Chromeknight Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 After excelling with his magics previously, the party promote Sarick to lead the attack on the bearded skeleton. The Naga does not disappoint. He calls forth such a flurry of frost magic that the temperature in the mineshaft plummets and the bearded skeleton is slowly frozen solid before it can attack the party (14 damage). He manages to gurgle "She chose well..." before succumbing to the ice. The battle is victorious! All particpants gain a level: In the chaotic mix of ice, dust and rocks that is now the mine floor, there can be seen a corner of a note, a piece of parchment partially buried in the mess. Party Leader, how will the spoils of the battle be divided? Venom x2 Note Nerwen shivers in the chilled air and scoops up the scorpion tails and the piece of parchment from out of the rubble. Venoms for Gorg and Dak, I will read the note. I'm at a different computer so I don't have my loot spreadsheet, but I think those guys are behind on the distribution. I'm sure it'll even out in the end anyway.
Rumble Strike Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 QM Note - Party after loot distribution: Party: Guts Holla (played by Scubacarrot) Level 5 Rogue Power: 9 Health: 11/11 Gold: 26 Inventory: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3) Poisoned, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel Sarick Lanse (played by Xarrzan) Level 5 Mage Power: 10 Health: 9/9 Ether: 8/9 Gold: 10 Inventory: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence Dak Shadeaux (played by darthnihilus) Level 5 Rogue Power: 9 Health: 11/11 Gold: 0 Inventory: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4), Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 3 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader ** Level 4 Cleric Power: 8 Health: 12/12 Ether: 3/8 Gold: 0 Inventory: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Bone, Note (Quest Item) Gorg (played by Lordofdragonss) Level 4 Barbarian Power: 8 Health: 11/11 Gold: 5 Inventory: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom Knifk (played by Bioniclover) Level 5 Knight Power: 9 Health: 9/14 Gold: 5 Inventory: Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom -------------------------------------- Nerwen reads the note, it says: 3 is the magic number Although they had cleared some of the rubble from the cave-in that revealed the skeletons, the shaft is still full of rocks. What will the party do?
Bioniclover Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Are there other ways? If no other way, Knifk clear more rubble." Knifk states, then gets to work shifting the large boulders.
Xarrzan Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Are there other ways? If no other way, Knifk clear more rubble." Knifk states, then gets to work shifting the large boulders. "When we first entered the mine we took the right path and faught creatures. We then took the left path, from the entrance, found the alcove and found these unfortunate miners. If we cannot go forward in thisss tunnel I vote we take the middle path, from the entrance of the mine."
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Guts froze as the skeleton uttered the words they all heard, turning his head to Sorrow, he said: "Start Talking, Sorrow. What did the undead mean." Showing no direct sign of hostility, the masked rogue kept his new sword loosely in his hand, Sorrow was not telling the party something, and this was the time to sort it out.
Lordofdragonss Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Gorg thanks Nerven when he gave him the venom, and he looked around/ "Gorg is sure that Snakehead is right, there is still one way back there maybe is the "Magic third one!."
Rumble Strike Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 QM Note - There are only two tunnels. One was an actual dead end, where you fought the vermin. Then you have this cave-in. "You are concerned what that undead... abomination said? In this mine, surrounded by the dark power of the Darkstar? I think we have more important things to worry about, like seeing how we can continue on!"
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "You are concerned what that undead... abomination said? In this mine, surrounded by the dark power of the Darkstar? I think we have more important things to worry about, like seeing how we can continue on!" "More important things? I doubt it. The undead mentioned a 'she' and a 'choice'. As far as I know, you are the only woman around that choose something, you choose us, to find the 'Darkstar'. The dead guy also said you were waiting... Tell us, 'Sorrow', what ARE you waiting for?"
Rumble Strike Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 "You think those skeletons were referring to me? They could have been talking about Nerwen, or anything we haven't yet encountered in this horrible, dark place. They also mentioned a 'he'? Who do you suppose that is? Are you going to accuse one of your other adventurers like you have accused me? I had high hopes for you, Rogue. I thought we may have been cut from the same cloth. But now I am not so sure. The priority here is to find a way through this cave-in, not standing around throwing accusations around like you were in some kind of parlour game."
