[ SESSION 6, READY FOR BATTLE! ] (whee!) [ When last we met, our merry band of misfits took on a job for Magellan's niece Drusilla, offering to free some capitives while the group searching for Selenium acted as a distraction. In hopes of being helpful, and partially in hope of finding Abby, the group agreed. ] [ Sadly, what they discovered inside the giant oak was something far different than expected. A pair of giant mutated plants attacked our intrepid band and after moderately wounding and being wounded by Remi and Magellan, the battle seemed at a standoff. ] [ However, the Earth Priestess, a pale woman with brown hair dressed in a mild mint green toga and crowned with gold and green laurels, arrived on a divan driven by hulking male dryads, while lithe, leaf-clad female dryads held the lot of you at spearpoint. ] [ This is, in fact, where you all are right now. ] The Priestess smiles and steps out onto the cupped hands of one of the enormous dryads, then down to the ground. She turns to you and smiles; her voice is disturbingly melodic, like the tolling of a high-pitched carillion late at night on dark city streets. "Welcome to the Emerald Forest... oh! Only four of you? But of course, I'd forgotten the fifth..." She gestures with one hand and one of the 'corn husks' that did not flower into Audrey II opens to reveal Abigail inside, lying prone, her arms crossed over her chest. Small green vines, blood vessel-thin, extend from the inside of the plant to various parts of her body. "How fortunate for you! She hasn't been subsumed just yet..." (...it's Abby.) ( Adam is crushed by a male dryad immediately and dies. ) (...d'oh.) ( ... Well, too bad. ) ( I told you, that joke's worn out. Ahem. Give me a moment to confer with ABby. ) * Eroles fails to look surprised at the Abby. * Magellan looks over at Abby. His eyes widen a little, but it's hard to tell behind the blood-splattered glasses. * Remi raises an eyebrow. "So we shouldn't shoot this thing, why?" [ The spear in your back might be a good reason. They haven't moved. ] Well, I'm going to go on the assumption if we even tried, we would become rather nice sish-kibobs. (It was rhetorical... no, really.) Feel free to try if you want. I'll bring a flower to your funeral. There you go again with your details. The Priestess gives you a pleasant smile. "That's so correct! You're very bright. Bring them here, please," she says to the female dryads, who begin to herd you close to Abby's tomb-on-the-cob. * Eroles moves forward. Being speared doesn't sound like much fun. ( Give me a little bit of time here. I'm waging a two-front battle, as it were. ) * Adam shrugs and moves. * Magellan walks forward rather woodenly. Hey, watch the coat... * Remi rolls her eyes and strolls forward, like it were a perfectly ordinary day and there weren't a couple of spears at her back. * Abigail sloooowly sits up in the husk and begins to break free of them little vines. Ah, so she's still alive. The Priestess, who you notice is human-looking like you, and not green like the dryads, motions to another male, who comes over and kneels nearby, offering his immense hip as a seat for her, which she takes and turns toward you, placing her hands on her knees. "Well then... ah! How adorable. The other one is awake. You should be so lucky, miss," the priestess says, directing her ever-smiling visage to Abby. "If they hadn't interfered, you'd be quite dead by now. In a manner of speaking." (Can I speak okay?) ( Yep. Well, not with any force, but you can talk. ) And I suppose I would have you to thank for that. (Be right back, keep going.) * Magellan slowly, slowly, reaches up and grabs his glasses. He starts to clean them with his jumpsuit, but only really succeeds in smearing the blood around. "Good to see you, girl." "Aye," comes a voice from the back of the room. "That ye do." Who is the mystery speaker? Drusilla Drogg, carrying a handgun not unlike Remi's in appearance, as well as the teacher of the class of sproutlings, who looks very nervous and is clutching onto a dagger with both hands, trembling. "Are ye okay, uncle?" Nice to see you're not reduced to bite-sized chunks Abby. I don't chunk well. I've been better, niece. Though I've been through worse, too. Well, well. The gang's all here. * Eroles looks curiously. I suppose this is where Luca shows up? The priestess looks... the best word is confused. A few of the female dryads turn to face Drusilla. "What are you doing here?" she inquires in an almost cutesy voice. "I mean, you should be gone by now." (Back.) Looks like you underestimated Dru. "W-we came to help them!" the teacher says, voice quavering. "It's the right thing to do." * Magellan places his glasses back on his face. "Droggs're harder to kill than cockroaches, and usually a bit more annoying to boot." The priestess laughs at the teacher, and at Eroles. She turns her attention to Magellan and lays her chin in her hands. "Is THAT what she's called? 