[Dithering intensifies, and the party assembles. Bomrek will be in NPC mode for the coming sessions as the player is in a continental cross country move(!) but as much as we joke, Adolph is missed.]
Ken (GM) where last we left our heroes…
Ken (GM) Treading through the foggy wetlands, they march for the great airborne tower, chained to the cliffs before them. Shrouded in the mists, they happened upon a ghoulish fight with bloodied warriors. The enemies slain, they partook of knowledge, and mysteries…
Gray is left with more questions than answers, frowning at the bloodroot and reaching down to touch the living, blood filled vine. “Like a giant’s vein. Like the ground itself is alive here and flayed open… And the Rot is a creation of the Lords of the Night.”
12:25 Ken (GM): Currently , the locals have been spooked as Falkirk brandishes a statuette of a demonic entity. They pray in fevered voices and avoid the things gaze, hopping about, maddened
Falkirk glances between them and the idol.
Gray watches the reaction with a frown, looking at the serpent statue.
12:26 Falkirk: “Is there something I don’t know about this statuette that I should?”
12:27 H’rruk: “BE RID OF IT” he manages, between fiercely rasped prayers and intonations, his hands waving madly
12:29 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I think you should put it away for now.” Suðri feels that this conversation isn’t going to get anywhere while these two are frightened out of their minds.
Falkirk frowns and slowly puts the idol back in his pack
12:30 Falkirk: “I’m not getting rid of it, this item could be key to solving the riddles of these lands. But, I see no sense in keeping it on display.”
Gray asks the blood mage, watching him. The prayers and whispered words could be magic, and might have immediate effects in this strange land. He waits for things to calm, then asking. “You recognized that. What is it?”
Suðri Skornbrekker turns to the two wilderlings and tries to smoothen over Falkirk’s defiant wizard-grumpiness: “We figured that it was no good, but we did not know what it is, or what it could do. Mind telling us?”
Ken (GM) As soon as the idol disappears into Falkirk’s pack, the two immediately cease their ranting. They tremble slightly, as if jacked up on adrenaline and a need to fight or flee.
12:32 H’rruk :”That is EVIL” he says in a most grave tone “Darkest black. Blood red night! We cannot bear to see it!”
“The Lords of Night see us. They look through us. Your souls, GONE!” He waves his hands again, in swirling patterns of warding
12:33 P.P. A.: I propose we put the snake statuette on a yellow blanket and write “Don’t tread on me” below it, it’d work wonders
12:33 Falkirk: hahaha
12:33 Syviis Adjeon: lol
12:33 Suðri Skornbrekker: “…so the Lords of Night can see through these statues? They are their eyes and ears…?” The dwarf strokes his beard, a bit unsettled that they might have been spied on all this time.
Gray drags a hand though his hair and frowns as he listens. There’s an edge of truth to what they say, but he wonders how much of it is superstitious worry. The savage beast scenting the air, looking around them then up to the fortress anchored above.
12:36 H’rruk “Why do you have it?” He asks, fury and fear in his eyes” Why the evil? Dark things come for it! Darkness rides fast for it!”
12:38 Falkirk: “Aye. That’ll be why; Dark things have answers. Killing dark things does good.”
12:40 Suðri Skornbrekker: “We have come to these dark lands to shine light upon them. That statue could have led us to the darkness we seek to understand and defeat.”
Falkirk nods “More eloquence than it’s worth, but he’s got the right of it.”
Gray wonders at that. “Did any of those strange guests in the night come before we found the statue? The elven women and the scarred man mounted on a flaming horse?”
Suðri Skornbrekker shakes his head; Grey seems to have the same worries as he. “It seems this thing has not led us to the darkness, but the darkness to us.”
Suðri Skornbrekker pauses for a moment, wondering whether he should bring up the giant snake statues in those ruins; but they are far away right now, so he might as well: “In the north, in the rocky lands, we found old ruins with statues like these, bug much bigger.” He stretches his arms to illustrate the size, futile as it is with his dwarven proportions. “They were old though, and wild Beastmen and slavers lived in those ruins.”
12:43 Syviis Adjeon: “I suspect several eyes have been upon us since we walked past the border…but having a pair so close does raise some concerns…”
12:44 Falkirk: “Superstition and nonsense. I’d be aware if someone were looking through it. I’m sure these…” He gestures “Locals are simply concerned about the design.”
While understandable, hardly reliable sources. No offense intended of course.
H’rruk nods “The Lords rule with their statues. Idols great and small. In villages. In camps. Red eyes watching all. You find old ruins with” he shudders“….IT, you break it. Smash the thing. “
Syviis Adjeon looks up at the floating castle “If only our mission were that easy…smashing an icon seems play for a child…
Gray rubs a hand across his jaw and nods to the blood mage. He doesn’t disagree, but his own option on this sort of thing doesn’t matter much. Instead, he turns his attention on the fortress again.
Suðri Skornbrekker, likewise, doesn’t consider it a priority now. It might be wise not to carry the statue with them all the way, but whether it truly watches them or whether they are merely a symbol of the rule of the Lords of the Night, striking fear in their subjects by reminding them whom they must obey, he does not know.
12:48 (From Falkirk): Can I use -magic- to see if the idol feels like a spy camera?
12:50 (To Falkirk): focusing your senses, you inspect it. While otherwise mundane, you do get a sense of the thing being capable of channeling a vessel? If one was attuned to the thing with a greater idol, one could presumably use it as a focus to scry. It is not actively “powered up” though, and magic like that would be tangible to you. This is just a target.
12:51 Fiss: wishes they had a portable hole just in case
Falkirk frowns, a hand in his backpack
12:51 (To Falkirk): Tangentially; you feel your root sample in its jar, actively flailing about! It seems to be reacting to something, and you can feel the magic quivering
Falkirk shakes a thought from his head, and fumbles for a moment, pulling out his living root sample.
Gray speaks to the others after a moment. “We should move on. We’ve still got some light and might plan our climb” He turns to the blood mage and elven woman. “Will you be fine? Or do you require aid?” He looks to the wounds the ghouls left on them.
12:54 (To Gray): You can see, the wounds left on the pair have healed! small thin scars crisscross their skin where the bloodstains sit, but only small whirls of red writing lie there now.
Ken (GM) The thing Falkirk carries is a pulsing, throbbing, glowing red mass in the small glass jar. It struggles inside, stretching the container to its limits. It struggles and writhes in time with the mighty arcane root above you, swaying with the limbs in their odd display
12:54 Falkirk: Above?
12:55 Ken (GM): [ the massive bloodroot plant swaying around? Its taller than Gray, like a tree almost]
12:55 Falkirk: oh huh must have missed that
Gray frowns at the pair a moment, studying them with those lupine eyes then asking. “Your magic heals you, then? A rare and useful gift in this place.”
12:58 H’rruk: “Blood is life” He says, more of an intonation than a statement of fact “Go in peace, with blood and fire. We will leave, head South. Make for the untainted lands. Maybe the elf lands” He takes the elven woman’s hand, and smiles gravely
Syviis Adjeon offers her Map-In-Progress to the elf to see if she might be interested in filling in some of the blanks
12:59 Gray: “I wish you luck and safe travels. If you know of the land.. We could use the help.” He nods in agreement, glad Syviis thought of something so practical. The wanderers might have seen much of Gorgoth
Ken (GM) She seems happy to help, but doesnt seem to read or write. She points out some major features here and there. A few more ‘fire rocks’ she describes like volcanoes. As well as the borders of the orc territory South of here.]
