The Woods IX

[Chaotic Bob]

It has trees. Lots of trees.

[ValKey]

*Crystal sighs a little bit and rubs Ishmae on the head*
*ValKey laughs*I don't know if it will work. I hope if you o die you don't turn into a zombie or something

[Uberblah]

Ishmale smiles at her touch. He lets out a sigh and smiles wider.

[Shadow of the Sun]

Umbras pops into the woods. Argh! Goddamned freaking teleports, never work right! I guess I may have to sleep here. He starts looking for a place to sleep.

[Chaotic Bob]

Well, let's just not give it an opportunity to be tested? That works just as well I think.
A small dead time amoeba uses this opportunity to envelop Rizzen.

((now I must leave...coincidentally at the same time as half of Town...weird))

[ValKey]

*Crystal hugged Ishmale close, she had a lot on her mind but she didn't want to bother him with it*
Well if you are ever turned into a zombie, I will still love you*she smirks*

[Chaotic Bob]

Thanks, Val. I appreciate the infatigable love.
He manages to say this, smile happily, and kiss her all before becoming completely immobolized by the dead time amoeba.

[Uberblah]

Well Crystal won't have to worry about that right now as Ishmale has dozed off. Last night seems to have taken a lot out of him and dead time didn't remedy it.

(('twas fun. not expecting another long night for awhile though. getting tired now. night all))

[McBish]

Jo walks into the woods and starts searching for herbs and what not. She finds a interesting plant and takes a small taste of it, something most people would think is a bad idea. She does so for awhile.

[Nevrmore]

Adder continues looking at the trees.

[Xaspian]

Pelgof walks slowly through the trees, looking up at the dappling of the light, and then down at the intricate patterns of shadow. He smiles, briefly.

[Chaotic Bob]

A small section of the winter wolf pack runs through the woods, pausing as they catch the scents of Adder and Pelgof.

[Xaspian]

Pelgof fails to notice anything catching his scent. He playfully manipulates the shadows, causing patches of light to dance across the woodland's floor.

[Obsidian Blade]

The Co-Ordinater's voice breaks into Sia's thoughts. It isn't panicked - the Co-Ordinater's voice is never panicked - but there is a certain degree of alarm in it.
Sia! Where are you and do you know where Lelin is?
I'm in the woods on the outskirts of Town. Lelin is currently at the local tavern. Well, she was last time I saw her.
When was that?
Two days ago. Sia winces as she feels a surge of anger from the Co-Ordinater.
Two days ago?
We had a... disagreement.
Well fix it! I've just recieved word that at least two different agents have been sent to Town from Co-Ordinater Portage's sect. I assume they're either looking for the orb, trying to elimate you two or scouting. They are to be eliminated by this time tomorrow.
Understood.
We are sending a message with this. No other Co-Ordinater's should desire to send their agents after they recieve the bodies of the harshes, so make sure they get that impression... I know this isn't down your alley, but both of you will need to deal with this. Any questions?
Do you have an idea of their location?
Most probably the Slums. Lelin can scry them.
Understood, Co-Ordinater. I'll contact you when we've finished.
Good luck. He cuts contact. Sia sighs and runs her hands through her hair. After thinking for a few seconds, she turns to Adder.
I need to go.

[Nevrmore]

Adder looks at Sia, a degee of worry in his eyes, "No, I'll go with you."

[Xaspian]

Pelgof sits down under a tree, and relaxes. It's been a long time since he's been able to do that. He smiles again.

[Chaotic Bob]

Seemingly just to spite Pelgof, the winter wolves that have been stalking him lunge out of nearby bushes, trying to bite and claw at him.

[Obsidian Blade]

Sia rubs her neck. If... if you want. I need to get Lelin, wherever the hell she is. She turns and starts walking out of the woods.

[Nevrmore]

Adder follows her.

[ValKey]

*ValKey slides out of dead time*

[Chaotic Bob]

The dead time amoeba remembers that it exists and reluctantly moves away from Rizzen.

((dunno if I'll be on long, I might be though))

[ValKey]

*she yawns a little bit shaking her fist at the amoeba* yesterday was rather interesting don't you think?

[Chaotic Bob]

The deck specifically, or the day as a whole? Either one seems accurate enough for me.

[ValKey]

The day as a whole, though I am curious of what the deck might bring in the future. Though maybe I am better off not knowing

[Chaotic Bob]

Hm...to not know and live in blissful ignorance? Or know and live in anxious fright? To not know and suffer everlasting paranoia? To know and be pleasantly surprised by a distinct lack of negativity? All possibilities I suppose.

[ValKey]

well even if we "knew" something bad might happen it might not be as bad as we thought. How's that for optimism?

[Chaotic Bob]

Two thumbs up and a cookie.
He looks up as he digs through a pocket and draws out a bag of sugar cookies.

[ValKey]

*ValKey laughs and picks up one of your hands and nibbles on it*mm tasty, it seems like your optimism is rubbing off on me. May glass is half full now...

[Chaotic Bob]

Rizzen grins and kisses the top of her head. He holds out the bag of cookies.
Cookie? Or are you going to continue to devour my optimism-rich hand?

[Uberblah]

Ishmale awakes and smiles. He just feels good tonight.

