Session Start: Thu Jul 31 22:41:23 2003 Session Ident: #pvpexaltedrp [22:41] * Topic is 'Exalted: "If a man has you entirely at his mercy, then hope like hell that man is an evil man. Because the evil like power, power over people, and they'll want to see you in fear. They'll want you to know you're going to die. So they'll talk. They'll Gloat... a good man will kill you with hardly a word."' [22:43] woo! [22:43] So, I run away from the demons, I'm chasing the mysterious doom. [22:44] the air tastes slightly acidic here, but it is nothing as bad as the horrible, mind-breaking laughter of the demons bound behind you. There are scars here and there in the metallic tube, and on closer inspection you see that the tubes must have had some slight tilt that isn't present now - all the drips, trails, and rivlets all point in the same direction.... towards the mysterious doom. [22:45] If they avoided the demons, I can probably kick their ass. [22:45] I hope. [22:46] Follow the doom like ninja. [22:47] With great stealth, and ready to flip out. [22:47] perhaps. you walk for what seems to be an eternity along the pipe, never seeing a branch off, but here and there are glowing orbs of light that cast eerie shadows, and recessed panels and abstract trinkets that you've never seen before. [22:47] Is the trail still strong? [22:48] you have some kind of tracking charm? [22:49] yah. [22:49] When I'm hunting something, I get extra dices. [22:49] ok does it give you something to roll? [22:50] Dice Script Active [22:50] * Jynaru gets... 4 dice to all awareness/stealth rolls. [22:50] per + awe then [22:51] !ex 10 [22:51] * *Jynaru (10)* 6, 9, 6, 10, 10, 10, 4, 2, 9, 4, Successes : 8 [22:52] Heh. Rule one: Don't make me hunt you. [22:52] Rule two: Seriously, don't. [22:52] you find fragments of cloth and hair and rope as you follow your quarry. Almost too small to be seen, these signs nevertheless indicate that there are 5 seperate people, and scuffle marks show that at least two of them are being dragged along unwillingly. [22:53] Excellent. I can shoot two of them twice. [22:53] heh [22:53] The air seems to thicken here, and suddenly, there is a stiff gust of stale wind that makes your skin crawl and eyes water. sta + res to avoid gagging! [22:54] !ex 5 +wp [22:54] * *Jynaru (5+1)* 1, 4, 5, 10, 6, Successes : 3 [22:55] I am a dynast. We do not fear stale air. [22:55] yay! the "burp" passes you by quickly, leaving ill air behind, but it does not bother you too much... in the distance, you think you see a change in the tube... maybe a ring, of some sort, you find it difficult to see beyond that.' [22:57] Hrmmm.... [22:57] Slow down when I approach the shield. Traps are bad. [22:58] as you approach the ring you see that beyond it is a large room, and then the tube continues onwards into the mists. roll per + awe .... [22:58] !ex 10 [22:58] * *Jynaru (10)* 6, 1, 6, 7, 3, 6, 3, 4, 6, 1, Successes : 1 [22:59] you hear nothing and see nothing...... until you are close enough to see the ring as just some kind of huge coupler fitting.... and then you also see that two people are hanging from the ceiling by ropes....... [22:59] But who? [23:00] can't tell, one seems to be a guy, one is probably a girl. [23:00] How high? [23:01] it's a large room, too large to jump across in a single leap, you can't see the whole room from this position but what yuo can see suggests the room is either spherical or cylindrical. [23:01] maybe... 4oo yards in diameter. [23:01] Hrm. [23:01] From ceiling to floor? [23:01] from cieling to floor and from coupling to coupling. [23:02] unless it isn't a sphere, then it would be less or more. [23:02] Hrmm... [23:02] the two hanging people are maybe 40 yards apart and at different heights, even. [23:02] Let's get closer, using the mists for cover. [23:02] See who they are. [23:03] dex/wits + stealth [23:03] !ex 12 [23:03] * *Jynaru (12)* 9, 8, 4, 5, 2, 7, 5, 9, 2, 5, 2, 10, Successes : 6 [23:03] !ex 12 [23:03] * *Storyteller (12)* 10, 3, 3, 3, 6, 7, 4, 2, 6, 3, 5, 1, Successes : 3 [23:04] you stealthify into the shadow of the great coupling! [23:05] it is Sanyet and Kylara, they are bound and gagged, and don't seem to see you... it is a sphere, but there are four inset