2024-02-05: The Scent of Sickness
- Log: The Scent of Sickness
- Cast: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna, Ruth Pauling, Kalisa Dragmire (as Luna Meitner), Shige Kiwako, Ida Everstead-Rey
- Where: Eluria
- Date: February 05, 2024
- Summary: A group of Drifters head to Eluria in investigation, and discover how the city has fared since its fall seven years ago...
<Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
In her last stakeout, Ruth identified that there was a person of interest in the Ruins of the once-magnificent city once known as Eluria, which fell to the woes of the Sorcery Globe in person. With the Ten Wise Men active and in possession of it, the topic of the device has come more and more to light...
And thus, Eluria may hold some important clues. But when the Drifters arrive, the scene they obtain is one of a city shattered and hollowed out from within; no one has truly lived here for seven years, and it is, perhaps, a reminder of what could be, for any of their own hometowns, if they do nothing to stop the forces that threaten to destroy them.
A gap in the city walls provides access, but before long, some of the less savoury opportunists that prowl the city have identified them.
"Now, what do we have here? Drifters, the lot of you... hand over your ARMs and valuables, or else!"
One in the back draws Crest Graphs; others have swords, and others, ARMs. They're quite ragged, dressed in dusty clothing and covered in cloaks, as is the usual milieu of those who still try to eke out a living in Elru.
But, as the fight threatens to begin in earnest--
A scent wafts through the air.
It is one of rose, with a secondary scent of jasmine and peaches, but with something metallic mixed within it.
"H-hey--"
A silhouette can be seen on a parapet above, with the full moon as a backdrop. The figure leaps, and with a loud--
THOOOOM
--one of the bandits has been flattened in the blink of an eye; the creature that descends bears a knightly visage, with her long ice-blue hair and crystalline armour and cloak, all tarnished and withered in the sands of time.
She has a black blindfold on, and wields a large, gleaming sword of a similar crystalline, translucent hue, currently sunk into the crater that she's created.
"Brigands... beasts, all of you..." she intones in a whisper-like tone. "Tonight, again... the song continues."
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has used her Tool Antimony and Roses toward her party's challenge, Bandits on the Prowl.
<Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
Of the gathered, Ruth knows the way around here that comes closest to the idea of 'safe.' Zoara is region on the brink of being uninhabitable beyond surviving pockets of civilization and greenery. Eluria is not a place to live, now. It is hardly a place one can survive.
She holds back the impulse to shoot at anything and everything only in consideration as to what will attract beasts, vs. what will repel those who still have some sense of terror. (Death's Door, too, is a beast after all.)
They are accosted, all the same, as they make it within walls that cannot keep monsters out - or even in, for that matter, as Ruth feels the bandits bear down on them. There is a growing smile she can't quite suppress.
"In... that order, then. The ARMs, then..."
She stops, abruptly, lifting her head at the scent in the air. "It's her," she says, and just like that...
THOOOOM
The very woman that Ruth described in her report, with the scent that stuck to Ruth for a disconcertingly long time. (Not that it was bad - it was a luxurious, lovely scent.)
"Caoimhe," Ruth speaks her name. She suppresses the strong emotions roiling chained in her heart that yearn to take form that Malevolence gives it, a hard-won discipline - but it is impossible not to drink of the terror spreading amongst the bandit ranks.
"I have the far ones," Ruth says to the others as she draws a Crest Graph to summon a large, splashing sphere of water to wash out some of the ones further out. Neither of her ARMs have been drawn.
Yet.
DG: Ruth Pauling has used her Tool Splashcrest toward her party's challenge, Bandits on the Prowl. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round!
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
Kalisa has her own motives for traveling out this way, which is, admittedly, a detour on her way to her intended destination. But to study Nede is to study its magic and technology, and it is worth the detour to see the first site of impact of the Sorcery Globe.
She would not be immediately recognizable to the one Drifter here tonight who has encountered her before, as she has forgone the armor of the Gerudo for something far more regional: a red tunic, chainmail shirt, leggings, gauntlets and boots. There is a spear, still, along with a bow, on her back, but they are of a far more ordinary sort: simple wood and metal.
There is no mask, either, revealing a young girl of about 15 years of age with rough, sturdy features, and long, elfin ears.
'Luna', as she goes by, has been wrapped up in shadow in an alcove on a third-story building as she watches and listens to the nighttime sounds, patiently observing before forging further in.
But that smell... the sound of bandits and combat... Now there might be something interesting. She stows the hunk of bread she was eating into her side pouch and takes up her bag again, quickly leaping down from one balcony to another on the outside of the building. She barely makes any sound as she approaches--though she is not completely silent, and Caoimhe's sensitive hearing may well detect her approach--but for the bandits, the first sign of her presence is the quick slice of a spear across the back of a bandit drawing out a crest graph.
"You should seek to thrive by your own efforts, not by stealing the efforts of others," she chastises quietly, before taking up a stance and readying a second attack.
DG: Luna Meitner has used her Tool Perfectly Ordinary Spear toward her party's challenge, Bandits on the Prowl.
<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.
Shige's avoided coming here for the longest time. To anywhere this far north on this continent. It's almost an abandonment of her duties. Things aren't great though and she's working on enough problems at the same time to realize she should confront it all. She's already been forced to confront some of it twice before. She's also sober, though the way she's working with her cigar it's clear she's distracting herself from other bad habits.
She's walking the walls slowly. Dragging her feet in a sense, but she's still trying to find a way inside. A way to help others and make sure no one had been left behind.
She knows some have. Even if it's just vestiges of memory.
When the bandits call out, pulling her from her reverie, she jerks her attention towards them. Ears up. She finishes lighting the cigar and puffs out a bit of smoke before lifting her lantern high. Casting long shadows.
One of the bandits is flattened before her eyes and she slightly flinches, but doesn't attack the interloper.
"Wrong night, wrong cat. Go away now." She states flatly. There's a hint of hardness to her voice that isn't normally there. She's on edge. Wisps begin to form around the bandits. Blue flames, bringing a bitter chill as they manifest into the vestiges of solders and others. Lashing out at the would be bandits. They're a bit harsher than Shige normally would have preferred. Somewhere in the darker part of her mind she's fine with this. Mostly she's worried it might be her mood or it might the area or it might be her new duties, if not all of the above.
Ruth is given a nod. Something simple to a familiar face. It's easier than talking right now.
DG: Shige Kiwako has used her Tool Scattering Wisps toward her party's challenge, Bandits on the Prowl. Embolden! Party Combat boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Elluria is not a place to be taken lightly. It's bitterly cold this time of year--perhaps only ruined Arctica is colder--and still haunted by the hordes that brought the place to ruin. Ida prepared accordingly.
Her personal ship, a custom-built steam yacht, is still moored in New Arctica's harbor. Ida greeted her cousin Hazel at the dock, bringing with her medical supplies, new clothes, blankets, and books. Aurora and Marigold stayed behind to provide some much-needed moral support to the citizenry, because while New Arctica is on its way to stability, all the dangers of Elru didn't vanish with the Photosphere. Sal is still with her, safe in the sphere at her belt.
Ida's nerves have been tight with tension since the moment she saw the gutted city in the horizon. She and Shige and Ruth crept closer, and closer, and then, this.
"No," Ida says. Between her thick Arctican cloak and the scarf enshrouding her face, she's pretty anonymous from the front--but the tone in her voice is unmistakable. "Drop your weapons." Ruth is smiling. A shiver races down Ida's spine, unconnected to the cold. A faint scent wafts through the air. Perfume? No--
THOOOOM
Before the bandits can react in earnest, one of them has been crushed. Ida's eyes flick towards their killer, taking them in--but her body moves while her mind calculates. Her hand darts to her belt, pulls a cylinder free, and primes it. The flash flies through the air in an arc, then explodes with a soft "Pop!" and a brilliant flare as the magnesium inside goes off.
In the confusion, Ida makes to lay one of the bandits out with a punch or two to the head--perhaps merciful, given what the sudden knight-monster just did to their comrade.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Flare Grenade toward her party's challenge, Bandits on the Prowl. Embolden! Party Combat boosted!
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Bandits on the Prowl *>=====================
| Type: Entry | Dungeon Ability: Combat | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
Mighty walls once surrounded the city of Eluria. The ravages following the
Sorcery Globe's descent left them damaged, but not entirely leveled.