[ValKey]

*ValKey turned into a dog and barked*cookie, cookie cookie!*laughs*sorry I am just in an odd mood tonight
*Crystal stirs as she hears Ishmale get up*

[Uberblah]

He hears her getting up and wraps his arms around her.

[Chaotic Bob]

You seem like you to me, Val. Which is exactly how I want you.
He smiles widely and retrieves a cookie from the bag, holding it out.

[ValKey]

*ValKey wags her tail, and jumps for the cookie, grinning*yeah I am feeling better, it seems the funk has left me. Yeah!
*Crystal curls up to Ishmale smiling over at him*you look in a good mood

[Uberblah]

Ishmale smiles at her.
Yep, just one of those random good moods.

[Chaotic Bob]

Rizzen laughs and lightly tosses the cookie up for her to catch.

[ValKey]

*crystal snuggles up to Ishmale, closing her eyes*mm..random good mood is nice
*ValKey wiggles, and runs backwards, jumps..snags cookie and lands on his head*everyone put your hands together for the amazing Valkey!

[Chaotic Bob]

Rizzen grins and gives her a round of applause.
Bravo!

[ValKey]

*ValKey grins and jumps off his head*I saw the funny thing the other day.it was a man, made out of food. He was some..sort of random thing...*she makes a bowl of cheetos appear, poking a paw at it* this was the food..*she takes a bite of them, her muzzle starting to turn orange*wanna try, it is kind of tasty

[Chaotic Bob]

((heh, I remember that...))

Rizzen takes one of the chips (are they really chips? I've never known what to classify them as...) and takes a bite out of one.
Not bad.

[ValKey]

*she licks her lips, looking at her fur*though it seems to turn everything orange

[Chaotic Bob]

Rizzen looks at his fingers and licks off the cheedle.
I think they're covered in cheese of some sort.

[ValKey]

Orange is my least favorite color*she turns the orange on her blue, then grabs two of the cheetos and stick them in her mouth*ork ork..look I am a walrus!

[Chaotic Bob]

You look awfully skinny for a walrus.
He grins and pokes her snout.

[ValKey]

*shifts into a walrus, balancing the cheeto on her nose, she bounces it over to him*honey..does my jeans make me look fat?*laughs*

[Chaotic Bob]

I'd go with 'poofy'.
He grins and catches the cheeto dextrously in his mouth.

[ValKey]

That's a safe answer if I ever heard one. You still think I look lovely like this?*makes a bow on her head, a strand of pearls, the blue tinge starts to look like lipstick she preens herself with a flipper*

[Chaotic Bob]

Of course, your pearls accent your tusks perfectly. Disregarding the fact that I'm prone to thinking you look lovely through a rather biased viewpoint.

[McBish]

Jo walks around the woods almost filling her basket full of herbs and mushrooms.

[ValKey]

*shifts back to her regular form*so you would think I looked good in any form? how devoted is that?*she gives you a big hug, and kisses you making a big blue kiss stain on your face*

[Chaotic Bob]

I simply find it difficult to see you as anything other than beautiful.
Rizzen smiles and returns a kiss to ValKey.

The winter wolf pack has had enough of Pelgof's dead time and they quietly back off, hunting for more...killable prey.

[McBish]

Jo starts to make her way back to Town. The winter wolves might get the feeling that avoding Jo is a good idea. Then again they might make their will save.

[Chaotic Bob]

The wolves would go bother Jo, but are distracted by a passing deer, which they chase down and mutilate. They don't even eat the corpse, just leaving it to rot. A howl comes from the mountains and they run off.

[ValKey]

*she smiles and smears the blue cheeto mark on his cheek, doodling a little dragon shape* ahh...thanks*makes a motion trying to give you wings like hers for a little while*there now you look like a true too..

[McBish]

A small sparrow flies down to the dear and raises it back to life. Then flies away.

Jo reaches the Town.

[Chaotic Bob]

Rizzen looks over his shoulder and flicks the wings.
A pleasure it is.
He places a hand on her cheek and lightly kisses her.

[ValKey]

would you like to fly with me?

[Chaotic Bob]

I would be delighted to.

[ValKey]

I am not sure if those wings I made you work, if not I can use a fly spell I suppose..

[Chaotic Bob]

They'll work. One way or the other.

[ValKey]

well are you going to try them out?

[Chaotic Bob]

You betcha.
He flares the wings out and jumps into the air, merely gliding for the moment, to get a feel for then.

Unfortunately, that's all he's getting for now, as the dead time amoeba reasserts its existance.

[ValKey]

(night see ya around)

[Exachix]

Karaki and Lycande enter to woods...

[Baeleck]

Lycande heads straight towards the waterfall that they went to before.

[Exachix]

Karaki follows her, keeping up and being careful of vines.

[Baeleck]

Lycande begins to run as she sees the falls, but it is now gushing through, due to snowmelt from the mountains. She goes round to one side of it and carefully traverses her way into the cave behind it, poking a head out to watch for Karaki.

[Exachix]

Karaki follows her carefully to the cave.

[Baeleck]

Inside the cave, the bluish crystals still glisten and light up the inside. Lycande walks into the cave a bit more, her footsteps echoing around the walls.

[Exachix]

Karaki follows her, looking at the crystals, and smiling.