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "I am not the same as you, woman. I, for one, do not care too much about killing innocents. And I do think they were referring to you." Guts sighed, he was not a 100% certain he was right, but Sorrow was obviously not telling them the whole story. Now would be a better time than ever to get some awnsers. "It was obvious from the start that you are hiding things from us, Sorrow. A magical gem that sucks colour and lifeforce from its vicinity and a mysterious pale woman that wants us to retrieve it? Hardly a coincidence, I would say." Still with the cutlass in his right hand, Guts now stood directly in front of Sorrow, the tall woman being around the same height as him. "Tell us, why did you need US to help you out? You are obviously an user of magic, I saw how you picked our names, back in the hall. Also, I doubt the Ziegfried Family would employ you, if you were'nt. Yet, we have not seen you fight, why is that? You seem to know a lot about the dark 'power' of this gem, yet you have not given us a single word on what we are supposed to deal with." The rogue was annoyed by the continued silence of the mysterious woman, something was... off about her, and Guts would be damned if he did not find out what it was.
Darth Nihilus Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Guts, we can discuss this once we're out of the mine! We could be ambushed at any moment, have you thought of that? Now let's move! I don't care if she's the leader of the Hinckwells, we need to keep moving! If we don't, we'll be animal bait!"Dak feels wierd ordering Guts around like that, but it needed to be done. If Nerwen and Sarick wouldn't handle it, he would.
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Shush, boy. We are not going forward until I get some answers. This is a mine, possible threats come from two directions, from outside, or from further in, we cannot get ambushed if we stay here." Guts did not have the patience to deal with the eager Dak right now. Guts knew he meant well, but this needed to be cleared up, before they moved forward.
Rumble Strike Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 Sorrow drew herself up to her full height and stared haughtily at Guts. "Do not test my patience, Rogue. Dak here knows that I am indeed a practitioner of magics, although not as skilled as some, and in different ways to Nerwen or Sarick. You know nothing about me, true. I realise that this may make you uncomfortable. Would it help if we all clasped hands and sung songs together of high adventures and spilling blood? No, of course not. This is a business arrangement, nothing more. I will say this, I am old. Older than I care to remember, older than you can dream of, human. My face does not show the ravages of time gone before, except in its colour. Would you condemn me purely on this? The Zeigfrieds hired me to find the Darkstar. They had heard rumours of its power and want it safe. I used their fee to hire you to help me. That is all you need to know. I do not get involved in the fighting, that is up to you, that is what I am paying you for. You have proven your value so far in this journey, and overcome odds that may have been insurmountable for one person. Don't mistake that for me not being able to fight. Trust me, with your newfound love of life, you would not want to see me in action. I am singleminded and do not offer mercy to my enemies. Is that what we are, now?" She stared unblinking at the man with the face coverings, the tension in the tunnel getting palpable.
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Enlighten me on one more thing then, tell me everything you know about the Darkstar."
Darth Nihilus Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 "Dammit, Guts, why don't you listen? If she wanted to tell us, she would have done it already! If you continue to pester her, I'm pretty sure bad stuff will happen! And I'm not a kid! I am almost as old as you, and I've had a lot more training in my years. I wasn't allowed to be a kid, they stopped that from happening. I would still be here, in this mine, if I was thirty years younger! If you won't listen to reason, then I will. You and Sorrow can quarrel all you want when we don't have the danger of someone slipping a dagger between our ribs if we stay still too long!" Dak gestures at the inanimate skeletons. "They could come back to life again at any moment, and I really don't care to fight them again!"
Scubacarrot Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Guts walks up to one of the skeletons, and crushes the brittle skull with his boot. "They are done for, Dak. And I don't need to hear your life story right now!" Grabbing Dak by the shoulder, Guts subtly whispered some words in his ear. "Sorrow is the real enemy here, Dak, bear with me."
Xarrzan Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 While the others fought, Sarick inspected the rubble blocking the passage. "I think...if I lower the temperature around the rocks I can freeze whatever moisture there is in the air...and force these rocks to budge..." "Knifk, would you mind stepping back. I am going to try and remove thessse obstacles from our path. It will take some effort and I might need to use one ether to get the job done."
Darth Nihilus Posted December 9, 2011 Posted December 9, 2011 Guts walks up to one of the skeletons, and crushes the brittle skull with his boot. "They are done for, Dak. And I don't need to hear your life story right now!" Grabbing Dak by the shoulder, Guts subtly whispered some words in his ear. "Sorrow is the real enemy here, Dak, bear with me." "Alright, but don't blame me if she hits you with her staff or something." Listening to Sarick, Dak steps back and begins applying venom to his knife,so as to prepare for the next battle.
Chromeknight Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 Nerwen started awake. She had drifted off without even realising it. The amount of ether she had used in the last day was more than she had used in a long while. Whilst in the light trance her mind roamed her recent memories of travelling with the pale mystic. Seeing Guts trying to stare down Sorrow, with his sword drawn, though happily not pointed at her, and seeing Dak trying to reason with him she exerted herself, placing a hand on Gut's shoulder and said Now is not the time for this. Please, help clear the passage. There will come a time when choices will have to be made. But for now, we must use the world as it exists. As for who controls sorrow or why she hired us, that chain of consequences will be revealed in time. But for now, with this rock wall, it is between us and the Darkstar. That is the goal. I believe the phrase is, 'We all do what we must'. Speaking to Sorrow she said. This is the way? Hold that torch us so we can see clearly. Nerwen helps the others shift the rocks that Gorg clears with his pickaxe.
