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Visitor :  Dice Roller| Game Info| The Cast |
| Part 69 - War of the Wheels. Posted by Dworkin. | Group: 0 |
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| Author | Message | Page: 5 4 3 2 1 [all][bottom] |
Spreading her arms wide the colossus that is Banglen-Yp does her best to actually catch all the fire dropped from on high, sending waves of laughter back up towards the eshurianti. • Ah, more food! Keeping feeding me and soon I can reach you without sprouting extra body parts! Then I shall taste you as well! • Over the link came another message at the same time; "I would not really eat it, unless given no other choice, but I figure a bit of sugar on top cannot hurt, ha!" She seem to indeed be enjoying this whole event. • The more you feed me, the more I return back to my true power! • "Was that over the top? It is a tradition among Bad Guys to reveal their plans, according to The Screen. Which I know also know what it is, silly me! But it did give some good advice among all the junk! Ha ha haa!" the link laughed, almost in unison with the resumed laughter aimed at the wheel of fire above. This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Sun 19 June 2011. | |||
Berd's reply is to rise up on her shoulder to his full height (not terribly impressive) and turn his blazing eyes toward the Archon. The waves of psychic confusion radiating from the drake fade to nothing, and his tremendous mental strength lances out, now focused. He seeks to penetrate the Archon's defenses and seize control; difficult, but not impossible. Tearing her gaze away from the terrifying sight of Banglen-yp's tremendous form, Cyan again calls out over the battlefield. "Right - your assistance?" You have most certainly done well, she assures the giantess over the battlefied, uncertain of some of the meanings of her mental notations, but garnering the general gist of them. | |||
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Two of the Seraphim danioti swoop towards Banglen-Yp, while the giantess is distracted by the flame. They swing around in a long arc, and one of them seemingly makes a sudden miscalculation. Their collision sees one of them disintegrate into a rapidly expanding storm of metal shards, while the other, now bereft of half its blades turns away, heading for open sky in an aerial drunkard's walk... And there is plenty of open sky to choose from. The numbers of Seraphim are diminishing rapidly. A good three fourths of the remaining Archons are now Nephelim, and of the remaining fourth, the vast majority appear to be fleeing. Of the few who aren't, the eshurianti appears to be the only one intent on attacking anybody on the ground. None of the herenethi are still fighting for the Seraphim cause... | |||
Raising her arms high Banglen-Yp, somewhat larger than usual, called out at those still fighting, the volume nearing the threshold of pain, but not quite. • I AM BECOME THE DEATH, THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS! • More arms sprouted from her sides and from her now numerous fingertips sprung tendrils of hazy smoke towards those who still seemed intent on fighting, like twisted fingers or tentacles. To those having seen Banglen-Yp in her form as she settled into the bowl the sight was familiar. Over the link came "Why thank you! Glad I could help!" | |||
"Pull your people from pursuit, Right - I do not wish them caught in a Seraphim trap, for reinforcements will no doubt be on their way, and there is something more." The General waves in an absent gesture toward...well, the aether itself. "Something lies beyond the world, watching." Her lips thin. "Something that echoes of myself." Information flows between her and Berd, and Cyan pales. "A creation of Harabonah - hunters, each carrying a fraction of my...my essence, using the resonance of that essence to seek me out. Their presences feel slightly akin to the vhuul. Do you know of this?" Upon Cyan's shoulder, Berd tenses, his eyes narrowing. And above, the great, burning Archon hangs in place, its fires no longer falling. A brilliant cage of forces springs up around it, more to protect it from overzealous Nephillim than to hold it - Berd's mind is proving adequate to that job. He allows it to continue to spin, to live, but not to move. His voice echoes through the bridging. My thanks, Tahirah. I have met these hunters before, in the presence of an Archon who explained their purpose to me. They seek my daughter and all those with her - I know not their strengths, as yet. He eyes the Nephillim, high above. The herenethi - were some of those still here, not fighting, amoung the Seraphim before? Have they changed sides? I hold the eshurianti in my mind's grip, and I will peel away his secrets. Painlessly, though he battles me with considerable might and stubborness. | |||
+ I HAVE HEARD RUMOURS OF THESE THINGS. "HOUNDS" HARBONAH NAMES THEM, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE. + Another Archon, a herenethi, spins in closer, + WE HAVE. THEY ARE CREATURES OF FORCE AND FLESH, AND THEIR DETERMINATION IS WELL KNOWN. IF ONE OF THEM IS HERE, THEN HARBONAH, OR HIS ARMY, WILL BE CLOSE BEHIND. + + AND ARIEL SHOULD KNOW, GENERAL, BEING BUT RECENTLY PART OF THAT ARMY. + | |||
But the news of the Hounds is most disquieting. "Creatures of force and flesh," the General murmurs. "Welcome, Ariel. Glad am I to see you have chosen the winning side." She waves a hand over the battlefield as Berd continues to feed her information. "I have questions...the first being, your people, the herenethi, seem less attached to Harabonah's cause. I saw little of them in my time with him. Those few I see now seem almost eager to abandon his side." And there seem to be many among the nephillim, but she does not speak of this. "Is this true? If so, why?" Then her lips thin. "And I see there was a Gatherer here recently...does Harabonah have only five of these particular cubes? Or does he keep more in hiding, for use if this gambit fails?" | |||
