HT Aliaver/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma ??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma R1.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma NPC...................Captain.Lin.......Warrior.Normal/Human..Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #209 in sequence (file #1368) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: None. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions] Z'leyra pauses and asks "Anyone want to go invisible with... While waiting for those that might join her, she triggers the Speed enchantment in her boots. Then she will cast Invisibilty Sh EL4 and proceed across towards the Vong while keeping those touching her in contact. GM: Ack. It is good to plan but the spells would go out before plans are formed. So best to do and remind me later. From Kell: [Re: Actions[ Kell takes the offered mirror [from another post, but pretty sure it was from Z] and goes scouting up the hole. He very carefully does a 360 look using the mirror. He's checking for anything guarding the mouth of the tunnel we'll be using to exit. Reporting back to the group with "____________" [GM, please fill in the blank here] [Or he can take offer of invisiblity. ] GM: Ack. Z'leyra didn't get the info in the post. So never offered the mirror. Sorry guess missed the hint. So above is moot. From Will: [Re: Actions] Forgot the list again OOC: It's a good thing time stops (or moves very slowly) when nobody posts. Will says "befiore ferdinand (with a shake of his head in GM: Ack. Time still moves. The talking and actions in the last update was about 2 minutes. This is why I add time tick marks to the post. Not just for grins. From Kiet: [Re: Actions] Kiet steps forward and says "Kell, hold on a second..."He... Mana Powers are awesome spells....fun to play with. Have to be careful with them, however...especially with Sidh around. Too many ways to accidently injure them. Scott, Should the spell fail, I would be happy to re-cast it once. GM: Ack. I can't recall the origin on the Powers. I made them and think Richard tweaked them. I think I saw it from a old simple wizard vs wizard game that had a sphere like magic in it. Think that's where I got the idea from. From Kell: [Re: Actions] Kell listens to Kiet then replies, "Happily you can do that. I'm rather attached to my head. Do it now, we need to keep moving." GM: Ack. From Fremea: [Re: Actions] Fremea decides that all the talking is boring and walks back into the "treasure" room and starts to rummage around in it. She thinks there could be something useful in there for what they might need. GM: Ack. From Arawn: [Re: Actions] "The summons was gifted to me. I was unaware of the... GM: Ack. -------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Augado 10th, 1634TH] [Location: Middle Katai Plains] [ Mountains west of Pamau] [Time: 2:21:08 pm] As the party watches the creature speak of strange things in the upper world, some are eager to move on. Who knows how long this reference will take. It could be seconds or hours. Even Arawn tries to rack his brain on the named creature but doesn't know it. He might be a demi god but even he has his limited knowledge. Z'leyra pauses and asks "Anyone want to go invisible with me to sneak over to the Vong? You will have to maintain contact or become visible. Come here and I will cast it, stay touching me till ready to swing at the Vong." Only Ben'dar seems eager to get invisible and move. The others are seemingly hesitant for the quick plan. Some do know it is a good plan but what then? Ben'dar becomes visibly upset when not turned invisible and killing Vong now. Will says, "before," ferdinand, with a shake of his head in his direction, "gets excited we better tell him the plan ...what is the plan." "I could teleport up above the crater. High enough that I would just look like a speck from below. Then when the commotion starts if in addition to Vong running to attack our friend some move to guard something important we might know where to look. Course if nothing much happens…." Kiet watches the Merkabah stalk the side of the Chariot away from Arawn and seem to pay attention to the strange creatures. Kiet steps forward and says, "Kell, hold on a second..." He moves up close to whisper in Kell's ear "I have a spell that allows me to send a mana sphere to remote places and see what is in its vicinity...it can be done with a lot less chance of injury." Kell listens to Kiet then replies, "Happily you can do that. I'm rather attached to my head. Do it now, we need to keep moving." Seeing Kell agree, looking over to Unali "If you will permit me, I can send something look through that hole with little to no danger to look around." Unali nods faintly and seems to be distracted by the sudden appearance of the earthquakes. Three in the last few minutes is not a good sign. It could be natural in which case the thing could be very active and under everyone's feet or Vong made in some vile reason. She hopes it might be just Vong made else at least if the volcano erupts it will take the Vong with the party. Kiet moves from the tunnel where the treasure cave is and into the side tunnel leading to the hole. Kiet tags along and is curious on the spell. As Kiet scouts with the mana sphere Kell asks, "Why not tunnel to the sides? I have an idea..." Farseeker tags along just in case they need a person to kill a Vong since the tunnel to the hole is pretty much empty of party members. "Based on the distance it might be a good