Player DS Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FH.John Haight.......HY..Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Al.. Ma ...Kevin Newark..........Dorhak............Warrior.Normal/Dwarf....Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom....YY..Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry.. Fe W3.Mark Murtha.......HN..Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human....Ma W2.David Sanders.....HN..Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human ..Ma R4.Wout Broere.......YY..Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human ..Fe ...Don.Kerr..............Maelorna..........Dancer..Normal/Human....Fe ...Gilbert.Isla..........Mournath..........Sailor..Normal/Human....Ma R3 Panthera..............Pyandalgor........Hunter..Normal/Human....Ma R4.Alex Koponen......YY..Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human ..Fe R3.Fukishtu.Newsome......Npc...............Chief...Normal/Human....Ma R3.Lucria.Cegra..........Npc...............Hunter..Normal/Human....Ma Fake-Kell/Raki........Npc...............Normal..Normal/Shaper...?? Z'layha ..............Npc...............Normal..Normal/Shaman...Fe Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@list.powersandperils.org (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #131 sequence (file #916) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: None ---------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] From Kiet: [Re: Actions] Kiet moves as fast as he can to dump the surprisingly... GM: Ack. From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions] Pushing her sister towards the safe line Z'leyra... GM: Ack From Mae: [Re: Actions] Maelorna groans as she can see the shifters massing ... GM: Ack. From Dorhak: [Re: Dwarf carrying at least not tossing!] The young (in dwarf years, anyway) dwarf is pleased with his GM: Ack. I already finished the update but will try to add this in. From Dorhak: [Re: Warning] "Hurry! The floor is in danger of collapsing!" GM: Ack. ------------------------------------------------------------ [New Stuff] [Febris 9th, 1635TH] [Time: 5:01 pm] [Phase 10] [4 Seconds left] Arawn continues the mental countdown. With 4-5 seconds left he calculates the speed distance of the party. Even a good distant runner can do 10 feet per second. But with 4 or 5 left and folks over 60 feet that means some will not make it. That is not good at all. There is only one option left to him. Raising the Cryx and wand he yells, "don't resist!" Then from within he builds magical energy. Fremea flies the 10 feet toward Arawn and freedom. She turns to see that some are just too far away. She could dart to help them. But best she could do is 30 feet herself before needing to turn back. So there is little she can do for now. She urges the party onward. Raki tries to form a aerial shape to fly the distance to safety but with the damage taken by the fire and lava his cohesion is slowly rebuilding and he can't just do it yet. Maelorna groans as she can see the shifters massing at the bottom. 'By the Court don't you even entertain it you, stupid girl.' she can hear the voice hissing at her as she thinks about stopping to give the others a chance. Instead, she tries to focus on anyone just close to the safe place and if any standing close to it or still running, she adjusts herself to barrel into them to shove them through the safe space. 'I swear if we get out of this.' she curses mentally, 'think later you stupid girl, move MOVE, or we're both trapped here!' the voice urges Maelorna on. AT this point the only two in front of her is Z'leyra and Kiet both holding folks as they move. They are moving very fast for humans and Mae wonders how this can be done. She considers helping them but ramming into them could make them fall and lose their accosted friend. So she weaves and dodges past them and flies toward Arawn. But Mae ends up only 10 feet from the safety point. Unali runs as fast as she can toward Arawn but only makes it about 30 feet and now about 25 feet from safety. She realizes this is bad. She can't do that distance in 1-2 seconds. Frustrated Raki runs as fast as he can as he hears the other shifters flying up the slope behind him. He ends up though about 35 feet from safety. Down below on the passage leading up the ward passage dozens of shifters reach the base of the slope. A good log-jam soon comes to pass as many shifters approach on the scene ready to escape and kill. Above those shifters that were able to pass the lava reach the slope top and land. Most due to the cohesion effect dripping