Fading Memories

You are many places but you have gone nowhere.

It has been a long journey.

All around you is a vast nothingness.  A sea of liquid that seems to be dark and loneliness distilled.  You float in it, freezing in the cold unable to see and unable to hear your own voice.  The sea would be endless if not for the immensenes that is the single point of light in the distance.  Impossibly far away yet too bright and too hot to look at.  The burning scorches your exposed side such that the freezing of the black ocean almost feels like a balm.

Almost.

Again you are transported from the empty horror of nothingness and pain.  Now you are among friends, family and in a vast field where there are all good things and nothing to be done.

If you could, you know in your heart you would remain here forever.

This too fades and flickers, a hundred faces move past you and a thousand hands grab for you.

Then you awaken.

Inside the Building

The world is shaking and wobbling around you.  The light sneaking between the cracks in the logs shimmers and dances on its own accord.  The walls move outward and then rush inward as the floor surges up and down.

The world has gone quiet, yet your ears are filled with a constant all-consuming chatter of a million creatures across a million years yelping, braying, roaring and calling out.

Slowly the building comes into focus and the sounds quiet.  The corpses and your enemies remain, but the large chunk of amber has been blown into bulky fragments that litter the far side oft he room, the metal object that once sat atop it is now beside the far wall.

The man in robes steadies himself against the wall with one hand, and you can see a faint halo of green all around his body.

When he turns, you see that Brennan's arrow is stuck into the man's hood, but penetrated only a fraction of an inch.

He looks around himself and when his eyes fall on your group, he frowns.

Carefully he begins to pick his way through the pile of bodies.  As he does, his robes seem to bulge then harden and become angular.  They cease flowing so easily, and take on the likeness of so much metal around his body.

In his right hand he holds a short stick.  Before your eyes this grows longer, then becomes metallic and sharp so that he is soon holding not a stick but a long sword with no hilt.

Enrei's captive, who has gotten free somewhere along the way, fights to his feet alongside his companion.  The two pull themselves to their feet and look down at themselves as if seeing their own hands for the first time.  You notice that they too have glowing auras about their bodies.  Their attention turns from themselves to you and they don't look happy.  The one with an arrow through his leg, limping before, now moves with smooth ease.  You note as he rights himself that his feet no longer touch the ground, and that he is somehow floating toward you.

Combat

(OOC:  You are all assumed to have stood back up while your enemies did the same)

Disposition:  There are two unarmed foes standing before you, both retain their injuries, and the man in robes is partway toward you across the pile of corpses with a sword and robes that look a lot like they are now made of metal.

Man in robes (Sword?)
Enemy 2 (unarmed): 3 killing, 4 shock to R. leg.  3 killing L. arm, 3 Killing head
Enemy 3 (unarmed): 3 shock to R. leg.  7 Shock 1 killing R arm.  3 shock L. arm, 4 shock body, 1 shock head

Outside the Building

The world is shaking and wobbling around you, and it's possible the pulse of white light that came from the building knocked you unconscious.  The walls move outward and then rush inward as the ground and the darkening sky surges up and down.

The world has gone quiet, yet your ears are filled with a constant all-consuming chatter of a million creatures across a million years yelping, braying, roaring and calling out.

Slowly the building comes into focus along with the headless corpse of the mysterious axe man and the struggling of the one survivor outside the building.  The sounds around you quiet and return to normal.

Titus raises himself on one knee.  His foe's eyes snap open and he seizes Titus about the ankle.  Before the performer's eyes, small roots and vine-like tendrils shoot out of the ground and wrap themselves around his right leg below the knee, pinning him to the ground.  A glowing field becomes visible around the man.

Combat

Disposition:

Arule is unconscious behind Titus, who is on one knee above the injured man.  Lump is lying in a heap beside a small hut nearby.  Titus' leg is rooted to the ground (to try to fight free, spend action making Body + Athletics or Brawl).  The enemy has a disabled leg.

Godrick is nowhere to be seen.

Enemy 4 (unarmed): 8 killing to R. leg, 3 shock to head
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:57, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 1):

What the devil?

Brennan steadies himself, takes a step backward, and draws another arrow. If the man with the sword continues to advance, he'll fire it at his head.

Second time's the charm.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 2):

Titus tries valiantly to fight free of the roots entangling his leg.

That's it.  This is the last time I'm not killing you.

With a tug in the right direction, the tiny vines snap and Titus leaps to his feet dramatically.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 3):

Enrei looks at the three men, not entirely sure what the glowing implies, or even what just happened other than a bright light and a lot of discomfort.  He does take immediate issue with the sword that forms itself in the robed man's hand.  How it does that is a secondary matter, at best, to the big islander, "I do not want to kill you!" he shouts as he rushes the now-metal man and attempts to take the former stick from him.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 4):

Uldaf wobbles on his feet as he attempts to make sense of the situation around him.

Where am I? When am I? What just happened?

Uncertain of the opposition's intentions and in no mood for discussion, Uldaf braces against and behind his staff, attempting to block any who wish him harm as he reacclimates to the reality of reality.

