When last we left, The Lover had imparted some particularly disturbing information to the assembled Exalts. The underworld and creation were in jeopardy due to The First and Forsaken Lion's invasion of creation. That was bad enough, but your collective master's brilliant plan was to throw a bunch of their Abyssals together into a make-shift task force to deal with the problem. So here you are, sitting in a plush funerary convoy headed south. Usually reserved for visiting dignitaries, the series of fancy covered wagons now takes four young Exalts to their destinies, much to their distress. "This is bullshit." Betrothed of Pain comments while looking out the window at the dank, colorless, forest around you. Crimson Tears of Regret looks similarly displeased and The Soul's Twisted Design just kind of broods in much the way all abyssal do so well. Crimson looks at you uncertainly, "What do you think of this mess?"* * Lukan has quit IRC (Quit: ) * Echoing_Words twiddles his thumbs. Literally. He wasn't particularly used to travel in the Underworld, and honestly, he'd never been anywhere NEAR the Thousand before. It would be an adventure to remember certainly- if he survived. Yet these were stray thoughts of self-concern that he kept well contained. "I think it is nothing we can't handle." Echo smiles brightly, flicking some of his white and black hair away from his brow. Ah, always so arrogant. He told himself. So reassuring, hiding behind a mask of veiled hatred and purpose. You're a fool. You want to rule? No. You want to manipulate. To destroy. You're a monster. He told himself. * Echoing_Words smiled even more brightly. He was a monster. How glorious, to prey upon those under him. Yet all were under him, and he would feed upon them all, devour them like cattle and grow fat on indulgence. It was his destiny..and if not, then something even greater lay in store for him. "Honestly? I think this is a strange sojourn. I realize the logic behind sending us to the Thousand, but I believe any one of us could be of more use -elsewhere-. However, the Lover is brilliant, old and wise. She knows more than we. We should trust in that as well as we can." Echo lied, hoping the Lover had some form of magical eavesdropping present.* Crimson smiles and looks at the others, "He's right you know, we're Abyssals, darkness' very children. There has been nothing like us before and nothing can possibly stand in our way." She smiles brightly, but she sounds like she's attempting to convince herself as well. (social + per?) (8) (whoa, 6 successes) (I AM EXALTED ABOVE ALL MAN) You read the situation like an open book, as you so often do. Crimson, it seems, it taking great pains to engage somebody in conversation, and her tones lead you to believe she is trying to discover your motives as well. Pain is a angry bastard and he doesn't hide it. He resents you, this wagon, the entire world. He wants nothing more than power and glory. He doesn't even see you as a threat, as his only measure of power is in the physial realm. (physia) physical realm. Design seems honestly overwhelmed. Not taken to social interaction at all, he just doesn't know what to say at this time. With the exception of Crimson, you seem to have gotten to the bottom of your entire Cricle in less than a day. Hopefully. As is true at all levels of life in the Underworld, conspiracy and backstabbing abound. You are clever enough to know none of them can be trusted. * Echoing_Words pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "I only wish to serve my master to the best of my ability. I know that is true of everyone here, am I not correct?" Echo smirks, casting a glance to Pain. "Of course I am. So perhaps we can pass the time with some idle banter. Crimson, where do you hail from?" Echo immediatly engages the woman, pushing more intelligence gathering.* (godammit) (So didn't want to hit the enter button, but once that asterix is laid...I HAVE A PROBLEM! *sob*) (not a problem) Crimson smiles again, this time a bit more confident. "Me? Well I'm from Paragon." She pauses, still having trouble remembering her new life as the embodment of death from time to time. "Well... originally." Suddenly the wagon stops. The driver leans over his perch and annouces, "That's as far as it goes folks." He doesn't hide his contempt for you. Its nothing new, most ghosts fear and resent the new abyssals.* (lol, paragon city?!?) (heh, yeah it exists in exalted in creation) (yeah...it's one of the gemstone cities right? All about mining?) (aye, I believe so, its one of the southern cities along the coast below the blessed isle. Something about a big god ruler) * Echoing_Words also doesn't hide his contempt for the ghost driver. He won't be insulted by an insignificant wretch like him...nor will he make a scene. The fool will pay in time. They all will. Pay for what, well, that's really to be seen. "Well bless you, citizen. The ride was bumpy and unpleasent, but here's a shiny rock for your troubles." Echo smiles, tossing a random pebble at the man. "I -do- try to remain on a friendly basis with the help..." Echo asides to his circle...loudly. "Ah.." Echo ponders...where is here...are we there already..? "..smell the fresh air." He mutters, inhaling the necrotic stink like it was the scent of a turkey dinner. Despite his arrogance, he has no idea where they are.