Kate:

::your barley awake as your being dragged feet first off a rough surface, the sounds of combat and weird languages being spoke, you come to a halt and a silk hankerchief is tied around your face covering your mouth, like a mask::

"Keep this on, the stonefist assassins are using choking dust"

::you sit up, the mask is secure, and you do detect a hint of ginger in the air, your just off a road, in a patch of green leaf trees, your "helper" is peering off into the battle unfolding::

::about 50 feet away you see a bunch of men, two sides to be exact, one side dressed up like ninja, but in red garb, and one side wearing a variety of armors, all of them wearing a piece of bright blue on them, if you had to hazzard a guess, they would be magic using theives, since they seem to be using magic, misdirection and backstabbing::

::it's pretty apparant that the people in the blue cloaks are losing, guile and magic, just can't compete with complete and udder brutality, and fighting ability::

::you look up and see a midevil Boba Fett looking in the direction of the battle. Not one inch of his body isn't covered in a silvery metal, he has a blue cloak that matches the others that shimmers at the touch, a crossbow which looks to be a cross between a clockwork construct and a crossbow with a scope on it, a kris, and a long bladed weapon, you can only assume it is a katana in it's sheaf, the fingers on his gauntlet look to be bladed, and he carries two huge spellbooks on the right and left hip. The most telling feature is the faceplate, it has a slit for eyes going down the middle that splits it apart, he has a piece of ruby quarts as a eyeplate, and it looks like black silk in the inside of the helm, he looks like a person not to be trifled with::

::he looks down to you::

"Your lucky I was observing this battle, or else either one of the sides would have finished you off, now if you will excuse me, it is time for me to do what I came here to do"

::he emerges from the growth and extends his hand and the last of the mage/theives gets lifted up in the air and looks to be held in place::

"Jax Finalla, brother of Daniel and Bastian Finalla, one who I used to call brother and friend, you are guilty of treason, and have violated the Pact of Nobb, and worse than that, betraying me. May whatever god you believe in have mercy on your soul." ::he turns away and lets him drop, the men in the red garb decend apon him and he is no more"

::the men in the red garb start whispering, and one starts moving toward the armored man with a deceptive movement, and like a lightning strike, tries to stab him in the chest::

::the armored man's hand is grasping the sword, and tosses it away and the other balls into a fist and connects with his stomache and he doubles over and falls to the ground::

::the armored man looks toward one of the men, with a black flame running across the bottom of his red garb::

"I would thought you would have taught them better than that brother"

::he walks over and offeres his hand and takes it in a warriors clasp and they hug briefly::

"Well big brother, you know all the Firetide Assassins want to know how Hanzo has some to trust the Stonefist Ashe Valerin, even I can't keep all the recruits from trying their luck" ::if you could see his expression you would think he was smirking::

Ashe: "Well you were the same way Colin, how is Kareva?"

Colin: "She's good we are working on our second"

Ashe: "Good to hear, I'm glad the Firetide found their heritage again and that Orian is once again a part of your lives, as well as training your own children".

Colin: "Well I'd better get the men back, good seeing you."

::he waves, they men finish taking the proof from the bodies and they are gone like a whisp::

Ashe: "You too brother."

::Ashe walks around to all the bodies, and takes various objects, all their spellbooks, and stones in their left hand and comes back to you::

::he looks you up and down::

"Well your not a mage, without a stone in your hand, no one is nowadays, so if your not a mage, and not a Firetide, nor a Stonefist, and no other manor of being that I know of, then you must have an interesting story to tell, if that neckless is of any indication. I'm betting your not a servant of the Priest of Demons. I'm Ashe Valerin, now the last of my kind, at your service."

::he gives off the been there done that aura as he looks you over::
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:40, Fri 07 Apr 2006.

((OOC ... I started this... Thought I'd posted... <sighs>  Sorry...))

I'm still trying to get my bearings as Ashe introduced himself. I shake my head and finally find my voice.  I reach for the mask and give him a questioning look... I don't really want to leave this world as quickly as I left the last.

