By Destiny be Driven(IC)

[Darth Ultron]

In a whirl of white smoke.....you each appear elsewhere.....

You stand in a rocky clearing in a forest. The sky overhead is covered in thick gray clouds. The air is chilly, but not cold. A slight wind comes from one direction.

In the middle of the clearing stands a giant humanoid skeleton, half bent over with it's arms reaching outward. The skeleton does not appear to be moving, but is locked in the same pose. The space inside the rib cage of the skeleton is full of orbs of white light, and wisps of white smoke trail out of this area.

The trees around are large and broad, but leafless. Each tree has grown around a fully armed and armored skeletal warrior in mid stride. The skeleton wear mixes of chain mail and plate mail, most have shields and an assortment of common weapons like swords, axes and spears.

Several smoldering corpses are in the clearing, four humanoids lay next to one another and a group of seven tiny winged humanoids lay in a small circle. The all look quite dead, and their flesh is hot and still smoking.

There are four identical paths that lead out of the clearing.




http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?440621-By-Destiny-be-Driven%28OOC%29&p=19795670#post19795670

[Archmage1]

Violet, suddenly torn from her explorations, and pulled into... somewhere else, looks around.
But... I wasn't here! I was there! But I'm here now! Ooh! There are people! Aw... but... they're just the white things inside, and the mean metal, and... those ones are smoking! Aw... poor things!
She seems to be spinning around, looking everywhere, her back a blur of violet as she hovers, her dress twirling about, all of its colors beautiful in the sunlight, her skin its faint shade of purple, and her face, one of confusion. All in all, she is incredibly beautiful, although... she is also on the tall side, hovering about five feet above the ground, which puts her head at almost six feet in the air.
And... she looks more than a little confused.

[alanek2002]

Hedratis is a Lime green Gelatinous Cube. He jiggles slightly, as part of his blindsight. Hedratis, for a moment however, stops jiggling as he takes in his drastically changed location.
I.. but there was... what?


He then notes the other three surprised people in the clearing. "Ah... hello? Where are we?" Hedratis says, while sliding towards one of the corpses that still have flesh. Ooh! Cooked food! No need to let it got to waste, after all.

[Archmage1]

Seeing the appearance of the cube, Violet looks at the jiggling mass of jello, looking quite excited.
He's jelly!
"Um... hi? I'm Violet! I've never met talking jelly before!"

[Troacctid]

"Ah, I see everyone has arrived," says Bartholomew. "William. Violet. Cubert. Good morning! For those who don't know me, I am Bartholomew, Genius Extraordinaire, and this is my lovely lab assistant, Jade. I'm sure you're all wondering why I've brought you here today."

[Archmage1]

As the human appears, Violet looks at him, and she seems surprised at his claim.
"But... Titania sent me here! Not you! And it's really quiet!"

[Gaius]

One might have been forgiven for at first thinking there were five humanoid corpses. Still, there are some tell-tale clues about this fifth body. It lies some distance from the others, on its side with its back to the newcomers, and its flesh does not smolder. And, well, after a short time, it's complaining. Loudly. "Would ya mind shutting up!? I'm trying to get some shut-eye over here! Honestly, some people are just so obliv..." The solidly built brown-haired human trails off, patting a hand against the ground. "... Not in bed. Well then."

Will turns to get a look at the other three, lingering over the Petal and Cube in interest. This lasts until his irritation focuses his attention like a laser on the boastful gentleman and his pixie. He sighs. "Okay, Bartie-boy. You obviously spent all night practicing whatever big speech you're about to deliver to us." The brawler begins dipping into some basic stretches, limbering up after his rest. "So I'll do you a solid and let you deliver it. And hopefully explain why I shouldn't break your face for interrupting my nap to bring me here."

He also finally takes notice of his surroundings. They raise at least one eyebrow. "... Think you can start with where the hell 'here' is?"

[Darth Ultron]

With a slight rumble the ground off to the far left breaks apart an a large boulder of ice bursts up from underground. The boulder rolls along the ground for a few feet and then stops. Cracks form all over the boulder and it breaks into hundreds of chunks of tiny ice.