'Drusilla Drogg'? That's so fascinating." * Adam just blinks. * Abigail just continues to break free. ( It's not hard to do, Abby, but if you choose to stand with the group instead of staying in the husk, a minimum of three female dryads get in your area with some wicked-looking spears. ) * Abigail ... stays in the husk for now. ( Y'all okay? ) (More or less. @_@) So, I assume you're not just going to let us go. * Remi chuckles. * Adam addresses the priestess. "Who are you, anyway?" The priestess laughs lightly, standing up and walking to Eroles, drifting her fingers along his chin. "Of course not, sweetness. I have uses for all of you." She doesn't seem concerned about Dru, who has been glaring at the woman in white this whole time. She turns to Adam and smiles. "I'm the Earth Chosen, the Gifted of Gaia. The herald... I'm sure you know the legends." ( You don't; even to the studied like Remi and Adam, no such legend comes to mind ) Not as such. * Magellan adjusts his toolbelt, which had been twisted in the fray. "It's really been pleasant, with the blood and plants trying to eat us and all, but I'd like to be in the next town by tomorrow, so if we could get this over with, I'd be much obliged." I'm...afraid I don't. I'm sure you'll be glad to fill us in. Even if we asked you not to. Oh, hush. I want to hear this. It ought to be better than the story about the six-legged toad. A bullet whistles through the air, shockingly close (WAY too close) to both the priestess and Eroles. Dru stares at the group with a determined jaw, trying not to waver. "I ain't gonna miss the next time." Considering her name? I'm betting she is, or thinks she is, sent to prepare for the coming of some god. * Eroles raises an eyebrow. "That's nice Dru, but if you're going to hit someone, don't let it be me." (Hmm. How many dryads are there?) This seems to flummox the Earth Priestess, who looks at the two women you encountered before with a furrowed brow. "Alright... I was willing to put up with the game a little bit, but that's quite enough of that." She extends a hand and begins to say, in a low voice, "You, who are given life by the bonds of root and leaf, I, the Earth Chosen, bid you return from that which spawned you!" ( Many. 2 females each on the four of you, three who are ready to cover Abby, and the six males that drew in the litter. ) This can't be good. * Magellan frowns. * Remi waits, watching with interest. This definitely can't be good. The result is... jarring. Drusilla and Adam's former teacher both look shocked for a minute, then put hands to their breasts... and remove them to see their forms dissolving into green motes of light. Gasping for breath, both women slump to the ground, watched by a smirking smug Priestess, who keeps her hand extended. In moments, their forms are all but gone, having dissolved into small swarms of the same fireflies that up above light the chamber. Before she disappears entirely, Dru's last glance is a horrified look of incomprehension at Magellan, mouthing the word 'Uncle?' before disappearing completely. ... Well, crap. Yes. Low-level earth magic. Not bad for a hedge witch. Well, that just tears it. The priestess breathes out and sighs, glancing at Remi. "Oh, you poor dear... your bravado masks your ignorance. Do any of you REALLY understand the nature of the Emerald Forest? Did nobody try to warn you?" We got nice vauge warnings, but nothing that made any sense. Look, you, I don't know you, or care about who you are or what you're here for. I don't even care much about the selenium. But you go and mess with another Drogg, and it makes me one pissed off olf man, dammit! ( You know, I have to look up the actual warnings now, so give me a sec. ) * Narrator sighs and just shakes her head at Magellan, sitting on the male druid's knee again. "'This is sacred ground, the birthplace. What is here is only what you bring.' Tell me, Mr. Drogg... how well did you know your relative there?" As well as I know any of them but my parents, which is very little. The priestess smiles. "So, really, everything you know about her is just what you'd imagine her