idea to dig to the other areas. But you have to figure out rock thickness if not solid granite to soft sand." KEll considers his plan to use magic and creatures to dig the tunnel. But if they had the power they would need help. Some swim through dirt like air but they don't leave a empty tunnel. Kell knows they might need shovels and other gear to at least make a minimum tunnel. Outside in the outer tunneL Arawn stands tall and looks to the Merkabah still wondering how long the named creature takes to give birth. He doesn't know the answer and suspects the Merkabah thinks he should simply because he is a Alfar. That is the problem with being a demi-god the fine line of knowing everything and nothing. "The summons was gifted to me. I was unaware of the it's nature until you arrived else I would have," Arawn said in response to the Merkabah's commented on preparation. "But your presence is welcome." Arawn adds while looking around the tunnel. The Merkabah dusts the chariot clear of dust that has rained from the ceiling. He says nothing for a few seconds then without turning. "One should prepare when you summon another. It could be me attacking everyone here." Without looking he waves a hand to the group. "That is the rules for summoning done by mortals." Arawn takes it as a thin threat but realizes it has been several minutes already. Most likely if he was free to attack Arawn he would have done so by now. No. Maybe this coin had special ability to by pass that? Arawn hopes and gives a slight prayer to his parents for that. As plans were made to split the group he asked, "What of Qux'Tux'eluv? If he is willing, shall one of us join him in the sky or is there another part he'll play in our plans?" Caladan steps forward to the Merkabah. In Marentian he speaks to the others, "the person would have to be a good one with the bow or such or magic." Turning back to Katai he adds, "once our friend exits the tunnel. All stealth is gone. We can go invisible all we want but they'll know some are here to attack them. Just keep this in mind. " He stares at the strange harnessed horses and wonders how the creature can understand Katai? Arawn sees Kell, Farseeker and Kiet leave the tunnel going into the tunnel where the hole is located. When the others discussed a means to search the open space above Arawn spoke up. "If we're heading up it might be worth it to investigate the towers in the 'corners' of the cave as well as the mounds first. We can discover if any guards are there that might spot us and then, either teleporting or traveling invisibly, take over a tower and use it as cover while we spy on the rest of the area. We'll also be closer to the ladders that lead to the higher caves when the time comes to move." Caladan nods, "good idea. Once they come down here and check out the other caves. They'll know the prisoners and other Vong are dead. We'll have to act fast." Fremea decides this talking is a bit tedious and returns to the treasure cave to explore it more. Soon Arawn visits in a minute or two and uses his senses to explore the room as well. The human body displayed no sign of magic and that would make sense to ally with magic haters to have no magic. Fremea is curious about the material found. The vast majority of villages in the Empire are dirt poor. Maybe a village right up against some of the 20 cities might have some decent traffic and trade. But most are villages with maybe if lucky, one or two business stores and if then maybe a barn for a Inn. Clearly the typical items like farm tools like shovels, picks, pitchforks and the like are found. The simple villager weapon. The few weapons that are found are light swords, light blades like daggers or knives and some hunting style weapons like light bows. There are a slew of cheaply made arrows and a few quivers. Armor is non existent would be expected from villagers who only wear light clothing. But there are a few pieces of leather including suits of leather, gloves and helmets. They might have been taken by village champions or retrieved in patrols of Katai military? Arawn inspects one chest that is full of coins. Most of the coins are brass bits but there are a few copper coins. It is clear villagers would rarely see Silver or Gold coins. Fremea peeks over the edge and notices the coins probably totaling in several hundreds of brass bits. Maybe a hundred at most copper coins. A rich fortune for a village but to the party it would be a light day's work. Arawn finds it uneasy to steal from villagers who must've spent a year's work getting paid for such low sums. Fremea scans the room and sees there are plenty of piles of clothing and small items like plates, mugs and utensils. IT is clear the Vong had no reference on what is worth stealing. If they are to pay off the Peace Brigade to follow them they need more than this. Unless they already paid them off well before now and this is the left overs? Fremea notices a couple of barrels. Going near them she finds they are full. Looks like some wine and ale. If the wine is expensive it could be a nice find. But of all the puny treasure the small chest of gems and jewelry is decent. Of course its not noble gems but at best middle class rubies and sapphires. An assortment of obvious rings, necklaces, bracelets and other trinkets worn by women who were daughters or wives. Arawn notices a smaller chest about length of 2 feet by 2 feet is besides the larger chest that holds the coins. Arawn picks it up and opens the brass chest. Arawn smiles a bit