Session Start: Tue Oct 12 19:53:12 2004 Session Ident: #ethresh * Logging #ethresh to 'C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\Exalted\Abyssal\Logs\AB-10-12-2004.BeyondIRC' * Echoing_Words smiles. "No frets, good Captain. I doubt many men, zombie or ghost, can claim to be as great a commander as you. Your secret is safe with me." Echo nods a bit, then pushes his glasses back onto his brow. "I didn't come just to barge in you, however. I feel it is time for you and your men to leave the villa. The Bodhissatva will, no doubt come in full force. Wouldn't you rather face him in a charge rather than in a year long sieg (year long sieg) siege?"* Thein shakes his head and stands up. "No, we can't have that." He looks at you for a moment before speaking softly. "I think I have a solution though. Me and the boys been givin it some thought. We ain't never been treated as well with Lion as you've treated us here." He looks at the ground shyly. "And we think maybe we're on tha wrong side of this war. I mean, you know... if you lead us and introduce us to the Bodhissatva, he can treat us better right?"* * Echoing_Words beams brightly. He could not have possibly asked for a better outcome. General Graven is, no doubt, licking his wounds and sending endless thanks to the Bodhissatva for Echos valiant aid...and now over a thousand of the Lions prized warriors will turn and fight for the Bodhissatva. It felt too good to be true, which is precisely why it was indeed true. "Are you sure about this Captain?" He nods in excitement, happy that you seem to be agreeable. "Yes sir!" The look of admiration on his face is similar to the one you've been seeing for days now. Each war ghost is smitten with you and couldn't think about raising a hand against you in battle. Besides, what has the Lion done for them lately? He sent them on a lame mission to claim a pleasure mansion while the other troops got to pillage cities and fight epic battles. While for you, avoiding conflict and getting your fingernails clipped is great, for zombies and war ghosts, battle is the best vacation. It's what they exist for. (Whats the name of the Bodhissatvas port city?) (Fell Harbor) "So, if you'll be having us commander, what is your first order?"* (if you interested in more complete stats on your new troops, just ask) (I am interested in more complete stats on my new troops) (very well...) (You have 300 hundred war ghosts with medium armor and medium weaponry - poleaxes, chopping swords, javelins - they have target shields and reinforced armor, you have three ghostly majordomos who each lead 100 troops) (You have 800 zombies of the reliable variety. Though Thein may not seem it, he has a way with zombies and has given all 800 an extra spark of intelligence. They can follow simple orders - 'March that way and kill everything' etc - You have a number of higher than normal intelligence zombies that serve as handlers and servants for Thein) (Good stuff) (The downside is all 800 zombies are linked to Thein, if he dies, their intelligence goes with him, and they will simply attack everything in their path until tamed or destroyed. They are unarmored and unarmed, though Thein and the handlers have light weapons and armor) (all told is it a light expeditionary force. Meant to move quickly and out manuver the enemy. The ghosts are diciplined - valor 3 - but are inexperienced - no combat charms to speak of - anything else you'd like to know?) (Nah) (we will be using the player's guide style for massed combat, so before a big battle - I'll tell you well ahead of time - you'll want to study it) * Echoing_Words pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "Well, I suppose that concludes our negotiations then! Hahaha, outstanding! I shall see to it personally that your men are given the utmost in accomodations when we arrive in Fell Harbor. I want the word spread- we are to leave at once. I wouldn't want the Bodhissatva to attack us out of confusion, so we must leave these premises as soon as possible." Echo smirks. * Echoing_Words waves briskly. "Well then...if i am to command...I will need an XO and you most certainly are it. I trust my circlemates, but you have command experience. By all means, give me your wisdom and strength in battle, for I will need both if we are all to succeed. For now I must go meet my circlemates and discuss this turn of events." Echo quickly turns and walks out. He has a lot to talk about.