Exploring the city of Eluria means getting past them. Over the tops of the
walls, you can see scattered roofs, though many have holes broken into them,
and there are gaps in what was once a proud city skyline.
After searching around, you find a segment of wall that was shattered by a
great impact, leaving a gap behind. As you cross through it, though, you
realize you're not the only one.
"Now, what do we have here?"
A cluster of bandits looks up at you. You spot one pulling out Crest Graphs;
another couple lift swords, and others are raising gunsmoke ARMs. It seems
some bandits have gone ahead of you -- and they're now looking at you as a
potential source of income.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Cleanse:_All_Effects_Removed!, Embolden:_Combat_Up!, and |
| Wound:_Combat_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================< Results - Eluria Ruins - Round 1 >======================
======================< CHALLENGE - Bandits on the Prowl >======================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 0 --(5)--> 5 Best
Antimony and Roses Maj Combat Effects: Efficient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Pauling 0 --(5)--> 5 Best
Splashcrest Min Combat Effects: Cleanse and
Inefficient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(5)--> 5 Good
Flare Grenade Min Combat Effects: Embolden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luna Meitner 0 --(13)--> 13 Bad
Perfectly Ordinary Spear Maj Combat Effects: Efficient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shige Kiwako 0 --(5)--> 5 Best
Scattering Wisps Min Combat Effects: Embolden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass
Conditions: Wound(2)
Effects: Cleanse and Embolden(1)
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: The party led by Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. <Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
The bandits never stood a chance.
Ruth calls her name, and draws a Crest Graph to wash away the back row of the bandits -- already, their formation is in disarray. A mysterious stranger, a young girl with elfin ears, arrives on the scene, descending down with lithe quietness. Caoimhe does seemingly turn her head halfway in her direction, but the presence of battle masks that as she strikes another of the Crest-wielding bandits.
"... you have returned," Caoimhe remarks to Ruth. "And... you have brought allies."
One of the bandits attempts to run away, but Shige's spirits start to lash and whap away at them, knocking another out -- and the last one has the misfortune of running square into the flare grenade and being blinded.
"E-eek!"
And in that confusion, she gives the one-two to them, also flooring them.
"... your scents tell a story from far, far away. What brings you to Eluria?" she speaks, slow and deliberate, her head lulling to one side; now that combat's finished, it's easier to see that she doesn't really bear monstrous form, but...
The way she hefts the gleaming sword onto her shoulder, her right arm dangling limp before her with even more broken armour over it...
She has been here a very, very long time, without any semblance of civilisation to care for her.
"... I am Caoimhe, as she has said. A devotee of Granas. There is little for you here..."
[OOC] Ruth Pauling has next
DG: Ruth Pauling has drawn a new Challenge. ===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Lizardman Hellions *>======================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Combat | Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you walk through the streets of Eluria, you come to a strange sight: the
ground is scored by huge claw marks, which have torn through dirt, grass,
and street alike. As you get closer, you also spot motes of black, violet,
and gold rising up.
Malevolence.
Pale, glowing red eyes come from the ruined buildings nearby -- and then
haggard forms, clad in tattered gear of the Elurian military and bandits'
mismatched armor, emerge. They've become Hellions, with lizard-like
features. They roar in anger -- and charge forward with supernatural speed.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Bad_Luck:_All_Stats_Down! and Embolden:_Combat_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
Things do not calm down, with the emergence of Caoimhe and another young girl. Ruth kneels before one of the fallen bandits in a pious kneel in consideration of the Granasian rosary, for at least the teachings of Saint Calucion still hold some weight - and there's a Death Shaman right there (who admittedly is of a completely different faith system). She lets some of Malevolence's gnawing tension find relief in embracing guilt, but more improtantly...
She lets the others answer Caoimhe's question. From what she said in the report to ARMS... this is someone that strikes fear into her. When Ruth says that, it means something.
"You're young," she says of a young woman with a spear. "This isn't a place for you to spend those years."
There is a brief time to give answers, collect however much of one's own self might in the presence of the beastly knight (knightly beast?) whom haunts this fallen kingdom. One might find their eyes drawn to large claw marks torn through natural earth and paved roads alike, not from novelty - this place has plenty like it - but for the reminder of the danger they are walking into in this cold, dark hour.
Ruth's the first to notice something more, a sensation keen as someone so afflicted by its presence -
"Malevolence." She says. "There's other Hellions here."
Lizardmen, a common kind oft born of those struggling with the lengths they've gone for beliefs once held sarcosanct, frequently emerging from former soldiers too wracked with conflict over their actions. There's five of them rushing with roaring anger, poorly-maintained blades, and worn-out mish-mash armor of both Elurian military make and the bandits' own scavenged material.
Ruth knows of Ida's discomfort and fear any time it looks like she's about to embrace her despair. Her right hand raises, eyes closed. It's something of an unspoken covenant with her and the Oracle and Seers of Fire.
Only for the ones who won't be reached, will she spare Ida the heartbreak of not being able to save them. She knows all too well what it's like to feel powerless before something one unquestionably has the power to resolve.
Malevolence wreathes up Ruth's arm before being flung outward in a concentrated release of her Malevolent Domain. Guilt, shame, regret, despair, bearing down upon the encroaching quintet of Lizardmen. The shock of a hostile, more powerful Domain might be the only thing that could give them a chance to live.
To live before another resolves it.
DG: Ruth Pauling has contributed a risky Combat Action toward her party's challenge, Lizardman Hellions. <Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
They are not done yet, for there are more beasts to deal with -- and these ones are not human. No, these are the truly problematic ones, the ones that cling with a dark scent that requires care. But Ruth identifies them with terms that the knight has never heard of before.
The young woman with the spear, as Ruth calls her out... Ruth says she's too young to dismiss her here, but there's an agility to her steps that belies the nature of a seasoned warrior. She nearly missed it, in the commotion...
And the one that can manipulate spirits. The scent of the departed was present... as well as that of tobacco and some alcohol. Ever more curious. And of Ida? There was a bright flash earlier, and the sound of her muscles were practiced indeed...
They are no mere band of misfits.
"Malevolence. So that is the name you have given to the foul-scented malady that has clung onto Eluria... and those inflicted by it, Hellions," Caoimhe remarks in understanding.
Then... she sniffs the air.
"... the former Knight-Captain of the Seventh Division. Ethan Hartright... and a number of the men he commands," She... she can sniff out his identity, just like that? "But now... naught is left of them."
Caoimhe lowers herself into a combat stance. The Holy Sword rests over her armoured shoulder, her right arm still limp and dangling, as she does so.
"Only an honest death will cure them now..."
Then she charges, at the nearest lizardman, apparently a former comrade of hers, seeking to SLAM the Holy Sword down with a vehement, wrenching swing--
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
Those that have gathered here this night are certainly... an interesting lot. She regards Shige, who summons spirits to aid her, studying those ghostly forms. And she also studies Ida's movements--there is something familiar, but she notes the usage of an ARM followed by martial attacks.
And a quiet moment spent studying Ruth, who kneels in prayer after the battle is done. Her eyes flick to the rosary briefly, but also to that beast of a rifle.
Luna stands upright once the bandits are dispatched, and she regards the others here thoughtfully, giving the longest amount of time to regard Caoimhe. The injured arm, the blindfold, yet still wielding that sword. There is a small flick of an ear as she listens for the others, but she tilts her head ever so slightly as she studies the knight.
Currently she smells like the varied lands of Ignas, from its pastures to its deserts... and maybe a touch of shadow magic clings to her.
"Luna Meitner," she says, when Caoimhe affirms her name. "I serve no gods."
She looks far, far too young to be so serious and to wander around in such a place by herself, yet she does not seem particularly bothered to find herself amongst this assorted group of Drifters. But Ruth comments on her age, and her gaze slides back to her once more. "I do not plan to tarry here long," she says simply.
She kneels to examine those clark marks, running a gloved hand along them. "These seem fresh," she murmurs. "Undisturbed." She glances up, as Ruth identifies--a side glance to the sniper. "'Other'?" There is no alarm in that tone, however. There is only a simple nod to herself as Ruth makes that release.