Inside the where the boulder was a small white skinned humanoid with long pointed ears, black hair, and bright blue eyes stands. He has on leather armor and has a small axe at his side. He looks around the clearing.

"Everyone here?" he says in common.

[Archmage1]

Violet starts to respond to the moving corpse, but before she can, a boulder moves!
Eek! It's a moving corpse! Those are always mean!
Before she can start to panic, however, she sees the boulder turn into a person, and is distracted.
It's not a boulder anymore! It's a giant!
She darts over to the not a boulder, and looks at him.
"Hi!"

[Troacctid]

"Ah, my good friend Elfy, so glad you could make it," says Bartholomew. "I'm sure you're wondering why the five of us have transported you here."

Jade facepalms.

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "I'm Peyzazh, and I'd for one like to know why you brought everyone here" Says the small white skinned humanoid with long pointed ears, black hair, and bright blue eyes as he walks over to stand right in front of Bartholomew and taps his foot on the ground.

"Come now, manamal, wiggle your tongue and waste some time and air. Eh, and I thought the cubebert would be the weird one. But the Drop of Destiny can't be wrong. Right? Maybe it's your mixed up mind and loose tongue that make you so special. " He says with a shrug.

[Troacctid]

"I'm glad you asked," says Bartholomew. "And, if my deductions are correct, a time-traveling version of myself from the future should be along to explain it right about..." (he taps the timepiece on his wrist) "...now!"

Nothing happens.

"Ahem...now!

Nothing continues to happen.

"Boss, you say that all the time and it never happens," whispers Jade. "I think you may need to accept that you don't actually end up inventing a time machine in the future."

"POPPYCOCK! It's inevitable, I tell you! Inevitable! I expect it's merely on the fritz right now."

[Archmage1]

Violet looks upset as she darts between the white small giant, and the big one who was talking lots.
"Hey! Pay attention! What's going on!"

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "Your really several trees less then a forest. Might even be too insane to be any use. But who am I to say anything against the Drop? Manamals....really." says as he shakes his head.

[Archmage1]

Violet looks even more sad and confused.
"But..."

[Gaius]

Will watches the boulder's sudden movement, and keeps on through its subsequent explosion. The stare train chugs along, once the odd little elf-eared individual emerges. Perplexed, Will wonders what to make of him. And then decides he may like Peyzazh when the strange-named fellow leads off by insulting Bartholomew. The little flying purple person darting about in excited confusion adds a certain charm to the whole thing.

Will grins. "Cheer up, Bartie. Maybe you do, and your future self just likes helping his past self look stupid. Dunno why he'd bother, since you've got a knack for it, but hey!"

Still amused, he turns his gaze on the little white figure. "Anyway, congrats, Flash! You seem like the only one here with a clue." He feels a yawn coming on, and doesn't bother stifling it. "That bein' so: why am I here, why are you all here, and what's this 'Drop of Destiny' you keep jawin' about?"

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "Well, yes. We need aid. That is why we brought you all here. The Drop of Destiny is a bit of the Sea of Destiny. You know the big one in the Outlands. We used it to see who might be able to do what needs to be done. And that is where we saw you. And that brings us all here. Simple, right?"

[Archmage1]

Violet continues to look very confused.

[Troacctid]

While Peyzazh blathers about something-or-other, Bartholomew takes the initiative and scans the area with the detect magic setting on his goggles.

[Archmage1]

Violet (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=134005)is very glowy. :smallsmile:

[Darth Ultron]

The ground glows with faint necromancy, each skeletal warrior glows with moderate necromancy as do their weapons and shields and armor.

The giant skeleton with the glowing spheres in it's rib cage glows with strong necromancy.

The trees glow with transmutation magic

[alanek2002]

Seeing the appearance of the cube, Violet looks at the jiggling mass of jello, looking quite excited.
He's jelly!
"Um... hi? I'm Violet! I've never met talking jelly before!"
"Hi violet! I'm not jelly, I'm gelatinous. So, I burn instead of taste good."