to be like... is this not so?" * Magellan narrows his eyes, making his eyebrows crawl like caterpillars. "Maybe... what the hell are you driving at?" Illusions? * Narrator shrugs, then waves a finger at Atom. "More than just illusions. The Emerald Forest is the sacred birthplace. Tell me, have you ever heard of a book called the 'Tetrad Codex'?" ( HOld. ) ( Atom? ) (Yes! The Avatar had to find it to complete his quest in both Ultima One and Four! Then he REALLY became the Avatar and not just the Traveller! Then they made many more games including the buggiest one of all, Ascention!) ( Nope. Explaining to Adam. ) ( *slaps Magellan* That's Codex of the Serpent, you jackass. ) Yes...I have. ( The Tetrad Codex... the legendary book bearing the ancient lore and mystery of Tetris. Also the cheat codes. ) (Naw, it's technically the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Only viewable by the MYSTICAL 3D GLASSES.) ( Remi is eaten by *rolls a d6* Abigail. ) * Abigail (munches) Yep. So what? ( ALright. Play again. ) *** Narrator is now known as Priestess What you likely do not know is that the supposed 'Codex' is not a book at all. It is a collection of sacred places and artifacts dating back to the very creation of the world. It is made up of the fundamental points where the raw powers of the universe still exist in their primal form. The Emerald Forest is one part of the Codex, called the "Terrestial Bible". (...sacred quest mode on.) (Indeed.) ...do you mind if I take notes? Means nothing to me. What the hell does this have to do with my neice, bitch? * Priestess waves a hand. "Before you get delusions of grandeur, you must be one of the four Chosen to use the powers of any part of the Codex." She raises an eyebrow at Adam, and the slight prick of a spear in his back is answer enough. Fancy. What does this have to do with us? One of the four? * Priestess shrugs. "'Drusilla Drogg' is not real. The woman who was with her is not real... that is, they are not of this world. They were thoughts and feelings from your own minds, given corporeal form by the Forest. They were MORE than illusions... they were self-aware, truly human... but made of the stuff of the Terrestrial Bible." * Magellan frowns deeper, if that's possible. "Now, that's just dirty pool, woman." * Remi sighs. "Okay, that does it. Next time, guys, we burn the damn forest down." * Priestess grins toothily at Magellan. "It is not of my doing. I cannot control the Birthplace more than any other human can. They were made from your own desires and memories." So what's the point, if there is one? Why burn it down? Sounds like a fun place to vacation. * Priestess steps off the dryad's knee she was sitting on. "You're mine now. Your future is empty... I felt an explanation was the least I can provide you." She points at Eroles and Adam. "Young and decently fit... you'll be my gift to the dryads, just like the men from Lucia. As for the rest of you... I think I shall make you Guardians." Our future is empty? That's curious. Mind if I check that out? * Abigail blinks. * Adam eyes the Priestess. "No, thank you." * Priestess glances at Eroles. "Explain..." * Remi answers, "That's why." I'll check it out on my tarot cards. You ever see tarot cards? Heck, I'll give you a free reading if you want. Hardly an adequate explanation for why. * Priestess turns up her nose at Eroles. "You don't need to treat me like someone who was raised by wolves. Fine... I will be amused to see what you discover for yourselves." She waves a hand, and the dryads around Eroles back off a step. "If you do anything rash, you'll be the first to die, understand? Show me your future." * Eroles shrugs and pulls out his cards. Slowly. He shuffles them. * Eroles kneels and slowly places the cards. The Moon. Illusion and artifice. The Hanged Man, one who is bound, yet gains knowledge. Death, the bringer of change. * Eroles goes to place the last card, but it slips from the top of the deck and lands by itself. * Magellan raises his eyebrows and stops frowning. "Hardly empty." Hm. The Unfettered Lock, reversed. The sealing of a portal, the barring of a path. * Eroles gathers his cards up and puts them away. * Priestess chuckles to herself and smiles wanly at Magellan. "I do not see joy or freedom in your future, old man... that's empty enough, for my tastes." Really doesn't look that empty to me. Looks rather full and interesting actually. *** Priestess is now known as Narrator Yeah, that's the part that worries me. Like my life wasn't interesting enough... The