Session Start: Tue Sep 21 18:17:21 2004 Session Ident: #ethresh * Logging #ethresh to 'C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\Exalted\Abyssal\Logs\AB-09-21-2004.Stratics' * Echoing_Words has joined #ethresh Hmmm Hmmm? i ponder my options for this session oh yes, and I tried the respec task force in CoH and wow is it hard hah, yeah I tried the cape mission also a toughie haven't actually beaten the cape mission(s) yet heh, me neither. I've only tried once for myself, but i've been on 3 total only succeeded once *sob* and it wasn't mine! ouch I'm thinking I'll take the mission now at lvl 22, then maybe got back with a bigger team and get it i only don't try the cape mission cause Eidolon would look dumb with a cape, heh yeah, I spent 30K influence to redo Johnny's outfit so a cape would look good a big team should have no real problems the TV task force, however, demands a huge team (We had 8) and you still fight for your life ever fight seven purple bosses alone just to draw fire away from your teammates? Well, probably since you're a tank. geez well... not 7 5's my limit thank you very much heh i've been tooling around with various different respec options too just copy your character over to the test server after accomplishing respec, and there ya go. without ever messing up your char you can basically try ANY combo from your powersets hmmm interesting, how do you transfer to the test server? it's real easy, you just go to the forums, in the test server forum the first post is about a character copy tool just click that link, and go from there ya only need to sign in, choose your server, then copy whichever chars ya want. the test server itself, however, requires a pretty big ass download to use. neat. so do the repsec task force, copy over and repec over and over until you get something you like exactly my last attempt was pretty fucking outstanding i used what i use now, except with stamina and hasten i actually herded! ah yes, i've heard of that. 6 slot stamina and use hasten a ton or was herding, whatever you want to say today some people where complaining that stamina got nuked 6 slot hasten to get perma-hasten weird, i noticed that end costs had been reduced or stamina regen increased in the new issue I think I might just multi-slot consume with quick enhancers if I can use it once or twice a fight, its unlimited end that's amazing for a tank yeah, it helps i'd still highly reccommend getting stamina- it can only help heh, have you seen my most recent creation? hah, hilariously i didn't think i'd get this far with this character, so when I picked his power sets i didn't even look at the ending powers... I don't much like them :( no for some reason i decided i would make a broadsword/dark armor char named The Antipaladin a magic scrapper and lemme tell ya, the guy is really quite friggin cool at level 5 for craps sake hah it's funny cause the build is destined to fail broadsword and dark armor share a common weakness- high endurance drain plus broadsword is hardly the AOE champ Dark Armor is meant to supplement. Still...he's the Antipaladin! very cool I'm surprised the name wasn't taken you should see a pic, his costume turned out really well sure, sent it to me i know, that in and of itself makes me want to keep playing him *send hmm, coh is being bishy lemme exit mIRC and return right quick, need to reboot * Echoing_Words has quit IRC (Quit: ) * Echoing_Words has joined #ethresh hrm well, i got a pair of screenshots...turns out i have some kickass screenshots too nice i have a great one from Terra Volta too with a well timed spine burst i got like 9 sky raiders in this circle around me all on the ground, heh cool wtf?! WTF! IGN are the worst kinds of bastards taking awhile to download I stopped my torrents, maybe it will work better now yeah heh, i still have two going IGN? what did they do now? plus kazaa on the front page of the PS2 section is a gigantic picture of HALO 2 saying "No, we're not kidding" right. what's wrong with that? well then it says "No, HALO 2 isn't coming to PS2." hahahahahhaha "We just made it look that way to get your attention" i think i might cry soon much as i'd like to say HALO 2 isn't some killer game, i know that's not true it's going to be amazing hm, you have to resend those connect failed weird i don't get the sluggish speeds .21 kb/sec.... nice just email them to me later As I recall, you had a decision to make... yes A) Put up your dukes, B) Evacuate and C) Chase down a hooker if i remember correctly Or anything else you can imagine. Remember this is your world. Kinda Or more to the point, it's your character, do with him as you please the world will react i choose D BAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH! go for it, if you need any more imformation... Graven coughs lightly and looks at you, "Well...?"* * Echoing_Words smirks. "Get your people out of here the fastest way you can. We will stall them to the best of our ability." Echo says confidently. "I need to know where the enemy is encamped as well, and perhaps some horses to get us there quickly." Still holding his wry smile, Echo adds, "Now. If you please."