Subject: checking in

Does anyone have anything to add before I write up the next wizard and overlook turns?

Subject: Re: checking in

I'm good to go.

Subject: Re: checking in

Nothing that can not wait.

Mark

Subject: Re: The Exodus; Scattered to the winds...

Garyth holds Osred's stare for a moment, but looks away as the battlepriest speaks. Osred is doing the right thing, of course--morale and esprit de corps are crucial for soldiers--but the big sergeant's words might as well be the chirping of a cricket for all that they move Garyth. Kenneth knew what he was getting into, but that doesn't make his loss any more acceptable. Maybe it will be necessary for more of them to die, and he'll gladly put himself between his home and his enemies, but he'll be damned if he'll watch a comrade die and call it glory. Grimly, he sets to the work of burying Kenneth.

OOC: All done. He'll let Osred or Pensive heal him if pressed, but won't seek it out.

Subject: Re: checking in

Oh yeah, Farron says " . . ."

Subject: Re: The Exodus; Scattered to the winds...

Pensive will heal Garyth, and then work on any of the other soldiers that need it.

It might be wise for Osred or one of the other authoritative humans to counsel the remaining townspeople NOT to flee next time they come under attack.

We're under the canopy of forest, but still a day or so away from Kalama territory. Does Rennick know the way? Were we expecting to meet Melani at midpoint?

I'd love to do more RP, but I just don't have the time right now. . . Can I just say that Pensive expresses his fears that the halflings were gathering humans for some unknown (to him) purpose? Or do I need to RP it?

:)

Good turns everyone.

Subject: Re: The Exodus; Scattered to the winds...

Ty, could we get a summary of everyone's current HP?

Subject: Re: checking in

I will, but I haven't been home for the past day or two. Some time in the afternoon your time I'll write something.

Subject: In Limbo

"Tie her up. She goes to the mountain."

That is the last thing she hears. Her world turns upside down. She gets a quick glimpse of what must be the sky. Then the sudden falling feeling and the crushing pain. The wild cheering of the murrkat fills her ears and their blows rain down on her. One mercifully crashes into her temple sending her into darkness.

She floats in the darkness. She should be feeling the pain but there is nothing. Maybe she is dead. Could this be what death is like? It is peaceful, like lying on your back in a small pond in the middle of summer or under the trees in the fall when the leaves fall.

Then the dread starts; the sense of terror deep inside her. She looks around but sees nothing in the darkness. She can feel the hunger there though. Her hunting senses are burning. There is something out there looking for her. It wants her. She knows somehow that it wants more than just her flesh, that won't satisfy the hunger it has. It wants more. She panics. Tries to run, to hide, to find a spot where she can pull the forest over top of her and disappear. Nothing. There is nothing. Despair.

A voice. She hears a voice in the distance. Almost she recognizes it in her terror. It is familiar to her. She tries to go towards the voice but her feet do not seem to move. They are frozen in place. She tries to bend her body towards the voice and her perception changes. She is flying away from the dark. The voice is getting closer. Chardan!!! It is her brother calling to her. How could she not know his voice earlier? Then he is there.

Her eyes are filled with tears. "Little one, why do you cry?" He is teasing her the way he did when they were children. He would tease her so that she would get mad. He would the use that anger, direct it to the lesson he was teaching her. Focused it.

"I cry because I miss you Chardan. You are dead and we will not meet again."

"Melani, what is death to the spirits? Your spirit came to me. You are close to joining me, but it is not time yet. You have killed the witch. My spirit it free but yours is not. You still have work to do. The great evil has not been defeated. Go back, save our people." With that he is gone.

She continues floating but the sense of evil is gone. Chardan had protected her once again.

She wakes.

Subject: Re: In Limbo

Nice.

Subject: Gully's or Bust

Kasen sits up suddenly. It is still fairly dark, and he can hear Sa'id snoring noisily nearby. But he feels too rested for it to still be night. It was four in the morning at least before they bedded down. He feels like he's had a full night's sleep. That would make it almost-

Noon. He looks up, and through the thick canopy of clouds, he can see a faintly illuminated spot directly overhead. It is noon. This is as bright as it was going to get. With his eyes adjusted, it is about as bright as a room with the curtains pulled on a bright day. He would be able to ride Storm without breaking her leg, but he hopes he won't have to try and see more than twenty or thirty feet in any direction.

He gets up, and puts on his armor. When even that loud clanking doesn't wake the wizard, he pushes him gently with his foot. "Wake up, we've slept half the day away."