priestess gestures at the dryads holding you captive... only to find that, without ANY of you noticing, they are currently crumpled on the ground, slowly dissolving into fireflies just as Drusilla and the teacher did. Standing behind them, carrying his obsidian dagger unbloodied, is the figure from before. Looks like it got more interesting than we expected. * Abigail hops out of the husk. (do I feel back up to strength yet?) ( Not at full power, but enough to move briskly, for sure. ) Step two. Check. Well, this is curious. * Magellan grabs his wrench and brandishes it. "My name is Magellan Drogg, witch, and you can't tie a Drogg down." The priestess recoils, stepping backward to the protection of the advancing male dryad hulks. "Who are you? How did you enter this sacred place?" * Adam draws his knife. The figure, for his part, simply points his dagger at the priestess. "You, twist creation of birthplace. I end it for you!" * Abigail steps towards the Priestess and co. He turns his face to Magellan. "I help you, this once, Shaper of Steel. After, you on own." * Remi glances back over her shoulder at the figure. "I was expecting you earlier," she says, raising her gun toward the priestess' group again. * Eroles pulls his sword out as well. "Thanks for the help." Help is appreciated, lad. Yes...thank you. [ ROUND 1: ADVENTURERS! VERSUS! PLANTS! Initiative, bitches. ] d6+6 * Atom rolls for Eroles (d6+6) and gets 9. d6+6 d6+6 * Atom rolls for Magellan (d6+6) and gets 9. d6+6 * Atom rolls for Remi (d6+6) and gets 7. * Atom rolls for Adam (d6+6) and gets 11. (it's d6 plus what?) (ACV) ( Your ACV, plus any bonuses from high Speed. ) d6+5 * Atom rolls for Abigail (d6+5) and gets 7. [ THE ORDER: Figure, Priestess, Adam, Dryads 1 and 2, Eroles/Magellan/Dryads 3-4, Dryads 5-6, Remi and Abigail The figure reaches to his belt and tosses two small vials of a greenish liquid, one to Magellan and one to Remi. "Drink! Better to be at best shape." The priestess, meanwhile, ducks behind the dryad males, ushering them forward. "Kill them! Don't let them defile this sacred ground." [ Adam! Find the target. Pull the switch. ] * Adam throws his knife, aiming for Dryad #1's heart. Convenient. If they kill, its okay... but if we kill, it's defiling. (2d6 minus weapon skills, correct?) ( Sec. S'a called shot, if I'm reading you right. The rules are a little different. ) (*nod*) ( 2d6 - Appropriate skill, +1 penalty counting your Dead Eye bonus. ) 2d6 * Atom rolls for Adam (2d6) and gets 9. ( I think you end up with a net -1 bonus, but that still misses. ) (Erp, that should be...yeah.) (I so did not imagine Adam having Dead Eye.) ( Neither did I. ) (You'd be amazed. ^_^) Adam's dagger goes way wide, embedding itself in the wall behind the dryads with a *thunk* sound. The first two dryads lumber forward and take swings at the figure and Magellan, who are in the vanguard, but both swings are too slow to make contact with either of you. ( And now, Adam has to go through the dryads to get his weapon back. He's screwed. ) [ Eroles! Magellan! Time to make the donuts. ] (;_;) * Eroles goes for the dryad who swung at the figure. 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Eroles (2d6-3) and gets 4. ( Made it. ) * Magellan lifts his wrench high above his head and swipes it downwards at the dryad who tried to whack him. 2d-3 is not a valid number Magellan. 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Magellan (2d6-3) and gets 4. (Made it.) *** Ciara has joined #otherworld ( 'lo Ciara. ) Both attacks catch the hulking plant-man as he recoils from his swing, sinking deep into his flesh. The dryads, however, bleed a sort of clear, syrupy sap rather than the bloodlike fluid the plants did. However, as two more dryads lumber forward at Eroles and Adam, Eroles' swing puts him at a disadvantage, a dryad's fist coming right for him. ( Defense, dear. Yo, Kate. ) 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Eroles (2d6-3) and gets 5. ( Failed. ) One dryad misses; the other connects with a solid *CRACK* which sends Eroles sprawling backwards in a heap. [ 10 damage ] Ow. The last two dryads form a defensive line in front of the priestess, and do not advance. [ Remi! Abigail! Your disco needs you! ] * Abigail leaps up and attempts to land on the Priestess. (Can I still target the priestess?) ( Yes, but she has considerable cover. ) ( Unarmed attack roll, Abby. +4 penalty. ) 2d6+4 * Atom rolls for Abigail (2d6+4) and gets 12. (I miss!) ( She MIGHT have made it. ) ( You have a +3 cover penalty to hit her, Remi. ) (Does Dead Eye help with that?) (What do I land on?) Abigail leaps with... well, not all her might, but as much as she can summon. Sadly, it's a little short; she is now, however, in perfect position to engage the priestess' "guards" in melee. ( No, Remi, as it's tough to aim *through* things, as it were. ) * Remi sights along her pistol, trying to pick out the priestess' form behind the guards. "Imagine this, bitch..." she mutters, firing. 