That hurt.

I nod my head at him.  "Thank you for saving my life. I am Kate, and how I got here, and this necklace are indeed a long story." I tell him.

"I would not mind telling you my story if you would not mind telling me what that" I say pointing towards the remains of the battle.  "Was all about."

::looks at the silk mask::

"You can take that off now, the battle is over, and I won't be using this on you."

::takes cloth bags and puts them in a bag and they look like they zap into it::

"Choking powder, nasty stuff, with a good hit to the face, you'll be dead within a minute."

::looks through the various items he picked up, weapons, armor, rings, other clothing, and then stops and picks up a vaguely technological object::

"Thanks Jax, I was looking for this battery."

::he attatched it to a space in the upper left arm in his armor, you see he has 4 other devices, and spaces for others in various places::

"Well met Kate, I would imagine, since that isn't the workings of anyone or anything of this world, although you'd be hard pressed around here to find many that could tell you that"

::he takes a drink from a waterskin and offers it to you::

"I also have some food if you like, my car is right over there"

::he walks over and it looks like the car from Naboo, minus the engines::

"We can talk during the ride"

::after you are safely strapped in, he takes off, working on some type of Levitation technology or magic, it hovers above the treeline, and heads southwest::

"That incident was the last battle in an over 10 year war, hmm if you are not from around here, I will need to start at the beginning, or the beginning as most people know of it"

::he pauses::

"Over 10 years ago, there was a contact put on a anchient, he was so dangerous, the contract called for 10 Stonefist Assassins, and 10 Firetide Assassins. The Stonefist were magic using assassins, who used powers of the mind, thief skills and their magic, provided to them by the stones in their hands to do their deeds. The Firetide Assassins, are the pinnacle of the human body, they can move so fast, so deceptively, and are some of the best fighters around, that they can cut a swath through their enemy. Well long story short, these 20 assassins couldn't kill the mark, and they were all killed. Both sides blamed the other, and they started a war. In the beginning, things were equal, one side was able to hold the other in check. The Firetide are a close clanlike organization, putting the good of the clan above all else, The Stonefist, allowed rampant infighting to get in the way. Over the years, The Firetide started winning."

::he pauses and looks for landmarks and makes a slight turn to the left::

"The Stonefist are known for a piece of indigo clothing marking themselves, the Firetide, their Red suits. That battle was the end of a long and bloody war, and the end of an era."

Jhiaxus

I nod, and take a sip of his water, gratefully.  Before we continue, I reach out to find my things.  "If you can hold on for a second," I say and go gather up my things before rejoining him.  "

I listen to his story, some of it I had been able to peice together, but the case and the length I never would have guessed.

When it is my turn I ask, "<blue>Jax?"

As I wait for his answer I try and put my thoughts together.

::he looks ahead as he speaks::

Jax Finalla, brother of Daniel and Bastian Finalla, all three were part of the Stonefist Assassins. Of all of them, Jax was honorable, so he deserved to die in battle, not in any other way. Daniel his older brother was the head of the Stonefist Assassins, my mentor, friend and guildmaster. He assigned me my marks when I made it back to the continent. He was lured to a bunch of people, Hanzo and I were against. I guess they needed a more skillful person than me on their team, but skill doesn't a person make. I don't think he knew I had trained at stonecorner for 10 years, and that I am probably the fastest man around, for short distances. It felt like I killed a father when I plunged my katana in his back, but it was more like I was redeeming him, since he wouldn't tell me why he did it.

::pauses::

In either case, I was more interested in the magic than the killing truth be told, it was a means to an end. When it came down to it, it wasn't the Stonefist who defined me, it was me who defined them, and since I am now the last, that I know of, it doesn't need to be that way again.

::starts veering toward a city, with a huge shiney church, many houses and fields::

My brother wanted to be a help, but he wasn't inclined for magic, so when I finally befriended Hanzo, after hunting him down all those years, my brother had his opportunity, but that was before everything changed.