She rises to her feet after that, unslinging her spear. Where Caoimhe charges forward, Luna charges and then leaps high upwards, slamming down far faster than she should and sending a shockwave of force out to knock down several other of the Hellions.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida catches the bandit mid-fall, easing their landing. They're still laid out in the snow in a bad place, but... they don't necessarily have to die here, even if desperation has driven them to violence. Ida rises, meeting Caoimhe's gaze, or lack thereof. Bright blue-grey eyes fall upon the length of black cloth. "I know," she says. "But there's a sickness here. I have to see how far it's spread.
Ruth speaks up. Ida scents the wind through her scarf, and nods as the familiar, acrid stink assails her. "You were right," she says, glancing sidelong at the Hellion. "...How did it get here?" Is it possible that someone tracked it here from Ignas or Aquvy on their own? Ida glances at Luna with some interest, but... Caoimhe grabs her attention immediately. "Hold on," Ida says, but the knight is already in motion.
Ida's arm whips a second flash grenade free, and throws it past Caoimhe's head. It's not going to slow her down, but it might give the Hellions a bit of pause, a moment Ida needs to summon her reserves. She sucks in a breath, and stokes the inner flame of Moor Gault's power. She thrusts a gloved hand forward.
A torrent of brilliant, heatless flame washes out at the former Knight-Captain and his soldiers. It burns the clinging, cloying Malevolence to clean, white smoke, and leaves only purit behind.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Flare Grenade toward her party's challenge, Lizardman Hellions. Embolden! Party Combat boosted! DG: Luna Meitner has used her Tool Perfectly Ordinary Spear toward her party's challenge, Lizardman Hellions.
<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.
Shige Kiwako is in fact a Death Shaman and she doesn't look super pleased being questioned. Or she just doesn't look super pleased at the moment. She doesn't even call off the shadows immediately. A clinging memory maybe. "I'm from further up north." She says flatly. Keeping things neutral toned as best she can. Though she does puff out smoke almost in annoyance. "And I go where I'm needed to aid the dead." She works her fingers a few times, adjusting her gloves. She seems cozy enough in her winter clothes at least. She doesn't intrude on Ruth's thing. This is a conversation they've had before and she's fine letting Ruth handle it. Though if any of the bandits find themselves.. already lost. The lantern would guide them to the Shaman who, while not looking pleased, does take a moment to turn, ear flicking, listening. Whatever her reply is, is quiet. Not for others ears. It's hard to tell if she's spekaing to one of her usual haunts or a new one at that.
Her head jerks to the side at the approach of the Hellions like someone had pointed them out regardless. The wisps, still floating. Still following trail towards the lizardfolk. The warning came at about the same time as Ruth's. Someone's watching out for the feline. Or she's got good hearing. Maybe both?
She does agree with the warning to the kid though, "It's dangerous out here and you need to be careful. Get behind us." She says us while she's standing to the side, almost alone. She tilts her head, listening and adds, "Behind me." That probably doesn't help Shige.
A look is given to Coaimhe at the mention of who the hellion had once been. "There's still something there of them. I'll take care of what's left when it's all said and done." There's hints of emotion in her last few comments. Ruth probably recognizes just how out of character this seems at least considering the last few times.
Ida's flashbang turning that malevolence to smoke does actually surprise her enough to pull her out of her reverie though. She leans forward, trying to get a better look at the masked woman. "Wait. How'd you do that?" She... should know Ida, but the mask and her own thoughts are kind of blocking things. That tone being a lot lighter because curiousity almost brings her back to the cat that most would know by now!
DG: Shige Kiwako has used her Tool Scattering Wisps toward her party's challenge, Lizardman Hellions. Embolden! Party Combat boosted!
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Lizardman Hellions.
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Lizardman Hellions *>======================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Combat | Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you walk through the streets of Eluria, you come to a strange sight: the
ground is scored by huge claw marks, which have torn through dirt, grass,
and street alike. As you get closer, you also spot motes of black, violet,
and gold rising up.
Malevolence.
Pale, glowing red eyes come from the ruined buildings nearby -- and then
haggard forms, clad in tattered gear of the Elurian military and bandits'
mismatched armor, emerge. They've become Hellions, with lizard-like
features. They roar in anger -- and charge forward with supernatural speed.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Bad_Luck:_All_Stats_Down! and Embolden:_Combat_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>=============================== ======================< Results - Eluria Ruins - Round 2 >====================== =======================< CHALLENGE - Lizardman Hellions >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 5 --(5)--> 10 Best Fight Bsc Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Pauling 5 --(5)--> 10 Best Fight Bsc Combat Effects: Risky -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 5 --(5)--> 10 Best Flare Grenade Min Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna Meitner 13 --(5)--> 18 Best Perfectly Ordinary Spear Maj Combat Effects: Efficient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shige Kiwako 5 --(5)--> 10 Best Scattering Wisps Min Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2) Effects: Embolden(1) = Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: The party led by Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. <Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
'...How did it get here?' Ida asks this to someone who is the singular reason that Zoara is in the running for being one of Filgaia's true Malevolence hot zones, and there's only a bow of her head in knowing.
"Yes, that's what we call them," she's able to get to Caoimhe as she holds herself from spilling over to meet the aggression of the incoming Hellions.
The wisps appear to have not only just given Shige the heads up, but sometimes it seems a few numbers among the quintet waver from distraction. Are any of these subtle phantoms as familiar as a flesh-and-blood, full-color-in-daylight soul that once brought so much warmth and beauty to their lives? This may not have an answer, but the question being in contention is indicator enough.
Luna comes crashing down with a shockwave that helps slow down two of them from coming too close with alarming speed, strength, and comfort in her skill and capabilities that transcends her apparent age.
Ida is able to get ahead of Caoimhe - to a point - with the other flash grenade to try and catch the rest. Drawing upon the power through Boudicca as conduit by collective oath, brilliant flame washes out. Ruth, in the way, feels nothing - though any of her loosed Malevolence that strays from her evaporates into nothing under Moor Gault's flame, and when it reaches to the Knight-Captain and his soldiers...
Caoimhe's Holy Sword is not stayed, the very ground shattering and shaking as if by an earthquake underneath the weight of conviction and drive. One does not need to speak of what it looks like under the blade, but...
An entire scent goes missing, beyond what little clings to Ruth herself as she keeps the leash on her own Malevolence tight. There are four exhausted human beings, weak from fatigue, hunger, and injury, their ill-fitting armor now more than inadequate to protect them from the cold or much of anything else. Only the residual cause of what brought them to this point - atrocities and difficult decisions in the face of what befell Eluria - could give Ida insight.
As stated, Shige can take care of what's left of one of them.
They earn a moment of quiet, in wake of this.
DG: Luna Meitner has drawn a new Challenge. ===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse *>===================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
At the height of its power, Eluria's armed forces employed numerous mages
who trained at Sielje and Linga in learning the art of Symbology. They used
Symbols as enchantments on a variety of their equipment and bases, including
this guardhouse that once helped keep order in the city. The door to the
guardhouse has several large glowing blue Symbols over it, still.
Inside could very well be supplies, weapons, and other goods -- and the
owners are either long dead or fled. However, before opening the door, you
will need to find a way to deactivate the Symbological ward... or get
blasted by a powerful lightning spell.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Bad_Luck:_All_Stats_Down!, Embolden:_Combat_Up!, Secret:_Exploration_Up!, |
| and Stupify:_Wits_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
[OOC] Ruth Pauling hopes that result works!