* General Graven pauses and second with a shocked look on his face. He begins a broad smile after thinking it over, "Of course. There are encamped due north, just within the perimeter of the shadowlands. You can get there on horseback within the hour." He motions for someone to get horses for all of you. The Shadow's Clever Feint looks at you quizzically. "We? Hah, you sure think a lot of yourself, ordering me around." She crosses her arms and looks smug, "But, we do have a duty to the Bodhissvta's loyal subjects, even if it does mean abandoning his favorite hang-out." The Soul's Twisted Design simply nods in agreement. Graven looks at you intently. "I don't know what you have planned, but we'll need at least an hour to move safely away and into the Labyrinth corridors. From there, they will not find us."* (wow, lost count of my misspellingss (grr) on the first paragraph alone. Good luck tonight) (shoot, phone, one sec) (back) * Echoing_Words nods. "Your men won't be harried. Do make best speed though Graven." Echo turns away, looking to find the horses promised to him just a moment ago. "Oh yes, and Graven? I need a flag." Echo then motions for Design and Shadow to follow him into the main courtyard, from which he shall make his heroic departure.* (Oops, no * yet) (I got more to say) * Echoing_Words walks out into the courtyard standing tall. He loves it. In their time of need they have come to him for help...how excellent. When he was but a man non of this would have been possible. He would've been wounded or dead...waiting for the Lions inevitable calvalry charge. Now...now he could change things. The palpable sensation of power was enough to make his mouth water. "Shadow, I require clean, white bandages. Bring me as many as you can find as quickly as you can please."* She looks at you in awe, taking in your new confidence. Of course you've always been confident, it's just that at this moment, it appears as though you are going to do something noteworthy. She rushes off. Design takes the moment to lean in close to you and whisper, "What in the Void are you planning Echo?"* "I plan to surrender to the best of my ability. We'll go from there." Echo smiles before he pushes his glasses back up onto the bridge of his nose. Conspiracies flutter like butterflies behind his perfect emerald eyes. Still new to his powers, Echo could be making the worst error of his second life. Perhaps he'll lose it, and take Design and Shadow to the void with him. Or, perhaps having a little faith in his maddening ability to deceive will pay off.* Design's mouth hangs open. His mind, usually rushing with details of lore and magic, is now silent, unable to process this development. "Okay." He states plainly. Shadow returns in second with the bandages and three healthy looking horses. (I should make a good epic music playlist for times like these) Healthy looking is an odd way to put it. But in a shadowland, good living animals are hard to find. These wouldn't sell for 2 bits in Creation, but you're not in Creation, not quite anyway. Shadow saddles up and trots off north without looking back, "You'd better have a good plan bud."* * Echoing_Words saddles up as well, taking the flag of the Bodhissatva from one of the soldiers that have gathered on short notice to watch their departure. "I shall take this flag...this flag of our great Liege...and I shall see it flying strong again! We have nothing to fear from these fools! I shall go forth with just this flag, and our enemies shall tremble!" With that, Echo points the flag towards the sky, and takes off at full speed, north (full speed, north ) northward. (*?) * Echoing_Words continues waving the flag up high until he is out of sight of the villas defenses, at which time he lowers the flag to his side and pops his usual wry smirk.* You've know her just long enough to know that Shadow rolled her eyes at that comment. Design still stares in amazement, but follows dutifully. As you travel, you realize the woods must have been magnificent at one time. Beautiful dead trees, mosses, fungus, and all manner of rustling things best left unseen. Now it is a wreck. If this were a battle in Creation, the fallen soldiers would be busy oozing their fluids into the soil and staring in amazement at the sky with dead eyes. Here though, the ghosts that fought and fell have largely faded away. Death in the underworld is such an oddity. For centuries scholars sought the answer. It is now commonly known that a ghost is nothing more than a series of desires. Pure willpower, so to speak. His physical being is mere concentration. When the body fails due to injury and the mind is shattered (to face the choice: remain a Ghost, claim Lethe, or fall into the Abyss), the body fades away, the concentration broken. Now the field is largely just a graveyard for discarded weapons of war. Worn suits of armor, and broken swords are too numerous to count. You see several items made from jade amongst the debris. It would have been marvelous to see the battle that was fought here. (you are heading right up the road all the way to the camp, right?) (Eh, gimme a pose before we get there) (just didn't want to pose you being attacked or something if you planned on sneaking in) As it was you’re off to the enemy camp for some insane attempt to save the troops at the Villa. Less than an hour later you find yourself staring at no less than twenty war ghosts in light armor. Half are pointing loaded bows at you and the others have spear leveled at you. The one you assume to be the commander (he’s bigger) stares at your make-shift peace flag and exclaims, "What do you want?" (*?) * (sorry * Echoing_Words shows the white flag with a smile. "I have come to surrender the villa just south of here in the name of my lord, the Bodhissatva Annointed in Dark Waters. Take me to your general to discuss the terms of surrender." Echo says casually.