Lunar: Middleground IRC RPG Session 14
Session Start: Saturday, 07, September, 1996. 19:48:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cast of Characters:
Hahn as "Gamemaster, Tam, Danyen, Dyson, Diana, Fly Trapper C,
Burg Women, Luna, Baker, Burg Man, Sebastian, Bird,
Nanza Guardians, Iluk Vendors, Arms Dealer, Iluk Woman,
Shrine Woman"
Luna as "Isis"
Vecna as "Eomar"
Kenshiro as "Thesian"
Ronfar as "Davis"
Nall as "Bulix"
Dragonmaster Blake as "Ebony"
Dragonmaster Lou as "Lou"
Iceberg as "Iceberg"
Miko as "Miko"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~In Tamur, day slowly creeps in through the window as shufflings
from upstairs are heard.~~~
* Thesian picks a crusty out of his eye.
~~~Thesian has acquired 'Eye Booger'.~~~
* Isis picks a crusty out of her nose.
* Thesian flings his eye booger at Isis, thinks about what retaliation
might be like, and gets the hell out of town.
~~~Loud wood creaking are heard as Tam stumbles into the kitchen.~~~
* Tam puts a kettle on his stove. "Thesian...? You up yet?"
* Thesian stretches, and wanders out toward the kitchen.
* Tam looks over his shoulder. "Guess so. You headed out today? To
find this... Azura?"
* Thesian nods and looks around in the cupboards for something to eat.
"Yep, looks like we're ready today."
~~~There is some fruit and cream available.~~~
* Thesian settles down at the table to munch on an apple.
* Isis picks up an apple, too.
* Eomar just eats some grapes or berries or something.
Tam: "Thesian, what about your friends? They going with you? "
* Eomar nods. "Yes, Isis and I are going with him. Isis has just as
much business with Azura as Thesian, and I'm just along for the
ride."
* Thesian finishes and goes into the other room to grab his things.
* Eomar and Isis collect their gear.
Tam: "You know, Thesian. I just want you to know how important this is.
You never knew your mother well, but it was her final, most important
wish that you give that pendant to its rightful owner. I think you've
begun to forget the importance of your task."
* Thesian comes back into the kitchen, his pack slung over his shoulder
and coat in hand. "Tam, I know the pendant is in good hands. Right
now, I've got to find out the answers to some questions, and I
believe Azura may be the only one able to answer them."
* Tam doesn't seem satisfied. "I've been around quite a bit longer than
you, lad. I'm not so sure about this 'creature' you know. You have
done some foolish things before. I just hope your judgement here
isn't wrong. It would break your poor mother's heart."
* Thesian puts his hand on Tam's shoulder. "Don't worry, Uncle. I
haven't forgotten about my mother's wish. Everything will be all
right -- especially with these two friends at my side. I've searched
for the owner of that pendant for my entire life. I'm not going to
stop now, but I need to find out more from Azura. Somehow, I think
she ties into all of this."
~~~The gate leading out of Tamur beckons...~~~
* Thesian throws his coat onto his shoulders, and fastens the bundle
of things on his back. "Take care, Tam..."
Isis: "Yeah.. Thanks, Tam!"
* Thesian looks at his comrades. "All set?"
Eomar: "We're ready, Thesian."
* Thesian nods. "All right then, let's go!"
* Eomar heads out the door.
* Isis goes, too.
* Thesian takes a long look around town as he, Eomar, and Isis walk
toward the main gate. He wonders how long it will be before he
returns home, and where his travels will lead him until that time.
* Eomar feels how light our silver sack is, and mumbles, "Geeze,
where'd all our money go?"
Thesian: "Looks like we'll have to find work again soon, Eomar."
* Eomar nods. "Yeah, but let's avoid fountains with statues in them
next time."
* Thesian mutters, "No kidding! Any job we take had better be far away
from Vane. Light!"
* Isis glares at Eomar and Thesian.. "I can't believe you guys.."
* Thesian jumps. "D'oh! Forgot Isis was here..."
* Eomar sticks his tounge out at Isis.
* Isis chops Eomar's tongue off.
Eomar: "Ow!!!! Well, I think we need to worry more about Rimzol and
whatever authorities at Vane than Isis."
Thesian: "That's true..."
* Thesian thinks the walk out of Tamur is taking a lot longer that he
remembered it... He runs toward the gate, and then the film skips;
Seeing he is now farther away than where he started, he tries to run
toward the gate again...Skip!
Eomar: "... And suddenly the animator had a heart attack and died, and
the horrible Nar was no more!"
~~~The wilderness outside Tamur is pleasant. The morning birds are in
their peak, squawking somewhat annoyingly. As you leave Tamur, you
step onto the dew-wet grass of the morning hours. The loud rushing
sound of the rivers and waterfalls can be heard to the north...~~~
Thesian: "Sounds like we're getting close..."
~~~The mountains and waterfalls over the horizon look distant, but
lure you on. The air seems a bit hazy with high humidity and
warmer than usual temperature.~~~
* Thesian wipes his forehead. "Seems hotter than usual today."
* Eomar is not too talkative when he's tired and sweaty from walking
in the hot sun.
Thesian: "Not to mention Isis cut off your tongue..."
~~~The group is stopped by a senseless, violent encounter! Giant
insects and goblins try to kill you all for no apparent reason!
3 DragonFlies in front, 2 Goblin Mages in back.~~~
Thesian: "Ahh! Where did these senselessy violent monsters come from??"
Isis: "Hey, we were being all secretive and quiet.."
* Thesian raises his sword, ready for battle. "That's why it's
senseless."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~COMBAT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dragonfly makes a leaping dive attack at Isis!
Isis: "Uh oh."
Critical Hit! Isis suffers 32 damage.
Thesian: "Ouch."
Dragonfly B attacks Thesian!
Critical Hit! Thesian suffers 41 damage.
* Thesian is hurt bad. REALLY bad.
* Isis is, too.
Dragonfly C attacks Isis!
Isis is hit for 13 damage.
Thesian rushes Dragonfly A and slashes, his blade making a
yellow gleam through the air.
Critical Hit! Dragonfly A suffers 79 damage.
Isis uses Kiai Slice! Isis's Hit% is boosted by 21.
Eomar loads a pair of arrows into his bow,
holds it horizontally, and fires.
Goblin Mage A is hit for 41. B is hit for 37.
Goblin Mage A casts Thunder Strike!
A wide stream of electricity falls on Eomar!
Eomar is electrocuted for 28 damage.
Goblin Mage B casts Spark Stun!
Thesian is accosted with an array of shocks...
...but resists the effects.
* Thesian sticks his tongue out at the Goblin Mage. "Okay, now you guys
are *reeeeally* gonna get it..."
Dragonfly A attacks Thesian.
Thesian feels a thud as the insect slams into his buckler.
Dragonfly B attacks Isis. Isis feels a similar thud!
The attack is blocked.
Dragonfly C attacks Isis! Isis is hit for 14 damage.
Thesian holds his hands together while mumbling something
under his breath, then releases. A cacading wall of electricity
falls from the sky and sizzles the dragonfiles.
Dragonfly A suffers 42. B suffers 38. C suffers 46.
Dragonfly A is defeated!
Isis uses QuickCut!
Isis slashes past Dragonfly B! 31 damage.
Second attack... 35 damage.
Dragonfly B is defeated!
Eomar loads his bow with a pair of arrows and fires at the
goblins!
Thesian: "A pair? Cool, Eomar."
Goblin Mage A is hit for 40 damage. B is hit for 37 damage.
Goblin Mage A casts Spark Stun!
Isis is assaulted with an electrical jolt. Isis is paralyzed!
Goblin Mage B casts Thunder Strike!
Thesian is slammed with a shocking lightning bolt! 16 damage.
* Thesian slumps to the ground.
Isis: "Thesian isn't dead, is he?"
Thesian: "I'm unconscious, you fool. Let me be..."
Seriously wounded, Dragonfly C takes refuge by retreating
to the back row.
* Thesian hops up, looking frisky. "Okay, you losers! Thought ya got me,
didn't ya?? Well I'm not done yet!!"
Thesian swipes at Dragonfly C! Hit! 26 damage.
Isis wiggles on the ground helplessly.
Eomar loads his long bow with *3* count 'em *3* arrows and fires
at the back row!
* Thesian watches in awe as arrows whiz from Eomar's bow.
Goblin Mage A is hit for 37 damage!
Goblin Mage B is hit for 40 damage
Dragonfly C is hit for 27 damage!
Goblin Mage A is defeated.
Goblin Mage B is defeated.
Dragonfly C is defeated.
Victory!
Each player earns 8 XP. The group gains 250S and 250MXP.
Thesian: "Holy archery, Batman! You put their butts in a sling, Eomar!"
* Eomar looks at Isis now, and sticks his tounge out at her.
Isis: "You don't have a tongue, bub."
~~~Isis is paralyzed. She slumps helplessly behind the two studs.~~~
Thesian: "Should we help her, Eomar?"
Eomar: "... Yes..."
Thesian: "Er, okay... How?"
Eomar: "I guess we buy some spring water. Personally, I'm thinking we
should leave her like this."
Thesian: "Something tells me that if you leave her like this, Eomar,
you're gonna wish you didn't when she comes out of it."
* Eomar laughs. "Yeah, right... I guess we go back then..."
~~~Tamur isn't but 200 yards to the south. The gates of Tamur offer
refuge for the weak, the weary, and the IDIOTS WHO DIDN'T BUY ANY
MEDICAL SUPPLIES!~~~
Eomar: "... Because Isis spent all their money."
* Thesian sighs. "Well, I guess it isn't gonna be very long before I
see home again after all..." He helps Isis up and starts trudging
back.
~~~The group swifly enters and there is a sparkling Althena statue
near Danyen's shop.~~~
* Thesian touches the statue and feels its healing glow. "Whew! Good
thing Tamur has one of these..."
* Eomar touches it, too, and so does Isis in some crippled form.
~~~You hear pained groanings coming from inside the shop.~~~
Danyen: "Arrrghh..."
Isis: "Let's go invistigate!"
* Thesian runs into the shop.
~~~You see Danyen keeling over the counter clutching his head in agony.
You can only guess that last night is taking its toll on him.~~~
Danyen: "Never... again..."
Thesian: "You okay there, Danyen?"
* Danyen grabs a ceramic mug. "Coffee... must have more coffee... Oh,
you, Thesian? Hi. What do you need?"
Thesian: "We heard noises...just wanted to make sure you were okay.
Come to think of it, we need medical supplies. Now, that we have
money, that is."
Danyen: "Mo... money? Ah, I see. It makes perfect sense. You must
have slain some insects, and therefore are now more wealthy. Yeah,
that medical crap is over there."
Herb 50s
Spring Water 25s
Thesian: "So how many of each, guys? I'm not too good with math, you
know."
Isis: "We should buy 4 herbs.. and 2 spring water."
Thesian: "Okay."
Isis: "Eomar takes the 2 spring waters and Thesian and I get to split
the 4 herbs."
~~~Thesian and Isis each take 2 herbs Eomar takes 2 spring water.~~~
Thesian: "Thanks Danyen...Take care of yourself and your head okay?
Eomar: "Yes, let's go..."
~~~The group leaves Tamur once again... Smarter this time.~~~
Thesian: "Although not much richer..."
Eomar: "I guess we should talk and stuff.. and stuff.."
* Thesian shrugs. "Oh well, off to Azura's cave to battle hideous,
brutal monsters."
~~~The group is walking towards the loud crashings of the waterfalls
ahead... The atmosphere seems pleasant as the group takes in the
beauty of the surrounding area. This whole region is rich with
fresh water. The group trudges onward toward the distant waterfall
mountains... The group is within proximity of the waterfall cave.
It seems familiar from your first trip here only days ago... But
you're not *quite* to the waterfall when... 4 Dragonflies in front
and 2 Goblin Mages in back.~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~COMBAT~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dragonfly A attacks Isis!
Isis easily sidesteps the thrusting insect.
Dragonfly B attacks Thesian! Thesian is hit for 17 damage.
Dragonfly C attacks Thesian! Thesian blocks the attack easily,
getting bug goop all over his buckler.
Dragonfly D attacks Isis! Isis is hit for 11 damage.
Thesian leans forward and moves his hands in a horizontal
formation, sizzling all of the dragonflies with a crackling
electricity! Dragonfly A suffers 42! B suffers 46!
C suffers 38! D suffers 40!
Isis holds her hands to her chest, then raises them to the
sky. Several crackling sparks fly up to the sky, then seconds
later a wide stream of electricity descends and envelops
Goblin Mage A! 62 damage.
Eomar nocks four arrows into his bow, then takes aim at the
dragonflies. Eomar fires! Dragonfly A suffers 27 damage.
B suffers 32. C suffers 29. D suffers 30.
Goblin Mage A casts Thunder Strike!
Isis is hit with a bolt of lightning! 11 damage.
Goblin Mage B casts Thunder Strike!
Eomar is shocked with a bolt of lightning! 20 damage.
Dragonfly A attacks Thesian! Thesian is hit for 19 damage.
Dragonfly B attacks Isis! Isis is hit for 9 damage.
Dragonfly C attacks Isis! Isis is hit for 12 damage!
Dragonfly D retreats to the rear row.
Thesian bounces around with great agility...
Isis raises her hand to the sky!
A large bolt of lightning strikes down Goblin Mage A.
57 damage.
Goblin Mage A is defeated!
Eomar loads two arrows into his bow and fires...
Goblin Mage B suffers 38 damage. Dragonfly D suffers 30.
Dragonfly D is defeated!
Goblin Mage B casts Thunder Strike!
Thesian is hit for 15 damage.
Dragonfly A attacks Isis! Isis blocks the attack.
Dragonfly B attacks Thesian! The attack misses.
Thesian grabs the insect's frame and slams it!
Dragonfly B suffers 13 damage.
Dragonfly C attacks Isis!
Isis is hit for 11 damage.
Thesian raises a palm to the air and watches Dragonfly A get
struck with a bolt of electricity. 45 damage.
Dragonfly A is defeated!
Isis casts Thunder Strike!
The remaining goblin mage is struck down with electricity.
63 damage.
Eomar takes aim and fires a spread shot at the remaining
dragonflies.
Dragonfly B suffers 32 damage. C suffers 27.
Dragonfly B is defeated!
Goblin Mage casts Spark Stun on Eomar!
Eomar resists the spell.
Dragonfly C attacks Isis! The attack misses miserably.
Thesian slashes the insect... Hit! 27 damage.
Dragonfly C is defeated! Isis casts Spark Stun!
Isis holds her palms outward and shocks the Goblin Mage
with electrical jolts. Goblin Mage B is paralyzed!
The group finishes Goblin Mage with one merciless blow.
Victory! Each player earns 10XP.
The group earns 275 S and 275 MXP.
Thesian: "All right! The 'Senseless Violent Combat' was defeated."
Isis: "It's better than sex!"
* Eomar does heal litany on himself.
~~~Eomar casts Heal Litany! Eomar recovers 24 HP.~~~
* Isis uses a herb on herself.