Falkirk seems more interested in his root than the farewell. “Aye, safe travels.”
1:01 Syviis Adjeon: “Thank you, every brush stroke and mark means a safer journey!”
1:02 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Farewell, and be safe. Perhaps we’ll meet again in greener lands.”
Suðri Skornbrekker as if he’d ever set foot near elf forest land
Ken (GM) The two salute, with a pair of arms raised in front of their faces, like an X. They bow slightly, and head off, South-east, through the swirling mists and out of sight quickly through the trailing fog
1:04 Bomrek: “Good riddance to dark wizards and blood magic” Bomrek spits, and goes about checking his guns and horse
Gray bows to them respectfully before watching them go a moment, then turning to scent the air, to hunt around them for danger again. He spares a momentary glance to Syviis, to her throat.
1:05 (To Falkirk): The root cutting slithers back and forth, like a snake or a slug, rubbing through the container, looking for the release. It’s glowing with an internal ruby light, much like the larger plant does. And it is…definitely alive. You feel a magical aura emanating from it.
1:07 Syviis Adjeon: “I have no love for magic that mixes with blood…too many dark stories start with such a combination, even in elf lands. But it is good to see people using it to live in peace. I wonder how the twisting and upheaval of these lands would have changed any of us…”
1:08 Joush M.: She got bitten, after all
1:09 (To Fiss): ruh roh; sounds like hes paranoid youre gonna zombify
1:09 (From Syviis Adjeon): “I’m worried about the elf…” in a land literally infected with blood-rot everywhere. 😛
Gray nods in reply to that, the savage brute studying his own hand a moment, then the land here. His deep voice rough. “They live how they can and did right by us. Let’s go find the anchor.”
1:09 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I truly wonder what the nature of this bloodroot is. It is a plant; it bleeds, it strangles this land, but it is also one of the few things that provide nourishment; and it is apparently… uh… relatively safe before being mixed with that honey.”
1:10 Suðri Skornbrekker: “It is too twisted and terrible to be a mere plant, but we have yet to see proof that it is of an evil nature.”
1:11 Syviis Adjeon: “This encounter certainly has raised a few interesting questions. It may be that this blood root and blood rot is less a blight and more something that has been abused by those who seek power. The land itself may be innocent in this.”
1:11 Falkirk: “Aye, well. Whatever it is, we’ll get to the bottom of it.”
1:11 Bomrek: “You forgetting the demon plant then Brother?” Bomrek chuckles “Seemed pretty evil incarnate to me”
1:12 Suðri Skornbrekker: “…aye, point taken.”
Gray nods. “Maybe that’s what happens when one of those great flowers is corrupted by the Rot” pointing to the towering swaying weird thing
1:13 Bomrek: “I’ve half a mind to take a hatchet to this great bloody thing” He chuckles to himself, noticing the pun
Syviis Adjeon rolls her eyes but is clearly trying not to laugh
1:14 Bomrek: Bomrek points his gun up it’s length “Too big and …. Weird”
1:14 Fiss: THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID…
Gray shakes his head. “We’ve far greater prey to hunt. To the chains with us.”
1:16 Bomrek: “Aye. What fuzzy said then. To the chains” Bomrek hefts his gun, and heads for the horses
1:17 (To Falkirk): Any more prodding you wanted out of the magic blossom?
1:17 (From Falkirk): Not right now. I’ll do some later though.
Falkirk packs his jar away
Gray is well used to Bomrek by now and in any case “fuzzy” is far from the worst nickname he’s had. He helps with the horses and getting them moving again though the misty, eerie landscape under the great fortress.
Ken (GM) You pack away your things, the dwarves check the rifles, and you turn again South toward the mighty looming shadow that is the chained mountain. Atop the misty edge of the cliffs, you see the green of the land there; the lush growth shrouded now above you, hanging in waves and thrushes. But more important, the pockmarked cliffs draw closer and closer. Directly below one of the massive chains, you come to the rocky edifice. The mists part, and you see ahead, ruins.
Ken (GM) Much as the hot, dry slavers camp North of you was shrouded in the hills, this edifice is carved into the living rocks ahead of you. They scrape upwards, steep and deadly, as if a giants hand cut a deep into the very world. Above, you see dark holes in the walls, with small avian shapes flitting about. Crows caw faintly from the heights
Ken (GM) Ahead, a looming black stone door is at the foot of the cliffs, wrapped in dull rusted iron chains and shimmery steel ones. Red bloodroot grows in patches…and red runes glow from the door brightly.
Suðri Skornbrekker stares at the ruins, wondering if they, too, are Dwarven in origin—although his excitement about that has dwindled after the revelation that these Dwarves are twisted practitioners of magic, the servants or allies of vampire elves.
Gray takes the lead, stepping ahead and scenting the air. The beast carefully hobbles and tethers the horses before stepping forward, readying weapons. “This may be trouble.”
1:26 (To Gray): The scents are muddled and weak here, when not outright sulfurous or acrid. The mud stinks of moss and green, and the bloodroot has its own bloody scent. You also smell the stench of death, but it is a musty old scent.
Ken (GM) Waterfalls trickle like veils of shimmering light, shadowed here and there, but glittering when revealed from the darkness. If the ground was not murky clay mud, and the setting so bleak, it would almost be beautiful
Suðri Skornbrekker holds his musket tight, his eyes drawn more often to the ruins than to the sky, whence he expects more immediate danger.
1:27 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Given that there might be flocks of bird-people lurking in these hole above, we might actually be safer inside once we’ve cleared out a few rooms.”
1:27 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): The ruins are well cut blocks of fine stone, where they have not crumbled in disrepair. Once they would have been mighty polished things. They are now shredded from the constant rot of green and water. Classic ancient empire design; this resembles an entrance to The Ways, the underground travel highways of dwarves
Gray kneels and tests the mossy, muddy ground with his fingertips, then lowers his head and scents it, amber eyes searching the shadows and hollows, then moving forward slowly. “Ready to fire and cover me. I’ll go see if the door is safe to approach.”
Suðri Skornbrekker seems eager to get inside, less because he seeks safety and rather because he feels the itch of curiosity “All right,” he answers Gray, and aims ahead of the lumbering Beastman at the door, occasionally looking up and skywards.
Bomrek ties his horses to the tree, and gets a good vantage point with his gun, aiming on the door.
1:30 Syviis Adjeon: OOC: I assume the ride to the chain has given the Elf time to rest for her fatigue points?
1:31 Bomrek: Once ready and sighted, he waves at Gray “Go get ’em big guy”
[an hour’s ride or so over rocky and muddy terrain. Not the best way to recouperate 
]
Falkirk walks over to a tree/bloodroot, happy to remain in cover for the inevitable altercation
Gray is willing to wait and allow people to catch their breath but dosn’t seem to realize the others might be tired.
1:34 Ken (GM): [fiss, does Syviis need to rest right away? Take a breather for magic?]
1:36 Syviis Adjeon: If the rest of the party is rocking and ready to go, she’ll press on…she DOES have untapped reserves. I was just curious how much she has naturally to work with
But she is visibly tired, so if someone brings it up, she won’t object to an hour of rest
1:36 Ken (GM): hah, late lunch?
1:36 Syviis Adjeon: lol pretty much
Gray blinks in surprise at that, then shrugs and unpacks enough food and water to rest for a few minutes. Watching the ruin, staring at the door as he eats.
