Session Start: Tue Sep 07 18:50:59 2004 Session Ident: #ethresh * Logging #ethresh to 'C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\Exalted\Abyssal_Sept_9_2004.Stratics' * Echoing_Words has joined #ethresh weee i started a kin/dark defender in coh btw Physics Man hah, nice though as i peruse the kinetics powerset...i see two powers that are keepers and one of them is getting nerfed which one? Fulcrum Shift the single greatest power on the earth that which makes 32 levels of kinetics defending worthwhile against crowds you are essentially buffing your entire team to the damage cap which, i believe, is 9999 wow but now it will only affect melee fighters ick *sigh* so somebody got the 32 eh? if they need to learn any one thing it's that not everyone plays a FUCKING BLASTER but the vast majority does especially at that level so at 32 you become especially useless cause no blaster will dare get close enough for the buff so you're not useless. Ever been laughed out of a group? It's a lot of godamned fun. or rather, you ARE useless sheesh as a non-healer defender it's pretty common to get turned away from most groups because they all think healing is the be all and the end all of defending. Force Fields are mocked horribly for having so few good powers rad defenders, while typically loved, are often mocked terribly for being ineffective healers kinetics is flat out ignored as defenders dark miasma is a cruel joke and storm summoning is fucking cool, but no one cares. They need healed. yep, but if they had a shield they wouldn't need healed... or if they were any good, they wouldn't need healed i know it's the most ludicrous thing in the world have you ever had 2 shields at the same time? omg you are invincible, entirely you are unstoppable yeah, why aren't ppl doing that? but even the most competent groups i've been with demand healers because they are fucking morons, that's why enervating field, a rad power...essentially makes you deal 150% damage to every target affected explain to me why that is worse than an empath who can heal you? If the enemy is dead, you will not take damage. That is a blasters frigging motto. i really need to stop reading the coh forums it's burning a hole into my soul hah would you like to get started? maybe we can finish up early sure Well, as you hopefully recall, the rules of combat got turned upside down when you were thrown into an alternate reality. This world is apparently controlled by the ghost Recluse, and here, he is king. Though apparently he's never fought an Abyssal before. (I am the Ubernaut) You have managed to tip the odds in your favor, but there is still the chance of defeat. Your oppoent is furious at your show of strength and is lashing out with everything, meanwhile, you fight for consciousness. So here we are, in the pitch black world of Recluse... "Fool! You foolish fool! Do you think you can best me? ME!" Recluse is shaking now, his finger outstretched towards you. "This is my world, here, you'll die!"* ('Fool, you foolish fool' being one of the better futurama quotes) * Echoing_Words winks at the enraged ghost. "Oh come on, we could have been friends you know. Instead you just want to die! Peculiar. But, since I'm such a nice person, I will help you die if that's what you want." Echo smiles. His arms begin growing into what can only be described as tentacles. New tentacles appear extending from his back. Each has an arrow tip, and soon the sheer number of wriggling tentacles threatening doom becomes oppressive. * Echoing_Words seems to understand this world, and he's showing it. This is a battle of the minds. To see who is crueler, to see who is more imaginative, more constructive. Echo has proven he is greater in every respect save for one- he has not proven his brilliance yet. Now seems to be the time. From the depths of the mass of inky, spear tipped tentacles, comes an ivory smile. Each tentacle lashes towards the Abyssals would be murderer. "This is my world now, Recluse. You are going to die here, not I." With that, the tentacles converge on Recluse with impecable speed.* Recluse gasps in horror as he sees the multitude of tentrils coming towards him. He manages to evade the first, then the second, but eventually the inevitable catches up with him and the barbed weapons pierce the ghoul with a shriek. (Amazing, Superbeast just started) (oh, you got 2 dice bonus for that one btw) (w00tz0rs) (hey, 2 is a ton when you figure you have an attack pool of 4 :) Recluse gurgles and lurches to his feet, not yet quite defeated. But he is sure as hell close. Growling, Recluse launches towards you, his one single thought bent at your destruction. Your show of force has drawn his attention away from maintaining this world it seems, because things begin to change. You feel them in the back of your mind - motes of essence, the very things that make up the core of your Exalted being - and the charms to go with them. (You may use your charms now, but here, as with your stats, mental and social charms have physical qualities. Use them as you will.)