~~~Isis recovers 20 HP.~~~
* Thesian tries to do quick self-surgery, but doh! the needle broke, so
he uses an herb instead.
~~~Thesian uses herb. Thesian recovers 20 HP.~~~
Isis: "I personally think those herbs are a rip off.."
Thesian: "Yeah, the herb industry is practically a monopoly, you know.
Practically fifty for a quarter, you know?"
~~~The Blue Waterfall's sound is almost roaring now. The cavern
entrance isn't more than 200 yards away...~~~
* Thesian looks relieved to see the cavern again.
Isis: "Well.. shall we go in?"
~~~The group approaches the clear water cascades. The dark cavern
entrance beckons.. The water seems much cleaner and purer than your
first visit, though. As the group enters the cavern, the cascades
of cold water wash over them, drenching your hair.~~~
Eomar: "This looks.. foreboding..."
* Isis looks around.. "Let's try to find Azura.."
~~~The bright dome of stone lies above you, crackling with sparks
and glittering with electricity jumping from surface to surface.
However, the vast pool before you is of clear, calm waters instead
of black sludge. The heavy atmosphere remains, though. There is
definitely someone here...~~~
* Thesian cannot sense a presence, but he feels his own power well
enormously.
Isis: "This place gives me the heeby-geebies.."
* Eomar likes it here.. "Water... Good stuff."
~~~The water appears almost unnaturally clear and pure. Better than
any drinking water. The refections it casts on the ridges on the
ceiling are quite beautiful. Nothing stands before you now except
the pool.~~~
Isis: "Isn't that pool where Azura went into?"
* Thesian peers into the pool. "This is where Azura disappeared... I
wonder where she went?"
~~~This entry chamber is quite vast, but it seems sealed from all
directions except the pool.~~~
* Thesian gazes all around the cavern. "So, what do you think? Should
we enter the pool, too?"
* Eomar nods.
Isis: "I think that's our only choice.."
* Thesian nods, and wades into the pool.
~~~The pool quickly becomes deeper, and Thesian is up to his knees.~~~
Thesian: "Hey, this goes down..."
* Isis strolls in after Thesian..
* Eomar follows her.
Isis: "Hey.. I just went through a warm spot..." She gives Thesian a
funny look..
~~~As you get about 20 feet into the pool, it becomes waist deep.
There is a noticable undertow beneath your feet going towards the
back wall.~~~
* Isis looks underwater.
* Thesian shrugs, takes a deep breath, and plunges into the water.
* Eomar peers down underwater, NOT diving.
~~~The water is very clear and calm. It almost has as much
visibility as air. The floor is made of rough blue stone and there
is a narrow tunnel leading deeper into the cavern to the north.~~~
* Eomar dives and goes through the tunnel.
* Isis dives, too.
~~~The water feels cool as it caresses you as you plunge through the
tunnel, all of your sounds amplified by the water. The undertow
assists you as you glide through the underwater channel.~~~
* Thesian is pulling himself along at a good clip.
* Eomar goes on a float trip.
~~~The tunnel comes to a stop fairly quickly as you plunge yourselves
into a larger body of water, open on all sides. You estimate a
surface is not far above you. You quickly jet yourselves up to the
surface and breathe in air. You see you are in a much taller
chamber. The ceiling of this cavern is too tall to be seen.~~~
* Thesian stares all around the chamber, his eyes flashing.
* Eomar calls out, "Azura.. are you here??"
~~~The voice echoes up the vast chamber. There is a pathway leading
through the stone walls farther to the north.~~~
* Eomar heads down the pathways.
* Isis follows near Eomar's butt.
* Thesian follows not-so-near Eomar's butt.
~~~The north pathway is a narrow passage with tall rock walls on each
side. The watery reflections make what little light there is in here
very visible and useful.~~~
Thesian: "Let's head through this north passage..."
* Eomar continues down the corridor.
~~~The north passage is quite narrow, and rough in places. Not far in
it, you reach a sudden cliff. You can hear the rushings of an
underground river. You can't see far into the deep chasm beneath,
but there appears to have been a bridge across at one time.~~~
* Thesian looks around for a way across.
Eomar: "If only we had Ebony."
~~~You notice through the shimmering reflected water light a strange,
flat, square area on the wall near you. It appears to be a carving
of some sort.~~~
* Thesian studies the carving.
* Eomar examines it closer...
~~~There appears to be several intricately carved square sections,
each with a set of bizarre runes on them.~~~
Thesian: "This looks familiar, like those old books at my uncle's
house..."
Eomar: "Alright! Well, let's press some buttons."
* Thesian frowns. "Hmmm...I wish I'd studied this closer when I was
younger. I think maybe it's this part of the carving."
* Thesian reaches out...
~~~Thesian's finger brushes against the clammy stone... No visible
effect. The patterns on the wall carving look intriguing, almost
puzzle-like, but the language is too bizarre. Isis and Eomar are
sure they haven't seen it before...~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~Elsewhere, in Burg, Diana skips down the rough path to her house,
but not after giving Lou a cheeky little wink over her shoulder.~~~
* Lou winks back at Diana. "Okay, guys, I told Diana we'd meet at the
gate to Saith. Shall we go there?"
* Ebony waves a paw. "Sure, sure. Lead on."
* Lou walks off towards the entrace of Saith.
~~~Lou nearly bumps into a large man near the gate.
Dyson: "Where do you kids think you're going? And with such a weird
little cat?"
Ebony: "I am not weird!"
Lou: "Sorry, Mr. Dyson. We're going to wait for Diana by the gate and
then we're going to Burg."
Dyson: "Oh, headed up to the festival? I'd go, but the young 'un isn't
big enough and we don't want to leave him."
Lou: "You got it, Mr. Dyson. Give the kid our best please, okay?"
* Iceberg hopes we find some monsters before Burg...
* Diana runs up to the gate while huffing and puffing. "Hi! So, what's
the plan?"
Ebony: "We go to Burg... Simple plan, huh?"
* Lou smiles. "Diana, we're gonna walk to Burg now. You all set to go?"
Diana: "Cool. I can't wait to see the festival with you this year,
Lou. It'll be great, I'm sure."
Lou: "It always is with you around Diana. Okay, everyone, let's go."
* Lou walks out the gates of Saith, Diana at his side.
Iceberg: "Diana, do you sing in the festival, too?"
* Diana fiddles with her knapsack, and removes a bright violet flower
as she strings it through her hair.
* Iceberg blinks twice... This Lou has really good taste...
* Lou smiles at Diana.
* Ebony lands on Ice's shoulder. "Lookit Lou and his girlfriend."
* Iceberg noices Ebony... "Ebony, how are your progress with Dark
magic? What spells have you learned?"
Ebony: "Huh? Awfully nosey, huh? I know anti-matter, dark impulse and
black ribbon..."
Iceberg: "I have been studying little Darkness lately... I found one
scroll in Vane's library to improve Antimatter..."
Ebony: "I don't have the magic for improved spells..."
~~~The wilderness outside Saith is teeming with forests and water.
The birds seem quite cheery and the sky is clear.~~~
Lou: "Okay, guys, it shouldn't be too long a walk to Burg. Just follow
the river to the bridge, and it's right across."
Ebony: "Cool buns."
Lou: "Did you say something, Ebony?"
* Ebony yawns. He just woke up, and he's not a morning person... er...
creature.
* Lou thinks to himself, "It's so peaceful here, nothing has
changed..."
* Diana skips around while humming a little tune while spinning her
head around admiring the sky and ocean.
Lou: "Diana, I haven't heard you hum that tune before. Where did you
hear it?"
Diana: "So are you gonna try and sing a song this year, silly?"
Lou: "Who, me sing? You were always the better singer, Diana. I'll sing
backup for you, though, if you got something planned."
Diana: "I hope we meet some squirrels or something on the way there.
I love animals."
Lou: "Diana, I'm sure we will."
* Bulix wanders along, looking around for any kind of 'animal' that
might be hungry.
* Lou notices a squirrel cross their patch just ahead. "See, Diana?"
Iceberg: "Diana, have you found the spleen-eater squirrels? They're
famous in Vane."
Diana: "Spleen... eater...? Huh?"
* Bulix glances at Iceberg. "What? Have you been picking mushrooms
again?"
* Iceberg freezes Bulix, and makes him eat some mushrooms.
Lou: "Diana, don't mind him... It's just a running gag from our
adventures before we got home."
* Lou shades his eyes and looks ahead, trying to see if the bridge is
within view.
~~~There is a noticable rustling in the nearby pines.~~~
Lou: "Shh... Guys, I hear something..."
* Ebony swivels an ear around.
* Iceberg has long ears and keeps listening.
* Bulix drops into a semi-fighting stance, and tries to listen
hard..
* Lou gets in front of Diana, ready to protect her, just in case...
* Diana stops. "Hear that, Lou...? There's a faint... buzzing..."
Lou: "Diana, I heard it, just stay behind me, okay? I'm not sure what
we're dealing with..."
Ebony: "Yep, buzzing. I hear there's big bugs on this island."
Lou: "Ebony, there are... They haven't been seen in a while though..."
* Iceberg thinks about killer bees and believes a fight is near...
~~~All of a sudden... monsters bound out into the clearing and attack
you mercilessly!~~~
Ebony: "3 fly trappers and 2 killer wasps!"
Iceberg: "Let me fight the back wasps!"
* Bulix cracks his knuckles.
Lou: "Diana! Stay behind me! These things aren't friendly at all!"
* Diana stumbles into the back row.
* Ebony flutters over and mutters to Lou, "Show off for your
girlfriend."
* Lou grins at Ebony.
Lou: "Don't worry, Diana. We know what we're doing."
* Ebony snickers and lets Lou be Mr. In-Control.
Lou: "Time for some fancy swordsmanship."
* Diana reaches behind her back and whips out her practice bow.
* Lou positions himself right in front of Diana. "Hope you've been
practicing, Diana."
* Bulix rolls his eyes at Lou. "Shaddup and lets deal with these
things, will ya?"
Lou: "Okay, okay, Bulix..."
* Iceberg likes the fighing girl... Amazon?
* Lou holds his sword vertical and chants.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~COMBAT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ebony uses Deep Scratch!
Ebony makes a lunging dive at Fly Trapper A.
The Fly Trapper suffers 32 damage as claws rake into its fleshy
plant frame...
Bulix attacks! Hit! 14 damage.
Second attack... Hit! 12 damage.
Third attack... Hit! 15 damage.
* Bulix glares at the Fly trapper. "Plant! It's a plant! Why the heck
are we fighting a plant!"
Ebony: "Because it fights back!"
Killer Wasp fires a poison stinger at Bulix!
Bulix is hit for 15 damage. Bulix resists the poison.
Killer Wasp B fires a poison stinger at Ebony!
Ebony instinctively floats to the side of the projectile.
Ebony: "Fly the unfriendly skies..."
Bulix: "Of Mylanta!"
Fly Trapper A tries to bite Lou!
* Lou tries to block the Trapper with his shield.
Lou is hit for 23 damage.
Lou: "Ow!!!!"
* Iceberg wonders how similar could be a Dragonmaster wannabe and a
fly...
Lou: "Cute, very cute, Ice. Just get ready to heal if I get bitten
again."
Iceberg: "Okay, Lou! My pleas will arrive Althena herself..."
Ebony: "Still cocky, Lou?"
Lou: "Yeah, still, Ebony, albeit also in a little pain... That
flytrapper just got a lucky hit!"
Fly Trapper B tries to bite Ebony!
Ebony floats above the snapping plant jaws.
Fly Trapper C attacks Bulix!
Bulix blocks the assault with his armbrace.
* Bulix grumbles. "Plants! I hate these stupid.." He wonders if he
still has that thorn...
Lou dashes at the enemies in a wild slashing rage!
Fly Trapper A suffers 17. B suffers 19. C suffers 16.
Killer Wasp A suffers 28. Wasp B suffers 30.
Lou: "Haha, eat that!"
Diana raises her bow to her eye and takes aim at Killer Wasp A
and fires. Killer Wasp A is hit for 15 damage.
Lou: "Nice shot, Diana!"
Iceberg casts Ice Sheet! Iceberg raises his arms to the sky and
a thin wall of ice is suddenly projected from the ground in
front of the group.
* Iceberg feels the magic inside his very veins...
He thrusts his hands forward and the wall skids across the ground,
smashing into the killer wasps! The wall shatters and showers the
wasps with sharp ice fragments...
Killer Wasp A suffers 52 damage. Killer Wasp B suffers 49.
Killer Wasp A is defeated!
Lou: "One down!"
Ebony: "Neato."
* Bulix shakes his head as he watches the ice wall. "Yikes."
Lou: "Nice trick, Ice! When did you learn that one?"
Iceberg: "Nothing special, just I went to Vane's library when you were
changing your clothes... Jean launched me there..."
* Ebony shuts his eyes and mutters words only Ice would understand.
* Lou holds his sword vertical again and chants.
* Bulix cracks his knuckles.
* Iceberg tries to remember some Heal litanies...
Ebony puts his paws over his eyes and makes a long, low meow.
Lou: "What the heck was that??"
* Bulix notes that Ebony shouldn't so that sort of thing in public.
He points his paws at Fly Trapper C and the plant monster is
surrounded with tiny shadow spirits. Plant monster has
critical weakness to Darkness magic. Auto-success.
Fly Trapper C is dazed!
Ebony: "Aren't I great?"
Lou: "Hehehe, you certainly are, Eb."
Ebony: "I just found their weakness, eh, Points?"
Iceberg: "Okay, Ebano, but I want to give a try a new heal litany
before.."
Bulix rushes at the Fly Trappers and attacks! Hit! 16 damage.
Second attack... Hit! 12 damage.
Fly Trapper A is defeated!
Lou: "Two down!"
Bulix turns his gaze to Fly Trapper B...
Third attack... Hit! 15 damage.
* Bulix continues to glare at the Fly Trapper. "What is this? Die!
Fall over! Go down! Give up!"
Killer Wasp B fires a poison stinger at Ebony!
Ebony is hit with the stinger. 4 damage.
Ebony fails to resist. Ebony is poisoned.
Lou: "Ouch! You okay, Eb?"
Ebony: "Actually... No... I don't feel so good."
Fly Trapper B attacks Bulix!
Bulix sidesteps the attack.
Fly Trapper C turns around and munches on Killer Wasp B.
Fly Trapper C: "Yummy fly!"
Fly Trapper C swallows it whole. 51 damage.
Killer Wasp B is defeated!
Lou: "One more down!"
* Bulix looks in disbelief as the Fly Trapper eats the Wasp. "Wha..?"
Iceberg points his cane at Fly Trapper B and shouts a word.
Iceberg: ""
A blue sphere moves from the creature to Iceberg...
Fly Trapper B suffers 18 damage. Iceberg recovers 18 HP.
Lou: "Nice trick again, Ice."
* Ebony wavers a bit in the air, coughs.
Lou dashes at the remaining enemies in a slashing attack!
Fly Trapper B suffers 16. C suffers 20.
Diana nocks another arrow in her bow and fires at Fly Trapper B.
The arrow sails past the monster.
Ebony raises his dazzling claws to the sky and tries to slash
away at the plant creature... Hit! 20 damage.