Syviis Adjeon rests and eats for a bit, then smirks “Maybe I SHOULD try gunpowder. Seems a bit smarter to burn it instead of myself…”
Bomrek shrugs, pulls some gravelly looking old dried bread from his bag, and munches slowly, one hand on the gun, looking about warily
Falkirk sits apart, seeming to meditate. A small item cupped in his hands.
Ken (GM) The hush of the waterfalls, and the occasional drip of water in the bog are the only things that break the quiet here. The looming wall of stone remains. The shroud of afternoon sun cloaking it in half shadow [also, nothing actively happens as you eat, you’re undisturbed in your rest]
1:40 Syviis Adjeon: the elf dies of dysentery
oops… I mean…
the elf looks ready after a bit
1:40 (To Falkirk): You can feel the tingle of magic here. After a few minutes, the air seems charged with it, like background noise. It seems to be emanating from the door
1:40 (To Syviis Adjeon): You can feel the tingle of magic here. After a few minutes, the air is charged with it, like background noise. It is emanating from the door
Gray nods to Syviis. “I don’t know. The guns take a lot of maintenance. They don’t heal… the dwarves will be an hour, cleaning them tonight, after today’s work.” He explains, though she likely knows that. With his meal over, he starts closer to the door. Alert for danger and weapons at the ready.
Syviis Adjeon eyes the door. “There’s more magic here…as if there was a doubt. The door itself may be a greater barrier than we suspect, though.”
Falkirk looks up, eying the door
Syviis Adjeon stands and prepares her arrows for the upcoming insanity
1:42 Falkirk: “Aye. I feel it too. Tread lightly.” He stands, refreshed.
Bomrek, seeing a lack of immediate threats present, takes a nice closer vantage on the door from a fallen pillar, sidling up to it for cover and height.
1:43 (From Syviis Adjeon): one quick Survival / Nature-person question… those waterfalls seem a bit suspicious. Any chance they are man/person/monster made?
1:44 (From Syviis Adjeon): or is it just fancy map-making? 😛
1:44 (GM To Syviis Adjeon): They seem to be coming from the walls higher up, and in the shroud, you see they’re issuing from cuts in the stone, not natural fissures.
1:45 (To Gray): As you draw close to the door, you see the runes of power glowing on the design on the floor stones. It’s etched in a language you dont read, but the power is unmistakable, it sets your hair on end. The runes glow in azure blue and blood red. A large golden seal of obvious importance in the center
1:45 (To Gray): As well, you smell death. Or at least, you smell that woman. The stink of sulfurous death. Her scent is unmistakable
Gray scents the air again and calls back to the others. “The door is marked with words, but I cannot read them. The strange elf woman has been here…sulfur and death and..” He searches the shadows around, then steps closer to the eldritch portal. “There’s danger here, but nothing I see immediately. Falkirk, do you wish to come up and study the portal?” He hates to hazard the physician, but the man has the best chance, he thinks, of understanding the strange gate.
Falkirk frowns at the gatway
1:51 Falkirk: “Aye, I could take a look.”
1:51 Fiss: [ frowns and nods intensify ]
1:52 Syviis Adjeon: arrow at the ready, watching equally the door and the skies
Gray stays close to Falkirk, the brutal beastman still seeming to hunt. “What would the elven night lord be doing here?.. If she is a lord of the night, of course.”
1:54 (To Falkirk): The runes are etched in something like dwarven, but there are occasional Infernal runes for names and such. The etching reads something like “Stand and be judged. Weigh your soul and breach the depths of hate if you are worthy. [Ashtur] will see your strength”
1:55 (To Falkirk): Automatic Thaumatology The magic circle immediately reads to be a simple “lock and key” mechanism. Some kind of triggered release tied to the door. It is likely a giant magic padlock
Falkirk leans forward, frown on his face
1:55 Falkirk: what does the gate look like?
1:55 (To Gray): Secret Perception Scenting about and keeping an eye out, you see on the big stone door, there is an obvious handprint. Small enough to be the elven womans. Stained in mud maybe?
Ken (GM) The stone doors sit in the rock face, hinges hidden behind the rocky wall. Massive iron and steel chains reach from the surface of the door, back to the pillars flanking it. The door is tightly closed. A smudge of mud near where the handle might be, but the doors are smooth blocks of uninterrupted rock, otherwise. No handles or doorknobs affixed anywhere.
Gray comes closer to the big stone door, studying something on the surface. His massive hand hovers over it a moment, measuring the hand-print he spotted by comparison, then frowning. “A small handprint. Perhaps the night lord’s. She may be inside and unwelcoming of a visitor.”
1:57 Ken (GM): [The doors are roughly 8 feet tall, and about as wide]
1:59 (To Gray): Secret tracking. Why would she leave such a pristine muddy handprint on the door? It doesn’t seem like a natural ‘trail’ at all. And there’s no sign of her passage out front. The ground is utterly clean, unmarred. So its not like she smeared every surface she bumped into…
Falkirk mutters behind his beard
2:00 Falkirk: “…no mind for riddles…”
2:04 (From Syviis Adjeon): how long would it take Syviis to grab her horse and do a loop around the hillock containing the chain’s anchor? Or would it even be possible?
2:04 (From Syviis Adjeon): IE, looking for a back door to the place
2:05 (GM To Syviis Adjeon): Chain seems to come out of the bottom of the flying mountain, down to the top of the cliffs somewhere. And the cliffs stretch off in both East and West out of sight. No easily seen back doors here.
Gray pauses and kneels, studying the ground. Hunting footprints, little boots should leave little prints, but he finds none. Then to the mud marked handprint. “She did that intentionally. There’s no other marks. No smear from opening a door with dirty hands, I don’t understand why.”
2:05 Falkirk: “Aye well. It’s magical. The door opens by itself if you have the key…”
Gray nods. “We don’t have a key. Any thoughts?”
2:06 Syviis Adjeon: thinking for a moment If that woman is indeed baiting us…or indifferent and amused by us, this may be less of a trap and more of a hint.
Syviis Adjeon walks up to the door
Syviis Adjeon presses on the handprint
Ken (GM) The handprint is nearly identical to the Elf’s; but after a moment, you only have a dirty hand and a still-closed door
2:08 Fiss: the elf promptly explodes
2:08 Falkirk: “Elf, how are you for riddles?”
Syviis Adjeon looks down to the ground and the area she stands
2:08 (To Syviis Adjeon): The door is radiating magic, and you feel the cold depths of it. A kind of malice. A hate. Cold and resolute.
2:09 Syviis Adjeon: “I wish I could say I was a master of it…but I’m not. I am willing to try, though.”
Gray frowns, pausing and resisting the urge to stop Syviis from touching the door. He stands by, wishing there was more he could do. “The dwarves could open the door, but it won’t be much of a door after and it would use much of our powder.”
2:10 Falkirk: “It reads: Stand and be judged. Weigh your soul and breach the depths of hate if you are worthy…”
Falkirk hesitates with a word for a moment
2:10 Falkirk: “Ashtur will see your strength.”
“I’m no expert in doors, nor riddles.”