when he notices there are copper, silver and gold coins in this chest. But unlike the dirty and even half rotten coins the villagers have this is from likely Empire vaults. It likely might have been taken from patrols or noble payrolls. It is hard to tell how many without spilling them out but it could be a few hundred silver and almost as much gold? But the mix of coins is hard to tell without further inspection. All the while Arawn and Fremea scan the room and items for magic but do not find any trace of it. Of course if it is Katai it would be rare. Possibly destroyed if discovered or taken by Brigaders at first sight. Outside back in the tunnel where the party is, Caladan gets close to the chariot. "We would not be amiss to warn you that the Vong have things that fly. They will chase you. If the cavern above us is as large as they report they and you will have plenty of room to move about. But the flying rocks can fire hot fiery objects.. The Vong on the ground will be no real threat. They might try to fire things at you but you might be out of range. I would go after the flying things and their pilots. We have information they are on one side of the cavern." Caladan looks at the strange horses. "They are beautiful steeds." The Merkabah snorts and nods. "These Vong will see my arrow and die in fire." He steps a foot closer and seems to see Caladan differently. "You are like me. I can sense it. Even one of these are not what they say. But you are well...balanced. You also have the taint of death." Caladan turns to the creature, "that is because I died once already. My friends and family saved me. May I?" He reaches up toward the horses. The Merkabah exhales and looks around, ending up at Caladan. "Once dead and back now? This is not normal for a mortal like you. That upsets the Balance. Yet you remain in deference to their will?" The creature looks to the A'equin. "Only one as myself can touch them. You touch them at your own risk. But this would let me and you know if the Will of the gods are in your favor." Lin stares at Caladan as he talks to the creature and raises his hand. "Are you crazy? I was stopped by doing that. It is some demon trick." The Merkabah whirls around to face Lin behind him and grabs his sword by the top of his hilt but does not remove it. It snorts and speaks in some unknown language. Lin gets the idea and backs off. But Raban and Chion step forward in case there is some incident while Farseeker, Arawn and others are absent. "I feel this is fate..." Caladan reaches up to the A'equin near him and gets a inch from the beast. Then as if grabbing a fly out of the air he places his hand down onto the horses side. Caladan holds his breath for a few seconds then even more and realizes that nothing has killed him. Caladan smiles and exhales. Then he begins to rub the side of the horse and whisper to it. Ben'dar turns to Z'leyra, "they are nice but not even close to Tef'wo." While the treasure is dug through and the scene with the horses are going down, Kiet prepares his spell. Standing under the large hole with Farseeker and Kell. Kiet glances up to see the "roof" of the cavern. From this side it is bumpy and looks like some meat pie. From the recon done by Fremea it has to be Vong made maybe even a live animal that can close and open when the Flyers need to come and go. From the top side Fremea said it was solid but on the inner surface Kiet and the other two can see a flicker of light. The animal or thing must allow light to go through and give the cavern a light source. At this time of day the sun is just below the zenith at noon. Based on the angle of the light the acrobat can see where north is probably based on where the sun would be in the sky at this time of day. The ramp to the top of the hole climbs upwards and based on this angle when exiting the hole the towering wall in front is the north wall. If that is the cave the hole in the side of the mountain seen by Fremea must be on the left upper cave area. The roof is some 800 feet give or take a hundred feet above the hole. The light that seems to filter through the roof is in light shadow but it does seem to fill the entire cavern with a glow of a typical tavern with a decent set of candles. This means moving about might not be as easy in the open. Maybe once the sun sets the place will be darker but that is four or so hours away. It is unclear at this angle if there are torches or other devices to bring supplemental light. Kiet exhales and prepares his spell. Standing dead center in the center of the area below the rabbit hole he speaks the words. With a gesture like a baker making a ball of flour for some treat the spell is formed. To Kiet's eyes he can see a almost translucent sphere about the size of a fist form between his two hands in the air. It seems to shimmer as it floats. Kiet can see it clearly as he is the creator. But to most humans it might only be seen as a faint after image unless they are very empathic. His teacher said those that are empathic can see it as if a kid's toy ball normally in front of them. But Kiet realizes that the one big advantage he has is the Vong are not empathic. In fact their sheer nature to torture anyone shows they have no such thing as mercy or empathy. This will make the sphere invisible to all but maybe the rare Vong. If anyone maybe the Outcasts might see it. Of course if prisoners or Brigaders are around they might. But again the Brigaders are likely less empathic than the typical human. Farseeker shifts his