Second attack... Hit! 21 damage.
Bulix attacks! Hit! 14 damage. Fly Trapper B is defeated!
Lou: "Go, Bulix!"
Second attack... Hit! 17 damage.
Third attack... Critical Hit!
Fly Trapper C suffers 42 damage.
Fly Trapper C dances around in circles in a little merry jig.
* Ebony laughs and breaks off coughing.
Lou: "Look at him dance!"
* Bulix shakes his head at the plant. "What the heck is he doing?"
* Ebony lands on the ground and coughs
* Bulix glances back at Ebony, completely forgetting the battle.
"What's wrong?"
Lou: "You okay, Ebony?"
Iceberg raises his cane in Fly Trapper C's direction,
then chants in a low tone...
Iceberg: ""
A wide beam of pure black energy is dispersed from his cane,
and converges on the creature, enveloping it in negativity.
* Iceberg shouts, "I'm evil!!"
Plant creature has critical weakness to Darkness attack.
201 damage. Fly Trapper C is defeated! Victory!
Each player earns 7 XP. The group has received 200S and 200MXP.
Lou: "Ouch! What the heck did you use on that sucker?"
* Ebony reaches back and pulls the wasp's stinger out of his side with
his teeth. He winces... since as everyone knows, those things go in
easier than they come out.
Lou: "Ebony, you all right? And Diana, you okay there?"
* Bulix pulls a stinger out of himself and looks at it. "Uh-oh.. maybe
these were poisoned.. Ebony is smaller, even if it didn't affect me..
Lou: "Anyone see an Althena statue near here? Ice, you have some purity
herbs, right?"
* Iceberg uses one purity herb in Ebano's wound... "Here, it would be
cured in no time.. Goddess Althena, see this valiant warrior and
keep away from him any evil!"
~~~Iceberg uses his purity herb.~~~
* Ebony licks his wound. "Thanks, Points. I feel better."
Lou: "Glad you're feeling better, Eb."
Iceberg: "Say thanks to Althena. I'm only her servant... not very
humble, but servant after all."
* Ebony thanks Althena, too.
* Lou quickly heads over next to Diana to check on her. "You okay
there?"
Diana: "Yeah. Fine. I kicked ass!"
Lou: "No kidding, Diana! Nice shooting there! So, shall we continue
on to Burg? It can't be much further."
Iceberg: "Yes, Lou. We can continue walking... Burg is near..."
Ebony: "Hey, Points how about a ride?"
Iceberg: "On my shoulder, Ebano!"
* Ebony flutters up to Ice's shoulder.
* Bulix walks along, grumbling, "Plants.. Stupid plants attack us..
Geez.. Plants.."
Ebony: "Better than big guys with spears and weapons or guys of
indeterminate size with magic."
Lou: "Or LunaR, hehehe..."
Bulix: "Nah.. Plants don't have spleen, now, do they?"
Ebony: "Not that I am aware of."
~~~The group continues on...~~~
* Diana resumes her humming as if nothing happened.
* Lou hums along with Diana, still not sure of what song he's humming.
"So, Diana, do you see the bridge yet?"
Diana: "Umm... not quite. No. We still have to make it around this
bend in the harbor ahead. Wow, you really have been gone a long
time!"
Lou: "I guess so, Diana... Too long, I think..."
* Iceberg idly asks himself if there's enough road for another battle.
Iceberg: "Ebano, do you feel the Dragonmaster aura near as your a
dragon...?"
Lou: "Yeah, Eb, you should probably sense something."
* Ebony thinks for a second. "Not really... but I don't know what to
look for.."
Lou: "Do you sense anything unusual at all, Eb?"
Ebony: "Pain... Pain... This has been a Deanna Troi moment... No, I
don't sense anything, but I'm new to all this... Power sensing and
lines of force and... not living in a cage..."
Lou: "Ah well, it was worth a shot."
Iceberg: "That could be really bad... Could you imagine a fake Alex?"
Lou: "A fake Alex, Ice? I hope we don't meet one of those..."
Iceberg: "I had a dream about a Fake Althena living in the distant
future, so I thought..."
* Ebony looks skeptical. "Yeah, right... Fake Althena... I'm sure...
And people will come from the Blue Star, too."
Lou: "Stranger things have happened..."
* Ebony looks around at the scenery. "Nice little island..."
Lou: "Thanks, Ebony."
* Lou points out to a distant mountain. "See that mountain over there?
If I remember correctly, the White Dragon Cave is in that mountain."
Iceberg: "I'd like to visit that cave... Maybe another baby dragon is
in there.."
Lou: "Ice, I heard Nall is actually a baby dragon though, and he lives
with Alex."
Ebony: "Well, if he's like me, of course he's a dragon! And so is
Azura!"
Lou: "Ebony, good point, and he is just like you, except he's white,
of course."
* Bulix grins. "Well, Puffy-puff.. er.. Ebony.. maybe you just _think_
you're a dragon, ya know?"
Ebony: "Hey, the black dragon himself told me. Don't any of you pay
attention?"
Lou: "Ebony, I did. I was there, sorta. Remember?"
* Bulix shakes his head. "Ebony.. one word: 'sarcasm'."
Iceberg: "Where then would be the red dragon?"
Lou: "I don't know... Supposedly she died when Alex became
Dragonmaster... Maybe another hasn't been born yet?"
Ebony: "The blue haired girl in the blue tower said, 'the red one is
not even born yet.'"
Iceberg: "Did the girl say that? I hope he will be born soon. I
want to see them all together..."
* Bulix trudges along.
* Iceberg reads Bulix's thoughts about four baby dragons' spleens.
Lou: "Yeesh, I really have been gone too long. Burg wasn't this far
away last time I visited it."
* Iceberg would like to visit the old hag, but looking at Ebano, he
forgets everything about it...
* Ebony hopes the bridge isn't out.
* Bulix will swim the dang river if it is.
Lou: "Ebony, don't worry about it. If it is, Ice can just freeze us
a bridge across ."
* Ebony turns and gives Lou a look.
Lou: "Yes, Ebony?"
Ebony: "Didn't I tell you to stay out of my head?"
Lou: "Sorry, Ebony. Old habits die hard..."
Ebony: "Are my thoughts really that interesting? I don't snoop in
your head."
Lou: "Ebony, uhh, they just pop out. I have to work to keep 'em out
for some reason..."
* Ebony thinks some not-so-pure things.
* Lou fortunately doesn't get those for some reason.
* Iceberg remembers some Leo's impaling joke about swords and parts of
the body different from spleen...
* Ebony practices some magic spells.
* Lou sharpens his blade.
* Ebony grins as a pebble lifts off the ground and drops on Lou's
head.
Lou: "Ouch! Who did that..?"
* Ebony looks innocent.
* Bulix whips out a really large shovel and digs for China.
* Iceberg writes in his diary all the events... Books are well-paid
in Vane...
* Bulix runs into some tree roots, so attacks the tree!
Iceberg: "Bulix, looking for mushrooms?"
* Bulix uproots the tree, chucks it deep into the woods, and goes
back to digging.
Lou: "Nice toss, Bulix."
* Ebony points at a flower. It disappears in a black flash.
* Lou chops a tree into firewood with his sword.
* Ebony uses 'it-doesn't-matter'... Nothing happens... He drops
another pebble on Lou's head.
Lou: "Ouch! Must be squirrels or something..."
* Ebony tells Lou's girlfriend embarrasing stories about Lou.
* Lou reads Ebony's mind this time. "Hey!!!!! Ebony..."
Ebony: "We're just chatting..."
Lou: "Yeah, sure. Diana, whatever he says, he's lying. Don't believe
it!"
Bulix: "Yeah! Hey, Ebony.. Remember the time when Lou..."
* Iceberg sees Diana turning red and looking embarassed.
Bulix: "Oh yeah, and that time when Lou made a complete fool out of
himself.."
* Ebony listens to Diana telling him embarrasing stories about Lou.
Lou: "Diana, now you're doing it too???"
Ebony: "Did you really do that, Lou?"
Lou: "Umm, no."
Ebony: "Uh huh, right."
Lou: "Diana you didn't tell him about the time..."
Ebony: "Guess what, guys? Once, Lou got his pants caught on a bush..."
* Lou wishes Miko were here. At least she can sorta keep Ebony
behaving.
* Ebony continues. "...And then, since his pants were ruined, he had
to wear something, but there was only a skirt avalable..."
* Lou's face is as red as a Red Dragon right now.
* Iceberg thinks if wizards use pants or just the robe?
* Ebony snickers with Diana.
Bulix: "...And remember that time when Lou was crawling on his hands
and knees in that one cave and managed to fall right through the
floor?"
Lou: "Hey, at least I got a cool ring out of it, and Ebony fell, too!"
Bulix: "Ebony _flew_ down. You fell."
Lou: "Minor detail..."
* Ebony lands on Diana's shoulder. "We're just playing, though. Lou is
a great guy."
* Lou wonders if it's a good thing or a bad thing at this point that he
doesn't remember all the embarassing things that happened to everyone
else here...
* Ebony flutters off from Diana's shoulder.
Diana: "Wow. That was a weird temporal anomaly, huh, Lou? It's almost
as if absolutely nothing happened for several minutes!"
Lou: "No kidding, Diana... Glad it's over now... and remember, Ebony is
a habitual liar!"
* Diana continues on, skipping and frolicking through the grass. "I
hope they have those cinnamon apple thingies again."
Lou: I'm sure they will. They have them every year."
Iceberg: "But the bridge is near? Or we have to wait the woodworker to
fix it..."
Lou: "Ice, just freeze the water if we need to."
* Iceberg doesn't mind to cross the river with the water...
Diana: "The bridge is about 500 yards, I'd say. You've never been
here before?"
Lou: "Diana, nope, they haven't."
Ebony: "I haven't been ANYWHERE. Well... I've been around the past
few weeks.. but not before that."
Diana: "Hmm... that's interesting. Are you like Alex's pet?"
Lou: "Diana, you mean like Nall?"
Diana: "Yeah, Nall."
* Bulix grins. "Nah, this is Miko's pet dragon."
Ebony: "I am not a pet. I'm my own dragon."
Diana: "Really? Who's Miko? I wish I had a flying kitty, too."
Lou: "Diana, Miko is someone that helped us on the mainland a lot.
She and Ebony are very close..."
* Ebony drifts off with a dopey grin. "Miko..."
* Iceberg crafts a little statue of Miko made of ice..
Ebony: "That's nice, Points."
Iceberg: "If only I could make it from stone..."
Ebony: "Stone... Tell my how you do that, Ice... please?"
Iceberg: "Ebano, it's quite easy. Practice with this scroll and you'll
arrive at my point.
Ebony: "I uh... I can't read..."
Lou: "You'll learn, Ebony, soon enough."
* Ebony waves a paw and a stone about half a foot large flies up and
hovers in front of him. He stares at the stone, willing it to change
shape...
Iceberg: "Try to shoot the rock some little black beams and you'll
reshape it. It would be a nice present for Miko... Keep it in your
hammerspace."
* Ebony looks at Ice, tries using a combination of his darkness and
earth skills to reshape the stone. He sighs as the stone crumbles
into powder and falls to the ground. Ebony waves another rock up
and tries again.
Diana: "Wow, that's pretty neat, Ebony."
* Ebony loses his concentration and the rock falls to the ground.
"Oh.. thanks."
Diana: "Sorry!"
Iceberg: "Ebony, we could sell our statues in the Goddess festival
and make some money..." -Iceberg the Economist talked.
* Ebony tries to reshape another rock.
Iceberg: "Diana, when was last time you saw Alex?"
Diana: "Gosh... I guess since last year's festival in Saith when he
and Luna visited."
Lou: "When was the last time you've been to Burg?"
Diana: "Hmm... I dunno. I haven't been to Burg lately."
Lou: "That long ago that you can't remember?"
Diana: "Well, my mom doesn't like me traipsing around outside much.
You know that, Lou."
Lou: "That's true, Diana... It's okay if I'm here, though, right?"
Bulix: "You mean your mom trusts Lou? Yikes.."
Lou: "Bulix..."
* Bulix shrugs. "I'm only kidding."
Lou: "I know, Bulix.."
Diana: "I don't know, Lou. I've heard her say some bad things about
you."
Lou: "Diana, well, yeah, I heard 'em, too, sometimes. Why did she
let you go this time?"
Diana: "Well, she... doesn't quite know. I grabbed my things
while she was at the market with my dad."
Lou: "Oops, hehe, guess I'd really make sure you get back in one piece
now, Diana."
Diana: "Damn straight! They'd pop a cork if I didn't come back in
time. They explicitly told me 'no festival' this year. Hrmph!"
Lou: "Why did they say that, Diana? You've always gone to the
festival."
Diana: "Well, they're getting all superstitious about the sea storms
and rise in monsters and such. They think the whole world's gonna be
destroyed or something. And, of course, if I'm safe at home nothing
will happen. "
Lou: "Hehehe, parents, you gotta love their twisted logic, huh,
Diana?"
* Diana gives Lou a smile like she's understood.
* Lou smiles back warmly and continues on towards Burg.
Iceberg: "Diana, you'll arrive Saith again safe and sound... We're
the best party in Caldor isle to defend you... and you have your
love with you..."
Lou: "...."
Lou: "....."
Diana: "Here's the bridge. The waters were actually really low this
year, so it hasn't washed out."
Lou: "That's a relief. Guys, it's just a short walk from here to
Burg."
~~~The bridge is a crude wooden structure that looks sturdy enough.~~~
* Bulix crosses the bridge.. quick-like.
* Ebony is still riding Ice.
* Diana grips onto the rails and slowly and carefully tries to make her
way across. "Stupid dress..."
* Lou follows Diana. "Well, at least it looks good on you, Diana."
Diana: "Oh, Lou. You're so sweet."
Lou: "...."
Lou: "....."
Diana: "I hope we don't get there too late."
Lou: "Don't worry. We'll be on time."
* Diana starts walking by Lou's side as soon they get to the other
side.
* Lou smiles at Diana and continues on with her towards Burg
Diana: "So you just came back to check up on Alex?"
Lou: "Diana, that wasn't the only reason, though. The others wanted
to get going, but I made sure I saw you before I looked for Alex..."
* Diana giggles and grins at Lou again. She looks like she's having
trouble containing herself with each line of sweetness.
* Lou grins back
Diana: "Whoops. Hold on a second. We got more goons to kill."
Lou: "Here we go again... Diana, you know the drill. Stick behind me
and everything will be okay."
* Diana slinks into the back row and reaches back to grab her bow.
* Bulix clenches his fists, and drops into a fighting position.
Ebony: "Look out, guys! It's 4 Fly Trappers and 3 Killer Wasps!"
Bulix: "_More_ of these things? Oh geez.."
Ebony: "We'll kick some tail!"
Lou: "Umm, do these things have tails?"
* Bulix cracks his knuckles and shakes out his legs, getting ready.
* Lou holds his sword vertical and chants.
* Ebony shuts his eyes and concentrates... HARD.
Lou: "Okay, I'm gonna need healing soon."