2d6-1 * Atom rolls for Remi (2d6-1) and gets 3. (Hit. Twice, in fact.) (The actual result is 4, but yes.) (It is? Oops.) The priestess, not thinking that a clear shot would get past her guards, takes the first hit square in the shoulder with intense surprise; blood stains her gown and the wall behind her. However, she manages to twist out of the way of the second shot, which only grazes her. The four forward dryads all turn to face Remi. (Now is the time on Otherworld when we hide behind Magellan.) (Sure, hide behind the burly wombat-man.) The mysterious figure, having dispensed his 'gifts', dashes forward and, in an impressive aerial somersault, vaults onto one of the approaching dryads' backs, ramming the dark obsidian knife directly into the back of the thing's neck. It starts to buck, and the lithe youth hangs on for dear life. The priestess, meanwhile, is apparently in shock from having even been hit. She reels backwards, leaning against the wall and clutching her arm for a moment, before picking up Adam's knife and, snarling, hurls it at Remi. (Defend, Remicakes, if you so choose.) 2d6-2 * Atom rolls for Remi (2d6-2) and gets 4. (Success.) The knife shears by Remi, who dodges expertly, and clatters to the ground near Adam's feet, by some celestial stroke of luck. [Adam! Dance... or DIE! ] She sure has lousy aim for a Chosen One. (What would be my chances of hitting the Priestess?) ( Very low. ) * Adam picks up his knife, and throws it at the nearest dryad. 2d6-2 * Atom rolls for Adam (2d6-2) and gets 2. Adam's impressively aimed shot sinks into the arm of a forward dryad, causing his punch at Remi to suddenly go wild. The other is currently occupied trying to pry the figure in black from his back. [Eroles! Magellan! Protect queen and country!] * Magellan sags a little as the followthrough of his swing drags him down. He winces, then uncorks the green stuff, sniffs it, and chugs it. * Eroles thought we were trying to slaughter a queen. Oh well. He goes for the closest dyrad. 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Eroles (2d6-3) and gets 5. ( Made. ) Magellan's wounds from before start to close as he drinks the green stuff, which tastes very strongly of mint. Eroles' sword flashes through the air at the embattled lead dryad, slashing his feet from under him. Gurgling, it falls to the ground, the figure riding it all the way to the ground. It ceases to move. The two final forward dryads, working on some unseen order, begin to move to flank Remi; one gets in a side punch at the gunner as he does so. I've always been a fan of sliced veggies. (Bastard. See if I ever talk around you again!) ( You can defend if you want, Remi, at a penalty. And what the hell are you talking about, jackass? Green = mint. It's the first rule of fantasy tasting things. ) (No, I can't. I only get one defense per round, right?) (Green == liiiiime!) ( You only get one without penalty. You can defend again, but you take a penalty with each additional defense. ) (...as long as I don't have to go near a pool of lime green healing potions, I'll be fine. c_c;) (Might as well, then. What's the penalty?) ( +2. ) 2d6+2 * Atom rolls for Remi (2d6+2) and gets 8. (Nope.) The dryad's hit carries some power, knocking Remi back a few feet; she slides across the ground, kicking up some dust, but remains standing. [10 damage] The two dryads guarding the priestess both move up to Abigail, but don't attack; they instead completely interpose themselves between her and the Priestess, ready to catch her if she jumps again. [Remi! Abigail! The power is yours!] * Abigail just punches one. 2d6 * Atom rolls for Abigail (2d6) and gets 9. (oh, well.) * Remi grunts softly as she feels the hit even through her armor, but ignores the dryads in favor of circling to try to get another shot or two at the priestess. Abby takes a swing but, either through midjudgement or merely being groggy, misses. ( Same penalty, Remi. It cancels out your +3 skill bonus. ) ( Hmm. Wait, the gun is Accurate, ain't it? I forgot about that. ) 2d6-1 * Atom rolls for Remi (2d6-1) and