: 51
2nd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Scientist1: 40
3rd Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Scientist2: 36
4th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Scientist3: 44
5th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Scientist4: 30
6th Ranged Touch Attack Total vs. Scientist5: 35


Damage1: 16d6+10 = 10 Subdual Magical Damage. 69 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con Damage.
Damage2: 16d6+10 = 8 Subdual Magical Damage. 30 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage3: 16d6+10 = 14 Subdual Magical Damage. 44 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage4: 16d6+10 = 18 Subdual Magical Damage. 35 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage5: 16d6+10 = 10 Subdual Magical Damage. 55 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con damage.
Damage6: 16d6+10 = 12 Subdual Magical Damage. 51 Sneak Attack Subdual Damage. 1 Con damage.

Sneak Attack Damage Note: If subject of Hits take Sneak Attack Damage, they take same amount of damage next round, at the beginning of my turn. Also, for every hit t/s/he/y takes, he loses 2 Strength (No Save).

[Fuzzball]

The 6 alchemists drop to Limerick's arrows.

Ashlee follows Garath down the hole, "if anything has even the slightest chance to help you, then it isn't wasted." She sounds calm, though Dano knows that she's terrified. She casts another spell on her large friend and gasps as a small bolt of energy flies back at her.

The split in Garath's side is growing quickly and starting to burn.

Garath will have to use the charm on each person...5 in total unless you take the sleeping spellcaster with you...or 3 if you leave everyone else behind...and each casting takes a round.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Watching Yorimi pack up the now-full portable hole with the six alchemists and all their gear, and then take off down the hole with the other two, he sighs. They were alone, encased in ice, with an entire army outside the confines of their temporary protection. He walks over to the hole where everyone went down, and seals it back up, making the two cells look exactly as they were prior to their entry, shattered walls and all. Mentally severing the connection with Yorimi and Garath, he keeps his comm unit set with Limerick alone.

He speaks as he walks around the room, taking the chemical torches and snuffing them out until they are completely covered in darkness. His voice echoes through the ice chamber, as he speaks without his comm device. "Looks like it's you and me, now. The source is here, somewhere. Those six were not it. I need your thoughts, as you are the expert on tracking and killing people.

[Gradius]

Garth grunted as he felt the pain. This thing was going to kill him most likely. That foolish man Dano knew it as well. And he was planning on dying with him.

"Ashlee. Above all else, make certain you and Yorimi are safe."

((Not gonna do nothin! Saku isn't either cause she's a sicky!))

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick sat comfortably in the dark as he looks around, "It's somewhere in these set of chambers, sir. If it's in this complex, sir, it's got to be in here. sir." He frowns and concentrates on their surroundings as he looks down at a piece of parchment with a copy of the layout of the complex on it.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano nods and looks down, his touchsight giving him a clear view of every nook and cranny in the room. "What would you need to get them to back off this room or bring in the heavy artillery to come to get us? Also, can you see in magical darkness?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


He tilts his head upward for a moment and grumbles before looking to Dano, "Lots of magic would piss them off... a big show would really get to them in fact. As for me getting to them... there's a lot of different ways, all have their problems. Yes, I can see in magical darkness."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"Right, then. Hang tight for a moment." Limerick can see Dano lift his feet from the ground and assume a meditative seated position, floating three feet from the deck. All around Limerick, the earth bends and twists, and he can see the room change and twist. The floor rips up, the lead tears itself apart and hunks of metal and stone fly towards the already-thick wall.

The wall itself rips apart, and splits into two layers, both three feet in thickness with a lattice of supports crisscrossing between the inner and outer shells. Metal shores up the exterior of the first shell, with stone supporting the interior shell alongside the ice pillars. A few sets of ladders and stairs reach up from the ground to the inner shell, where holes rest waiting for someone to climb up them.

What Limerick can't see is the conical arrow slits formed sporadically around the entire surface, set up so that he can realistically shoot to any location in the entire room without himself being exposed to any danger of return fire. The exterior of the surface becomes coated with spikes and blades made of hardened ceramic, sharp enough to pierce even the stoutest of boots.

The room ceases to shake, and he coughs, gags, and blood explodes from his mouth as lacerations cover his entire body, a pool of his own life-giving fluid forming beneath him. "You had best... " he coughs again, and he lifts and arm that hangs limply at the elbow to prevent Limerick from getting splattered with blood, "... get shooting." He grins with bloodied teeth towards Limerick.

Ok... improved overchannel on greater fabricate. Holy sucking chest wound batman. 141 damage from overchanneling.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick raises a brow as he lets his x-ray vision kick in and he looks up... he frowns a little before looking at Dano, "I can't puncture solid ice that thick. So, unless you can make this," he pulls out a small sack of gold and throws it into the gold, "into a way of making this bow punch through that... gotta figure out another way."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, Dano traces a symbol in the air with a bloody finger, while speaking words of magic. Without any further action, divine energy floods his body and heals his wounds*.

He puts his feet down so he's standing again, and walks over to a ladder with the sack in hand. "There are ports scattered over the entire surface of the protective dome we have here." His voice comes in over their magical comm device, emphasizing that they are no longer in a sealed environment. "I'd worry more about the rock that is likely going to be blocking their positions than anything else."

Cast heal on myself, 150 hp healed. Yay divine magic.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee's mind races as she tries to decide on a course of action. "I'm not giving up on you that easy." For a moment she looks pained, but she shakes it off and tries another spell. The magical energy boils around Garath for a moment and then explodes outward. The others are slammed against into the walls, and the ceiling cracks. Garath's wound continues to grow at an alarming rate, but otherwise he is unharmed.

Growling he turns on her, setting down his weapons as he holds Zenkai out to her. "This is my legacy, Ashlee. Please make certain you keep it. As a treasure of both Dano and mine."

Ashlee sinks to the floor and groans a bit as her head clears. She looks up at the half-dragon with tears beginning to form in her eyes and takes the weapon from him. "I'm sorry," her voice is barely a whisper and she can't manage to meet his eyes.

"Do not be, young dragonling You are a strong woman, with now two dragons you have cared for.Make certain you do them well, and make certain you survive for a life fulled with joy."

The pain begins to grow unbearable as Garath's body seems to be splitting in two. The reaction becomes more violent and his limbs begin to thrash uncontrollably. Ashlee scrambles over to the angel and Lynx, calling Yorimi over before throwing up a barrier to protect the group. She watches, powerless to do anything more as she watches her friend break in half.