rings along each of the tunnels.. one seems to lead up, either the left or the right (chose a side) tunnel can be seen clearly... you can't see the floor. [23:05] so there are probably 6 tubes, unless there isn't one on the floor.... [23:05] Ack! [23:06] you don't see anyone else in the room. [23:06] The fall is way too nasty to let occur normally.... [23:07] how tough is the curvature? [23:07] not bad. [23:07] standard curvature for a sphere. [23:07] the ropes aren't just tied to the cieling, though ..... [23:07] How tough are the walls? [23:07] Climbable? [23:07] Uh oh. [23:08] they're solid metal, probably climbing is possible, until you get to the negative slopes. [23:08] then again you might be able to chop hand grips into it, but that will take a while. [23:09] What are they tied to? [23:09] you can't see.... the ropes go to either side, towards your tunnel. [23:10] Hrm. [23:10] where they connect to the side is out of sight. [23:10] Can I get a geometric description? [23:10] imagine sphere. [23:10] six cylindars attached to the sphere. [23:11] How many ropes, and at what angles compared to my position? [23:11] -MagicStar- .-*Magicstar Service Broadcast*-. Calling all graphic artists! Magicstar is holding a design contest for a new logo for our website. More information can be found at http://www.magicstar.net/logo/ -- Any last minute entries will be accepted up until Monday morning. -Reddog- [23:11] elts say they're of infinite length. two ropes, one tied to a pully on each side of the vertical shaft, probably..... [23:11] 30 degrees, if the middle of the horizontal tube is 0 degrees. [23:13] How far are they from the ceiling? [23:14] And such a shallow angle... damn. [23:14] probably attached to the bottom ring... that's about 1/3 the way up from the floor. [23:14] Not so bad, then. [23:14] only a hundred yard drop. ^_^ [23:15] oh, you mean them, i meant the rope. [23:15] 130 yard drop... hrmph. [23:15] no, they are exactly in the middle. [23:15] 200 yard drop? [23:15] yea [23:15] and... [23:15] if they fall into the vertical shaft? [23:15] if there is one. [23:16] Ow. [23:16] Kylara should survive. [23:16] sanyet is a tricksy mortal. [23:18] roll per + awe [23:18] * Jynaru carefully paces out his measurements and finds the starting and stopping place of his leap, backing up and concentrating as two carefully timed shafts slices through the mists, one snapping the rope and causing the target to swing slowly downwards in an arc as the arrow hits, sending them off into the air and away from the shaft. Jynaru speeds up and across the sphere, crouching and [23:18] * Jynaru suddenly shooting out across the mists at a cross-angle, grabbing them out of the air and swooping back down into the mists, three-point landing. [23:19] !ex 10 [23:19] * *Jynaru (10)* 3, 2, 7, 10, 6, 5, 8, 6, 4, 2, Successes : 4 [23:19] there is a bubbling sound, and the stench is stronger here. [23:19] these per+awe rolls are tripping me out, man. [23:19] the bottom part of the ring is seriously scored and marked by corrosion. [23:19] What, did I stumble into thunderdome meets the danger room? [23:19] ... if there's a shit demon, I'm killing you. [23:19] lol [23:20] still shooting the arrow? [23:20] well, considering how I traced where I would land... [23:20] What happens where I land? [23:24] doom! there were two robed people holding the ropes, they leap into the air ninja-like and snatch both sanyet and kylara before they fall into the mysterious, bubbling, and chilly green liquid, landing on the opposite sides of the bottom ring of the sphere! there is a mysterious green liquid filling the bottom of the room, and a third robed man with a bald head leaps after you, landing behind [23:24] you on both feet, with all the grace of a cat. [23:25] * Jynaru already has an arrow nocked. "You. Just. Did. NOT." [23:27] "We will do whatever is necessary for the safety of the Realm." [23:28] "And this involves suspending people over some sort of acid in a giant sphere? Don't you have more useful things to do, like counting pebbles?" [23:29] "Sanyet was told to keep out of this. He did not. He rescued Kylara when you should have. One cannot count pebbles, Jynaru, when the pebbles jump out of