foot, "don't see anything. Did it work?" The warrior looks to Kell. Kell also does not see the sphere. But he smiles a bit when his sense of mana detection shows the distinct aura of the sphere. If this is a sphere of mana then the thing would be seen by creatures who sense mana. This means that the flyers or the dog beasts might be able to sense them. Kell nods and watches the sphere move a bit upward. In Kiet's mind eye he can see the cavern clearly as if he had his eyes close. As he concentrates he realizes he could have sent the sphere at its max distance rather than start here. His teacher never showed him that trick but assumes it might work? Kiet directs the sphere up and into the large main cavern that marks this as a mountain from the outside but is one large empty area. With a flick of his finger he directs the sphere to the left toward what he knows to be the structures. [Time: 2:22:58 pm] The sphere moves westward toward the structures. It seems to move about 10 feet per second. [Time: 2:23:14 pm] After about 10 seconds the sphere can finally see something. Up to this point it could only see the ground. In front of its view the sphere can see about 30 feet. The structure is at Kiet like a upside down soup bowl. It looks like a bowl was just tossed and fell on the ground. It is brown and a bit of red in color. There are no sides to it or what must be windows or holes. Now at about 150 feet west of the rabbit hole the sphere stops to inspect the structure. While it looks like a bowl the texture is like a splash of meat was tossed around it. Maybe the bowl fell and the soup after it? But it seems to be very Vong like based on how they seem to use nature and animals. Kiet directs the sphere to the left and then to the right. But the texture is the same. It almost seems like veins and grooves in the structure as if the thing is alive or half dead. It looks like the Vong 'door' that leads to the pit and pond caves. The bowl structure is about 10 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Kiet almost thinks it to be tent like structures. If the villagers saw many of them it makes sense they are living areas for the Vong. Kiet pushes the sphere to enter the structure from the side. it seems to take a second and soon the structure is seen. It is dim with what seems to be some light lichen along the walls to give it a dim yellow, green and red hue. Look at the roof the sphere notices a structure that reminds Kiet of a starfish that might be a mouth. Maybe this is how air and maybe smoke might be sent out? But the mouth itself is open so it must be using through other methods. The structure is very spartan and Kiet can spot two Vong warriors on the ground. They are wearing their Vong armor and some leather. But this the first time the Vong are not wearing all their spikes and leathers. this must be their down time as the two are seemingly asleep with their eyes closed. Along their sides their amphistaff lies. There are some leather packs but when the sphere inspects them the light pitch black in the bag like things and can't tell what is in them. But it can't be more than food he guesses. Kiet was right to think this to be a tent like area. Glancing around the sphere notices a lighter shade of brown and tan that looks to be a 'door'. This must be how the structure is opened. [Time: 2:23:20 pm] Kiet pushes forward and through the opposite wall. He moves the sphere toward the next structure. It is 20 feet beyond this one and the same design and texture. Entering he finds this one empty except the leather bags and what looks like a bone of some eaten small animal? Kiet moves to the next one and in this one he finds two Vong warriors sitting across from each other. They seem to be doing some coufee game. Where one tries to hit the other's hand before the hand is withdrawn. From the look of one of the other's hand a finger is half torn off by the coufee. But the Vong seem to be enjoying the game. On the fourth structure in that same row this one is occupied by a single Vong. But this one is dressed in simple leather and no armor. There is no sign of weapons either. He seems to be shorter and Kiet figures this one to be a possible Outcast. He is holding some animal thing on his lap as if working on it. But Kiet knows time is running out. He has less than a minute or half that to look around. If the Outcast is working on some boots for a Shaper then so be it. [Time: 2:23:52 pm] Kiet exits the last structure and notices the west wall is about 30 feet away. He glances south and north but doesn't see beyond his sphere's range. Beyond that range is seems to blur away into a clouded view. Kiet places the sphere to look up and a few feet to the north is the ladder structure. Kiet has seen some noble inns in Sivas build what they call fire exit outside the side of the building. It is some new thing and some are seen made with metal which seems a waste of money. In his island nation no such things exist. But looking up the structure has a wide step system that is from the ground to the next level. The next level is about 10 feet off the ground and then it twists to the other side from a level position about 10 feet wide. The ladder then climbs in steps to the next floor for another flat area and then twists to the side. This continues on and on likely in a zig zag method. So you climb about 10 feet up diagonally. Then flat area to cross about 10 feet to the other side. Then turn and climb the next diagonal series of steps in the opposite