Garath's two halfs bubble, a mass of bloody flesh churning on the cold ground. Ashlee has to turn away, and looses the contents of her stomach. After a few moments the angel tells her to turn back and asks what is happening. The cleric's jaw drops and she shakes her head as she watches the mangled flesh take shape. Another few moments and the transformation is complete. On one side stands a gold dragon. On the other, a herzou. In the middle is a pile of equipment.

The gold raises his head as he looks at the demon, shock overwelms him, looking at... himself. The gold looks at his other half, his claw swiping through the magical incasement without a sign of worry, having it disappear as he glances at the fiend... "Who am I?"

The demon shifts it's glance, just as easily tearing the bubble away as he growls at the dragon counterpart. "What you are is not important, it is what you will be." In an instant the creature moved to attack, grabbing Agni and slashing towards the Gold, only to feel the burn of fire and a whirlwind of movements, tearing him limb from limb. The Gold, unscathed looks at Ashlee in confusion. "Who am I now?"

Ashlee tries to find an answer, but all she manages is, "I have no idea...but you're magnificent."

The Gold looks to his claw, seeing a strange ring he had not worn before and shakes his head. "I am the son of Psileron... And Dano requires our aid."

Ta-dah!

[Fuzzball]

FAST FORWARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Dano and Limerick arrive, and the house lets them in without complaint. They are led to the library where Anar is doing research. Ruin arrives right behind them, smiling in his usual uncaring way. Anar finishes scribbling something and looks up, "Nice to see you made it in one piece." Taena and Garath with two wyrmlings on his back are escorted in. "Ashlee appears to be detained in Yth so we'll continue without her."

Ruin looks a bit disappointed, "And I spent all that time on the greenling's payment. I'm almost insulted. I rarely put such effort into anything. I even fretted about it. See the worry line?" He runs a finger/claw playfully under his eye. "Ah well. As promised." Five sacks float out, two of them to Dano. Ruin walks toward the Psi-cleric and produces a Pelorian lily. "For the greenling."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano takes possession of the sacks, and holds the lilly, looking it over. "I'll make sure she gets it." He speaks with a bit of apathy towards Ruin, knowing that she will likely enjoy the lily she already has more than anything Ruin could give her. The sacks of money, clearly being extradimensional spaces, are hung on his belt rather than in his pockets. Inwardly, he balks at the sack of money, knowing that the operation cost more to him than this entire sack of coin. He may be able to re-craft one, but it would take him weeks that he doesn't have.

He walks away from Ruin, towards Anar, but continues to talk to the dragon. "You know, we only removed the source. It looks as if that entire complex was a research facility, and they had developed methods of penetrating magic. If they wage war, and they still have access to that ability or technology, you will have a stiff battle on your hands." He pauses as he looks over his shoulder, his silver eyes glinting in the light. "A battle we will not help you with." He resumes walking and hands the gem to Anar.

"When did she say she will return?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick reaches out and takes the bag, which promptly disappears into his jacket. He mentally counts coins as he listens to Dano talk to Ruin and snorts slightly, "Yeah, him and his gang won't help you, however, you pay me... and I will help."

Limerick moves over to Anar and smiles, "So... got a few moments?"

[Gradius]

Vires chuckled a bit as he blew a little smoke to entertain the wyrmlings, making a ring of the harmless black gas appear right in front of them. He was bad with names, though her still didn't think "Squeak" was a good name for a dragon, it was better than anything he could think of. It would be suficient for a nickname at the very least. Vires seemed calmer around Ruin than Garath had ever been, seeming to care more about the little baby dragons than the adult right in front of him. His golden hide shined just as brilliant as ever, and he was making certain Ruin could notice the change. After all, the man had last known him as a half breed, not eligible for any of the respect the son of Pcileron deserved.

"Limerick, I believe you once complained about high risk jobs? Have you become more flexible towards risk from your times of recent, or are you simply hoping Ruin's horde isn't quite as dear to him as mine is to me?"

Vires laughed a bit, blowing a bit more smoke for the wymlings, enjoying their reactions to his little game. For children, they were a lot more bearable than he had ever imagined.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick casts a look over at Vires, "Listen Squirt, I'll take a shot at Ruin over there if someone pays me enough." He looks towards Ruin, "No offense." He smirks from behind his mask as he leans back in his chair.

[Fuzzball]

Ruin smiles, and if not for the evil seething off of him, it would be a very pleasant and attractive thing. "I'm sure that my people can hanndle the rabble. I'm also quite sure that no one will pay Limerick enough to take a shot at me, though it would be an interesting event." He turns to leave and calls back over his shoulder, "You were a lot more fun as a halfbreed." The door closes behind him.

Anar shakes his head when Ruin leaves and moves to the wall, placing the black gem into the wall where it disappears. "He was a lot more bearable before that wench made him a dragon." His eyes land on Dano filled with exhaustion and worry. "Ashlee said that she would return after she'd spoken with Asaqua."

Morris enters and wrinkles his nose, "I see that I just missed Ruin. How nice." He smiles up at Vires. "It appears you had a pleasant visit with Bahamut." The cleric sets down a bag and pulls a few things out. "This house doesn't have manners I'm afraid, but it means well. Wren wanted to appologize, but she hasn't returned, so she asked me to rummage through her basement for you."

He pulls out a pearl on a long chain and hands it to Dano. He pulls out a pair of gray boots and matching cloak and hands them to Limerick. A large red gem is set down in front of Vires, and hands a ring to Taena.

Anar moves over to Limerick and looks over his old cloak and new one. He frowns and casts a spell, the two melding into one as a gem on the table disappears. "There...much better. Your little item is going to take at least another week."

Limerick: Boots of Speed and Mantle of Great Stealth

Dano: Gets his little pariapt back

Garath: The gem grants +10 strength, and can be lodged in his skin (no slot)

Taena: +8 cha, +15 to bluff, diplomacy, innuendo and intimidate checks

You can argue with Morris if you aren't happy with them.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick watches Anar close as he comes near him, and he quietly inspects the new items and his old. He watches Anar's gaze carefully as the man merges his old and new cloak together and smiles and nods his thanks. He looks to Morris, "I'll give Wren my thanks later."

He looks at the boots for a moment he makes a face behind his mask and holds them up towards Anar, "I need to get my old ones made back up... think you can handle that for me?"

[Fuzzball]

Anar shrugs, "It will add a few more days to your wait for the other."