their bin." [23:30] the two sidereals each holding a bound and gagged prisoner approach the liquid. "You have three choices. Work for us again, and we let them both go. Save one, let the other die. Or refuse, and they both meet their doom. The choice is up to you." [23:31] "..." [23:31] "You son of a bitch." [23:31] "You're going to want me to drop what I'm doing, aren't you?" [23:32] "We want your unquestioned loyalty for whatever task is at hand. Red Bloom must be destroyed, but this is not the time." [23:35] "You're doing it again. If I leave Cicada there, I betray my duty to the brotherhood and the Regent. If I don't, you kill them, and I betray my duty to my house." [23:36] "Your duty, Jynaru, demands that you fufill your purpose in destiny's plan. Under our guidance, you have grown into a powerful tool for the protection and maintnance of the realm. But you are not yet wise enough to know what to do. Serve us again, and we will provide that guiding hand, and the assurance that in the end, everything will work out." [23:38] "What happened to 'The Blooded is always right.', then?" [23:38] "'The Blooded is always right when he is doing what he has been told must be done.'" [23:39] "Nobody told me I had to save Kylara then. I couldn't have. I can't fight an entire damned castle." [23:40] "Besides... it's not like Red Bloom won't escape. He's had time to think it over... I'm just taking out his base of operations." [23:40] "You weren't suppposed to rescue her then. You were supposed to rescue her later, in a year's time. But that is no longer possible. She is here, and destiny has unraveled. We need you to put it back together." [23:41] "How?" [23:41] "Wait until the realm's armies are gathered against him, and he has shown his hand. Only then can his defeat be certain." [23:42] "I am gathering armies." [23:42] (Vote for me! I'm running on the "Save your sorry asses" platform!) [23:42] "You will use them too soon. And now that Kylara is here, your work will be distracted. She will not want you to fufill your destiny." [23:43] "Which is?" [23:43] "You will find out soon enough." [23:44] "Why threaten Sanyet? He has nothing to do with this." [23:46] "He is the one who has destroyed destiny's plan by rescuing Kylara from her destiny. Instead of playing his part, he has become a thorn - and is no longer useful to us. If you do not protect him from our justice, no one will." [23:47] "You realize I have an appointment with the Regent. I can't just call it off. [23:49] "Walk away now, and they will both die, and you will be free from our control for the rest of your life. Join us, and they will accompany you, and you may indeed arrive in the Regent's waiting room at the appropriate time. Try to save one, however...." [23:50] "And all bets are off." [23:50] * Jynaru laughs bitterly. "From what I've seen, even freedom falls into your plans." [23:51] that last line was from your sidereal mentor horse guy! He's standing on the cross-shaft, on your right. [23:51] "War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorace is Strength. Put your hand in the box, and chose one way. The web of fate cannot chose one for you." [23:52] (Heh. Amusing.) [23:52] (thanks ^_^) [23:53] (The test for humans... the gom jabbar of dooooom.) [23:53] (gotta love crossing your genres) [23:54] * Jynaru shrugs. "You are asking me to choose between no choices at all. Very well. I will do as you say." [23:55] He bows, turning his back to you and waving. Sanyet and Kylara are drawn away from the edge of the pool. Your mentor looks on, arms crossed in his robes, as he looks on impassively. [23:56] "I just hope you know what I'm going to do to you for this." [23:57] "If you do not do as we say, Jynaru, all is lost. You have had your chance to walk away. Betray us now and the realm will fall as surely as night follows day." [23:58] "The Realm is already falling." [23:59] "It will not fall as long as you stay on Destiny's path." [23:59] "Corruption lurks at it's very core. And you play games with those trying to save it." [23:59] "You cannot understand the ramifications of your actions! They are beyond your means of prediction. Step off the path, and all is lost. Even we are bound by this