* The driver shuts his mouth tightly and grips the stone. He realizes now how close he came to some serious pain or worse. Your companions exit the wagon with a bit of confusion. Stretching from the long trip they look around. The road is quite well kept, despite the gloom and general disorganization of the forest surrounding it. Paved in solid black marble, the road is the primary artery leading from the northern coast to the Deep South. If you were in creation, you’d be near Paragon. The trip hasn’t been a long one, but you have covered a great deal of territory. Since getting into the convoy outside Stygia you were transported over the sea in a slightly disturbing ship which didn’t quite touch the surface of the waters. You arrived on the southern shore just yesterday and have made some progress south since then, but you are no where near The Thousand. Without another word the driver begins to take the wagon in the opposite direction, something seems to be bothering him besides Echo's comment.* (So does that leave us alone on the yel...err...ebony bricked road?) (aye, nothing around but forest and road, nothing in either direction) (Echo says fuck that.) (I'm an abyssal, but i still know ominous when i see it) (oh, and your bodyguards are here of course, you are the only one with such protection) * Echoing_Words quirks a brow. "Oh...inconsiderate and useless driver..." he murmers.."Driver! Come back here! What do you mean as far as we go?!?" He cries out to the leaving man.* (For the record, i only keep 5 on me, the other 8 are watching over the Manse) You are entirely ignored, oddly enough. "Okay, now I'm pissed." Pain paces back and forth, arms crossed over his heavily muscled chest. "This is bullshit, we're nowhere near The Thousand." Crimson cuts him off, "Maybe they can't safely travel any further." "There is a war on you know, and word would have spread by now..." She trails off. Design sighs, "I guess we hoof it." With that he walks south on the road, leaving the rest of you standing there.* * Echoing_Words sighs as the rest of the circle grudingly follows Design. As Crimson passes him, Echo grabs onto his arm and pulls her aside. "And -why- would they fear this road?" Echo then releases Crimson and lets her ponder that thought as she continues to follow Design. After another moment of hesitation, his guards slowly flanking him, Echo follows.* *her arm (percep+survival?) (4) (and uh...can i...can i ask why you're named STD?) She walks calmly just in front of you and your guards. "I don't know honestly, I mean we did have permission to travel almost the entire distance..." She leaves the conversation alone and the entire party walks in silence down the road. (sure, i'm the story teller, and my name is dave. hrm) * STd is now known as STdave (Yes, meditate on that.) (better?) (haha, surely) (2 successes on the survival roll) (Not too shabby...a 1 in survival) A full hour passes. An entire goddamned hour on this godling forsaken stretch of road. You would kill, literally, for another wagon, even a horse. The sound of the forest in becoming irritating, the moans and rustling of animals and trees is incessant and entirely useless. With a sigh you look at your companions to perhaps start a conversation, but pause. Design is walking purposely as ever and quite happy with his stride by all outward appearances. Pain however, has moved slowly to the center of the group, putting Design between him and the forest's edge. Crimson, most oddly of all, is cleverly gripping his sword hilt beneath her clothing. Odd.* (err, gripping her sword hilt) * Echoing_Words eyes the group. So he's -not- the only one. Good. With a stretch and a yawn, Echo raises his arms above his head, and as he brings his hands down, a black slime permeates his right arm, extending from his hand. The dark stuff oozes from his hand into a long solid black cylinder. As he walks, the slime begins to fall away from the object, until so much has been removed that it looks like a soulsteel shortbow. The black ooze that has fallen away into the grey earth then wriggles its way along the ground, leaping from footfall to footfall until it catches up with Echo, and then dissipates into his short and dim shadow. He now holds Azalgrial, That Which Shatters Essence, a Powerbow of his favored design, and his best weapon by far. His ghostly companions form a tight circle around him, and all draw weapons. A tad more overt than his colleagues (A tad more over than his colleagues) * Now concentrating on your surroundings you realize the sound of birds and insects has ceased. Only the wind now cassess the dead leaves in the forest beyond. Even Design seems to notice, and stops walking for a moment. He opens his mouth to casually ask his companions about the sound, but is interrupted rudely. The sound of arrows flicking loose of their bows freezes the blood of the entire