The Archon does not seem in the least uncomfortable or embarrassed to speak of lack of loyalty. + WE BELIEVE THAT HARBONAH HAS MANY SUCH GATES, PERHAPS THOUSANDS, BUT FEW ARE OF THE SIZE YOU SAW HERE. IT TAKES TIME TO GROW THEM SO LARGE, AND BY DESTROYING THIS ONE YOU HAVE HINDERED HIS SCHEMES. WE KNOW NOTHING OF THE GATHERER, BUT WE SENSE RESIDUAL TRACES OF ITS PRESENCE. + | |||
Other than that, James is content to listen. He doesn't know enough about the situation yet and he has a profound respect for Cyan's tactical acumen. At Cyan's greeting, James thinks We're not the winning side yet. It comes across clearly on the bridging, which James had not yet thought to leave. At Ariel's response, he adds, And there's why your plan must succeed, Cyan. Military victories are all well and good but Harbonah is obsessed. Given time he will just grow more mega-cubes and we'll be back here again, count on it. | |||
"So with each of these cubes we destroy, Harbonah's immediate plan crumbles further." If they could shatter the other four...it likely would kill this particular facet. Confirmation of the Archon's words arrives from Berd, but Cyan does not require it - Right believes Ariel, and that is enough for her. "Four more cubes, Right, in various places of the Myriad Worlds. We'll have to hurry." Berd immediately relays the locations to Cyan, their relative positions in the Myriad Worlds, and she passes them along to Right. She slowly turns to face James, a lopsided smile growing on her face. Indeed. The plan must succeed. First, we crack these five cubes, gathering forces as we do. Harbonah has made a tactical error - yes, we <i>must succeed against all five forces, but he has split his people, weakened his army. With your help and the help of Banglen-Yp, we may be able to defeat them in detail, James.</i> A hint of fear echoes across the link. Fear of failure. Fear of facing Harbonah. And fear, oddly, of success. Her eyes narrow and she studies Tahirah for a moment. The woman had been doing...something...during the battle. Helping them, no doubt, by the General cannot begin to fathom how. A mystery. Then Cyan stares up into the sky above, almost as if seeking the creature that tracks her. The hunter. "I can spare no time to deal with you," she whispers. It's a risk. More and more of them will gather. Soon there might be enough for them to attack. But they have no time. Berd rises up on her shoulder, his bell-like cry echoing across the bowl, hopefully garnering the attention of the gigantic woman. "We must go!" Cyan cries. "To the next destination of the cube, and swiftly!" They may yet catch the forces there unawares. This time. | |||
Suddenly a roar of triumph sounds, echoing down from the massed Archons. Amabael is at the heart of the gyrating formation, and from the void in her core, more Archons are spewing out into the world to join the dance - the sencathi have returned, daylight glittering on a veritable blizzard of ice. Berd plots his course through the Underflow to the next destination, and the giant Banglen-Yp starts to crumble, breaking into smaller copies of herself, though still much larger than human size. The copies begin shrinking, surrounded by clouds of expelled dust and water vapour. And even as they shrink they are clambering up the sides of the shattered tower towards the aerie where their companions await. By the time they reach the top of the tower, not quite reduced to their original size, it is readily apparent that there are more of them than when they left Amber. | |||
This world is...thin. The underlying Pattern is frayed. I have quite a lot of control here, if I need it. I can make a few minor changes to conceal Cyan's presence, I think. It might put the hunters off the scent. But there's a risk of damage if I overreach, so I'd like Berd to...supervise, I guess, if I'm going to attempt it. | |||
After a short pause, she turns more towards Cyan. I believe I would serve best in returning to Amber. | |||
The Archons care about one another, in their own way - it proves their worth to her, once again. The giant Banglen-Yp becomes a mob, its numbers swollen by consumption. Berd makes ready to travel. But James has a final task to carry out. Of course, James! Make haste, but do not rush - we will travel the moment you are done! Raising her voice, echoing with Berd's strength, Cyan cries out to the Host. "Make ready to travel - another battle awaits, the second of five!" Five that she knows of, perhaps with a final one after that. On her shoulder, Berd prepares, sinking his strength into the Underflow; one of his minds peels away to observe James, power rippling into the drake through his connection to the forces of creation and trickling across the link to the Patternlord. Very well, Tahirah, Cyan agrees after a moment, perplexed but not willing to press the issue with the woman. Have you a means to travel to Amber? Or shall Berd send you? The hunter still watches above - for the moment, Cyan ignores it. A potentially costly choice, but there is no time. They must push onward. OOC - Cyan will wait for James to finish - Berd offering whatever assistance he requires (that Berd is capable of providing) - then give the order to go. Her target is simple - the one world of the remaining four to which the Archons carrying their cube are closest. Berd has been monitoring the situation, and now he knows to look for the energies of a cube... | |||