[Baeleck]

Lycande goes over to one of the walls and pulls one of the crystals out of the walls. She then gets her ice stinger dagger and begins to make a hole in the top, glancing up at Karaki every so often.

[Exachix]

Karaki watches to see what she does, curiously.

[Baeleck]

After making the hole, she slices away at the sides, to make it look regular and symmetrical. She then takes a piece of cord from her belt, threading it through the hole and then tying a knot to make a pendant. She stands and hangs it around Karaki's neck, grinning.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles to her.

"Thank you."

He kisses her.

[Baeleck]

Lycande kisses him back, her eyes then noticing a brighter glow around a corner. She tilts her head a bit, intrigued.

[Exachix]

Karaki hmms.

{elven}"Something wrong?"

[Baeleck]

Lycande points in the direction of the glow.
{Elven} "Not wrong, no..."

[Exachix]

Karaki looks and hmms.

{Elven}"Weird."

[Xaspian]

Seemingly just to spite Pelgof, the winter wolves that have been stalking him lunge out of nearby bushes, trying to bite and claw at him.

Pelgof emerges from Dead Time, noticing that he's beeing attacked by wolves. He sighs, and waves a hand. The dancing shadows beneath the nearest threes wolves open up to reveal a cartoon-style 'Hole In The Ground'(tm). He draws his crossbows, ready for any others who want to try.

[Baeleck]

Lycande walks closer, a little wary.

[Exachix]

Karaki follows close behind her, keeping alert.

[Baeleck]

Lycande comes across a very large crystal which glows with a blinding light. It protrudes vertically from the floor and is flawless in it's regularity. Lycande's wariness is now mostly gone.
"Wow..."

[Exachix]

Karaki gasps, but stays alert for things that could be dangerous.

[Baeleck]

Lycande moves towards it shielding her eyes against it's brightness. She moves out a hand to touch it...

[Exachix]

Karaki watches Lycande.

[Baeleck]

As Lycande touches the stone, there is a crackling from back near the cave entrance, but other than that, nothing happens. Lycande doesn't notice the sound, and runs a hand down the rock.
{Elven} "I've only seen one thing more beautiful..." she mutters dreamily, as if distant.

[Exachix]

Karaki hmms and walks over to beside her, looking around.

[Baeleck]

Lycande removes her hand from the rock, then looks up at Karaki, grinning.
{Elven} "I think you can guess what that one thing is..."

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles.

{Elven}"I'd be you."

He kisses her.

[Baeleck]

{Elven} "And I'd be you."
She kisses him back, hugging him tightly.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and looks at the stone, before hugging Lycande.

[Baeleck]

Lycande then notices something. She becomes rigid in his arms, and raises her hand to point at the cave entrance.
{Elven} "Oh my. It's frozen over."
The waterfall, which was gushing down moments earlier, has indeed frozen, blocking their way out.

[Exachix]

Karaki hmms.

{elven}"Weird."

[Baeleck]

The cave is actually quite small, and Lycande can see the back of it. There are no other tunnels. She goes up to the wall of ice, and bangs against it.

[Exachix]

Karaki follows her and hmms, before smiling faintly, and casts Shatter.

[Baeleck]

The ice shudders, causing a few loose bits or rock from the ceiling to crumble, but other than that, nothing happens. Lycande looks at it, confused.

[Exachix]

Karaki hmms and looks at his pendant. Before taking the pendant off and putting it against the wall of ice.

[Baeleck]

The pendant crystal, upon contact, morphs into the frozen-over waterfall. It might not be made of ice after all, but it seems to be.

[Exachix]

Karaki sighs and hmms, and lets go of the rope from it.

"Strange."

[Baeleck]

The sunlight from outside seems to be slowly melting the wall. Lycande sighs as well, then sits down on the floor.
"Very strange."

[Exachix]

Karaki sighs and sits next to her, and hugs her.

{Elven}"Sorry."

[Baeleck]

Lycande looks back at him.
{Elven} "Don't say that. It's not your fault."

[Exachix]

Karaki sighs.

{elven}"I'm sorry I lost the pendent."

[Baeleck]

Lycande kisses him.
{Elven} "No matter. It only took me a few seconds to make.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and kisses her back.

[Baeleck]

Lycande smiles.
{Elven} "Well, looks like were stuck here for a while. Alone."
Her smile turns to a grin.

[Exachix]

Karaki grins.

{elven}"It's a shame."

[Baeleck]

Lycande giggles a bit, before rolling over onto her back and pulling him swiftly into a deep kiss.

[Exachix]

Karaki doesn't resist, at all.

[Baeleck]

Lycande rolls a bit more so that Karaki is astride on her, holding the kiss for another few seconds, mumbling with pleasure.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and mms in enjoyment.

((Urk... be back after lunch))

[Baeleck]

Lycande ruffles Karaki's hair with one hand, using the other to press him close into her.

((Okies, but I may be gone by then))

[Exachix]

((Oh ok)) and ((back))

Karaki smiles and strokes her hair.

[Baeleck]

Lycande looks into Karaki's eyes, but then closes hers, smiling.

[Exachix]

He smiles and kisses her.

[Baeleck]

Lycande begins to fumble with Karaki's top, as black curtains begin to swirl upwards from the ground.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and helps her as the Curtains finally unravel.