truth." [00:00] * Jynaru shrugs simply. "Now what? I have a meeting to attend." [00:00] * Jynaru tries not to look at Kylara, and obviously fails. [00:00] "Do as you wish. In three days, leave for Malkor's guard. Stay there for two days, and head north. You will find your companions at the Tower of Five Sighs . You must purify yourself for one day, before you ascend. On it's summit you will rejoin your companions. It will be clear what to do [00:00] from there." [00:01] Kylara has been unbounded and gagged and is working the circulation back into her arms. She is worried, but you somehow know, only for you. [00:01] "And what of Cicada?" [00:01] "Is the Brotherhood to be broken?" [00:02] (I think the most amusing bit about put your hand in the box is the repercussions. What's in the box? PAIN!) [00:02] "She may yet be redeemed. Her first chance is gone - you will not arrive at Cherak in time. Her second chance must come and go unrealized. Her third chance is beyond our abilities to percieve." [00:03] (Always pain, even if you live ^_^) [00:03] (But what happens if you're too afraid to remove your hand from the box when the pain ends?) [00:03] (Everyone knows life is pain. If they don't, they're trying to sell you something.) [00:03] (If you believe that, i've got this mountainside villa in tennasee.) [00:04] * Jynaru shrugs. "I suppose it saves me the trouble of cutting down the Deliberative. [00:05] he nods. "You cannot kill them all in three days. Until then, the path is yours to persue." [00:05] (Ahh. Now THIs is the quote for Immaculate MA. 'Through sound and motion, you will be able to paralyze nerves, shatter bones, set fires, suffocate an enemy or burst his organs.") [00:06] (booya) [00:07] * Jynaru heads over to check on the two people. [00:08] Sanyet and Kylara are let go. Each of the three ninjas leave through one of the horizontal tunnels, but your mentor remains, observing silently. [00:08] Kylara runs over to you and hugs you, while sanyet approaches cautiously from the other side [00:09] <*Kylara*> "Dragons! Jynaru, are you all right?" [00:09] * Jynaru holds her carefully, looking at Sanyet. "Thank you..." [00:10] he shakes his head sadly. "No, Jynaru. Thank Cicada." [00:10] "I'm fine. You'd think by now they'd know demons and arrows aren't enough." [00:10] <*Kylara*> laughs, a little tear in one air as she hugs you tighter [00:11] <*Kylara*> "Oh Jynaru, I hope they never figure it out." [00:11] * Jynaru smiles. "Let's get out of here, OK?" [00:12] She nods, pulling away slowly but holding your hand. Sanyet looks up at your mentor, and something passes between them. a rumbling begins. [00:13] "I take it that's a bad thing." (to the mentor.) [00:13] He says nothing. [00:13] suddenly there is a loud, metallic 'TWANG!' and the green liquid swirls in a great vortex, quickly draining from the bottom of the room. [00:13] In a few moments, the floor is already dry. [00:14] "For you, jynaru, I see no more bad things, until," he jokes, "your wedding day." [00:14] he never married. [00:14] * Retrieving #pvpexaltedrp info... [00:15] * Jynaru laughs. "I guess that's tomorrow, then." [00:16] there is a sparkling light along the vertical tunnel! swirls of mystic energy quickly begin to fill the room as the vortex becomes even more powerful. The greenish swirls and orange-red specks that swirl around the sphere solidify into a single, coherent beam in the center of the room, wide enough for just the three of you. [00:16] "Tommarow is a new day. A grand day. Welcome back." [00:17] you blink, and he is gone. [00:18] there is a surge of essence! [00:18] Aie! [00:18] per + awareness! [00:18] !ex 6 [00:18] * *Jynaru (6)* 3, 3, 9, 6, 6, 4, Successes : 1 [00:19] one of your hearthstones is glowing! Unfortunately, you don't know what it means. [00:19] Funky. Which one? [00:19] the windhands is level 3, right? [00:20] yeah. [00:20] count it now as level 4. [00:20] Spider-sense-stone. ^_^ [00:21] woo! [00:21] ^_^ [00:21] it will add autosux to the roll now, can't remember the original roll. probably your Essence. [00:22] Windhands is full pool to each parry/dodge against ranged. [00:22] that's what i thoguht... good beans either way. [00:22] ... Holy mother of god. [00:22] I'm a