Mission and Farron, Lights Out, A Different Explosion, Dark Mormon Powers
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
"More explosions?" Mission says. He holds up his hands defensively as all eyes turn to him. "I don't have any better ideas than Rennik or Sa'id."
But he will be sure to stay away from the hole should Sa'id decide to start tossing magery around above them. In fact, he'll move to the west-leading tunnel in antcipation of the mage's spellcasting, and to be in a better position to scale the rope if Rennik should need assistance.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
"Just make sure you're not yelling out a swamp dragon mating call, Rennik," Farron adds. "I'd hate to have a dozen randy males answer your call."
From: Tom
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
OOC: *grin* So would Rennik, I'd imagine.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
Cadfael moves forward slightly to talk to Mission, "What of the metal grate? Is there any chance it could be moved enough to let us pass? There may be another way up westward."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
(OOC - Yeah, I know this was late. Sorry guys, but I was away from work for the holiday yesterday and my home email is still wonky. I'll write more soon.)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
"I don't know," Mission admits. "But from the sound of water falling, the grate led into a deep hole."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
Farron, still shaken by the blast, touches his face where he was burned, but there is no pain and the skin feels smooth. Then he rubs the back of his neck and winces. His burned neck is still raw and his hand comes away wet but in the darkness he cannot tell if the wetness is from the wound or just from swamp water dripping out of his still-damp hair. Cadfael's healing wasn't complete. He did not know why. Perhaps the priest's powers were weaker here, out of the sunlight. Or perhaps he just felt that Farron needed to feel a little pain for some reason. It wouldn't be the first time he'd withheld his power in order to teach one of them something that, in his infinite wisdom he felt they needed.
His thought are interrupted by Rennik and Mission as they exchange tense words. Mission is right, he thinks. It is barbarian to toss away the life of a child so easily as Rennik seems to wish. He can only imagine the anger Rennik's words must stir in the monk, though who can tell? He is as hard to read as a foreign parchment and, alas, Farron knows no spell to read him more easily.
Watching Rennik climb the rope and scream into the jungle, he looks the part of a wildman. Impetuous and overconfident of his own ability, he's already shown once he has no loyalty to the group. And his encounter with the leggy dame hasn't seemed to teach him any humility. Rennik is a wildman -- savage and untamable. Perhaps Mission's child is doomed, and will die before this is through, but it won't be by Farron's hand. And if there is to be any hope of keeping the group or any part of it together, Mission must know this.
When Sa'id mentions a fireball, Farron notices Mission moving to the back away from the hole and moves over near him. As the others debate the possibilities, Farron approaches Missions and quietly says, "You are right in your loyalty to your child. If innocence can be corrupted before it is even born, there is no hope at all.
He pauses only a moment then continues, "I know that you are not comfortable with my craft, and I will not apologize for what I am, but I am with you if you will accept my aid in saving your child." In the weak light from the hole above, he offers his hand to the monk in brotherhood, if not yet in friendship.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
"I know that you are not comfortable with my craft, and I will not apologize for what I am, but I am with you if you will accept my aid in saving your child."
Mission stares, mouth open, as Farron offers him his hand. The world was going mad. That was the only explanation, after so much ill-will . . .
But madness of this kind, the world could use more of. Mission clasps the wizard's forearm. "Thank you, Farron. We may not ever see eye to eye on some things. . . but I appreciate your help. If you are ever near the mountains of Bannock's Ire, I promise you will have safe haven with the Path of Blood and Stone."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
Farron acknowledges the monk's offer with a nod then asks, "What do you think should be our next course of action? "
From: Ty
Subject: The hole; A covering darkness...
Farron and Mission stand talking quietly in the deep water by the rope. Rennik is swimming back to his gear at the rock fall. The rest of the party stands looking uncomfortable in the shallow water near the blocked passage. There is an air of resignation from all. To have come so far and then to be blocked by pigs and rocks seems intolerable. The anger that seeps out must have some part of its roots in deep frustration.