Sa'id is awake immediately, and hurries to check on Farron. The stricken wizard is still breathing steadily, though his face looks drawn.

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

Farron will heroically wait for someone to pick him up and throw him on the back of a horse. (Gently, please. Throw gently.)

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

What Melani wouldn't give to have a horse to ride. Or a pony. :)

I am guessing that her ride will not be as gentle.

Mark

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

That's OK, you'd just eat the horse anyway once you're all wereboarized.

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

"Wake up, we've slept half the day away."

Sa'id's eyes snap open, the afterimage of firelight glowing eerily in his vision. He certainly doesn't -feel- like he's slept half the day -- or even half the night. But Farron was still breathing. Elise's death had not caught up with him while they slept.

And... dreamt? Half-formed thoughts dance at the edges of his mind and memory, darkling thoughts that scuttle from the light of his consciousness. Sa'id, who not so very long ago thought he could grasp even the most elusive, subtle concepts with his towering intellect, is deeply unsettled to find himself so unaware of what is going on within the confines of his own mind.

What is happening to me?

The necromancer helps Kasen maneuver Farron's limp form onto the warrior's warhorse, then mounts up himself. It isn't until they are well underway that he realizes he has forgotten his morning prayers.

Subject: Game hiatus

I remember last summer it was really hard to get the game moving forward. People just have so many other interesting things to do during the summer.

I'd like to put the game on hiatus until Sept 1st.

Would anyone still be around to play if I restarted then?

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I will weep bitter tears between now and then, but I'll still be able to play.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I would be around but bemoaning the indeterminate status of Melani.

I ain't going nowhere.

Mark

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'm still with you and will appreciate the hiatus as well. (Lots o stuff going on here right now.)

Karl

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'd love to start back up then, but I make no guarantees. I'm starting a new job on 9/1 in a new school district, so I have no idea what my schedule will be like then.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

Oh, no.

Now I'll have to concentrate on making stuff up. . .on. . .my. . .own. . .

I'll be here.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'll still be around and willing and able to play.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'll be here.

Subject: Pensive and Garyth

OOC: This is something that I should have done a while ago. Mike, are you up for a little RP?

Pensive bites the inside of his lip as he approaches Garyth. There's no mistaking it-- the captain does not want to be bothered this evening. The scent of grief and bitterness and guilt scuttles around Garyth like rats.

When Garyth sees him, Pensive lifts a roll of bandages, a wad of lint, and small jar of ointment in explanation. "Osred will kill me if I don't see to you," Pensive says. "And then he'll probably kill you for refusing my help. Let us save both our lives, and Osred's eternal soul, hmm?"

There is needle and thread aplenty-- appropriated, as Osred would say, from a stunned tailor's backpack. Pensive didn't approve of Osred's methods, but now was not the time to gripe over them. Pensive sews the flesh on Garyth's side closed, then the wounds on his back.

"You. . . travelled with Mission, then?" Pensive asks finally. "I taught him when he was a child in Bannock's Ire, you know. He was a quick study. Impulsive, a bit. He was apprenticed to an older member of our order, I believe. Penance was her name." Pensive's eyes flick up to find Garyth's for a moment. Was there a flash of recognition at the name, there? How much had Mission told these men, Garyth and Rennick, and the wizards, of the Path of Blood and Stone, and Mission's fall from it?

"Can you tell me of Mission?" Pensive's voice cracks. "And the Kaishin? How did he come to be? How was he born? What--"

But there the elf stops, and ducks his head. He waits for Garyth's reply.

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Right ON! :D

That was great. :)

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

And really, it was about time Pensive asked about Mission and the Kaishin.

It'd be like . . . I dunno, a Christian finding out about Christ's return second hand and waiting for an 'opportune moment' to go inquiring about it. :)

Subject: restarting the game

I am caught up at work. Is anyone interested in restarting the game on august 1st rather than sept 1st?

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'm ready when you are.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I won't be around on August 1st, but August 2nd would be quite agreeable. :P

Subject: Re: restarting the game

Well that just blows the whole month now, doesn't it? We might as well wait until September.

always one in the bunch. . . .

;-)

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'm going to be out of touch from Aug 13-21; otherwise, I'd be fine to start the game up on 8/1.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

It's pretty likely that I'm going to be working 12+ hours shifts every day from now until 8/7, so I can't guarantee I'd be very reliable about turns until after that.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

Aug. 1-3 I am going to be out at Cub scout camp with my youngest. I am also going to be in the office working since the lady I work with will be out on vacation that week so I will be doing my job and hers in only 6 hours a day and then heading back out to the camp. After Wednesday would be good for me.