group. Even the less martially enclined recognize it immediately, but have little chance to respond. (Dex+Dodge to hit the deck, diff 3) (I choose to stand my ground.) (With the help of flitting shadow form) (very well, it is a massed surprise attack, only charms/magic to defend, if an arrow even comes your way. Rolling for a moment.) And an arrow does in fact find its way to you, two in fact. From the close forest the shafts of wood slice the air, far too fast and unexpected to dodge with the aid of essence. (without the aid of essence) (my bad, you can use flitting shadow, but can build only a magic defence starting at 0 die) (I'll use 6 peripheral essence then for flitting shadow form) (so 12 dice to dodge the first arrow?) (Hmm, that's right...i do get two don't i...( (How about 4 for the first, 4 for the second) (you rolled...poorly (ok, rolling def now) (Lethal soak=10, bashing=12, aggravated =9) The first arrow is avoiding with such finesse you could be a world-class acrobat. (Suc 4) Unfortunately your movements place you directly into the path of the second, much better aimed, arrow which strikes you soundly.(Suc 2, arrow suc 3) (no damage, describe as you will) (bwaha) (A true villain) (No good villain hits the deck dave.) (heh, true) (Just cued up the sephiroth final boss fight music) * Echoing_Words looks at the woods carefully. He's no outdoorsman, and he's certainly no assassin, but he knows an ambush when he sees it. "The fools." He smirks as his ghostly bodyguards hit the deck, and he slowly nocks a swirling bolt of black essence in his death bow. In the hail of arrows that follows his arrogant decision, only two seek his heart. How sad, he's not very popular...oh well. (i'll let you know when combat begins) The Echoing Words From the Darkness remains steadfast. The first arrow plummets into his being like a consummate killer, but sadly, that killer failed. In a flick of inky blackness, the Abyssal is gone as he steps into the very shot. He reappears mid-stride, bringing his bow to aim on the woods while his eyes find a target. As a second arrow bounces harmlessly off of his artifact arm he remains steadfast. "It's time to prove our worth, dear friends. Who joins me in the massacre of the foolish?" He offers to his comrades in arms as he begins tugging at his bowstring impatiently.* Around you is chaos. You bodyguards have flung themselves to the ground to avoid the arrows, and done so quite well. Not one was struck. Oddly enough, the Exalted amongst the group have faired less well. Either too surprised or too arrogant to take cover, three of you have been struck by arrows to varying degrees. You catch out of the corner of your eye Design fall to one knee. He did not hold his tongue by choice earlier. As he staggers a beautiful crimson arc of blood spurts from his throat. An arrow has gone clear through his neck and his bulging eyes tell of his terror. Pain has not one, but four arrows sticking out of his elaborate leather and soulsteel armor, but he ignores any injuries he might have received and shouts into the woods for blood. ( into the woods f) into the woods for blood. (lol, one abyssal is already dead. Wunderbar) Crimson stands crouched ready for combat with two halves of arrows to each side of her, apparently she managed to cut the arrows asunder before they could strike her. As if in answer to Pain’s shouts, the forest rustles and out comes your attackers. It appears to be almost a dozen coming from either side of the road, ghosts in mundane gear by the looks. Black clad with axes and spears, the ghosts don’t waste anytime charging towards the group. (You have one turn before they reach you, remember you command 5 war ghosts) * (think last of the mohicans) (We doing initiative, or next turn?) (This is turn 1, no initiative needed. Next turn they will be in melee. You may fire or whatever, there are plenty of targets.) * Echoing_Words furrows his brow. Design is already perishing..how sad. For his master. Rallying together whatever sense of combative spirit he has, Echo throws out his command. He will not die here, that is laughable. "Form a circle around me, do so NOW. I shall kill them all, simply remove the threat." He says nonchalantly as he draws back on his bow with his horrific artifact arm. Essence crackles along the bow as his ghosts fall back to him. * Echoing_Words shouts a similar command to his circlemates, though he assumes either Crimson will be the only to respond, or none will. It didn't matter. He found targets and loosed, three times as his ghosts formed a circle around him with weapons drawn. (3 motes, 1 per arrow) * (what's your full dex+archery+acc pool?) (14 total i believe) (5+3+2+4, though i do need to check that four and see where i got it from. I assume from artifact bonus, but i can't remember) (bow damage?) (8 w/o any arrow bonuses) (They wearing armor) (barely, just some leather, 2 lethal protection) (then i'll make them normal arrows, not the target or frogcrotch) (I forget what they are called) (5suc, 3suc, 2suc, none of the ghosts defend, the fools don't even have shields, and all perish to