2:11 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): Bomrek looks at you with recognition; That phrase sounds a LOT like an old dwarven prayer, about the afterlife…
2:11 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): And the word “Ashtur” sounds a lot like the word for ‘Betrayer’ in dwarven
[Forgive me if this all seems trite, but it was my first attempt at a linguistic riddle and mashing up some lore about the Dwarves, the Demons, and the nature of language in Grimwyrd. (You should see the dithering I did researching Babylonian cuneiforms) –Ken]
2:12 (From Syviis Adjeon): she’ll keep her hand on the door, trying to work her feelings and mind against the door. Instead of letting the resolute hate fill her mind, she’ll try to fight it with calm certainty, with inner strength, so to speak. Otherwise ‘poking magic door with magic elf’
2:12 (To Syviis Adjeon): You are met with an equal force. It’s like pushing against a block of stone with your hand: It meets you with equal measure. You’re beginning to feel this is a personal kind of feeling.
2:12 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Wait a moment…”, Suðri interjects, though he has not yet decided what to say.
Gray ask Falkirk. “Who is Ashtur?.. Do they mean to strike the door?” He wonders if it’s as simple as punching the door, that little handprint.
2:13 Suðri Skornbrekker: “There might be a tomb lying beyond there; that phrase is an old prayer of the Dwarves to those who have left this world.”
“‘Ashtur’ on the other hand…” Suðri goes to join the three at the door as he mulls it over.
2:15 Suðri Skornbrekker: “‘Ashtur’ sounds like ‘[Betrayer]’.”Using the dwarven word out loud ”It could refer to these dark dwarves that the two wild ones told us about, seeing how they seem to have betrayed our kind in just about every way.” said with some audible disgust.
2:15 Suðri Skornbrekker: “…but I’m not sure if they would refer to themselves that way.”
Gray nods to Suðri, the lupine Scorned agreeing that they don’t have much but speculation, but the information useful as they stand beside the rune marked stone.
2:14 (From Syviis Adjeon): seeing that it will push back, she tries instead to fight it on her terms…inviting it inward, using herself as a proving grounds. [WORST DEMON HUNTER EVER…]
2:16 (To Syviis Adjeon): Nothing presses further than the edge of your aura. It doesn’t seem to have the agency to invade your brain (lucky you :P) But that hate is definitely aimed at you, somehow. Directly.
2:17 (To Falkirk): Demonic lore check!
2:17 (To Fiss): HIDDEN ELF LOOOORE check
2:17 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Syviis; when these lands were ravaged… are there any stories of great treason from that time? Well… plenty, I assume; but any particularly well-known ones?”
Suðri Skornbrekker strokes his beard though his other hand still holds his muskets; his eyes gaze at the door, occasionally flitting skywards when he remembers to be alert.
2:18 (From Falkirk): 11v11
2:19 Syviis Adjeon: (To GM) rolling 3d6 vs 12
(3+4+2)= 9
Bomrek looks to be also on the watch, scanning with his gun
2:20 (To Falkirk): The name Ashtur refers to “the prince of hate and pure breeds” The demonic lord of racism and fury. Not much else you specifically recall off the top of your head
2:21 Falkirk: “Ashtur…”
2:21 (To Fiss): The curse laid out by the Alliance was a big ritual magic worked by elder wizards lost to the process. Those who worked the lines of power to tear apart the lands of the Horned King never survived to tell the tale of their workings. If they had been betrayed, however…
Gray stands before the door and considers the riddle, then tries getting angry. Letting some of the rage get up close to the surface and near the killing edge before he slams his hands into the door, pushing hard. Seeing if it will yield to that.
Ken (GM) There is a sharp CRACK of sound as gray slams his hands into the stone. Dust cascades from the stonework, but the doors don’t move. The chains rattle in their hinges, holding tight
Gray pushes harder, boots digging into the ground and muscles flexing, leaning in and giving a growl before he steps back and punches the stone. “Wrong about the riddle. Or unworthy.”
2:23 (From Syviis Adjeon): mmm… Syviis will reach under her bandage and bloody her hand/palm/finger to see if “harming the ones who betrayed them” might help. Pressing a bloody finger to the door
Ken (GM) Syviis bloodies her hand under her bandage, and smudges a finger to the door. As she does, there is a sizzle, like meat on a hot skillet, and the blood billows from her digit in plumes of magical glowing red smoke. A hiss like a snake fills the air, and an otherworldly voice rolls out of the door itself
Syviis Adjeon tries to stay resolute against the sudden action, clearly a little surprised though
Ken (GM) “DU-TE DE AICI, UNUL INTERZIS“
Gray draws Syviis back, stepping between her and the door. Listening to the words.
2:26 (To Falkirk): Infernal for “go from here, [forbidden/accursed] one”
2:27 Syviis Adjeon: Does this language seem familiar? / known?
Falkirk nods slowly
2:28 Falkirk: “Grey, try your blood.”
2:28 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): Now that youre close enough to see it: The runes on the floor are written in dwarven, definitely. It’s got weird runes inserted as well in a script you don’t know. The door spoke in a different language too. The phrasing of the old prayer carved here is very strange; The original text is a ‘weighing’ of worth. Proving your lineage and trusting in your forefathers. This is…less than that
Gray nods to the physician and draws his forearm across his blade, drawing a shallow cut then wetting his other palm, pressing it to the door and leaving a dripping print on the stone.
Suðri Skornbrekker inspects everything closely, almost ignoring what the others are doing, and mulling in thought.
Ken (GM) Again the blood billows into a plume of smoke, and the voice calls out the same words at Gray’s deed
Falkirk frowns deeper still
2:31 Falkirk: “It doesn’t like either of your blood.”
2:31 Syviis Adjeon: “What about the blood of the land? The tree that we spied earlier?”
2:32 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Let me try. This is all of Dwarven make, so maybe it takes a Dwarf to open it.”
Gray licks the cut on his arm, leaving it to close on its own with the preternatural speed of the Scorned. He blinks at the suggestion, looking to Syviis, then around. “The.. Bloodroot? Or perhaps the earth. The elf print was mud.”
Syviis Adjeon nods to Gray. “It does seem more of a hint, doesn’t it?”
Suðri Skornbrekker makes a small cut in a finger on his left hand, and presses it against the door
Ken (GM) there is a rumble, a loud crack, and the door creaks and groans as it begins to swing outward, open.
2:38 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): In your mind, you hear, right over your shoulder speaking in insidious dwarven words “Welcome home….brother” in the most cold and hateful voice you’ve ever felt. Like ice in your ear
Gray steps back from the door and readies his weapons. “Good work, Suðri.”
Suðri Skornbrekker mumbles “Traitors indeed…” as a chill runs down his spine.
Falkirk mutters about dwarves
Syviis Adjeon gasps and pats Skornbrekker on the shoulder with glee. ”The only thing harder than a massive stone door… The soul of a proper dwarf. I am not surprised at all.”
2:40 Suðri Skornbrekker: “…Falkirk,” he asks over his shoulder, “did you just perceive any magic presence?”
Ken (GM) Within, the darkness is pierced by orange flames. Flaming symbols in the floor are cut through the rock itself, lighting the black stone within with harsh edges and steep shadows. A raised dais in the floor steps up with short rises on its pentagonal five sides. And in the back of the hall, two statues of black marble hold up bowls of embers lighting their bearded visages and snarling faces full of sharp teeth
2:43 Falkirk: “Nothing more than the lock and whatever’s inside.”
Gray calls into the great gallery with the flame lit darkness. The towering beast stepping forward. “We don’t come looking for a fight. What is this place?” Ask the savage brute, staring a moment at the fiery ruins then around the room. The shadows could hold much.