[OOC] Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna says, "I will clarify what happens on Caoimhe's end in my next pose!" +camp =================================<* +CAMP - *>================================= =======<* Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna - A Holy Sword Must Vanquish Evil... *>======== Brute: 15 Agility: 8 Wits: 10 Combat: 15 Exhaustion: 10/100 ==================================<* Tools *>=================================== Available Tool Slots: 4 1 Antimony and Roses Major Combat Limit: 2/3 Effects: Efficient 2 Waxing Crescent Gloss Major Brute Limit: 3/3 Effects: Efficient 3 Thursday-Echoing Salt Major Wits Limit: 3/3 Effects: Efficient 4 cromchy Peanut Butter Minor Wits Limit: 2/2 Effects: Inefficient, Cleanse Basic Actions: Force, Investigate, Rush, Fight. Ida Everstead-Rey Agility: 12 Brute: 9 Combat: 13 Wits: 14 Exhaustion: 10/100 Tools: *ARMs Meister's Field Kit, *Catastrophe Sal, *Flare Grenade, *Zephyr Boots. Ruth Pauling Agility: 10 Brute: 10 Combat: 20 Wits: 10 Exhaustion: 10/100 Tools: *Splashcrest, *Mistcrest, *Rivercrest, *Gae Buidhe/Dearg DC4. Shige Kiwako Agility: 12 Brute: 8 Combat: 11 Wits: 11 Exhaustion: 10/100 Tools: *Ghostly Train Lantern, *Bartender's Spirits, *Scattering Wisps. Luna Meitner Agility: 13 Brute: 10 Combat: 14 Wits: 11 Exhaustion: 18/100 Tools: *Perfectly Ordinary Spear, *Pegasus Draught, *Survivalist Toolkit, *Perfectly Ordinary Bow. ==================================<* Party *>=================================== Party Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna Exploration: 40/100 Effects: Embolden(1). Conditions: Bad Luck(1), Secret(2), Stupify(2). ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: Luna Meitner has used her Tool Survivalist Toolkit toward her party's challenge, Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse. Enlighten! Party Wits boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
Luna darts backwards from that flashbang, turning her head to avoid the worst of the blast of light while holding her spear in a defensive position. But she looks back in time to see the heatless flame that follows, turning her head to regard Ida once more. There is a weighing, there, as she considers.
To Shige she only spares a glance out of the corner of her eyes. "I can take care of myself," is all she says to Shige's request to stay behind them. She turns her head away.
There is a glance, once the fight is done, between Ida and Ruth. One with Malevolence at her command... and another with the ability to purify it. "You are certainly an interesting pair."
As for these soldiers, Luna seems to leave their care to the others as she ascends the side of a building quite easily from the outside with a combination of leaps and free climbing. She scouts the surrounding area, and then points to a nearby structure, looking down. "There is a guardhouse that looks intact. We may be able to find some supplies for these men."
She leads the way, scouting ahead with practiced ease, talking little as she scouts for trouble. She seems to make very little noise as she moves--not supernaturally so, but just in a way that speaks of lots of practice. Peering around a corner she makes a discoerly, and looks back to the others, gesturing them to follow her.
The guardhouse is in remarkably good shape considering the condition of the rest of the city, that doesn't look like it's been ruined or looted. It was probably strongly warded, evidenced quite clearly by large glowing blue symbol embedded into the door.
She kneels before it, studying it intently. "Lightning magic, I believe..." Her hands are running over the symbol's lines--but they are over the symbol, not making contact as she studies it. "We must diffuse the power in this ward without triggering it."
She stands, and starts to roam around the immediate vicinity. She collects a rather odd-looking assortment of rock fragments, planets, and even the odd mushroom, then kneels by the door as she takes out a small kit from a pouch. She grinds everything into a paste with a mortar and pestle, then mixes water into it until it turns an odd shade of green. And then the whole concotion is poured slowly onto the Symbol, letting it run along the etchings in the door.
<Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
Luna Meitner. She serves no Gods...
And perhaps, that is for the best. But that is certainly a tale for another time; the way she carries herself certainly does not speak of a regular fifteen year old. She speaks of the claw marks, and...
Ida speaks of how a sickness spreads through the land.
"... those claw marks belong to the Beast I hunt," Caoimhe explains. "Be ever at the ready, for it is a tremendously powerful Beast. The sickness stems from it, this... Hellion, as you call them."
It must be a powerful Hellion indeed, to be the source of such Malevolence.
But something miraculous occurs -- as she lowers her blade to execute, fettered by the flash, a torrent of Moor Gault's power erupts forward, leaving naught of the sickness. Caoimhe has stopped for a good five seconds, after observing (in her own way) such a display.
"... you ... have the means to burn away the sickness." There is genuine surprise in her voice...
Where the Holy Sword has struck, she has only struck ground. And where there were once Hellions... there are now human beings.
"... I lack the means to give them care," she whispers with a tinge of... what might sound like relief, and yet regret in her voice. So many years she has hunted; so many people she has eradicated, because she has no means to cure it.
Then to Shige and Ruth: "If you would give them succor, then I request that it be so... as a former comrade of theirs."
They come onto a guardhouse, one that Caoimhe recognises as being symbologically sealed. "... that guardhouse has not been touched in seven years, owing to the strong magics that seal it. I do not possess the capability to unseal it, so whatever provisions within will still be intact."
The knight starts for the guardhouse, then pauses as she stabs the Holy Sword to the ground to lean against it. Her movements start to slack, from fatigue. To address this, she reaches for a satchel and takes out... a large tube, with a leather lid on it that she pulls open with her mouth.
Then she squeezes its contents -- peanut butter!! -- into her mouth and begins chewing.
Paladins get hungry too, you know...
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has used her Tool cromchy Peanut Butter toward her party's challenge, Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round!
<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.
Shige Kiwako gives Luna a wry look and says, "You wouldn't believe how many times those have been someone's last words." She actually stopped herself from replying 'your funeral' at least. Though she doesn't press on the matter. She brushes herself off instead as.. surprisingly the people present weren't you know, killed. Which she was gearing herself up for. "I-" she pauses. Then frowns. looking to Ida. "I think I might need to have a chat with you if that's what I thought it was-" she waggles the lantern, "Even if we do serve someone separate." That is, she'd like to learn how to cleanse that kind of maleavolence. And it seemed.. thorough. She had been told it had to be wanted, but these were outliers right?
Said lantern seems to flare for a moment. Fragments of those surrounding her almost visible, just.. for a whisker's breadth of a second.
The figure had been wearing the hints of ancient armor and he (Probably.) Calls back something to the cat before the door rattles faintly like someone tried to open it. The cat herself is focused instead on the fallen figure of them. One ear tracking the movement of her helper. She's settled down near the fallen, resting her elbows against her knees. Hesitating though. She looks to the four that remain and then, to Caoimhe and Ruth and gently gestures with a jerk of her head, "These were more your people, did you-" she then looks to the other four, "Or you want to lead the rites?" Waiting before offering a quiet prayer and an attempt at guidance if needed. Not everyone needs it though..
Caoimhe offers something of an answer, well ahead of it. In somemthing of her element in more ways than one. Thouogh as is ever usual, she does offer a bottle of rum this time to the four gathered. She doesn't carry spare blankets though. Not unless she thinks it'll help an investigation.
"Still need to sit with you and learn a few things Ruth." She admits finally, whether she's leading or following for the fallen here.
DG: Shige Kiwako has used her Tool Ghostly Train Lantern toward her party's challenge, Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida's eyes narrow. The wind whips at her face, throws back her hood, and catches a few locks of long, dark hair. Her teeth set in determination behind her scarf. She burns, and burns, and burns, until all the Maleovlence is gone.
The Seer sinks to a knee, and pulls down her scarf to breathe a little easier. "I'm all right," she says to Ruth. Her gaze flickers towards Luna. So she definitely can sense Malevolence? That's another mark on the tally of 'more experienced than she looks'. Ida rises to her feet and nods, a subtle acknowledgment of tremendous import. "I do. This is why I'm here--and if this 'beast' is responsible, cleansing it will help control the spread."
Assuming it can be cleansed. Ida's eye falls upon those great gouges in the turf, and her face sets in a look of disquiet. "If we're lucky," she says to Ruth, "it's merely a Hellionized beast. If not, it's a Drake--or even a Dragon." 'Drake' might be too much to hope for, given the size of those claws.
But Luna makes a damn good suggestion. "Agreed," says Ida, as she rises and puts her hood and scarf back into place. Shige gets a sincere nod. Ida's not sure if the Paladin of Granas--who may or may not be entirely lucid, and made her entrance killing someone--would take offense to a heretic who has embraced the Guardians' power.