::points to the city::

That's New Ironrock, the third name for this young city. After the ice, it's the biggest city this far north, aside from the Castle of Six cities, but I don't really consider that part of the continent a part of this one.

::starts aiming for a tower on the outskirts of town::

We are almost here, I hope Burlock is around, as we are going to need an old priest and a young priest.

I listen and begin allowing the peices of the puzzle to fit together.  Jax... one of the men he spoke to.  War between family saddens me, but it listen and try to learn.

"An old priest and a young priest for what?" I ask.

::pulls in front of the tower and lowers the car down untill you are on land again::

"The old priest is to put the wards up when dealing with the neckless, the young one is to give strength and conviction behind the wards. I am not going to let the Priest of Demons can power over this, or let something worse out."

::gets out and hefts out some items from the car, it looks strangly like herbs, roots and flowers in the bags::

"So how did you get that neckless, and how did you get here? I know about plainswalking, I'm just curious to how one such as yourself has done it."

::he opens up the front door of the tower, and there are a few people in robes about::

"So Ashe kill anyone today" ::an old man jokes::

Ashe: "Day's not over yet old man, send a runner over to the Church, get Burlock and another priest that knows how to deal with demons"

Marek: "You got it"

::Ashe looks over to a man who looks to be a rather well off servant::

"It looks like we will have another for dinner tonight"

Jesseh: "Stop bring in strays, we got enough people here as it is" ::with a smirk on his face::

Ashe: "Someone has to research the problem, and since the Narnians aren't helping, we can only count on ourselves. Any word on the Dark Elf prince?"

Jesseh: "He's holding court at the principality, trying to break the hold of Greenwall, and dealing with Rythal."

Ashe: "Well at least he is good for something"

::walks over and grabs a book, sits down and opens it up, it doesn't appear to have print on it, he takes his gauntlets off and begins running his hands along the page in lines without looking at the book::

Jhiaxus

I look at him, a little confused, and hopeful.  "I don't know if you can do anything about the necklace-- because as much as I... hate... fear... loath it... things would be far worse if it ended up with some one who would use it."

"As for.. how did I get here, that is as much a part of the necklace's story as I am..."

"I come from a very distant land called Singapore... where I was unfortunate... and fortuante... enough to become what is called... a verser.  I travel from world to world, with no control over where I go but when... If I had been discovered and killed-- I would simply have ended up... in a simular position on another world... "

I shake my head.  Its getting easier for me to believe this being my 4th world after dying on my own.

"On my second world, third if you include my own... I met some very dear friends who helped me and in working with them.. I was involved in something that turned out to be of far greater danger than I had ever thought possible."

I was coming to terms with the fact that I couldn't really die, when I realized that there were worse things than dying... and I tell him about that.  About the nightmare visions, and the elemenari, and the fight with the tentacled beast... and how they had led me to prevent its coming and getting saddled with the necklace and finding out I was now concidered a priestess... and I don't know if I am... or if I was called that because of the necklace.  I tell him the other titles, and how, though my third world was short lived, I met another like me... a verser.

"But there were people there who feared what we could do.. and so they killed me.  I know I died because... I'm here..."

There is so much more to tell.  There's the pain of saying good-bye or worse not being able to.  The fact that when I die, I am gone from their lives, and that I may never see them again, but judging by his ability to read people.. and blank books... he's probably already figured out that part of the story.

::nods his head::

"It doesn't take a blind man to see what you say, but it helps"

::continues running his finger across the pages, and every once in awhile he turns the page::

"There was a time, where I had a dream, a destiny, and no matter who or what was in my way, they would either bow out of it, provide a stepping stone, or be removed. You eventually find the wrong stone, and your destiny comes to a halt. I understand that you are a stranger in a strange land, and that you have the power to travel to other dimensions, and that is of interest to me. It is also interest to the Priest of Demons who once again is trapped on the 365, and 366th plane of hell, but who knows for how long."