2:44 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Well, that’s concerning then.” He turns to Bomrek, and calls him over. “Come on in, the Betrayers are waiting for us to show them what proper Dwarves are made of!”
Bomrek strides up and in, a grim look on his face “This is way too familiar, Suðri”
Syviis Adjeon nocks an arrow and follows
2:46 (To Suðri Skornbrekker): Again, this is clearly evident dwarven architecture. The pillars holding the buttressed ceiling, the carved floor. The door symmetrical geometric design. All of it Dwarven staples of the old empire and its works.
2:47 Suðri Skornbrekker: “You would think we should be glad to see such Dwarven craftsmanship, and recognizable indeed as our kind’s—but to find it in a land this twisted makes it all wrong.”
Ken (GM) A voice rolls through the hall, echoing from no specific direction “I was wondering how long it would take you to open that door” Her bubbling laughter rattles like dry bones scraping against one another. The elven demon woman, no doubt
Suðri Skornbrekker defiantly shouts back: “We could have tried the quick and easy way, but we’ll save that for our enemies!”
Suðri Skornbrekker sure hopes the cannons are still loaded and can be unpacked quickly
2:49 Syviis Adjeon: “She seems happy…” smirks “Clearly, a jovial soul.”
2:49 Ken (GM): [@Suðri: I think Gray was carrying one? last I checked]
Gray considers a moment, then steps deeper into the building. “I would wonder why you made it so we could. The riddle would have been beyond us without your hint… do you want guests, or is this a trap?” Gray speaks aside to Falkirk. “Physician, wedge the door open if you could. If it closes, wait outside”
The woman’s laughter echoes again. The tall shadows jumping at the mocking sound “Oh! Guests are always welcome in our courts, noble Gray. We wouldn’t dare besmirch our kingdom with …treachery” She draws out the last word
Falkirk nods, stabbing his spear into one end of the door and wedging the blunt end against the opposed door, overhead.
2:54 The Woman: “So, have you all had some time to think on your travels. Mulled it over? Thought about what you’re doing here? Have you come to the same conclusion I have?”
Gray speaks in that feral voice. “I remain resolved to finish my mission. I don’t know what conclusion you’ve made, Ma’am” He speaks respectfully to the demonic elf that lingers in the deep shadows of the strange court (or tomb)
2:56 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I am usually at odds with Elven taste,” he replies, “but you folk should really plant some greenery in these parts, greenery that doesn’t bleed.”
2:57 Syviis Adjeon: “Since we are in your court, why don’t you inform us of your opinion? We never asked for games and riddles and never offered them to you in like.”
The Woman makes a little ‘tut tut’ noise, clicking her tongue “Ohhh, poor form little waif. You make have taken their tongue! But you haven’t their class just yet.”
Syviis Adjeon laughs
2:59 Syviis Adjeon: “You speak of class when the land itself bleeds…”
The Woman: “LIFE is here Syviis. Pure unopposed, flourishing, LIFE” she snaps her response, her voice craven and gleeful “The land is abound with growing, breeding, clamoring LIFE”
Gray watches the shadows and scents the air, some savage beast as he tries to localize the daemon-elf while she speaks.
3:00 (To Gray): Perception(scent)!
Syviis Adjeon frowns and begins to circle the shadows
Falkirk stands holding his spear in place, eyes internally rolling at the melodramatic sorceress
3:00 Syviis Adjeon: “Life that is bleeding out…that needs healing.”
3:01 Gray:rolling 3d6 vs 14
(1+4+4)=9
3:01 Syviis Adjeon: “Life…that is scared of the very soil and enslaved by the very blood gushing as it tries to clot the wounds of old…”
The Woman: “What was unleashed so many human lifetimes ago is alive and WELL, and the thing that needs healing is the broken scattered barbarians at the edge of it!” Her voice raises in pitch “and WE shall bring that into fruition!”
3:02 Falkirk: “Enough of this.”
3:02 (To Gray): You can’t see her, but you’re certain her scent is coming from dead ahead of you. The draft in the room is straight. She should be standing just in front of the altar, but there’s nothing there but the shadows and her scent…
3:03 Falkirk: “Deflection and hiding and dramatics. Have you any true substance or are you trying to bore us into going home? We’re here for a reason. Let us get this over with.”
Syviis Adjeon grins at Falkirk
Gray moves suddenly to the altar, following the scent and stalking to the velvet shadows that seem to conceal more then they should.
3:04 (To Gray): You should be standing right on top of her!
Ken (GM) An audible gasp comes from the air where he stops “Oh Gray! How forward!”
Syviis Adjeon follows at cover-distance
Gray speaks into the dark. “I would see who I speak with, Night Lady.”
Ken (GM) the shadows jump and slither, and coalesce into the form of the silver-armored elven woman, pale skin and all
3:05 Falkirk: “About damned time.”
Suðri Skornbrekker immediately takes aim upon her
Bomrek does the same
The Woman holds up her hands, in a placating gesture
The Woman: “We are of the opinion that we should NOT be at odds with you. By all reckoning, what you are doing here…should not oppose our needs here in this realm.”
The Woman: “After all…” she looks Gray up and down, smirking “…you’re all so POWERFUL. How could we resist?”
Falkirk turns, a hand on the door-spear “Aye well. I can’t speak for the others, but wiping out every abomination South of the Kings road seems like a good start. Including blood-sucking amateur magicians such as yourself.”
The Woman glares at Falkirk, but says nothing. The smirk remains
3:08 Suðri Skornbrekker: “My apologies; us northern barbarians are unfamiliar with your culture of hospitality, and might have misunderstood some of your welcoming gestures.”
Gray ask the woman. “We? I would understand what you mean.” He seems surprised by the smirk, by the woman’s comment nearly makes him blush and certainly unsettles his balance, stepping back so he looms less over her. He stands ready, but tries to be nonthreatening. “We don’t know this land. I don’t know who you are. I would understand, if you would tell us.”
3:09 Fiss:–>
Gray glances to Falkirk, then around the room. Looking to the other shadows while he scents the air.
The Woman keeps her hands raised, and nods to each of you in turn “You all possess some remarkable skills. Your powers are unheard of, even in your homelands. Gray’s brutish strength. The dwarven sharpshooting. Falkirks master of the theurgy. Even Syviis’ elemental competency.”
“We would see you join our ranks. Pledge allegiance, and become Lords. Mortal instruments of unfathomable powers. Gods…among mortals”
Gray shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I am already under contract.” He refuses politely,
3:11 Falkirk: “What do you know of The Rot?”
3:12 Falkirk: “There is a cure. All poxes have a cure, and you appear well despite being so surrounded.”
Gray frowns. He wonders a moment if Falkirk would join the woman for this cure. It would be the physician’s choice, but he would hate to see the man on the other side of the field.
3:13 Suðri Skornbrekker: “A most tempting offer, milady. I would love to be Lord, living in a grand castle and watching over its town, beyond whose spires my peasants’ pastures stretch. Alas, you do not seem to have a lot of towns to give away, nor castles, and to be lord over a land of blood and dust is not so inspiring a position.”
Syviis Adjeon smiles at the reactions of her party. Inspiring. “I’m afraid my duties are already spoken for, but I pray your offer was one of true generosity and good will and thank you if it was.”
Falkirk lets go of the spear, stuck in the door and advances “You are one of the Night Lords, are you not? One of the sources of the rot. What is it that keeps you alive where others fall to it?”