* (he attacks first, you may use charms to defend if you wish, or attack if you wish, still only 1 charm per turn though) (i'll judge the dice pools based on the charm/motes used) * Echoing_Words can't help but continue grinning like a madman. He is just so pleased with himself. This whole exaltation thing was still just coming into being not so long ago...but now Echo feels like a true member of this world. He can smell the essence of the Underworld he has apparently left behind. The smell is ashen and barren, some combination of dank rainwater and a deep fog. It smells perfect. Echo inhales, literally drawing in the stuff of death into his being. It resides there for but a moment. In the next second, the Echoing Words From the Darkness lives up to his namesake and spews forth what can only be described as maddeningly bizarre poetry in the real world. Here it is lethality given form. His words spin out of his mouth, each swirling towards their charging target like sounds given visible form. In flight they twist and distort, contract and expand. They become a directed hail of madness given shape. Human hands impaled by knives, crows with silver wings, an eye crackling with lightning...all these poetic metaphors become literal reality in this dubious place. The volley of poetry is more than just strange, it is lethal (Haunting Inflection Trick, 6 motes. 12 die enhancement) (an attack?) (Yes :D) (very well, in the current dice situation, that gives you 10 dice to attack - against his 3 to defend - if you are done describing I shall roll) (Awww, i don't get the 2 die/1 mote ratio? :D) (not like i won't obliterate him anyways, lol) (heh, don't worry about it, all dice at halved here because its just stats, not stats+skills) (ah, gotcha) Recluse weakly reaches out to scratch you, but your essence has formed a formidable skin against such intrusion... as for your attack... Recluse howls in pain and reaches to his head. For a split second you can see Recluse’s terrified face as his mind and literally this world crumple to pieces. And you are free. The feeling is like waking from a deep and pleasant dream. You almost don’t want to return to the real world of gravity, proportion, and to the other laws of nature. The darkness of the hall is relative, and you discover that your eyes are rather adapted to the icky blackness. Before you is the pile that was once the fearsome ghost Recluse. The black skinned ghoul simply lays and stares at the wall, babbling incoherently. (I can't believe i just killed a guy with metaphors) (Or at least killed his mind) The battle in Recluse’s nightmare dimension seems to have been in real time. Around lie the slowly dissipating bodies of ghosts. Several of which appear to be your men. There is no sign of the other Abyssals or of the other ghost Vin, but you hear a disturbance outside.* * Echoing_Words curses. This has taken away from his time here, apparently. Who knows what he has missed...truly an infuriating situation to be in. As for Recluse...well...he can sit, insane and fucked up beyond recognition for the rest of his days. It is a fitting punishment for daring to challenge an Abyssal, let alone the Echoing Words From the Darkness. Echo pushes his glasses onto the bridge of his nose and moves towards the exit. He takes note of his fallen guards and makes a mental note to request more when the time comes. For now he spills some essence into his right hand, crafting his majestic Power Bow, Azalgrial, from the Elsewhere of his mind. Ah Azalgrial...how he does enjoy the touch of his favored weapon. He shall enjoy using it to drain the very essence... from the other ghost who dares defy him.* In the relatively harsh daylight of the Underworld, the scene of a newly completed battle awaits you. A quick count of those standing reveals your party to be quite diminished. Crimson Tears of Regret is nowhere to be seen. The last living member of your bodyguard team is ‘mortally’ wounded on the ground besides a bloodied The Soul’s Twisted Design. Betrothed of Pain stands behind the others, laughing. He appears unharmed. The heavily armored Vin falls to a knee before Design and gasps as the pale Abyssal cleaves the warrior ghost in two from crotch to forehead. Design turns to face Pain, blood pours from a head wound. "You bastard!" He levels his Soulsteel Daiklave at the chuckling Abyssal.* (just to be clear, its Design who's bloodied and pointing his sword at Pain) (smells the smell of critical choices this way coming...) * Echoing_Words blinks. How -pleasent-. It would seem something has gone horribly, terribly awry. My goodness, how excellent. Now to be tactful. "What is going on here?" Echo asks, trying to sound displeased with the current situation. "Where is Crimson? Who was that ghost?" Echo adds, actually curious.* Design leaves his Daiklave leveled at Pain. "Echo! Thank the Labyrinth!" Pain looks at you and stops laughing abruptly. He adds without any tact at all. "Thought you were dead." He simply stares at you with hollow eyes. "Echo, you just disappeared, we thought you were dead. Then the other ghosts came at the beck of that brute Vin. You bodyguards and I fought, but this whore of a rat standing next to me didn't lift a finger."* * Echoing_Words chooses his words cautiously. "Design, where is Crimson? Is she alright?" He asks. Better to make himself sound compassionate for now.