Luna works at the Symbol. Ida gets to work on the door itself, pulling out a wrench, a screwdriver, and a few other tools. The metal parts of the door are coated with rime and rust, and she waits until the others give their okay before she starts chipping and prying.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool ARMs Meister's Field Kit toward her party's challenge, Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse. Enlighten! Party Wits boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
"Some have nowhere else," Ruth says to Luna without meeting her gaze, as she feels that tinge of regret in Caoimhe's voice. How many had to be put down, before Ida came and gave her a way? Ruth doesn't let the tears escape her yet. Caoimhe requests she give them succor. Perhaps there will be time for cooking later, but for now, the succor she gives is that there will be no 'Beast' to prey upon them as the newly purified - at least among those anywhere near consciousness - are to be given the rundown and possible relief from their current predicament.
"...Another time," she says to Shige, as she maintains a vigil in the moment.
She nods to Ida's observations. She knows her role in the worst case scenario, but doesn't dwell. Stray thoughts are dangerous for Hellions to chase when surrounded by so many little things that tug at certain heartstrings that are also sore nerves.
She doesn't have any grasp of Symbology, so Ruth instead scales a nearby set of crates to a low roof overlooking the recently purified, staying out of the way of the guardhouse's Symbological lock to lurk upon a nearby roof and lie in wait and ambush.
Sometimes the only succor she can give is that she is simply worthy of fear.
DG: Ruth Pauling has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse.
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse *>===================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
At the height of its power, Eluria's armed forces employed numerous mages
who trained at Sielje and Linga in learning the art of Symbology. They used
Symbols as enchantments on a variety of their equipment and bases, including
this guardhouse that once helped keep order in the city. The door to the
guardhouse has several large glowing blue Symbols over it, still.
Inside could very well be supplies, weapons, and other goods -- and the
owners are either long dead or fled. However, before opening the door, you
will need to find a way to deactivate the Symbological ward... or get
blasted by a powerful lightning spell.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Bad_Luck:_All_Stats_Down!, Cleanse:_All_Effects_Removed!, |
| Enlighten:_Wits_Up!, Secret:_Exploration_Up!, and Stupify:_Wits_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================< Results - Eluria Ruins - Round 3 >======================
====================< CHALLENGE - Symbol-Sealed Guardhouse >====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 10 --(5)--> 15 Good
cromchy Peanut Butter Min Wits Effects: Inefficient and
Cleanse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Pauling 10 --(5)--> 15 Good
Investigate Bsc Wits Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ida Everstead-Rey 10 --(5)--> 15 Best
ARMs Meister's Field Kit Min Wits Effects: Enlighten
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luna Meitner 18 --(5)--> 23 Best
Survivalist Toolkit Min Wits Effects: Enlighten
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shige Kiwako 10 --(5)--> 15 Best
Ghostly Train Lantern Maj Wits Effects: Efficient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass
Conditions: Bad Luck(1), Secret(2), and Stupify(2)
Effects: Cleanse and Enlighten(1)
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: The party led by Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
Luna regards Caoimhe curiously as she works on her concoction. "Tell us more of this Beast you hunt. How long has it plagued you? What would you do, if it were slain?"
She quirks an eyebrow to Shige. "I might, but I am not those poor unfortunate souls." She spares a glance for Shige's lantern, regarding it curiously before resuming her work. "Do not disturb the door before we have dealt with the seal," she says to whoever rattled the door.
Luna might just be a great many things. She glances sidelong to Ida as she pulls her scarf down to breathe, and with the hood and scarf both pulled away--ahha.
In turn, it seems like Ida might be much more than she initially appeared. 'Luna' still hasn't forgotten that silver blood. But she starts to work at dismantling the door itself. "You have many talents," she comments quietly.
But the combined efforts of alchemy and mechanical talent pay off. Luna's concotion seems to drain most of the lethal power of the Symbol, until a simple scratch across the markings iwth her spear is enough to break the enchantment. Meanwhile, Ida's efforts deal with the physical barrier of the door itself--it still, at one point, needed a key, after all, which they are lacking. But the right tools provide an alternate means of ingress.
She pcks up her tools and turns to the soldiers. "Wait here, and fortify the door. There should be food and water, as well as fresh clothing. We will return to escort you out once we are done. There is much to explain, but we do not have the time now."
She might be only 15, but her bearing seems much older. There is no hesitation or insecurity in how she issues that guidance--or are they orders? She doesn't seem to expect to be questioned on this.
The soldiers do balk a bit, at this young girl presuming to boss them around, looking at each other uncertainly. But Kalisa is already on to the next thing, moving to scout the perimeter while she waits for the others to be ready to press onward. After several moments, the soldiers seem to figure being inside and warm and safe is better than nothing, even if it was a teenaged girl offering it.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has drawn a new Challenge. ===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - You're Inn Trouble *>======================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Agility | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you make your way through the emptied streets of Eluria, you find a
building that was once a large inn. It might house something of interest --
through a window, you catch a glimpse of still-shining metal. When you go
inside, you see a large sealed steel crate, which had been kept behind the
bar in the tavern downstairs. The upstairs has mostly rotted and fallen away
at this point, but that steel lockbox could be worth your time.
Unfortunately, shortly after you walk in, there is a loud /CREAK/. Dust
begins to come down from the rafters -- and then the rafters begin to come
down, too. The building is quickly collapsing on top of your heads! You'll
need to escape -- and collect your discovered lockbox too, if you want its
contents.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Enlighten:_Wits_Up!, Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, |
| Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, Secret:_Exploration_Up!, and |
| Treasure:_Exploration_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ruth sets up in her sniper's nest. Ida sees to the former Hellions, leading them into the storehouse and cracking open some crates. A cursory search turns up food, water, and firewood, preserved thanks to Symbological warding--and within fifteen minutes, the soldiers have a fire going to keep them warm. If a few tray motes of Malevolence turn into pure white smoke when they touch that fire, well... as Luna noted, Ida's got a whole bag of tricks.
Back out on the street, Ida glances around, shielding her eyes with her hand. "Look," she says, pointing out something shiny in the building next to Ruth's perch. "That looks promising, but... why is it still here? Coincidence, or...?
Or the building could be a gutted, rotting wreck, yes. One short and perilous walk later, Ida stands at the top of the stairs, ominous creaking in the air. "I think we need to--does anyone have a rope--"
CRACK
One of the beams gives way. Dust falls from the ceiling. "Down, out, go!" Ida shouts, to Luna, as protective big-sister instincts take hold. She herself lunges forward, trailing motes of green at her heels. The wind howls around her as she grips the lockbox and hauls it after her.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Zephyr Boots toward her party's challenge, You're Inn Trouble. Quicken! Party Agility boosted! <Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
For Ruth, high perches are one of her happy places. Left to her own devices, she tends to find progressively taller places to sit. Sometimes it's not even clear how, exactly, she gets to these new peaks, but as far as strange Hellion compulsions go it's one of the more innocuous ones.
Sometimes... it proves beneficial.
She doesn't follow the group into the inn. She's protecting the storehouse for a while longer by proxy. Her eyes track to where Ida points.
"A safehouse, maybe." Is it really a safehouse if something important can be seen from the street? Back in Celesti's final days they've had to make due with less convenient cover for a lot of things. She seems to pay things no further attention once the group makes their way in, but...
Her eyes open to a sudden upswell of panic and fear. A Crest Graph is drawn from her perch, and from her vantage point, she attempts to summon a fast-moving stream of water to try and shove most of the collapsing debris well off into some other part of the street before it collapses on the lot of them.
DG: Ruth Pauling has risked with her Tool Rivercrest toward her party's challenge, You're Inn Trouble. Cleanse! All negative effects will be cleared at the end of the round! Shortsighted! The party will suffer a penalty next round... but not this round! <Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
Luna is able to sense the 'sickness', the malady. She's certain that that is not a skill just anyone possesses. Many of the knights and soldiers back then were not even able to see the 'Hellions', as these Drifters put it...
"I have no home to house them in, and Eluria is no place for anyone to live." What about Caoimhe herself, then? "To have come here... one of you must have led an expedition of some sort. Can you take these men in?"
Drakes. Dragons. Ida speaks of them in increasing cadence of threat level; Caoimhe can't make an accurate assessment, however. Luna asks her for more information.
"... of course, I cannot provide a visual description. But the Beast flies, and it bears powerful claws and teeth, and its scales... are difficult to penetrate. But even those are secondary to the... Malevolence," she still sounds like she has to feel out the word, "that it generates. That is its most dangeroust trait."