gets 6. (Yep. Hit, barely.) The bullet whistles through the air toward the priestess, but this time she's ready for it, twisting out of the way just in time. Retrieving his dagger and leaping forward, the mysterious figure runs forward, passing the other three dryads and moving to help Abigail. "You take left, I take right, yes?" He hurls his knife with uncanny accuracy, piercing the right dryad's eye. The priestess looks harrowed, and quite a bit scared. She turns to run into the darkness when she finds a gun pointed at her from behind... held by one Drusilla Drogg, mysteriously enough. "You're not going anywhere, bitch." [Adam! Uncle Sam wants you!] ( Hold. ) ( okay, resume resume resume. ) (I attack the darkness!) (Is my knife in the dead dryad? ^_^;) ( Yes. You can retrieve this round, but not attack with it. ) * Adam retrieves his knife. ( Mind check, Adam. No bonus/penalty. ) 2d6 * Atom rolls for Adam (2d6) and gets 9. (Just failed.) The second forward dryad, seemingly going berserk, takes two wild swings at Magellan. The first goes way wide; the second looks spot on, though. (Defending, you old bastard?) (Sure. First time this round.) (Then do it, man!) 2d6-1 * Atom rolls for Magellan (2d6-1) and gets 6. (Curses.) Spot on it was; the dryad's fist connects squarely with Magellan's jaw, sending him stumbling back a few feet. [10 damage] [ Eroles! Magellan! I'm running out of witty it's your turn sayings! ] * Eroles goes for the closest dryad again. 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Eroles (2d6-3) and gets 1. * Magellan stands straight again, then brings his wrench up to smack the dryad that done whacked him. 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Magellan (2d6-3) and gets 4. (Hit.) In a stunning and actually rather humorous parody of Chrono Trigger, Magellan's wrench impacts the dryad's side just as Eroles appears from the other side, slashing with his blade. While no red X appears, something does croak: the dryad, which slumps the ground with a loud *WHAM*. (*SNRK*) * Magellan looks over at Eroles. "Nice strike, lad." The dryads flanking Remi turn to look at their fallen brothers. One takes a swing at the gunner which goes way wide; the other stumbles toward Eroles, aiming a hammer fist at the fortuneteller's head just as Magellan compliments him,. (Defend?) * Eroles blinks. What was..? ( Err. "What was...?" ) ( I'll take that as a "no"? ^_^; ) ( Err. One second ) 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Eroles (2d6-3) and gets 1. ( Sorry. ) Eroles' confused blink and turn takes him completely out of the dryad's way, the huge green fists whistling through the air harmlessly. The two dryads guarding the priestess are in bad shape; one clutches at his eye, only succeeding in driving the figure's knife in further. The other puts too much into his punch at Abigail and trips forward, leaving a nice opening for the girl if she wishes to take it. [ Remi! Abby! Anything goes school of martial arts roleplay! ] * Abigail goes all out for that opening. ( -2 bonus to hit the thing. ) 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Abigail (2d6-3) and gets 3. (woot!) ...If anyone underestimated Abby's strength, they surely will not do so a second time; the girl's punch catches the dryad under the chin and actually lifts the thing's bulk clear into the air until it flies backwards and impacts the wall soundly, leaving a crater. It's quite dead. * Adam whistles. * Remi doesn't even seem to notice the dryads slowly falling apart, so fixed is her attention on the earth priestess. "Stop dodging and DIE already!" she snaps in an annoyed tone as she continues blazing away. Nice. (Fear the flip side of Easily Distracted.) ( Are... you... going to roll? ^_^; ) (Same penalty, or is she open now?) ( It's Abby that's providing partial cover. +1 penalty. If you miss, you hit Abby. ) 2d6-3 * Atom rolls for Remi (2d6-3) and gets 4. (Two hits.) Remi's shots are, as usual, dead on; however, something is clearly up with the Earth Priestess, as the bullets turn into butterflies shortly before they hit her body. The girl's green hair is beginning to spiral upward in some unseen wind as she faces down 'Dru'. "You're dead! You're nothing! I SENT YOU BACK!" As the figure attempts to yank his dagger out of the now-dead dryad's skull, Dru grins and keeps her gun trained on the priestess. "You tried. There are things stronger than you know at work." [ Adam! Get your body in motion! [ * Adam throws his knife (once again) at the nearest living dryad. 