* Both Design and Shadow are talking quietly outside near the buildings. They notice your approach and nod. In their field of view is the black-armored ghost who is still sitting patiently in a nearby clearing. Design looks at you seriously, "Echo, we need a plan. Shadow tried to sneak around that Ninth dude and he just watched her the entire way, I think he might have a method of seeing essence, but I'm not certain." He sighs and Shadow nods to him to continue, "And I've had enough time to get a feeling for his aura. Echo, he's easily packing more essence than any one of us." Shadow interjects, "But he's still just a ghost, right? I mean, how powerful could he be?" They both look at you.* * Echoing_Words shrugs. "I'm no sorcerer nor any tactician. If he intends to fight us, I don't see any way we can get around doing so. We can't outrun him with an army at our sides and I doubt the other ghosts can contribute much to the fight." Echo sighs. "I doubt he's quite strong enough to pose a true threat to -three- Exalts. Let me try to talk him down, but in the meantime make preparations for a battle." (*?) * Echoing_Words gives the pair a quick nod and grins. "If he tries to kill me, stop him." Echo then eyes his would be slayer and begins a swift walk out towards him. "Hello there! I see you've kept your end of the bargain..I am not dead, and you are still waiting for us! Should I be pleased?" Echo yells to Ninth, still walking towards the black ghost.* The armored ghost sits perfectly still, his golden spear resting across his lap. "Feel as you please." He does not elaborate. You are closer now to him than you ever have been and you think you notice something odd... (rolling percep + awareness) (5 dice, 4 successes) you suddenly realize that the armored ghost is not quite what he seems. He is actually... just armor. There is nothing within at all.* (bathroom) * Echoing_Words stares at the strange creature curiously. "So you have said that you wish to destroy us. May I ask why? I would not normally seek conversation with such a stalwart foe, but you interest me awfully I'm afraid. Are you an agent of the Lion, perhaps?" Echo asks, folding his arms across his chest. (back) Just then Echos chest becomes dar and grey, and then ripples as if his armor and flesh were but a pond hit by rainfall. His entire being becomes shadowy and his movements that of darkness fleeing the light. (Incomparable Phantom Form, 5 motes 1 wp) * *dark and grey The voice echos, or maybe it is just your imagination knowing that it there is no mouth to speak. "I am the agent of no Deathlord. I am the agent of Time itself. Change is coming to these lands, and the tainted essences of the Solars will no longer be allowed to desecrate our realm." He does not seem to react to your charm, obvious though it may be.* * Echoing_Words rubs his chin with his artifact hand. "Interesting. So you're just averse to death incarnate, for that is precisely what I am. I must ask- are you the only agent of Time? Or perhaps there are many of you." Echo asks, honestly curious.* "There are four seasons in the Underworld Calendar. Recalibration, Foundation, Sowing, and Harvest. In each there are 100 days. I am Ninth of Recalibration, and if I fall today, you shall die later by my brother’s and sister’s hands." He stands in one fluid motion and holds his golden spear at his side idely. He doesn't seem aggressive so much as emphasising his point. "Death incarnate is not death itself. Not in my master's eyes. The underworld will become pure. One race. One God. One destiny. You are still a child of the Unconquered Sun. In the coming days, all Deathlords and Abyssals shall be whiped from existence."* * Echoing_Words smiles. "So what is this one race, eh? Or this one god? Surely you have no problem explaining these things to me...after all, I will be dead soon, right?"* The thing almost seems to smile, "Yes. But others may not. Too much is dependent on secrecy now. Know that I am the ninth Shackled Husk, the ninth strongest of my bretheren. We do not die easily." He shifts his wieght and looks behind you where your new found troops are amassing to move out. "You choose to send them all to their deaths against me? So be it." He takes a step back and levels his spear at you, but does not attack."* * Echoing_Words shakes his head. "No, no I won't send them to die against you. That's foolish. I can kill you just fine with the help of my circlemates. Don't think I underestimate you and your power. We've been watching you too." Echo lies. He knows nothing of the armored ones potential, but what is villainy if not a series of bluffs and successes? * Echoing_Words looks to the villa. "Design, Shadow! I have need of you! We are to engage and kill this cretin where he stands!" Echo yells, making sure to be loud enough for the troops to hear. Perhaps they will get a kick out of watching this poor old armored automaton fall.