::tilts his head::

"Dinner should be ready in the next 20 minutes or so."

Jhiaxus

Kate listens, still trying to get a feel for her surroundings.  "I may be able travel, but I don't know its dimmensions or... worlds... and I have no control over it.  I appear.. I try and figure out what's going on... try and do right by the world until I die and it starts all over again."

I shrug.  "I didn't really believe it the first time, and I wasn't exactly sure after the second... but I'm getting use to that... still, death hurts."

::nods::

Yes it does, I've died once from a feedback from a backstab on an opponent, he died, but so did I. Definatly a learning experience, I will definatly Dispel Magic, someone with a magic aura first. Anyway, so tell me about yourself, and not where you've been, but who you are, call it my need to know.

::continues tracing and flipping pages right along::

I shrug.  "Not much to tell... I'm the only daughter of Andrew and Michelle Macintosh-Smythe.  I grew up in Singapore, went to schoool, tried to stay out of the military..."

I'm at a loss of what else to say.

"What are you reading?"

::stops moving his finger for a minute::

Refreshing my memory about dealing with demons, devils, the like and their curses. One of the advantages of having access to most of the books in the area, I can have them translated however I need them.

::closes the book and walks into another room, which looks to be a rather large dining room, already this tower looks to be a lot bigger than the outside::

::various people in robes are sitting down, talking and chatting, with one being the loudest, and sitting at the head of the table, Ashe takes a seat as far away from this person as possible, as he begins to speak::

Maynard: "Tsk tsk tsk, it seems someone still doesn't understand the rules of ettiquette, wearing weapons and armor to the table, as well as a helm, really now Ashe, from what I hear there are no more assassinations, why continue to dress the part."

Ashe: "You are pushing your luck Jurvin"

Maynard: "Last time I checked this is the Council of Wizards, not Ashe's personal abode, or do I need to again review the articles of inception"

::a servant comes up to Ashe::

Ashe: ::what can only be described as a feat of willpower:: "I find it highly amusing, that you are running around trying to regain your power, while mine is fully intact, and even removing my stones, I still have more power than you using your lay lines"

::Ashe stands up and takes off his repeating crossbow with scope, his bolt case, his kris, various daggers, he then undoes some hinges and snaps and the outer casing of his armor comes off, revealing a second set underneith. It looks form fitting, as first he takes off his gauntlets, slides down the bicept pieces, then undoes the right leg and thigh clamshell, then the left, and the pelvis piece, all seeming to be made of a clamshell design, molded to his body. He then takes off his helm, his shoulder length blond hair comes out, definatly looking like someone who could have chosen any face profession he chose, being very striking, and his blue eyes, which at one point would have been striking, but now with a almost opaque white film over them. His pendent rights itself above his silk shirt and pants he is wearing, he steps out of his boots, and is wearing what can be described as mocassins::

Ashe: "Make sure no one touches anything, especially not those" ::he points at the battery like devices on his armor::

Maynard: "Now that Ashe is properly dressed, maybe we should have a servant find his food." ::he laughs::

Ashe: "I don't need my helm to find you and end you, remember that."

Maynard: ::looking nervous:: "Well then let's continue, it seems we have a guest, but with my great abilities, I can see she is just a normal girl, so let's begin::

::servants begin bringing out many dishes out, some even close to modern, but nothing that you haven't heard of, almost like Earth and this place have some connection, words and phrases used, food and architechture, very eerie, in a I feel like I've been here kinda way::

Jhiaxus

I follow Ashe, but remain to the side, trying to stay out of the way.  I watch the interactions and conversations around me.  When Ashe removes his weapons I remove my pistol and, after giving him a questioning look, I lay it down beside his weapons and armor.

I remain silent though prefering not to draw attention to myself.  For a while I am lost in the odd familiarity of it.