your arrows. Desc as you will) (broadhead, +2 lethal) (Ouch for them) (Oh yes, and I would then gain +9 motes.) (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) (aye, you now have only spend 2 motes periph (Heeheheheheheh) * Echoing_Words summons unholy strength and looses his first, second and third shots in rapid and lethal succession. Who would have guessed he could pool such power? He is but a fair muscled man..and yet his necrotic missiles carry the wickedness of a ballista bolt. The first ghosts head simply disappears, reduced to a fine mesh of ghostly blood and flesh as the black bolt thunders through his cerebelum. The second sees the attack coming a bit too late, and his ribcage collapses long before he can think twice on the decision. The third, well, he was severed in half at the torso as the third missile shattered his hipbones and proceeded through his ghostly organs, then out the other side, leaving... A wake of gore. The arrows immediatly melt into the earth and then wriggle back towards Echo just like the slimey muck from before, but this time they carry with them the life essence of three 'dead' ghosts. How tragic. For them.* Despite the loss of three of their comrades, the ghosts closest to your group charge on. Eight of them head towards your circle of bodyguards and the kneeling Design. Ten more head towards Crimson and Pain. It seems all these ghosts were firing the volley of arrows, and have dropped their bows to attack directly. A bold move against Abyssal Exalted. You can, however, only concentrate on the events closest to you. Your new circlemates will have to fend for themselves for the moment. (You have 8 warghosts now in melee of your group of bodyguards, my roll shows none broke through to you yet.) (Whats your init?) (base is 7) (I don't remember the bow adding any, so 7) (Very well, you go before all the ghosts and your bodyguards. One ghost has moved close to Design and seems to think he can finish the Exalt off... your move) (btw you rolled 11 on your init) * Echoing_Words sighs. A pity Design is going to die so quickly in this little campaign. He might have proven useful. Oh dammit, what if he DOES prove useful? Well then the fool shouldn't have taken an arrow to the gullet! Well look, I'm not going to help him. He'd be just another to kill -later-. Why not take advantage of the oppurtunity fate has given you? Or...he could live endebted to you when you save him. Oh fuck you, conscience... Fine godammit. Echo growls at himself. He launches a missile in the direction of the ghost hovering over Design, and then snaps another two into place. Just like before, he intends to pick off another 2 after that one. So long as his guards keep them at bay he'll be fine. He fires again.* (2,4, and 5 successes. The ghost near Design sees your attack coming and moves to defend himself, barely avoiding the arrow. The other two are not so lucky, and die and icky death you can describe.) (Running low on gorey details) (You can desc them, my brain is burning for lack of water) (sure thing) (and brb...water) The ghost hovering over Design grins at his good fortune and moves back towards Design's prostrate body. The other two are not so lucky, and while one merely takes an arrow solidly in the chest and slumps to the ground, the other is struck at the temple and his body spins like a top before falling. Your warghosts scream and enter the fray to defend their lord. Though ghosts like the attackers, your bodyguards are better trained and far better equipped. Their armor gives them an edge and two of the attackers fall before your men. One of your warghosts is cut deeply on the arm, but is otherwise okay. Design begins to slump forward, but before faltering lunges towards a nearby ghost. Surprised, the ghost tries to move back, but is too overextended from dodging your arrow. Design presses his naked palm against the ghost’s chest and for a brief second, nothing happens. Suddenly the ghost gasps and his throat is torn asunder, blood shooting forward like a fountain. Design stands as the arrow in his throat falls out, the wound impossibly whole again. (Well) (Now i can lord it over him that i helped) Nodding gratefully to you, Design draws his soulsteel Daiklave and charges into the battle, pressing the ghosts against your bodyguards. The look on your oppoent's faces are frantic, they have suddenly been overwhelmed, and they know they will not last. (End of turn, 3 more baddies against your men and Design, you can't see how Crimson and Pain are faring) (init of 10 this time, Design beats you on init and hacks apart a single opponent ably,and now it's your turn) (boy having these rolls hidden does help keep things from getting cluttered) * Echoing_Words cracks his neck. "So, you should all die now. Again. Ha! Ha, you see, that was a joke you lackluster fops. Learn to appreciate combat humour in your next life." Echo snickers, tossing insults at his terrified foes as quickly as he tosses about his black barbed arrows. He finds 3 more targets, and proceeds to launch three extremely dark missiles in their directions. It must be sad to