2d6-2 * Atom rolls for Adam (2d6-2) and gets 0. ( Impressive. ) (I'll cut you, foo!) ( Adam and Anya. ) Somehow, probably through some arcane trick of physics, Adam's knife flies through the air at the dryad attacking Remi... and takes its head clean off at the neck, like a laser through butter. It embeds itself in the far wall with a loud metallic vibrating *TWANG*. ( Critical, bitch. ) (I'll protect you, Remi!) ( ...Tuxedo Reporter. Oh lord. I need to go lie down. ) (ROFL.) ( ... ) (bursts out laughing) ( Does that make us the Adventurer Scouts? ) (It's like Superman! Only not.) ( "I am the pretty sailor suited warrior of Chance and Gambling, Sailor Fortune!" ) There is a whole one dryad left, and whatever's happening to the priestess, it's feeling the fallout. The body seems to... shrink. What you see as the end result is a withered human form, once male (as evident from it being naked) and wrapped in the same sort of vines that entombed Abigail. * Remi does notice THAT. It's pretty hard to miss, after all. She turns to look at Adam inquisitively... then her expression breaks into a wide grin. "Hey, thanks." (We've got Sailor Tarot. Sailor Semi-Auto-Handgun, Sailor Monkeywrench, and Sailor Golem!) * Adam smiles. "Glad to help." (In the names of Smith and Wesson, I will punish you.) * Magellan lets his wrench's momentum carry him thorugh a few spins, then he stops and turns to face the priestess. The priestess lunges forward at Dru, who nimbly sidesteps. "You (D'oh!) The priestess lunges forward at Dru, who nimbly sidesteps. "You're dead!" she shrieks, clawing repeatedly. "Dead! Dead! DEAD!" What she doesn't notice is that behind her, the figure has retrieved his dagger and holds it in front of him; the knife glows as if in backlight, and the youth's somewhat tribal tone takes on a rich, hollow quality as he speaks. "By the ancient covenant, I demand thee, Eclipse Key! Follow the ancient bonds and seal this lock in chains of ether!" Whatever it is that's fueling the priestess at this point... stops. She goes sheet white, standing still, and then slowly turns to the figure, turning to walk at him and moving in slow motion, as if through taffy. There is an intense feeling of... arctic chill, and then nothing. The lightshow dies down and the priestess collapses. Well. That was fancy. * Magellan rubs the back of his head. "i have no idea what's goin' on, but it beats getting swung at." [ Combat's over. Pose at your discretion. ] * Adam finally gets out his notebook and starts writing at a very fast pace. I don't know. I was sort of expecting the three to crumble, or burst into flame, or something. * Eroles rubs where he was smacked, and hisses in pain. * Adam retrieves his knife, as an afterthought. * Remi heads over to wrench Adam's knife out of the wall, and has an awkward moment where she's juggling her gun, the vial, and the knife. "...What'd this stuff do again, Maggie?" (...Okay, maybe not. ^_^;) Heals you. The figure sighs, sheathing the knife at his side. "Finally... that ordeal is over. What a pain..." His voice sounds... the same, yet different. He's considerably more articulate now, for one. So, care to explain what's going on? * Adam bows to the figure. "Thank you very much for saving us." ( For those of you making a soundtrack to this at home: begin playing "Auron's Theme" here. ) * Remi shrugs and drinks the thing. She doesn't want to be carrying it around, after all. "I think we already got most of the explanation... hey, are those pod things dead? I don't want to get eaten again." *** Narrator is now known as Figure * Figure shrugs at Eroles. "Not really... if I were you, I'd go home and forget everything you saw here." He glances at the priestess, now a blubbering wreck on the ground -- her hair is now a normal blonde -- and gestures to her. "Take her back to the authorities in Lucia. You'll be well-rewarded, I'm sure."

Dru, meanwhile, walks over to Magellan and offers a hand. "Thank you." * Adam looks around for the last dryad.. Still can't understand why she didn't kill me. * Magellan takes it, and offeres a hearty shake. "I don't rightly know if you're real or not, but even if you aren't, you're a Drogg in my book, right enough." * Eroles checks to see if there is anything he can use as rope.

Dru laughs and shakes back. "I... will fade soon. It was your anger that allowed me to come back." She is already starting to fade. "You treated me like something real and cared right from the start. The Birthplace took those strong feelings and brought me back..."