~~~~~~~~~~COMBAT~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ebony waves his paws back and forth through the air
muttering magical meows...
A wide arc of black light washes across the fly trappers.
Plant monster has critical weakness to Darkness attack.
Fly Trapper A suffers 43 damage. B suffers 39.
C suffers 41. D suffers 44.
* Ebony looks tired... but proud of himself.
Lou: "Nice shot, Eb."
Ebony: "Thank you... That's a toughie... Can't do that one much."
* Bulix shakes his head. "Man.. Ebony, that was.. yikes."
* Ebony smirks at Ice. "How's that Mr. Wizard?"
Iceberg: "Quite well, little dragon. You'll learn more in one
thousand years..."
Bulix lifts one knee in the air, then twirls around,
leg outstreched, and smacks each of the fly trappers!
A suffers 23 damage. B suffers 25. C suffers 20. D suffers 23.
Lou: "Nice moves yourself there, Bulix."
* Bulix is breathing heavily. "Dang.. that's harder.. than I..
thought.. It'd be."
Killer Wasp A fires a stinger at Iceberg!
Iceberg is hit for 24 damage. Iceberg is poisoned.
Lou: "Ohh, nasty..."
* Iceberg prays for himself now..
Killer Wasp B fires at Ebony!
* Ebony flaps his wings and hops over the stinger.
Ebony narrowly misses the attack.
Killer Wasp C fires at Diana!
Lou: "Diana!!!!!"
Diana jerks away, eyes closed, in reaction and barely misses
the stinger. She looks up at Lou with shocked eyes.
* Lou is furious at the wasp for attacking Diana. "Stupid wasp, if you
hit her..."
* Ebony thinks Lou finally knows how he feels when he sees Miko hurt.
* Lou's eyes are ablaze with anger at the wasp.
Fly Trapper A attacks Lou!
Lou feels a solid thud on his tall shield as the monster hits.
Fly Trapper B attacks Bulix! Bulix is hit for 18 damage.
* Bulix grimaces as the plant bites him. "Stupid plants!"
Fly Trapper C attacks Ebony!
Ebony floats in place as the monster misses pathetically.
* Ebony sticks out his tounge.
Fly Trapper D attacks Lou!
Lou narrowly blocks the gnashing bites with his shield.
Lou races past the enemies with incredibly quick movements,
sword in hand.
Fly Trapper A suffers 17. B suffers 18. C suffers 15.
D suffers 20. Killer Wasp A suffers 28.
B suffers 31. C suffers 26.
* Lou holds his sword vertical, still furious, chanting something
different.
* Ebony turns and digs, spraying the bad guys with dirt.
* Iceberg chants an strange icy muttering song...
* Ebony returns to the air.
Diana lifts her bow and takes *very* careful aim at the Killer
Wasp C.
Diana: "Next round, you are *dead*."
Lou: "Diana, that's a guarantee."
Iceberg casts Ice Sheet!
Iceberg: ""
A wall of ice is lifted from the ground and glides into the
wasps, shattering into sharp fragments.
Killer Wasp A suffers 51 damage. B suffers 54 damage.
C suffers 52 damage.
* Iceberg is in rage for the poison!!!
Iceberg suffers 3 damage from the venom.
* Lou has a nasty surprise in store for the wasp that tried to attack
Diana...
* Ebony scrapes his claws together
* Bulix glares at the plants in exasperation. "Die, will you!"
* Iceberg turns even more blue for the venom inside him...
Lou runs at Killer Wasp C with unnatural speed and disappears!
Killer Wasp C suffers a nasty cut out of thin air. 38 damage.
Second attack... 34 damage.
Third attack... 41 damage.
Killer Wasp C is obliterated beyond infinity!
Lou: "There! Let's see you try to hurt Diana again!"
Ebony: "That was a bit of overkill..."
Iceberg: "Lou you really hated that wasp..."
Lou: "You can say that again, Ice..."
Ebony's back hairs rise and prickle, then he lunges himself into
the enemy group and transforms into a raging ball of kitty fury!
All of the enemies suffer lacerations from a whirling black ball
of slashing rage!
Fly trapper A suffers 27 damage. B suffers 31 damage.
C suffers 25 damage. D suffers 26 damage.
Killer Wasp A suffers 38 damage. B suffers 35 damage.
Killer Wasp A is defeated! Killer Wasp B is defeated!
Fly Trapper A is defeated! Fly Trapper B is defeated!
Fly Trapper C is defeated! Fly Trapper D is defeated!
Victory!
Diana: "Aww... you stupid morons! I had a lock on that last wasp!"
Lou: "Sorry, Diana, just that I got so mad at him for trying to hurt
you..."
Diana: "Wow, you're pretty tough, Lou!"
Lou: "Thanks, Diana."
* Ebony lands in the middle of a bunch of dead bad guys, gasping.
Iceberg: "Now you see what deserves any enemy that only thinks about
killing our puffy-puff..."
* Ebony tries to get his breath back. "I wish... Miko... could have...
seen me..."
Diana: "Wow... Lou, this cat here can get really fearsome when
cornered. Did you have him checked?"
Lou: "Diana, he's okay, really. He even gave me this cool ring here."
Ebony: "I'm all weak now... I don't think I could do that again
without rest."
Lou: "You okay, Ebony?"
Ebony: "Oh I'm fine. Those guys are bad shots."
Diana: "Bad shots? Ebony, you're one quick little devil!"
Ebony: "Oh... that, too. Hey, Ice... You got another of those herbs?"
Lou: "Yeah, Ice, I think you should use some purity herbs on
yourself."
* Iceberg suddenly remembers the poison and uses the other purity
herb...
~~~Iceberg uses Purity Herb. Iceberg is cured.~~~
* Iceberg uses Heal Aura... "Goddess Althena enlighten us with your
power...and make this place healthy as your sacred shrines..."
* Ebony gets close to Ice.
~~~Iceberg bows his head, points his palms left and right as everyone
steps into the same row. The group is encompassed in a pale blue
glow. Bulix recovers 35 HP. Ebony recovers 26 HP. Iceberg recovers
24 HP. Lou recovers 35 HP.~~~
* Ebony smiles as his stinger wound vanishes.
* Iceberg smiles as the Holy power cowers the party... "Thanks
Goddess for hearing my plea... May Priestess Naviria be safe and
healthy."
Lou: "So, Diana, think we're almost there?"
Diana: "I think I... I see Burg over the horizon."
Lou: "Almost there!"
* Diana quickens her pace.
* Lou runs after Diana.
* Ebony flutters after the gang.
* Bulix breaks into a sprint, then walks really slowly, then sprints,
then slow..
~~~A nearby cabin is nestled in some pines. A woman dusts the
cobblestone steps outside.~~~
Woman: "Well, aren't you just the cutest little band of adventurers
ever?"
Lou: "Thanks, lady, I guess..."
Iceberg: "Ya bet! Leidi... We're cuter than a flower in Miko's hair!"
* Bulix rolls his eyes. "erm.."
~~~You approach Burg and hear the sounds of merry festivities. It
reminds you of the night circus in Pao, but this one is at high
noon.~~~
Iceberg: "Good! I want to go to the fortuneteller, too!!"
Diana: "Hmm... I can smell it already! They *do* have those apple
thingies! I can hardly wait!"
Iceberg: "Diana, I ate those apples and they're yummy!"
Ebony: "Yummy food? I'm up for that!"
~~~The group enters Burg.~~~
* Iceberg approaches the city in emotion... but, nah... Vane's better..
* Ebony has no place to call home, just another town.
* Diana grabs Ebony and looks in his mouth and his ears. "I thought
all you kitties had some switch or something that let you save
games."
Ebony: "Hey, that's not me."
Diana: "Shall we save here or continue on?"
Iceberg: "If it doesn't takes magic experience points... I agree.."
Diana: "Alright! Let's enjoy the festival! For Goddess Althena!"
Bulix: "Festival, huh? What happens at the festival, anyway?"
Diana: "Well, we pretty much just sing and dance and party and eat and
do whatever for Goddess Althena. Now is when we commemorate what she
gives to our world... or something."
Bulix: "Sounds like fun.."
Ebony: "I don't sing."
Iceberg: "Ebano, maybe Luna is singing... 'Good morning, Lou, you're
late again, did Ramus ever steal you? He's anxious to rob
any money from confident adventurers.'"
* Ebony looks around the festival... "Can't we see if Alex is here
first?"
Iceberg: "Okay, Ebony. Alex's house should be near... We can ask.."
Diana: "I dunno. I guess so, but the festival is so much more fun.
And since Lou wandered off somewhere, he's not here to boss us
around!
Ebony: "That Lou..."
Iceberg: "See this, Diana is a real bosswoman when Lou isn't here..."
* Ebony is glad there's no circus types around.
* Bulix notes that Ebony shouldn't be too sure.
* Ebony practices his art on another stone while they are just
standing... is able to get a humanoid form from the stone at last.
He concentrates on the little details now, does another time lapse,
seems to take to this sculpting bit with a little practice...
~~~The quaint village of Burg is indeed a sight of country hospitality.
Small fields and homes adorn this beautiful landscape.There appears
to be many groups around singing, dancing, clapping, and generally
enjoying themselves.~~~
* Diana runs around excitedly, clapping and singing with anyone she
sees.
* Ebony drops a stone and gets another, waiting for someone to ask
directions to Alex.
* Iceberg sees some peasants and asks for the Dragonmaster. "Simple...
er... Good people, may you tell us where's Alex's house?"
Woman: "Alex's house? Sure. It's that big one across the creek."
* Ebony drops a stone that has a passing resemblance to Miko.
"Let's go."
Iceberg: "Thanks, Lady."
* Ebony starts for Alex house.
* Bulix follows Ebony.
* Diana runs to catch up with Ebony. "Where are you going? All the fun
is over here."
Iceberg: "Diana, we have *not* come to have fun.. We have an
*impossible* mission... "
Diana: "Oh pooh. If Lou didn't wander off, I'm sure he'd stick up for
me."
Ebony: "Okay... we're just going to check the house... Then we can look
over the festival... Okay?"
Diana: "Okay, yeah, sure. Wow. I wonder where Lou ran off to? He's
usually the most eager to see Alex."
* Iceberg knocks the door.. and says, "Politen... er... nothing," and
looks at Ebano...
Diana: "Yes, politeness shall be our key."
Ebony: "Oh no, it's contagious..."
Iceberg: "Ebano, she said that, not me..."
Diana: "What? I don't sound dorky, do I?"
~~~After a few moments, the door opens with a stunningly beautiful
woman. Her blue hair is tied up in a braid and cloth cap, and her
dress is woven from multi-colored fibers. She looks like she's
expecting a baby very soon.~~~
Woman: "Hello."
* Ebony blinks, looks at the woman... is for once, speechless. Mark
this moment. There won't be many.
Iceberg: "Hello, sweet woman, is DM Alex at home?"
Woman: "Dee-Em Alex? Who is that? My Alex?"
* Bulix sighs. "He means Alex.. The dragonmaster.."
Luna: "Ah, I see. You've come for Alex. Why do you need to see him?"
* Iceberg suddenly recognizes the wom... or should I say Goddess? He
has his mouth opened, and he feels really speechless...
Ebony: "Are you... Luna?"
Luna: "Yes, I am Luna. Who... who are you? Nall's brother...?"
Ebony: "I don't know Nall, but I was told Alex is in danger. I was told
that I must find him. That is all I know."
Bulix: "Things are.. well.. the Vile tribe took over Vane, and..."
* Bulix sighs and trails off, realizing that he has no clue why we're
here.
* Luna looks down. "Ah, yes. The trouble in Vane. I can't believe Alex
wasn't back by then. Please come in."
~~~Luna turns around and slowly walks toward a stove and starts
boiling a kettle of water. There is a nice table set up.~~~
* Ebony follows her in, acting respectfully. He lands on a table.
* Iceberg enters the house and looks for a chair...
* Bulix follows everyone in..
* Ebony looks around.
* Ebony strikes Luna off his 'heroes met' list.
Iceberg: "Luna, nice to meet you... How is the baby? Will be born
soon?"
Luna: "Yes, we expect the baby very soon. Of course, I want a little
girl and Alex wants a strong boy..."
* Iceberg didn't think about Alex as the full of male pride ...
Ebony: "I'm sorry to rush you ma'am.. but where is Alex?"
Luna: "Alex? He and Nall went to the White Iceberg to the east to
investigate something. They've been gone for about a week now."
Ebony: "White Iceberg?"
Iceberg: "White Iceberg? One brother of mine?"
Luna: "The mountain of ice to the east. It's where Nall's sanctuary
is."
Iceberg: "I guess my ice magic won't be of any help there.."
* Ebony smiles. "Thank you for your help."
Luna: "So why do you need to find Alex?"
Iceberg: "Luna, that wimp of Lou just wants to look at him... He's
nuts."
Ebony: "I was told I had to. That's all I know."
* Luna looks at Ebony curiously. "You... are you Nall's brother?
Re-born... from..."
Ebony: "I don't really know anything about my past or myself..."
Iceberg: "Luna, Ebony is one of the hopes to the magic in this world...
The four dragons will live again over Lunar!"
Luna: "Yes, I've heard that. Who are you, by the way? From Vane?"
Iceberg: "Yes, I am Elementalor Iceberg at your service, Luna, avatar
of Althena... I am a wizard-priest under Althena's orders!"
* Ebony looks at Luna. "Althena?"
* Bulix glances at Iceberg and rolls his eyes.
Luna: "So all you've come for is to see Alex? That shouldn't be a
problem. I'm sure he'll be back soon. In the meantime, I'll bake
you all cookies!"
Ebony: "Well... that's nice, but I don't think we can wait for him to
get back..."
Iceberg: "Luna, the truth is that we feel that maybe your husband is
in danger..."
Luna: "Alex? Hmm... well he and Nall just said they didn't feel right
about how the White Iceberg felt lately... I assumed they just used
that as an excuse to go on a camping trip and get out of chores."
Iceberg: "Anyways, you can show us the way to find them... We just want
to see them..."
Luna: "Well, yes. I could tell you how to get to the White Iceberg
from here, but I find it odd you just 'know' you have to find him
and not why. Besides, the festival is here. Wouldn't you like to
see that? I'm leaving in a bit to join the singers."
Ebony: "The black dragon told me."
Luna: "Black dragon...? Interesting..."
Iceberg: "Luna, we'll feel more confident if we find them..."
Luna: "Well, if you want to go trudging out through the snow to find
them, it's your choice, but I have a feeling we're in for an early
winter this year. This is only the first day of autumn, so it
surprises me."
Ebony: "Well... I did promise Diana we could see the festival
first... We can worry about starting tommorow... We just need you
to point us in the right direction"
Iceberg: "Could we buy any snow equipment in the shop, Luna?"
Luna: "Well, you look pretty bundled up yourself, young wizard!"
Iceberg: "Me? No... I like winter more than summer... Ice is like
my life..."
* Bulix glances at Ice in surprise. "You have a life?"
* Iceberg eyes Bulix. "Yes, a long one. I'm an elf, remember? Maybe
this *Dark* elf will take your spleen out of your brainless body."