"Ah, I see everyone has arrived," says Bartholomew. "William. Violet. Cubert. Good morning! For those who don't know me, I am Bartholomew, Genius Extraordinaire, and this is my lovely lab assistant, Jade. I'm sure you're all wondering why I've brought you here today."
Hedratis Twitches somewhat, a single visible ripple traveling through his cubical form. "My name isn't Cubert."


Peyzazh "I'm Peyzazh, and I'd for one like to know why you brought everyone here" Says the small white skinned humanoid with long pointed ears, black hair, and bright blue eyes as he walks over to stand right in front of Bartholomew and taps his foot on the ground.

"Come now, manamal, wiggle your tongue and waste some time and air. Eh, and I thought the cubebert would be the weird one. But the Drop of Destiny can't be wrong. Right? Maybe it's your mixed up mind and loose tongue that make you so special. " He says with a shrug.

Hedratis twitches again, "accidentally" dislodging a bit of sizzling bone from a corpse on the ground. "My name isn't Cubebert either; It's Hedratis."

Hedratis pauses in his cleaning of the clearing, (Yum!) and says: "Peyzazh, who is this "we" you keep talking about? And what do you mean by what needs to be done?"

You note that most of the things floating inside Hedratis are magic. (A given, seeing as they aren't really dissolving.)

[Troacctid]

Hedratis Twitches somewhat, a single visible ripple traveling through his cubical form. "My name isn't Cubert."

"Ah. Well. I was close," says Bartholomew. "I'm normally quite good at guessing people's names."

"1.8% success rate! I've been keeping track," Jade adds, helpfully. :smallwink:

[Archmage1]

Violet seems quite happy as the Jelly says hi back, although she continues to seem rather confused as to what was going on. However, as Peyzazh continues, she flies back over to him.
"Sea of Destiny? Is that lots of water? And you need help?"

[Gaius]

Will opens his mouth to voice his questions, but closes it as Violet and Hedratis do that for him. "Uh, yeah. What the peanut gallery said." He gives them an appreciative nod.

"You've given some 'why's, but howsabout a few more 'what's and 'how's? Maybe some 'who's and 'where's?" He decides to add a dash of diplomacy. "'When's I can let slide, if I gotta."

Will's magic items are visible, I would think. I'm not sure about his curse. It's possible it (or some suggestion thereof) shows up, but that's the call of our illustrious DM.

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "We are the Singers of the Neverending Song. And like I said we need help. The chorus council will be here soon. They got the details. They just got to stay away when the Nercoportal is in use. It leads to the Unlife, after all. When we use the portal, undead pour through...mostly flameskulls and blazing bones. Don't really know why them. They come through and fry our Gatcrashers, the poor smoking corpses over there."

[Archmage1]

Violet seems to perk up a bit at that.
"Singers of the Neverending Song? That sounds really nice! But... the rest of it isn't nice at all!"

[alanek2002]

Hedratis silently moves away from the remaining bodies, looking as sheepish as a Translucent green cube can. This involving, of course, a actual sweatdrop shaped bit of goo sliding down a face, until it hits the ground with a hissing noise.

[Gaius]

"Hunh." Will strokes his chin. "Well, that explains a bit. I think. And this Necroportal thingy brought us here...? Guess we'll wait to hear more 'til your band people get here."

He turns at the hissing drop from Hedratis, and then to the two pixies. "So... this Drop of yours has some interesting tastes. I mean, not bad, obviously," he adds, gesturing to himself with a chuckle, "but interesting. Anything else it showed you'd be up to sharing before your bosses get here?"

[Troacctid]

"And are those undead skeletons yours, or are they going to jump up and attack us?"

[Gaius]

"Ooh, I hope so." Will turns toward the skeletal figures, smiling excitedly. "Something like that would not bore me."