But the anger builds. Cadfael looks back and forth from Rennik to Mission. They constantly bicker like children. Worse than children, children would at least obey from time to time. He wastes his holy prayers on healing their wounds, and he receives NO thanks. Mission walks away from him. Is his godly touch so foul that the monk cannot bear it? Who DO THEY THINK THEY ARE!
The party looks up as Cadfael hurls his shield onto the ground with a resounding crash. His face is clenched in a rictus of anger and hate, and his chest heaves with harsh breaths. "I... Damned...I will...." he gasps out before falling on his knees. Then his face goes white, as if suddenly drained of all life, and his expression changes to one of terrible fear. He begins beating his gloved left hand against the stone wall with bone crushing force. His lips move as if he is praying, but Sa'id who is closest to him can hear him saying, over and over again, "no...no...no...no...no...no..."
The party is just reacting to this, when the lights go out. The torches gutter once, as if in a stiff wind, then fail. Sa'id's staff and Cadfael's glove both cease to glow. Even the midday light that had been streaming though the open hole above vanishes. The tunnel is thrust into blackness as deep as any underdark pit.
Closely following the blackness is a rumbling sound, like a great earthquake. The ground itself does not shake, but there is a sudden compression of air, like the shockwave of an explosion, and everyone is struck senseless.
[Private emails going out]
From: Ty
Subject: A covering darkness; visions
The shockwave hits Mission and he feels himself blown away like a leaf in a storm.
He is floating in a cold blackness. He suffocates eternally, never able to draw breath, yet never dying. The cold is so deep it enters every part of his body, freezing his bones. Far away, so far he can barely detect it, is a spark of heat and hope. He calls to that spark with every ounce of his being. Please, hear me! Please, save me! I'm so cold...
He is coming, but it seems so slow, and now the blackness around him is changing. A slow, diffuse red light can be seen, red like blood. He knows the red light is evil. If he is ever touched by it, he will be lost forever, trapped inside the light for eternity.
From: Ty
Subject: a covering darkness
Cadfael's burst of anger toward his party is quickly overwhelmed by a fiery pain in his left hand. Even that is lost when the vision erupts around him?
He stands at the edge of a ceremony in hell. At least, it must be in hell, for the images are so terrible they burn his eyes and threaten to stop his heart. In the center of a vast dark hall stands a pillar of deepest black. It is the absence of all light, the absence of all goodness. Even to look at it causes pain.
It stands 50 feet high, and is 30 feet around. It is a perfect cylinder except for one flaw. Low on one side, there is a crack. From this crack streams a horrible red light. Cadfael can sense the evil in that light, and knows that to touch it would cost him his soul. The light falls down on a crude, makeshift alter that has been erected. The alter is covered in blood.
All around the alter stand the worshippers. Wild halflings, naked but for their tattoos, faces twisted with emotion, dance around the pillar. Evil men twist and writhe to some horrible rhythm. At the head of the altar stands a creature of flaming red and black heart, impossible to look at directly, but it holds a glass dagger in its hand as if awaiting new sacrifice.
And all around stand the legions of the undead. Undead in numbers so vast they are uncountable. The too move in a clumsy rhythm.
In the midst of all this, a woman is brought out. She moves slowly, and seemingly with great pain. Her belly is swollen grotesquely with pregnancy, and two zombies help her walk to the altar with painful slowness. Her body is placed on the altar, and on it she writhes and screams out her birth pangs. The creature of fire and darkness stands nearby with dagger in hand, awaiting the birth.
Cadfael realizes someone is standing behind him, and turns around. The Solar is there, looking on the scene with terrible sadness and anger. "Three days," it says. "Three days before the covering darkness is released. In three days time, you must be in this place. You must take the child before darkness can claim it. For this purpose you have been brought here, burdened by evil so that the creatures of this place will see you as one of their own. This is the purpose of your life. Will you accept this? Three days..."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness...
Cut to commercial . . . ;-)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness...
OH SHIZ!
Just as Farron and Mission begin building a relationship of trust ( :p @ Karl ) . . .
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness...
no... no... no... no... no...
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness...
Um... it's all Farron's fault! Yeah! Or Sa'id's!
:D
When in doubt, blame the mages..
