Guardians of the Citadel — Legacy Forums

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#561

"Honestly, I'd prefer to have a chat first. If it's a half-dragon, it will be sapient, and I am willing to risk myself to pull a 'Bilbo' stunt and talk to it from concealment, to ascertain its disposition, agenda, and perhaps see if it needs anything."
She shrugged.
"Especially if I pull the chat off like in the book - and not like in Peter Jackson's movie 'masterpiece'."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#562

"Sounds like a plan Echo," Silveressa agreed with a nod, "I don't fancy our chances in a fight with such a beast, and I doubt we have enough drugs to effect several tons of dracolisk Val, unless we poisoned an arrow with it and shot it in the eye, even then I'm not eager to deal with anything that has petrifying gaze attacks." She kept a keen eye on her surroundings as she talked, the hum of the swamp a constant drone of background noise, but also a comforting reminder that all was normal given such ambiance often stilled when predators or strangers lurked and danger was afoot.

"Even if it is evil we may still reach some sort of agreement, then again who is to say what is evil? By some peoples morals that alchemist is evil by her willingness to abort my unborn child, but by another view she is neutral." She shrugged, on;y marginally interested in pondering the philosophical implications. "All I'm saying is we should not be too quick to pass judgement on something because it's labeled as evil in a game book, at the very least Echo's conversation will give us a sense of where it's mood and intelligence level is at."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#563

MysticMoon missed the reference to giving up his new, favored weapon. While the others were talking nonsense about parley and wondering about that hermit, he was off exercising and practicing. Feeling the heft of Headtaker and how perfectly it felt in his strong hands.

I wonder... what will it feel like to behead a Dracolisk? Is this body strong enough to do it in one shot? And when we get back, and Spiderheart is healed, I'm sure I could take the alchemist, watch as her head rolls off… Trapping me in that caustic muck, setting me on fire… He giggled softly to himself.

The big man smiled each time he practiced the head-chopping move, over and over.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#564

"Yes, let us negotiate. Let us discuss the position we will take to the table. It will assume it can kill us all if it decides it wants anything we have. It considers us food. We want it to give us its flesh and teeth, and to nest somewhere it's not leeching it's natural poisons into the aquifers that feed every well and field for twenty miles. Now, we will offer it...?" Celsia shook her head, slowly. These aliens would be the death of themselves, or worse.

With best of luck, she guessed, she would be able to hamper its motions with her icy touch, but more than that would take the advantage of the terrain, luck, and divine favor. But the last of those, it seemed, would be slim for her today. Already, she could taste the poison that the beast had befouled the swamp with, smell the horrors that choked the sacred font. There might have been worse things she had sensed in her life. But they had been things that had been awful to her specifically. This was deeper, sicker - the sulfurous smell revolted her in that deep, still place where the where the waters of her soul touched the depths of the divine, awakening an emotion she had almost forgotten. Rage. The need to destroy, the urge to shatter this beast against the swamp with the force of a tsunami. Nothing else would suffice.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#565

"We have nothing to offer. The creature is very unlikely to offer up body parts for several strangers that are packing weapons, and will most likely just kill any that show up without weapons due to being unprepared." Tusserk looked at his companions as he waited for any of them to rebuke the logic.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#566

"Are we really this simple? No. We will first ask if the mighty dracolisk, blessed be its scaly behind and feculent visage, has any requirements that could be fulfilled by humble adventurers who are awed by this level-inappropriate encounter."
"Duh."
"Given the usual pleasantness of encounters we had so far, I doubt it could be much worse, and it's me who is risking the neck anyway. Feel free to remain a good while back, for as you said, we do not stand a chance against it, hence your proximity only increases the threat you are in, instead of reducing mine."

With that, she strode on.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#567

The following was written by Echo and me in google docs then posted here after editing for clarity.

Silveressa hurried forward to catch up with her companion until the pair strolled side by side, the sisters two sides of a coin, one vibrant and athletic, the other wispy and willowy.

Echo turned to regard her as she drew close, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "Honestly, with the general attitude we have experienced here so far, I cannot blame the alchemist for being rude to everybody by default, just to scare them off and make them leave."

Silveressa nodded in agreement, “Rudeness is one thing, how she knew where we came from, and our names, it seemed as if she was anticipating our arrival and deliberately attempted to provoke us.”