[Baeleck]

((And with that, I'm off. I'll be back later on this afternoon))

[Exachix]

((Okaydokay, have fun =) ))

[Baeleck]

((I'm back!))

The curtains withdraw from around them.

[Exachix]

((What? Who? Where? Oh))

Karaki looks at the curtains.

"Where do you come from!"

[Baeleck]

Lycande laughs.
"Yeah, curtains! Speak, where do you appear from!"
The curtains pause momentarily, then give a whimper.
"We don't know!"
They then vanish, wailing and crying.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and kisses her.

[Baeleck]

Lycande kisses him back, then looks to where the curtains were.
"Poor things."
The wall of iciness has now melted away mostly, with only a few icicles dangling from the very top of the falls.

[Exachix]

Karaki hmms.

"Ooh."

[Baeleck]

Lycande stands up, grabbing her bow and slinging her quiver back on.
{Elven} "Looks like we can get back out."

[Exachix]

Karaki stands, sheaths his sword, attaches his quiver to his belt and grabs his own bow.

{Elven}"Yep."

[Baeleck]

Lycande looks around the cave.
{Elven} "Hmm. Now what?"

[Exachix]

Karaki shrugs.

{Elven}"That depends. What do you want to do?"

[Baeleck]

Lycande grins a bit.
{Elven} "To be honest? To stay here and make out with you forever. But seeing as that's near impossible, let's wander a bit; there's still plenty of forest to explore."

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles.

{Elven}"Ok then."

He carefully steps out of the cave and waterfall, and holds his hand out for Lycande.

[Baeleck]

Lycande gratefully takes his hand, adjusting one of her bracers as she does so. She beams at him, as they walk through the dappled shade of the trees.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and looks at her occasionally as they pass things.

[Baeleck]

A pair of eyes watches them from one of the trees, but Lycande doesn't notice anything.

[Exachix]

Karaki probably doesn't but is alert enough to be aware if someone is trying to sneak up on them, or is going to attack them.

He smiles to Lycande.

[Baeleck]

From the branches of the oak tree, a dryad pokes out her head. She blinks, watching the two walk.

[Exachix]

Karaki doesn't notice, well, he does, in that a hand moves to the quiver on his belt, but that's all.

[Baeleck]

Lycande leans against his shoulder, smiling and closing her eyes. They walk on.

((Dinner, brb))

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and wraps an arm around her.

[Baeleck]

Lycande wraps her arm around his waist too, then begins to hum to herself.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and listens.

[Baeleck]

Lycande continues to hum, and this is strangley joined by a lower humming from behind them.

[Exachix]

Karaki blinks and looks behind them.

[Baeleck]

Strolling along behind them is Holly and Ivy. The two treants give a slow grin, but continue to hum. Lycande seems not to notice.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and turns back to look forwards, then smiles to Lycande.

[Baeleck]

Lycande stops humming, but the treants don't 'twig' for another ten seconds or so. THey then both abruptly stop, but Lycande now knows they are there. She smiles broadly, but keeps her eyes closed.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and his player takes damage due to pun. He smiles to Lycande.

{elven}"What were you humming?"

((back after food))

[Baeleck]

Lycande's player contemplates how awful the pun was, then decides to let the whole subject drop, wincing.
{Elven} "Remeber that music box? That."
Without looking back, Lycande gives a wave.
{Sylvan} "Hello Holly, Ivy."

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles.
{elven}"Ah."
He looks confused at the Sylvan, but his face still smiles.

[Baeleck]

The treants are quiet for a moment, and then Holly replys.
{Sylvan} "Oh... you noticed us?"
Ivy starts to say the same thing shortly after, but then stops, realising that the other treant had already done so. Lycande giggles at them, then smiles back at Karaki, begining to hum again.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles at Lycande and they continue their walk.

[Baeleck]

Holly and Ivy wander off in another direction to replant some forest. Lycande enjoys the walk, listening to the birdsong and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles and listens.

[Baeleck]

He can hear the sounds mentioned above, and possibly the slight grumbling of Lycande's stomach.

[Exachix]

Karaki looks at her and smiles.

{elven}"How are you dear?"

[Baeleck]

{Elven} "I'm fine. A little hungry, I suppose."

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles.

"Oh? Want to go have something to eat?"

[Baeleck]

Lycande nods a bit.
"Okay then."

[Exachix]

Karaki looks at her.

{Elven}"If you don't want to though we can carry on walking."

[Baeleck]

{Elven} "No, I'd like some food. Sneaks?"

[Exachix]

{elven}"Ok Then."

He begins to lead her back to town.

[Baeleck]

Lycande follows him, keeping her hand gripped tightly around his.

[Exachix]

Karaki smiles fiantly as they return to the streets.

[NecroPaladin]

Namesake enters the woods, finding a deep, secluded open area and sitting down on a log in the sun. He puts his head in his hands, crying.

Within a minute, a flying Revenant spots him and slams down behind him with enough force to shake the nearby ground.

"Stop...following me."

"I do not follow you. I follow Clergyman State, on his orders."

"I am Clergyman State. I order you to leave."

"You mock our illustrious leader. I will know when State commands me. Until then, curb your tongue."