The Woman looks disappointed at each of your answers, but turns her face to Falkirk as he draws nearer “Oh Falkirk, all will be revealed in time, I’m sure. You are aware by now we engineered the ichor that floods the species of man. You know we had a purpose for it. You are of fit mind, if not an able body. Think; why would we be so immune to the plagues of mortals? What could render us bastions against a rampaging pox?” Her voice drops, melodramatically “We are of course…not alive”
3:18 Syviis Adjeon: “Funny, how just a moment ago you were speaking so much of life…”
Ken (GM) she sticks her tongue out at Syviis
Falkirk hesitates for a moment, face a blank mask
Gray nods to her. “You’ve bargained well with Death, then. Most that linger in Twilight between life and death find an ending a mercy.”
Ken (GM) She looks at gray, somewhat flustered at the words. Her amusement lost for a moment, the mask falling away.
3:20 Falkirk: “The only cure… is death? He chokes slightly on his words
The Woman regains her composure, and anger floods her face “I did not bargain, Gray. I was CHOSEN. For I am one of the supreme! I wield mighty forces! Death is but a stepping stone to GREATNESS!”
Syviis Adjeon laughs out loud at her outburst. “And tell us…what greatness do you speak of?”
Gray speaks to Falkirk and Syviis. “She’s going to summon deamons from those flames. Draw back and be ready.” He flexes his wrist, shield lifted and ready. “Tell us how to cure the Rot and we will leave you in peace!”
Ken (GM) Her voice rises into anger “YOU WOULD REFUSE AN OFFER OF GODHOOD!?”
Ken (GM) “IMMORTALITY!?” She shrieks unintelligibly and a sound like rending steel fills the air
3:22 Ken (GM): Roll for INITIATIVE!
3:22 Syviis Adjeon: awwshitson
3:22 Falkirk: can I forfeit initiative?
3:22 Gray: rolling 1d6+6 (Combat Reflexes for possibly +2 for starting it?)
(6)6=12
3:22 Syviis Adjeon: +2 for Combat Reflexes rite?
3:22 Ken (GM): give yourselves the +2, ja
3:23 Syviis Adjeon:rolling 1d6 + 7
(1)7=8
Ffff I mean…I MEANT TO DO THAT…TACTICAL WAITING! 8.25!
3:23 Joush M.: Elves, so fast they are paralyzed by indecision before anyone else can even start to move
3:23 Syviis Adjeon: lol gotta elf fast
3:24 Falkirk: 9.75
3:24 Ken (GM): rolling 1d6 + 7
(1)7=8
Bomrek 8.5
3:25 Joush M.: Damn, some low rolls. Let’s hope the luck holds when they are a good thing
3:25 (To P.P. A.): poke
3:27 Ken (GM): ppa?
Suðri?
poke poke
3:28 P.P. A.: sorry, was afk
3:28 Ken (GM): lol DUDE
3:28 Suðri Skornbrekker: rolling 1d6+5
(5)5=10
3:28 Ken (GM): ~but theres a vampire fight~
Joush M. gets out the dwarf cocaine to speed him up.
3:28 Ken (GM): HAH
okay! GRAY reacts first! She has screamed, and her armor is writhing against her! The scales are slithering around as if they are alive!
WAT DO?
3:29 Syviis Adjeon: Cocaine of +3 Initiative. “Step to the side!”
3:30 P.P. A.: ayyy
3:30 Ken (GM): [gotta love the -4 for ‘someone in my damn way!’]
3:30 P.P. A.: [I forgot I have Combat Reflexes too now, so I’m actually at 12]
Gray sidesteps and gives a powerful shove, an attempt to knock her back and down. “Yield!” He commands.
3:30 Falkirk: I hope she yields
3:30 Ken (GM): roll to hit gray! Brawling!
3:30 Gray: rolling 3d6 vs 13
(1+6+3)=10
3:31 Ken (GM): Her arm lashes out in a practiced form! Unarmed (with DR) PARRY
rolling 3d6(6+5+6)= 17
and totally fucks up the parry
3:32 Joush M.: mebbie pratice that more
3:32 Ken (GM): JFC roll double thrust for me Gray? 2d+4 for the shove?
3:33 Gray:rolling 2d6+4
(3+3)4= 10
3:33 P.P. A.: can GURPS mechanics kill your character if he hits his unarmored head on the pavement or a lamp post unluckily?
Ken (GM) Gray’s massive form hits her with a shove. Her hands swirl in a flourish of martial arts, but nothing connects, and gray hits home. HOWEVER She’s like a rock and doesn’t budge [Not enough damage to shove her! Dang yo!]
Gray should have bashed with his shield, but he hesitated when it came time to attack something that wasn’t quite clearly monstrous, despite her writhing armor.
Ken (GM) A snarl of rage escapes her mouth. Her fangs glisten like steel and her eyes glimmer metallic
3:34 Joush M.: End Turn!
3:34 P.P. A.: I can take a single step while maintaining my aim, right
3:34 Ken (GM): SKORNBREKKER! You have Aim + on her. Yes, you may adjust by steps without worry
Suðri Skornbrekker takes a single step so he doesn’t hit Falkirk, and fires—an all-out attack aimed at the head of the wicked woman!
3:35 P.P. A.: I’ve been aiming for some time, how much is that in turns? (Also distance?)
3:36 Ken (GM): youve got a long aim, so thats gonna be ACC+1, and the distance is 7 yards, so -3
[also, for reference I made a handout, thats her art]
3:37 P.P. A.: has a certain eastern touch
hm, what’s the penalty for aiming at certain body parts again?
3:37 Joush M.: Damn, that’s nice outfit
3:37 Ken (GM): [INSERT TACTICAL HIT LOCATION CHART]
3:38 P.P. A.: >-5
ok, scratch that. I’ll leave the precise sniping to the other dwarf
3:39 Ken (GM): soooo
Suðri Skornbrekker makes a Determined all-out attack aimed at her general torso meat 6v(15+1+2-4+4)
3:40 P.P. A.: should have aimed at the head after all
oh well
3:40 Ken (GM): lol
so a 6 on modified 18! critical hit!
does she critically dodge?
rolling 3d6(5+2+5)= 12
NOOOOO
roll 3d6 for your crit hit effect!
3:40 P.P. A.: Time for bonus effect: normal damage
3:41 Suðri Skornbrekker:
rolling 3d6(1+3+4)=8
3:42 P.P. A.: >8 – If any damage penetrates DR, it inflicts double normal shock (to a maximum penalty of -). If the injury is to a limb or extremity, that body part is crippled as well. This is only a “funny-bone” injury: crippling wears off in (16 – HT) seconds, minimum two seconds, unless the injury was enough to cripple the body part anyway.
>undead who can turn into fog
>injury
3:42 P.P. A.: Oh well, time to roll damage
3:42 Ken (GM): woo! Double pain!