Caoimhe's head turns to Luna, even if she cannot see her. "I have been hunting it for many years, but I lack the ability to fell it on my own." And yet, she's untainted by the Malevolence, in turn. And if it were slain...?
"... A Holy Sword," she speaks quietly, possessing unusual conflict when she says the term, "must hunt for Evil, no matter where it may lie."
The Paladin breathes in, and 'looks' up -- to where Ruth has perched. Her tone is a bit more firm. "... tell me. I smell the same sickness from her. But she is your ally. What is the reason?"
It's an ominous question, but the Paladin doesn't appear to desire to attack Ruth right away. She didn't, last time -- but she did say that 'tonight was not the day'.
Ida points out a building -- an inn. They enter, and Ida investigates the second set of stairs and--
CRACK
Ida shouts for them to hurry, but Caoimhe does nothing of the sort; part of the building collapses ONTO her, and she seemingly just sustains a portion of the mezzanine and the rotting wooden beams with her shoulders and a heavy, beleaguered grunt.
"... make good time, while I can still support this weight."
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has contributed a risky Agility Action toward her party's challenge, You're Inn Trouble.
<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.
Shige Kiwako finishes the little ritual after some time. Whether she was aided by the others or not, she largely clearly has learned a little of the local customs, just not as much as she'd like and the rites are respectful enough. When she's finished. She takes the rum (Or what's left of it.) and considers the bottle.
She shoves into the pouch for now. Choosing to keep her wits about her the hard way. Or she's trying square herself up with what she thinks is right. It's hard for her to tell.
She follows the others to the guardhouse, making sure they're set up. Watching over them briefly. She tries to avoid riling anything up though. There's a lot of misery here. There were probably others. She might have a night parade going before they're done if she's 'lucky'. (She considers it a good thing because they can finally leave!)
There's the ghost of a thin smile. That nervous kind that makes one think it might be worse than she imagined. Or she's stressing out. She doesn't know either.
She nods to Ruth at the mention of 'another time'. "Wrong place and time for it now." Which is an agreement enough.
Ida's given a curious question, "Got some questions for you too later if we run into eachother again." This is, well. After the rites.
Luna's given something of a shrug, "Not going to stop you. Just trying to help." She seems put off by that kind of attitude. Maybe it's the melancholy of the place as much as anything.
Caoimhe's question is given a flat response, "I'm on no expedition. I was following.. something." Probably something innate with her duties mixed with that realization that she can't keep putting off seeing home. She keeps getting confonted with things from the past as is. "I can try to help lead them south after though."
She tilts her head, listening quietly before responding, "Just.. be careful as you chase after it." There was clearly more there the way she acted, but she wasn't sure how to relay it and she actually is kinda trying to avoid being too philosophical and down!
With the inn, she won't lie, she went straight for the bar. Looking for familiar tools and bottles. Checking for anything that might be of use. In more ways than one. Familiarity helps both herself and others and... well. This place is going to need a lot of help.
She's looking one such bottle over and is about to uncork it when she hears the creak and sees dust starting to fall from the cieling. She's once more without a drink as she hops up and over the bar with some practiced feline reflexes and bolts back for the door, "Out out out out out!" she calls to the others, trying to clear a path for them!
DG: Shige Kiwako has used her Tool Bartender's Spirits toward her party's challenge, You're Inn Trouble. Quicken! Party Agility boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
"I'm sure there are places they will be cared for. They are not the first to have endured such strife." But Caoimhe is answering her questions, and Luna listens attentively.
"Of course," she saws with a simple nod, even if she cannot see the gesture. "Flight, claws, teeth, scales, and Malevolence, besides. And to withstand your efforts all these years, as formidable as you are..."
An ear twitches, a little bit as she picks up that note of conflict that comes with speaking of 'Heroes'. "There are many things that threaten the world. Your blade would be of tremendous assistance to those seeking to stand against those ills."
She glances towards Ruth when Caoimhe does. "I cannot speak of her. We have only met this night. I came to Eluria on my own. I would presume, however, it takes tremendous mental fortitude to withstand the conflict Malevolence brings with it." She looks to the paladin next. "And it would take just as much to avoid falling prey to its influence these seven long years."
Luna is content to let Ida tend to the details of the men's safety and comfort. She may be kind, in her own way, but seemingly only to a point.
She might share something of a commonality with Ruth, at least in regards to high perches. She seems agile and nimble enough to quickly scale walls and balconies up to rooftops as they've progressed through the city, even at times running along rooftops and leaping between them.
But Ida spots something of interest, and without waiting for permission or invitation Luna falls in line behind her, carefully taking those creaking stares with slow, measured grace. Ida asks for a rope, and Luna nods. "I have--"
Then the building starts to come down.
Ida orders her down and out. Luna might have a reply for that, but this is not the time for such things. Instead she slips a vial from a pouch, filled with an orange liquid. In one smooth motion she flicks the cap off as she raises it to her mouth and downs the contents in one gulp. Magic flows through her and she blurs into motion, making great leaps forward and finding just the barest of footholds before blurring forward again, streaking across the room right behind Ida. She lands on the other side of the lockbox from Ida. "Let's move!" She says as she lifts the other side to share the weight.
DG: Luna Meitner has used her Tool Pegasus Draught toward her party's challenge, You're Inn Trouble. Stalwart! Party shielded from some Exhaustion this round!
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - You're Inn Trouble *>======================
| Type: Exploration | Dungeon Ability: Agility | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you make your way through the emptied streets of Eluria, you find a
building that was once a large inn. It might house something of interest --
through a window, you catch a glimpse of still-shining metal. When you go
inside, you see a large sealed steel crate, which had been kept behind the
bar in the tavern downstairs. The upstairs has mostly rotted and fallen away
at this point, but that steel lockbox could be worth your time.
Unfortunately, shortly after you walk in, there is a loud /CREAK/. Dust
begins to come down from the rafters -- and then the rafters begin to come
down, too. The building is quickly collapsing on top of your heads! You'll
need to escape -- and collect your discovered lockbox too, if you want its
contents.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Cleanse:_All_Effects_Removed!, Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, |
| Injure:_Exhaustion_Up_On_Failure!, Quicken:_Agility_Up!, |
| Secret:_Exploration_Up!, Shortsighted:_All_Stats_Down!, and |
| Treasure:_Exploration_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================< Results - Eluria Ruins - Round 4 >======================
=======================< CHALLENGE - You're Inn Trouble >=======================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 15 --(16)--> 31 Bad
Rush Bsc Agility Effects: Risky
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Pauling 15 --(0)--> 15 Best
Rivercrest Maj Agility Effects: Cleanse,
Shortsighted, and Risky
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ida Everstead-Rey 15 --(0)--> 15 Best
Zephyr Boots Min Agility Effects: Quicken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luna Meitner 23 --(0)--> 23 Best
Pegasus Draught Min Agility Effects: Stalwart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shige Kiwako 15 --(0)--> 15 Best
Bartender's Spirits Min Agility Effects: Quicken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 60 --(35)--> 80 Pass
Conditions: Hesitate(2), Injure(2), Secret(1), and Treasure(1)
Effects: Cleanse, Quicken(1), and Shortsighted(1)
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: The party led by Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has passed this challenge! The party gained 35 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Later, yes," Ida says.
Most of the bar, unfortunately for Shige, has been either scavenged or trashed. Bits of broken glass litter the floor, coated with ice and a long-dried mixture of whatever spirits the former bottles once contained. Lanval might weep at the sight. But hope exists, and it has rolled into a nook in the bar. There, Shige finds a still-intact bottle of aged Ellurian whiskey--the sealing Symbol on the cork is dim, but still active. It's still good! Ellurian whiskey has been vanishingly rare ever since...
Well. The reason why is all around.
With her new prize in tow (as well as a couple silver bar spoons that will need polishing), Shige makes her dramatic exit. On the way out, she's able to shove a shelf to the side, to bear the weight of the collapsing upper floors for a few crucial seconds!