* Bulix rolls his eyes. "I'd tie your intestines in a knot before
you could say a thing."
* Iceberg ignores Bulix... "My robe would freeze your hands if you
dare touch me..."
* Ebony discreetly knocks Bulix and Ice's heads together.
* Iceberg discreetly levitates out of Ebano's range...
* Bulix is strangely unaffected.
* Ebony notes that if there is a shop in this town, we still don't
have much money.
* Iceberg will look for the next equipment improvement in the White
Iceberg.
* Luna looks strangely at Iceberg for his winter fantasies.
* Iceberg idly thinks that he hasn't precisely *cold* fantasies...
Luna: "Well, if you just want to get to the White Iceberg, you only
need to leave town, then go past the springs to the east, then around
the snowcapped mountains you see. It's quite a hike, but you shouldn't
have too much trouble finding it."
Ebony: "Thank you, ma'am."
Iceberg: "Now that we're here... Where could we heal ourselves?"
Luna: "There's an Althena Statue right outside. Beautifully crafted,
yet functional!"
* Iceberg was hoping Luna to heal us all... *shrug*
* Ebony looks at the others. "We can start tommorow... after the
festival... but where are we gonna stay the night?"
Iceberg: "Ebano, sounds like we need an inn..."
Ebony: "Yeah."
Iceberg: "Luna, are you going to sing? WE would be glad to hear your
legendary voice... out of the contest of course.."
Luna: "Well, I, uh... am not really used to private performances...
"
Iceberg: "Enchant us, please... Your voice is a gift from the
Goddess... Even I can record it in my musicbox."
Luna: "I'm heading out in just a bit. I just need some rest."
Ebony: "So let's let her have it."
Iceberg: "Bye, Luna, wonderful have met you."
Ebony: "I guess we'll see you in the festival."
Luna: "Whatever you do, I wish you luck! It was nice talking to you.
I hope you get to see Alex."
* Ebony heads out the door. "Thank you..."
~~~There are many people dancing around and singing. It's hard to
see through the crowd.~~~
Ebony: "She was nice, don't you all think?"
* Bulix nods.
Ebony: "Now where did Lou's girlfriend run off to? For that matter...
where did Lou run off to?"
Iceberg: "We can't even go to Dyne's rebuilt memorial without Lou, but
we can look for some females... Hot!" :Þ
Lou: "I'm back guys... I kinda got lost in the crowd back there. You
see Diana?"
* Lou shouts out, "Diana, you there?"
Ebony: "She's around... Somewhere... Partying, probably..."
Lou: "So, I heard something about the white iceberg? When are we
going there?"
Ebony: "After the festival. Might as well get some rest."
Lou: "Fair enough. Hey, it's only 11 am. Why not go now?"
Ebony: "Hey, look! There's that statue Luna told us about!"
Lou: "Woo hoo! After we see the statue, of course!"
* Ebony flutters over to the Althena statue
* Lou touches the statue.
* Bulix touches the statue.
* Iceberg knees near the statue and makes a prayer...
Ebony: "Okay, let's party!"
Lou: "Okay, for a little while anyway."
* Iceberg goes to listen to the singers... cute and they sing as
angels!
* Ebony bops Lou. "Maybe you should find Diana."
Lou: "Ebony, I saw that coming."
* Ebony grabs Lou by the front of the shirt. "Okay... You stop reading
my mind right now."
Lou: "Okay, okay, sorry, Eb. Did you get any idea what direction she
went in?"
Ebony: "I didn't see her go, but she wanted to go right to the festival
and not check Alex's house first."
* Lou tries to enjoy the festival while still trying to find Diana.
Iceberg: "Lou, your Diana isn't the typical girl that it's kidnapped
in the middle of the party, is she?"
Lou: "Umm, well, she wouldn't get herself kidnapped without a
struggle."
* Iceberg tries to feel Diana's soul with his seventh sense..
* Lou heads off towards the food area. "Hmm, I'll check the cinnamon
apple tent, she loves those..."
* Bulix shrugs, and follows Lou.
Lou: "Thanks for helping me look for her, Bulix, and you, too, Ice."
Iceberg: "Lou, she is your girlfriend, and the girlfriends of my
friends are my... er.. friends..."
~~~You are hit with a wave of various scents as you enter the food
court. Spiced meats, exotic fruits, and other concoctions are
available here.~~~
Lou: "Diana... Where are you?"
~~~Diana doesn't seem to be anywhere near.~~~
Lou: "Now, where is that cinnamon apple tent..?"
~~~An old woman approaches.~~~
Woman: "Try newt eyes! Only 500 silver!"
Lou: "No thanks, lady, but did you see a young girl, about my age,
purple flower in her hair, dress, etc. walk by here?"
Woman: "No, no one like that..."
Lou: "You sure? Thanks anyway..."
~~~The cinnamon apple tent is near. Its scent is strong.~~~
Ebony: "I smell cinnamon..."
* Lou heads towards the cinnamom apple tent, hoping someone there
saw her. "Excuse me, can I ask a favor?"
Baker: "Yeah! One for each of you? That'll be 40 silver."
* Bulix shakes his head. "No thanks.."
Lou: "No thanks, I'm trying to find someone if you don't mind. She's
a girl about my age, wearing a dress, long hair with a violet in
it. Has she been here?"
Baker: "Violet in her hair? Oh sure. She was just here. Bought 6 of
the things! Oink! Oink! Friend of yours?"
* Lou is a bit grouchy at the guy's comment. "Yeah, she's a friend...
Did you see where she went?"
Baker: "Nope. This place has been so busy, I didn't see which way
she went."
Lou: "Thanks anyway. Guys, where do you think I should look now? I
need advice..."
* Ebony lands on Lou's shoulder.
Iceberg: "Oh my goddess! The girl is missing!"
Bulix: "She's probably where the singing is.."
Lou: "That's what I thought. Let's go check out the singers, then."
~~~The crowd seems to be moving in one direction...~~~
Lou: "Okay, let's follow the crowd. Something big us going on..."
~~~In the center of this quaint little town, you see Luna walking up
onto a raised platform. Everyone seems to be waiting eagerly for
something.~~~
* Iceberg runs to get a good seat...
Lou: "Whoa, Luna's gonna sing! She's something else when it comes to
singing. Diana has to be around here! She loves songs!"
* Ebony looks around the crowd for Lou's woman.
* Lou tries to shout out again to find Diana. "Diana! You there???"
* Ebony flutters up and tries for an arial view.
~~~The crowd surrounding the platform is huge. It's impossible to pick
out a single person among it.~~~
Lou: "See anything up there, Ebony?"
Ebony: "Yeah, a lot of people."
Lou: "No sign of Diana, right?"
Ebony: "Nope."
Lou: "It's okay. Keep an eye out, though. Maybe after the singing, the
crowd will clear."
* Ebony drifts down and alights on Lou's shoulder.
Lou: Thanks, guys, for your help, though. I owe ya."
Iceberg: "Lou, don't worry. We'll find her... If you save her, she
will be even more sexy for you."
Lou: "...."
Lou: "....."
~~~All of a sudden, a magically ethereal voice enters all of your
hearts and minds as everything outside in the world grows suddenly
silent... Luna stands up and sings, her voice carrying strong and
far over the crowd.~~~
* Ebony wonders if Luna can go lyrics yet.
~~~There don't seem to be any lyrics, just 'la' and other tones, but
somehow, each of you know exactly what the song is trying to
express.~~~
* Iceberg is enchanted before Luna's song...
* Lou listens carefully to the voice and feels very serene at hearing
the music.
* Iceberg puts his musicbox in the recorder point...
* Ebony sniffs, wishes Miko were here to hear this.
* Lou hears Ebony sniffing.
Lou: "What's wrong? I bet you miss Miko... Don't worry. We'll be back
with her... Hey, you helped me get back to Diana. I promise I'll
help you get back to Miko."
* Ebony doesn't respond to Lou, is listening to Luna
* Iceberg idly thinks... but he keeps hearing a tale from the past, as
Luna seems to be singing...
~~~Luna waves her arms out and puts all her heart into her melodic
song.~~~
* Lou feels very calm and safe due to the wonderful music.
Man: "Psst... some Goddess Festival without Alex and his harp here!
How tacky he's off on some camping trip for the goddess festival,
and in Burg, no doubt!"
* Lou talks to the man. "Well, hopefully he's not in trouble. There
are a lot of rumors about him on the mainland."
* Iceberg takes his harp and begins playing an old song. "'When I was
alone as one, my heart was as ice so cold.' This
will be a hit in 1000 years time."
* Lou quietly hums along with Luna.
* Ebony wipes away a tear.
* Lou looks at Ebony, and feels sad for him, as even though he's back
with Diana, Ebony is away from his love, Miko...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~In Miko's village, night sets in... The night seems eerily loud,
with owls and crickets... and the occasional wolf making their
nightly calls. The night seems... restless. Not at peace.~~~
* Davis is sleeping.
* Miko seems weary. She has not slept the entire night. She remains at
Sebastian's side and watches him carefully.
~~~Eventually the night gives way to daybreak... The sounds of morning
birds are heard as the sky becomes a pail indigo outside. Sebastian
tosses and turns in his sleep, his breath a low wheezing.~~~
* Davis wakes a little.
~~~A single ray of sunlight breaks through the window and casts its
gaze across the bedroom~~~
* Davis wakes up some more, and yawns.
* Miko gives Davis that 'Don't you dare wake him up' look.
* Davis ends his yawn quietly.
* Miko sits quietly at his side, holding his hand, waiting for
Sebastian to speak...
* Davis stifles another yawn.
~~~Sebastian rests on his back and slowly opens his eyelids... just a
crack. His eyes are not opening well.
Sebastian: "Mi... Miko? You... you're going now? Have fun..."
Miko: "Sebastian, I don't want to go but I must... for your sake...
But... I will only go if you promise to... wait for my return. Will
you do that... for me?"
Sebastian: "He he... I Do I look like I'm going anywhere?"
* Miko takes a deep, shuddering breath and steps away from the bed.
She wraps her arms around herself, as if cold, and forces an awkward
smile. "Sebastian, I'll hurry. I promise. I... I won't fail you, and
when I come home, I'll tell you about all the wonderful things I've
seen..."
Sebastian: "Miko..."
Miko: "Sebastian... Yes..?"
Sebastian: "Miko, before you go... there is a flowerbed out
front. I started... it, but I got sick before I could plant
anything... . Please... put something there ... for Hope..."
Miko: "Sebastian, I... I will... promise." She leans back down to the
bed and hugs Sebastian, wrapping her arms around him tightly as if
unwilling to ever let him go. Tears run down her face for the first
time sice the previous day. Then, seeming to have gained strength
from his touch, she takes a deep breath and steps back, no longer
crying. "Sebastian, everything will be okay. I know it will. I know
what I have to do..." She stands up and walks outside to the flower
bed.
* Davis goes outside.
~~~The flower bed seems crude and unfinished. The dawn is still trying
to emerge.~~~
* Miko takes the seeds out from the flowers given to her at the circus.
Slowly, carefully, she begins to plant them throughout the flower bed.
~~~The soil seems soft and rich.~~~
* Miko, after planting every seed, returns inside. "Sebastian. I've
finished. The seeds are planted... I've carried them all this time...
Waiting for the right moment. I guess that now is when we have to
hope more than ever before... And I don't only hope... I... I *know*
that everything will be all right." She takes the stone from around
her neck and puts it around Sebastian's. "Sebastian... This is a
magic stone, called a Hope Stone. It has 'old powers'... It was a
gift to me from a wise man I met in a far away place. He told me that
if I had Hope... and believed, that anything was possible. I want
you to have it now. I don't need it anymore, and I want to know that
its power is here to help you stay well until I return."
* Sebastian tries to lift his head to look at the stone curiously.
"Thank... thank you, Miko. I'll hold onto it always."
Miko: "Sebastian. I'll hurry. I know you'll be fine until I return."
* Miko looks to Davis.
* Davis replies, "Yes?"
Miko: "Well, why are you just standing there? Take me to the volcano.
We have to hurry. You know how to get there... Don't you?"
Davis: "Miko, shall we be going now?"
Miko: "Yes, Davis..."
Sebastian: "Davis... You you know much more about what...
what lies outside this forest than Miko. Look out Look out
for her, please."
Sebastian: "I will do that. I will make sure she returns safely."
Miko: "Sebasian, I'm leaving now. I'll hurry back..."
* Sebastian looks satisfied at Miko's resolve and rests his head back
down.
* Davis says to Sebastian, "It is nice meeting you... I hope the next
time, it will be under better conditions."
Sebastian: "Yes... I want to hear all about what Miko has
seen..."
* Miko looks at Sebastian for a long moment and then hurries out the
door.
* Davis leaves with Miko.
~~~The path leading outside of the forest seems to be laden with
early morning sunbeams.~~~
* Miko follows Davis quietly. She still holds her arms tightly around
her body as if she is cold, even when standing in the warm, morning
sunlight. "Davis... How far away is that fire mountain? I don't
remember."
Davis: "Umm, let me think... It should take us until midday to reach
the place. Maybe a little longer..."
* Miko walks more briskly... She might even pass Davis up.
* Davis walks at the same pace Miko does when she catches up.
~~~Eventually you emerge from the woods and on a small clearing.
The road and Althena's Shrine can be seen over the horizon.~~~
* Davis says, "Well, at least we didn't run into any of those
spiders," and smiles.
* Miko acknowledges Davis' comment, but gives no response other than
a weak smile. She continues to walk briskly. "Davis, is it much
farther...?"
Davis: "It's still a ways."
* Miko looks up at Davis. "Davis, can I ask you a question..?"
Davis: "Yes?"
Miko: "I never really wondered about it before... because you have been
so nice and all... But when Sebastian asked me about you, I realized
that I really don't know anything about you... Where are you from?
Why do you travel? What is your family like..?"
Davis: "Well, I did live in Meribia, which is pretty much where all the
commerce, selling, buying, trading, stuff like that goes on..."
* Miko nods as Davis continues.
Miko: "As for my want to travel... Hmm... I guess I just wasn't content
with just being in one place. I was bored with my life and wanted
more than just to stay in that city..."
* Miko looks at Davis expectantly.
Davis: "And to answer your third question... Well, umm..."
Miko: "'Well, umm..'? Davis, is something wrong..?"
Davis: "Not really..."
* Miko looks intently at Davis. Her eyes are still swollen from her
tearful departure. She looks so pitiful that Davis finds he cannot
help but answer her questions.
* Davis looks like he wants to skip that question so badly, but is
having an internal struggle and appears to be losing... "Umm, well,
I would say they are nice... but not really my family..." as he
begins to sniff.
* Miko casts her eyes downward. "I'm sorry, Davis... I didn't mean to
upset you... I guess I shouldn't have asked... Sometimes, I just
don't think..."
* Davis replies, "No, you were quite all right in asking."
Miko: "Davis..? Are you... going to be all right..?"
Davis: "Can... can we stop for a second?"
* Miko stops... reluctantly. "Umm... sure we can stop for a...
second..."
* Davis sits down for a second and tries to bring himself back
together.