[Gradius]

The Dragon nods in thanks as he inserts the gem, feeling his newfound power. He'd spent the time training his new body, experimenting his powers, and now that power was even further increased. It was truly marvelous.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say ruin wishes there was a part of me that still longed to be like him. Thank you Morris, you have always been a friend I could count on, almost as much as Dano. How is the problem coming with the Source controlling dragons?"

[Fuzzball]

Morris sighs, "I think we've come up with a way to defend against it, but developing these things takes time unfortunately. We're getting there. Then it's just a matter of killing that red. Never a fun ordeal. Another week or two and I think we'll have it."

[Gradius]

Vires grinned as he blew another blast of smoke up for the babies, moving his body slightly to surprise them as she smoke circled their heads. He grinned happily watching their reactions as he spoke more calmly than Garath could have ever managed.

"I will be very happy to did my claws into that red..."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Taking the Periapt, he laces it around his neck and feels the power return. Sighing in relief, he listens to the info being disseminated, taking it all in. "Then I think in that time I shall make preparations of my own. Anar, will I have access to your researching staff and your facilities?"

[Fuzzball]

Anar looks around the library, "You're looking at my staff and facilities. I'm sure the house will provide anything you need, and we'll be here to help you out if you want it." He motions to Morris and himself as he speaks.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, he looks up at the house and speaks quietly. "Sorry about the comment earlier." He then looks at the other two and nods his head. "Thank you for that. I will work in my room, should anyone need me." He then bows lightly to the hosts and instructs his ball of light to bring him to his room.

[Fuzzball]

Limerick goes about his business, and Vires is offered a room should he wish to stick around. Taena is left to her own devices, continuing to get to know the locals.

Dano retires to his room. Over the last ten days, he had felt varying emotions through his link to Ashlee, and now he senses a great deal of amusement and confusion. It lasts for an hour or so, to varying degrees, until it turns to suprise, then fear, and then pain as he his connection to her is strained. A few seconds pass and then that pain is gone along with his beloved's presence.

You can kick me later if you want. I should be on around midnight mountain standard time.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick nods to Anar, "You can make it after you make my other item. Thanks." He smiles and looks at Dano, "I'm taking off for a couple days, got some personal business to handle. I've been on the run for over a week now... need to leisure. I'll have my comm on, if you need me."

With that, he takes off.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano enjoys the link as her amusement continues. The instant he feels pain and fear, he immediately ceases what he is doing and runs out of his room. Without explanation, he continues to run until he exits the building, moving as fast as his body will take him until he can teleport to the edge of Asaqua's realm. "Mikael, please forgive me. This is for love... I am sure you can understand that..." At that moment, he halts time and continues to move towards the ocean goddess' residence, pushing his mind and body as far and hard as he can to get to Ashlee before that fear and pain ceases. "I'm coming, honey... I'm coming. Hold on." He whispers quietly to himself, his soul reaching out to the trio of gods he has a relationship with willing him to make it in time.

"Everyone, please help me. Ashlee is in trouble. I fear the worst. Please make your way to Asaqua's realm as fast as possible." His voice is panicked and frantic, entirely unlike the Dano they know.

Yeah... I have to get to bed at 2300 your time from now on. Heading back to work. Yeah... Kicking shall commence.

[Fuzzball]

Dano appears below the tower and speeds toward the surface. The door to the tower is open and there are no guards there to stop him. When he reaches the main floor he finds the large chamber filled with people in a carnival-like atmousphere. He casts a spell to locate a ring he had given to Ashlee and follows its instructions up the tower to the 24th floor which is another large chamber, this one filled with air.

There are several aquatic creatures in the room, all looking quite somber. At the center lays Ashlee, one merman bending over her apparently checking her vital signs.

Dano's form blinks out and blinks in next to her. "What happened?!" He uses his death-seeing vision to check on her.

Ashlee's body appears completely intact. There is no damage to her as far as Dano can tell, though he senses nothing from her. The flower brooch on her chest is glowing more dimly than before.

Dano checks the back of her neck for the jewel without letting anyone else see him do it. He finds the gem completely intact.

"She is gone." The man seems confused, but all of the creatures around appear to be a bit dazed.

"Gone? She can't be gone... " He cradles her as his arms, holding her closely to him. "She can't be..." He looks down and tears quietly fall on her face. "Did anyone see what happened?" His voice is a whisper.

"She was here, but now she is gone," the merman sounds distraught.

"I mean... tell me exactly what happened." His voice is strained as he speaks the merman's native tongue. "What was she doing, where was she, what did you see?"

The man shakes his head, "Gone." Dano isn't sure what is wrong with the man, but he doubts the other is all there either.

Rage begins to boil up and the air around him wavers slightly. "Did anyone here see what the hell happened to her?" His voice is checked but is very strained. Dano doubts that he'll get an answer from any of them.

His eyes glow red as he glares at them all, his tears still streaming down his face. He quickly pats her down, looking for a black gem, or anything that doesn't belong, but finds nothing.

Dano casts another spell and the world fades to shadows. Dano can make out Ashlee talking with someone. It is diffucult to make out what is being said or who the other person is beyond that it is humanoid.

"It is not a prison. I am free to feel whatever I like and I choose him over all others." The man shakes his head and he hears Ashlee scream. Ashlee's form appears to split. Her body falls and her spirit appears to be swept away

Dano casts every detection spell he knows and looks about the room. After a moment he cuts off the detection spells and frowns, stands with Ashlee cradled in his arms as he holds her close. "I will not let you go." Walking back the way he came, he teleports out and into the realm of Athena.

"Athena, please. Help her." His voice is now a wracking sob, all sense of self-control lost. Dano drops to his knees and silently calls to Bahamut and Pelor.

Athena places a hand on Dano's back and studies Ashlee. After a few moments Pelor and Bahamut arrive. Pelor takes his cleric gently from Dano and then Athena and Bahamut pull Dano to the side to give the other god some room.

Dano looks at the other two and desperately looks at Pelor. "Her soul..." He pauses as he fights through his tears. "It was sheared from her body and whisked away."

Pelor's eyes reflect Dano's pain as he turns back. "Yes. She is gone. I cannot locate her spirit."

"What about the man whom was speaking to her when it happened? Can you locate him?"

The god shakes his head, "I'm not sure what happened. A source no doubt. The world gets fuzzy around them. Souls have been known to be destroyed around them, though I don't think that is the case here, I simply have no way to find her." His voice cracks a bit at the end.