Caoimhe and Ruth take dramatically different approaches. Water shears through the rotting ceiling, washing bits of tile and wood out into the alley beyond. This reduces the likelihood of Ida and Luna being crushed, but not the risk of them falling. Caoimhe takes it upon herself to replace a support beam with her own body. For a few moments, she's bearing tons of weight. Ida and Luna book it to safety, leaping out a broken window and through the broken window of Ruth's perch--that building is much more stable. Behind them, the inn creaks its last, and collapses. Ida hurries downstairs, bearing half the weight of the case. "Caoimhe!" she shouts, panic in her eyes as she looks at the remains of the inn. Oh God, she thinks. Did she--?
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has drawn a new Challenge. ===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
========<* CHALLENGE - Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet *>=========
| Type: Final | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you near Eluria Tower's outskirts, you feel a prickle of a sensation of
dread. Then, it returns: the Malevolent Domain that you may have had some
brushes with on your way through Eluria's ruins. You realize /why/ you have
had brushes with it: it moves. It follows the loud, beating of leathery
wings up high; it comes with the enormous Fell Dragon that has taken to the
skies and come to roost around Eluria Tower.
The Fell Dragon flies overhead and onward.
You'll need to move carefully -- identifying what nearby buildings provide
cover, and do your best to not draw the attention of this otherworldly
visitor.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, Quicken:_Agility_Up!, |
| Shortsighted:_All_Stats_Down!, and Stupify:_Wits_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
The inn collapses entirely, with a thunderous CRACK of shattering wood and masonry, amongst the other materials that make up such a building; for a moment, there is dust and debris in a cloud, and then...
Caoimhe slowly emerges, in that hunched posture of hers; she looks fatigued, certainly, for she is only human, but otherwise not much worse for the wear.
"Many of the buildings only maintain the barest facade of integrity, after seven years," she advises quietly.
Shige tells her that she isn't on an expedition. "I see. What you seek must be important indeed. But any assistance for them... I would be grateful."
Be careful, as you chase after Evil, lest... Perhaps Caoimhe has taken the lesson to heart. Perhaps not.
"... we have engaged in many small skirmishes, but nothing decisive, no," Caoimhe explains to Luna. A pause and a drawing of the breath, as she notes how many things threaten the world, outside of the realm of Eluria. And that it must have taken a lot to withstand the influence of Malevolence, for seven years.
"That it has indeed. Though I often wonder if I have withstood the sickness, or whether or not I am the only one who was truly sick..." her voice drifts off for a moment, as her head lulls to one side.
The paladin remains incredibly still for about five seconds.
"The Beast is here," she advises quietly.
And moments later, the prickle of dread fills the air -- the Malevolent Domain that surrounds the 'Beast'. Only... Ida's hopes that it is merely an advanced Hellion, or a Drake, are dashed.
It is the Fell Dragon Eizen, and it is enormous -- one that Ida may have heard the Hyadeans describe in the past, for they trapped it in a containment sphere some years ago, during the war with Mother. It clearly has escaped containment since then, and made Eluria Tower its nest.
"... it is a fool endeavour to engage the Beast tonight. I can smell the fulsome tide of his power," Caoimhe decides. "And we have the survivors to care for, still."
The paladin draws out a pouch with one hand, and starts to place... ... rock salt? onto her tongue, drawing it out and licking it.
"... this way," she remarks, as she starts to scatter some of the salts about her. There's a faint tinge of magic in it, and as she walks, it lightly crunches underneath the metallic weight of her greaves. It's clear that she uses it as some kind of breadcrumb...
DG: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has used her Tool Thursday-Echoing Salt toward her party's challenge, Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet. <Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
The scarf fell from Ida's face during the run. It rests around her neck, revealing lips curled in a tight, anxious grimace. "Oh thank God," she says, as Caoimhe picks herself out of the rubble. Ida drops her end of the box, and offers the Paladin a hand.
(The box, once it's opened, contains... mementos. Documents. Some valuable items, like signet rings, but everything's labeled--someone must have come to salvage people's precious things, rather than items of pure monetary value. New Arctica has plenty of former Ellurians among its people. They could surely see the items are returned, if possible.)
Ida takes a breath as the wind picks up again. The faint scent of Malevolence, drawing closer. "I... don't sense it on you," she says. And then, the Dragon.
A chill races down Ida's spine. Her mind flashes back to a few scattered accounts she'd heard after the fall of the Photosphere. A Fell Dragon, barely contained by Hyadean technology, and now free. Free, on her world.
Terror fills Ida's heart, and she heeds it. She turns, picks up the box, and slips a hand into her pocket. Her gloved fingers curl around the handle of the multitool she's carried for the better part of a decade, now. She breathes, and stays focused on the present as she follows Caoimhe.
She knows that intense fear can attract Hellions. Staying calm--without denying fear, and inviting contradiction--is essential.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool ARMs Meister's Field Kit toward her party's challenge, Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet. Enlighten! Party Wits boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
There is no hesitation on Luna's part to simply leap through a broken window with the lockbox. She doesn't say anything about Ida's instinct to order her out of the danger, but there is a flicker of a quiet, satisfied smile. It might even be a little bit smug.
But it returns to its usual stoicism a moment later though as she looks to the collapsed inn with a frown. She makes a couple of nimble leaps down to the ground by way of an awning that should not support any weight anymore, but Luna's potion holds out to let her pass over it. She heads for the front entrance but stops as Caoihme emerges from the wreckage.
Many of the buildings are not stable after so long... "So it would seem," Luna agrees quietly. She presses a vial full of a crimson liquid into the paladin's hand. "Drink this. It will help you recover some of your strength and mend your wounds."
Caoihme questions who is truly sick, Eluria or her, and Luna simply says, "There will be time to ponder such things later."
Especially since--the Beast arrives. She looks up in the direction the beast approaches from, and nods. "Avoiding that battle would be wise, then," she agrees.
She takes note of the rock salt that Caoihme uses, but for her part, she moves along with the group and starts quickly going through her pouches. A pinch of flower petals here, a scraping of moss taken as they casually pass by it, along with a few other ingredients... and as it starts to react she pulls out a match and strikes it on her gauntlet, then drops it into the mix. A light fog spills out of the container she was mixing in, settling around them to help mask their presence.
DG: Luna Meitner has used her Tool Survivalist Toolkit toward her party's challenge, Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet. Enlighten! Party Wits boosted!
<Pose Tracker> Ruth Pauling has posed.
Ruth moves from her perch towards the edge of the building facing the inn - no mean feat given her heavy manner of dress and the shape of the roof - as some manage to make their escape. She can't hear Ida's words in the moment but the panic and fear itself transcends the senses. Her right hand's already going to her heart as if assuming the worst.
...
Caoimhe lives, and isn't too much worse off for it. This should be a relief, but... humans don't casually survive a building collapsing on them.
As Caoimhe muses about whether she's withstood the sickness, or whether or not she's the only one who was truly sick...
"You're not a Hellion," says the Hellion among them, but anything more she has to stay stops, because...
'The Beast is here.'
The Malevolent Domain washes over Ruth, earthen in feel and rife with overwhelming amounts of emotion. She can't put a logical reason to it, but that's not her lot - she's a creature of will and contradiction who is a lot better at pretending she isn't.
Something about it tugs at the nerves that define her own contradictions. How can you expect to choose to be anything more than a source of bad luck, when there's no self-determination in the face of what becomes pre-determined? She doesn't parse this in finer detail of 'words' and 'meanings.'
Despair overtakes her. When tears leave her, the metaphorical dam breaks as she assumes her true shape. Symbological markings go off around her gloves and boots as they reconfigure in shape to make way for anatomical changes, shifting material elsewhere to better give space and support. Bindings around her too-large overcoat stay taut to this same Symbological tech courtesy of Energy Nede, better hugging her shape. (It's less 'form-flattering' and more 'form-frightening,' because such a shape is unquestionably monstrous and scary.)
Someone asked why Ruth was considered an ally and friend, a question worth asking as the single-winged gargoyle-like Hellion takes her shape and - unwisely - draws her rifle.
Tear-stained glowing eyes cling onto the faint reflection of her Granasian rosary, once again tight enough to dig into her forearm, and in the very distance of her keen eyesight she catches the glint of an exposed church bell of Granasian make.
Her tail - which appears to have a very cute ribbon tied into a bow around it, in complete tonal dissonance of everything - snakes along the shaft of her weapon as if to encourage her to pull the trigger.
A deafening bang.
Followed by the prolonged, distant echoing ringing of a church bell closer to where the Fell Dragon emerges from.