* Design blinks for a long second. "Crimson?" He turns his head. "But she was right here? Wasn't she?" He trails off and Pain laughs again. Pain adds, "She ran. She ran right up that road we came in on, some help she turned out to be." He spits on the ground. Your head is pounding and the desperate need for rest has not abated. (Your willpower is at 3 of 6 and will return gradually over the next few hours) Your faculties feel intact and all in all, you appear in better shape than those around you. Oddly enough, it suddenly occurs to you, that merely 20 ghosts answered Vin’s call to battle. There seem to be no more coming to aid their fallen comrades. The First and Forsaken Lion has certainly abandoned this place. Looking at Design, you notice the dead grass at his feet pealing back in horror, the Abyssal’s anima banner displaying fully. He must be exhausted. Pain on the other hand, looks like he could take on an army. Design whirls to face Pain again, "He was just waiting for us all to die!"* * Echoing_Words sighs. "Any retort to that statement, Pain? Or shall you be considered a coward by your circle? Speak now." Echo growls. He won't let this character bully anyone. The fool is far too stupid to be permitted to do such a thing. Either Pain is much smarter than he appears, or he is just as assumed- a bully without any concept of loss. He will taste death soon. Later, hopefully...it is doubtful that Design and Echo could defeat him.* Pain snorts, "You all are a bunch of pansy asses. Stupid glasses, big brains, and pretty faces. None of you have what it takes to complete this mission. _My_ Liege will have the prize the Lion seeks!" He unfolds his arms from his chest and puts one foot in front of the other, readying himself. "I don’t need any of you!"* * Echoing_Words rolls his eyes. "You truly are an idiot. You say you don't need us, eh? Then by all means, go. Leave, and watch as we trample you underfoot. That is no threat, it is a promise. Tell me, do you think yourself so great? So powerful? Are you so full of yourself that you do not even realize what waits for us in this trek? I remember you struck and bleeding terribly fighting a small force of assassins in those dark woods not so long ago (woods not so long ago) "So you think you'll someone surpass the untold number of atrocities the Lion can unleash upon you? Are you so pompous? Answer earnestly Pain, for I think you would do so anyways."* * ST has joined #ethresh (I just got disconned) (k( * ST is now known as Echo_W (You see my verbal attack?) (last I saw was woods not so long ago) * Echoing_Words has quit IRC (Read error: Connection reset by peer) (Damn) (ach) * Echo_W is now known as Echoing_Words (wonder what caused that) (Dunno) Pain pauses a second seriously considering your words. But they don't seem to have the affect you thought they would. Instead he laughs heartily. "See! I knew it, you won't fight. Cowards, don't try to convince me I'm weak. Take a look in a mirror sometime." With that he promptly drops his aggressive stance and walks past you into The Thousand, giving you a shove on the shoulder. He doesn't look back.* * Echoing_Words can't hide a smile. He's dead now. He could have asked for nothing better in this world. He will find Crimson, he will make a better ally of Design, and then they will kill Pain and become stronger for it. His death will make Echo a hero to his own teammates. "If you keep running away, you'll run right off the edge of the world someday." Echo smiles. "Something my half-brother said to me once." With that, Echo extends a hand to Des * (extends a hand to Des) Echo extends a hand to Design. * Design smiles and sheathes the Daiklave. "Good riddance." He says at the distant figure of Pain. He begins to say more before he is cut off by a tiny female voice. "That was interesting." She says. You can't tell where its coming from, but it's close.* * Echoing_Words smirks. "Crimson, come out and play. You know, for a second there I wasn't entirely sure you were going to help if he would've attacked us." Echo looks around curiously.* Some dead thorn bushes rattle slightly as someone stands up. "Well... maybe I gave you too much credit." She is most certainly not Crimson. Before is what appears to be no more than a 10 year old girl. She has plain straight black hair and a simple sleeveless dress. The flicker in her eyes and the rather oddly large broadsword at her side speak of her true nature. Amazing, you've met more Abyssals in the past 2 weeks than you thought existed. http://www.angelfire.com/creep/dp/shadow.jpg * Echoing_Words quirks a brow. "Curious. You are a new one...friend or foe? Or is that a stupid question?" Echo smiles, although he's really interested to know if she's here to kill them or to ...well...she's probably just here to kill them.* And just as abruptly as she reveals herself, she simply ignores your question and walks past you up the road you came in on. "Crimson went this way, after the old ghost." She walks several feet before turning he head back to the two of you, "Well, come on, we don't have all day." She continues up the road.* * Echoing_Words blinks. "Today has been an interesting day to say the least. Let's follow her." Echo grabs Design, and takes a look to see if his last ghostly guardian is capable of being moved, or receing any medical treatment.