* The commander's mouth hangs open for a moment. He replies lamely, "Are you serious?" (rolling your social + manipulation) (Plus two for artifact bonus! w00t) (Manipulation is at +2 dice when trying to get people to do what i want) (nice) (7 successes, he takes you for full blown ambassadors sent on a mission from God himself. he doesn't even seem to realize you are exalts... yet) (I am t3h Ubernaut) With a harsh voice he shouts to the men around him, nearly blasting them off their feet, "You heard the man! Get moving you good for nothing slug shits! See to their horses!" He bows nearly to the ground and waves you forward. "Please, dismount and follow me." He walks proudly off towards one of the larger tents. In a moment you are standing inside the tent. "Captain Thein, some emessaries to see you sir." Captain Thein is a rugged looking zombie of considerable age. His left eye in missing and his skin and so shriveled is looks like bark. Most of his teeth are missing and you can't mistake that wonderful aroma 'zombie'. Two other zombies of considerably less intelligence stand to either side of him, slack jawed and motionless. The room is still for a second while the Captain's single eye laboriously takes in the new arrivals. With a shriek he throws his hands into the air and wheezes, "You idiot! Who-what? who are they!?"* * Echoing_Words nods and does as the man asks, dismounting and following the man to his commanders tent to negotiate surrender. "Captain Thein is it? I am the Echoing Words From the Darkness, it is a pleasure to meet you I am the personal Envoy of the Bodhissatva. These are my compatriots, Shadow and Design." Largely kicking the question of their identities to the wayside, Echo continues, "Before we proceed Captain, protocol dictates I must ask if you are indeed the man leading this force under the First and Forsaken Lion?"* (grrr, lost a period up there) Thein's arms remain in the air in an awkward position. He glances left and right, realizing that his imbecilic junior officer let three (three!?!) Abyssal Exalted into this tent and he now has only two pathetic zombies to protect himself. (He has decided the junior officer is useless and ignores him). The larger ghost that let you in bows slighty and leaves the tent without a word. Once again the zombie captain gives an odd shriek/wheeze and drops his arms in frustration. "Yeah, that's me bub," He point a thumb at his chest, "I run this place ya hear? Me. Crimson Claws we are and we'll be taking that Villa of yours. Like it or not." He stops matter of factly and grins. You swear some of the skin on his cheek flakes off from the effort.* * Echoing_Words smiles at the hideous zombie Captain. Hard-headed and stubborn. He would be perfect. "Indeed. I have come to negotiate the surrender of said Villa. Isn't that exactly what you want?" Echo asks, his emerald eyes oozing essence, his tongue dripping with the invisible stuff. "Surely that is -precisely- what your Liege demands.." (Bauble of Addictive Tongue activated)* (he failed the roll...) (You mean he's addicted?) "Well, yeah, that's right." He says, suddenly interested in the converstation more than security measures. "Well - uh - what do you offer?"* (yeah, he has to talk to you now) (So...many...options) * Echoing_Words smiles. "Well, simply, we are offering full access to the Villa, if that is desired. Is it so desired?" Echo asks.* (rolling manipulation + presence (+2) to determine your persuasiveness) (5 successes vs. his 5 successes on a willpower roll, believe it or not, you are on even footing for negotiations... for now) He leans forward slyly, creaking as he does so. "Yes, that's why we're here. We claim the Villa, everything within, and the surrounding land. That includes this shadowland mind you."* * Echoing_Words nods quietly, then stands. The inside of the tent grows a bit darker as Echo points to one of the guards. "You there, fetch a map of this area, we shall need it." Echo then turns his attention back to Captain Thein. Echos eyes appear even more startling than usual, and exude unholy power. (Elegant Tyrants Majesty, 6 motes- one hour duration. Adds +3 to all Bureaucracy, presence and performance rolls)* (oh *, missed that, sorry) Captain Thein leans back in his chair and motions to the zombie guard. Apparently Thein is the only one who can orders these undead around. He seems to shrink back slightly at your aura, which is almost imperceptable. "What did you have in mind?" The zombie returns with a map in a moment. Laid out before you is a map of the area. Near the center is the Villa. A crude mark denotes the area of the camp and you notice that the Labyrinth entrance is not noted.* * Echoing_Words takes a careful look at the map, and then sighs. "Honestly Captain, the Villa is, by all measure of military might, yours for the taking. However, bearing in mind the cordial agreements our Lieges have made in the past, it seems foolish to allow you to simply siege the Villa to the ground. Which is why I am here- to invite you and your men to stay at the Villa." Echo offers.