"Well, can you achieve total separation between NPC and GM knowledge?" Echo grinned. "Bah, here I go again, thinking I could cheer you up with stupid jokes instead of addressing the root of the issue. A penny for your thoughts?"

A smile crossed the elven rangers features at her beloved sisters, (girlfriends?) sense of humor as she shook her head, “Well the revelation I’m with child, or children as the case may be is somewhat unsettling,” She paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

“I told you about how I needed a hysterectomy back on earth when I was a little girl after that sick bastard raped me, so I’d never thought about being a mother since, and our plans for finding a willing golden dragon, it seemed far off, and now I find out I’m pregnant by having some swamp psycho offer to abort my child?”

She sighed and give Echo a pained smile, “I could really use a stiff drink and a warm place to think this all through, not trudging through the swamp of horrors to face down a dragon against my better judgement.”

Echo could get clinical when she theorized, very much the reason she was accused of being a robot at times: "Considering this world seems rather underpopulated, any child of a specimen as competent as you is a veritable blessing. So, you have my support."

Realizing this, she added: "Also, congratulations on the wondrous recovery are in order!" A kiss on one cheek, on the other, a brush of lips against lips, a peck.

"Honestly, Honey is of no real consequence. Water down the mill. Also, considering how homicidal some of my groups were, she can count herself amongst the lucky to have escaped an encounter with PCs unscathed." She shrugged.

Silveressa smiled at the compliment, blushing slightly at the kiss and reaching out to gently hold Echo’s hand, giving Lucky a wink as he glanced back. “Truth be told I nearly turned her into a pin cushion when she lit Mystic on fire-”

Echo chimed in: "I was too confused to react, to be honest-but came to realize it's due to the ooze."

“Aye, for me it was a muscle memory reaction but I caught myself before I followed through,” She shrugged and nodded in agreement, “I hope we don’t run into her a second time, but really, are we going to actually fight a Dracolisk? Everything I know, and this body knows, tells me to avoid a throw down and walk away if our attempt to reason with it fails.”

"That's the exact fragging thing I will do, actually. What am I, daft? I am still torn to simply head to the monastery to tell them where we deposited Spidey. I'll even offer suggestions on how to place him on the lawn to follow Feng Shui."

Silveressa's face begged the question. "No, I do not actually know Feng Shui, but neither do they."

A music laugh burst from between the rangers lips at the image of Spidey placed next to a collection of lawn gnomes and zen like rock arrangements, “I can’t rightly disagree with your desire to head for the monastery either, it is the smarter course, also Bilbo had a magic ring when he spoke with Smaug, I don’t fancy your chances if the thing turns out to be hungry.”

"Ever so slightly related - do you think this thing," she swept her arm around in an attempt to encompass the world, "still has a GM?"

Silveressa was silent in thought a few moments pondering the implications. “If there is, it is likely one of the deities, or a pantheon guiding the world's overall shape, which makes me wonder how much they even care we are possessing these bodies?”

"So, no GM who would be aware what a GM actually is?" Echo asked her.

“I’d say probably not, the gods and goddesses likely see this as either some type of ant farm or aquarium with amusing pets, or some kind of petri dish they are conducting an experiment beyond our scope of intelligence to understand.” She responded with a shrug.

"So, I cannot rely on the laws of storytelling in guiding my decisions. Makes me wish we played a Terry Pratchett themed game."

The freckled face grew resolute. "Screw the dracolisk then, monastery it is, and if they object to us not attempting to save Spidey, I'll explain that now they at least have an idea of his fate and location, instead of a lost member and a bunch of dead adventurers in a beast's belly. I'll even offer them to turn him back if I level sufficiently."
She hugged Silveressa, rubbing her belly. "So, back to baby talk?"

Silveressa breathed a sigh of relief and acknowledgement, glancing back at the rest fo the group as they trailed them, “This should be an interesting conversation to have with them later on,” She turned to gaze back into Echo’s eyes for a long moment before continuing.

Echo shook her head in disagreement, "I am ever the fan of the idea that your reproductive process should be a private matter. It's not like your pregnancy will impair your performance in the near future, and when it does, they have been forewarned."