flesh and showing signs of disfigurement from the heat. They stare down the passage at the part fleeing and give chase. Kell in ghost form wonders if Arawn thought of him given permission to pass. More than likely he did not as he is not there. But in hope of that either he was considered or the ward will not affect him he floats pass the diamond crystals. Then hovers near Fremea and waits for the ward to kill him - again. But nothing happens. Mournath runs fast down the passage as he can see Shifters reaching the top of the slope and surging after him. But he ends up 30 feet from safety. Z'leyra begins to feel the weight of her sister as she moves forward. Her magical boots help but it doesn't boost her strength. A bit fatigued she reaches the safety and runs behind Arawn. She deposits her sister and looks back gasping for air. She considers her options. She might make it 15-20 feet before needing to turn around again in time. That leaves Mae the closest and she is very dainty. Z'leyra runs and rounds Mae and grabs the hovering half-demon with her. Using the momentum of the boots she reaches the 10 feet to safety with Mae as well. Fuk runs and sees the shaman deposit her sister and then run back to drag Mae forward. Why help that demon over others nearby? Course he doesn't know the math involved but surely she could've helped a human. Fuk runs and ends up 25 feet from safety. Pyan runs and tries to recall that he was just wounded. His breath is heavy and tiresome. Why does he keep getting hurt! He runs and ends up about 20 feet from safety. Kiet runs the 13 feet and deposits the squirming and very agitated dwarf. Kiet can hear the dwarf mumbling something. Probably annoyed. Surely nothing more bad can happen here now. Kiet turns and sees who is left. That is Unali, Raki, Mournath, Fuk and Pyan. Kiet moves as fast as he can to dump the surprisingly heavy little dwarf across the safe line, then heads back immediately. As he goes, he yells out "Z! Get Pyan and Mournath!" He heads back for first Fuk. He will drag him if he has to. Then he will turn back to get Raki. "Raki! Go light!" Kiet runs toward Raki but he can hear the projection count down. "Four...three.." he ends up 5 feet from Raki and realizes that in 2 seconds he can't get back himself. A true frown forms on the acrobat's face as he turns and runs back sad that he was just a bit too far to help the constable. The young (in dwarf years, anyway) dwarf is pleased with his fighting of late. Finishing off one of those offensively strong shifters brings a bit of pride into his wee heart. At least he shows proof that he earned his name. He gets very nervous, however, seeing what is happening to the floor. We all need to get moving soon or everything gained will be lost, including what we brought to this party. After fighting off the shifters, Dorhak understands the need to hurry to a safe point. But, oh the ignominity of having to be picked up and moved by that acrobat human! He doesn't even ask permission! It's simply embarrassing, and even angers him a bit. But, goodness, that man is fast on his feet. After he is unceremoniously dumped on the floor by, um, Kiet(?) he does his best to scramble up and be ready to move forward. Following this elf seems like foolishness, to him, but everybody else is doing so. It must be important. But still seems foolish. Dorhak will do what he can to help people to safety He waves the party to the now visible stairs up knowing what is about to come. "Hurry! The floor is in danger of collapsing!" Dorhak begins to stammer in his native tongue but those who don't understand it figure he is just cursing at Kiet. Arawn casts the spell knowing that if he fails here five of his new friends will die here. Kiet turns around to head back. Confused by Arawn's comments to not resist he actually doesn't take the time to allow magic on him so he does resist. Suddenly Unali, Raki, Mournath, Fuk and Pyan feel themselves translocated behind Arawn. But not Kiet he is still too far from the safety line behind Arawn. Kiet panics and sees the diamond crystals start to glow. Desperate he activates the jump feature of his boots. "One.." the projection says. Kiet jumps the remaining distance just as the crystlas fire purple blasts at what was his last position. Kiet leaps the 20 feet as if it was 2 feet and continues to run right toward the stairs hoping there is no wards there. He doesn't want to be back blasted by the ward as he runs. But he gets to the stairs and to safety or at least the crystals don't fire again. The projection smiles as it follows Kiet's