* "Eh?" He hesitates slightly. "I don't think you know this lad, but whatever cordial arraingments may have been made in the past are unmade as of next week." He pauses, not entirely sure of what he just said. "Uh, lets just say that Bodhissvata ain't going to be friend with The First and Forsaken Lion for much longer." He snickers slightly. "So, we stay in the Villa? No fight? Hmmm. Sounds like a full surrender to me, and thats just what I plan on getting." He looks at your eyes and shies away slightly, "Mind you the troops their will have to swear an oath to the Lion and renounce dark waters. And the higher officers have to be killed." He shrugs, "Policy."* * Echoing_Words nods. "Oh certainly. However, know that the Villa is completely abandoned at the moment as per my specific instructions. However...indulge my curiosity for just a moment if you will. Why, do you think, that such a cordial agreement cannot exist past next week? Surely you think more of your Liege. He is far too wise to permit such nonesense to drive a wedge between himself and his fellow Deathlords." Echo asks.* Thein winces slighty, but under your looming visage submits. "Well, don't many people know this I guess. But I do." He cackles gleefully. "The Lion's gonna take Fell Harbor!" Behind you Shadow gasps. Inside you feel your stomach twist. Fell Harbor is the Bodhissatva's primary port on the main continent of the Underworld. Located near the Creation city of Blue Haven (southwestish of the Realm, west of gem on the coast) it is your Liege's second largest city and center of power for the entire south. It also is adjacent to a massive shadowland. This shadowland, Crimson Waterfalls, which besides other things is home to your manse, is probably the Bodhissatva's primary means of dealing with creation. It's lose would set back the Deathlord centuries.* * Echoing_Words takes the information in stride. Yes, it's sickening to hear, but the only way to deal with it is to press forward with these negotiations. "Fell Harbor eh? Interesting. I can only assume that this strike force is but one of many positioning themselves around the Harbor then. After all, your men, though mighty, could not possibly defeat the armada and her marines." Echo says, trying his best to remain at least -sounding- neutral. (btw, the soundtrack to Requiem For A Dream might be the perfect Abyssal music source) "Eh? My men, no no. We're just to take the Villa. Kinda of an after thought it seems. No, the reason I don't mind telling you is there is nothing much you can do about it. Walking on Laughter is leading the entire Sanguine army there right now. I doubt even the Realm could turn back a force like that." He smiles smugly. "You're making the right decision - Echo, was it? Join the Lion now. There is little choice."* * Echoing_Words smiles. "There are -always- choices. So I have to wonder, how long have you been in the service of the Lion, Captain Thein?" Echo asks, carefully looking over the zombies uniform for any clues to his weaknesses. After all, a medal is another story for Thein to tell, and another minute of his time may be all Echo needs.* Captain Thein has little in the way of a military uniform. At least any you recognize. What you assume to be his rank and title is emblazened on a red sash he wears over his shoulder (Worf style). His clothes are a simple cut and bear no markings. The zombies to either side of him wear light, rotting clothing. They have a spark of intelligence, but not much. "Look Echo, I'can see you want ta get out of this mess. I understand. Let me help you bud. Lets you and me and some of the Crimson Claws head back to the Villa right now and get this settled." Before he can add anything else and strong woman's voice booms outside. You can quite tell what it is saying, but you're certain she's pissed. With a flutter, the tent's flaps open and a middle aged woman with a stocky build and odd tattoos enters. She appears mortal, and at the sight of the three of you is entirely aghast. "Thein! What did you tell them?" She shrieks. The captain waves dismissively, "Nothing woman, be still. I didn't mention the Banestone or nothin'. Side down and shut up, they just surrendered." (I would like to mention i need sleep real bad tonight, so anytime we can stop would be good) A voice wafts in from outside the tent, it is male, and oddly haunting. "Mistress. The survivors are fleeing to an underground tunnel, perhaps an off-shoot of the Labyrinth." With that the woman's eyes go wide. (yeah, coming up on that now) She screams, "Thein you fool! Guards!" Thein stands up and points at the dark haired woman, "Silent!" (rolling your manipulation + presence vs his conviction + willpower) ( you succeed by 2...) (woo) Thein continues, "I've had enough of your gibberish woman, -I- am in command here, not you! Guards!!" With that the sounds of dozens, if not hundreds of footsteps can be heard outside. Lined up clearly on one side are the war ghosts and the woman, the other with a multitude of zombies and Thein on the other. You are in between. Oh crap. (and we'll end there I think) (haha, always messing up my plans) (btw, 300 war ghosts and 800 zombies. Fighting them would have gone poorly at best, but you might have survived.) (not neccessarily, Thein seems taken with you.) (I figured since we had the option of holding the villa i could take some time off, use some xp and ingratiate myself into the army) you still might have that chance (Still may, depending on how this works out. This is, after all, a world all to myself...baahahahahahahaahah!) hah, true. Session Close: Tue Sep 21 21:23:44 2004