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 5):

Inside

Enrei goes streaking across the building with alarming speed.  Where his large feet hit corpses, blood and bits splatter up as if he were running through red slush instead of the dead.

The robed man seems to welcome the attack at first and lashes out with his sword.  The blade, however, clangs against Enrei's skin, failing to cut it at all.

Then Enrei seizes his weapon and tosses it to the side, leaving the man with a bewildered look on his face.

Wind, coming from no source that he can discern, kicks up slightly around Brennan, tossing his cloak as he sights down his arrow.  One of the two men advances, lowers his body to ram into Brennan.  The slightly breeze that surrounded Brennan somehow kicks up, and pushes back on the man, tossing his hair and making his clothes flap as he spins to the side and thunks into the wall instead of Brennan.

The final foe lunges toward Uldaf to take a swing while the hermit recoils behind his staff.  There is a blur of activity under Uldaf's cloak and his normal grunting voice deepens and becomes far bigger.

Before your eyes the old man is replaced by a very large brown bear.  A very large brown UNHAPPY bear.

Outside

The man on the ground reaches for Titus' throat, and though he is nowhere near being able to get there from the ground, the tiny tendrils and roots sprout further and faster, just barely missing the singer's neck.

Round 2

In reply to GM (msg # 6):

Brennan is so startled by the sudden burst of wind that he quite forgets to release his nocked-up arrow.

Instead, he closes his eyes for a moment and frowns in concentration.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 7):

What happened to you?  What happened in there?

He asks all bravado gone for the moment.

You know what.  I don't want to know.  TO THE DREAM OF HELL WITH YOU!

With that he plunges the sword into the man's face.

[Body + Melee 2x8 with 2x7 backing up]

Enrei pays no mind to the bodies splattering under his footfalls, being far to focused on his goal to notice.  The clang of the sword against him is odd, but easily attributed to it striking one of his armbands as he grabs it and throws it aside.  Whatever has afflicted him thusly dismissed, he also decides that whatever is afflicting the robed man must be similarly benign.  And so his course is clear: apply brute strength until the problem gives up.  With no regard for the make of his opposition's robe, Enrei grabs at his foot and, throwing both his opponent and himself to the ground, attempts to entwine their limbs rather uncomfortably.

((1,1,8,5,1,2,5,5,3,1, I'll take 3x5 with +1 init to pin this guy by the leg.))

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 7):

Beardaf rises up in front of the would be assailant, barely contained within the small tent as he stands almost fully erect on his hind legs. With an unmistakable ferocity, he vocally expresses his displeasure with the man's chosen course of action vis a vis attacking Beardaf.

Grr? Roar?

BRAWRRRRRWRRWRRRRWRRRR!!!!!

[Maul 10, 2x10]

Beardaf falls forward with all his bear weight, bringing his front legs/claw paws crashing down on the poor attacker's head.

ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 10):

Outside

With speed and precision that surprises even Titus, he stabs the man through the neck.  The plants wither and fall away as the man's blood drains onto the earth.

For an instant, the glowing field around the man shimmers, then like fog it rolls slowly up Titus' blade toward his hands and and fades away.  Titus leaps back in surprise.


There are no more foes outside.

Inside

The poor man, now confronted with a bear, does his best to protect himself but it does no good.  The bear claws at his face and knocks him to the ground before gouging out his eyes and crushing half of his skull.

The reddish aura that surrounded him pulses slightly and flows around the bear's claws like mist before fading.

The robed man moves fast, much faster than he did a moment ago but it isn't fast enough to avoid Enrei's grab.  The big islander sweeps his leg and lifts it up, holding the man in an uncomfortable position where he is forced to stand on one foot or fall.

Brennan's cape flutters and then suddenly billows toward the man who attacked him earlier.  The man is buffeted and blinded by the force and cannot make much headway in attacking.

Man in robes (unarmed, pinned by leg)
Enemy 2 (unarmed): 3 killing, 4 shock to R. leg.  3 killing L. arm, 3 Killing head

Round 3

In reply to GM (msg # 11):

Brennan continues to concentrate as the frown upon his lips is replaced by one of puzzlement.

Is that... is that me? Can I control it?

He raises his off hand and pinches the air as though holding an invisible arrow, nocks his bow with it, and "fires" at the aggressive target closest to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 11):

I mean, I told her I wanted to know what it felt like for her, but this is ridiculous. How am I doing this? Did I just maul a man? Why am I suddenly craving salmon? Would anyone object if I started lightly eating at that guy's face?

ROARRRRRRRR!!!!!

Uncertain as to why the last unclaimed attacker is doing a one man break dance in-place, Beardaf charges at him to discuss the finer points of Northern two-step.


(forgot to show die)
16:14, Mon 09 Mar 2015: Uldaf Asbjorn rolled 34 using 8d10 ((9,9,1,2,1,5,4,3))

[Bear-Things, 9, 2x9]

The man must be old fashioned, because he cries out in agony when Beardaf softly rests one claw on his upper shoulder and another on his lower back.

"Well I thought I was being gentle.."