* Miko seems taken aback... Obviously, she did not expect a response
such as this. "Davis, can I do anything..?"
* Davis gets up. "No, I'm fine now," as he regains his composure. "We
can continue on now."
* Miko looks up at Davis as if she is unsure about what she is about
to say. "Davis, I'm not going to ask anything personal again... but I
wanted to say that if you are having a problem with your family, you
should try to make it better...Family is the most important thing in
the world. I never realized that so much as now... Please... Try to
remember that... I wish I could do more... You have done so much for
me..."
~~~The road seems pleasant as dawn turns into bright morning. A tiny
black bird hops up to Miko and starts squawking at her.~~~
* Miko's eyes light up. She turns her attention to the small bird.
* Davis notices the bird as well.
Bird: "CHIRRRRRRRRRRP!"
~~~The bird seems to be pecking at the ground.~~~
* Davis appears to be confused about the bird.
* Miko's face lights up with the first sincere smile in days. She
kneels to the ground beside the bird.
~~~The bird appears quite skinny for the size of its frame.~~~
* Miko looks carefully at the bird... trying to discern his meaning....
"Davis, do you have anything for him to eat..? He looks so frail..."
Bird: "CHIRRRRRRRRRRP!"
* Davis looks in his bag. "I'm looking, I might have something... Hmm,
nope. Umm, this? Naa, how about..."
* Miko watches Davis impatiently and smiles apologetically at the bird.
* Davis continues to look. "I think I have something...I have some
berries."
* Miko holds her hands out. "Can I have them?"
* Davis comes over with a some berries. "Sure." He hands Miko some of
the berries.
* Miko smiles at Davis. "Thank you."
~~~The bird hops up and down excitedly.~~~
* Miko offers them to the small bird. "Davis, isn't he beautiful!"
~~~The bird gobbles them up, making soft pecks in Miko's hand. He
virtually inhales them, looks up at Miko's face for a brief moment,
then hops away in the opposite direction.~~~
* Miko watches the bird depart, begins to follow him, and then
abstains... "I hope he'll be okay..."
Davis: "I know I've seen some of those before... It was near the edge of
the Katarina Zone."
~~~The road continues far to the south, with the colossal mountain
range over Nanza clearly visible.~~~
Miko: "Davis, is that it..? Is that the fire mountain?"
Davis: "In the distance, yes. It's still quite a ways from here though,
should be another hour or so..."
* Miko silently continues her walk toward the fire mountain, more
briskly now.
* Davis keeps up, just barely, with Miko.
~~~The familiar sight of the Nanza warrior encampment becomes visible
over the horizion.~~~
Davis: "Well, there is Nanza. We will have to pass through the
Barrier to get to the Marius Zone."
* Miko stops and pants. "Barrier..? What's that..? Did we do that
before..?"
Davis: "Yes, we passed through before... in the caravan, I do believe."
Miko: "Oh. The caravan... I think I was sleeping when that happened...
At least, I think I was sleeping for part of it... I do remember
Nanza, though." She hurries toward the familiar sight of the Nanza
Warrior Encampment. "I hope we're back by nightfall!"
* Davis begins to wonder how they would explain the egg...
~~~The Loud sounds of men speaking and people wandering about the
small civilization are heard once you come within 100 yards.~~~
* Miko runs into the midst of the encampment and begins looking around
for the Barrier entrance... "Davis..? Which way..?"
Davis: "I'm not sure, I guess we will have to look around."
* Miko asks the nearest man, "Sir... excuse me. We're looking for the
Barrier which leads to the fire mountain.."
Guardian: "Er... you mean Marius? Well, that's where the Barrier goes.
You two are the only crossers?"
Davis: "Well, yes."
Miko: "Yes, sir.... I guess that's it... Just us."
Guardian: "All right. I can take care of you right now. Let's get into
the office."
~~~The bulky warrior gestures the group into a small buliding.~~~
* Miko follows the man eagerly.
* Davis lemmings.
~~~The man sits down at a desk far too small for him and pulls up some
parchments. He scribbles something onto them with a quill like he
doesn't know too much about writing.~~~
* Miko looks away from the writing man... Hoping she doesn't have to
write anything...
Guardian: "Umm... uh... okay, I guess that's how it's supposed to be."
* Miko shifts back and forth nervously... hoping this process will not
slow them down much...
Guardian: "Alright, Guardians are 100 silver a pop, up to 3. 400 will
get you a carriage ride."
Miko: "Umm... Which is the fastest?"
Guardian: "Well, if you're either brave or stupid, you can try going it
all by yourselves, but we are not responsible for anything you
encounter inside. Or, you can hire up to 3 Guardians to tag along
with you. If you pay 400 silver, we can rent you out a carriage for
a free ride."
Miko: "I just want to do whatever is the fastest. Davis, what should
we do?"
* Davis asks, "Which way is the fastest?"
Guardian: "Well, the carriage can get you there pretty fast, but some
adventurous types appreciate the scenic route. He he."
Davis: "Well, we'd prefer the carriage."
Miko: "Davis, do you have 400 silver..? That doesn't sound like too
much."
* Davis checks his bag to get 400 silver. "Miko, yes, we have
enough."
* Miko looks relieved. "Good. We'd better hurry... I want to get back
by nightfall."
Guardian: "Umm... er... ok. Let me just... "
~~~The Guardian passes the writ to Davis upside down.~~~
Guardian: "This will get you carriage #17 over by the north gate.
Have fun!"
* Davis heads out the door. "Okay."
* Miko runs to carriage number 17.
* Davis heads toward carriage #17.
~~~There appears to be some wealthy traveler-types boarding carriages
by a huge stone gate cut into the mountain face. Three less-than-
gifted bulky guardian-types come out and look over the carriage.~~~
Guardian: "So... uh... you guys are crossing? and stuff?"
* Miko nods at the guardians and looks at Davis. "Davis, number
seventeen again! I have a feeling that this is a hopeful sign of
some sort! Don't you?"
Davis: "Uhh, yeah..."
* Miko climbs into the carriage and looks out the window, waiting for
it to start moving.
* Davis gets in.
~~~The guardians hitch up a pair of horses to the carriage and take
their positions. The carriage gets in line behind many others
waiting to enter the huge tunnel.~~~
* Miko sighs and turns from the window. "I hope it starts moving
soon..."
Davis: "Me too, Miko."
~~~The carriage slowly advances in line.~~~
Miko: "Do you think we should get out and walk, Davis..?"
* Davis doesn't look like he has a decision made. He gets out to see
how many cars are ahead of this one.
~~~There are only #15 and #16 ahead.~~~
* Davis gets back in. "Only 2 more in front of us... and we already
spent the 400 silver."
* Miko slumps back into her seat. "Oh."
Davis: "Well, we'd have to go through the Barrier on foot if we got out,
and that might take longer."
* Miko taps her foot nervously against the side of the carriage. "I
understand..."
* Davis just feels guilty...
* Miko looks at Davis and wonders why he has such a self-loathing
expression on his face...
~~~The carriage advances one...~~~
Miko: "Davis, what's Meribia like..? Is it like any of the other
places we've been?"
Davis: "What? Well, it's pretty big, about the size of Vane."
Miko: "Does it hang in the sky or is it on the ground?"
Davis: "It's on the ground. In fact, the only city that does fly is
Vane."
Miko: "Oh, okay. Hmm..."
Davis: "Hmm..."
* Miko looks out the window. "So do you have lots of friends there, or
just Franco? I really don't have a lot of friends... Just family...
Well, not counting all of you that I just met, but I really don't
know them that well, so I don't know that I would call them all
friends..." She seems to almost be talking out of nervousness...
as if she hopes to calm herself by creating her own distractions...
Davis: "Well, I had some friends. Not really a lot, though. About a
few."
* Miko looks back out the caravan car window. "It looks like there's
only one more in front of us, Davis."
Davis: "Yep, almost there."
~~~The carriage sinks into a deep thud as it slides into the dark
passageway and rolls on... The carriage starts its trip through the
Barrier... The four guardians assigned to you flank the carriage
while constantly peering around, on the lookout for danger.~~~
Guardian: "So where you folks headed?"
* Miko looks at the guardian. "To the fire mountain."
* Davis thinks Miko's explaination works...
Guardian: "Fire mountain?! Hoooweee! Aren't you an adventurous
bunch! Camping trip?"
Davis: "Well, not really, but we don't plan on being there very long."
Miko: "We're looking for a... magic fire... Aren't we, Davis..?"
Guardian: "Magic... ahh... um... whatever."
* Davis says to Miko, "Well, sort of... Not really though..."
* Miko looks over at Davis. "Well... I'm not sure I understood all
that stuff you were saying about dragons... I do hope you know
what we're supposed to do, though..."
Davis: "I hope so, too..."
~~~The guardians seem to assure safe travel, but the soft shufflings
can still be heard from above and behind the cavern walls...~~~
* Miko sticks her head entirely out the window. "This does look kind
of familiar..."
Davis: "Miko, it should. We have been through here before. When we
left Pao."
Miko: "Davis, I do know we were here before. I just don't think I was
awake at the time. I didn't get any sleep at all in Pao..."
Guardian: "Yeah, lots of people have been really adventurous lately.
I don't know what the deal is. Caravan from Lann yesterday had some
weirdos headed for the Blue Waterfall. I guess it is pretty, though."
Miko: "Davis... the blue waterfall..? That sounds kind of like where
Azura is. I wonder..."
~~~A soft breeze flows through the cave as the carriage makes slow and
careful turns through the tunnels. A Loud fluttering noise from
above, a Loud scuttling from all sides...~~~
Thwack.
Slice.
Hack.
~~~The monsters lie dead around the carriage.~~~
* Davis looks to see if the fight is... erm.. "Never mind... That was
quick."
~~~The talkative guardian wipes his axe on the wall.~~~
Guardian: "Darn buggers. They must be really hungry to attack at such
desperate odds like that."
~~~The carriage continues on... After the next turn, a spot of white
light is seen at the end of the tunnel up ahead.~~~
Guardian: "Almost there..."
~~~As the carriage emerges into the daylight, the bright sun overhead
is piercing at first. The carriage rolls up onto the sparse
plains.~~~
Guardian: "Well, this is where you get off. We're takin' all the
carriages back now, so I can't promise if we'll still be here when
you decide to come back this way."
~~~The guardians gesture you to escort yourselves out of the
carriage.~~~
* Davis gets out of the carriage and waits for Miko.
* Miko follows Davis out of the carriage, shielding her eyes from the
sun and looking for the familiar sight of the fire mountain....
* Davis helps Miko out of the carriage.
~~~Off in the horizon, a towering red spire of rock is seen emerging a
hazy black ring of smoke.~~~
Davis: "That must be it."
Guardian: "If you folks need supplies or food or anything, Iluk
isn't 500 meters that way."
~~~The guardian points to a small community seen in the distance.~~~
Miko: "Davis, I don't know. I think we should hurry. I want to get
back to Sebastian by nightfall. We can do that, right?"
* Davis suggests to Miko, "We should probably stop there, just in case
they have anything to protect us from the creatures in the volcano.
Supposedly they can control fire, and some are even made of it."
Miko: "But... but.. ... I guess... But let's hurry, okay..?"
Davis: "Yeah. I'll make the stop as quick as possible."
~~~The guardians hitch up the horses and swiftly disappear into the
blackness of the tunnel.~~~
* Miko begins to run for the small village.
~~~The pair steps across the dusty cracked earth of Marius towards
Iluk... People wander the paths of this small town engaged in
their own little activities. Many seem quite eccentric.~~~
Man: "Rare fruit? From the prairie!"
* Miko looks briefly at the man. "No thank you, sir. Davis, where is
this place you want to look at?"
~~~The man holds up a squishy red fruit of some sort.~~~
* Davis says, "No thanks."
* Miko suddenly becomes interested in the fruit upon seeing it.
"Wait... Wow... What kind of fruit is that? It's so strange..."
Man: "This is called Luna! It's super-delicious. Bathed by the light
of Althena herself!"
* Miko leans nearer to the fruit. "Luna? How pretty. Davis, have you
ever seen this fruit before? I've never seen anything like it. It's
so... squishy..."
Man: "Well, er... um. It's squishy 'cuz it's kinda old... hehe... but
it enhances its flavor! 3 silver each!"
Miko: "Can I have some to take home? I can plant the seeds in the
garden!"
Man: "Sure!"
~~~The man holds an empty hand out.~~~
* Miko bugs Davis for silver. "Davis, please... I know Sebastian has
never seen red, squshy fruit like this. I want to take some home
and plant the seeds."
* Davis kinda feels blah about it, but gives the man 6 silver for two.
* Miko holds out her hands for her fruit. "Thank you, sir."
~~~You take the fruit.~~~
Miko: "Thanks, Davis. Okay. Let's go!"
~~~Another man accosts you from the other side.~~~
Man: "Posters! Magazines! Pictures! All of the legendary heroes of
old bare it all!"
~~~The man cackles wildly while flashing his decaying teeth.~~~
* Miko looks at Davis. "Davis, what are posters and mag... azines?
Do we want those, too?"
* Davis ignores the insane guy and suggests Miko do the same, subtly,
of course. "They are pretty much not worth anything... I don't even
think those were authentic."
Miko: "Well, they have something to do with bears, so they might be
neat."
Davis: "Well, I think Ebony had something like those... Playsomething?"
Miko: "Oh, yes! Davis, those play-things of Ebony's helped us distract
the vile tribe before. Maybe we should get some later."
Davis: "Umm, no thanks..."
~~~There are some small marketplaces along the stone paths.~~~
* Miko becomes distracted by all the activity and runs farther down the
street.
* Davis tries to catch up with Miko, keeping the shops in mind.
~~~An arms dealer shines a heavy curved blade in his crude stall.~~~
Arms dealer: "For the love of Althena, look at my STUFF!"
* Miko trots over to the armor merchant and begins to look around.
* Davis follows Miko into the armor shop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arms dealer:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Long Sword 500s
Coral Sword 1000s
Long Bow 500s
Tinplate Vest 250s
Tin Armbrace 150s
Tin Buckler 200s
Purity Herb 25s.
~~~The grizzly arms dealer eyes you with a greedy grin.~~~
* Miko looks at the items and points at the coral sword. "That sword
is so pretty... What is it made of that it looks like that?"
Arms Dealer: "This is something special. Crafted from some crud in
the bottom of the ocean. I had to pay an arm and a leg for it!"
* Miko seems impressed. "Davis, why don't you buy it? It has to be
rare. A sword make of... 'ocean crud'! Wow!"
* Davis looks at the Coral Sword... sees if it is quality.
~~~The blade is crafted from coarse ocean rock. It has a dull beige
finish to it and seems quite slick to the touch.~~~
Miko: "Davis... what's an... 'ocean' anyway..?"
* Davis looks back up at Miko. "It's a large area of water."
* Miko nods, and seems satisfied, and runs outside while Davis looks at
the sword.
* Davis asks the merchant about the sword in detail and asks about a
trade-in for his Saber...
Arms Dealer: "That saber... heh. It's battered and worn. 50 silver."