“I meant talking them into not fighting a dracolisk with a handful of arrows and cursed poleaxe, I get the distinct impression none of them have any interest in my child.” Silveressa clarified quietly.

"Fair enough. I will bring this up." Echo agreed.

“Speaking of my little one, and sorry if this seems a bit forward, but I would be honored if you would be the god mother of my children?” She smiled warmly as she phrased the question, a silent part of her wondering if it was too early for such concerns.

"Sure, puppies are cuddly, I've even flask-fed a few. See, my mom uses breeding dogs as a distraction in retirement" Echo said blithely.

Silveressa giggled at the joke and squeezed Echo’s hand affectionately, “That does raise an interesting question though, will my child, or children as the case may be, be elven, wolf, or some kind of anthropomorphic gnoll hybrid? If it’s anything like Shadowrun or some other games the offspring will be one one race primarily with a few of the other races features, like a human girl with a dog tail and ears, or wolf with elven like reasoning.”

"Do we have ultrasound or other methods of medical clairvoyance? And does it matter? They'll get cuddled and coddled. So, unless we can somehow influence their racial attribute modifiers to make them more badass, I guess we wait until birth to see?"

“You’re right, no matter who they take after, they’ll be loved none the less, I wonder how long Elves are pregnant for? Some books say nine months like humans, others seven to twelve years.”

"And twenty years in diapers? I certainly hope whoever designed this world wasn't that retarded. But, you may be looking at two years, like an elephant" Echo used the opportunity to jab Sil in the ribs. This opportunity would expire in a few months or years, so it had to be used.

Silveressa flinched and giggled at the quip, giving Echo a mischievous smile, “You know I do have an opening for a wet nurse if god mother is too challenging.” She retorted with a wink.

"Well, then let's hope the Elves have also the sympathetic lactation thing going on - or you should find me that gold dragon really fast. See, I am saving myself." Echo explained.

“Lucky is always the next best thing, besides we have an eternity of summers, why stop at a single pregnancy?” She offered with a playful wink.

"Having a single pregnancy would be biologically and evolutionarily irresponsible. So, I thought having a legion of kids was a given."

“Well in that case I’ll let you approach Lucky with your willingness down the road when you’re ready..” She grinned a second time, grateful to have someone like Echo at her side to confide in and share such a journey with.

"Don't try to set me up with Lucky," she responded with a smile, "Nothing personal, mutt." Echo called ahead to the canine.

Silveressa smiled and shrugged, “Carly’s still in there too, so it’d be mostly her I was hooking you up with, and my life’s complicated enough without playing love doctor.”

"I am a superficial munchkin, am I not? Still, my answer applies." Echo shrugged.

“Indeed, besides, I think we’ll have our hands full just raising my kids in the near future, talk about an unexpected journey.” She smiled and glanced back at the rest of the group. “Well at least my kids won’t lack for interesting role models in the future, we should fall back and talk to them about our decision to avoid the Dracolisk before we get any closer to its lair hon.”

"Well, let's get started" Echo declared, turning to address the group, "Hey, band! Hey! We have ever so wisely decided that we do not wish to get slaughtered by a dracolisk that is so far above our level of capacity, and instead will head to the Monastery right way. Especially considering Sil's with child, we should not take such stupid risks for a man we've known a few days."

“Especially considering once Echo progresses further along the path of the cleric she can easily cure him of his stoned status herself and revive Spider Heart down the road so it's not abandonment," Silveressa added more calmly, "It's more like a tactical choice not to face a creature with a gaze that can permanently and instantly turn any of us to stone as well.“

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#568

Mystic returned to the group, sweating but in a good mood.

"Hey guys, check this out," he said and proceeded to do a couple handstand pushups.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of living in this body.

"Wait, we're not going to the Dracolisk's lair? But… Well, isn't there some way we could blind the thing? Invent gunpowder and launch it at the thing's eyes? Or some spell," he said, looking meaningfully at Gyma. "We'd have a fighting chance then, yes?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#569

"Look around you Mystic. How many of are worth that head? Let me know. We might be able to prevail, but some of us are likely to find out how the afterlife works right now.
Some of us are prepared for that I expect, but I know I'm not."

"Besides, we still have this little fellow in the mix", val looked at the young boy the party was bringing with them. "I think he's seen enough blood. Maybe the monastery would take him in."