* In the time that has passed, the ghostly warrior has fallen. Perhaps he has embraced Lethe this time around, or perhaps his devotion to his Liege will hold him in this hellish realm. Either way, he's not here anymore. *receiving* (receiving?) (Just mispelled it) (ah) The tiny Abyssal is quickly moving away. She stops and turns back to both of you. "Look fellas, we can stand around later, lets get a move on. By the way, that bastard friend of your's almost blew my cover Echo. Man he's a big one." She begins to whistle as she walks, apparently entirely unconcerned with stealth.* * Echoing_Words sighs. "Right. Well, let's follow her to our inevitable doom...haha. Seriously though, keep an eye on her." Echo laughs to Design as they embark up the road. * Design doesn't seem pleased. "But she's not part of the Council!" He whispers and grudgingly follows you. The girl replies, "Ah, yes. That Council. Boy that was a big mistake. Nothing like putting a dozen huge egos in one place and hoping they'll trust one anyother. Look around boys, you've been betrayed twice and you don't even know what you're looking for yet." She pauses, "Ah, here he is." Before her is the prostate body of the young-looking elder ghost that stormed out of the Lion's service several minutes ago. He seems quite maimed and entirely dead (again). The girl leans down and examines the dead ghost's jaw and stands. "Hrm, the corpse was forced to talk. Crimson must know something."* (hrm, prostate and prostrate are too very different words aren't they?) (yes, yes they are) * Echoing_Words pushes his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. "Right. And what, exactly, would he know? Do I have any reason to be following you except for curiousities sake?" Echo asks, seeing his only remaining circlemates trust in him failing.* "For one thing this gentleman here," She gives the corpse a kick, "Said he knew what the Lion took with him. I assume whatever he took would help him find this 'Void' thing we're looking for. So, the question isn't what he told Crimson, its where she's going. Fifty Dinares says she's going to get the same thing the Lion took with him." (brb, cat) She points to the woods. "See the trail, she went west, right to The Hessian Woods. That's your Liege's stomping grounds isn't it Echo? His favorite Villa lies in that shadowland doesn't it?" She pauses, "Hey, isn't that where he keeps that hunk of junk the Banestone?" She looks at you.* * Echoing_Words looks right back at her quizically. "I have no idea. Tell me something, why are you doing this? Helping us, as it would seem?" Echo asks, and stands fast. Design appears to baffled to speak anymore, leaving Echo to refute to seemingly well-timed help from whatever divine forces are at work. Echo is skeptical to say the least.* "Help? Hah, Pain was a fool. He figured if you would die or he would kill you, glory would he his. But you were right Echo, he can't do this great task by himself. So, like you, I need help. Then I'll kill you. I assume you'll do the same and it'll all work out." The way she so matter of factly makes the statement reminds you of yourself. "This Banestone you obviously haven't heard of, is one of the great jokes of the Underworld." "It isn't particularly good looking, and it doesn't do a damn thing essence wise. But they are rare. Very rare. They come from the core of the Labyrinth close to the Abyss. Some Deathlords keep it as a jewel, but most don't care about them. Dumb rocks they are." She cocks her head. "But you know, the Lion had one, and so does the Bodhisstva in his Villa. Hey, maybe I'm wrong. Lets go see." She forgets to mention that this section of the Underworld is amoung the most dangerous. It is a jungle the likes of which Creation would think not possible. The horrors in its dank reaches are unfathamable. She walks straight into the woods. "Only 700 miles to go. Don't worry, we'll take the Labyrinth." Great.* "You are fucking insane." Echo says in his internal monologue. A pity he says it out loud too. "I think I'm in love with her." Echo adds before dragging Design along behind him as he follows her like a puppy. Her bold honesty is...refreshing, if terrifying.* (We can end there for the night if you wish, it is a good spot.) (k) that's why I made her 10, there'll be no love in my campaigns! bah! (let me link you to a pretty decent flash movie. Just remembered this.) hahaha but...we're abyssals you have unleashed a terrible thing unto the world tonight dave hrm.... well... It is based on japanese games.... hrm if you touch her, she'll kill you, how's that? fair enough plus once you get to your liege's villa you can spend your xp and rest a bit get some new bodyguards, the works. trick is getting there w00t http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view.php?id=101724 this is the first of a series of flashes by this dude, very nice work At least you made a friend of Design, they were all going to be against you at first. glad you warmed up to one haha to get to the sequels, click on the creators profile in the left hand of the screen. In the profile you can see his other flash movies, and it'll link you to them. It has Alien Reports I,II,III and IV cool, thanks I'll be on AIM if you need me, later * Disconnected Session Close: Tue Sep 07 20:50:59 2004