From: Ty
Subject: The hole; A covering darkness
The party slowly returns to their senses. Rennik finds that he is at the bottom of the pool, and pushes back to the surface. He could not have been out for long, because he has swallowed no water. Sa'id's staff begins to glow again, as does Cadfael's glove, though the torches do not reignite.
From the tunnel nearest the rope comes a horrifying scream that seems to drag on for minutes. It takes a moment before everyone realizes it is Mission, his eyes closed, screaming until his throat gives out, while Farron shakes him.
Cadfael is on his knees, hands clenched and eyes closed, saying over and over again, "three days... three days..."
Slowly, the light returns through the tunnel entrance. The sun has returned.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Garyth shakes his head a bit, trying to clear the fuzziness from his mind. How long has he been out? What's going on? And who in the names of all the gods is screaming like that?
Wait, screaming?
Awareness returns all at once, and he sees Cadfael on his knees muttering to himself and Mission screaming as though he were being chased by seven kinds of demon. He rushes over to the monk's side and slaps him once across the face. He grabs Mission by the shoulders and yells, "Stop! Mission, what is it?"
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
"Three days." His voice starts out as a whisper, so soft it sounds like a thought unbidden echoing in the heads of the party. Thoughts they project onto his moving lips, not words spoken by the man. "Three days." He repeats over and over to himself. With each repeat his voice becomes stronger and surer though the words become clenched and forced. Soon they are an unintelligible growl and then stop suddenly as Cadfael retches into the dank water.
Stiffly he gropes up the wall, his glove torn from pounding the rock and his blood smears on stone as his fingers scrabble for a hold. Finding one, he pulls himself to his feet with a grunt while keeping his eyes tightly shut, the tracks of tears clear on his dirt-stained face.
"Why do you only come with words of darkness?" He moans aloud. His eyes flick open gaze off toward Mission. "This is not the path I would have chosen." Gracelessly, he pushes himself from the wall and lurches forward a stride, stumbling without direction and seeming off balance without his shield at his side. "It is not right that a being of glory should show me the pits of hell. You demand too much!" Looking heavily about him his eyes settle on the man closest to him and he shambles toward Sa'id.
"You were right, Sa'id," he mutters as he draws closer to the mage, "the Gods push and pull as they please. They are silent save to make demands and you claim all they do is bestow fickle blessings? And even those you doubt. Where are the Gods when you feel healing, Sa'id? It is my touch you feel and MY touch that you fear. The line between Gods and men blur for you and yet for your faithlessness your are given freedom and the price of my faith *is* my faith." His bloodshot eyes seem to light with amusement at that, although no trace of humour touches the rest of his face.
"I will not do it!" He screams to the cavern walls, " Do you hear that, Sa'id? I am refusing the call of a God. I'm sure it brings you joy. Still, your blasphemy will cost you nothing and my love will cost the world and they call it justice." He spits out the last words while barreling faster and faster toward Sa'id, drawing within a foot of the mage. In the face of such fury Sa'id takes a quick step back toward the cavern wall. Just as he does so Cadfael's fist comes swinging at his face with force enough to cave his skull. Only the fact that he was already moving away saves him and Cadfael's heavy blow glances the side of his face, though the force of it is still enough to send the off-balance mage sprawling [Roll to hit: 20 Possible Critical. Critical: 11 No Critical. Damage: 5 (subdual)].
This time he does laugh, "Where the Gods will not go there are only men and this is a man's justice." He gives Sa'id a satisfying kick to the ribs, "You think you lie there because you lack the blessings of God?" He kicks him again, "Would you rather be in my blessed boots? I would rather feel these sacred boots against my ribs than have them remain here on my feet. But (kick) nobody (kick) asked (kick) me (kick)."
Each kick seems to fuel his anger and, panting, he kneels down next to Sa'id. "But what a fool I am," he says angrily, "to refuse the call of Gods. They do not beg for favors, do they? Though they form demands as questions. And without my God I am less than a man." He reaches out and cups Sa'id's chin, "Less even than you. Though it breaks my heart I will do as Pelor 'asks'."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
"I will not do it!"