"Later, yes, we can come bearing the fruits of our knowledge - poisons, explosives, traps, periscope helmets to defeat the gaze attack, rubber coated canvas to stop the acid, etc."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#570

"But, you don't understand. We… I mean, I, need this. We've been running so much. Just get me in there somehow. I know I can take it. One good swing and we're in tooth and fat city."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#571

Some cast their glances at Tusserk, the taciturn monk who by default was Spiderheart's closest "friend" among the group to see what he'd say next. Some looked at Gyma, who was suddenly quiet, face buried inside the new magical book, his eyes gleaming.

Willem said at that moment,

"Look, Lucky, a faerie!"

Indeed, for a brief moment they caught sight of a hopping little thing...a pinky-sized little man with grasshopper legs bounding away from them, into the swamp's muck.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#572

"I guess he has a perfectly legitimate reason for going wherever he is going?"
Echo continued towards the monastery.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#573

"Thats a Grig I think..."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#574

"Does that invalidate the legitimacy of its course, intent, or agenda?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#575

"Does it matter? We have no quarrel with fey folk, we have enough enemies without adding to our list." SHe kept a watchful eye on Wilem, "There is probably some fariy abode in these parts."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#576

"Maybe... maybe he knows something about the Dracolisk...?"

Myst twitched a little, barely battling the urge to chase the thing down and take a swing.

It's only a little thing, basically an insect. A pest, right?

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#577

The carrot-haired priestess strode purposefully westward, changing direction from the Dracolisks slimy abode, toward the monastery from whence Spiderheart hailed. Sil was not far behind. Lucky went where Sil went, Val seemed ready to follow as well. The others hesitated. Celsia simmmering, Myst exasperated, his temper rising, Gyma still oblivious, intent on deciphering the book's spells. Tusserk in silent contemplation.

Somewhere nearby, a Dracolisk undulated amidst the murkiest depths of the swamp.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#578

Lucky bobbed is head in agreement at the groups decision, happy to leave the wyrm in the fetid swamp where it slumbered, flicking an ear at the rogues suggestion of leaving Wilem in the care of the monastery. "Perhaps, depending on their temperament, a bunch of tranquil elven monks may not wish to have an excitable human boy running amok in their place of meditation." He placed an affectionate paw on the boys shoulder, regarding him warmly as he pointed out the fleeing fairy.

"I like your idea of returning properly equipped for the fight Valadaar, fighting the beast on our terms is a wiser course then picking a fight without proper preparation and will hopefully prevent any deaths on our side."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#579

Turning his head at the mention of a fey, Tusserk finished gathering his items. "Faerie or Grig, neither is a good thing to play around with in a swamp. I may have been born and raised in the United States but my family is Welsh. You do not approach random Fey in a swamp, not if you want to live."

Tusserk followed the group towards the monostary while keeping keeping a rear guard, constantly watching for the tell-tale swirl of the mist of something moving behind them or to their flanks.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#580

Elsewhere...

She laid; watching, pondering. Cowering before her, a creature watched back with pebbled tears in his eyes. An elf, blessed with perpetuity by his troglodytic host. Crevassed wrinkles painted an expression of grey despair upon his stony features.

The unfortunate was one of a hunting party which had ventured too deep into her territory some weeks ago, and had been separated from his peers. Naturally, he quickly faced the consequence of his error.

She had seen his kind before. A regal species. Proud. But even Kings and Emperors are naught but weeping children when they are lost, alone in the murk. It is a special kind of fool who wanders through her territory so readily; let alone of one's own free will.
Vaecaesin... The susurration of a name within her mind; it surprised even herself. Whispers of a prouder birthright, promptly swallowed and digested by instinct and animalistic propensity.

A flash of anger streaked through her head at the frustration of a dissonant mind and, unfurling her wings for balance, she burst forth from her resting place. Four vicious, clawed hands engulfed the stone elf and with a dreadful groan of creaking rock, squeezed the statue into rubble.

With a sharp exhale, she sneezed a cloud of stone dust from her nostrils before slinking back into her place of rest.
Calm now, she stooped back down and drew a great breath. With a gentle ripple and a Plip, all was still.

It seemed it would be a quiet eve in her swamp...