Dano relates his vision of the room through coughing sobs. "The other people there... their pheramones were all out of balance... it's as if they went haywire." He walks over to her and kneels back down, holding her close. "I don't care if I have to sacrifice myself to bring her back. Strip me of my powers. Just bring her back." He buries his face into her shoulder and rocks her quietly.

The three gods look at each other and a conversation is held between them. A few minutes pass before Bahamut kneels beside Dano, "If we were able to do this thing for you, we would. It is not possible. We could put your soul into her, but it would be you and not her. I'm sorry." The dragon god wraps his arms around Dano.

His whole form shakes from his sobs. After a short while, he looks up at Bahamut. "Is there magic that can steal souls?" He continues rocking her like a parent would a child. "Possibly seal them in an object"

"Yes there are such spells. If one has been used, then the object would need to be located for her soul to be restored to her. Though if it were the case, I think Pelor would be able to tell you where it is. He cannot, but that is no reason to give up and not attempt to search."

Nodding, he looks down at her again. "Mikael, hear me, please. Please come to my aid."

The god of time does not appear as quickly as the others, but he does come. The average looking man walks in and nods to each of his peers. "Is there some kind of convention here that I was unaware of?"

"My fiancee... Ashlee." He looks down at his to-be wife's form, and looks back up at Mikael. "Her soul was stolen, and possibly sealed within a gem, like the ones we found in the lair of the styx dragon." His tears continue flowing for Ashlee, but his mind is slowly churning to make sense of it. "I need your help, as these other patrons of mine and Ashlee's are unable to help."

"What do you think that I can do about it where my elders are unable?"

"You control the flow of time. I ask... no. I beg. I plead for you to send me back in time to either stop this from happening, or to see who did it and where her soul rests."

"Oooooh..." Mikael frowns. "There are rules about this kind of thing...or rather against it. I know the stories about love conquering all, but it isn't that simple."

Dano stops crying and looks up at Mikael. "What do I have to do?" His voice is deadpan and serious, sounding as if he didn't care about what happened to himself.

The god thinks for a bit, "Well, you could ask the Inevitables for their permission I suppose. It will take several days to get you in. Constructs like appointments and have no concept of urgency."

He looks at the god and then at the other three. "Right now, I don't know of any other option, as we have no way of tracking down the person responsible, nor the object her soul is trapped in." He looks down and strokes her cheek gently before looking back up at Mikael. "What will they ask of me?"

"They'll want to know why you want to go and what you plan to do. Then they'll spend a few hours estimating the damage you're likely to do to the timeline if you're allowed to go back. If they think you're not a true risk, then they might give permission and send you back themselves. I'd suggest not causing too much trouble between now and when you go see them if that's the course of action you plan to take."

They look to each other again and all shake their heads. Bahamut chimes in, "I think that is your best choice at the moment. Mikael, will you make Dano that appointment." He looks to his former servant, "If you want, I will watch over her for you."

"I cannot watch over her?" He looks at Bahamut and then to Ashlee.

"I never said that."

"I would like it very much if I could watch over her, Lord Bahamut. I would like company, if you are willing. I don't want to be alone."

"You may stay in my realm while you wait, if that is your desire."

"I would. Are my friends welcome as well?"

Bahamut smiles, "Always."

"Thank you." He calls out to them telepathically as he stays holding Ashlee.

[Fuzzball]

Vires looks around, his breathing making a bit of smolke as he scans the area for Dano.

Dano can be found, kneeling, sitting on his heels a short distance away. He has his back to Vires, and his wings wrap around something held in his arms, and he is rocking slightly. Bahamut is nearby speaking quietly with an ancient gold dragon. There is work to be done, even if he'd rather not.

"Dano."

Dano doesn't respond, and now that Vires gets closer, he can hear a slight tune being hummed by the dragonborn.

"DANO!" Vires looks to Bahamut, hoping his friend hasn't lost his mind... Dano flinches at the shout, but doesn't stop his humming.

Bahamut detaches himself from the other conversation and walks quietly over to Vires. "Ashlee's soul has been removed. He's been like this since Athena and Pelor left."

Nodding the Gold sighed and walked to the God. "I will retrieve it."

Dano stops humming, still rocking Ashlee's body. "You can't." Vires has never felt such torture and anguish in a voice before. "If we had any idea where to start looking he would already be there. Mikael suggest a course of action, but he'll have to wait a while. I'm afraid I do have duties to get to. Keep watch over him Vires."

"You cannot expect me to do nothing..."

Dano starts humming again, and Vires can see him run a hand along Ashlee's cheek.

Bahamut sighs, "If you have a suggestion, there are four gods that would love to hear it. For now, we have no suggestions to offer. You two may stay here. If you need me, you know how to find me." He strolls out through a set of large doors, several canaries following him, and the doors close themselves behind him. The chamber you are in has room for a collosal dragon and accomidations for a few humanoids.

Vires sighs and turns humanoid, embsracing his friend as her feels his eyes water. "I will destroy your enemies..."

Dano stops humming and looks up at his friend. "If only I knew who they were." His face is torn with grief, his normally-stoic facade completely gone. His eyes are red and there are streaks that run down his face where tears should be.

"I will handle this, my friend."

"How, Vires? How?" His voice shakes with anger. "I can halt the flow of time, alter reality, and make things appear out of thin air. Yet I cannot locate the villian who did this, nor retrieve Ashley's soul! The three gods who Ashlee and I pay homage two are unable to do something! How in this universe are you capable of 'handling this'?" His voice rises to a shout, and his grip on his fiancee tightens.

Vires simply shook his head. "If you do not believe in me here, you never knew me at all. Nor do you have faith in the longingness for Ashlee to return." Vires huffs a bit of fire and glares at the man, gripping Dano with his herculean strength. "I am going to dear through this world and every other until I get my friend back."

"Vires, you do not understand." He looks down at Ashlee's sleeping form. "You can rip this world asunder, tear across planes of existance, and you may never find the stone that contains her soul. Without knowing the specific object, what it looks like, we cannot find it. The person who did this to her is invisible to our eyes, for we do not even have an identity. So I have asked Mikael to send me back in time to stop this from happening."

"Then we will wait until that is done."

He looks back up at his friend. "I need you to support me, Vires, not destroy the world. My entire world has been shattered with my fiancee's affliction, and I don't know where to turn." To Vires, Dano appears to be a small child, looking for answers that aren't there.

"As Garath had always, even until his death, I will aid and support you."

Dano nods and looks back to Ashlee and begins humming to her again, his hand holding hers as he resumes rocking her. For the first time, Vires can see a ring made of pure light on her left ring finger, platinum scales setting a stark contrast to the green scales of the rest of her body beneath the ring of light.