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "Well I did not use the drop of destiny myself. I just know what I was told and what I heard in the songs. I just a guard and greet people and make fires. And no the skeletons are not ours, we just use this place. This is the Lost Island of Bunthafen. Once it was a nice normal island of common folk. Until the lich Karsk came. He killed everyone and raised an undead army to take over the world....I guess. The Emerald Enclave stopped him just in time. They attacked the island, destroyed lots of the undead. Trapped most of them in the trees, like the ones around here. And defeated Karsk. The song says they did not destroy him though, he is down below us in a deep cave stuck in amber. So they say. Then the Emerald Enclave moved the island here to the Gray. In the Deep Gray. So it would be hard to find. Only real way to get here is the Nercoportal, that leads to the Unlife. We use Gatecrashers here on the island to temporally move the portals location, but like i said it stil attracts and sucks in undead horrors.

So, yes, the skeletal warriors are still very much active and unalive, but trapped. Don't touch'em or the trees. One or two break free everyone once in a while....but not too often."

[Archmage1]

As Peyzazh speaks, Violet grows worried.
"But... Undead are really mean!"

[Gaius]

Will nods along to the history lesson. "Hunh, did get a 'where' after all. Kinda. Thank ye kindly."

He gives a chuckle to the panicky fairy. "Relax, shortstuff. If," he notes hopefully, "one gets free, that'll be all the more reason for me to punch it in the face. Probably with a nice CRACK, like biting into a good, crisp apple."

[Archmage1]

Not really reassured, the shaky petal flies and hides behind Bartholomew.

[Darth Ultron]

Several cat-like humanoids come down one of the paths. They spread out and look around, and then one of them blows a whistle.

Peyzazh "Ah, here they come now"

[Archmage1]

Seeing new people to meet, Violet seems to cheer up a bit, and she flies over to them, and waves.
"Hi!"

[alanek2002]

Hedratis shuffles slightly, making sure one of his corners is pointing towards the newcomers, and turning himself as opaque as possible. While he didn't know whether or not to trust these people yet, having one walk into him would probably be seen as his fault... again.

[Gaius]

Will perks up at the approaching catfolk. "Ah, good." He saunters a bit nearer to their path of entrance. "So, are these your orchestra folks, or just their escorts?"

[Darth Ultron]

Peyzazh "The rakasta are just fly dancers. But here they come."


A large, 20 foot long yellow and orange slug slithers into the clearing "Ostracanthion'Olinthese, keeper of song lore."

An owl-like humanoid in white clothing. "Yva'an Aeristal, high song singer"

A cat-like humanoid with bright white fur "Skurvin Whitesong, high song singer"

A dwarf "Pogar Songhand, Deep Chanter"

An elf "Trannyth Rillcreek, High Tree Singer"

A short, penguin-like humanoid "Zalambur cold singer"

A large crab-like creature that looks like it is made entirely of ice and has three caws (with the third behind it much like a scorpion's tail).,,and floating above it floats a large drop of what looks like water. "Yuki'Onna, seer of the song"

[Archmage1]

Violet seems to be struck dumb by the amazing slug, simply hovering there, staring at it, with very wide eyes.

[Gaius]

Will does his own share of gawking at the group. He does at least try to catch himself early. It's just... quite the menagerie they've got there. "Hunh. Well, this is a good frame of reference..." Their group of four looks practically... Well, it looks more normal, anyway. Guess the werewolf thing wouldn't have been a problem..."

It then occurs to him that he's been mumbling. And that a number of ears (and non-ears) assembled look sharp enough to have heard him. Seeking to cover it up with a fake cough to clear his throat, the Brawler then puts on what he hopes is a warm smile. He thinks buttering them up is the right way to lead, here.

"Good day, o most esteemed..." He falters a bit, here. "Uh, assembly! As ya may know, I'm Will Dresden. And while I don't yet fully know my new... colleagues, I'm..." He pauses, frowning, and waves a hand in front of Violet's face body to snap her out of it. "I'm sure they're just as thankful as I am that you're here to greet us and explain what's goin' on."

[alanek2002]

Hedratis floats forwards. "I am Hedratis! Jelly Cube! And yes, explanations would be nice."

[Troacctid]

"You may know me as Bartholomew, renowned genius and inventor," says Bartholomew, taking a bow.

[alanek2002]

"You may know me as Bartholomew, renowned genius and inventor," says Bartholomew, taking a bow.