fucking freight train... [00:23] chuggachuggachuggachuggaSSBcombochugga. [00:23] wheeeee wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! [00:23] Let's get out of the doomy sewers. [00:23] Gotta get ready for the doomy regent. [00:23] sanyet says the beam of light is the way out. [00:23] Into the beam it is. [00:25] jumping! the beam carries you through the maze of tunnels! it is too fast for you to comprehend, as you are going well over 70 mph. There is a sudden exploding noise, and then, the three of you are standing on a massive dias in front of the imperial manse. You never realized before how much like a gate it looked... swirly pattern, like it could retract and open at any moment... you wonder what [00:25] it means, but there are other people here and they don't seem to notice that you weren't there. [00:26] they are on a mission, however, so the normal traffic of the Imperial City continues. [00:26] Do I have time before the meeting? [00:26] roll dex + athletics [00:26] each sux is half an hour. [00:27] see how fast you were moving in the tunnels, eh? [00:27] !ex 12 [00:27] * *Jynaru (12)* 6, 3, 10, 5, 9, 6, 5, 6, 7, 8, 3, 7, Successes : 6 [00:27] ok, so 3 hours. [00:27] Good enough. gives me time to get ready for the meeting, see what Cicada did, spend time with Kylara. [00:29] Cicada made Sanyet escape. He didn't want to - he wanted to stay by her side. [00:30] he wants to go back but is mysteriously silent on why he doesn't, except that she wants him to stay away. [00:30] Not complete mindfrell... or is it? Hmmmmm..... [00:30] doooom! [00:31] Either of them want to see the Regent? [00:31] might as well. safety in numbers, even in the heart of the realm. [00:32] Hoorah. Proper attire, and away we go. [00:32] have I given you the proper description of the Regent's manse? [00:34] Hrmm... I don't think so. [00:39] ok... you walk along the byways on top of Pasiap's Temple of the Imperial Manse. [00:39] will continue later..... [00:39] 3 xp Session Close: Fri Aug 01 02:34:24 2003 Session Start: Sat Aug 02 20:52:32 2003 [20:52] * Topic is 'Exalted: Morning smiles like the face of a newborn child, innocent, unknowing, Winter's end promises of a long lost friend, Speaks to me of comfort' [21:02] well, Werlynn is apparently thinking that a concert is more important than showing up... [21:03] woe be it to Vanal and I :-P [21:03] so the fight is you two, and me running Tala as a NPC as a limiter, if you two can't handle things. [21:03] I think I've thought up a good meeting spot [21:03] ah [21:03] hmm [21:03] tabs...thing you could whip up some minions ? *g* [21:03] *think [21:04] As long as Tala takes care of the snake thing, it should be OK [21:04] how many apes are there ? [21:04] * Tabius whips up some minions. [21:04] expect at least 6 apes [21:04] * Mayumi is now known as Cicada [21:05] * Tabius wish' [21:05] * Tabius wishes he had learned DoOB ;-) [21:05] heh. [21:05] allright, so where do you want to meet the man, Vanal? [21:06] I was gonna surrges tthe colloseum [21:06] *suggest [21:06] hmm... that could work. [21:06] that said, could I use the downtime to buy flickerign cnadle meditation ? [21:06] (and my xp backlog ?) [21:07] * Tabius wants to cast ISoB at leat an hour before hand. [21:07] well, make it at least an hour after dark then. [21:07] (*We get down time?*) [21:07] hm. you are going to get a bunch of downtime coming up. [21:08] heh ;-) [21:08] if you really need that one charm though, it's ok. [21:08] hm [21:08] yah [21:09] so, the colloseum, two hours after dark? [21:09] Van is pretty weak in defence vs. charmed attacks [21:09] Sure ;-) [21:09] he needs that dodge die adder [21:09] * Tabius has had that Dodge Die Adder since the start of the character ;-) [21:10] heh [21:11] How many minions survived the last trip? [21:11] 1, I think [21:12] they all go bye bye when you cast the spell again. [21:12] ever get smoke obscuring method again? [21:13] No..... still just enemy evading thing..... [21:13] Don't have time to cast it again :-( [21:13] So we get 1 extra target.... ;-) [21:13] * Tabius is shifting hearthstones btw. [21:13] to celestial? [21:15] removing lv3 hs and putting it into Sorcerers Insight and the lv2 into Warrior of