"My friend, have you noticed?"

"Noticed what, Vires?"

"The evil is leaving her."

"No, that is by my design. Those scales are the same color as mine. It is a part of my soul that changes the color of those scales. That way, she can always have a part of me with her. She is perfect as she is."

Vires nods, holding his friend dearly. "I will protect you both."

"Thank you." He continues to rock as his friend holds him, until the rocking ceases and Dano finally falls asleep. Even in his sleep, his embrace around Ashlee remains strong.

Vires lets him sleep and looks to Bahamut's dargons at a loss.

Dano sleeps and eventually dreams. In his dream he feels himself being pulled aimlessly with the flow of a filthy river. For a moment the thought occurs to him that he should try to swim out, but that thought is quickly swept away. Again the thought comes to him, and again it is taken away. On the shores he sees fire, and a city being carried by many legs.

Again the thought occurs to him that he should swim to the shore...it isn't very far...and again it is taken away just as quickly as it came. He watches the scenery float past as he is pulled further down the river until several hours have passed and he wakes.

Dano wakes with a jerk and he looks around. "Vires... I know where we have to go."

"I know I won't like it..."

"Ghenna."

"Told you."

"Lord Pelor, I request an audience with you." He looks up, his voice taking on a spark of optimism

Pelor answers in Dano's mind that he is a bit busy at the moment, but will attend him as soon as possible.

"I had a dream I was floating down the river Styx. While there, I felt Ashlee's presence. I want to go there and start searching."

"Then we will go."

"Do you have a thought bottle, Vires?"

"Afaid not."

Dano reaches into his belt and withdraws a bottle. "Here." Upon it he etches a pair of runes written in Draconic, which read "Use Me." He hands it to Garath. "Should you fall victim to the river's effects, this bottle will restore your memories, but it will only work once before you have to store your memories again."

He pulls out a second one, etches another rune into it, and then places his own memories into it, then replaces it from whence it came.

"Very well, let us go."

Pelor appears in a flash of light, mace drawn, clothing torn, cuts in several places. He breathes heavily, "What can I do for you my boy?"

Vires smiles. "Been having fun without me?"

"Even the gods are entitled to a good fight once in a while. I look like this...imagine what that thing would have done to my angels." He smiles back.

"Would have toughened them up, for sure."

"Death doesn't toughen. It tenderizes. Now that I know you're interested, I'll invite you next time." The god looks at Dano, "You look in better spirits. I assume that means you have something good to share with me this morning."

"Yes, M'Lord, I think so. If a soul is sent to Ghenna, would it prohibit or inhibit your ability to track said soul?"

"No. Ghenna is not forbidden to my power."

"Odd. I had a dream last night that I was floating down the river Styx, and I passed through a city with legs. As I was doing so, I felt Ashlee's presence for a moment."

"If she has fallen prey to the dark river then that might be blocking my ability to find her. She was detached from her body and myself, but you have been bound to her more tightly. It is entirely possible that you are still connected."

"Can you utilize my connection with her to try to track her?"

Pelor shakes his head. "I had tried that option already and failed. I do not know how you are reaching her, or she, you." He reaches over to her and pulls out a strand of her golden hair, twirling around his finger and encasing it in glass to form a ring. "Touch this to her soul and I will be able to restore her." He holds it out to Dano.

Dano takes the ring and pulls out a piece of platinum from the bag. It molds into a beautiful chain and he hangs the ring from the chain, which goes around his neck. Whispering some words, he touches the chain and its molecular density skyrockets, making it impossible to break.

"Do you have any way of protecting Vires and myself from the effects of the river?"

"I think the two of you could resist the river's effects so long as you remain in your bodies. Souls are less sturdy than bodies. Though if the river doesn't touch you, you'll be fine."

"I'm more concerned about having to dive in." Dano stands, and looks at Ashlee's face before gently kissing her unconscious form. "I will find you." He whispers to her quietly. Looking up, he walks to Pelor. "Please, watch over her while we are gone."

"Of course." Pelor bends over his cleric and the two disappear.

Dano's form flickers for a moment as powerful psionic abilities are brought to bear. Sighing, the very fabric of reality bends away from him as he focuses his mind. His eyes open again to look at Vires as black oil seeps from under his scales as his protective armor comes through.

"It looks like you and I are going hunting once again, old friend."

As he speaks, he pulls the two bags from his belt and places them in his left hand and they disappear. With a mental command, his entire body is coated in his spiked dragonbone armor, a pair of massive scimitars rest between his wings, and a massive Jovar appears in his right hand.

"Then lt us be off." Vires resumes his normal pureblood form...

Touching his friend's front leg, their form fades from view as he shunts them to the plane of the dead.

[Fuzzball]

We're off to Gehenna!

The ferryman has very little patience.

Ooh look! A castle!

Hmm...secret passageway...that always leads to the bad guy...

+1 Frying pan...well...I'm outta here with my loot.

Hmmm...bad guy...

Ouch...my arrows came back at me...that bastard.

bite...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...c law...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...cl aw...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...claw...cla w...claw...claw...claw...failed fort save...paralyzed...

mmmm...tasty Ashlee's soul...

Shatter "Run away!"

Yay! Ashlee's back!

HA! Run away? I don't think so! Reduce enemey to 3 HP

Who's the dumbest skeleton in the room? You are! Yes you are!

Well I'm out guys. You can have the castle if you can keep it floating. <<poof>>

Run away for real this time!

and back to base camp...

[Fuzzball]

"Limerick..." Ashlee follows the man up to the doorway. "Thank you. I have nothing to offer you as payment, but I am grateful that you were there." She clears her throat. "Tomorrow I," she looks over her shoulder at Dano, "we will be paying a visit to the...thing...that separated me from myself. I won't ask you to come, but I won't say that you can't either."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick looks back to Ashlee with a slightly blank look before smiling, "You already know I have to come. As part of the contract between myself and your boyfriend, I am obligated to come." He tilts his head as he scratches a hole in his shirt and his ribcage, "Besides, if you don't ask... you don't get. I know being piety may teach that all good things come in turns... but with simple folk like me, all you have to do is ask." His eyes remain blank and distant as he bows slightly, removing his hand from his shirt... the two holes gone and healed.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee smirks, "If my fiancee tells you that you must be there, then it is none of my business. I will not accept servitude of any kind to myself, even if you're being paid and that's enough for you. If you consider me a friend, then please come. If I am nothing more than a sidenote in a contract, or a source of income for you, then don't bother."