The two stay in silence, Namesake doing his best to sit out of Revenant's shadow.

[Rebonack]

((You totally just plopped down in the area where Maph’tey normally goes hunting =P))

The underbrush not too far away from the undead pair begins to rustle ominously.

[NecroPaladin]

Namesake looks down and does not respond, but Revenant turns, seemingly without moving his legs.

"Show yourself."

He pulls out a few nails and begins tossing them up and down in his hand.

[Rebonack]

A hush suddenly falls over the woods as Revenant utters the phrase. It is answered, but not with undue haste.

The breeze, odd in these woodlands, suddenly picks up, causing the tree-tops far above to sway and creak. Obviously something horrible is coming. Something unnatural and foul. Something like…

…an elk.

The animal pops out of the brush, its ears swiveling around nervously. Upon spotting the undead pair it freezes in place.

[The Geomancer]

A low, mournful howl can be heard. It the howl of a predator on the scent.

[NecroPaladin]

Revenant stops...and then spears it through the head with a nail as target practice.

((What? He's really, really evil))

"I missed the eye. Filthy imbalancing rags. Do I have your permission to remove them?"

"Yes."

"Do not order me, heathen."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Revenant removes the robes, appearing in his natural form.

[The Geomancer]

The trees and bushes far off can be seen, shaking.

[Rebonack]

A voice now filters down through the canopy. Apparently from something that was stalking the animal from above.

“Wonderful. That’s just great, you went and killed it,” the voice is clear and resonant. Namesake would likely recognize it right away as Maph’tey’s. He still isn’t visible, however.

“Now I’m going to have to find another…”

[The Geomancer]

Czar leaps through the underbrush, attempting to tackle Revenant.

[NecroPaladin]

"Assailants. My leige."

Namesake's eyes flash red.

"WHAT?"
"Oh no...NO!"

Revenant shoots up into the air, grinning maliciously. He flips a three-foot nail into each hand, preferring them to his hammer.

In this way, Czar misses him, tackling NameState.

[The Geomancer]

((Lets Czar tackle him, I have something really cool planned...))

[NecroPaladin]

((Mkay...but I want to face off with Maph first, and no offense to Rebonack, but Revenant isn't in any real danger fighting Maph'tey. He's meant to be a major villain, who needs at least two people to take him down. And Tom could be that second person. After all, having Revenant out of reach should just make Tom more angry.))

"Czar? What-"

State is sent skidding, knocked unconcious and leaving Revenant free to guide his own actions.

[The Geomancer]

((Oh.. didn't read that.))
You bet on the wrong horse, master. Czar growls at Namestate. He stands up and looks at Revenant. I'm going to end your life, abomination. He says. He then reaches back into his pocket, and pulls out a small flask. He downs it in one gulp. Time for some fun... He says, as he starts shaking.

[Rebonack]

Upon spotting the metal-clad undead and the spikes it’s wielding a certain report worms its way to the front of his mind.

“The thing from the Slums… Great, and I had hoped I would get a chance for a peaceful lunch,” Maph’tey grumbles. “All right KNAVEs, you are under arrest for more charges than I feel like repeating at the moment. Stand down or I’ll be forced to kick your collective asses.”

Maph'tey's voice is still coming from the tree-tops, however he still isn't in view.

[NecroPaladin]

((Revenant has lifesense, you know.))

Revenant's head turns with a ring in midair. He grins.

"Hello, Maph'tey. I've been dying to meet you."

He sends a few nails whistling through the brush at Maph'tey, although there's still plenty of trees between them.

((Note: Maph'tey might recognize a hoarse perversion of his own voice))

[Nevrmore]

Terrorem finally stops as he sees Czar has halted in a small clearing. He leans on a tree, catching his breath.

[NecroPaladin]

State lifts his head, moaning, and goes entirely limp just as Revenant begins smashing through trees to get to Maph'tey, laughing.

[The Geomancer]

Czar is undergoing quite a few changes. He is shrinking, going from a robust 7'8 to a measly 7'6. On the other hand, his teeth are growing larger, and spikes are shooting up from his back. His eyes are bright red. As he stands in the forest, breathing heavily from his transformation he says Alright Revenant, its time to play. He is much more dangerous now then he ever was before.

[NecroPaladin]

((OOoooh! Maybe Czar can do one of those human bullet thingies, ricocheting from tree to tree. This'll make an awesome fight. And I just turned on the Van Helsing soundtrack.))

[Nevrmore]

((Dammit, how will I get Crucius involved in this?))

[NecroPaladin]

((I dunno, I'm not sure if he's ready to choose a side. State is kinda lying, broken, on the ground though.))

[The Geomancer]

Czar pulls himself up a nearby tree until he is parallel to Revenant. Then pulls himself tight against the tree and launches himself like a bullet at Revenant. His elongated claws are faced forward and his jaws and held open.

((This is always how I pictured him fighting.))

[Nevrmore]

((Crucius would gladly participate in killing Revenant, as he hates the damn thing))

[NecroPaladin]

((M'kay, but remember, I made Revenant to be a tough cookie. As in, Aesa-level difficulty, but without any kinda "I win instantly" power. So this'll be difficult, and he'll likely come back, if as an enemy.))
Revenant, still moving, is only grazed by Czar, but this is enough to send him spinning out of control. The two of them fly off at high speed in opposite directions, smashing through various undergrowth.