Of course a lot has to happen before we get caught up with Melani.

Mark

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Garyth stares out into the woods, brooding over the day's events. The battle with the halfling archers keeps replaying in his mind. What if he had done this instead? Or this? What could he have done differently to ensure a better outcome? Was there anything?

Pensive's approach breaks his reverie. Garyth nearly snarls a rebuke--can't the elf see that he wants to be alone?--but restrains himself when he sees the bandages in Pensive's hands and the apprehension on his face. It's not his fault, and Garyth shouldn't take it out on him. Wordlessly, he acquiesces to the elf's ministrations.

Pensive works quickly and efficiently. It's clear he knows what he's doing. Garyth says nothing, but can't help wincing from time to time as the needle tugs at his wounds. Such weakness. Do you think you're a soldier, Garyth? When you can't even bear a tiny pinprick? He pushes the invading thoughts from his head, concentrating on the small pain that comes with every stroke of Pensive's needle. It helps, somewhat--the pain a small penance, a tiny fire into which he can feed his anger, his guilt, his shame. It's not enough--not nearly enough--but Garyth finds at least a little calm by the time Pensive speaks.

"You. . . travelled with Mission, then?" the elf asks. "I taught him when he was a child in Bannock's Ire, you know. He was a quick study. Impulsive, a bit. He was apprenticed to an older member of our order, I believe. Penance was her name." Penance. Is it merely a coincidence that brought the word to the elf's lips in the midst of Garyth contemplating his own sins? He closes his eyes briefly, remembering the terror that filled him when he saw the lich that had been Mission's lover. He shudders involuntarily, jerking the thread in Pensive's hands.

"Can you tell me of Mission?" Pensive's voice cracks. "And the Kaishin? How did he come to be? How was he born? What--" He breaks off. The anticipation in his voice is obvious, and why not? Such a thing happens once in an age; who wouldn't be eager to hear of it?

Garyth looks up at Pensive. "Mission was . . ." What to say? What did the elf even want to know? "He was a good comrade. Strong in will, quick to smile or tell a joke. And his son?" Garyth pauses, remembering. "There has never been a child like that one" Softly, he recounts the events of Promise's birth to Pensive. So strange to have felt the hands of the gods upon himself and his companions, and how lost he felt now. He lets out a heavy breath. "That boy . . . He was truly a wonder," he finishes.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'd be up for that.

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Pensive realizes that he has paused, needle in mid-air, thread stretching out of the bloody wound in Garyth's side. Listening to Garyth's tale of the Kaishin's birth. Pensive shuts his mouth, blinks, comes back to himself.

"I was going to kill him," Pensive whispers. He looks at Garyth, and his eyes fill with tears. "Him and his child. I didn't know. . . I feared he had been corrupted."

He takes a breath. "The Kaishin. Blood and Stone, there is hope in that, don't you feel it? And you say he is named Promise? Yes." Pensive gives a little laugh. "That fits, I see that it fits. It is a good name."

He picks up stitching where he had left off. Several times, the elf opens his mouth to say something, then thinks better of it, and is silent.

Subject: Looking down on Huss

Blackness lies across the isle. It is not the gentle darkness that is respite from the power of the sun; darkness that gives the plants time to grow and recover from the heat, and lets small animals feed and sleep. It is the heavy, oppressive blackness of a demon's heart, manifested on the world with unholy power.

Shekalkin-sa, whose name means 'Thunderous sound of Bright Wings', drifts over the island of Huss in great pain. He can see the terrible thing the demon has wrought; can hear the steady cries of those who fall forever into the hungry red light. But his Lord has set the limits on what he can do, and the Solar is incapable of even considering taking forbidden actions. He is aware of the concept of free will, and knows that the mortals who crawl across this island have it, but has no idea what such s thing is like. No more than the blind man knows color.

Below him, the last cries of the dying fade. Many of the townsfolk have fallen, or been carried off. The Solar drifts low, looking on the remains of the battle. He chooses not to be seen, so even though he is a light as radiant as the sun, no one sees him as he passes over what is left of the townspeople. He takes time to check on each of those who passed through the mountain with his brother Cadfael. He holds a special place in his heart for each of them.