((6,8,6,8,5,2,5,6,2,3 2x8 with +1 init to choke the man))

The sound of a bear catches Enrei's attention as he hoists his victim's foot off the ground, and he stares as the beast pulps a man's head.  Enrei turns back to his own man, spining around he hooks his leg around the one in his grasp, releases the foot and wraps his arm around the metal hooded man's neck, squeezing tight, "I think the bear does want to kill you," he suggests to his new friend, "I want to run from the bear.  If you will be my friend instead of killing me, I will let you run too." he offers.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:31, Mon 09 Mar 2015.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 14):

You DO NOT reach for a singers throat.

He spits on the now nearly headless man.

Titus switches to his throwing knife and runs as best he can into the building.  You would swear that he is running through pudding.

As he enters the building he starts as he sees Brennan doing some Jedi shit and a giant bear that may or may not be friendly.

Uhhh.... I Missed a bunch of stuff didn't I.  Is the bear on our side?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 15):

Titus bursts through the leather flap that serves as door to the building and, quite rightly, takes a moment to drink in the finer details of the insanity he finds.

Enrei flips his quarry around and sinks his fingers in around the man's neck.  The man twists and fights but isn't able to break the big man's grasp.  He opens and closes his mouth but cannot make any noise (because he's being choked)  (1 shock head).

Brennan moves his hands in pantomime of archery, then releases the bowstring with a twang, but nothing seems to happen.

The bear lunges toward the wounded man near the wall, who appears to be now freed from whatever force was holding him.  As the bear closes he raises one hand and there is a bright flash like lightening.  The bear roars and feels it's leg go a little numb (5 shock R. Leg) though this isn't enough to stop it from clawing at the man's chest savagely (4 killing torso).

The man is badly beaten and bloodied now, but there is a hint in his eyes of the bright light that you just saw him wield.

Round 4

A bear engages enemy 2, who can shoot lightening apparently.  Enrei is choking the metal robed man.

Brennan and Titus are standing within range of either melee.

Man in robes (unarmed, being choked): 1 Shock head
Enemy 2 (unarmed): 3 killing, 4 shock to R. leg.  3 killing L. arm, 3 Killing head.  4 killing torso
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:44, Tue 10 Mar 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 16):

Titus quickly decides the bear is on his side, and the man shooting lightning is not.  That decided Titus quickly acts flicking out his dagger.

[Coord + Perform, called shot to the head: 3x7 with 2x6 backing up]

I really hope that bear is on our side...

Enrei maintains his hold on the robed man as he watches the bear maul the remaining enemy, "If you do not want to run, then when this man is dead, I will throw you at the bear," Enrei informs his captive of his own escape plan.  He is unfortunately too focused on watching the bear, just in case it finishes early, to realize that his own victim cannot talk.

((3x4 potential opposed roll to maintain the choke))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 18):

Bright light. Pain. Angry. Very angry. Hungry. Very hungry.

No arms, no lightning.

Different from his previous battle roars, Beardaf emits a menacing growl before lunging at the arcanist once more.

[Bear Things - 4, 2x9, 2x4]

An enraged Beardaf opens his mighty jaws and attempts to separate his assailant from his arm.

Stringy.

This message was deleted by the player at 13:40, Tue 10 Mar 2015.

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 19):

Brennan looks crestfallen at the wind's sudden insubordination, and closes his eyes to concentrate more fully.

The devil's going on?

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 21):

Brennan, you may want to open your eyes and start shooting shit.  Though if you want to wait, we will take care of it for you.  No big deal.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 22):

Enrei's captive continues to struggle, but cannot escape (1 shock to head)

The man at the wall raises his hand again but is unable to do anything before Titus' knife thunks into his cheek and pokes out the back of his skull.

The man's body does't fall, buffetted as it is by a strong wind that seems to be coming from nowhere at all.

Then the bear bites off the arm and begins to gnaw at it.

The aura around the man flickers and then leaps across the room to touch Titus, where it fades away.

The man in robes' eyes bulge out of their sockets.  He's beginning to look rather red in the face.

Round 5

A bear stands over a corpse.  Titus is in the doorway beside Brennan.

At the middle of the building, Enrei is choking a man to death.

Man in robes (unarmed, being choked): 2 Shock head

In reply to GM (msg # 23):

Titus retrieves his sword and swings the flat of the blade at the face of the immobilized man only managing to graze his head.

[body+melee, called shot to head, 2x1]

10:32, Tue 10 Mar 2015: Titus Blackwell rolled 19 using 5d10 ((1,9,2,6,1)).

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 24):

"I am being more effective than you know," Brennan says calmly, opening his eyes but not drawing his bow. "Besides, arrows are expensive and I don't want to risk hitting an ally in melee with one. But that's not to say there's nothing I can do. Probably."

He motions carefully toward the man in the robes and makes a constricting gesture with his hands.

Fine control seems beyond me, but perhaps I have some general direction over who is affected, if not how. Bind his arms to his sides, perhaps? Or assist with the choking? Let's see what happens.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Tue 10 Mar 2015.