be them, for they can do nothing but watch death. The flurry of arrows finds but one mark. The sight of their comrade's surprised eyes and the essence arrow shaft sticking from his brow sends them into panic. The last too dive to avoid your arrows and do so capably. They do not, however, avoid the hacks and stabs of your men. All those that stood against you lay dead (well, deader, they were ghosts after all.) (5,2,1suc on attacks) “Bastards!” Design shouts at the corpses of the attackers. He turns to you and with an honest stare speaks to you for the first time, "Thank you my friend, I shall not forget your aid." With that he looks over to when Crimson and Pain were left along to fight ten of the ghosts. The sight is not as pleasant as it could have been. Pain is nearly covered in his own blood (for the blood of his attackers, the dead, is not bright red). Betrothed of Pain screams into the air as he grasps a ghost around the chest. Sqweezing, Pain's arms are enveloped in essence. A moment later, mingling in the sound of the anguished screams of the ghost, a breaking sound is heard and the ghost goes limp in Pain's arms. With a grunt Pain releases the ghost's body which flops to the ground. Pain spits on the corpse and ignore's Crimson's cry for help. (Ten ghosts..pfft...any good min/maxer could handle forty before they became a concern) Crimson is bloodied as well, and is standing against 3 ghosts, her soul steel katana extended out towards them. "Fine you dick, don't help." With that essence leaps from her body to her blade and she simply moves behind the ghosts. In a second, black blood pours from wounds on the ghost's bodies and they fall into a clump. * (Aye, 5 is easy, but if you are forced to spend all your actions dodging/parrying it can be tough) * Echoing_Words blinks. "Well, that was well done. Everyone ..reasonably alright?" Echo asks, looking his bodyguards over to ensure they can still do a decent job protecting him.* (Gonna need to cut soon...getting surprisingly sleepy) One of the bodyguards is bleeding pretty heavily from his right arm, but his fellows are helping him with some bandages. He gives you the thumbs up sign and smiles, proud of the work they all did today. Design seems remarkably fine for the injury he sustained. Pain is currently pulling the arrows from his armor and seems the most injured, but ignoring the wounds stoicly. Crimson seems to have only minor cuts. "What the hell was that about?" Crimson demands. As if on cue, one of the ghosts on the grounds moans, apparently he's not quite dead. * (we'll wrap it up in a minute now that combat is done) "How wonderful. Bring him here." Echo orders. His bodyguards quickly grab the man and cart him over, who probably groans again. "Answers, and quickly. I'm the only one here who is not going to kill you in a heartbeat, so if you'd like to survive for awhile longer, you probably want to speak to me. Understand? I could let you speak with him." Echo says, pointing at Pain. "Now I think we understand one another. Who do you work for? The ghost grunts, his unlife slipping away quickly from the gapping chest wound in his chest. With a cough he responds, "It doesn't matter much now, we will be free of your kind soon enough." With that he dramatically expires. You notice the necklace he is wearing has an odd symbol on it. It looks like a pentagram with a broken crown in the center.* * Echoing_Words sighs. "Lovely." With that he scoops up the pentagram, then groans. "I don't recognize the symbol in the least. Anyone else care to try, or shall we just run them all up on pikes as a warning and be done here?" Echo asks, his patience wearing thin. He hasn't had to defend his life many times before...apparently doing so now really irritated him.* Crimson looks over the necklace. “Odd, that looks like the symbol of the Rhalls.” The blank stares of her companions gives her cause to elaborate. “The Rhalls are a separatist group. They don’t like the Deathlords ruling the underworld and are pushing for some kind of ghostly utopia. They’re nuts and pretty stupid from the looks of things here. They’ve never tried anything this bold before though.” (did you asterix? i got some funny symbols) She shrugs, "Supposedly, their leader is a high level fellow in First and Forsaken's military ranks. Perhaps they know something we don't. But its obvious they knew we were coming." She leaves that unsettling thought without continuing. "I guess we should keep going, it'll be days before we reach our destination."* (just ", it doesn't copy/paste from word) (we can finish there for tonight) * Echoing_Words smirks. "Well then, lead the way madam." Echo does a flourish, then waves his guards to follow.* Okay, thus ends our episode of mindless fighting (okay) hahah you said ninjas attack! and lo, they did Next up, "Behemoths and bigger secrets" yep, the Rhalls are herre for that purpose and that purpose only. Disposable fights haha, cool alright, you know what...i'm very tired don't know why they suck big time, and their leader is an idiot, it should be good get some sleep then, i'll talk to you later hah, later