Hedratis dips slightly.


"Ah... sorry, I don't."

[Troacctid]

"You do now!" Bartholomew points out.

[Archmage1]

As Will waves his hand in front of her, she snaps out of her fascination, and she excitedly flies down to the slug.
"Wow! I've never ever seen anyone like you before! Where are you from? There must be lots of new and different people to meet there!"

Sadly, before she can get an answer, introductions continue, and she turns to the others, smiling merrily.
"Hi Bartholomew! Hi Hedratis! Hi Will! Those are funny names!"

[Darth Ultron]

Ostracanthion'Olinthese moves both of his eye stalks to look down at Violet, and though his small mouth stays closed, a voice does come from him "Greetings little fey. I'm not really from anywhere. My kind does not have 'homes' like many other kinds do. I am just here."

Yva'an Aeristalflies up a couple feet in the air and hovers in mid air not moving her wings. "We are the Choir Council of the Singers of the Neverending Song. And we need your help. Something strange and dangerous and evil is awing.

To put it simply, we need you to find an ally of ours. He went to a dance and has not been heard from in three days. It is not like him to stay out of contact so long. We fear something bad must have happened. We need someone to find out what, save him, and stop any horrible evil that might be unfolding.

And that is why you were brought here."

[Archmage1]

Violet looks really sad as she hears the slug's explanation.
"Aw... I'm sorry! Not having a home must be terrible! There's no where you can go, and know that everything's ok!"

However, before she can go into more detail, Yva'an distracts her quite expertly, and she darts over to hover in front of the floating owl-man
"He went to a dance, and vanished? But... no one would attack a dancer dancing, right? That'd be really mean! And really silly, because you'd ruin the dance! Maybe he's just having a really fun time dancing, and he lost track of time? That happens to me, sometimes! So maybe we could go and see him!"

[Gaius]

"Now, that's a nice, simple checklist: find dancin' dude, stop evil." Will smiles, enthused. "I can dig it."

He's deflated a smidge when Violet kicks off, yammering at a mile a minute. 'Kind of amusing, now, I guess. But how long's that shtick gonna last?' He sighs, much as the corners of his mouth are turned up in a smile.

"So, I kinda blew off most o' that. But seein' where this guy was last, maybe where he lives, would be good to know." Another pertinent detail strikes him. "Also, more about him in general. Like, what's he look like? That seems really important. 'specially with all the... y'know, variety you got here."

An even more pertinent detail reaches him next. Will turns on his most conciliatory grin. "And, of course, if there's any, say, material or magical help you could extend, maybe to help us on our way, or maybe a thank you for a job soon-to-be-well-done... Well, that'd be handy, too."

[Darth Ultron]

Trannyth Rillcreek takes a step forward and casts a spell, forming an image overhead of a large dragon with gray, sliver and blue colored scales dancing. "This is Feldamondectistan."


Pogar Songhand "Home? Well, he does have a lair, of course. It's a bunch of singing crystal caves on top of a really high mountain on Ysgard. Been there a couple times.


Yva'an Aeristal "If by materials your talking about gold coins, we can offer them to you in payment."

[alanek2002]

Hedratis turns a slightly darker shade of green at the image... Because he has no eyes.

"Um... I'm kind of blind? I can't see what your are showing us." He says, somewhat annoyed. It'd be different if all those eyes didn't keep digesting.

"But Gold coins are always welcome!"

[Troacctid]

Bartholomew stares at the image, memorizing it. That dragon is a fantastic dancer, he thinks.

[Archmage1]

Violet claps her hands at the dragon.
"He's really pretty!"

[Darth Ultron]

Yva'an Aeristal "So, if you all agree to do this task for us.......how many gold coins would you all agree to want?"

Trannyth Rillcreek "Ah, you are a most unique sightless creature." as he looks over at Hedratis.

[Archmage1]

Violet smiles cheerily at them.
"Maybe you can do a show for us!"

[Troacctid]

Bartholomew thinks. "That depends. My standard commission applies, of course, with looting rights, plus we may need hazard pay, and there's insurance on top of that. Jade, do the math?"