With that she turns and sprints over to Vires, throwing her arms around one of his front legs. "Thank you Vires." She turns to Yorimi and repeats the gesture, "Thank you too Yorimi."

Lastly she turns to Dano and wraps herself around him again and whispers in his ear.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano stands quietly as she makes her rounds and eventually comes to rest in his arms. He holds her firmly as she whispers in his ear. Leaning down, his lips move as he whispers his response. Kissing her on the forehead, he looks up at Limerick. "Despite what you may believe, Limerick, this mission is optional. You are entitled to take some paid vacation while we work, as this mission falls outside the purview of your contract with me. I would personally appreciate it if you did this for us, but it is by no means expected nor demanded."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.

"I like how righteous people refuse to ask or give for services. They deal in favor and friendship. They'll even refuse to ask for anything, instead sidestepping need, and replacing it with objective guilt." He shakes his head as he leans against the doorway, "I'll go, because it does fall within the purview of our contract. " He casts a gaze towards Ashlee, "I can assure you, you will never be anything but a footnote in a contract to me. This is a job, because honest men work for a living."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He sighs at the man's response, not surprised by his reaction. "Very well." He looks to Yorimi. "And you? Will you come with us?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick sighs when Dano asks Yorimi. He turns and walks into the house.

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee holds Dano tightly as she shakes her head, but doesn't turn to look at Limerick. "No Limerick. This isn't about righteousness. This is something that I need to do for my own benefit and I desire the support of my friends behind me. Part of your contract was that I approve of your coming along. If that is truly how you feel then I do not want you there, so keep your monetary righteousness and stay out of this one."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick stops, but doesn't turn, "My business with Dano, is none of yours. Those are your words, sweetheart. You have no say in the matter. Neither does Dano, without absolving our contract... and there are provisions in the contract that I know Dano will not so lightly absolve at this point." He starts walking again.

[Mura-neechan]

Yori giggled as she floated, and looked at Dano.

"Do I get special presents too?"

[Fuzzball]

Ashlee looks at Yorimi, "The same applies to you gorgeous. I want moral support, not firepower. We'll meet in 24 hours in the chamber beneath the tower of Yth." She winks at the succubus and pulls herself out of Dano's embrace. "I'd like to speak with Morris and see the wyrmlings before we leave."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano lets her go reluctantly, but understands. Turning to Limerick, Dano walks after the man. "Limerick, there is something that I will need you to do, for me. You said that phylactery wasn't in the castle. I need you to track it down if you can. You are the most skilled at gathering intel and info, so that's going to be your standing mission. If you locate it, but are unable to take it, simply report back to me and go on vacation if we are still occupied."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



Limerick finally manages to make it far enough inside before Dano gets to him, that he can collapse into a chair, letting out a relieved sigh as he holds his ribcage. He looks up to Dano, "Can't do it boss... not enough info to start from. I can put out a probe to my community, by that's it. If I had a name or something... but as is, what you are asking me to do is scrounge up information on every Lich in the multiverse."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Nodding, he sits down in the chair across from him and sighs himself. "Well, what do we know? We know he's got a propensity for torturing innocent souls. While not unique inofitself, we also know he has developed a method to consume souls that are of considerable strength and purity. Even if it's to put your ear to the ground and see if you can find word of a recently-crippled lich seeking haven or something. Again, I'm not the expert on tracking people down, you are." He shrugs, looking down.

"I want you to know that what you did for us, and what you endured," he indicates with his hand towards Limerick's healing wounds, "is greatly appreciated. You know Ashlee means everything to me, and you helping me is... beyond words. Thank you."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"I'm not in this for the friendship and the thanks... what I do is an unappreciated service to the world. I kill folk, good and evil... it's my job. You want to extend your thanks, don't skimp on your payments." His eyes narrow slightly as his hand shifts to a different part of his ribs, "I'll send out a probe, but it's worthless for me to waste my energy doing it myself."

He shifts slightly in the chair and sits up, the obvious pain he was displaying gone completely as he sits casually straight, "I'm going to take another day or so off again in a few days or weeks... I'm going to go see how much gold I can get off returning these gems back to their respectives." In his hand, seemingly from no where, are a couple of the soul gems, "Most of these are your random cut-throat evil wretches from the bottom of the gene pool... but some got enough capitol investment from family and organizations to pay a hefty sum for their souls release."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

Dano nods as he finally begins to understand the man and his motives, and finally accepts it for what it is. "Here's to hoping that they're all bad souls, and there's a good price on their heads."

Pulling out a gem from his belt, he tosses it to Limerick. "On the note of taking time off, I'm giving you this to take a week off. That gem should easily fetch you ten thousand, more if you're a fast talker. Since you don't work with friendship, don't work with appreciation, and only cold hard cash means a spit to you, that gem is for your services, and I'm giving you an order to take a week-long vacation doing whatever it is you like to do. I don't want you within a mile of us in that time. You are to relax and have fun, or have you forgotten what it means to relax and have fun?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick doesn't move to catch the gem, instead allowing it to hit his chest and rolling down and off of his lap and land at Dano's feet, "There are no provisions in our contract for time off, besides the time I desire off. There are also no provisions for you paying me to take time off. I have been paid for services to be rendered, and I will be there tomorrow to render them."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"Hmm.. Very well. You're all about the contract." He waves a hand and the gem rests in his palm. Turning, it, he looks at its faceted surface as he contemplates his next statement. "You are our point man," He ticks off a finger, "You provide us with a cut of any contracts you complete that we assist you with," up goes another finger, "and you get time off during the month." His last finger goes up.

Closing his hand, he rubs his chin. "We are going to be searching out and infiltrating the dragon's lair that may be our next step. As of right now, you and Yorimi are the only two individuals that won't be affected by the mind-controlling effects the dragon is employing. You, however, are the only one who can get in undetected. I need you to find and detail out suggested methods of infiltration so we don't trip off any alarms. I'd rather have this information prior to our arrival. So, you are going to be our point man for the future operation. An advanced scout, if you will."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick watches him closely, "You... anyone I kill with you, you will recieve a 10 percent cut of the rewards. I was merely being polite to your girlfriend last time by giving her some. That does not extend to everyone else. My contract remains with you. As to this forward operation... you know, if you don't want me around for your girlfriends little revenge operation, all you have to do is ask."