leap. "Lucky." Then he turns to the shifters. "Not so lucky." The shifters make it about 50 feet down from the top of the slope and about 70 feet from the wards and the projection. Suddenly the projection turns into Arawn. "Hello friends. I am Arawn, son of Payan and Morrigan of the great Sidh court. I bid you welcome!" As the party watch the projection - Arawn speak they are facing his back. The Arawn projection is talking to the shifters not to them? Arawn then realizes what the sacrifice meant. That in giving himself he literally gave of himself. That division of the light earlier must've been a part of his own spirit? Behind the party a rumble is heard and the party turn to see a winding set of stairs suddenly forming upwards. "Approach those worthy of the task set by the gods of now and forever." The snarling shifters surge forward. But those who suddenly grow a brain stop. Those who are more emotionally tied to things continue on. As those half dozen shifters approach the diamond crystals begin to glow a bit of a purple haze. "I am sorry. Your kind is not worthy." The two diamond crystals begin to fire purple beams that engulf the approaching shifters. One by one the beams take on the shifters and disintegrate each one into only a few molecules. Arawn frowns as he hears the party move toward the stairs. Such a waste of life. They only want to be set free. But doing so would be death to the middle world and probably his own home in the upper reaches. He glances to Raki who watches stone faced. The shifters begin to scream and yell at the party. It is odd that now the language is understood. The party is unsure if it is the projection translating or the magic of the wards doing so. "Traitor!" "Stop! Help us!" "Kill him and save us!" "We will die here!" Arawn-projection frowns, "true. You will. Eventually. But sadly this area is a hot zone. I am detecting fissures on the passage floor. I suggest you all rertreat and get to safety." The shifters continue on even though they understand the words. Some do glance down but see only rock and sand. Arawn raises the cryx to see if he can seal this place but realizes the wards can take care of those not worthy to pass. "You have been warned. I am sorry..." The Arawn projection frowns and looks down. At that point a chunk of the passage 30 feet from the wards all the way almost to the apex of the slope suddenly falls under itself into the lava chamber below due to the stresses formed by the lava discharge on the slope. Three dozen shifters fall to their deaths into the lava. Those who are able to reach the new cliff edge hang on for dear life but the heat over takes them and they fall. As those safe beyond the chasm runs toward the slope the apex of the slope crumbles on itself and slides down the slope taking a half dozen other shifters with them into the lava. The heat is so intense that Arawn and Raki have to back up. The Arawn-projection turns to Arawn. "You are worthy as are your friends. Ascend to the next step in the journey. Go fast. There is no guarantee this area may remain solid." Arawn smiles to himself. "Good luck. The next step in your destiny will be of great importance." With that the projection fades. Raki drags Arawn toward the stairs. With Fremea leading the way for any dangers and wards the party ascends in theory toward the Moss Fortress. The real Arawn frowns as he climbs the stairs. Such waste of life. Then again maybe it is best to die here fast than a slowly shrinking cave complex as the lava moves and overcomes their home. With Fremea sensing the area ahead she leads the party up the stairs. The party finds the winding staircase dark, dusty and twists at least 3 times as it ascends. Muffled shouts and screams can be heard as they ascend from below. Actions? Comments? Next Update....Wednesday... GM: A fun dramatic update. For those expert in the system will notice I kind of cheated. Casting spell after the movement phase. This was just for dramatics and I hope you forgive me. It'd be boring the other way. :) If it annoys you on the mechanics switch then blame the dwarves if not then kudos to me. :) At this point I need to write up emails for each person aside from Bert. I keep tabs with him in Skype and he's been busy. Each person will have a thing to deal with in email. To save time this will speed things up instead of one person one update and wait. So doing it in email will speed it up by assuming its done one after the other. So I need to do these email/files and it will take a day or two. So I hope to have update on Wednesday for some public stuff. So stay tuned.