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#581

He awoke suddenly, realizing that he'd drifted off a little during his watch.

A noise, somewhere close. He went to investigate.

Over by the fire, someone was hunkered down, messing with the gear. With a great grin, he hefted Headtaker, took aim, and swung with all his might.

An Elven head spun from its neck. Sil's? Ye gods, what have I done!?

With a start, he woke, realizing he was standing over Sil, his arms before him as though they had just swung Headtaker… which was sitting over by his own bedroll. He paled, sitting down heavily.

Maybe I should say something… It can't be right, feeling this way.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#582

Silveressa regarded him with a single eye, the other focused on the roasting snake that stood impaled on a stick over a corner of the fire, one hand reflexively, (but discreetly) on her dagger hilt as she watched his somewhat jerky sleep walking movements. "Easy there big guy, I think you've been practicing too much in your waking hours, your're doing katas in your sleep now." She told him quietly, her gaze flicking over to Lucky as he gnawed on another deer bone, his turquoise eyes unreadable in the firelight.

"Sit down, I have some black root tea nearly finished, and the snake will be done soon too, it'll probably taste, like chicken." She grinned and patted the log next to her, sliding over slightly to make room for the mans muscled girth. "You look troubled my friend, is it our choice not to march unprepared into the wyrms gauntlet? Val has a solid plan with rubber covered canvas and the like that will give us a fighting chance, we'll be back to finish it off in the future at some point, but only a fool fights battles they can avoid without preparing for them first."

She pulled out her water skin and took a long pull from it, extending it over to the fighter in a casual offer, "You can speak plainly, only Lucky and myself are awake in this darkened hour of the wolf, and we both are adept at keeping secrets."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#583

(The following was written by Silveressa and Mystic Moon in google docs then posted here after editing)

Mystic shakily moved over to the proffered seat and sat for a minute in silence, his face pale and his hands trembling.

"There's… there's something wrong with me, I think. The…" and he drifted off into silence.

Silveressa looked over at him in concern, reaching out a hand to rest it reassuringly on shoulder, “Is this about that load of bollocks the alchemist told us about demon possession and months to live?

He shuddered at the mention of the Alchemist and rubbed his hands on his arms, feeling the freshly healed skin and fighting the memory of the fire.

"No, not that… it's something else."

She nodded in understanding, “I’m no stranger to trauma myself, so feel free to tell me anything, I’m here to listen and help if possible.”

He sipped at the tea a bit, still a little lost in thought. His eye twitched and his fingers jerked, almost spilling the tea.

"Things are so much clearer when we're fighting things, you know?"

She nodded in agreement, “That’s how it was for me too back when I was in the army, much easier to keep focused when you’re in the thick of it and fighting to survive, not so much when you’re sitting around waiting for the next battle.”

"I've always been such a cerebral person. I never gave much thought to physical stuff. So, it's been weird for me here… I enjoy running and fighting and all that and I can't really focus so much on the cerebral things." He chuckled a bit. "I feel like the stereotypical fighter, you know. Just point me at something to bash!"

She grinned and gave his muscled arm a squeeze, “Don’t sell yourself short, you’ve got the brains and the brawn now, it’s an enviable combo most would love to have I’m sure.”

"And lately…" Another pause. "Lately, there's been dreams… and… thoughts…" He drifted into silence again.

“Bad dreams? Of that troll pit and other horrors we’ve seen?” She reached down next to the fire and retrieved a small block of wood, pulling out a small knife and turning it over in her hands. “Sometimes it helps to keep your body busy while the mind ponders, I have a spare knife and some wood if you want to have a go at carving something for Wilem?”

"It gets to where the only thing I can think of is going after that wyrm. Getting a good whack! in and taking his head for a trophy."

She nodded thoughtfully, “That’s understandable, you have the body now to take the fight to your foes, and a world where slamming your fist into some deserving jerks snot box will be heralded with praise rather than a law suit.” She giggled a bit at the thought of lawyers in such a land. “It’s natural to want to test your physical limits against challenges to see what you’re capable of.”

He nodded, but frowned. "True, but it's more than that. I need to go after something, anything. Better if it's a beast, like that Dracolisk, but soon… I dunno."

“Need?” She tilted her head in concern, “As in like an addiction need?”