He crosses his legs as he rolls his shoulders, "As to this dragon lair, I have no idea what the hell you are talking about."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"Twenty-five percent, not ten." He eyes the Assassin for a moment. "Also, the souls you have. The contract is to check if those souls are on your list or have a price on their head. Those souls we obtained from that castle... how do you plan to check them against your list?" He pauses and scratches his head, thinking back.

"As for the dragon, I'm sorry... I thought you knew. The red dragon I speak of is the one responsible for the Dragon King's disappearance."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"Right... 25..." He reaches into his jacket and pulls out an ornate scroll which he looks over for a moment, "Apologies... as to the souls? The contract specifies nothing about these souls. These peoples died, and were judged to the Styx. I plan to drop them back in where they belong."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

He looks over the scroll for a moment, and notices something. "The gems you hold in your hand now are also not part of this agreement, yet the standing verbal agreement with those souls is to determine if they are on your list and to turn them in and release the good ones. So, it would stand that the precedence is there that any bodiless souls we encounter need to be checked against your list and released if they are pure or innocent."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.



"This is not a legal court, Dano... precedence does not define contract. The fact these souls in my hand were stolen from their bodies, made me more accepting of fencing them. However, the souls in the jars were taken from the Styx... they have died, they have been judged, and they will go back to serve their eternal sentence." He leans back a little, the gems vanishing from his hands.

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"And if they are prisoners that were intentionally wiped clean, like Ashlee's soul was about to be? You would be dooming good souls to a life of torture or purgatory only because you assumed they came from the river. That doesn't sound like a professional, like you purport yourself to be. It lacks thoroughness."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick tilts his head as he watches Dano, "That is... an opinion."

[Wraithkin]

Dano

"An opinion that may be shared by more than just me. Take it as a suggestion, because I'm sure if even one innocent soul was incorrectly tossed to Hades because of your apathy, you'll piss off more than one god that has control over justice and final judgment." He shrugs and stands. "Plus, I'd figure you want to know if you could earn some extra coin off those souls. Your call." He walks back outside and wraps his arms around Ashlee from behind, hugging her while she talks.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Before Dano leaves the house, Limerick's voice floats back to his ears, and his ears alone, "Or, I may be praised and thanked by more then one god of corruption and evil. You don't know my divine allegiances, Dano... don't make the mistake now by thinking I care one particular way over another, of what they think in the heavens." If Dano turns to reply... he will find Limerick gone.

[Fuzzball]

Limerick rests, and when he rises he finds himself lying on the floor in a small square room containing four podiums, himself behind one of them. After a moment two beings appear. Across stands a stern looking man whom Limerick immediately recognizes as St. Cuthbert. At the left podium hovers a construct. The last podium remains empty, possibly only there to give the room an orderly appearance.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick blinks as he looks around, not allowing the surprise of such a sudden and interrupting plane shift, to show... nor to disturb him. He slowly stood up, looking to the two beings in the room with him. His gazeturned wearily towards the fourth podium, but he ignored it for now as he set his eyes on St. Cuthbert, "It was my understanding, that we weren't to have our next meeting for another three years." Limerick's voice was very calm, threads of respect interwoven in each word, "Have I not performed to the Cudgel's satisfaction?"

[St. Cuthbert]

St. Cuthbert

"A contract has been called into question and you have been summoned for trial to determine the truth of the matter." Saint Cuthbert stands calmly before his podium watching the construct.

[Forgotten T.S.]

OOC: Fuzz? I'm not sure who this guy is, as Wraithkin just kindly informed me what was going on. I don't see the need personally, but I'm not making another post til I know who this person is.

---------------------

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"Which contract?"

[Fuzzball]

Fine...have it your way Tai...

"All will be answered soon enough. First, you may request defense council if you desire it."

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick crossed his arms, "I will defend myself. There is no being besides the Gods capable of knowing my actions, and thus there is no being capable of defending me for they know not what I am or have done." His voice was slightly tight, what was this about... he was on trial? What for? He cast his gaze to Cuthbert with curiosity.

"I however request to send word to my current Employer. I have contract clauses which forbay me from being out of his immediate service without warning. I am in violation for breech of contract by your... sudden trial." He tried not to let to much frustration show in his voice, as he bowed his head slightly at the request.

Should the request be allowed he taps his earring, "Dano, I am currently indisposed by Divine Powers. I will be unavailable for any and all work until I am released, if I am released. I understand this is a breech of contract, and should you wish to use this as leverage for dissolving our contract, I shall understand and no black marks shall be placed on you. If I am unavailable to ever return, I shall endeavor to send word. Do not reply to this message."

[Fuzzball]

"Very well. You will not be indisposed should your employer require your presence. Proceed from the least of the complaints against the defendant to the greatest."

A dull mechanical hum emanates from the construct before it begins. The defendant's choice in contracts has been called into question. Verbal contract 883910442, clause 2f is as follows.

Limerick's voice emanates from the fourth podium. "I'll give the person who's bounty is so high it forces my hand, a day's head start and full warning."

'Forcing his hand' is another way of saying money holds more value than life. Further, the defendant willingly offered his services to King Ruin of Toracor should he be willing to pay a high enough sum. Ruin, a vile creature, forcibly bound to the law, and guilty of multiple universal crimes.

St. Cuthbert looks to Limerick, "Have you anything to say reguarding this?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


"I contest the constructs presence as interpreter of meaning. This creature is incapable of knowing my intent, meaning, and innuendo of meaning. I contest the court appointed interprets opinion of what I mean when I say, 'Force my hand'. I contest the circumstances surrounding my words with Ruin of Toracor."

Limerick leans back slightly as if he is leaning against a wall, "I am bound by Guild Law, to service contracts that are appointed to me. I have free reign to ignore the general contracts of the guild if I so choose, but when a contract is hand-delivered to me, I am oath-sworn to fullfill this contract for the guild. This is not a new development, and is one that is known to The Cudgel... this is an issue which has never been issue before either. Should my hand be forced by the Guild, I am oath-bound to complete the contract, or forfeit my place in the Guild, and then I am to tender my life for betraying the Guild.

"My services, are open to anyone... on any place... of any moral alignment. Good, evil... crazy, orderly. I am an Assassin, The Gilded Raven of the Western Horizon, if a creature goes to my Guild, or to me, and wishes to attempt negotiations of a contract with myself... I am more then willing to hear their words. Despite the upper morality the Order of the Cudgel chooses to stand on... I have always been under the understanding that we do not simply slay evil for the sake of it... for that would make us no better than. I am free to make negotiations with any creature of existence, including Ruin... despite his crimes. Whether I take the contract that is offered... well, since that has never happened... I object to being judged on the grounds of it.