[Rebonack]

((I did not know that >.>. Is he one of those undead who retain all their abilities from life?))

Maph’tey suddenly slides down the trunk of a nearby tree as the projectiles go whizzing above his head, talons leaving curling masses of stripped bark in his wake.

He had been hunting, do you honestly expect him to do that in human shape?

He also doesn’t appear to recognize the voice.

“You were, huh? Well, hi. Since you aren’t actually alive I don’t really feel compelled to go easy on you, so keep that in mind.”

The lithe beast leaps off his perch, smashing into the forest floor with an audible *thoom*. The air just above and behind him wavers as a pair of giant-sized glassy projectiles suddenly manifest out of the aether and rocket toward Revenant.

[The Geomancer]

Czar tumbles through the undergrowth, rolling and twisting until he slams into a tree. He doesn't even wait to catch his breath before launching himself off the tree and at another tree, using this one to once again leap at Revenant. As he leaps he curls into a ball exposing the wicked spikes that run from his head to his tail.

[NecroPaladin]

With more smashing and spinning, Revenant is caught in a miasma of various projectiles and slammed into the ground. He rises in a fluid motion, his eyes spitting blood.

Angrily, he crosses his wings...and manifests Rhyme and Reason...or, as Maph'tey would know them, Ruin and Refuge.

[The Geomancer]

((Phantom Tollbooth is spinning in its grave.. also how did he react to Czar?))

[Rebonack]

Maph’tey just sort of sits where he is, dumbstruck at the moment.

“Of frell…”

“PLOT!” he yells at the sky. “I know this is your fault! That shouldn’t even be possible!”

[NecroPaladin]

((Czar was among those projectiles))

"It seems the traitors show themselves
Terrorem and Prohibition
Though to attack
you have shown a lack
Of most simple intuition

To avoid conflict divine
for you two are outmatched
And so you'll feel the pain of
nails unto your body latched."

((He knows that Terrorem doesn't like him and he reads minds. So yes, he sees you as hostile))

With that, Revenant goes into a frenzy, tossing firey and icy nails every which way.

"No...no conflict..."

"Silence, master. I am protecting you."

[Nevrmore]

"Shut the hell up and fight, this is some good entertainment, right here!" Plot calls from the tree branch he is sitting on.

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

Crucius was planning on joining the fight, but somewhere between Revenant shooting nail bullets, Czar becoming a crocodilian bullet that can't seem to control his direction very well, and a giant invisible beast joined the fray, he lost his nerve. So instead he does what he does best; Turns around and shouts "Onus!!" loudly.

[The Geomancer]

((Teehee... Projectile people))
Czar lands on his back, and then has to lift up his legs and tail to dodge a very large frozen nail. Getting up he grasps the nail in he teeth, and starts spinning it around. It gains more and more velocity until Czar lets it fly at Revenant and thrice the speed at which it was originally shot. He then goes over to State, and tries to grasp him in his teeth and drag him to safety.

[NecroPaladin]

The nail strikes Revenant through Rhyme's wing. He grunts, but the nail is soon incinerated.

((Now here's the big moment))

Revenant glares at Czar, fire in his eye...eye-nails.

"Do not touch the master. He wishes to stay..."

He whips out a railroad spike...

"IN PLACE."

He tosses the spike, and State is pinned to the ground by the thing, now well over six feet long and as wide as his arm.

"GAAAWAH!" State spits arsenic and his eyes go blank. An image of a spectral chain between his head and Revenant's appears...and shatters.

[Rebonack]

Maph’tey glares at the abomination that was apparently hodge-podged together from him. He apparently doesn’t like this very much.

Oh, and remember those giant glassy rocks?

The boulders slam into the ground on either side of Revenant and suddenly split open. It has now become obvious that they’re very large, very unfriendly looking constructs of some kind. Sharing their maker’s distaste for Revenant they proceed to assault him with a flurry of claw strokes.

The Traveler, meanwhile, flares his wings out and then sweeps them forward, a rippling distortion in space tearing through the greenery and everything else in its path. The destination of this path is, of course, the undead double.

[The Geomancer]

Czar grasp the giant railroad spike in his teeth, plants all four feet on the ground and rips it out of State. He then grabs both sides of the spike and bends it into a circlet. He takes it and devours it. He seems to absorb energy from his iron snack. He leans over State and whispers: I shall deal with him master! He then looks up at Revenant and spits a glob of molten metal at him. Its more potent this way!

[Nevrmore]

((Wow.))

The monotonous sound of "THUMP. SCRAPE. THUMP. SCRAPE. THUMP. SCRAPE." Begins gorwing louder.

[NecroPaladin]

"I'm sorry, master. But every child must outgrow his father someday."

This is when Revenant is literally smashed into the ground by the constructs, which, paradoxically, helps him avoid Maph'tey and Czar's attacks. He climbs back up, missing his crown. Part of his face bandages have been torn off, revealing Maph'tey's rotting visage. Reason slashes at both of the constructs with the word "BREAK" while Rhyme begins to speak in tongues, igniting the ground nearby.