* Indeed they seem to. With their new alligence to you, the war ghosts are more than happy to cheer you on and prove that they picked the best side in this war. To them the Shackled Husk is the last trooper loyal to the Lion. Design and Shadow run to your side and a crowd forms at a safe distance around you, entirely circling the group of exalts. (You have about 100 yards from the center of the circle going in any direction, then there is a fall of war ghosts. There are a couple of trees just outside the 'ring', but none within. The ground is flat and covered with dead grass.) (ok, here's how it goes...) (You have _full_ control of Echo and Design, I have Shadow and Ninth. This will all be rolled, so you might win easily or you may be defeated... I don't know. You won't die at least, but the result of failure will be less than good.) (eer, there is a WALL of war ghosts, - not a fall of war ghosts -) (you can't see the rolls so I'll tell you the number of dice being rolled and the successes, correct me if I'm wrong on your dice) (Design's character sheet is at...) http://www.angelfire.com/creep/dp/Design.JPG (You, Design, and shadow are 50 yards from Ninth... any questions?) (Nah) (very well, first turn...) (init..) (order: Shadow, Design, Echo, Ninth) Shadow grins, eager for some action. "Man I've been waiting awhile for this." Her small frame houses amazing agility, but she holds back from getting ahead of Design and engaging the monster one-on-one... for now. (Sprints 30 yards towards Ninth)* (for this at least - I don't feel like looking up the exact calcs- shadow and you can sprint 30 yards if its your full action, design and ninth can go 25) Design cracks his knuckles. It's been some time since he was in a good fight and dammit, it's about time for one. He draws his soulsteel daiklave and charges towards Ninth in a fashion similar to Shadow. His armor clacks and clatters as he quickly attempts to close the gap. (25 yard sprint towards Ninth) * Echoing_Words summons his powerbow into his artifact hand. Though largely ambidextrous, for now he'll use his mortal hand to do the arrow summoning and drawing of the bow. He does just that. A target arrow forged from a globule of black essence drops down into his hand like a chunk of melting hail. Its form solidifies, and Echo takes aim. He looses the target arrow quickly, hoping that perhaps it will be effective against the black armored fi (the black armored fi) armored fiend.* (Ninth makes no move to defend. rolling 12 attack dice) (eer, 13, sorry forgot spec) (Lemme check on that quick) (Hmm...yeah..that's right) (7 successes...) (Yarr) (you do 6 base damage + 6 extras success damage for a total of 12 against his halved armor of 7L; 5 damage dice, nice) (2 successful health damages) (That was a pretty amazingly average roll) (7 successes out of 12 rolled. 2 successes out of 5 rolled) Ninth stands firm against the onslaught. The mighty essence arrow plunges into his upperchest, ripping a horrific chuck of his body away. He seems unfazed and continues to stand. (hah, yeah. no complaints yet. wait til the bastard rolls perfect attacks or something :) Ninth steadies himself, but does not budge. "Your arrows are most... irritating Echoing Words of the Darkness. Perhaps we shall give you something else to think about..." With that he raises a gauntlet and points a finger at you. (Choking Terror: 5 motes) (rolling your stamina + resistance, an amazing 2 dice) (no successes....) (Yeah, sons of a bitches) To Echo: You suddenly feel... off. Then in an instant of pain you grab for your throat as if choking on acid. Your mind races, your vision dims, and you cannot possible think of anything else except panic. (You cannot act until you shake this charm by rolling stamina+res on you next init or until you've been stunned a number of turns equal to Ninth's essence, which is 3 by the way) (Wunderbar) (also, the first roll was difficulty 1, then next will be 2, and so on.) (Turn 2... rolling init) (Design, Shadow, Echo, Ninth) (You want design to run this whole turn? It's 25 more yards to him, and 25 yards sprinting maximum for him.) (Its up to you, he's your character. He can split it or use his crypt bolt or whatever. But he can't really run and then attack effectively this turn) Design continues sprinting towards Ninth, his armor still tugging at him as he charges. With a valiant war cray the Abyssal closes the gap with Daiklave drawn and prepares to launch an attack against this dangerous foe.