* Davis purchases the sword and decides to keep his saber, in case he
comes across something, and really needs something that will work
100%.
~~~'Coral Sword' acquired.~~~
* Davis takes his Coral Sword and places his Saber where the Coral
Sword was.
* Miko waits outside for Davis... She pulls out her grandfather's
throw-thingie and turns it over in her hands, studying it closely.
~~~The object is small and made of crude wood, but has an amazing
amount of detail in its intricately carved decorations. Landscapes,
figures, and even stories are depicted on the device.~~~
* Miko prepares to throw her throw-thingie out across the plain.
"Okay... ... It's been a while... I hope I can do this better than
I used to..."
~~~Miko throws the Boomerang! The object flies out in a wide arc far
to the right, then flies in a relatively horizontal line.~~~
* Miko stares after it anxiously. "Wow!"
~~~The path then zips to the left and arcs its way back around.~~~
* Miko begins to back up... "Uhh.... uh oh... It's coming back. I hate
this part!"
~~~A sharpened piece of spinning wood is flying at Miko!~~~
* Miko begins to run away, but then decides at the last minute to try
to catch her throw-thingie after all...
~~~Miko's hand swooshes past the boomerang as it sails over her
shoulder.~~~
Miko: "Oops..."
Woman: "Ouch! You maniac! What do you think you're doing?!"
* Miko turns around slowly. "I'm... sorry..."
~~~There is a woman with a collapsed stack of parcels at her sternly
tapping feet.~~~
* Miko drops to the ground and begins picking up parcels. She looks
about for Davis.
Woman: "You... imbecile! Grr... what did you do that for? You only
konked me in the arm! Anyone who lives here knows that I only like
to be beaten about the face and neck!"
Miko: "I'm sorry, Miss... I guess I need more practice."
~~~The woman gathers the parcels and harumphs off into a nearby
alley.~~~
* Miko winces and walks over to retrieve her boomerang. "Well... at
least I didn't cut myself this time..."
~~~The boomerang is retrieved.~~~
* Miko looks somewhat embarrased for a moment... then recovers. She
looks over at Davis as he emerges from the weapon stall. "Davis,
where are we going now? To the fire mountain?"
Davis: "Miko, do you need anything? Or are you all set?"
* Miko seems overly enthusiastic. "I'm ready, Davis. Let's go!"
* Davis ughs. "Umm, one more thing..."
* Miko's shoulders slump. "Okay, I'll wait right here..."
* Davis heads in and buys three purity herbs.
~~~Three purity herbs acquired.~~~
* Davis leaves the shop.
* Miko sees Davis emerge. "Oh good, more plants. Hey... I remember
these from before... So.... we can go now, right?"
Davis: "Yep."
~~~The pair leaves Iluk... A vast plain of dust and sparse vegetation
lies between you and a sizable lake. Beyond the lake is a field of
smoke and fire.~~~
Miko: "It's unbelievable. Have you ever seen anything like that
before? I wonder where we're supposed to go... You don't think we'll
have to fight things, do you.."
Davis: "I hope not."
~~~The two step across the cracked plains and head south... Despite the
red glow in the horizon, the breezes that wash over the group are a
bit chilly...~~~
* Miko wraps herself more tightly in her elkskin cloak. "Brr... I
thought it would be hot here..."
~~~The brisk winds blow dust and tumbleweed through the patches of
grass and brush. The clouds above appear to be a bit more grey
and overcast than is normal during the season.~~~
* Miko begins to wander after a tumbleweed but stops as it rolls away
too quickly. "Davis, did you see that..? What was it? Was it alive?"
* Davis notes you can never get away from your former life... "Naa,
it's the wind that pushes it..."
* Miko walks more briskly. "This place is weird..."
~~~There appears to be a dense tangle of brush up ahead. It is jiggling,
but not in the direction of the winds.~~~
* Davis prepares in case of a fight...
* Miko runs up to the brush. "Look! It's kind of like the other one but
bigger..."
* Davis warns Miko and atempts to go around it.
* Miko leans close and peers inside. "Hello..?"
~~~Large shiny insects emerge as a vicious bat creature leaps up from
the brush! Two Stag Beetles in front, one Giant Spitter in back.~~~
* Davis gets over there.
----------COMBAT-----------
Giant Spitter A spits a venomous glob at Miko!
Miko is hit for 14 damage. Miko is poisoned.
Stag Beetle A rams its horn into Miko!
Miko is hit for 20 damage.
* Miko falls to the ground. "... I ... don't feel so good..."
Stag Beetle B attacks Davis!
Critical Hit! Davis suffers 32 damage.
* Davis thinks these things really hate us... or something.
* Miko looks a bit discolored... She chokes... "I guess I must have
woke them up, Davis... I don't blame them, really... They're probably
just afraid of us..."
Miko closes her eyes and whispers while pointing her palms at
Davis... A mystic blue sheen surrounds him!
Davis's Defense is boosted by 15.
Davis grips his blade and slashes at Stag Beetle A!
Hit! 22 damage.
Miko suffers 3 damage from the venom.
Giant Spitter launches a big spit glob at Davis!
The spit splats into Davis's raised armbrace.
Stag Beetle A attacks Davis! Davis suffers 4 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Miko! The attack grazes by her side.
Miko holds her hands to her chest and whispers something
to herself. She is surrounded in blue energy!
Miko's Defense is boosted by 16.
Davis holds a hand out as it glows an eerie orange.
A ring of flames ignites and surrounds Davis's body.
He raises his hand, and the flames gather near his palm.
A series of flaming pellets are fired at the beetles!
Stag Beetle A suffers 38. B suffers 41.
Miko suffers 6 damage from the venom.
Giant Spitter attacks Miko! Miko is hit for 1 damage.
Stag Beetle A *IMPALES* Miko! Hit! 6 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Davis! The attack misses.
Miko grips her boomerang, then lashes it out into the air!
It makes a wide arc, then slashes across the beetles!
Hit! Beetle A suffers 15 damage... The boomerang misses Beetle B.
The device swings its way around to Miko and she instinctively
catches it.
Davis squeezes a purity herb.
The cool juices flow over Miko's wounds... Miko is cured!
* Miko, no longer green, seems excited to have finally caught her
boomerang.
* Davis begins to think... Good idea...
Giant Spitter attacks Miko! The spit glob misses.
Stag Beetle A attacks Davis! Hit! 5 damage.
Stag Beetle B gores Miko! Hit! 4 damage.
Miko concentrates on Giant Spitter... A pale blue globe of
light is drawn from the bat and swiftly floats over to Miko
and sinks into her body...
Giant Spitter suffers 22 damage. Miko recovers 22 HP.
Davis holds his sword vertically, then steps forward in a wide,
stretching attack! Stag Beetle A suffers 28 damage. B suffers 25.
Stag Beetle A is defeated!
Giant Spitter spits at Davis! Hit! Davis suffers 1 damage.
Davis resists the venom.
Stag Beetle B attacks Miko! Critical Hit! Miko suffers 19 damage.
Miko holds her boomerang up, then tosses it...
It swings its way around and rakes the beetle!
Critical Hit! Stag Beetle B suffers 34 damage.
Stag Beetle B is defeated!
Davis casts Drain Litany level 7!
Spitter Bat suffers 13 damage. Davis recovers 13 HP.
Giant Spitter attacks Miko! Miko is hit for 1 damage.
Miko resists the venom.
Miko throws her boomerang! Hit! 17 damage.
Davis jogs up to the bat and deals it a hearty slice!
Hit! 24 damage. Giant Spitter is defeated!
Victory! Each player earns 9 XP. The group gains 90 S and 60 MXP.
* Miko falls to the ground. "I still feel kind of sick... But did you
see? I caught it every time! Did you see me? Look... I didn't cut
myself either!"
Davis: "Miko, I noticed. That was pretty impressive."
* Miko stands up, brushes herself off, surveys her wounds, and turns
back to the mountain. "Okay. I'm ready."
~~~The lake seems to be surrouned with soft marsh on all sides except
for a small section of shoreline embedded in a rocky area.~~~
* Davis takes the dry route.
~~~There is a visible path through the rough rocks leading up to the
lake, about 500 meters away. The warm convection from the lake water
and mountains beyond can be felt. The sky is full of grey dust and
silt around the red mountain... Eventually, you arrive at the rock
path.~~~
* Davis wonders if there is a way around the lake to the mountain.
~~~Walking through the rocks, you eventually arrive at the drier shore
of the lake. The waters appear cloudy, but still bright blue. In the
distance, you can see piles of ash and dust laying on the water's
surface. A good stretch of lake lies between you and the land of fire
beyond... The lake is enclosed by tall majestic mountains on all
sides.~~~
* Miko stops and washes off her wounds in the blue, yet ashen, waters.
* Davis gets into the water,partially hesitant, and begins to test the
waters for swimming.
* Miko gets into the water. "I'm still kind of tired from that fight,
but I guess I can still swim across."
~~~The water feels very queer. It almost stings. There appears to be a
mass of darkness in the water not far from the shore.~~~
* Davis gets right back out.
* Miko studies the mass of darkness. "Davis, do you know what that is?
I don't want to wake up any more cranky animals..."
* Davis suggests Miko to exit the lake as well. "I am not totally sure
what that thing is... At least, I think it's inanimate..."
~~~The feeling around your wounds quickly becomes near unbearable.~~~
* Miko backs up out of the water. "Something strange is going on
here... Did the water hurt you, too?"
Davis: "Yeah, I think it's the ashes... They probably are full of salt.
Really doesn't feel good on wounds..."
Miko: "Salt?! Salt cleanses wounds and prevents infection! Let's get
back in!"
* Davis thinks he was in quite long enough...
* Miko contemplates getting back into the lake, but just decides to
follow Davis. She begins to look for another way to the mountain
while gazing nervously up at the descending sun...
* Davis goes around the lake. "How about this way?"
~~~The only path into the ash field is beyond the lake on the other
side. To the south shore lies titanic mountains and to the north
shore lies soft marsh and the way you came. The breezes don't blow
here because of the rocks. An eerie silence fills the air, only
interrupted by the gentle lappings of the lake and the low
omnipresent hum of the fire mountain.~~~
* Miko changes her mind. "Davis, if it is salt, then it will help us. I
think we should swim across."
* Davis looks uneasily at the darkened form... "I don't know... that
mass worries me..."
~~~The form of darkness seems to be in a slightly different place than
when you first saw it...~~~
* Miko gets back into the water. She has forgotten about the mass of
darkness. She cringes in the stinging water. "Oohh... wow... I can
sure feel that healing starting to take effect... Ouch."
* Davis tries to think hard about what to do...
* Miko begins to swim across. "Davis, are you coming?"
Davis: "Umm, yeah, I guess I'll try again..."
~~~The pain on Miko starts to become unignorable. Miko is barely out of
shore before she cannot proceed.~~~
* Miko stops and falls beneath the water. "Ahhh! Owww!"
* Davis gets in... feels the burning sensation, notices Miko, and
rushes in after her.
* Miko resurfaces. "It hurts so much!"
* Davis gets her and goes back to shore.
~~~The mass of darkness very visibly shift position a few feet and
stops.~~~
* Miko stops and turns. "Davis... did you see that...? Something moved
over there."
* Davis begins to study the mass... "I noticed..."
* Miko heads toward the movement. "I wonder what it is? Maybe we can
ride it across?"
Davis: "I heard something about a giant animal or something around
here, but I can't totally remember what to do... I also heard
something about ABBA but I thought it was some weapon or something...
They said it was used to cross, maybe it's an item of some sort?"
He asks Miko, "Do you happen to know what an ABBA is?"
Miko: "Davis, you've never heard of ABBA? That's terrible! We know ABBA
even in my village. They are one of our favorite legends! One legend
says they came from the Blue Star... I think... Another says they
wrote -all- of our sacred music!"
* Miko looks on her boomerang for a carving of ABBA...
Davis: "I think I remember something, but I'm not... Wait, it's kinda
coming back, yeah... They were the local singing group at one of the
areas of Meribia... Hmm, wait? Singing? That's gotta be it... I think
it's music. After all, it'll probably wake the thing up, and bring it
here!"
Miko: "Davis? You want to sing ABBA songs?"
Davis: "I'm sorry, I don't really know any, all my friends were talking
about them, though..."
* Miko seems delighted and begins to sing a legendary Abba song...
"'I have a dream, a phantasy, to help me through reality, and my
destination makes it worth the while, pushing through the darkness
still another mile.' You don't know that one, Davis?"
Davis: "Sorry, I don't... But I'll try to sing with you..."
~~~You hear a loud, low sound of shifting movement from deep beneath
the surface...~~~
* Miko backs up. "Huh? What was that?"
~~~The movement stops.~~~
Miko: "Davis, was it the ABBA song that did that? Hmmm..."
Davis: "Hmm, maybe if we try again? I can only say that I'll try
though. I'm not real good at singing."
Miko: "Davis, we went through this in that one cave, remember?
Singing is beautiful coming from anybody! Please sing!"
* Miko continues singing, "'I believe in angels... Something good in
everything I see. I believe in angels. When I know the time is right
for me, I'll cross the stream. I have a dream.'"
~~~The shifting sound is heard again. The form of darkness grows slowly
larger and larger.~~~
* Davis attempts to sing with her. "I believe in angels... Something...
.. ... . ." (You know how it goes when you try to sing a song that
you have to clue what the words are.) and instead just hums...
* Miko applauds Davis. "Davis, that was good! Look! It's working! It's
making that thing move again!"
~~~The movement halts as Miko speaks.~~~
* Davis sometimes does a word or two "'I have a dream...'"
~~~The movement resumes as Davis tries to sing.~~~
* Miko continues singing and does not stop, becoming entranced by the
ancient melody... "'I have a dream, a song to sing to help me cope
with anything. If you see the wonder of a fairy tale, you can take
the future even if you fail...'"
Davis: "'A song to sing to help me cope with anything. See the wonder
of a fairy tale.... Take the future even if you fail...'"
* Miko smiles at Davis, who is really starting to pick up the melody.
~~~The low sound is heard louder and louder... The dark shape in the
water grows very large... A bulge rises up in the water near
Miko...~~~
* Miko opens her eyes just a little.
~~~Miko is tripped backwards as a huge green reptilian head emerges
and hoists her up on top of it! The head rises up ahead of a giant
green tortoise shell. The enormous aquatic beast lets out a low hum
of satisfaction...~~~
* Miko continues singing, after only a second's interruption. Her eyes
widen in amazement.
* Davis tries to get on, but fails to get on top. "Can you-- Oh!" and
notices she is still singing.
~~~The shell is even with the surface level.~~~
* Davis tries to get on again.
~~~The huge monster tries to roll his eyes up to see what's on his
head.~~~
* Miko recalls the 'Legend of Urashima' where a man befriended a
giant turtle and rode his back across a large body of water... She
wonders if this turtle is the same turtle as she continues singing.
~~~Davis eventually grips onto a plate of hard carapace and pulls
himself onto the shell.~~~
* Miko gets close to the turtle's face and looks into his gentle
eyes... She smiles slightly...