"I cannot be judged for things that have not come to pass, but merely have the possibility thereof. If I was capable of being judged like that, this court should have been convened long ago when I first joined the Assassin's Order of the New Moon."

He took a steadying breathe, his eyes never leaving St. Cuthberts, "As to my services performed FOR Ruin, already. I killed no one, I freed several imprisoned people... and destroyed a Source. Of which I will not speak on, besides to offer into evidence that I have actively destroyed two of these things now, as displays of my character. My contract with Ruin was simple, for the preservation of Existence as we know it."

[Fuzzball]

St. Cuthbert nods, "This being has its limitations. That is why it is not set as judge over you." He turns back to the construct, "Continue."

Recent events have brought many souls under the judgement of the defendant. On one occassion 15 soul gems came into his possession. Those of light were released, but these <<10 gems appear before St. Cuthbert. Their alignments range from Neutral to a range of Evil>> exhibits A1 through A10 have remained trapped and in his possession. What he plans to do with most of these is undecided, however exhibit A7 <<A white gem is illuminated>> contains a soul of choas and evil. It was judged by a being of light to be too dangerous to be allowed to return to life and so entrapped. The defendant plans to ransome this soul back to its family, allowing this being to be ressurected, to continue with its plans of destruction, and gaining a profit for the defendant at the same time.

Once again the god turns to Limerick, but this time he simply waits for the assassin's response.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick tilts his head as he looks at the gems for a moment, "This is true. I had planned to allow the families, associates, organizations, ect. of these ten remaining souls to have the opportunity to pay for the release of their souls, any soul that could not be paid to be released so as to be resurrected by their associates, would be handed over to the Cudgel at our scheduled meeting in Three Years time, for judgment."

He grips his biceps as he continues talking, "As to those to be 'ransomed', as this Construct so narrowly defines my actions, once more I object to his phrasing by the way, I have not had a chance to further study the situations of their release. I need to conduct more indepth probes on those I would be releasing to, and only then upon a full assertation of all information would I begin to make full decisions on what I will and won't do.

"As the creature indicated and trapped by 'being of light'. This creature was not locked away by the hands of a God. A non-diefic creature has no right to judge others, except to judge them to the next step of existence where true judgment takes place. That is why I exist, afterall... I am the man who forces them over to the next realm, to sit at the step of the gods, and be judged for their actions. I do not judge, I merely deliver.

"I will not have the qualms of another creature not of God-Blood smashing their ideals against mine, or I would be in an entirely different profession."

[Fuzzball]

St. Cuthbert stands quietly and turns back to the construct.

More souls have come under the judgement of this man. <<several glowing jars appear before St. Cuthbert>> Each of these souls has supposedly been washed blank by the waters of the river Styx. The defendant told S'th'Dano the following.

"Their identity means nothing. They were taken from the River, I shall judge them now and judge their goings."

These words indicate the intention to judge the souls properly and send them to their rightful afterlife, whether back to the river, or another destination. When querried about the souls, Limerick responded with:

"These peoples died, and were judged to the Styx. I plan to drop them back in where they belong."

<<The construct points at one of the jars>>

"Mommy... Mommy? Where are you...I'm so cold..."

<<The construct points at another jar>>

"I will kill them all and bath in their blood..."

The defendant has deemed these two souls equally deserving of an eternity in the river Styx based solely upon where they were obtained. Athena's cleric was willing to restore these souls and then determine whether they should be returned to the river, or elsewhere, but Limerick refused:

"...they have died, they have been judged, and they will go back to serve their eternal sentence."

Once more St. Cuthbert looks to Limerick.

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.


Limerick's eyes boil with anger as his right hand clenches tight, and he slams his fist down on the podium in front of him. A crack runs down the podium's shaft as the room shakes under the force of his anger as his telekinetic will enhances his already superior punch.

"I object to this constructs continued assertion of opinion." His voice seethes with barely contained rage, "This is third offense of which this creature speaks slander of my intent based off my words to Mortal Man. With no evidence or fact to corroborate." His eyes turn from boiling anger at the Construct to St. Cuthbert where his gaze cools instantly, not daring to look upon the God in such blatant disrespect, eyes were so much more important, "I do not walk in a marble covered temple, where I spend pious days in quiet contemplation... where my life does not hang on the cusp of word and action, but purity of soul and mind. I do not live in a world where I can be honest in every endeavor... I must exercise caution, half-truth... and bold lie.

"I infiltrate bases of evil, dens of demons, and I walk unfearing into the maws of waiting beasts. I can not afford the liberties of a truthful tongue, and I cannot risk everything by giving away the truth to listening ears. My words are only ever that... words. Designed precisely to the situation as I perceive it. I had every intention of keeping these souls until our next scheduled meeting to be judged by you."

[Fuzzball]

The god meets Limerick's eyes and for a moment, he thinks he sees mirth within them. "To the most serious charge. You have always been a man true to your word. That is perhaps your most admirable trait and so I am surprised that this was brought to me."

Limerick Bascht, you stand accused of willfull intent to break contract. Returning to verbal contract 883910442, clause 7a of this verbal agreement is as follows:

Dano's voice comes from the empty podium "Ashlee's agreement to seal the deal."

Clause 7b is as follows:

Ashlee's voice responds to the prompt "I do not object so long as I do not have to spend any more time with him than is necessary"

The defendant's presense on S'th'Dano's latest task was deemed unnecessary by both parties, and yet he insisted repeatedly that he would be present.

Cuthbert returns his gaze to Limerick, "What say you Limerick?"

[Forgotten T.S.]

Limerick Basch't - Professional.

His eyes bleed curiosity in the face of Cuthbert's look... what the hell was this? What game was being played that he was not fathoming? He frowned slightly as he flicked his hand and an ornate scroll appeared in the middle of the room. "I was hired to do reconnaissance work for Dano... I was never given any specifications on what to recon for except that it was for himself and his group.... especially since several of the clauses specifically deal with the group.

"I was given no work in order to perform while they were to be away. So, despite her desire not to be around me... it is an impossible task with the job as assigned. I will not violate my contract, or allow unnecessary changes, such as forced vacations... for such frivolous things as personal space in the face of completion of duties. Had Dano elaborated on the Dragon he was speaking of, I would have done the requested recon duties."

His eyes lock hard to St. Cuthberts, "I have never violated my contracts unless I have been afforded no other choice... such as being spirited away to a deific plane."