::everyone begins eating, Ashe moves slowly, and picks out distinct things, he avoids any spirts, and sticks to juices or water, very odd, since everyone else here seems to be eating and drinking to excess, you have your choice of some very delicious food. It begins to get late in the day, people are getting drunk, and the person next to Ashe bumps a crystal glass which spills it's contents on the floor. Ashe kicks away from the table, the liquid missing him, and grabs the goblet before it hits the floor and puts it back up at the table. He waits for your silverwear to stop moving::

"If you are done, I think we should go and start the process"

::he stands up and deftly avoids the servant that a normal person would have collided into, it is then that you get a good look at his pendant, it looks like a map of the world continents, with an added one inbetween North America and Europe::

I watch the actions and words of those around me, trying to get a feel for the people.  I noticed Ashe's restraint and well.. I'm not much for drinking either.  The food was good, and his reflexes were amazing.

When I saw his pentant, my jaw dropped, and I looked up at him.  "Is that... here?" I asked sloftly.


Then I nodded.  I didn't know if anything could, or should be done with it, but seeing others with more knowledge, that was a start.

::feels down to his pendant::

No this is a reminant from the anchients, this is where they came from, and where I am going.

::pauses as he walks away::

Only a handful of people know this world is artificial, it was pretty easy to detect. When 3 continents have the exact same square miles, to the exact inch. Even those people in there have no idea, and I for one want to know where all this started.

::comes to a triple bolted room, with an iron door, and begins to unlatch the locks::

Supposidly I am from a race of people called the Atlantians, and Yondell the creator, bright the anchients here with him. I am too curious for my own good sometimes, but with everything that went on, there is no one left to give me the answers I seek, so I must get them myself.

::opens the door, and it's made of solid stone, with arcane markings on the ground, and on the walls, and on the door itself::

This is where we will deal with that neckless

Jhiaxus

I follow him listening to what he has to say.  "It looks very familiar... without the center contitnent," I tell him.  "And a legend of a place called Atlantis."

When we reach the door I look at the inscriptions, studying them.  I pause, wondering if this is the right thing to do.  Hoping that Ashe is what he appears to be and not the type to try and use the necklace.

::gets his helm and underset of armor on and starts setting up::

"At least they brought my items here, now to start the prep work."

::begins chanting in arcane speak, and different levels of energy flare up, and seem to go in order, after about 10 spells, he looks around and then walks up to you and starts examining it closely, walks back to a few open books, ad he continues this for about a half hour untill there is a commotion outside, and the door pops open and about 6 Dwarfs pile into the room, wearing armor, weapons and holy symbols around their necks::

Burlock: "So whadda need me for? Is there money involved?"

Ashe: "I think you had quite enough, building your entire Church out of adamantium, besides this is for the greater good."

Burlock: "Last time I heard that speach, I was killed, along with 20 or so gods, you were struck blind, Hanzo struck death, and given a promotion and the whole planet went to crap." ::he smiles::

Ashe: "It wasn't pleasant for me either, this woman has a neckless, it radiates a great evil that isn't from this planet. I need you and your priests to ward this room against demons, devils, summoning, scrying, the works. I need to make sure that if this thing is taken care of, it doesn't do more harm than good."

Burlock: "So there is going to be no fighting involed?"

Ashe: "I didn't say that, I'm sure the neckless will put up a fight."

Burlock: "Now that's what I want to hear, where do we sign up."

Ashe: ::sighs:: "Just start warding the area making sure nothing can get in or out. I am just hoping I don't need the actuator for this."

Burlock: "That blasted thing, the thing that made whatever was designed to come true, how your sword, my axe, all the weapons housed the souls of those dead dragons that dark elf killed, and made that contraption car of yours."

Ashe: "The very same, and if you remember, it was in the principality for safe keeping."

Burlock: "The Dark Elf's lands now, how will we get in if we need it?"

Ashe: "I'm sure he closed up the secret enterence, but since I've been there before, I have a few ways."

Burlock: "Well let's get on with this."

Ashe: "I'm preparing, cast your spells and get ready"

Jhiaxus

I watch as the others arrive and preparations are made.  Some of it seems familiar yet most of it isn't.