* Shadow turns in alarm to see Echo choking on nothing. Realizing instantly that it is some foul charm she shouts out. Slamming a foot into the ground she launches herself into the air towards Ninth. With a flourish and a spin, she comes down on the armored being with a vengeance. (Spider Pounce, 1 mote) (12 attack dice, 6 successes) (Go! Go! Go! Go!) Ninth shys away from the attack, unwilling to give up more of this armored flesh so easily. (Full dodge, 8 dice) (4 successes on ninth's dodge) (1 xtra success for 10L damage vs his 15L soak, rolling 1 damage) (botch) Ninth snickers as the blow slides off his shoulder and onto the ground.* (Echo rolls resis + stamina, 2 dice... 1 success for a failure, he continues choking for 1 more turn at least) (Ninth has already used his action for the turn by aborting to a full dodge... next turn, rolling init) (Ninth, Design, Shadow, Echo) Ninth once again doesn't raise his spear to attack, rather he grunts and puts both arms outward. With a shreak, a black gas hisses from his armor, quickly filling the area around him. (8 motes, Black Breath of the Abyss, anyone in its radius of 10 yards is a -2 successes to any attacks)* (brb) Design roars and cuts through the black stuff with a swath of essence charged destruction. His soulsteel daiklave thunders towards the armored cretin, dark swirls of the black gas and necrotic magiks tracing its path.* (No actual charm used, just needed some description) (and a nice one at that, +1 dice) (13 dice and an amazing 8 successes, -2 for the effects of the cloud) (5 extra successes + damage of 8L = 13L vs his 15L soak, 1 damage dice rolled...) (failed. Told you think guy was tough to kill. Plus he doesn't neccessarily die because his health runs out :) Shadow tries to see through the black cloud, but cannot. She strikes out at Ninth as best she can with a flurry. (Furious Blade; 3 attacks - 3, 4, and 5 motes each to keep her attack dice at 12 for each attack.) (12 dice each for 3 attacks, successes 3, 6, and 6 after effects of the cloud) (1 damage die for each strike, rolling 3 damage...) (an amazing no successes) (Echo rolls..) (2 successes on a diff 3, failed. next turn..) (Shadow, Ninth, Design, Echo) Shadow roars in range, "We can't see him in this mess! Echo, we need your help!" She lashes out with an essence powered cleave. (Furious Blade, +10 dice, 22 dice total) (8 successes, haha, at that and she still gets only 1L damage to roll) (failed) Ninth stands proud. His magnificent skin is far more than these fools can deal with. Indeed as his master said, these Abyssals are pathetic and in need of cleansing. He turns his rage on Shadow, attacking quickly and effectively. (3 attacks against shadow) Shadow's Prayer Beads just to the rescue, attempting to parry the first attack. (1 attack success vs 3 def, the other attacks fail because of the cloud) * (It just occured to me...can you make multiple attacks against a single opponent? You can, can't you?) (yes, as many as you want. it is power combat that has rates for melee weapons. the penalty is the low dice pools) (Okay) (beware the cloud, -2 to successes, you need to hit big to get through it) Design does little to avoid the black cloud rolling and boiling over him. He just pushes forward, lunging at his foe once again in a full blown offensive. He makes a series of attacks against the dark cloud and the nemesis within, attempting to bring the veritable goliath down with a multitude of small injuries.* (3 attacks, so the first is at -3, then -4, then -5) (yep) (damn, in this order 3, 5, and an impossible 8 successes on 7 dice) (weird.) (but it's all reduced to 1 in the end :>) (so after the cloud effects, 8L, 10L, and 13L, 1 dice in the end as you say...) (1 success) Ninth's armor peels away slightly at his elbow, he doesn't seem to notice, but he is getting pretty beat up looking. Whether or not he feels pain, he will soon have trouble moving because of the sheer amount of damage to his body. (Echo's turn, he's free now btw) (Yeah, i made a huge pose for him and accidentally copied over it with designs) * Echoing_Words looks up at the black ghost with absolute serenity in his eyes. Those deep, dark, emerald and scorn filled eyes. The armored thing has magics. It has tricks, terrors to throw at him. Echo spits out a wad of acid that had been lodged in his throat. The acid dissipates the instant it hits the ashen ground, leaving Echo unrestrained. * Echoing_Words takes to his feet, brushes himself off, then nocks another essense arrow. Another target arrow, but this one with a little jolt of Echos favorite power- the Hungering Bolt attack granted to him by Azagrial. With a surge of white and black electricity playing about the missile, it is released towards the black and cold nemesis. Hopefully it will find essence and lifeblood to spill for its master.