~~~The tortoise's eyes show the gentility, age, and wisdom of
countless decades. He peers into Miko's eyes with his heavy
eyelids as if he hasn't seen anyone in a long time.~~~
* Miko begins to sing more quietly and gently, moved by the turtle's
soft expression.
~~~The turtle slowly turns his raised head to the left...~~~
* Miko follows with her own gaze and looks to the left.
~~~The turtle slowly spins its bulky frame around to point toward the
ash field. His movements seem to be tainted by something besides
just his enormity, though. Either age or some other weakness is
making him noticably slow...~~~
* Miko takes notice of the turtle's awkwardness and becomes
concerned...
~~~The turtle raises a huge flipper in front of him. It is covered
with awkwardly colored splotches and lesions.~~~
* Davis attempts to think of what to do to help the tortoise, but comes
up empty-handed.
~~~The turtle moves forward... He sloshes through the murky waters and
skims along the surface... The massive frame of the tortoise allows
it to sail through the lake quite swiftly... Eventually, he glides
up onto the opposite shore. This shore is made of a fine light grey
ash. He slowly lowers his head into the ash to let Miko off.~~~
* Miko steps off and leans down beside the turtle... "Davis, do you
think he's sick? Or hurt?"
* Davis gets off from the side then meets Miko in front of the turtle.
"I really wish I knew. I think it's possibly from old age. Maybe
it's because of all the salt as well. I'm not very sure."
~~~The turtle breathes a heavy sigh, but maintains his satisfied
smile.~~~
* Miko maintains a pleasant expression. "I can try to make him
better... ... but I don't seem to be able to do that so well
anymore..."
~~~Miko feels a gust of soft breath from the turtle. It's almost
exactly the same scent she smelled when she first entered her
home after returning...~~~
* Miko's expression falters. "Davis... do... do you..."
Davis: "What Miko? Is there something you wished to ask?"
* Miko stares at the turtle and stops speaking. "Never mind."
~~~The turtle lays in the ash beach awaiting nothing in particular.~~~
Miko: "Davis, we should hurry."
Davis: "Okay."
Miko: "I hope he'll be... okay until we get back..."
* Davis nods in affirmation.
~~~There is a winding path through the rocks. You see the summit of
the fire mountain not far in the distance.~~~
* Davis begins to walk at a fairly brisk pace to the mountain.
* Miko runs toward the mountain, moving briskly and quite easily over
the rocky path.
~~~The sky above is dark and opaque from the vast clouds of smoke.
From the black cloud descends two vicious, reptilian, flying
creatures! Two large, horned beetles scuttle out and engage in
front! The flying lizards take up position in back! Two Stag
Beetles in front. Two Wyburns in back.~~~
* Davis eeks.
* Miko is taken completely by suprise and shrieks.
* Davis hastily but swiftly grabs his Coral Sword and prepares to
fight.
~~~~~~~~~COMBAT~~~~~~~~~~
Wyburn A opens wide and assaults Miko with a long gout of flame!
Miko is burned for 21 damage.
Wyburn B blows fire at Davis! Davis is singed for 19 damage.
Stag Beetle A impales Davis! Davis is hit for 15 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Miko! Miko is hit for 17 damage.
Miko casts Holy Defender level 10!
Davis's Defense is boosted by 16.
Davis uses Broad Slash level 9!
Wyburn A suffers 40 damage. B suffers 37.
Miko casts Drain Litany level 7!
Wyburn A suffers 25 damage. Miko recovers 25 HP.
Davis casts Heal Aura level 7!
Miko recovers 30 HP. Davis recovers 28 HP.
Wyburn blasts Miko with hot flame!
Miko is burned for 19 damage.
Wyburn B attacks Miko! Miko is hit for 15 damage.
Stag Beetle A gores Davis! The attack hits Davis's armbrace.
Stag Beetle B charges Davis... Hit! Davis suffers 6 damage.
Davis uses QuickCut level 9! Wyburn A suffers 27 damage.
Second attack... Wybunrn A suffers 29 damage.
Wyburn A is defeated!
Wyburn B blows hot fire all over Davis!
Davis is burned for 5 damage.
Stag Beetle attacks Davis! Davis suffers 4 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Miko!
Miko quickly leaps aside the attack.
Miko casts Drain Litany level 7! Wyburn B suffers 24 damage.
Miko recovers 24 HP.
Wyburn B blasts Miko with fiery breath! Miko suffers 20 damage.
Stag Beetle attacks Davis! Davis is hit for 3 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Davis! Davis blocks the attack.
Miko throws her boomerang!
Stag Beetle A is hit for 16 damage.
Stag Beetle B is hit for 14 damage.
Davis casts Drain Litany level 7!
Wyburn B suffers 15 damage. Davis recovers 15 HP.
Wyburn B coughs up black smoke a bit,
then frustratedly flaps his way into the front row...
Stag Beetle A attacks Miko! Miko is hit for 16 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Davis! Davis is hit for 6 damage.
Miko throws her boomerang!
The boomerang misses Stag Beetle A...
Wyburn B is hit for 15 damage.
Critical Hit! Stag Beetle B suffers 41 damage.
Davis grips the handle of his blade and swipes at Stag Beetle A.
Hit! 24 damage.
Wyburn flaps his wings at Davis! Davis is hit for 1 damage.
Stag Beetle A rams Davis! Davis is hit for 4 damage.
Stag Beetle B attacks Miko! The attack swooshes past her...
Miko holds her palms out to either side and chants while looking
at the ground... Heal Aura level 7!
Miko recovers 34 HP. Davis recovers 32 HP.
Davis swipes at Wyburn B! Hit! 21 damage. Wyburn B is defeated!
Stag Beetle A attacks Miko! Hit! Miko is impaled for 20 damage.
Stag Beetle B rams Davis! Davis is gored for 6 damage.
Miko throws her boomerang!
Hit! Stag Beetle A suffers 14 damage.
The boomerang sails past Stag Beetle B.
Davis rushes over to Stag Beetle A and takes a swing...
Hit! 23 damage.
Stag Beetle A rushes Davis! Davis sidesteps the fierce horn.
Stag Beetle B attacks Davis! Hit! 5 damage.
Miko holds her hands outward to Stag Beetle A...
A giant wreath of flame envelops the creature! 78 damage.
Stag Beetle A is defeated!
Davis runs over to Stag Beetle B and brings his sword down
onto the insect...
Davis's sword slams to the side of the creature.
Stag Beetle charges Miko! Miko is gashed for 17 damage.
Miko turns her hands over to Stag Beetle B and a burning flame
surrounds the insect... 72 damage.
Stag Beetle B is defeated! Victory!
Each player earns 12XP. The group gains 300 S and 100 MXP.
~~~The players are thrown into the world of SquareSoft, so they must
leap up and down and throw their arms into the air now that they
have killed things.~~~
* Miko bounces up and down in time to the jubilant music.
* Davis jumps, then passes out.
~~~Miko holds her hands to her chest and an intense expression fills
her brow... She is surrounded by a bright blue light. Miko recovers
53 HP.~~~
~~~The hot jets of steam emerging from the hot bed of ash begin to
annoy you. The hot bed of ash you are walking on can even be felt
through your footwear like a burning beach.~~~
* Davis attempts to continue walking, and nearly passes out. "Ow."
* Miko steps carefully... taking little steps and moving quickly.
"Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. I hope this is the... Ouch... right way."
~~~The towering spire of red can be seen very near over the next ridge
of hills. You can see for the first time the detail of the huge gout
of smoke endlessly pouring from the mouth of the mountain.~~~
* Miko tries to move toward the spire as quickly and painlessly as
possible.
* Davis tries to catch up with Miko.
~~~Rivers of bright red molten magma flow down from the mouth to form
streams across the ground near here.~~~
* Miko stares in awe. "Look at that... Davis, it looks like... fire
rivers coming from the mountain.. Where should we go now? Do we have
to go inside the fire mountain..?"
* Davis cautiously begins his trek along the ash-laden ground, toward
the fire mountain.
* Miko heads toward the mountain, stepping carefully.
~~~Around the next bend of red hills, you can see down a narrow path
of mountains a huge black gaping cave cut into the mountain of fire
itself.~~~
* Miko points at the cave. "That has to be it! Let's go!" She bolts
toward the opening.
* Davis follows with renewed confidence.
~~~Also surprising is a small shining structure nestled in a
safe outcrop of hills about 200 meters to the east of the
entrance.~~~
* Miko sees a brief flash out of the corner of her eye. "Davis,
did you see something?"
* Davis just keeps dancing on the hot bed of ashes. "No, why? Did you?"
* Miko stops and backs up a bit. "Davis, look. It's a building or
something. Over there."
~~~The structure seems starkly out of place. It is a finely built
columnal small structure made out of light blue marble.~~~
* Miko curiously wanders over toward the structure.
* Davis follows along Miko to the structure.
~~~A dark shadow seems to loom over the entire landscape as a result
of the black blanket of smoke overhead. The structure bears a
striking resemblance to the great Althena's Shrine east of Meribia,
but much smaller. There is a small black portal that can be assumed
to be an entrance with a small set of stairs leading up to it.~~~
Miko: "Davis, look. It's like the building near my village. Maybe we
can go inside this time!"
* Davis begins to wonder what such a place would be doing in a place
like this and is curious about it...
* Miko seems to be accepting oddities with much enthusiasm.
* Davis loves oddities, if he hasn't seen them before.
* Miko runs up the stairs and peeks in the door.
* Davis decides to knock.
~~~There is a simple, but neatly decorated chamber inside. A wafting
scent of jasmine incense can be smelt, washing away the choking
noxious fumes of the smoke outside.~~~
Miko: "It's beautiful, Davis."
~~~There is a crumpled mass of violet fabric behind the main altar up
ahead. Only after some realization do you notice this immobile,
static figure is an old woman.~~~
* Miko approaches the woman a few steps, then pauses, waiting quietly
to be noticed.
~~~An old scratchy voice speaks very slowly.~~~
Woman: "Remain here... This place has always been safe from the plague
and is still..."
* Miko sniffs the air carefully... searching for the plaguish scent
that lingered near both Sebastian and the turtle...
~~~This place smells quite pure. It's hard to imagine that this place
is circulating with fresh air, but it seems very breathable.~~~
* Miko seems relieved. She inhales the sweet scent of Jasmine and
remains stationary as the woman requested. She looks around at the
furnishings, waiting to see if the woman continues speaking.
* Davis looks around in amazement. "I never thought that such a place
could stand in an extremely hostile place such as this..."
* Miko turns to Davis. "Really? Where should a place like this
normally be? In a big village like the one you come from?"
Davis: "Er..., no, I meant, this area is just so well, hostile. Usually,
most buildings are in a place such as a prairie or field, but I've
never seen a building in an area like this."
* Miko nods to Davis. "Oh. Okay. I understand... Thanks."
Davis: "You're welcome, Miko."
Woman: "This place... has been here for a very long time. The land
around here was once a fertile plain. Lands change, the face of the
world shifts shape... but these shrines will not move or disappear."
~~~There is a neatly made cotton bed with on either side of the
chamber. You notice a bowl of dried leaves and crushed herbs on the
pillows of each bed, adding to the sweet scent.~~~
Woman: "Now is the noon hour."
* Miko backs up to stand beside Davis. She continues to watch the woman
carefully.
~~~The woman remains completely immobile, even when speaking.~~~
Woman: "You may stay here. I will appreciate your company."
Davis: "Thank you very much, miss."
* Miko looks at the woman. "I-- I'm sorry, but my brother is sick and
he needs me. We really can't stay..."
* Davis is torn...
* Miko looks pleadingly at Davis.
Woman: "Sick... sick... the whole world is sick... We can never escape
the past... The ancient plague... of the past.... it has been aeons.
But he keeps returning and retunring... I know not what power revives
him this time. Thousands upon thousands of years ago, he fought with
the monsters of the time, trying to eradicate life and humanity..."
* Davis intently listens to the woman's speech.
* Miko listens eagerly as well.
Woman: "The Magic Empire... the Empire is dead. But this one... He
lives on. He has been called from the ages past. From the dawn of
this world... And so it is fated. He must walk once again, and for
the first time, spreading his death and suffering..."
Miko: "Who? Who would do such a thing?"
Woman: "Who, my child? The ancient god of plague! The fiend of
humanity from ages past. He loathes life in all its forms. I am
prohibited from speaking his foul name within the confines of this
holy place."
* Miko repeats quietly, "The god of plague...?"
Woman: "Yes. The ancients in the Magic Empire revered him as a god for
how effective he was at eliminating life and establishing oppression,
weakness, and suffering."
* Miko anticipates a story and sits down on the bed. "That's
horrible! What can we do? Can we stop him? How did they destroy him
before?"
Woman: "He is destroyed. He has been killed. In the forgotten ages of
the past, he was sealed away by the Goddess Althena herself. Yet he
walks on this land today, right now, as if the past never occurred."
Miko: "But... That doesn't make sense... You mean... you mean... He...
... I'm confused."
Woman: "I do not have answers, child. All I can offer is sanctuary."
* Davis has nothing to say that hasn't already been said... so he will
listen to the conversation.
* Miko appears as if she really wants to hear more of this legend and
looks frustrated. "You mean he's come from a time before he died?
Is that possible? Do you know any more of the story?"
Woman: "It appears to be so, young one. He stalks the land right now.
He is very, very near. And he is attempting to rob our time of the
eternal flame of life it needs to survive the next cycle, poisioning
and corrupting it with his disease and decay."
* Davis shirks after the last comment. "Rob? You mean he's taking the
flame of life?"
Miko: "No! He can't! We need that flame.. .. Davis, is that the same
one we want?"
Woman: "But at least you two will be spared. Come, you can live with
me."
* Miko backs away. "No... no thank you. Davis, I think we'd better
go... Now."
Woman: "Rest, child. You are walking the path to Althena's light
with all of those cuts and bruises. It is not yet your time."
Miko: "But my brother is far worse off than me. He's in so much pain
right now... and so sick... I'll be fine... But I have to get to
him as soon as possible."
Davis: "But Miko, if we go in this condition, we may not even make
it, and if we don't, who knows what that thing might be able to do."
~~~The woman does not move or show any expression.~~~
Davis: "We can't take chances. This is the entire world we are talking
about, not just your brother. I'm sorry if I put it harshly, but we
need to see the big picture, and not part of it."
* Miko glares at Davis briefly, looks abruptly away, and decides against
responding to his remark at the present time...
Woman: "Little one, I admire your bravery, but wisdom has proven itself
to be more virtuous in dealing with these matters."
* Miko contemplates the woman's words. "Okay... but we're not going to
live here like you said... We're just going to rest a few minutes..."
Davis: "Of course Miko. As soon as we are ready, we can go."
* Miko sits back down on the bed and keeps entirely to herself, not
even acknowledging that Davis is speaking to her.
~~~The bowls on the pillows have a variety of dried herbs. You can
only imagine how many decades have passed since they were here.~~~
* Davis rests.
~~~The noon time sun shines overhead, invisible to Miko and Davis
through the looming blanket of acrid smoke. And so now, they must
press on, disconnected from anything either of them have known,
facing something neither of them knows anything about.~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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