Flame. [21:15] allrighty [21:16] Tabs has no offensive or relatively defensive Celestial spells, so its best to take what extra armor and melee as he can I think [21:16] ok [21:17] Vanal, you have any of those cool sharing charms? [21:18] threshing floor tech [21:18] that's IT [21:18] Ah.... OK. [21:19] Heh, now Tabs just needs the Adamant Skin Hearthstone or something that lets him soak with his Bashing and dang that would be sick [21:20] i think the only charm like that i've seen is solar. [21:20] 5 dragon form. [21:20] unless you're talking agg. [21:24] anyways, DT you ready for this shit? [21:24] Yup [21:25] We have a battle plan? [21:25] or just take it on the fly? [21:25] kill them before they kill us ? [21:26] Allright! You are in the middle of the colleseum. it is dark, and deserted. Everyone is either sleeping, or getting ready to sleep - in the second age, light is a precious thing, and oil shipments are often late or worse. Conservation is key, and thus only a single white-jade light sphere hangs over the two, barred entrances to the sandy field. [21:26] (*You take Benny, I go for the Blood Apes, Tala takes the Snake demon?*) [21:27] Tala is watching for immaterials. She hasn't seen any yet. [21:27] (sounds good) [21:28] * Vanal has aura of invulnerability up...and has put his troops on alert [21:28] you have them nearby? [21:29] * Tabius brought his lone, but spiffy, Minion in armor with a spear and sword. [21:29] brought a scale with me, but put the city one on alert in case we don't return [21:29] city army, rather [21:30] ok. So where is the scale? [21:30] in the bleachers? on the field with you? hidden behind the locked doors on either side of the colleseum? [21:31] hidden behind the locked doors...and 2 scales, in that case [21:31] one on both? [21:31] yup [21:32] ok... hmm, lets say your men have stealth 2 [21:32] !exm 5 [21:32] * *Storyteller (5)* 10, 3, 6, 5, 9, Successes : 2 [21:32] !ex 4 [21:32] * *Storyteller (4)* 2, 1, 2, 3, Successes : 0 , Botch [21:32] they are undetected by the city guards as they move into place! [21:32] hehe [21:34] * Vanal adjusts his shield and blade [21:35] * Tabius uses his keen senses and his hearthstone given ability to see in the darkness to spot when Benny arrives. [21:37] the city quiets down around you, the last few sounds of old, old men talking quietly and young parents sharing hushed secrets slowly dying into the night. When the last whisper is gone, there is a creaking sound from above you.. tala gives a signal but nothing else seems to change. [21:38] * Vanal prepares himself [21:39] a few moments later there is the harsh sound of steel-toed boost on wooden planks. Tabius seems him first, coming down the bleachers on your left, and while not wearing the shining armor that is according to his station, the darkened suit he is wearing is clearly no worse for the protection [21:39] * Tabius taps Vanal on the shoulder and indicates Benny's arrival. [21:39] * Vanal 's armour gleams as it always does [21:40] * Vanal turns his head to see Benny [21:41] he stops on the ledge "Good evening, sirs. I'm afraid the usual ways are blocked... so rather than jump down, i'd rather stay up here. Is that ok with you?" [21:41] * Vanal smirks "You could just make a path." [21:42] He smiles. [21:42] "I could, but i'd rather not make too much of a mess for the morning watch." [21:43] "We will come to you then, no need to shout across he sand as it were." [21:44] <*Bentharr*> takes a step back from the edge, leaving you ample room to jump up, oh great Exalted champions. [21:44] * Vanal wishes he had some of jyn's poisoned arrows right about now [21:44] * Tabius is more than happy to move over to different section of the edge and take a flying leap up on it giving himself plenty of romm between Benny and himself. [21:45] * Vanal gracefully hops up, keeping a comfortable amount of distance between himself and tabs, and even more away from benny [21:46] dex + ath, diff 1, don't roll if dice pool is 7+ [21:46] he approaches the two of you slowly, hands clasped in front of him. [21:46] no roll [21:47] (*no roll with just dex) [21:47] "So, you decided to show up." [21:47] "I had to. You have my wife." [21:48] * Tabius looks at Vanal with