They are all alive, though several are badly wounded. Garyth shines like a star, his spirit as pure as any the Solar has known among men. His despair and grief are palpable, but the Solar touches him in passing, easing his thoughts putting a memory of warm summer days with his family in his mind. The men you lose should cause you grief, Garyth. The death of any should cause grief. But remember these warm days, and remember that the battle is worth it in the end.

Near Garyth is one of the silver folk, his soul shining with the cool white light of his people. The Solar smiles to see him there, but does not touch him. Other Gods watch his people, and the Servant of Pelor will not overstep those bounds.

The priest works nearby. Unseen behind him is the flaming sword, avatar of the fierce war-god Hieronious. Shekalkin-sa greets the Power of Hieronious as he passes. The priest Osred has drawn the good countenance of his powerful God. The Solar hopes he can feel it. It will be a great comfort to him.

The forest hunter, Rennik, squats some distance away on a small hill, looking into the darkness alertly. By his side is the wolf. To the Solar's eyes, Halfling and wolf glow with the same green light, and an umbilical of light connects them. It is the soul connection that can only be severed by death. The forest kin has the blessings of his green gods, and the physical manifestation of the blessing pants toothily by his side. Of them all, the Halfling is most sure of his place in the world, and of the hands of his gods in his affairs. The Solar says, "Toka ma Meilikki," as he passes, paying his respects to the green god of this place. His answer is a vision of many forest hunters moving toward the resting town. These are not the black souled hunters of the demon, but green and healthy forest folk, come to give the camp aid. "Meilikki is merciful and wise," the Solar replies.

To the North, the other forest kin is being drug away to the mountain by the demon's servants. The Solar reaches into her deep and injured slumber. Do not let them feed you to the demon's red light. If you can not escape, you would do better to end your own life than let the demon take it. If you can not get away, you can still die. The servants of the demon and vicious and impatient. If you fight them enough, they will kill you. Meilikki waits to take your spirit. Do not give it to the demon. Then the Solar puts what peace he can in her dreams. Her thoughts turn to her brother.

He drifts away, moving across the island to a small camp where three more of the chosen rest.

The holy warrior sleeps fitfully, his slumber plagued by doubts of his own worthiness. The Solar touches his dream lightly, showing him an honorable future with the sigil of the White Hart on his armor, and their holy powers in his hands. Many who already had both badge and power were fall less worthy, in fact. Pelor will shine his countenance down on you, and Helm with cover and protect you.

Nearby, the wizard Sa'id sits wakeful in the dark. One hand rests on the chest of his fallen companion, alert for any sign of weakening. The Solar can feel the past wash off of the man. Another vigil, another loved one whose chest rose and fell weakly, and then stopped. Tendrils of light reach up from Sa'id, groping in the dark. His spirit calling out to Pelor for aid, or at least for answers. The Solar pauses, listening for Pelor's voice. Answer his prayer, comes the voice of his Lord. Shekalkin-sa reaches out and touches Sa'id's groping spirit. Pelor hears you, beloved one. He hears and grants you this respite. Your friend will not die this night. Tomorrow he will wake. You must sleep, and recover your strength. The road will be long and hard. Your friends will need your strength.

The Solar, settles down over the sleeping Farron, spreading his bright but invisible wings over the wounded man. He can feel the terror in the stricken wizard. How he gropes to find his way out of darkness. How he feels the hand of the Wraith clutch at his heart over and over again, stopping it. The Solar banishes the wraith from his mind with the same ease the sun has in banishing shadows. Your aunt and uncle live, he tells Farron. Garyth has protected them. Sleep now, and wake in the morning.

Shekalkin-sa, Solar and Servant of Pelor, covers his three holy warriors, and keeps the night at bay.

Rennik awakes with a start. He had fallen asleep on his hunkers, sleeping lightly like a man on the hunt. By his side, Tichenor is instantly awake. There is a slight rustle of the bushes ahead of him, and several Kalama hunters step out. The leader grips arms with Rennik briefly. "The Belneth saw you fleeing from darkness. He has sent us to lead you to our camp. It is a strange time when the stone builders and the forest folk must take up arms together, but such were the words of the holy man. Meilikki must be obeyed."

Rennik takes him to Garyth.

Sa'id wakes up to two pleasant sounds. Kasen is cooking something that sizzles and smells of pork and spices. And by his side, Farron is breathing deep and strong, no longer unconscious, just asleep.

Subject: Re: Looking down on Huss

Not a lycanthrope yet. :)

Mark