His eyes opened wide. "Maybe. It's been so crazy up in my head, and I've been fighting so hard… I never thought. But, yeah, that sounds right."

Silveressa was silent a long moment, absent mindedly carving thin strips of wood from the block into the fire. “Do you remember when you first had the need? Any defining moment or event when it first was noticeable?”

His brow furrowed in concentration as he thought. "Nothing comes to mind, really. It's just been growing. I thought, well, at least I'm not hallucinating, and just kind of kept it to myself."

“Hmm, was this before or after that evil alchemist doused you with fire?”

"Oh, definitely before. In fact… I remember wishing I'd stumble across one of those needlemen in the swamp so I could take a good whack at it. Watch its head go rolling…" His eyes got a glazed look to them.

Silveressa resisted the each to gently slap the man to break him from his reverie, not wishing to provoke an ingrained response that would send her flying into the bushes. Instead she snapped her fingers in front of his face, hoping to refocus him on the present. “Taking heads? That’s the legendary name of that pole arm of yours, I wonder if perhaps it’s truly cursed more than just in legend?”

"I see them in my sleep, in my dreams. Sometimes when we're just walking along. So many heads. And these arms," he said holding them before him in their muscular glory, "doing the head taking."

“So if I was to say, mention that while we’ve been talking Valadarr has stolen the pole arm and tossed it in a near by pool of quicksand your initial feeling about that would be what ?” She kept her voice light and casual as she asked it, glancing over at Mystics bed roll near the edge of camp.

Mystic's eyes flew wide and he tossed the tea aside as he leaped up. His short sword leaped into his hand and he ran for his bedroll. "I'll kill him!"

She quickly raised a hand to stay Lucky from lunging, placing the half carved block of wood at her feet and returning the knife to it’s sheathe on her belt, waiting calmly for Mystic to return once he saw his polearm was indeed safe.

He froze, dropped his sword, then fell to his knees. "I thought… I would never…" His head fell in shame.

“Tell me know of a volcano we can drop that thing into Lucky.” She said quietly to the Dire Wolf, standing up and walking over to put an arm gently around Mystic’s shoulder. “The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one, in this case I think you will agree, your connection to this pole arm is a problem?”

"Or maybe I just need to kill more things?" He said, hope filling his eyes.

“The axe is cursed my friend, likely in the end once it has taken total control of you the last victim will be yourself after it has driven you to take the lives of all you call friend.” She shook her head. “If I had known the curse when I studied it back then I would have warned you against using it.”

"Can we try it, though? Just a little longer, a few more fights. See if I can master it. Maybe the urge won't be so strong once I've been able to… you know… take a few. Just a few."

“If you’re wrong by that point you may no longer be able to stop yourself, and the next heads you take could be the ones in this camp.” She gestured to their slumbering comrades with one arm. “With curses sometimes the one cursed is the only one that can free themselves, in this case you would need to be the one to toss the pole arm into the quagmire.”

"Let me think about it? Not long, I just need to think."

She nodded and raised her chin slightly, pulling back her cloak to let the moonlight highlight her pale neck. “I trust our friendship is stronger than any curse, and that urge you’re feeling right now, you know it’s not of your own choosing, free yourself from it and I will do my best to replace your lost weapon with something better as soon as the chance presents itself.”

He looked at her neck and his face went white once again. Then he set his mouth into a firm line and stood up. "I'll think about it."

She nodded and closed her eyes briefly, “You’re stronger than some enchanted piece of metal, in your mind as well as your body, once you break that curse you’ll see just how amazing you really are.”

He nodded, his face a mask, and walked away. He grabbed up Headtaker and headed away from the camp. "I'll be back in a few hours."

She nodded giving him an accepting smile, “If you desire, Lucky and me will go with you, wherever your path leads.”

"No, I need to do this alone."

“Stay safe, if you’re not back by dawn Lucky and me will come find you to make sure you didn’t get lost.” She returned to the fireside, sitting down next to lucky and pulling the snake carcass from the fire, giving her mate a sly smile. “Not the most delectable midnight snack, but it beats left over take out.”

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#584

Mystic walked until he was out of sight of the others, then circled around and headed toward the Dracolisk.