DG: Ruth Pauling has contributed a risky Wits Action toward her party's challenge, Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet.
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
========<* CHALLENGE - Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet *>=========
| Type: Final | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you near Eluria Tower's outskirts, you feel a prickle of a sensation of
dread. Then, it returns: the Malevolent Domain that you may have had some
brushes with on your way through Eluria's ruins. You realize /why/ you have
had brushes with it: it moves. It follows the loud, beating of leathery
wings up high; it comes with the enormous Fell Dragon that has taken to the
skies and come to roost around Eluria Tower.
The Fell Dragon flies overhead and onward.
You'll need to move carefully -- identifying what nearby buildings provide
cover, and do your best to not draw the attention of this otherworldly
visitor.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Efficient:_???, Enlighten:_Wits_Up!, Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, |
| Quicken:_Agility_Up!, Shortsighted:_All_Stats_Down!, and Stupify:_Wits_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: Shige Kiwako has used her Tool Ghostly Train Lantern toward her party's challenge, Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet.
<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.
There's a moment of admiration for the bottle she managed to salvage. Mostly because it IS that rare. She has no intention of opening at the moment though. That's well after checking on the others though. Taking a moment to look them over for injury (And by her, we really mean her ghostly medic friend, but that's not important.)
"I.. have a duty, I don't seek anyone specifically." She leaves it at that. It's a good enough answer without getting into the metaphysical weirdness that is being a psychopomp of sorts. "I will do my best to guide them along though. As well as any others I find lingering."
She brushes herself off, trying to clear some of the dust off of herself.
She glances up, checking on Ruth, though not audibly. She's got her own thing, you let her roll with it.
She assesses herself finally, glancing down at her lantern and patting her back where her satchel is cinched. Finally she picks some debris from one of those tails and mutters that she'll have to spend some time with shampoo now.
"I can't smell it." She agrees with Ida and Ruth regarding the corruption. Glancing sidelong again. Definitely needs to poke the other seeming shaman.
There's that warning though. Once more warned by another. She's fast. Very, very fast when she wants to be. This is the third dragon she's encountered and she's in no rush for it again. She'll insist its not fear, but it absolutely is. And bad memories. More the latter if she's being honest. Those burned deep.
There's a faint figure of a witch now in the light though and that hooded figure's doing something to help obfuscate the cat (And others!)
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
========<* CHALLENGE - Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet *>=========
| Type: Final | Dungeon Ability: Wits | Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
As you near Eluria Tower's outskirts, you feel a prickle of a sensation of
dread. Then, it returns: the Malevolent Domain that you may have had some
brushes with on your way through Eluria's ruins. You realize /why/ you have
had brushes with it: it moves. It follows the loud, beating of leathery
wings up high; it comes with the enormous Fell Dragon that has taken to the
skies and come to roost around Eluria Tower.
The Fell Dragon flies overhead and onward.
You'll need to move carefully -- identifying what nearby buildings provide
cover, and do your best to not draw the attention of this otherworldly
visitor.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Enlighten:_Wits_Up!, Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, and |
| Stupify:_Wits_Down! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>=============================== ======================< Results - Eluria Ruins - Round 5 >====================== =========< CHALLENGE - Fell Dragon Eizen - He Doesn't See You... Yet >========== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 31 --(5)--> 36 Best Thursday-Echoing Salt Maj Wits Effects: Efficient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Pauling 15 --(21)--> 36 Bad Investigate Bsc Wits Effects: Risky -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 15 --(5)--> 20 Best ARMs Meister's Field Kit Min Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna Meitner 23 --(5)--> 28 Good Survivalist Toolkit Min Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shige Kiwako 15 --(5)--> 20 Good Ghostly Train Lantern Maj Wits Effects: Efficient -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1) and Stupify(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) = Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has successfully explored Eluria Ruins! ===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
===============================<* Eluria Ruins *>===============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Meteorite Fragment *>======================
| Type: Discovery | Dungeon Ability: Conclusion | Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information >----------------------------
You've managed to get near Eluria Tower. As you approach, you can see that
the door to the tower is sealed. It is not the original door, but rather one
made of some highly advanced metal, and aglow with many different Symbols on
it. A large number of gargoyles are flying about nearby, which forbids entry
to it.
But nearby, you discover a small cache; it is a sealed box, with the symbol
of the Elurian royal family on it.
Inside, you find a glimmering ore. There are bright pieces of metal, of
multiple colors, giving it an almost rainbow-like sheen. This is a fragment
of meteorite, suitable for crafting a weapon or armor of unmatched quality.
============================= Dungeon Conditions: =============================
| Enlighten:_Wits_Up!, Hesitate:_Agility_Down!_Wits_Up!, Stupify:_Wits_Down!, |
| and Treasure:_Exploration_Up! |
= Digger 2.0 ===================================================================
<Pose Tracker> Caoimhe ni Maoilgrahna has posed.
Ida and Ruth both tell Caoimhe that she doesn't possess the malady -- no trace of Malevolence is upon her, nor is she a Hellion. But perhaps she isn't speaking directly of what ails Eluria... but as Luna says, now is not the time to ponder such things.
The terror is in their hearts, and Caoimhe can scent it -- they, too, know the full auspices of the beast -- the Dragon's -- might.
Luna offers a liquid to her, and she accepts quietly, drawing in its scent. She removes the cork with her mouth and drinks, and looks more vigorous afterwards. "You have my gratitude. The admixture you created earlier... you are a skilled compounder."
The flower petals and moss... Caoimhe scents even as they move. Someone who's very resourceful at collecting. Efficient.
Ruth, however, appears to have taken a stronger reaction; there's some reaction, as the Domain washes over her, that seems to overwhelm her. Is this how the sickness spreads? The scent of tears fills her nostrils for a moment, and also the scent of patina upon bronze...
Ruth's ploy is to draw her rifle and fire upon a church bell, opposite to where they are. With a loud screech, the Fell Dragon Eizen descends upon that site of worship, and it collapses in one fell swoop.
It's effective, but how deep is the shadow cast by the fear in her heart?
Shige retreats with the others, bringing to watch a witch from beyond that guides them along the way; together, they've come onto the other side of Eluria Tower, where they've managed to elude the Fell Dragon, and take refuge inside a small room.
A cache is inside, not unlike the one Ida found earlier. A sealed box, with the symbol of the Elurian royal family in it.
"... that scent... that container bears the crest of the royal family," Caoimhe murmurs, her head lulling to one side, as if she is drawn into memory again.
Inside is an incredibly precious ore -- meteorite, suitable for crafting into weapons or armour.
"... we had best return to those soldiers. We should not further tarry here," Caoimhe remarks, seemingly with no interest in the ore. ... she is decked out in Crystal equipment, one supposes. (You need to find Genji equipment, Caoimhe...)
<Pose Tracker> Luna Meitner has posed.
<poem> "You are welcome," she says quietly, to Caoihme's thanks. The admixture from earlier... Luna nods. "I believe in being self-sufficient. Though you that mixture was not fit for consumption."
There was a widening of the eyes as the Fell Dragon drew close and flew overhead, a tensing of the hands into fists and a stiffening of her posture. And, for Ruth, perhaps the first notable hint of real fear from the young adventurer. (Though there has also been some mild concern throughout this trip.)
There is a second notable note of grave concern from her as Ruth reveals herself as she truly is--though not surprise, per se. But there are definitely thoughts in the back of her mind to drop her improvised working and reach for a weapon... but it seems the Hellion--or her tail--did have a diversion in mind. She nods to herself and resumes her work.
Luna sets her newest concoction down at the doorway to cover their presence as they take refuge. There is a curious look to the Paladin as she identifies the crest by scent. "You are quite astute..."
She can't help but take her own whiff of it, to see what she might pick up.
They get it open easily enough, and Luna looks upon the meteoric ore with interest. She fetches something that looks like a jeweler's magnification lense from a pouch to examine a chunk of ore in finer detail. "A most worthy discovery..."
"Yes. Between the dragon and the gargoyles, now would be a prudent time to make our exit. We have already discovered much more than we had any right to expect." Since Ida's got the first lockbox, she shoulders this one.
When Ida later checks in on her, Luna simply nods to ackonwledge her concerns. "I am unharmed."