direction. To repeat all over again. For fighting it is a bit of a open area and angles will allow viewing of others up and down. But it also will allow missile weapons to be used. The ladder system though is not metal but some hard structure like rock. It is clearly Vong made and not natural. While a segment of steps could be destroyed with some effort the whole thing would take a great deal to take down. Kiet dives northward to the what should be the sentry tower. Slowing down he finds the structure 30 feet away. It is a box set on top of four struts that support the box. The struts are about 30 feet high making those in the tower about 30 feet off the ground. This means they have a good view of all the bowl-homes. They might even see the rabbit hole and the flyers across the other side of the cave. The struts are made of thick wood and the ladder that hangs over the side to the ground is a hard rope ladder of some form of leather. Going to the top the sphere shows Kiet there are three Vong warriors. One is leaning against the far wall on the west side of the box. The other two are on the north and south corners of the east side looking in those directions over the bowl-homes and field. The warriors all have their typical armor and weapons. On the ground are those leather bags. Next to one bag a hand held device is seen. From the shape and description from Farseeker it is a hand held bug firing thing. Their range has to be light but if they fire bugs this is their form of missile fire. There seems to be no device for viewing distance so the Vong seem to depend on their eyes only. Along the eastern edge of the box is a Orb sitting in solemn silence. This means they could communicate with all or most of the base. The rope ladder could be pulled up but the defenses seem to be light. The box itself is a wooden box with a wall that goes from the floor of the box just above the struts to mid abdomen. The roof of the box is also wooden and pointed like a temple steeple. Kiet knows the recon is going well for the time but he knows he might only have 10 seconds left. He quickly sends the sphere up along the wall to find the first of the cave. But as he does he finds his vision begin to fade out and then all together go dark. Either he has run out of time or the spell's range is too much. The first of the caves above the bowl homes and towers are about 300 feet up. This should be just in his range but it might be out of bounds. But Kiet is glad that at least one side of the cavern was inspected. Now the structures must be quarters. [Time: 2:24:10 pm] Kiet tells the other two of the bowl homes. "Living areas? There are some 30 the villagers say. If all are full that could be 90. But if they are hit and miss we could assume maybe at least 30 Vong in them." Kiet begins to walk to the side tunnel back to inform the party of what he found. Kiet can recall several Vong walking between the structures or near the ladder. He hopes that one of them does not decide to head this way to head down. Actions? Comments? Next Update....Monday... GM: Sorry for delay. I tried to work on the update on my new computer. But I'm not so happy with the technique. I have dosbox where I can use this simple editor but it messes up the WinTV software while I listen to TV on the computer. So means I can't tab over to chat or do another window. I tried wordpad but its not that great. Notepad seems fairly well but if I have the font wrong the columns I normally set (a 80 column text post - old school size alignment from BBS days) might mess up. I could have lines that are stretched in the final form. Openoffice has that funky half screen and multiple pane thing for more than a page. That will take time to get used to. I may just do it on the old computer and such until I figure out a better method. GM: Info on recon - Bowl homes - Upside bowls - 10 feet wide, 8 feet tall at zenith Almost igloo shape. Ladders - 10 feet of stone steps diagonal up to flat area of 10 feet in length and 10 feet wide. Where the other set of steps is on opposite side in opposite diagonal direction. Think of modern skyscraper stairs. So from ground you have 10 stone steps that go up either one diagonal or the other. This is about 10 feet from bottom to top of last step. Then a flat surface 10 by 10'. The other side has the opposite set of steps in identical design (10 steps 10'). This zig/zags in opposite directions. ---- \ \ \ <10' \ / ---- <10' / / a very crude example. Overall map - North is top of screen /I\ I%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%I I%%%%% X X X X %%%%%%%%%I I%%%%% O X X X X H H H H H O %%%%%%%I I%%%%%% X X X X H H H H H %%%%%%%I I%%%%%%' X X X X H H H H H '%%%%%%%%I I%%%%%% X X X X U H H H H H %%%%%%%I I%%%%% X X X X H H H H H %%%%%%I I%%%%% O X X X X H H H H H O %%%%%%I I%%%%%% X X X X %%%%%%%I I%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%I % = Rock wall X = Bowl Homes 10' at zenith height H = Vong flyers O = Raised observation post / tower 30' high U = Rabbit hole below this level is party's tunnel. ' = Vong ladder structure up Villagers say no caves are on the north and south walls. The caves starting 300' from this level are mid way or so on the wall along the ladder structures for entry. GM: If this is not much of help let me know I can give more info. OF course the cave itself is rounded but the above is square. The walls make the rounded edges. But the field seen is square for ease of viewing. GM: Mana report updated as of this post with recent spells.