Just one head, and then I'll be right again.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#585

Purposefully he strode forward, slop, slip, slop across the drenched terrain, mumbling to himself. All he knew was that headtaker felt d**n good in his warm, meaty grasp. Like a friend, more so than a halberd, his only true friend in this crazy, random, unforgiving world, supporting the giant warrior's every step, cooing in his brain...wait, what? Well. whatever.

He paused, studying the terrain. Here there was more plant-life, but it was of the twisted, bizarre variety, flowers and bushes that looked familiar on Earth, but here, somehow more malevolent and forbidding. Fields of giant sedge rustled at his approach, despite the fact that there was no breeze. As if warning him off his trek.

A huge pitcher plant came into view, half as tall as him, mouth yawning wide. He paused again to catch his breath, studying its contours, before setting off once more. For a second he swore he noticed several tiny grasshopper-men jumping from the pitcher plants gaping maw, at his approach. Well, whatever, too hard to behead them. He went on.

Finally, he came again to a full stop. This had to be it! Only silence accompanied the scene before him...

[img width=400 height=200]http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/witcher/images/b/b6/Places_Boxers_cave.png/revision/latest?cb=20080517115138

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#586

Lucky knew before Silveressa, but minutes after dawn, they were both up and concerned. Mystic was no where to be seen. The monastery was so close now, but that damn blue-tattooe'd warrior...

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#587

Val was up early. He always was. He couldn't sleep past dawn outdoors.

"Where the hell is Mystic?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#588

Mystic stopped, paralyzed with indecision. Did he go charging in? Hope he could catch it off guard? Maybe try to parley with it like the others had suggested? Attempt to sneak up? Dammit, I've always been terrible at strategy! What do I do now with my foolish self? This seemed like the right thing to do just a moment ago!"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#589

"Sil had a chat with him about that cursed pole arm taking over his mind, tried to talk him into tossing it into the nearest quick sand pit, but he said he needed to be alone for a while to sort it out." Lucky growled in frustration. "We should make for the monastery and gather a few nets and some tranq darts, separating him from that thing is going to take force, and there's every chance we'll wind up killing him without some way to subdue him first, he's not a small man."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#590

"Do you honestly expect them to have Tranc darts? We either go get him now, or leave him to the swamp."

"Gyma - surely you have a sleep spell? That would work quite nicely if you do."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#591

"They likely have sleeping herbs and other healing remedies, I can fashion a traq dart of three from that, at the very least nets would be advisable, a sleep spell won.t last for long and when he wakes up he's going to be a handful. "You do know last night he drew a sword and was prepared to kill you at the mere suggestion you might have taken his polearm right?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#592

Silv's announcement startled him. But still...

"Sleep spells last plenty long enough to bind someone or disarm them. Going to the monastery is the same as letting him die if he's taking on that worm. Are you okay with that?"

That fucking polearm. Should have tossed in the drink and let the eels mess with it. Damnnit.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#593

Prying his eyes open at the conversation in the camp, Tusserk sat up and listened to what was being said. “When was the last time someone saw him? How out of the ordinary is this for him? I am hoping your guys would know since he is your friend.”

“Continue on towards the monks to get help or turn around and follow one that is potentially under the influence of a cursed item. Tracking someone in a swamp with a few hours head start is damn near futile. Walking into a potential trap is even worse.” Tusserk turned his gaze towards the group. “I would say we continue to the monks, and attempt to retrieve him once we have reinforcements.”

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#594

"Sleep spells last plenty long enough to bind someone or disarm them. Going to the monastery is the same as letting him die if he's taking on that worm. Are you okay with that?"

"That depends, are you okay with letting some us die trying to save him?" She glared at no in particular and began to pack up her bed roll, "Like you said in our last discussion, we're likely to lose 2-3 of us fighting that wyrm unprepared, the question now is are two or three of us likely dying worth a chance at saving Mystic? Bearing in mind if he's already dead we've engaged the wyrm for naught and lost still more people."

“I would say we continue to the monks, and attempt to retrieve him once we have reinforcements.”

She nodded in agreement with the monks wisdom, "I'm inclined to agree, at the very least we can leave Wilem in their care long enough to mount a rescue without having to worry about the boy being hurt, there's also the matter of if we plan to rush to catch up to him means we'll be making plenty of noise, so the wyrm will hear us coming well in advance, so surprise will be on it's side." She sighed, "If we plan to go careful and quiet then we might as well head for the monastery first, the battle will be over before we reach him if we don't run there post haste."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#595

"Tracking someone in a swamp with a few hours head start is damn near futile. Walking into a potential trap is even worse.”