Clergyman State continues to gurgle and convulse, thrashing on the ground.

Revenant begins to hurl sewing needles, enlarged to the size of rapiers, at Maph'tey.

[The Geomancer]

Czar is torn inbetween helping his master and killing Revenant. His bloody side wins out and he turns and sinks his teeth into a tree nearby. With an incredible show of strength he rips the entire thing out of the ground and tosses it at Revenant. He doesn't even seem away of Maph'tey. ((Try dodging an entire pine tree... Did I mention it was a pine tree? It is.))

He then turns to State and tries to place him in the safety of the ditch made by the uprooted tree.

[NecroPaladin]

State's eyes dim and he pulls himself up to his feet using Czar.

"No. I must speak to Maph'Tey."

His voice is weak. He's dying.

Revenant ((Note: I don't want him to die in this scene)) turns Rhyme toward the tree, and is smashed wing first. The tree burns away quickly, but Czar may realize he's struck a partial victory...Rhyme is incapacitated, and is absorbed by his wing.

He continues to pelt Maph'tey with sewing needles and all manner of projectile, intent on killing him, while Reason hurls a giant "NO" at Czar.

[Rebonack]

The glassy beings shatter upon contact with the weapon.

Explosively.

With lots of jagged shrapnel.

Maph’tey, meanwhile, goes airborne to avoid the flames, his wings beating at an absolutely obscene rate and producing a low hum. Around his form a silvery nimbus begins to glow.

Most of Revenant's projectiles pass through the otherworldly beast harmlessly, though a number to manage to lodge in him.

“I am so going to take you apart,” he insists, fairly certain that that probably won’t be the case. At least not today.

He then inhales, sharply, his chest expanding as his lithe neck arcs back. From inside him there’s a sound of tortured dimension rending moments before his head snaps forward and his maw splits open.

From his mouth he spews forth a shower of silvery particles. What they do becomes obvious when several shrubs caught within the cone instantly crystallize.

((And now, alas, I must go. Feel free to control the fight with Maph’tey to your liking, though I request that neither he nor Revenant be destroyed in the ensuing fire-fight. The nimbus, Revenant should know, will sop up elemental energy (force included) like a sponge.))

[Nevrmore]

The trees that were shielding Crucius from the fight are violently ripped away.

A huge, humanoid beast, standing on all fours, stares at the combatants as he lifts Crucius onto his giant back.

"Police State, meet Onus."

[The Geomancer]

Czar gets flung back by the "No" smashing himself against a tree. He hits his head very hard and seems stunned for a little bit. He sees NameState moving and rushes to him, ignoring the fight around him. Master Stop! You need to rest, to recuperate. I'll watch over you! He tries to force him back into a sitting position.

[NecroPaladin]

((Well, the plot exposition I have in mind involves Maph'tey being pinned but not killed. So here it is, I guess.))

Alas, Revenant is all but knocked out of Maph'tey's path by the flying tree. And sewing needle after sewing needle lands, doing little damage but pinning a cursing Maph'tey to a tree trunk by his legs. Revenant hovers over Maph'tey, intent on dealing the final blow. Eventually, they are (pleasant) face to (hideous) face.

"Gah! You are wrong on so many levels!"

And with that, Maph'tey grabs the hammer off of Revenant's belt, and smacks him in the face with it. Do note that Revenant happens to have nails in his eyes.

Some serious pain later, Revenant is screaming like a banshee and pinwheeling backward, completely out of control.

NameState hobbles over to a bleeding, pinned, and very angry Maph'tey, just as Czar catches up to him:

"I...I'm sorry. State couldn't...I couldn't stop myself..."

And he collapses.

"Heathens! All of you! You KNAVES and you Police know not how to fight for the Law!"

Revenant blindly begins to flee the scene, right into the path of Onus.

[Nevrmore]

"Onus, don't let the bastard get away." Crucius commands. The giant tries to catch Revenant in its giant hand.

[The Geomancer]

It is clear to Czar Prohibition, that State must have learned the error of his ways in "choosing Revenant over him" and isn't going to rub it in his face. He is, going to try to drag State to safety.

[NecroPaladin]

Onus crushes Revenant like a fly. When he opens his hand, Revenant's legs are broken and he lays motionless.

"R-Reason...Speak."

With that, a HUGE "GOODBYE" flies out of Reason's blade, smashing Onus in the face.

"He...said it best. Pathetic worms."

And with a villainous laugh, Revenant teleports to an unknown place rather far away.

((I gots tah go. Assume State remains unconcious. Revenant is gone until I want to bring him back for another awesome scene.))

[Nevrmore]

Onus takes the hit dead-on, nearly flipping onto his back from the shock, if not for the immeasurably heavy weights growing from his knuckles.

"Damn, I don't think we got him."

[The Geomancer]

Czar turns to Terrorem. Help me get him back to the fortress! He yells. He could easily carry State back, but he is wounded and decides that Onus would have an easier time of it.

[Nevrmore]

"Yeah, yeah. Onus, take him - gently." Onus holds out a hand for Tom to place State into.

[The Geomancer]

Tom jumps up into Onus's hand carrying State. ((Back to HQ!))

[Nevrmore]

Onus places the two of them on his back.

"Alright, now get back to K.N.A.V.E.S." Crucius commands. The beastly man turns around and does just that.