3:42 Suðri Skornbrekker: rolling 4d6+2
(3+5+6+3) +2= 19 Pi++
3:42 P.P. A.: Let’s hope that she can actually feel pain—and that if she cannot, it’s because she’s dead for good now
Ken (GM) The shot slams into her chest, and the scale armor on her explodes outward in a flurry of silver shot. A shower of the scale explodes off her, in all directions, like silver coins thrown from a rich mans drunken hands. They clatter noisily in all directions. Her robe is shredded, but below, the silver scales tightly wrap her form, unbroken
3:44 Ken (GM): HER turn
3:44 P.P. A.: fug 😀
3:45 Ken (GM): She screams in a wordless cry, fangs out, claws extending from her hands in a silvery scale. Her exposed head and limbs wriggling with silver scales until she is wrapped in an unbroken armored shell
She lunges for Suðri
Claws out, barreling for him in a screaming tackle!
rolling 3d6 vs Brawling+4 slam hit (neck)
(3+5+2)= 10
Gray isn’t surprised by much, but the shocking, inhuman speed of the elven vampire leaves him amazed.
3:46 Ken (GM): easily hits, as Suðri gave up his defenses to All out attack! 😉
3:47 P.P. A.: fug 😀
3:47 Ken (GM): She latches on, arms around his neck, claws sinking deep into flesh
3:47 P.P. A.: also I realized I made a huge mistake, +4 is for melee, ranged all-out is just +1
3:47 Ken (GM): ah well
3:47 Joush M.: Ahh.. well you’d have hit anyway
3:47 Ken (GM): 😉
3:48 P.P. A.: Does that count as slashing? My beard gives me +1 DR against that!
3:48 Ken (GM): lol, yes! Convenient perk is convenient!
3:48 Syviis Adjeon: DWARFBEARD!
3:48 Falkirk: dem dorfs
3:48 Syviis Adjeon: 90% as strong as Dwarven Bread.
3:49 P.P. A.: I should have stuffed some garlic in my beard
3:49 Joush M.: that’s why they use the bread to shape and carve their beards. At least, I assume so because of the crumb density
3:49 Falkirk: garlic beard
an unfortunate typo turned hair style
3:49 Ken (GM): technically, the hit does no damage, shes just latching on for a grapple, etc.
but!
shes done that
Ken (GM) the scales blown away from her armor slither across the floor towards her, like skittering silver roaches
3:50 Ken (GM): FALKIRK!
Falkirk falls to one knee and takes no action
3:50 Falkirk: craaaaaawling
iiiiiiiiin
my skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin
3:51 Joush M.: I’m so using my talking is a free action to yell at you
3:51 Fiss: THESE HP WILL NOT HEEEEALLLL
3:51 Ken (GM): lol
BOMREK! Turns, and curses about the close combat. BUT fires at her anyways
Suðri Skornbrekker has faith in his fellow dwarf
3:52 Ken (GM): targeting for her skull location soooo…vs 16 thanks to long paranoid aim
rolling 3d6(5+4+1)= 10
boom! she has no defense, and takes it full on!
3:53 P.P. A.: noice. justice.
3:53 Ken (GM):rolling 3d6 + 1
(2+3+5)1= 11 Pi++ to Skull
11 damage EXPLODES into her head; more scales showering off her in a spray! Like a living swarm of metal, they shield her from the worst of the blow, but, She still needs to roll vs stunning at -10
3:54 P.P. A.: Did she have scales on her head too?
oh, I see
3:54 Joush M.: Yeah, they grew across her whole body
3:54 Falkirk: “”””undead”””” are like onions
3:54 Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 vs HT(stun, headblow -10)
(6+2+2) = 10
3:54 Joush M.: I think we are dealing with some very cool ablative DR
3:54 Ken (GM): oh look, shes stunned /sarcasm 😛 having her bell rung n all. Which means!
She lets go of Suðri’s neck (stunned)
And! That knocks her on her ass (prone)
Suðri Skornbrekker almost pierced her heart, she was all over him, and after she saw him from up close, she’s literally stunned
3:55 Ken (GM): SYVIIS!
3:55 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Thank you!” 😉
Syviis Adjeon whips around and fires her arrow true at the woman’s vitals
3:56 Syviis Adjeon: rolling 3d6(2+3+6)= 11
3:56 Syviis Adjeon: Easily hits if she can’t defend
3:56 Ken (GM): true, proceed sir
3:56 Syviis Adjeon: rolling 1d6 + 1+ 3d6
(1)+1 + (1+6+3) = 2 Imp 10 Burn
3:57 Ken (GM): the arrow flies true, but again the metal scales shimmer and swim into the path…and the lightning follows true
Ken (GM) she SPASMS AND WRITHES IN SCRAEMING PAIN
3:58 Syviis Adjeon: And must roll HT vs stunning
Ken (GM) Smoke pours form her flesh between the scales
3:58 Ken (GM): rolling 3d6 vs HT(od some kind)
(5+5+4)=14
3:58 Syviis Adjeon: rolling 3d6 vs fast draw arrow
(2+5+1)=8
3:58 Ken (GM): she is so fuckin stunned
Syviis Adjeon smoothly pulls and knocks another arrow, ready to continue in a heartbeat
3:59 Ken (GM): GRAY! She has exploded past you, taking two shots point blank from rifles, and is a smoking ruin from Syviis’ arrow. WAT DO?
4:00 (To Fiss): Your arrow did nothing to the Ablative DR. But the lightning which bypasses metal armor? Treated it as 1DR and scorched her silly. FYI on the mechanics
Gray charges her, reaching down to try and get a hold on her. (Move and attack to grab? So.. SL 9 for max) “Falkirk! We need you!” He calls to the stunned man, planning to drag the vampire out into the daylight and away from her scales.
4:01 Gray:rolling 3d6 vs 9 to grab
(6+4+5)=15
4:01 Joush M.: Well screw you, dice
Gray can’t get a grip on the slippery scales, not when running up like that.
4:01 P.P. A.: How is grabbing calculated?
4:01 Joush M.: Melee skill to hit
4:01 Ken (GM): BUT! Assuming he’s doing a slam/grab, it doesnt get capped at 9, and takes no -4. Tackling is exempt
4:02 P.P. A.: Ah, thanks
4:02 Joush M.: Hey! That’s great. But Uh… 15 still fails though. I mean, it’s great to know for the future
4:02 Ken (GM): lol “NEXT TIME GADGET”
but!
SKORNBREKKER!, she lies at your feet, smoking and stunned
4:02 Syviis Adjeon: Vampire Elf chicks…So hot right now…
Suðri Skornbrekker tries to grapple too; by the time he draws his sidearm, the scales will have slithered back over her anyway.
4:03 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Struck your heart and you were all over me, was I so stunning up close?” 13v12 to hit
4:03 P.P. A.: fug
4:03 Ken (GM): fug
the slithering scales just dont leave much to grab onto, do they?
HER TURN
she…tries to recover from stun
rolling 3d6 vs HT(stun recover)
(3+5+4)= 12 (Pass!)
yay!
4:04 Ken (GM): she stops screaming, but her turn is over!
Falkirk!
Falkirk stares at the ground, as if studying it for answers.
4:05 Falkirk: end turn~
4:05 Ken (GM): kk
Bomrek! Takes a step and unleashes the other barrel of his gun! “DEMON!” he shouts!
Targeting her vitals, no aim, prone target, so vs 11
rolling 3d6(4+2+6)= 12
OH fug. Miss by one so just a torso hit then
4:06 Ken (GM): DOES SHE DODGE?!
rolling 3d6(3+3+6)= 12
fucking no
rolling 3d6 + 1(2+3+1)1= 7 Pi++
4:06 Syviis Adjeon: much doge, so wow
4:07 Ken (GM): 7 damage slams into her scales; a small shower of silver…and her skin is exposed on her belly!
the charred white flesh marred with lightning burns of red and black!