When Ashe announces that he is ready, I tell him about the storm and how the others protected me.  I tell him what I remember of the spell and the prayer I added to it.

I"m not sure what they can do about the necklace.  The one thing I know is that I do not want it to end up with someone who would use it.  I tell them what I overheard when I was in the palace of evil onions.  And how I ended up with the thing.

::Ashe opens up at least 10 different books to various pages, and when Burlock signals that he and his priests hae done their job, he excorts you to the inner warded circle in the room, the Dwarves form a circle around you and form a ring with their hands::

"Let's get this started"

::he moves to the door and locks the 10 iron and silver locks completly shutting the room from the outside word, and says a few arcane words, and he walks away::

"It isn't opening unless I allow it to, even my death won't allow it to open"

::stands close to his books and begins speaking in an arcane language, his hands moving, and at once you feel the neckless start to weaken, but it was a momentary lapse, and it feels like it's normal evil self. Two more spells come forth, and the neckless doesn't budge. The next spell however, causes the neckless to vibrate, then shake, than shatter into a million pieces, a fine black mist erupts from it, and tries to enter your body. It is denied, it tries to enter the Dwarves, one by one, the first is denied, the second it gets in and forced out, the third the same, the fourth and fifth fail::

::it sets it's sights on the only one left, the one who is most geared to fight outar planar creatures, and it slams into Ashe and a blinding light and sound that deafens those in the room, and everyone is thrown to the floor::

::after a minute you see Ashe standing there, unharmed, and the black mist has formed a shape of a beautyful woman, with black hair, green eyes, who has is on one knee in front of Ashe::

Avatar of C: "I am bound to serve you master, do you want me to deal with these insects. I can do anything, restore your loved ones, bring the world back to the way it was, even bring back your sight, to allow you to assend to your rightful place in the heavens, all you need to do is say the word."

Ashe: ::bows his head:: "I'd be lying if I said none of those appeal to me, and in my former life I would take you up on your offer of those. I am not greedy anymore, but making the world like it was, would mean the 5 would be alive again, and the Priest of Demons would begin again, no, I think I will have to ask something different for your service to be rendered."

Burlock: "Attack"

::him and his dwarves rush the lady, but Ashe puts up his arm and they all rise in place and stay there::

Ashe: "No Burlock, if evil is going to be done, it's going to be at a cost at another evil. I want the ability to deal with the Priest of Demons once and for all. At that point your service will be rendered."

Avartar of C: Your wish is granted, and don't think we left snacky cake out of this, your two fates are bonded, see you soon.

::Burlock sees Ashe, his immediate items, and Kate vanish::


((This is perhaps the most interesting set of rolls to date, this adventure ended a lot sooner that I had thought without further ado: Dispel Magic: 34 sucess, Willpower Check 26+10 sucess vs a 3@10
Ward Off Evil: 87 fail
Remove Curse: 95 fail
Dismissial: 53 sucess, Willpower Check 34+10 failure vs a 3@10 Willpower
Possession: Kate: 75 fail, Burlock: 48 fail, Dwarf 1: 13 sucess, Willpower Check: 24-5 for vs a 2@1 willpower, fail, Dwarf 2: 13 sucess, Willpower Check: 18-5=13 vs a 2@1 willpower fail, Dwarf 3: 03 sucess, willpower 11-6=6 vs willpower of 2@1, fail, Dwarf 4: 54 fail. Dwarf 5: 79 fail, Ashe: 98 botch ut oh
for Avatar of Chuthulu, GE roll 23 let's make an appropriate table
Botch Table:
1 Winks out of existance
2 Takes control of Ashe automatically
3 Transfers knowledge to Ashe, dies
4 Transfers powers to Ashe, dies
5 Total mental collapse, forms solid and stands there for 1 hour
6 Cursed and bound to serve Ashe

Result: 6

Willpower Check Ashe: 35 fail, this gets interesting))

::see thread Kate and Ashe aboard Destiny::