Garyth hears Cadfael yell, and looks over just in time to see him deck Sa'id. He jumps to his feet and races over, leaping at the mage in a flying tackle.
"What are you doing?!" he cries.
OOC: Will grapple and attempt to pin.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Garyth watches the priest knock Sa'id off his feet with one powerful punch, and stares in shock for a second before acting. He had moved out into the water to help Mission, and now curses the slowness of his movement back to the rubble wall. As he wades, he watches Cadfael yelling almost incoherently, then begin kicking Sa'id in the ribs over and over again. The cleric is on one knee, gripping the wizards terrified face when Garyth finally makes it out of the water.
Garyth leaps at the kneeling priest [Grapple attempt 20, opposed grapple check 16; grapple succeeds], and knocks him onto his back. Holding the large man down is not easy, but Garyth is young and quite strong, and eventually Cadfael stops moving. "What are you doing?" Garyth asks.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Farron, shaking Mission does not realize what is happening to Sa'id until Garyth already has him on the ground. Seeing that Sa'id is no longer in danger, he will continue trying to bring some coherency to Mission. "What is wrong?!" he will say loudly while trying to get him to snap out of whatever has gripped him.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
As Cadfael charges at him, something goes *click* in Sa'id's mind. Unfortunately, he doesn't manage to dodge the priest's blow, and is unable to fight the larger man off as he is beaten -- but when Garyth is finally able to pull Cadfael off him, Sa'id knows precisely what he wants to do. He can't believe he didn't see it sooner, and is absolutely furious with himself. Even more frustrating to him is the fact that he does not find the spell he wants in his mental repertoire. Sa'id stands up, wiping blood from his lip. When he speaks, though, his tone is commanding. It's obvious that he will not tolerate disagreement as he says "Garyth, don't let him move. Farron, cast Detect Evil and tell me what you see. Look at the priest. I was foolish enough not to memorize it this morning." He shakes his head, then mutters "I am such an imbecile!"
He moves a little bit closer to Garyth and Cadfael, and then says "Now, priest, we shall see." [Detect Magic]
[OOC: Sa'id will focus his augmented gaze on Cadfael. Specifically, on his gloved hand. If Farron doesn't have Detect Evil memorized and doesn't have a scroll of it, Sa'id will sit down and memorize it then and there, overwriting a Prestidigitation spell.]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
[waiting on Farron before I write the response to this]
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Light as dark as heart's blood, and wicked fingers easing him toward it, and if it were to touch him he'd spend all eternity drowning in it, and no true light would ever touch him again, no clean blood would beat in his heart, and he'd never feel stone under his feet, and he was too far gone, too far gone. . .
Someone was clutching at Mission, calling him in a muffled voice. Hands dragging at him, drowning him. . .
"Let me go!" He flails away from somone-- Farron. There is daylight streaming into the tunnel from above. Honest daylight. Warm daylight.
Deceptive, mercurial daylight.
Daylight, province of Pelor.
Pathless god.
Garyth has the Pathless god's cleric pinned. Mission ignores Farron's questions, steps past Sa'id's crumpled form. Cadfael. Spy. Tool of Sand and Shadow.
Mission will move quickly forward and strike Cadfael with Stoneclutch (stunning blow).
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Okay, if the excellent RP'ing we've seen this go-round does not bump everyone up AT LEAST a level. . . I may have to resort to using my Dark Mormon powers to put blisters on Slash's. . . nose.
Big, pus-filled, nasty, runny blisters.
Seriously, some very, very good stuff here from everyone. You guys are freakin' awesome.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
I *KNEW* there were Dark Mormon powers...
::runs off to call Jack Chick::
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Agreed.
About the great RP, that is. :) I loved Dan's email even though I was the one getting beaten down.
I'll be getting him back soon enough, though. :)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Dear, dear, boy. . .
I eat Jack Chick for breakfast every morning. Sometimes with chorizo, sometimes with Thomas' English muffins (LOVE those nooks and crannies).
If you're going to threaten, do it properly. Run off to inform . . .