"Tracking him won't be an issue, the man hasn't bathed in days his scent trail will be easy to follow." Lucky added with a growl, "But you're both right, hurrying to catch him before he fights that thing means we'll be running into a trap, not something all of us would survive."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#596

"Really, okay, okay." said Valadaar, his face red, "Fuck him then. We can get his statue later, or soup, or chopped up pieces later. This is just a game, and he can roll up a new character. You're throwing up reason after reason, but its the same answer - His stupid fault - fuck him."

"Well its not, its MINE. I gave him that fucking ax. He's no druggie - that fucking ax was cursed, and he failed his fucking saving throw, and now fuck him right?"

"Okay then, fuck it. We go to the monastery. We live a little longer, but I hope you can live with yourselves."

He was crying now, though it was unclear if it was sadness or frustration.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#597

And with that outburst by the usually calm and sedate thief, Mystic's fate was sealed...

Off to the monastery they went. Only Celsia paused in momentary indecision (ooc: in case you want to follow Myst, SnO, up to you, post already :P)

They travelled in near silence each lost inside their own thoughts. Gyma could not get his nose out of his new spell book. This was a new look for the loquacious academic. He was quiet.

The swamp at one point gave way to peat bog and then hours later to a crunchy, semi-dry, lichen field stretching in every direction. Gnarled, twisted trees, seemingly devoid of life, spider-webbed this newish landscape. Later still the ground became moist once more. At last they spied their destination. It began to drizzle much to Lianterie's chagrin.

A huge edifice of gray-green stone, alarmingly spartan and rectangular, rose amidst the forbidding flatness a half mile away. From its core rose an additional stone tower, as bland as its base.

As they approached, they noticed something else. Well before the monastery, sitting upon the bleak expanse was a giant stone head, swathed in a layer of lavender lichen. Eight feet tall, and equally wide, the sculpture was of a human-ish face, eyes closed, mouth closed, lip corners slightly upturned as if mildly amused by some ancient private anecdote.

More disturbingly, several bodies lay strewn haphazardly upon the ground, beside the giant head. Monks by the looks of their clothes. Three corpses all bloody and mangled. Monks fighting monks, Tusserk quickly ascertained by casually studying the injuries to the bodies. Welts, horrible bruising, abrasions, broken bones...

A murder of crows rose cawing from the corpses at their approach, annoyed at the interruption to their feast.

The monastery was only a few hundred yards away.

Lianterie's adorable carrot-colored brows scrunched up anew. More distractions. Issues at the monastery apparently too. Blast the d**n professor and his s**tty, depressing world.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#598

Meanwhile...

Mystic dipped his toe into the murky waters of the pool surrounding the cave. What did that water-elementalist Celsia mention? Something about the water being befouled? Several bubbles of methane or gods knew what, "plopped" up around his toe, mocking up.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#599

"I'm not okay with it by a long shot Val, I was the one that initially identified the weapon for him, it's just as much my fault we didn't realize the danger, but you had no idea it was cursed when you gave it to him, none of us did, blaming yourself isn't going to help matters, but neither is getting ourselves killed charging in blind." She stepped forward and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her own face a mask of sadness.

"Once we get the proper equipment, like that rubber coated canvas idea you had, and leave Wilhem somewhere safe, I fully intend to go back and retrieve his stone body, and Spiders, and destroy that cursed polearm before it can afflict anyone else, and avenge our friends passing and restore his stone to flesh, if enough of you are willing to join me on the endeavor that is?"

* * * * * *

Later on at the monastery...

"So much for that plan..." She said bitterly, eyeing the hulking stone edifice and shaking her head. "We can go see if anyone's alive inside at least, or move on to the next mark of civilization on the map, thoughts people?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#600

Mystic stopped at the pool's edge, the old fears about wading into murky water warring with the suicidal urge to run in and take the Dracolisk's head.

What was that old poem? Something about a snicker-snack and the jabberwocky's head? This is just like that..., he thought, trying to steel his nerves.

Damn, that's deep. How do I cross now?