And its eye, clear and blue, stands directly above their General. | |||
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But the man seems to only be masking his daughter's identity, despite the focus of the forces gathering about him being Cyan herself - like a fine-steel wire, wound between both he and Berd's daughter, twisting more and more as the man walks. The tension builds. Regrettably, that is not possible James. When we go, we shall go with speed, through the Underflow itself - I doubt very much you will be capable of continuing your work, given you will literally be beneath the Pattern at that point, and not truly 'moving' as we understand it. You seem easily capable enough now, though. Berd begins to summon his own strength, charting a course through the underflow - the quickest possible route to his next destination. Within the Underflow, he is in some ways more swift than even the Archons; the time taken for his own journeys is vastly shorter than their own, despite their facility with its swirling, unaspected energies. It has to be - they have four more disasters to prevent. When they travel this time, he will cut a wake through the river, allowing the Archons to follow at speed, hopefully swifter than the norm. Dangerous but necessary, he notes. With his full power unsheathed, even the monstrous, shadowy denizens of creation's font must be wary...as he must be of them. This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Tue 12 July 2011. | |||
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between them they form a rapidly rotating cage. + WE ARE READY! + Right's voice calls down from the apex of the structure, and is joined a moment later by the voices of all the assembled Archons... + WE ARE READY! + | |||
And if ever they write a story about this quest, I would request also that you edit it fiercely to avoid my part being played by anything resembling this...thing. *pained amusement* As for that...it is me? That tiny gyre? *amazement, tinged with sadness* Beautiful...yet so tiny! But of course...I am not as solid as you, Berd, or others, James. I am like the others within these Myriad Worlds. Ah, well. If my ego requires pandering, I need only recall your 'image' of me, created for the hunters... For his part, Berd prepares a simple method to send Tahirah back to Amber, one mind taking charge of that task. The other minds bend toward the journey. WE JOIN YOU, ARCHONS. James is ready. Berd is prepared. Banglen-Yp - the mad crowd of her - is also ready. Cyan raises her blade, ghost-fires running up its edges toward its tip. "Another step forward!" she cries, her voice echoed further through Berd. "To war, my army - to war, and to final victory!" Berd's power takes hold, and the last of the Questors rise toward the safety of the eye of the Archon hurricane. "To war," Cyan whispers, the amplification gone. The wheeling storm of light catches in her ruby eyes and glitters in the tears on her cheeks. Forgive me... This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Mon 18 July 2011. | |||
Cyan travels with them, her form surrounded by a faint, shimmering outline - a towering Amazon the size of Banglen-Yp, clad in glass full plate that is so dark as to be almost opaque and bearing a sword that resembles Fangmir but seems to imply the cutting edge of Gurthang. Beams of fire and force shoot from her eyes and when she speaks the power of her voice is sufficient to level buildings. And as they plummet into the depths of the Underflow, Berd seems to have his attention focussed on their point of origin, rather than the destination. Suddenly the drake grins at Tahirah, and his eyes glow with a white light which flows to surround the woman. When it fades, Tahirah is no longer in the cage. The Banglen-Yps peer out of the cage, watching the... shapes... which move in the burning darkness of the Underflow They don't even notice that Tahirah has gone. And James... James can rest, now that they are no longer in the worlds of the Pattern. Though whether his work has had the desired effect he can not yet tell... | |||
Relaxing slightly, James turns to Cyan and is startled to find that she is accompanied by a ghost-image of his "not-Cyan". He is not entirely sure whether anyone else can see it or, indeed, whether the surrounding Archons would notice. Berd? Um, Cyan, I didn't mean for that to happen, okay? So it doesn't count as telling anyone. The thought is half in jest, but only half. | |||
James...I blame you both. Rest assured, my vengeance will be terrible. + WELL DONE, MESSENGER. THE GENERAL NOW LOOKS FAR MORE HERSELF. + ...and trifold. Right, Cyan concludes, has been taking lessons in humor from Left. In a flare of brilliance, Tahirah leaves them for Amber. Cyan wishes the seeress well with her tasks, then rolls her eyes at James. Berd informs me of your success - the Hound remains at the previous world, caught in confusion. I believe I can thus forgive you, James, for this...words fail me, James. Then she bows her head, growing more serious. I thank you, James. For your protection and company, both. Cyan turns to look ahead, a smile creasing her lips. She can't help it - her friends bring joy to her heart, despite her embarassment. Berd sits upon her shoulder. Banglen-Yp's surround them, like a school of curiously formed fish. James stands to her right - she reaches out, places a hand on his shoulder. The Underflow burns around them as they navigate its currents, the energies of creation flowing through her hair. |
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