Scubacarrot Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 "Alright then." Guts started to help clear rubble, and dig around with his shovel, all while keeping an eye on Sorrow.
Darth Nihilus Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 "Alright, I'll help carry away rubble."
Rumble Strike Posted December 10, 2011 Author Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) "You demand to know all I know about the Darkstar? We all have secrets, Rogue. I'm sure you have a mysterious past, as do you all. We now know Dak's story, but he could no longer hold it in. You may well learn, in time, that it is not our actions that define us, but our secrets. You will never learn all of mine, but, seeing as you had the temerity, the audacity, to stand up to me face to face, I will impart one last piece of information. The Zeigfrieds hired me because I am one of the few people alive today that has actually seen the Darkstar, long ago. I know what it looks like, and how its power feels, as my village was destroyed many years ago by the one who wielded it." Sorrows voice trails off, as if she is reliving the past. With this admission, the tension fades. Nerwen steps in and puts an arm around Guts, leading him away from the mystic, but both adversaries keep a wary eye on the other. It is an uneasy truce. The party then focus on the cave-in. Under Nerwen's supervision, Sarick uses his frost magic (-1 Ether) to freeze up the remaining rocks blocking their way, which then shatter as Gorg hefted his pickaxe at them with his brute Orc strength. The path is now unblocked. The party can now go forward. Guts digs around in the dirt, and finds an additional 10 gold. Party: Guts Holla (played by Scubacarrot) Level 5 Rogue Power: 9 Health: 11/11 Gold: 36 Inventory: Mockthril Cutlass (WP:4) equipped, Rusty Shortsword (WP:3) Poisoned, Potion, Bedroll, Gold Ore, Shovel Sarick Lanse (played by Xarrzan) Level 5 Mage Power: 10 Health: 9/9 Ether: 7/9 Gold: 10 Inventory: Healing Staff (WP:5, healing effect) equipped, Mockthril Staff (WP: 4), Shark Fang Dagger (WP: 3), Opal Gem (Ice), Potion, Phoenix Essence Dak Shadeaux (played by darthnihilus) Level 5 Rogue Power: 9 Health: 11/11 Gold: 0 Inventory: Mockthril Knife (Equipped)(WP:4) Poisoned, Twin Longswords (WP:3), Mockthril Whip (WP:4), 2 Venoms, Potion, Bedroll Nerwen Calmcacil (played by Chromeknight) ** Party Leader ** Level 4 Cleric Power: 8 Health: 12/12 Ether: 3/8 Gold: 0 Inventory: Mockthril Hammer (WP:4), Wooden Staff (WP:3), Potion, Remedy, Fire Bomb, Bone, Note (Quest Item) Gorg (played by Lordofdragonss) Level 4 Barbarian Power: 8 Health: 11/11 Gold: 5 Inventory: Mockthril Spear (WP:4), Bone club (WP:3), a bottle of Mead, Potion, Pickaxe, Venom Knifk (played by Bioniclover) Level 5 Knight Power: 9 Health: 9/14 Gold: 5 Inventory: Mockthril Katana (Greatsword, WP:4) Equipped, Mockthril Shield (SP: 4), Morning Star (WP:3), Wyrm Shield (SP:2), Potion, Venom --------------------------------------- The party decide to continue down the tunnel, as it is really the only way they can go that they have not yet explored. The sound of water echoes around the tunnel, as Sorrow, carrying the torch, leads the party downwards. The tunnel looks less and less like a mining tunnel the further they go. "The Darkstar is close by. I can feel it." The tunnel opens out into a large underground cavern. In the middle is a large, ornate door decorated with gemstones. The other end of the cavern is currently in darkness, the torch not giving out enough light to see, but they can hear noises coming from that way. What do the party want to do? Edited December 10, 2011 by Rumble Strike
Xarrzan Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 "My vote isss to check out the noise. We might find something to open this door with in that direction as well."
Bioniclover Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) "My vote isss to check out the noise. We might find something to open this door with in that direction as well." "Knifk agree. Maybe should prepare for battle if low on Health. " Edited December 10, 2011 by Bioniclover
Scubacarrot Posted December 10, 2011 Posted December 10, 2011 Guts tries to pry out the gemstones of the door with his blade. Ooc: Loot
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