Hmm. Gosh. I don't think anyone's going to help you out. They're all in our pockets, or are terrified of us.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
The Mormons are in league with the Universe People!
::runs off to hide::
From: Ty
Subject: The hole; strife
Pandemonium. Cadfael kicking a helpless Sa'id. Garyth jumping on him and taking him down. Mission yelling then rushing across the water while Sa'id sits up and calls to Farron for spells, then begins one of his own. Rennik standing near by with his mouth in an open look of astonishment.
Sa'id finishes his spell, and is just beginning to look over the priest, when Mission gets in front of him and slams and open palm down on the cleric's forehead. Or, at least, he intends to strike his head. His hand comes down looking like it could crush a small boulder, but Cadfael twists aside and the hand hits the rocks beneath him with crushing force [Attack roll natural 1, automatic miss].
[Waiting on actions. Garyth can act, Cadfael can try to act, Sa'id can act, Farron can leave the water, Rennik can act. Mission can act again.]
[Initiative is Cadfael 19, Sa'id 17, Mission 15, Garyth 10, Rennik 9, Farron 9]
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The hole; strife
Sa'id finishes his incantation, and attempts to maneuver such that he can get a clear look at Cadfael. He focuses intently using his augmented vision [no other action this round]. He MUST know.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; A covering darkness
Rennik crouches on the rocks, watching his party devolve to chaos in the dim light streaming from the hole above. His head is still ringing.
Cadfael's decline to madness unnerved him even more than the sudden darkness, but Mission's breakdown was less a shock.
Mission.
He saw Mission as his own dark reflection, what he would have become had he not met Elbereth Gwyndellion, and his band of elven rangers.
Rennik's rage at the loss of his beloved Nunka was too much to bear, and he had struck out alone to track Horan and his devilboar master. The hate consumed him, drove him on, forced him to push through pain and hunger and fatigue in his pursuit. Nothing and no one would stop him from avenging his beloved, and his heart became cold as stone and he shut out the world.
A leopard attacked him on the fringe fo the jungle, and he was wounded badly. He was too weak to move far, and cooked pieces of the great cat for food while he healed. His leg was broken, and he knew if he were attacked again, he would surely die - but he fought on, and when he was sick from fever, pulling the newly skinned pelt of the cat around his shoulders, the elves came on him.
After they nursed his wounds, they nursed his anger. He was almost a devil himself, whirling in anger on any who looked at him, wrestling and fighting the elven rangers several times a day, even in his weakened state. They took pity on him. They calmed him and trained him as a ranger, teaching him logic and rational thought, ways to survive when all hope is lost.
Above all, they tought survival. And to be prepared for anything.
Mission's actions reminded Rennik of his darkest times, when he would strike out at those who wished to help him, who were nursing his wounds, out of anger, fear, confusion. This Promise, this child, was like Rennik's beloved Nunka - it blinded him to the world, and would turn him against even his friends. It was the time when Rennik was his most dangerous, and he was thankful to the leopard, whose skin he still wears, that he had broken his leg - otherwise, he may never have found the elves, and have become worse than the beasts he hunted.
Crouching on the rocks, Rennik prepared his bow and quiver of arrows, aiming carefully at the rest of the party, but not adding tension. Madness had descended upon Mission and Cadfael, and madness could be catching. He was prepared to fight, if need be, to kill anyone who came at him. Survival. Preparation. He kept the halberd close at hand.
As he waited, he thought of leaving. He could strap his equipment on again and walk slowly across the bottom, holding his breath, until he got to the rope. Then he could be away, into the underbrush, back to warn the halfling tribes against their danger, against something that would steal their souls.
To hell with Promise. To hell with this quest into madness and certain death. He might just make it back alive to warn his kin.
Almost decided, he watched Garyth struggle to contain Cadfael and disrupt the fighting. He watched Sa'id and Farron calmly try to resolve the situation with their magery. He respected Garyth, and could not abandon him to this fate - and he had formed a grudging friendship with Sa'id, even if he twisted nature around himself.... He would stay. If only for them.
But he promised himself. If Garyth were to fall, he would look toward his own survival - and the survival of his people.