a quisical look on is face, as if to say, we do? [21:48] "We do ?" [21:48] "Or at least, when I tried to see her tonight... those are your guards, are they not?" [21:49] "Actually, I told her to get the hell out of the Realm." [21:49] "I see. Perhaps she has already left." [21:49] * *Bentharr* frowns unhappily [21:50] "Perhaps. But she is still alive." [21:50] "Is she?" [21:50] "At least we left her unharmed and no orders for her to be." [21:50] "I simply asked my guards to keep an eye on her, lest she try and contact you." [21:51] "Other than that, she was free to go." [21:53] "Then, what was so important that she could not warn me of your coming?" [21:54] "We wanted to talk to you fresh, no outside interferance." [21:54] "Now, we are talking. I sent word to my guards to stand down before I left." [21:54] "I see." [21:55] "We aren't brutes. We don't take hostages." [21:56] "Of course. I never ment to imply otherwise. My apologies.. but, you must admit that the situation was suspicious." [21:58] "Now that I think of it, yes it was." [21:59] "One could argue you are suspicious as well, my friend." [21:59] Dice Script Active [21:59] Dice Script Deactivated [22:02] "I am indeed, aren't I? But there is nothing I can do about that. I have died and risen again. Such things are often conspicuous." [22:03] he is immaculately polite. You find it nearly impossible to take offense at what he says, even if the ST makes a booboo, then please point it out ^_^ [22:03] "So, you never met Red bloom, did you ?" [22:04] he blinks, then very slowly and carefully responds, "The name... ah! Yes, from your dissapearance. Why would I have met him?" [22:05] "You tell us." [22:06] "Unless you mean to inform me that I am in fact, an anathema hiding in the heart of the realm, then no, I can't think of any reason why I would have met him." [22:08] * Tabius just has to see if this bloke is lying through his teeth again and peeks into those surface thoughts. [22:08] !ex 11 [22:08] * *Tabius (11)* 4, 9, 6, 7, 6, 3, 7, 5, 10, 5, 2, Successes : 5 [22:09] "Why is is that you are lying to us? We have already gone over this. You have met the man and we think you are doing his bidding." [22:10] "We are not cruel people and wish to know of your dealings and orders from this person." [22:10] "If you would be so kind as to tell us, truthfully, we will be on our way and you can leave the realm in peace to join your wie. [22:10] (*Wife) [22:12] he frowns. "If you think I will leave the Realm over this... accusation, I fear you must go elsewhere to work your policy of mistrust. I admit, I thought better of you to make such accusations of me.. but now I see I am mistaken. If I have met this man, I do not know of it, and no false truth with convince me to abandon my people, and my King." [22:12] * Vanal describes Red Bloom [22:13] * Vanal doens't mention his name mind you [22:13] "Have you ever met a man like that ?" [22:13] * *Bentharr* listens impassively, then shakes his head no. "I have not." [22:15] "I understand your feelings of duty. I have the same duty to my own." [22:15] "My men, the Realm." [22:16] "You are a soldier, just as I am..." [22:16] "And my duty requires knowing as much about Bloom as possible, to protect EVERYONE on this island." [22:16] "Including this city." [22:16] he nods understandingly. [22:17] "Bloom cares only for himself." [22:17] "Not this city, not this Empire, only himself." [22:17] "Unlike you who seem to actually hold a love for these people." [22:17] "He will bring this ALL to ruin." [22:18] "We know the you spoke to Bloom, please do not deny it. But understand that we fight him because we seek to protect this place, and others like it." [22:18] "Whatever he promised you in return ? I doubt very much he plans to keep to it." [22:19] * *Bentharr* puts his hand on the railing of one of the walkways. [22:19] "Please don't deny it, Bentharr." [22:20] "Even if I knew this... 