[ValKey]

*Crystal attempts a spell on dead time*

[Uberblah]

((wholehearted apologies. another power outage. weird snow storm here and i live near a transformer. they don't mix well))

Ishmale comes out of dead time.
Yes. Random good moods are fun.

[ValKey]

*Crystal smiles*I feel pretty good today too

[Uberblah]

It is a good day.

[ValKey]

we should take a walk and enjoy it

[Uberblah]

A splendid idea!
He gives her a hug.
I need to stretch my legs a bit. Where to? Around the woods or somewhere else?

[ValKey]

around the woods, maybe to somewhere else if we think of it*she takes his hand*

[Uberblah]

He takes hers and gets out of bed, pulling her with him.
Sounds excellent.

[ValKey]

*she giggles*is anything I do not excellent?

[Uberblah]

He considers that then shakes his head.
I guess not...
He smiles and gives her another big hug.

[ValKey]

*she hugs him back chuckling a little bit*mm..your going to make my ego go insane making me think I am so great

[Uberblah]

He shrugs and smiles.
Well it's better than making you feel like crap isn't it?

[ValKey]

if you did that..you wouldn't be a very good boyfriend!

[Uberblah]

Exactly. That's why I don't do it.

[ValKey]

*she laughs a little bit*I was just teasing..silly boy

[Uberblah]

I know. I always know. I'm good like that.
He chuckles.

[ValKey]

That isn't fair, I should try to find a way to tease you without you figuring it out

[Uberblah]

He smiles.
Maybe one day you will.

[ValKey]

*the dead time of dinner grabs Crystal*

[Uberblah]

Ishmale smiles as he waits for time to let Crystal back into this timestream. A short dead time envelopes him a little later. His short dead time turns into real dead time as his player turns in for the night with a headache that just became a throbbing headache.

[McBish]

A sparrow flies to the dead elk and raises it. After exchanging a few plesantries they head off in seperate directions.

[Shadow of the Sun]

A darkened room, with shadowy people...my are being held down!? What is happening. And now one of them has a sword and it is coming towards my chest...

Gaah! Umbras awakens to see himself holding his sword in the defensive position. He stands up, and whispers to himself just a dream...just a damn dream.

[Chaotic Bob]

A wolf howl can be heard in the distance. Or close by. Its hard to tell.

[Rebonack]

Maph'tey sits there, still crucified to the tree trunk.

"Well... this isn't any fun..."

[McBish]

A sparrow lands infront of Maph'tey. Yikes that looks painful. The tree shapes in a way to allow the nails to fall out.

[Chaotic Bob]

A blast of freezing ice flies at the sparrow from somewhere to the right. Another shoots at Maph'tey from his left.

[McBish]

The ice freezes the bird. But the ice shatters as the small sparrow turns into a large bear.

[Rebonack]

Maph'tey flops off the tree onto all fours (sixes?) since he's currently in his feral form since he had been hunting when his crazy undead double had shown up.

He cranes his neck around and starts pulling needles out of himself with his teeth.

"Thanksh," he says with a mouthful of metal. Deciding that it isn't a good way to talk with people he spits it out. "Thanks McBish."

He pauses.

"You are McBish, right? You smell like him but I can't be sure with the whole shape-changing thing."

The icy projectile impacts the silvery miasma around Maph'tey, causing it to greedily sap the cold energy. The Travel glances in the direction it came from.

"Wonderful, more nutters to deal with..."

[Chaotic Bob]

This is responded to with growls and and two more blasts, each, as several winter wolves charge the two, mostly going to clawing.

A larger wolf, the presumed pack leader, hangs back and watches.

[McBish]

Yeah it is me. The large bear (Paragon Legendary Brown Bear) swipes at the nearest wolf with the back of his paw. He roars out hoping to scare away the wolves. He doesn't seem bothered by the cold blast.

[ValKey]

*ValKey beats the dead time over her*

[Rebonack]

The icy breath is, as before, absorbed by Maph'tey's nimbus.

"Oh gods no. Not monsters with mundane natural weapons. However shall I survive?" the wolf claws at Maph'tey, each stroke swishing through his incorporeal body impotently. "Probably by just standing here. What do you want?"

((Against PCs and boss types I make an exception to the normal 'mundane weapons always miss incorporeal targets' but since these guys are mook NPCs I don't feel very compelled to do so >.>))

[Chaotic Bob]

The wolf smacked by McBish is in fact killed by the blow, having had its skull crushed.
The wolves , not being stupid, immediately abandon their attempts on Maph'tey after seeing repeated failure. Instead, McBish is set upon by 8 clawing and biting winter wolves.
The pack leader continues to watch passively from a distance away.


Rizzen waves at ValKey as he is suspended in the air by a patch of dead time firmly attached to his shoulders.

[Rebonack]

"That's dandy," the Traveler huffs. He moves in closer to the pack with his flank facing them and lashes out with his sinuous tail. The tail, I might add, has suddenly become dangerously solid.

[McBish]

The claws tear into his flesh and he roars again. Shaking the ground it is so powerful, or maybe that is the trees that spring up right under the wolves attempting to launch them into the air.

[ValKey]

*looks at Rizzen and tugs at him*