SYVIIS!
4:08 Syviis Adjeon: sees if she can get a shot off around Gray
4:08 Ken (GM): he’s a -4 from there
Syviis Adjeon knows she can’t aim as precisely around her team mate, instead chooses to focus a massive dose of power into a shot around him
4:09 Ken (GM): ruh roh
4:09 Syviis Adjeon: Target: 16
rolling 3d6(2+3+2)=7
AWWW YIS
4:09 Ken (GM): yay! She makes an attempt at a floor-dodge
4:10 Syviis Adjeon: do she do things?
4:10 Ken (GM):rolling 3d6(2+3+2)= 7
4:10 Syviis Adjeon: fuz
4:10 Ken (GM): fails!
by like 1
4:10 Syviis Adjeon: aw yis
rolling 1d6 + 1 + 4d6
(5) + 1 (5+3+3+4)= 6 Imp, 15 Burn
4:10 Ken (GM): OOOOH
4:10 Syviis Adjeon: fuck yes
Ken (GM) the arrow flies true, and the woman rolls to try and move out of the way, but to no avail! Her armor of silver scales twists into the way, but the arrow plows through, sinks deep, and lightning follows in it’s wake. She screams, and the sound dies, as her flesh chars to black dust, exploding in a wake of silver
Syviis Adjeon lets out an audible gasp as the power drains from her, but holds steady, waiting to see what happens next
Ken (GM) smoke rises form the ash, and silver clatters to the floor. The hall falls silent
Bomrek calls out “Dibs, on at least a fifth of those!”
Gray looks around, considering a moment. “That may be the end of this. Stand ready though… and careful, of the scales.”
Syviis Adjeon sighs and slumps to her knees, winded but still alert
Suðri Skornbrekker takes a step towards the door, the light
Gray watches for danger, reaching out to shake Falkirk gently by the sholder. “Wake up.”
Ken (GM) the coins lie still, no longer slithering for her form.
Falkirk remains steadfastly in his kneel
4:14 Suðri Skornbrekker: “Thank you everyone, truth be told I was prepared to die there.” He walks outside to quickly reload his musket in the open air
Syviis Adjeon smiles “We wouldn’t be here if we weren’t prepared for death every day. I’m glad it has not come just yet, though.”
Falkirk says nothing and does not move for a minute or so, before fumbling with his robes. He puts on the beaked mask and slowly stands, retrieving his spear from the wood of the door.
Gray shakes his head to Suðri. “You can die when we’ve finished our delivery” He says in that rough voice, before turning his attention to Falkirk. He watches the man as he dons the mask again, then inclines his head and turns back to the room. The beast stalks it, searching it now. “Stay ready. She might come back”
Bomrek begins inspecting and cataloging the coin armor he holds them up to the light, magic fire glinting off the silver metal
4:19 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I say we scoop up the scales and put them in a sturdy bag, that way they can’t home in on her should she come back.”
Suðri Skornbrekker looks skywards, worried that the noise of their battle might have stirred the harpy things
4:20 Syviis Adjeon: Nobody wants to find out they just got Harpies.
Ken (GM) Above, the birds loop and whirl in the sky, but do not seem disturbed by the fury of your battle below
Gray nods in agreement to Suðri and examines the flames, the altar.
Suðri Skornbrekker quickly walks to the horses
4:20 Falkirk: is that a door at the back?
4:20 Joush M.: or altar..
4:21 Ken (GM): yes! a door!
Suðri Skornbrekker gets a shovel and a few sacks or bags, whatever is available
Falkirk strides across the room, pushing the far door open
Suðri Skornbrekker also drags the horses closer to the entrance, both so they can shelter them inside, or ride away quickly, whatever the situation calls for
Ken (GM) a hole in the far wall leads deeper into the darkness, the rough dirt floor a stark contrast to the finely shaped hall you stand in. The door is flanked by two large black statues of dwarves holding aloft burning braziers. Their sharp toothed mouths are a rictus grin and snarl
4:22 Syviis Adjeon: good call on the horses
Ken (GM) the horses have not yet wandered off. They are collected easily
4:24 Suðri Skornbrekker: “I was thinking we should barricade ourselves inside this hall before advancing further into the structure, but it seems our doctor has already regained his vitality.”
4:24 Ken (GM): seems like a good place to cut the day too; its 4:30
4:24 Joush M.: Sounds good. Poor Falkirk.
4:25 Falkirk: Aiiight do we get phat boss xp?
4:25 Ken (GM): yeah, you guys exploded the first person to have plague-answers, and otherwise she told him to just die to get out of it 😛
well, you guys certainly earned your 5 for the session 😀
4:25 Syviis Adjeon: awwyus
4:25 Joush M.: Thanks for the game man. Good story and very cool vampire.. Yeah.. Gray pissed her off
4:25 P.P. A.: 1 more than usual, wohoo
4:26 Ken (GM): 5xp you shmucks! spend it on THINGS and STUFF
4:26 Fiss: I Love fantasy ablative armour
good stuff
4:26 P.P. A.: I love how thrilling battles in GURPS are
much more intense and threatening than say Pathfinder
4:26 Joush M.: I’ll find something to buy! Promise. I’ve got 13 now..
4:26 Falkirk: they can be dull but yeah, these have all been snappy
4:26 Joush M.: OOh yeah. In pathfinder I never feel like I’m in danger at full HP
4:27 P.P. A.: >giant dragon breathes fire on you
4:27 Ken (GM): here, its like “oh god, this could kill me”
4:27 P.P. A.: >oh well, that’s 50 of my 100 HP gone I guess
4:27 Joush M.: in GURPS, one bad roll and you could be full Luke Skywalker/The Kingslayer/Captian Hook
4:27 Ken (GM): and here its like “50 damage? Im at -45!”
4:27 Fiss: Ken, you cool if I up Syviis’ FP by one?
4:27 P.P. A.: It also affects the roleplaying
4:27 Ken (GM): I still cant believe I dropped a 17 on her parry of fucking 14
4:28 Joush M.: “They got old lefty! somebody put that on ice!”
4:28 Ken (GM): you do you fiss! FP sounds good
4:28 P.P. A.: You’re more trigger-happy and less willing to take risks by humouring a (potential) enemy, because you don’t want your character to die. which does a pretty good job putting you in his shoes because he’d want to die even less
4:29 Joush M.: Gray’s tactics sucked today. A shove! UGH But.. yeah, he had more questions for her and hestates when there’s a pretty person involved
4:29 Falkirk: there are a lot of advantages and skills though that reward playing like a doof. they’re super fun. luck and daredevil jump to mind, rerolling those potentially fatal hits
4:30 Joush M.: Luck is great
4:30 Fiss: Alright, heading out. o/ later folks. Please be nice when the elf passes out and can’t explode things with lightning!
4:30 P.P. A.: See you o/
4:30 Ken (GM): lulz
0/
4:30 Joush M.: See ya next week! Take care))
4:30 Falkirk: ciao
4:30 Ken (GM): yeah, have a good week guys 🙂
4:30 P.P. A.: Suðri realises that there are, in fact, good elfs
good elves who AREN’T dead elves
that that is: elves who kill worse elves :^)
4:31 Joush M.: Give her a dwarf seal of approval so other dwarves know she’s a good one?
4:31 P.P. A.: she can grow an honorary beard
[Yet another 17 nods to the tally…]
The Gaming Musings of a Mad GM 