( There are lots of vines, Eroles. Each dryad corpse is now the same, by the way: human males, naked and covered in thick vines. One fits a description you were given in the farm towns, Remi. ) * Eroles grabs a fine and ties the priestess up. Just in case. * Magellan is silent, watching Dru fade. * Remi blinks, then shakes her head firmly, moving to check on the downed dryads and aforementioned pod plants. "...Well. This is interesting." (Hmm...I take it the humans themselves are dead, as well?) * Figure glances at Abigail, and walks over to her, producing a phial filled with red liquid. "Because there were things about you that resisted the Birthplace's magic. It's still inside you... you can let it grow, or you can drink this and it will kill them. You won't become a dryad if you let them live, but... it may have some other effects. It is up to you."

Dru embraces Magellan as she begins to disappear; the fireflies are warm to the touch. "Thank you for letting me exist."

She is then gone. * Abigail takes the phial and examines it, then puts it in a pocket. She was not... entirely insane, then. * Magellan sighs, and picks up his wrench. "I wish I knew what the devil has been going on here." I wouldn't go that far.

The priestess is quite comatose; she's apparently had her fill. * Abigail stares down at the priestess, pulls out the phial and examines it some more, then pops the top and drinks it. * Figure reaches into... somewhere, and produces five small golden objects in his hand. "Before I go, I'll give you a gift. It's... a piece of the Terrestrial Bible. Edible amber. It's up to you if you want to eat it or not." Better an abomination I understand than one that could be far worse.

( The stuff in the vial tastes like liquid fire. It burns going down, but that passes quickly. ) * Eroles peers at the amber. "Strange." Hmm, interesting... * Magellan takes a piece and eyes it.

( Let me award these right now: ) What the hell...? 'Edible'?

( Everyone gets 3 CP for this whole thing, and 4 skill points you can spend on skills you used. If you eat the amber, you only get 2 CP, but you'll get another benefit. ) * Adam picks up a piece and looks at it closely. * Abigail looks at the amber, sniffs it once, then eats it. Oh well. What's life without chance. * Eroles peers at the amber, shrugs and munches it. * Magellan shrugs and chows down. * Adam does likewise.

While people are observing the amber, the figure takes the chance to make his exit as quietly as he arrived. *** Figure is now known as Narrator *** Ciara has quit IRC (Quit: zzzzzzzz...) ( The amber tasts a bit like maple sugar candy. It's actually pretty good. ) Not bad. (...kirai ja nai.) Better than that other foul stuff. Hey... where'd he go? * Magellan looks around. * Remi shrugs. "I'm not sure I want this stuff inside me, but whatever. All for one, and life is short." She pops the piece into her mouth, too. And mumbles through it, "'E'sh gnn. Um." * Adam blinks, and writes something down. * Abigail (hmms... I only used one skill, and I don't have enough to spend any skill points on it.) ( Save 'em, then? ) Anyone for heading back to the inn? I'd like to sleep on a real bed and not one I'm imagining tonight. (Yeah) Well, I think we're done here. Sounds like a plan to me. Yeah. * Remi plaintively asks, "Are you sure we shouldn't burn it down...?" Because if something happens to me again, I do'nt trust you guys to stumble over me. Well, I think it'll go over better with the authorities if we just turn her in. * Magellan grabs the priestess and heaves her over his shoulder, much like a sack of potatoes. Gentle, Magellan? Besides, who knows what sort of leafy demons you'll wake up if you do? * Magellan starts walking towards where the exit was. "Gentle is for people who haven't tried to kill me today." Heh. * Eroles follows after Maggie. Flaming, soon-to-die-horribly ones, probably. * Remi doesn't really seem inclined to argue about it, though. * Adam shrugs, and follows. * Abigail looks around the cavern once more, then also follows. The trip home is uneventful; it's as if the forest is LETTING you out. Inside of a few hours from leaving the tree (an exit reappears for you), you can see the lights of Lucia over the plains again. ( I didn't look; did you or did you not eat the amber, Abigail? ) (Yes.) ( You did. ) (You took the box! Stupid!) Soon you're in a local farm town's inn, captive (still unconscious) in tow, and a restful night, the first in many days, is ahead. The threat of the kidnapping Earth Priestess is finally past. [ ARC 1 COMPLETE. ]