* (5 motes, using Azagrials reflexive ability to cause essence damage. So long as even 1 HL of damage is sustained by the target, said target will hemmorage essence at a rate of 5 motes per turn till he's out, or dead) (13 dice, 4 successes. 10L vs his reduced 7L soak for 3L damage) (no successes) (does it cost 1 mote to create an arrow, i forget?) (Yes) (you still have plenty, next turn.) (Design, Shadow, Ninth, Echo) (those target arrows really work well) (I spent 5 to activate reflexive dodging. Another two to summon the bow and the first arrow. Regained two from initial damage dealt. Lost 6 to last attack, regained zero) So I'm at -11 motes) (and I dunno when this guy will die, so we may just call it a night at some point) (heh, that's fine with me) (plus you get a mote per point of stunt bonus die :) (Well, design did) (aye) * Echoing_Words falls back for a moment in ponderance. This strategy is getting him nowhere. Even now the enemy presses forward from his inky cloud like a terror. He must be destroyed! To do this, it's going to require a different approach..with that in mind, Design stands back and plants his daiklave in the dirt at his feet. Design falls back for a moment in ponderance. This strategy is getting him nowhere. Even now the enemy presses forward from his inky cloud like a terror. He must be destroyed! To do this, it's going to require a different approach..with that in mind, Design stands back and plants his daiklave in the dirt at his feet. He raises a hand towards the armored form amidst the darkness, the breeze carrying his cape slightly as essence begins to materialize in his palms. Energy crackles all over his body as essence is drawn away from his anima and into his hands. His eyes go green as the energy in his palm coalesces into a rust colored ball of decay given form. The Crypt Bolt is released, a trail of dead and dying air essence in its wake. The very wind powering the movement in his cape dies the instant it touches the raging energy blast while it pushes towards its target.* (Crypt Bolt, 8 motes for 16L damage. Should be like 10 die roll) (if I didn't know better, I'd say you like acting Design, +3 stunt) (4 successes, Ninth merely stares at the ball of death with disinterest) (as in Ninth doesn't try to defend) (I find it funny that that attack sounds amazing, but sucks) (19L vs his 15 soak, 4 damage dice... 1 success.... shit!) (HADOKEN!) (hah, you rolled a success against his Soulseal... you bastard) (Say what now?) Ninth stares at the blast rolling his way and doesn't even bother to move, he is far more intent on slaying the girl first, then moving on to the others. With a shriek of twisting metal the energy of decay rends his torso. The damage is actually quite minimal - but he pauses. With a gasp he clutches his chest cavity. Instantly the cloud of darkness dissipates and Ninth seems to be writhing in the agony that Echo recently was. His pain is silent however, and has an eerie quality to it. In a moment he is on one knee, then the other. Whatever he is grabbing at in his chest he pulls forth to examine. In his hand is a palm sized slab of Soulsteel that looks like an oversized quarter. Ninth screams as he sees the damage. Part of the soulsteel has been cracked in the corner, and a pale blue gas is escaping from within the odd artifact. Ninth reaches into the sky as if begging for help and suddenly slumps to the ground, limp. The parts of his armor slide away into pieces, looking like so much discarded scrap metal.* * Echoing_Words stares at the armor for a moment, then stands straight up and raises his arms in the air. Design is confused for a second, but roars out a victory cry all the same. One of those guttoral screams that makes your bones chill. Between he and Echos cries of victory, one would think they had just liberated a continent.* (good timing btw, I had started to roll my attacks I had typed up ahead of time to save time, and he reamed Shadow on the next turn) (heheh) Shadow takes a step back in surprise, mostly because the cloud has lifted and her foe dead. But how? Judging from the insane act the boys were putting on, she just won. She gives a cheerleader leap and tries to high-five Design, but he has no idea what she's doing and just kinda stares at her. (wanna call it a night there?) (I gotta get to bed now though, unless ya got something else for me) (yah) nah, nothing much keedokee give some thought to if we need to clean up combat, make it easier or faster i'm turning in...ti-red. me too, cya i dunno, that went pretty quick...night * Echoing_Words has quit IRC (Quit: ) Session Close: Tue Oct 12 22:17:34 2004