"I think 20,000 standard gold pieces each would cover it, sir."

"There you go, then, how does 20,000 sound?"

[Gaius]

Will blinks up at the image. "Hunh. So we're findin' and savin' a maybe-kidnapped dragon. Who dances. Somehow. And beatin' up some kinda looming evil. With a big polite blob of acid, a mouthy fairy, a slightly less mouthy fairy, and a man waitin' for his future self to stop teasin' him." He finally lets it all percolate a bit. And grins. "Ohhh yeah. This is just the kinda novelty I wanted."

The brawler is sufficiently distracted by this that the Petal gets the jump on him with Yva'an Aeristal's request. He darts forward and claps a finger over Violet's mouth. "Eheheh... Yeah. This little one? Doesn't speak for us."

Will has never much concerned himself with how much his services are worth; he's made it his business to latch onto someone more eager for the task. He scopes out who he'll nominate this time. Fortunately, while he is briefly considering Hedratis, on the grounds that it might be funny, the warlock nominates himself.

Will nods in approval. "The man knows his numbers. That seems like a good one for our distinguished service here."

[alanek2002]

Hedratis bobs after hearing the proposed number. "I'm not really sure what is appropriate, so I'll follow their lead."


After hearing Will speak, Hedratis tilts slightly in surprise. "A Dragon? Somebody kidnapped a dragon? A fully grown one?"

[Darth Ultron]

Pogar Songhand "Well, Feldamondectistan is an adult dragon, but song dragons don't get that big. "

Yva'an Aeristal "20,000 gold it is then"

[Archmage1]

Violet looks disappointed by his words.

[alanek2002]

"Well, Where does this Feldamondectistan live, anyways?" Hedratis asks, not having any trouble pronouncing the name. After all, it wasn't like he had a tongue to get twisted.

[Darth Ultron]

Pogar Songhand "Well, like I said, his lair is on a mountain top on Ysgard. The Crystal Wind mountains. But we know he is not there, his servants would have told us so. There is not much reason to go to his lair, unless you want to loot his harp collection."


Trannyth Rillcreek "The last place he was seen was in the Dancing Glade in the Yuirwood forest. Three days ago."

[Gaius]

"Makes sense." Will stretches his neck a bit. "We could take an advance on the job. Other'n that, unless anyone's got any other ideas -- or you decide now's a good time to mention he was actin' strange just before or somethin'? -- let's try that Dancing Glade place."

The brawler takes exactly one step in a random direction. "... So, we're new to the area. Got a map?"

[Darth Ultron]

Pogar Songhand "As far as we know, he was not acting strange."


Trannyth Rillcreek "We have a guide, much better then a map. The real trick is getting all of you off this island. If we use the Neroportal, as we have no anchor in the Yuirwood, you will all have to travel through the plane of death. Our Homeportal is just keyed to us.

Unless any of you have the ability to travel the planes?

Or other option is to move this island. It is mobile. Unfortunately, we don't control the movement stones. It is one of the few places the undead still control. But if the undead could be destroyed....we could move the island."

[Archmage1]

Violet looks hopeful as the Yuirwood is mentioned, but her hope vanishes at the possibility of going through the plane of death. Her sadness only grows as the need for planswalking is mentioned, but then, she smiles as Trannyth reveals that the island could move.
"We can do that! And then we can go and save Feldamondectistan! It's going to be fun!"

[alanek2002]

Hedratis pauses to think for a moment, and replies: "Undead do taste tingly while they dissolve.... I'm for eat- uh, clearing out the undead on the island."

[Troacctid]

"I'm amenable to the undead extermination plan," says Bartholomew. "A suboptimal use of my prodigious talents, perhaps, but it does not do to allow pests to overrun one's base of operations."

[Gaius]

"Ooh. You mean we don't have to wander around a plane of death and we get to smash undead to a pulp?" Will smiles at the other responses. "Looks like we're all on board!"

He turns back to the Singers. "Just show us the way and clue us into any finer details. We'll take great pleasure in makin' it happen."