'Red Bloom'... I would not abandon my people to any other hand. Nor would I demand that Illanador retake his post." [22:20] * Tabius becomes a little more aware his surroundings. [22:20] "GODDAMMIT BENTHARR, STOP LYING !" [22:20] His eyes narrow, and his hand returns to his side. [22:20] * Vanal smashes his fist into a railinhg in frustration, clean through it [22:20] "I'm not lying about that." [22:21] "Didn't you say something earlier about not being able to discuss the issue due to some kind of geas? [22:21] * Vanal sighs [22:21] "Your devotion to your people is no lie, i know this Bentharr." [22:21] <*Bentharr*> "Yes. You understand, of course, that even if I did know Red Bloom, I could not admit it, or I would be driven from this city by many men." [22:22] "I see." [22:22] "Was this Geas created by Sorcery?" [22:22] "And if you did know Red Bloom...what COULD you know about him ?" [22:23] * *Bentharr* gives Tabius a look. [22:24] <*Bentharr*> "Hypothetically... If I were to know Red Bloom... I would probably know why I was brought back from the dead." [22:24] * Tabius reads Bentharr's surface thoughts, as obviously he can't say. [22:24] "could you hazard a guess as to why ?" [22:27] "Maybe because I lived a good life and deserved another chance?" [22:27] "Good enough." [22:28] !ex 11 [22:28] * *Tabius (11)* 5, 8, 8, 5, 9, 2, 3, 8, 5, 10, 8, Successes : 7 [22:28] (He's lying, but Van won't press the issue) [22:30] "Right." [22:31] "Well this is not as I expected, but close." [22:32] "I don't suppose you have any advice for us in the future ?" [22:32] "I am trying to determine what is best for everybody involved." [22:33] "Don't ask people about Red Bloom. If he really *IS* a first age solar, he knows whenever anyone says his name. [22:33] "Hmm" [22:34] "Euphanisms, then ?" [22:34] "Maybe. How do I know? I'm not a sorcerer." [22:34] "Just old legends." [22:34] he waves his finger above his head [22:35] (I would kill for Tala's blindfold right now) [22:35] (we can say Tala has a hand signal system worked otu. what do youw ant to know?) [22:36] "Vanal, he really wants to guard his people, but he seems to be bound to help RB when RB wants him." [22:36] (is he pointing to a demon ?) [22:36] (no, just an euphamism) [22:37] (ah) [22:37] "So this...*waves finger*...did he promise you anything ?" [22:38] "I'm sorry, you forgot, this is all just hypothetical. I never met Red Bloom, and I never will, if the Dragons have any compassion in thier great hearts. Besides, it would take a lot to move me from my duty... I can't imagine the kind of promises one would have to make to force me to ignore that." [22:39] "Oh, surely you can imagine one or two." [22:40] "I'm sorry, my Lord. I am an honorable man. You will find no greed or mistrust in me." [22:41] !ex 11 [22:41] * *Tabius (11)* 2, 7, 7, 10, 4, 2, 10, 8, 9, 7, 5, Successes : 9 [22:41] (*Wowzers!*) [22:42] "I see." [22:42] * Vanal sighs [22:43] "The greed, that I can see, the mistrust, perhaps, but the slavish loyalty to a terrorist of the realm, that is difficutl. [22:45] "Again, I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about. I have never served an anathema. I was one, perhaps, but no longer am I bound by such chains. My soul is clean and my heart is pure, and I will not book any other path for me." [22:45] * Jynaru is now known as Dr_Strangelove [22:47] * Vanal nods [22:47] "You know what we all must do, then." [22:47] "I will ask you once, to please leave the Realm, and never return." [22:48] "I am sorry," Bentharr says with genuine sadness. "I cannot do that. Prefect Tatatashwan would never understand." [22:49] "We can be very convincing in some matters." [22:49] Bentharr puts his hand on his sword. [22:49] "So can I." [22:50] * Vanal reaches for his own blade [22:50] "Yes, shall we see who is the more convincing then?" [22:50] "Strength and honor, Bentharr." [22:50] * Tabius does like the other 2. [22:50] Bentharr slowly draws his sword [22:50] * Vanal draws his own [22:50] * Tabius does the same, with both his blades. [22:51] "By the right of honor, I demand a duel." [22:51] * Vanal blinks [22:51] "Should I defeat you, Lord Cathak Vanal, you will leave and trouble me and my wife no more." [22:51] * Tabius looks a little bit taken aback. [22:51] "Should you defeat me, I shall leave the realm and never return." [22:51] * Vanal nods [22:51] (CHEAT!) [22:51] (CHEAAAAT!) [22:51] "What *is* it with you people and duels." [22:51] He stretches and stands on top of the railing. [22:52] (Of course) [22:52]